Mechanism of Change in the Cation-Induced Excitation Energy Distribution Between PSⅡ and PS Ⅰ in the Chloroplast Membrane from Zostera marina

The interrelations between thylakoid polypeptide components and Mg2+-induced Chl a fluorescence and thylakoid surface charge changes were investigated in Zostera marina chloroplasts treated with Ca2+ and trypsin. It was observed that: 1. The increase of Mg2+- induced PS Ⅱ fluorescence intensity was closely related to the decrease of Mg2+-induced surface charge density of the thylakoid membrane in the normal chloroplast; 2. Removal of the 32～34 kD polypeptides of the thylakoid surface by Ca2+ extraction of the chloroplast did not affect the Mg2+-induced phenomena; 3. If the Ca2+-treated chloroplast was further digested by trypsin to remove the 26 kD polypeptide of the membrane surface, the Mg2+-induced phenomena disappeared completely. These results clearly indicated that the 26 kD polypeptide of thylakoid surface is the specific acting site of the cation that induced these two correlated phenomena in the chloroplast from Zostera marina. The mechanism on the regulating effect of the cation on excitation energy distribution between PS Ⅱ and PS Ⅰ was discussed.     

Relationship Between the Growth of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 on Medium with Glucose and the Photosynthetic Energy Transformation

Measurements of chlorophyll fluorescence kinetics from dark-starved cells, light-grown cells and mixotrophic cells of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 were obtained using a pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) fluorometer. Photosystem Ⅱ photochemical efficiency Ⅱand the extent of reduction of Q－A in the three kinds of cells described above were compared. The millisecond delayed light emission (MDLE) of light-grown cells and mixotrophic cells were also detected. On the basis of the analysis of fluorescence kinetic parameters, comparison of the slow phase of MDLE and the influence of inhibitors of photosynthetic electron transport3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea(DCMU), 2,5-dibromo-3-methyl-6-isopropyl-p-benzoquinone (DBMIB) on the mixotrophic growth of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, it was concluded that the reasons for higher growth rate under mixotrophic than that under photoautotrophic might be that glucose promoted the photoautotrophic growth of mixotrephic cells and the donation of eletrons to the plastoquinone pool from the respiratory substance and the transform of energy was promoted by photosynthetic system, which provided the energy needed by anabolism of cells caused by the glucose added to the medium.      

Functional characteristics of green alga Scenedesmus obliquus (Chlorophyceae): 276–6 wild type and its two photosystems deficient mutants cultured under photoautotrophic,mixotrophic and heterotrophic conditions

Functional features of Scenedesmus obliquus: wild type 276–6 strain (WT) and its two mutants reported as photosystem I‐deficient (mutant 56.80) and photosystem II‐deficient (mutant 57.80) were characterized. Algae were cultured aseptically under continuous light or in darkness on mineral bold basal medium (BBM), yeast extract‐enriched BBM and yeast extract to evaluate the physiology of algal cells under photoautotrophic, mixotrophic and heterotrophic conditions. Growth, superoxide dismutase activity and photosynthetic parameters, including polyphasic fluorescence rise during the first seconds of chlorophyll a illumination (OJIP), were analyzed to find relationships between the photosynthetic/respiratory activity of the cells, occurrence of oxidative stress and trophic conditions applied to PSs‐deficient algae. Despite the highest superoxide dismutase activity, indicating the presence of oxidative stress, mixotrophic conditions appeared to be optimal for S. obliquus WT and mutant strains kept in non‐aerated cultures. OJIP analysis indicated that in mutant 56.80 part of photosystem (PS) I was functional and in mutant 57.80 residual PS II activity was found.     

Quantitative analysis of 77K fluorescence emission spectra in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6714 and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii with variable PS I/PS II stoichiometries

Low-temperature (77 K) fluorescence emission spectra of intact cells of a cyanobacterium, Synechocystis sp. PCC 6714, and a green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, were quantitatively analyzed to examine differences in PS I/PS II stoichiometries. Cells cultured under different spectral conditions had various PS I/PS II molar ratios when estimated by oxidation-reduction difference absorption spectra of P700 (for PS I) and Cyt b-559 (for PS II) with thylakoid membranes. The fluorescence emission spectra under the Chl a excitation at 435 nm were resolved into several component bands using curve-fitting methods and the relative band area between PS II (F685 and F695) and PS I (F710 or F720) emissions was compared with the PS I/PS II stoichiometries of the various cell types. The results indicated that the PS I/PS II fluorescence ratios correlated closely with photosystem stoichiometries both in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6714 and in C. reinhardtii grown under different light regimes. Furthermore, the correlation between the PS I/PS II fluorescence ratios and the photosystem stoichiometries is also applicable to vascular plants.     

