SILICON DEPOSITION DURING THE CELL CYCLE OF THALASSIOSIRA WEISSFLOGII (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE) DETERMINED USING DUAL RHODAMINE 123 AND PROPIDIUM IODIDE STAINING1

The relatively non-toxic dye, rhodamine 123 (R123), was incorporated into the frustule of Thalassiosira weissflogii Grun. clone ACTIN in direct proportion to biogenic silica (BSi). R123 was used together with the DNA stain propidium iodide to track and quantify Si deposition during the cell cycle of T. weissflogii using flow cytometry. Silicon deposition was not continuous through the cell cycle. Deposition of the valves occurred during M phase. The hypocingulum was largely deposited during G1 with some suggestion of minor girdle band deposition during G2. Silicon deposition did not occur during S phase. Assuming that a complete frustule consists of an epivalve, epicingulum, hypocingulum, and hypovalve, then 40% of cellular BSi was contained within the cingulum of T. weissflogii with 60% present in the valves. These percentages correspond to 0.38 pmol Si in the two cingula and 0.57 pmol Si in the valves. Temporal differences in the timing of silicic acid uptake and deposition during the cell cycle of T. weissflogii suggested that deposition of both the new valves and the cingulum is supported by an internal pool of dissolved Si acquired during G2.     

Oleic acid is the main fatty acid related with carotenogenesis in Dunaliella salina

The variation of the fatty acid profile and the carotene content of Dunaliella salina in response to irradiance (80, 128, 640, 1000, 1500 μmol photon m⁻² s⁻¹) and nitrogen starvation were analysed. The highest fatty acid content per cell and the least polyunsaturated fatty acid percentage were exhibited under 1500 μmol photon m⁻² s⁻¹. Furthermore, the oleic acid (18:1) content maintained a positive and significant correlation with the carotene content per cell and with the irradiance. The composition of the carotene globules in Dunaliella salina may be the main determinant of this correlation. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Inhibition of photosynthesis by solar radiation in Dunaliella salina: relative efficiencies of UV-B, UV-A and PAR

Inhibition of photosynthesis after exposure to solar radiation was investigated in the marine green alga Dunaliella salina by monitoring photosynthetic optimal quantum yield F_v/F_m and efficiency of oxygen production. Samples were exposed to solar radiation in Ancient Korinth, Greece (37°58′ N, 23°0′ E) in August 1994. Within 30 min, F_v/F_m and efficiency of oxygen production decreased with similar kinetics with increasing exposure time. The inhibition, however, diminished when ultraviolet radiation was progressively excluded by means of colour filter glasses. Samples exposed for 3 h showed complete or partial recovery of photosynthesis, with almost the same rate under all irradition conditions. The fit of the experimental data with an analytical model describing inhibition of photosynthesis as a function of a linear combination of the photon fluence in the UV-B, UV-A and PAR allows one to estimate the relative mean effectiveness for inhibition by the three spectral ranges [about 2 × 10^?4, 4 × 10^?6 and 2 × 10^?7 (μmol photons m^?2)^?1 for UV-B, UV-A and PAR, respectively].     

Effects of Nutrient Limitation on Pigments in Thalassiosira weissflogii and Prorocentrum donghaiense

The response of Prorocentrum donghaiense and Thalassiosira weissfiogii pigments under nitrate （N） and phosphate （P） limitation were studied using HPLC and in vivo fluorescence protocols in batch cultures. For P. donghaiense, the pigment ratio was kept stable under different nutrient conditions from the results of HPLC. For T. weissflogii, there was a lower ratio of chlorophyllide to Chl a during the exponential phase, but the reverse during the stationary phase. Different members of the phytoplankton had different pigments response mechanisms under nutrient limitation. From the results of in vivo fluorescence, the ratio of peridinin to Chl a for P. donghaiense increased in nutrient-free culture, while it was kept stable for nutrient-limited cultures during the exponential phase. For T. weissflogii, the ratio of fucoxanthin to Chl a for each culture increased during the exponential phase, but the ratio under N limitation was apparently lower than that for P limitation during the stationary phase. The results indicate that both pigment ratios from HPLC and in vivo fluorescence of To weissflogii were changed greatly under different nutrient conditions, which suggests that both ratios could be used as indicators of algal physiological status in different nutrient conditions.     

