Some Respiratory Characteristics of the Blue-Green Alga, Anabaena

Abstract

Anabaena respiration is independent of H-ion concn. between pH 5.3 and 9.3 in phosphate and carbonate-bicarbonate buffers. It is strongly inhibited by cyanide, azide, and o-phenanthro-line, but is inhibited by CO only at high CO/O2 ratios. Respiration appears to be mediated, in part at least, by a cytochrome oxidase since oxidation of hydroquinone or ascorbate by cell fragments is stimulated by cytochrome c, and the stimulated oxidation is strongly inhibited by CO. Furthermore, respiration of non-photosynthetic Anabaena cells is photo-reversibly in-hibited by CO. No polyphenol oxidase could be detected in either intact or fragmented cells.