Possible toxic effects on Daphnia resulting from the green alga Scenedesmus obliquus

We cultured individuals of two Daphnia species and their hybrid on two different algae, Scenedesmus obliquus and Chlamydomonas globosa, in different concentrations. Our results suggest that culture conditions of S. obliquus can be such that the algal cells become toxic to Daphnia     

Inter- and intraspecific differences in Daphnia life histories in response to two food sources: the green alga Scenedesmus and the filamentous cyanobacterium Oscillatoria

The effects of two food sources on life history traits of Daphniagaleata, Daphnia cucullata and their interspecific hybrid. D.cucullataxgaleata,were studied. For each taxon, two clones were reared on botha green alga (Scenedesmus obliquus) and a filamentous cyanobacterium(Oscillatoria limnetica). Reproduction on Oscillatoria was generallylower than on Scenedesmus, but a positive population growthrate was still achieved, except in one hybrid clone Life historytraits showed differences among the intraspecific clones. Daphniacucullata, the smallest of the three taxa, was the best of thethree in utilizing Oscillatoria as food, but D.galeata and thehybrid did not differ clearly. The clones within the taxa alsodiffered in the extent they could utilize Oscillatoria as food.The results are discussed in relation to the co-existence ofthese taxa in nature.     

Volatile substances of the green alga Scenedesmus incrassatulus

Volatile substances of the green microalga Scenedesmus incrassatulus, cultivated in fresh and salt water, were studied. Cultivation in fresh water diversifies volatile secondary metabolites. Hydrocarbons and derivatives of the acetate pathway predominate when algae are grown in salt water; isoprenoids and aromatics are more abundant after fresh water cultivation.     

Biotransformation of 1-naphthalenesulfonic acid by the green alga Scenedesmus obliquus

Under sulfate limitation, axenic batch cultures of the green alga Scenedesmus obliquus metabolized 1-naphthalenesulfonic acid and partially used the sulfonate as a source of sulfur. The main metabolite, 1-hydroxy-2-naphthalenesulfonic acid, which was not metabolized further in the algal culture, was formed by hydroxylation of the substrate in position 1 and by migration of the sulfonic acid group to position 2 of the naphthalene ring (NIH shift). A smaller amount of 1-naphthalenesulfonic acid was desulfonated. The resulting 1-naphthol was mostly transformed into 1-naphthyl β-d-glucopyranoside. Received: 27 March 1996 / Revision received: 18 October 1996 / Accepted: 30 October 1996     

Glutamate dehydrogenase of the unicellular green alga Scenedesmus acutus

The coenzyme-non-specific glutamate dehydrogenase (EC 1.4.1.3) from Scenedesmus acutus in inhibited by p-hydroxymercuribenzoate only in the deamination reaction. From this result and from its stability in the presence of urea it is concluded that this enzyme exhibits and equilibrium between three conformations: aminating and deaminating conformations induced by NADH-2-oxoglutarate and NAD⁺-glutamate, respectively, and the “native” conformation in the absence of substrates.     

High-affinity siderophore-mediated iron-transport system in the green alga Scenedesmus incrassatulus

Under iron-deficient conditions a high-affinity siderophore-mediated iron-transport system is induced in the green alga Scenedesmus incrassatulus R-83. Algal siderophores have a strong avidity for ferric versus ferrous iron, quickly oxidate Fe^II and efficiently solubilize Fe^III hydroxides. The entire ferrated molecule is translocated across the membrane by the specific transport system. The iron-uptake rate in Fe-deficient cells is higher at higher pH adjusted with bicarbonate in the medium, suggesting the presence of an inducible membrane-bound translocator. The iron-reduction step is not involved in uptake of ferrated siderophores. The total absorbed iron from siderophores is high and does not strongly depend on the nutritional status of cells, showing that the critical step for iron uptake is siderophore secretion rather than the membrane-bound iron-transport system.Abbreviations DFOB desferrioxamine B - EDDHA ethylenediamine di (o-hydroxyphenyl) acetic acid - BPDS bathophenanthrolinedisulphonate This work was supported by grant No. B-69 from the National Fund for Scientific Investigations at the Ministery of Education and Science in Bulgaria.     

Bioaccumulation and toxicity of selenium compounds in the green alga Scenedesmus quadricauda

Background  

Selenium is a trace element performing important biological functions in many organisms including humans. It usually affects organisms in a strictly dosage-dependent manner being essential at low and toxic at higher concentrations. The impact of selenium on mammalian and land plant cells has been quite extensively studied. Information about algal cells is rare despite of the fact that they could produce selenium enriched biomass for biotechnology purposes.     

Changes in DNA composition during cell differentiation in a green alga

In the coenobia-forming green alga, Hydrodictyon reticulatum, changes in DNA composition during growth and differentiation of reproductive cells were followed. A “loss” of DNA per nucleus could be attributed to underreplication of an amplified DNA fraction being part of a (GC)-rich satellite band in CsCl gradients of DNA from young coenobia. This (GC)-rich satellite DNA contains up to 3 % unique DNA sequences intermingled with repetitive DNA. It does not (or nearly not) contain ribosomal DNA. A possible role of this DNA fraction in differentiation is suggested.     