盐生杜氏藻和青岛大扁藻的超低温保存

采用两步法冷冻技术超低浊保存盐生杜氏藻（Ｄｕｎａｌｉｅｌｌａ ｓａｌｉｎｕ（Ｄｕｎａｌ）Ｔｅｏｄ．）和青岛大扁藻（Ｐｌａｔｙｍｏｎａｓ ｈｅｌｇｏｌａｎｄｉｃａ Ｋｙｌｉｎ ｖａｒ．ｔｓｉｇｔａｏｅｎｓｉｓ）。当二甲基亚砚（ＤＭＳＯ）浓度分别为５％和２０％,平衡时间均为ｍｉｎ,预冻温度及保持时间分别为－４０℃,６０ｍｉｎ和－３０℃,３０ｍｉｎ;化冻后分别在０℃和到温下采用慢速稀释法去除ＤＭＳＯ时,     

Cryopreservation of Dunaliella salina and Platymonas helgolandica var. tsingtaoensis

Dunaliella salina (Dunal) Teod. and Platymonas helgolandica Kylin var. tsingtaoensis were cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen with a two-step cryopreservation method. With 5% and 20% dimethylsulphoxyde (DMSO) concentration respectively through 30 min equilibrium time, and under -40℃, 60 min and -30℃, 30 min respectively as prefreezing temperature and sustained time, and by using slow dilution method to remove DMSO from the sample at 0℃ and room temperature respectively after sample thawing, D. salina and P. helgolandica var. tsingtaoensis gained the highest survival rates that were 68.5% and 78.3% respectively.     

Kinetics of β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) and 2, 4-diaminobutyric acid (DAB) production by diatoms: the effect of nitrogen

The neurotoxins β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) and 2,4-diaminobutyric acid (DAB) are produced by cyanobacteria, diatoms and dinoflagellates and have been detected in seafood worldwide. Our present knowledge of their metabolism or biosynthesis is limited. In this study, the production of BMAA and DAB as a function of time was monitored in five strains representing four species of diatoms, i.e. Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Thalassiosira weissflogii, Thalassiosira pseudonana and Navicula pelliculosa, previously identified as BMAA and DAB producers. Subsequently, three strains were selected and exposed to three nitrogen treatments – starvation, control (the standard concentration in f/2 medium) and enrichment, because BMAA metabolism has been suggested to be closely associated with cellular nitrogen metabolism in both cyanobacteria and diatoms. Chlorophyll a and total protein concentrations were also determined. Our results indicate that BMAA and DAB production in diatoms is species- and strain-specific. However, production might also be affected by stress, particularly as related to nitrogen starvation and cell density. Furthermore, this study shows a significant correlation between the production of the two neurotoxins which might further suggest common steps in the metabolic pathways.     

TRACE METAL REDUCTION BY PHYTOPLANKTON: THE ROLE OF PLASMALEMMA REDOX ENZYMES1,2

The phytoplankton cell surface reduces external copper(II) and iron(III) complexes and redox dyes. This reductive activity appears to be mediated by one or more plasmalemma redox enzymes. Trace metal complexes are directly reduced by the redox enzyme, therefore the reduction rate is not regulated by the metal free ion activity in solution. This is in direct contrast to previous measurements of trace metal interactions with the phytoplankton cell membrane. Half-saturation constants for the reduction of Cu(II) complexes with carbonate, phenanthroline and bathocuproinedisulfonate are in the range 2.3–14.7 μM, which suggests that trace metal complexes are not the main electron acceptor in natural waters. In the diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii there is additional reductive activity associated with the cell wall.     

