Concentration-dependent effects of metronidazole, inhibiting nitrogenase, on hydrogen photoproduction and proton-translocating ATPase activity of Rhodobacter sphaeroides

• Concentration-dependent metronidazole effects on Rhodobacter sphaeroides were determined.
• Bacterial growth and H2 production were suppressed by metronidazole.
• In the presence of DCCD the inhibition of ATPase activity was detected.
• ATPase activity stimulation was observed adding metronidazole.

Rhodobacter sphaeroides MDC6522 is able to produce hydrogen (H2) during photofermentation. Metronidazole (2-methyl-5-nitroimidazole-1-ethanol) has been shown to affect bacterial growth under anaerobic nitrogen-limited conditions in a concentration-dependent manner (within the range of 0.1–2 mM) by increasing lag phase duration and decreasing growth rate. The addition of metronidazole into the growth medium resulted in a delayed decrease of redox potential (Eh): by the addition of 0.1 mM metronidazole Eh decreased to −590 ± 25 mV, whereas in the presence of 2 mM Eh drop down was to −175 ± 15 mV. H2 production during R. sphaeroides growth disappeared in the presence of metronidazole. By addition of 0.5 mM metronidazole H2 yield was ∼8 fold lower in comparison with control; whereas the bacterium was unable to produce H2 in the presence of 1–2 mM. The effects of metronidazole on nitrogenase-dependent H2 production by R. sphaeroides might be explained by change of general photosynthetic electron transport with metronidazole as an alternative electron acceptor instead of nitrogenase. ATPase activity of membrane vesicles was determined with and without N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD), an inhibitor of the F0F1-ATPase. It was revealed that DCCD-inhibited ATPase activity increased in the presence of metronidazole. It is possible that this effect may be resulted in either by direct affect of metronidazole on the F0F1-ATPase, or by its effect on Eh regulating ATPase activity.