Theoretical and experimental yields for photoautotrophic, mixotrophic, and photoheterotrophic growth

Available electron methods are presented and used to estimate theoretical energetic growth yields for photoautotrophic, mixotrophic, and photoheterotrophic growth of algae and photosynthetic bacteria. The theoretical yields are compared to experimental values reported previously. For photoautotrophic and mixotrophic growth of algae experimental values that approach and even exceed the theoretical values have been reported in the literature. For photosynthetic bacteria experimental yields are much smaller than thetheoretical maximum values.     

Alteration of Components of Chlorophyll-Protein Complexes and Distribution of Excitation Energy Between the Two Photosystems in Two New Rice Chlorophyll b-less mutants

Two new yellow rice chlorophyll (Chl) b-less (lack) mutants VG28-1 and VG30-5 differ from the other known Chl b-less mutants with larger amounts of soluble protein and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase small sub-unit and smaller amounts of Chl a. We investigated the altered features of Chl-protein complexes and excitation energy distribution in these two mutants, as compared with wild type (WT) rice cv. Zhonghua 11 by using native mild green gel electrophoresis and SDS-PAGE, and 77 K Chl fluorescence in the presence of Mg²⁺. WT rice revealed five pigment-protein bands and fourteen polypeptides in thylakoid membranes. Two Chl b-less mutants showed only CPI and CPa pigment bands, and contained no 25 and 26 kDa polypeptides, reduced amounts of the 21 kDa polypeptide, but increased quantities of 32, 33, 56, 66, and 19 kDa polypeptides. The enhanced absorption of CPI and CPa and the higher Chl fluorescence emission ratio of F685/F720 were also observed in these mutants. This suggested that the reduction or loss of the antenna LHC1 and LHC2 was compensated by an increment in core component and the capacity to harvest photon energy of photosystem (PS) 1 and PS2, as well as in the fraction of excitation energy distributed to PS2 in the two mutants. 77 K Chl fluorescence spectra of thylakoid membranes showed that the PS1 fluorescence emission was shifted from 730 nm in WT rice to 720 nm in the mutants. The regulation of Mg²⁺ to excitation energy distribution between the two photosystems was complicated. 10 mM Mg²⁺ did not affect noticeably the F685/F730 emission ratio of WT thylakoid membranes, but increased the ratio of F685/F720 in the two mutants due to a reduced emission at 685 nm as compared to that at 720 nm.     

Pigment composition and functional state of the thylakoid membranes during preparation of samples for pigment-protein complexes separation by nondenaturing gel electrophoresis

The present study was conducted to examine changes in photosynthetic pigment composition and functional state of the thylakoid membranes during the individual steps of preparation of samples that are intended for a separation of pigmentprotein complexes by nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The thylakoid membranes were isolated from barley leaves (Hordeum vulgare L.) grown under low irradiance (50 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹). Functional state of the thylakoid membrane preparations was evaluated by determination of the maximal photochemical efficiency of photosystem (PS) II (F_V/F_M) and by analysis of excitation and emission spectra of chlorophyll a (Chl a) fluorescence at 77 K. All measurements were done at three phases of preparation of the samples: (1) in the suspensions of osmotically-shocked broken chloroplasts, (2) thylakoid membranes in extraction buffer containing Tris, glycine, and glycerol and (3) thylakoid membranes solubilized with a detergent decyl-β-D-maltosid. F_V/F_M was reduced from 0.815 in the first step to 0.723 in the second step and to values close to zero in solubilized membranes. Pigment composition was not pronouncedly changed during preparation of the thylakoid membrane samples. Isolation of thylakoid membranes affected the efficiency of excitation energy transfer within PSII complexes only slightly. Emission and excitation fluorescence spectra of the solubilized membranes resemble spectra of trimers of PSII light-harvesting complexes (LHCII). Despite a disrupted excitation energy transfer from LHCII to PSII antenna core in solubilized membranes, energy transfer from Chl b and carotenoids to emission forms of Chl a within LHCII trimers remained effective.     