杜氏盐藻和亚心形扁藻在不同接种密度和氮浓度下的细胞群体生长

在氮浓度为1.4、14、和140 mg·L^-1下,对杜氏盐藻(Dunaliella salina)和亚心形扁藻(Platymonas subcordiformis)进行细胞接种比例为10:0、7:3、5:5、3:7和0:10的培养试验,研究不同海洋经济微藻种间混合培养的细胞群体生长效应。结果表明,杜氏盐藻与亚心形扁藻细胞群体的生长随着氮浓度的增加而提高;两种藻在氮浓度分别为14和140mg·L^-1时混合培养的细胞群体生长明显优于单独培养。中、高氮下杜氏盐藻与亚心形扁藻以7:3的接种比例混合时,微藻的细胞群体生物量和胞内物质含量相比单独培养和其他比例均有显著提高,如叶绿素a含量比单独培养分别提高1.17倍和7.77倍;蛋白质含量比单独培养分别提高19.1%和195.3%等。而低氮浓度下,藻的生长受到氮浓度的限制。     

Effects of non-steady-state iron limitation on nitrogen assimilatory enzymes in the marine diatom thalassiosira weissflogii (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE)

Since the recognition of iron‐limited high nitrate (or nutrient) low chlorophyll (HNLC) regions of the ocean, low iron availability has been hypothesized to limit the assimilation of nitrate by diatoms. To determine the influence of non‐steady‐state iron availability on nitrogen assimilatory enzymes, cultures of Thalassiosira weissflogii (Grunow) Fryxell et Hasle were grown under iron‐limited and iron‐replete conditions using artificial seawater medium. Iron‐limited cultures suffered from decreased efficiency of PSII as indicated by the DCMU‐induced variable fluorescence signal (F_v/F_m). Under iron‐replete conditions, in vitro nitrate reductase (NR) activity was rate limiting to nitrogen assimilation and in vitro nitrite reductase (NiR) activity was 50‐fold higher. Under iron limitation, cultures excreted up to 100 fmol NO₂^?·cell^?1·d^?1 (about 10% of incorporated N) and NiR activities declined by 50‐fold while internal NO₂^? pools remained relatively constant. Activities of both NR and NiR remained in excess of nitrogen incorporation rates throughout iron‐limited growth. One possible explanation is that the supply of photosynthetically derived reductant to NiR may be responsible for the limitation of nitrogen assimilation at the NO₂^? reduction step. Urease activity showed no response to iron limitation. Carbon:nitrogen ratios were equivalent in both iron conditions, indicating that, relative to carbon, nitrogen was assimilated at similar rates whether iron was limiting growth or not. We hypothesize that, diatoms in HNLC regions are not deficient in their ability to assimilate nitrate when they are iron limited. Rather, it appears that diatoms are limited in their ability to process photons within the photosynthetic electron transport chain which results in nitrite reduction becoming the rate‐limiting step in nitrogenassimilation.     

STATE TRANSITIONS AND NONPHOTOCHEMICAL QUENCHING DURING A NUTRIENT‐INDUCED FLUORESCENCE TRANSIENT IN PHOSPHORUS‐STARVED DUNALIELLA TERTIOLECTA1

Assessments of nutrient‐limitation in microalgae using chl a fluorescence have revealed that nitrogen and phosphorus depletion can be detected as a change in chl a fluorescence signal when nutrient‐starved algae are resupplied with the limiting nutrient. This photokinetic phenomenon is known as a nutrient‐induced fluorescence transient, or NIFT. Cultures of the unicellular marine chlorophyte Dunaliella tertiolecta Butcher were grown under phosphate starvation to investigate the photophysiological mechanism behind the NIFT response. A combination of low temperature (77 K) fluorescence, photosynthetic inhibitors, and nonphotochemical quenching analyses were used to determine that the NIFT response is associated with changes in energy distribution between PSI and PSII and light‐stress‐induced nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ). Previous studies point to state transitions as the likely mechanism behind the NIFT response; however, our results show that state transitions are not solely responsible for this phenomenon. This study shows that an interaction of at least two physiological processes is involved in the rapid quenching of chl a fluorescence observed in P‐starved D. tertiolecta: (1) state transitions to provide the nutrient‐deficient cell with metabolic energy for inorganic phosphate (P_i)‐uptake and (2) energy‐dependent quenching to allow the nutrient‐stressed cell to avoid photodamage from excess light energy during nutrient uptake.     

