The Uptake of Ammonium,Nitrite and Nitrate Ions by Hydrodictyon reticulatum

It has been found that ammonium ions belong together with potassium and sodium ions to the main cationic species in algal cells. The intracellular concentration of ammonium ions, which changes from 4 to 160 μmol. g^?1 wet weight, strongly influences the influx and reflux of different ions. Algal cells containing 4… 6 μmol of ammonium ions per gram cumulate ammonium ions in the light with a very high initial rate of 40… 80 pmol. cm^?2. s^?1, whereas the influx of nitrite or nitrate ions is slower by more than one order. Whereas ammonium ions simply displace potassium ions from the cell, the uptake of nitrite and nitrate ions is more complicated. These ions are rapidly reduced inside the cell into ammonium ions, which is connected with the reflux of potassium and hydroxyl ions. Ammonium ions formed take part in metabolic reactions releasing hydrogen ions.