Factors affecting the production of hydrogenase by Desulfovibrio desulfuricans

An examination of conditions for the growth of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans, with the aim of optimizing hydrogenase production, is reported. An ammonium sulfate-lactate-yeast extract medium gave 5 to 10 times as much hydrogenase activity as a peptone-yeast extract medium. It made little if any difference whether the gas used for sparging was nitrogen, hydrogen, or a mixture thereof but increasing the rate of sparging and agitation did result in a slight decrease in activity. Control of pH during culture development was of little benefit to hydrogenase production. At least two hydrogenases were present in D. desulfuricans: one periplasmic, the other membrane bound.