毕氏海蓬子光系统Ⅱ颗粒的分离与鉴定

采用去污剂TritonX-100增溶类囊体膜和高速离心的方法,首次分离和纯化了毕氏海蓬子的光系统Ⅱ（photosystemⅡ,PSⅡ）颗粒,通过光谱学和SDS-PAGE对其进行鉴定并与类囊体膜进行比较。室温吸收光谱结果表明,PSⅡ颗粒在蓝区的叶绿素（chlorophyll,ChOb和胡萝卜素类吸收峰为485nm,在红区的Ch1b吸收峰为655nm,这两个峰值均低于类囊体膜中的。77K荧光发射光谱结果表明,提取的PSⅡ颗粒基本不含光系统Ⅰ（photosystemⅠ,PSI）的低温荧光反射峰737nm。77K荧光激发光谱结果显示,海蓬子PSⅡ颗粒在470-485am之间的Ch1b 和胡萝卜素类的荧光发射峰明显低于类囊体膜的。这说明在PSⅡ中大部分的PSI已被除去。电泳结果显示,海蓬子PSⅡ颗粒缺少PSI反应中心蛋白质亚基PsaA和PsaB,这说明提取到的PSⅡ纯度较高,这为进一步研究毕氏海蓬子PSⅡ的结构与功能奠定基础。     

Light-dependent reversal of dark-chilling induced changes in chloroplast structure and arrangement of chlorophyll-protein complexes in bean thylakoid membranes

Changes in chloroplast structure and rearrangement of chlorophyll-protein (CP) complexes were investigated in detached leaves of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Eureka), a chilling-sensitive plant, during 5-day dark-chilling at 1 degrees C and subsequent 3-h photoactivation under white light (200 mumol photons m(-2) s(-1)) at 22 degrees C. Although, no change in chlorophyll (Chl) content and Chl a/b ratio in all samples was observed, overall fluorescence intensity of fluorescence emission and excitation spectra of thylakoid membranes isolated from dark-chilled leaves decreased to about 50%, and remained after photoactivation at 70% of that of the control sample. Concomitantly, the ratio between fluorescence intensities of PSI and PSII (F736/F681) at 120 K increased 1.5-fold upon chilling, and was fully reversed after photoactivation. Moreover, chilling stress seems to induce a decrease of the relative contribution of LHCII fluorescence to the thylakoid emission spectra at 120 K, and an increase of that from LHCI and PSI, correlated with a decrease of stability of LHCI-PSI and LHCII trimers, shown by mild-denaturing electrophoresis. These effects were reversed to a large extent after photoactivation, with the exception of LHCII, which remained partly in the aggregated form. In view of these data, it is likely that dark-chilling stress induces partial disassembly of CP complexes, not completely restorable upon photoactivation. These data are further supported by confocal laser scanning fluorescence microscopy, which showed that regular grana arrangement observed in chloroplasts isolated from control leaves was destroyed by dark-chilling stress, and was partially reconstructed after photoactivation. In line with this, Chl a fluorescence spectra of leaf discs demonstrated that dark-chilling caused a decrease of the quantum yield PSII photochemistry (F(v)/F(m)) by almost 40% in 5 days. Complete restoration of the photochemical activity of PSII required 9 h post-chilling photoactivation, while only 3 h were needed to reconstruct thylakoid membrane organization and chloroplast structure. The latter demonstrated that the long-term dark-chilled bean leaves started to suffer from photoinhibition after transfer to moderate irradiance and temperature conditions, delaying the recovery of PSII photochemistry, independently of photo-induced reconstruction of PSII complexes.     

Biotic stress induced demolition of thylakoid structure and loss in photoelectron transport of chloroplasts in papaya leaves.

