Effects of cultivation gas phase on hydrogenase of the acetogen Clostridium thermoaceticum

Abstract

The effect of cultivation gas phase on the expression and activity of hydrogenase in heterotrophic cultures of Clostridium thermoaceticum was examined. Of the five gas phases tested, hydrogenase was maximal from cells cultivated under CO. Correlations were observed between the level of hydrogenase and the evolution of H2 by growing cultures. Activity stains of polyacrylamide gels revealed a single hydrogenase band in CO2 cells and multiple hydrogenase bands in CO cells.