Regulation of Nitrate Uptake in Penicillium chrysogenum by Ammonium Ion

Abstract

A nitrate uptake system is induced (along with nitrate reductase) when NH(4) (+)-grown Penicillium chrysogenum is incubated with inorganic nitrate in synthetic medium in the absence of NH(4) (+). Nitrate uptake and nitrate reduction are probably in steady state in fully induced mycelium, but the ratios of the two activities are not constant during the induction period. Substrate concentrations of ammonium cause a rapid decay of nitrate uptake and nitrate reductase activity. The two activities are differentially inactivated (the uptake activity being more sensitive). Glutamine and asparagine are as effective as NH(4) (+) in suppressing nitrate uptake activity. Glutamate and alanine were about half as effective as NH(4) (+). Cycloheximide interferes with the NH(4) (+)-induced decay of nitrate uptake activity. The ammonium transport system is almost maximally deinhibited (or derepressed) in nitrate-grown mycelium.