Papaya mosaic virus (PMV) causes severe mosaic symptoms in the papaya (Carica papaya L.) leaves. The PMV-induced alterations in photosystem II (PS II) structure and photochemical functions were probed. An increase in chlorophyll a (Chl a) fluorescence polarization suggests pathogen-induced transformation of thylakoid membrane to a gel phase. This transformation in physical state of thylakoid membrane may result in alteration in topology of pigments on pigment-binding proteins as reflected in pathogen-induced loss in the efficiency of energy transfer from carotenoids to chlorophylls. The fast Chl a fluorescence induction kinetics of healthy and PMV-infected plants by F(O)-F(J)-F(I)-F(P) transients revealed pathogen-induced perturbation on PS II acceptor side electron transfer equilibrium between Q(A) and Q(B) and in the pool size of electron transport acceptors. Pathogen-induced loss in photosynthetic pigments, changes in thylakoid structure and decrease in the ratio of F(V)/F(M) (photochemical potential of PS II) further correlate with the loss in photoelectron transport of PS II as probed by 2,6-dichlorophenol indophenol (DCPIP)-Hill reaction. Restoration of the loss by 1,5-diphenyl carbazide (DPC), an exogenous electron donor, that donates electron directly to reaction centre II bypassing the oxygen evolving system (OES), leads towards the conclusion that OES is one of the major targets of biotic stress. Further, the data suggest that chlorophyll fluorescence could be used as a non-invasive handy tool to assess the loss in photosynthetic efficiency and symptom severity in infected green tissues vis-a-vis the healthy ones.     

Ferredoxin limits cyclic electron flow around PSI (CEF-PSI) in higher plants--stimulation of CEF-PSI enhances non-photochemical quenching of Chl fluorescence in transplastomic tobacco

We tested the hypothesis that ferredoxin (Fd) limits the activity of cyclic electron flow around PSI (CEF-PSI) in vivo and that the relief of this limitation promotes the non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) of Chl fluorescence. In transplastomic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv Xanthi) expressing Fd from Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) in its chloroplasts, the minimum yield (F(o)) of Chl fluorescence was higher than in the wild type. F(o) was suppressed to the wild-type level upon illumination with far-red light, implying that the transfer of electrons by Fd-quinone oxidoreductase (FQR) from the chloroplast stroma to plastoquinone was enhanced in transplastomic plants. The activity of CEF-PSI became higher in transplastomic than in wild-type plants under conditions limiting photosynthetic linear electron flow. Similarly, the NPQ of Chl fluorescence was enhanced in transplastomic plants. On the other hand, pool sizes of the pigments of the xanthophyll cycle and the amounts of PsbS protein were the same in all plants. All these results supported the hypothesis strongly. We conclude that breeding plants with an NPQ of Chl fluorescence increased by an enhancement of CEF-PSI activity might lead to improved tolerance for abiotic stresses, particularly under conditions of low light use efficiency.     

Structure and Function of Chloroplast Membrane XVI. Comparative Studies on Some Photosynthetic Characteristics between Normal and Mutant Barleys

Some photosynthetic characteristics of mutant barley Chlorina f, were studied in comparison with that of normal variety. They were quite different in chlo- roplast membrane structures, pigment protein complexes, the content of electron transport components and photosynthetic functions. The absence of Chlb in mutant barley, as demonstrated by absorption and fluorescence excitation spectra, caused some defects of membrane structure and lose of the ability to regulate the distribution of excitation energy between PSII and PSⅠ. In comparison with the normal variety, the mutant barley contained much less chlorophyll per leaf area, but more P700, Cyt f and PQ on the chlorophyll basis. These differences surely affect their photochemical activities. As envisaged by fluorescence spectra, peripheral antenna of PSⅠ is absent in mutant barley membrane besides the lacking of Chl a/b-protein of PSⅡ. Fluorescence induction transient of mutant barley leaf did not show the typical time course of O→P→S→M→T. The coexistence of light harvesting Chl a/b-protein eomplex of PSⅡ and peripheral antenna of PSI and their cooperation with each other seem to be necessary for the occurence of typical fluorescence induction transient.     

