The Concept
Qubit Systems produces the only complete experimental package for measurement of nitrogen fixation in undergraduate laboratories. The unique flow-through H2 sensor measures the production rate of H2 from N2-fixing tissues, allowing in vivo measurement of nitrogenase activity in real time.
Measurement of H2 evolution as a means of determining nitrogenase activity overcomes all the problems of the traditional acetylene reduction assay. It is perfectly safe, non-invasive and allows changes in nitrogenase activity to be observed as they occur.
The Nitrogen Fixation Package contains everything required to conduct numerous investigations into the physiology and biochemistry of N2 fixation; we even supply legume seeds and inoculum! You supply only the computer. Calibration of sensors is not necessary, set-up time is minimal and experiments are easy to perform.
Procedure
The components of the Nitrogen Fixation Package are configured in an open-flow gas exchange system. The Logger Pro software supplied with this package allows up to four variables to be monitored simultaneously. Data from the H2 Sensor, O2 Sensor and Temperature Sensor (or optional environmental sensors) are displayed on-screen immediately as they are collected. This allows students to observe changes as they respond to altered environmental conditions. Logger Pro's sophisticated data-handling features enable students to analyze and graph the stored data easily.
The NF1LP Package Includes:
S121 Hydrogen Sensor
S102 Flow Through O2 Sensor
S132 Temperature Sensor
G100 AC Gas Pump
F1000 Flow Meter
F250 Flow Meter
G122 Large Gas Bags
G127 T-piece Assembly
A101 Laboratory Stand
G132 Plant Growth Pots, lids, fittings and Qubitac
G161 Nodule Cuvette
G144 Drying Column with Desiccant
B201 Soybean seeds with Bradyrhizobium japonicum inoculant
C410 LabPro Interface
C901 Logger Pro Software
C404 Customized Setup Software
Instructor's and Student's Manuals
Experiments
Until the development of Qubit Systems' N2 Fixation package, measurement of N2 fixation and nitrogenase activity was neglected in the undergraduate laboratory curriculum. Now students can examine numerous aspects of this fundamental biological process:
Data from an experiment investigating the O2-lability of nitrogenase in an intact soybean plant
Data from an experiment using the H2 and temperature sensors to examine aspects of nitrogenase kinetics
With Qubit's Nitrogen Fixation Package, you can:
Examine the effects of temperature on nitrogenase activity
Examine the oxygen regulation of N2 fixation
Measure the nitrogenase electron allocation coefficient
Examine the relationship between N2 fixation and photosynthate supply
Determine the effect of N2 fixation inhibition by fertilizers
About the S121 Hydrogen Sensor
Qubit Systems' flow-through H2 sensor is capable of measuring part-per-billion levels of H2 in a flowing gas stream.
Measurement range: 0 to 2000 ppm H2
0 to 5 V output to chart recorder or analog to digital interface (LabPro Interface)
DC power adapter provided
The Hydrogen Sensor may also be used to monitor the H2 consumption of organisms that have the uptake hydrogenase enzyme. It can be purchased separately.
Options:
Consider adding a Flow Controller and Monitor to your system, to give live readouts of flow on your computer screen and to record these values to the data files. Check out the NF1LP-FCM package for more information regarding the Flow Controller and Monitor.
Producing Area:Canada