盐生杜氏藻细胞光合特性的研究

研究了盐生杜氏藻细胞的光合特性获知：⑴在７００－３００ｎｍ波长范围,出现三个吸收峰,分别位于６８０．４８５和４００ｎｍ处;⑵测定了该藻细胞内ＡＴＰ／ＡＤＰ比值,钒酸钠处理可以提高ＡＴＰ／ＡＤＰ比值;⑶以培养液为反应介质,测出该藻细胞的光合放氧,钒酸钠抑制放氧速率;⑷用调制式荧光计测出该藻细胞的Ｆｏ,Ｆｍ以及经间隔饱和光脉冲引起的Ｆｍ,表明盐生杜氏藻具有正常的光系统结构;⑸该藻细胞可诱导可逆的光状态     

Chesapeake Bay nutrient budgets — a reassessment

Recently published annual mass balances or budgets for nitrogen, phosphorus, and silicon in Chesapeake Bay have pictured the estuary as retaining a very large fraction, perhaps all, of the nutrients that enter from land drainage, the atmosphere, and anthropogenic discharges. However, these budgets have been based on estimates of the net exchanges of nutrients at the mouth of the bay or on the rates of accumulation of nutrients and sediments calculated from the distributions of various geochemical tracers in the sediments. While conceptually straightforward, the first approach is subject to large errors because it requires the determination of a small "signal" against a large background of tidal "noise". The second approach has led to overestimates of the nutrient trapping efficiency of the bay because tracer-derived sediment deposition rates have been multiplied by the surface area of the whole bay or various parts of the bay rather than by the smaller area of active sediment deposition. This approach is also incorrect because the average, long-term rates of sediment deposition measured by the geochemical tracers, including major floods, have been compared to shorter-term records of nutrient input.The more appropriate calculation of nutrient retention based on contemporaneous measurements of nutrient and sediment input and the chemical compositon of sediments accumulated in the estuary shows that Chesapeake Bay retains only some 3–6% of the nitrogen, 11–17% of the phosphorus and 33–83% of the silicon brought into its waters during a year in which no major flood occurred.This behavior suggests that current problems of estuarine eutrophication are more a consequence of present nutrient inputs than an inevitable or inescapable legacy of past enrichment. It also follows that the management or manipulation of nutrient loadings to esturies may lead to a more rapid response in environmental quality than previously predicted.     

Annual changes of nitrogen and phosphorus in two aquatic macrophytes (Nymphaea Tuberosa and Ceratophyllum Demersum)

The nitrogen and phosphorus content of Nymphaea tuberosa and Ceratophyllum demersum, in Lake Onalaska, Wisconsin, was studied for a year. On a yearly basis, N. tuberosa exhibited nitrogen and phosphorus differences among seasons and among plant parts. Variation among plant parts was also evident in C. demersum. However, within individual plant structures, no seasonal differences were observed.Funds were provided by the River Studies Center, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Thomas O. Claflin, Director.Funds were provided by the River Studies Center, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Thomas O. Claflin, Director.     