毕氏海蓬子类囊体膜与卵磷脂重组脂质体的耐热性研究

采用卵磷脂(PC)构建脂质体,然后将毕氏海蓬子类囊体膜蛋白复合物重组到脂质体中.分析不同温度(25℃、35℃、45℃和55℃)处理后蛋白脂质体的电子传递活性、吸收光谱和荧光光谱的变化,以探讨膜脂与膜蛋白在高温胁迫下的交互作用.结果显示:蛋白脂质体光系统Ⅱ(PSⅡ)的放氧活性和光系统Ⅰ(PSⅠ)的耗氧活性随着PC比例的提高而增加,在PC与类囊体膜比例为4∶1(Lipid∶Chl,w/w)时达到最高,同时蛋白脂质体的吸收光谱和荧光光谱也呈上升趋势;在PC与类囊体膜重组比例为4∶1条件下,高温处理后的蛋白脂质体的PSⅡ放氧活性和PSⅠ耗氧活性显著大于未经重组的,其吸收光谱和荧光光谱峰值下降幅度低于未经重组的,且峰位基本没有变化.研究表明,PC可能通过增加结合天线的大小来促进蛋白脂质体对光能的吸收和能量从外周天线到PSⅡ和PSⅠ核心复合物的传递;在脂质体中,PC与类囊体膜的交互作用提高了PSⅡ和PSⅠ在高温胁迫下的光化学效率,增强了PSⅡ和PSⅠ的耐热性.     

Temperature dependence and polarization of fluorescence from Photosystem I in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803

To determine the fluorescence properties of cyanobacterial Photosystem I (PS I) in relatively intact systems, fluorescence emission from 20 to 295 K and polarization at 77 K have been measured from phycobilisomes-less thylakoids of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 and a mutant strain lacking Photosystem II (PS II). At 295 K, the fluorescence maxima are 686 nm in the wild type from PS I and PS II and at 688 nm from PS I in the mutant. This emission is characteristic of bulk antenna chlorophylls (Chls). The 690-nm fluorescence component of PS I is temperature independent. For wild-type and mutant, 725-nm fluorescence increases by a factor of at least 40 from 295 to 20 K. We model this temperature dependence assuming a small number of Chls within PS I, emitting at 725 nm, with an energy level below that of the reaction center, P700. Their excitation transfer rate to P700 decreases with decreasing temperature increasing the yield of 725-nm fluorescence.Fluorescence excitation spectra of polarized emission from low-energy Chls were measured at 77 and 295 K on the mutant lacking PS II. At excitation wavelengths longer than 715 nm, 760-nm emission is highly polarized indicating either direct excitation of the emitting Chls with no participation in excitation transfer or total alignment of the chromophores. Fluorescence at 760 nm is unpolarized for excitation wavelengths shorter than 690 nm, inferring excitation transfer between Chls before 760-nm fluorescence occurs.Our measurements illustrate that: 1) a single group of low-energy Chls (F725) of the core-like PS I complex in cyanobacteria shows a strongly temperature-dependent fluorescence and, when directly excited, nearly complete fluorescence polarization, 2) these properties are not the result of detergent-induced artifacts as we are examining intact PS I within the thylakoid membrane of S. 6803, and 3) the activation energy for excitation transfer from F725 Chls to P700 is less than that of F735 Chls in green plants; F725 Chls may act as a sink to locate excitations near P700 in PS I.Abbreviations Chl chlorophyll - BChl bacteriochlorophyll - PS Photosystem - S. 6803 Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 - PGP potassium glycerol phosphate     

The coleoptile chloroplast: Distinct distribution of xanthophyll cycle pigments,and enrichment in Photosystem II

