The assimilation of nitrate in plants involves the reduction of nitrate to ammonia in two steps. The first step requires nitrate reductase, a nitrate-inducible enzyme. When seedlings of squash (Cucurbita maxima L.) were treated with nitrate, both nitrate reductase activity and protein were induced in the cotyledons. Poly(A)(+) RNA was prepared from cotyledons of nitrate-treated seedlings and wa...

Strong base anion-exchange resins represent an important option for water utilities and homeowners to address growing concerns with nitrate, arsenate, and perchlorate contamination of source waters. Most commercially available anion-exchange resins employ quaternary amine functional groups. Previous research has provided contradictory evidence regarding whether these resins serve as sources of ...

We describe a method to remove nitrite from seawater and freshwater samples to determine the nitrogen (N) and oxygen (O) isotopic composition of nitrate in aqueous samples (15N/14N and 18O/16O, respectively). This method is simple, inexpensive, and effective in the removal of nitrite without compromising the natural N and O isotopic composition of nitrate. Moreover, the method is nontoxic and c...

Two maize hybrids were grown under growth chamber conditions on solution or vermiculite medium that contained 2.5, 7.5, or 15 millimolar nitrate. The objectives were to determine: (a) the effect of nitrate supply on N metabolism and growth and (b) the interrelationship between nitrate uptake, flux, and reduction on the accumulation of reduced N and nitrate by the various plant parts and for the...

An enzymatic assay system for nitrate employing the membrane-bound nitrate reductase (EC 1.7.99.4) of E. coli is described. Contrary to previous enzymatic assay systems, the present method is a kinetic one, i.e. the substrate, nitrate, is assayed by measuring the reaction rate of the nitrate reductase-catalyzed reaction. Based on the observation that the nitrate reductase-catalyzed reaction obe...