强光诱导叶片和盐藻在505nm的差示吸收和叶绿素荧光的变化

用分光光度计直接测定几种植物叶圆片和单细胞盐藻照强光（1500μmolm-2s-1）前后在505nm（玉米黄质吸收峰）的光一暗差示吸收变化。短期照光的时问进程中,芦荟（Aloevera）、芒果（Mangiferaindica）、白菜（BrassicaChinensiS）和苦卖菜（SonchusOleraceus）的AA505持续增高,达最大值后有所下降。加入抗坏血酸能刺激光下AA505增大。光诱导的AA505可在暗下消失。单细胞盐藻M50,受光诱导的变化趋势与高等植物叶片相似。研究表明,强光下植物体内出现活跃的与紫黄质去环氧化反应有关的光保护机制的运行,其状况可直接用M505作为检测指标。与白光相比,红色强光只有照射5min时才引·起盐藻AA505上升,在5-90min照光过程中对Fv／Fm的影响比白光小,对AA540的影响比白光大,但两种光反对光合色素的影响没有差异。     

强光下SO_3~(2-)和HCO_3~-对盐藻叶绿素荧光的影响

强光下（1000μmolm-2s-1）用低浓度（1mmol／L）处理盐藻1h,其Fv／Fm、qN,qp和PSⅡ都较暗对照高。随着SO浓度（5,25,50,100mmol／L）的提高,Fv／Fm、qN、qp和ΦPSⅡ下降。20mmol／L的HCO3-可减缓这种下降趋势。强光下1mmol／LHCO3-对25mmol／LSO产生的光抑制不但没在减弱反而有所加强,提高HCO3-浓度则有减弱作用,尤以50mmol／L的效果最好,而且qN可随HCO3-浓度的增高而上升,至100mmol／L才略有下降。低浓度下SO（5mmol／L）强光的光抑制在随后的低光条件下（40μmolm-2s-1）放置2h能完全恢复,高于此浓度引起的光抑制不能完全逆转。低光下HCO3-能促进光抑制的恢复。     

Effect of nitrogen and phosphorus addition on phenanthrene biodegradation in four soils

Phenanthrene mineralization rates were found to vary widely among four soils; differences in soil nutrient levels was one hypothesis to explain this variation. To test this hypothesis, phenanthrene mineralization rates were measured in these soils with, and without, added nitrogen and phosphorus. Mineralization rates either remained unchanged or were depressed by the addition of nitrogen and phosphorus. Phenanthrene degradation rates remained unchanged in the soil which had the highest indigenous levels of nitrogen and phosphorus and which showed the largest increase in phosphorus levels after nutrients were added. The soils in which degradation rates were depressed had lower initial phosphorus concentrations and showed much smaller or no measurable increase in phosphorus levels after nutrients were added to the soils. To understand the response of phenanthrene degradation rates to added nitrogen and phosphorus, it may be necessary to consider the bioavailability of added nutrients and nutrient induced changes in microbial metabolism and ecology.     

Response of tomato plants to chilling stress in association with nutrient or phosphorus starvation

The experiments were conducted on two tomato cultivars: Garbo and Robin. Mineral starvation due to plant growth in 20-fold diluted nutrient solution (DNS) combined with chilling reduced the rate of photosynthesis (P _N) and stomatal conductance (g) to a greater extent than in plants grown in full nutrient solution (FNS). In phosphate-starved tomato plants the P _N rate and stomatal conductance decreased more after chilling than in plants grown on FNS. In low-P plants even 2 days after chilling the recovery of CO₂ assimilation rate and stomatal conductance was low. A resupply of phosphorus to low-P plants (low P + P) did not improve the rate of photosynthesis in non-chilled plants (NCh) but prevented P_N inhibition in chilled (Ch) plants. The greatest effect of P resupply was expressed as a better recovery of photosynthesis and stomatal conductance, especially in non-chilled low P + P plants. The F _v/F _m (ratio of variable to maximal chlorophyll fluorescence) decreased more during P starvation than as an effect of chilling. Supplying phosphorus to low-P plants caused the slight increase in the F _v/F _mratio. In conclusion, after a short-term chilling in darkness a much more drastic inhibition of photosynthesis was observed in nutrient-starved or P-insufficient tomato plants than in plants from FNS. This inhibition was caused by the decrease in both photochemical efficiency of photosystems and the reduction of stomatal conductance. The presented results support the hypothesis that tomato plants with limited supply of mineral nutrients or phosphorus are more susceptible to chilling.     

PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO PHOSPHORUS LIMITATION IN BATCH AND STEADY-STATE CULTURES OF DUNALIELLA TERTIOLECTA (CHLOROPHYTA): A UNIQUE STRESS PROTEIN AS AN INDICATOR OF PHOSPHATE DEFICIENCY1

A protein unique to phosphorus stress observed in Dunaliella tertiolecta Butcher was studied in the context of phosphate-limited cell physiology and is a potential diagnostic indicator of phosphate deficiency in this alga. Cells were grown over a range of limited, steady-state growth rates and at maximum (replete) and zero (phosphate-starved) growth rates. The stress protein, absent in nutrient-replete cells, was produced under all steady-state phosphate-limited conditions and increased in abundance with increasing limitation (decreasing growth rate). Cellular carbon: phosphorus ratios and the maximum uptake rate of phosphate (V_m) increased with increasing limitation, whereas the ratio of chlorophyll a: carbon decreased. Alkaline phosphatase activity did not respond to limitation but was measurable in starved, stationary-phase cells. F_v/F_m, a measure of photochemical efficiency, was a nonlinear, saturating function of p, as commonly observed under N limitation. The maximum F_v/F_m of 0.64 was measured in nutrient-replete cells growing at μ_max, and a value of zero was measured in stationary-phase starved cells. When physiological parameters were compared, the P-stress protein abundance and F_v/F_m were the most sensitive indicators of the level of deficiency. The stress protein was not produced under N- or Fe-limited conditions. It is of high molecular weight (>200) and is associated with internal cell membranes. The stress protein has several characteristics that make it a potential diagnostic indicator: it is 1) unique to phosphorus limitation (i.e. absent under all other conditions), 2) present under limiting as well as starved conditions, 3) sensitive to the level of limitation, and 4) observable without time-course incubation of live samples.     

杜氏盐藻β-酮酯酰-ACP合酶(DsKASⅡ)基因的分离及功能分析

酮脂酰-ACP合成酶Ⅱ(KASⅡ)是催化棕榈酸(16∶0-ACP)延伸为硬脂酸(18∶0-ACP)的关键酶,其活性强弱决定着18碳脂肪酸含量的高低。本文以杜氏盐藻(Dunaliella salina)为试材,分离鉴定杜氏盐藻DsKASⅡ基因编码序列,采用生物信息学工具解析DsKASⅡ酶蛋白的亚细胞定位、高级结构、理化性质及系统发育等特性。检测氮胁迫下的DsKASⅡ表达量,以及藻细胞脂肪酸、叶绿素和β-胡萝卜素的含量。结果表明,DsKASⅡ编码的酶蛋白长度为476 aa,pI为6. 99,含叶绿体靶向肽和较多亲水区。二级结构主要由α-螺旋(22. 48%),β-片层(22. 06%)和无规则卷曲(55. 46%)组成。三级结构预测表明该蛋白整体呈紧密的心形结构,活性酶蛋白为同源二聚体。系统发育分析表明,DsKASⅡ氨基酸序列与莱茵衣藻CrKASⅡ同源性达99%,可能二者有着共同的进化祖先。qRT-PCR揭示,与正常培养的杜氏盐藻相比,DsKASⅡ在氮胁迫条件下的表达量明显上调,第3天时的表达量比正常培养的高4. 5倍。氮胁迫下藻细胞总油脂、油酸(C18∶1)和类胡萝卜素含量显著提高,然而棕榈酸(C16∶0)和叶绿素的含量明显降低。这表明,氮胁迫诱导杜氏盐藻DsKASⅡ基因上调表达,将更多的棕榈酸催化为硬脂酸,进而提高了单不饱和油酸的富集以及类胡萝卜素的积累。本研究为后续进一步解析杜氏盐藻氮胁迫条件下,油脂与胡萝卜素合成积累及藻细胞响应胁迫机制和优质富油藻种培育提供了科学参考。