Recent studies have shown that coleoptile chloroplasts operate the xanthophyll cycle, and that their zeaxanthin concentration co-varies with their sensitivity to blue light. The present study characterized the distribution of photosynthetic pigments in thylakoid pigment–protein complexes from dark-adapted and light-treated coleoptile and mesophyll chloroplasts, the low temperature fluorescence emission spectra, and the rates of PS I and PS II electron transport in both types of chloroplasts from 5-day-old corn seedlings. Pigments were extracted from isolated PS I holocomplex, LHC IIb trimeric and LHC II monomeric complexes and analyzed by HPLC. Chlorophyll distribution in coleoptile thylakoids showed 31% of the total collected Chl in PS I and 65% in the light harvesting complexes of PS II. In mesophyll thylakoids, the values were 44% and 54%, respectively. Mesophyll and coleoptile PS I holocomplexes differed in their Chl t a/Chl t b ratios (8.1 and 6.1, respectively) and -carotene content. In contrast, mesophyll and coleoptile LHC IIb trimers and LHC II monomers had similar Chl t a/Chl t b ratios and -carotene content. The three analyzed pigment–protein complexes from dark-adapted coleoptile chloroplasts contained zeaxanthin, whereas there was no detectable zeaxanthin in the complexes from dark-adapted mesophyll chloroplasts. In both chloroplast types, zeaxanthin and antheraxanthin increased markedly in the three pigment–protein complexes upon illumination, while violaxanthin decreased. In mesophyll thylakoids, zeaxanthin distribution as a percentage of the xanthophyll cycle pool was: LHC II monomers > LHC IIb trimers > PS I holocomplex, and in coleoptile thylakoids, it was: LHC IIb trimers > LHC II monomers = PS I holocomplex. Low temperature (77 K) fluorescence emission spectra showed that the 686 nm emission of coleoptile chloroplasts was approximately 50% larger than that of mesophyll chloroplasts when normalized at 734 nm. The pigment and fluorescence analysis data suggest that there is relatively more PS II per PS I and more LHC I per CC I in coleoptile chloroplasts than in mesophyll chloroplasts. Measurements of t in vitro uncoupled photosynthetic electron transport showed approximately 60% higher rates of electron flow through PS II in coleoptile chloroplasts than in mesophyll chloroplasts. Electron transport rates through PS I were similar in both chloroplast types. Thus, when compared to mesophyll chloroplasts, coleoptile chloroplasts have a distinct PS I pigment composition, a distinct chlorophyll distribution between PS I and PS II, a distinct zeaxanthin percentage distribution among thylakoid pigment–protein complexes, a higher PS II-related fluorescence emission, and higher PS II electron transport capacity. These characteristics may be associated with a sensory transducing role of coleoptile chloroplasts.     

Excitation energy transfer from phycobiliprotein to chlorophyll d in intact cells of Acaryochloris marina studied by time- and wavelength-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy.

The fluorescence decay spectra and the excitation energy transfer from the phycobiliproteins (PBP) to the chlorophyll-antennae of intact cells of the chlorophyll (Chl) d-dominated cyanobacterium Acaryochloris marina were investigated at 298 and 77 K by time- and wavelength-correlated single photon counting fluorescence spectroscopy. At 298 K it was found that (i) the fluorescence dynamics in A. marina is characterized by two emission peaks located at about 650 and 725 nm, (ii) the intensity of the 650 nm fluorescence depends strongly on the excitation wavelength, being high upon excitation of phycobiliprotein (PBP) at 632 nm but virtually absent upon excitation of chlorophyll at 430 nm, (iii) the 650 nm fluorescence band decayed predominantly with a lifetime of 70 +/- 20 ps, (iv) the 725 nm fluorescence, which was observed independent of the excitation wavelength, can be described by a three-exponential decay kinetics with lifetimes depending on the open or the closed state (F(0) or F(m)) of the reaction centre of Photosystem II (PS II). Based on the results of this study, it is inferred that the excitation energy transfer from phycobiliproteins to Chl d of PS II in A. marina occurs with a time constant of about 70 ps, which is about three times faster than the energy transfer from the phycobilisomes to PS II in the Chl a-containing cyanobacterium Synechococcus 6301. A similar fast PBP to Chl d excitation energy transfer was also observed at 77 K. At 77 K a small long-lived fluorescence decay component with a lifetime of 14 ns was observed in the 640-700 nm spectral range. However, it has a rather featureless spectrum, not typical for Chl a, and was only observed upon excitation at 400 nm but not upon excitation at 632 and 654 nm. Thus, this long-lived fluorescence component cannot be used as an indicator that the primary PS II donor of Acaryochloris marina contains Chl a.     

Growth characteristics and eicosapentaenoic acid production by Nannochloropsis sp. in mixotrophic conditions

Nannochloropsis sp. was grown under mixotrophic conditions with 30 mM glucose as carbon source, reaching 507 mg dry wt l(-1) after 8 d. This was 1.4-fold of that obtained under photoautotrophic conditions. Under mixotrophic and photoautotrophic cultivations, the net photosynthetic rate of Nannochloropsis sp. did not change but the respiratory rate increased in the mixotrophic cultivation. The yield of eicosapentaenoic acid was 22 mg l(-1) in the mixotrophic cultivation and 20 mg l(-1) under the photoautotrophic cultivation.     

The thylakoid membrane proteome of two marine diatoms outlines both diatom-specific and species-specific features of the photosynthetic machinery

The thylakoid membrane of photoautotrophic organisms contains the main components of the photosynthetic electron transport chain. Detailed proteome maps of the thylakoid protein complexes of two marine diatoms, Thalassiosira pseudonana and Phaeodactylum tricornutum, were created by means of two-dimensional blue native (BN)/SDS-PAGE coupled with mass spectrometry analysis. One novel diatom-specific photosystem I (PS I)-associated protein was identified. A second plastid-targeted protein with possible PS I interaction was discovered to be restricted to the centric diatom species T. pseudonana. PGR5/PGRL homologues were found to be the only protein components of PS I-mediated cyclic electron transport common to both species. For the first time, evidence for a possible PS I localization of LI818-like light harvesting proteins (Lhcx) is presented. This study also advances the current knowledge on the light harvesting antenna composition and Lhcx expression in T. pseudonana on the protein level and presents details on the molecular distribution of Lhcx in diatoms. Above mentioned proteins and several others with unknown function provide a broad basis for further mutagenesis analysis, aiming toward further understanding of the composition and function of the photosynthetic apparatus of diatoms. The proteomics approach of this study further served as a tool to confirm and improve genome-derived protein models.     

The Chlorophyll-Protein Complexes Resolved from Ultrasonically Broken Thylakoid Memb-ranes of Blue-Green Algae

When the thylakoid membranes of blue-green algae were broken by ultrasonic vibrations and subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis at 4℃, six green zones were resolved. They were designated as CPIa, CPlb, CPI; CPal, CPa2, and FC. The absorption spectrum of CPI had a red maximum at 674 nm and a peak in the blue at 435 nm. It was identified as PS chlorophyll a-protein Complex, but was contaminated with minor PSⅡ which was implied by the appearance of fluorescence emission peak at 680 nm besides the main one at 725 nm at 77 K. The spectral properties of CPIa and CPlb were similar to that of CPl. The absorption spectra of CPa1 and CPa2 were similar, both having red maxima at 667 nm and peaks in the blue at 431.5 nm. Their fluorescence emission had the same peaks at 684 nm at 77 K indicating that they belonged to PSⅡ. It was recognized that CPal of 47 kD is the reaction center complex of photosystem Ⅱ and CPa2 of 40 kD is the internal antenna complex of photosystem Ⅱ. The spectral characteristics of the chlorophyll-protein complexes resolved by ultrasonic method were similar to those of the same complexes resolved by SDS solubilization, except the absorbance positions of CPa1 and CPa2 in the blue peak and the red one which shifted to blue about 3–5 nm. It was calculated that in thylakoid membranes of blue-green algae 40.93% chlorophyll was in PSⅠ, while 38.78% of chlorophyll in PSⅡ. The difference of chlorophyll contents between PSⅠ and PSⅡ was only 2.15%. Concerning the fact that minor PSⅡ compound remained in the part of PSⅠ zones, it might be concluded that the distribution of chlorophyll between PSⅠ and PSⅡ in blue-green algae was equal. This result was in agreement with the hypothesis that PSⅠ and PSⅡ operates in series in photosynthetic electron transport.     

The response of ultrastructure and function of chloroplasts from cycads to doubled CO2 concentration

This study examines the effects of doubled CO₂ concentration on the ultrastructure and function of chloroplasts from cycads and, for control from two other herbaceous angiosperms. Under a doubled CO₂ concentration condition, the chloroplast ultrastructure of the two cycads (Cycas multipinnata with a shade-type chloroplast andC. panzhihuaensis with a sun-type chloroplast) changed little: The conformation of the thylakoid membrane system kept well, and almost no starch grains accumulated. In contrast, under the same conditions the chloroplast ultrastructure of soybean and foxtail millet changed considerably, with starch grains accumulating in their chloroplasts and some of thylakoids (especially stroma thylakoid) membranes being destroyed to some degree by the more numerous and larger starch grains that accumulated in the chloroplasts. Interestingly, the changes in the ultrastructure of the chloroplasts from the two cycads was correlated with the 77K fluorescence emission spectra of their chlorophyll; i.e., the F685/F734 (PS II / PS I) ratio within the chloroplasts, which were minimal. The absorption spectrum showed decreases in the red and blue peaks. These changes in the absorption spectrum may be related to changes in the structural arrangement of the thylakoid membranes. Preliminarily, this experimental result shows that the cycads may adapt themselves to environmental changes under doubled CO₂ concentration in the coming centuries. However, more studies on this aspect are necessary.