Accumulation of uranium at low concentration by the green alga Scenedesmus obliquus 34

Accumulation of UO ₂ ^{2 +} by Scenedesmus obliquus 34 was rapid and energy-independent and the biosorption of UO ₂ ^{2 +} could be described by the Freundlich adsorption isotherm below the maximum adsorption capacity (75 mg g-¹ dry wt). The optimum pH for uranium uptake was between 5.0_8.5.0.1_2.0 M NaCl enhanced uranyl, while Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Mn²⁺ competed slightly with uranyl. Pretreatment had an unexpected effect on biosorption. After being killed by 0.1 M HCl, S. Obliquus 34 showed 45% of the uptake capacity of the control in which fresh cells were suspended directly in uranyl solution, while the pretreatment of cells by 0.1 M NaOH, 2.0 M NaCl, ethanol or heating decreased uptake slightly. Fresh S. obliquus 34 at 1.2_2.4 mg dry wt mL-1 was able to decrease U from 5.0 to 0.05 mg L-1 after 4_6 equilibrium stages with batch adsorption. Deposited U could be desorbed by pH 4.0 buffer. It is suggested that U was captured by effective groups or by capillary action in the cell wall in the form of [UO2OH]+. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Changes in the pigment patterns and the photosynthetic activity during a light-induced cell cycle of the green alga Scenedesmus armatus

The photosynthetic oxygen evolution as well as the chlorophyll and carotenoid patterns were studied during the light phase (14 h) of the Scenedesmus armatus cell cycle. The alga was synchronised by the light/dark regime (14/10 h). In this publication, the term “cell cycle” refers to this period of light only. The oxygen evolution measured by a Clark-type electrode and expressed per cell, gradually increased from the beginning of the cell cycle, reaching its maximum at 12 h and then slowly declined towards the end of the cell cycle. This pattern reflects the final reproductive events of the cell cycle consisting of the third mitotic division, chloroplast and protoplast fission, followed by the formation of the autospores. When the same amount of oxygen was expressed per chlorophyll a content, we observed a rapid increase just after the onset of light, which reached a maximum at the third hour, after which, this slowly declined until the end of the cell cycle. A similar pattern for the relative quantum yield of oxygen evolution was obtained when a photobaric component of a photoacoustic signal was analysed by the photoacoustic spectroscopy method. The most abundant carotenoid was lutein. Much smaller amounts of α-carotene, β-carotene, loroxanthin, violoxanthin and neoxanthin were noted; traces of zeaxanthin and antheraxanthin were also identified. The photosynthetic efficiency and the ratio of lutein/α-carotene followed the same patterns during the cell cycle and similar relationships were also observed in the ratio changes of violoxanthin/β-carotene and violoxanthin/neoxanthin. The most photosynthetic-efficient cells contained the highest level of lutein, and had a much lower violoxanthin content. The content of neoxanthin and β-carotene found was lower, with both pigments still being present in similar amounts. These results suggest that the molecular organisation of LHC IIb mainly determined the photosynthetic efficiency of algae during its light-induced cell cycle.     

Enantioselective toxicological response of the green alga Scenedesmus obliquus to isocarbophos

Chiral compounds usually behave enantioselectively in phyto‐biochemical processes. Isocarbophos (ICP) is a chiral pesticide that is widely used. To evaluate the toxicological response of ICP and its enantiomers to Scenedesmus obliquus, algal growth, total chlorophyll, total soluble protein, and the superoxide anion radicals (O₂^?‐) were investigated. The microalgae were treated with ICP and its enantiomers at 0.01–10 mg/l for 96 h. The growth of S. obliquus was stimulated at low levels of ICP and its enantiomers (0.01–1 mg/l), but all were inhibited at high concentrations (10 mg/l). The total soluble protein content and total chlorophyll content of the tested green alga S. obliquus gradually increased, depending on the growth of algal cells in the medium. Meanwhile, the content of O₂^?‐ was decreased. Interestingly, the cell number and content of the chlorophylls and protein decreased with increasing levels of concentration, whereas O₂^?‐ increased. Our results indicated that enantioselectivity was observed in the dose–response of ICP and its enantiomers in S. obliquus. The high O₂^?‐ level might lead to the death of S. obliquus. The stimulation of growth suggests a regulatory mechanism that is related to the capability of the algae to adapt to the O₂^?‐. Chirality 24:481–485, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The effect of substances from different zooplankton species and fish on the induction of defensive morphology in the green alga Scenedesmus obliquus

The common green alga Scenedesmus obliquus may respond morphologicallyto the presence of natural enemies. Exposure to water-bornecues from the herbivorous zooplankton Ceriodaphnia reticulata,Daphnia galeata x hyalina, Daphnia magna and Daphnia pulicariastimulated the formation of protective colonies in S. obliquus.This response seemed strongly related to the amount of algaegrazed upon, because a highly significant correlation betweenthe amount of S. obliquus consumed and the induced colony formationwas found. However, when exposed to medium that had been inhabitedby the carnivorous zooplankton Bythotrephes longimanus and Leptodorakindtii, no colony formation occurred. A similar result wasobtained in two different experiments when S. obliquus was exposedto filtrate from cultures of the freshwater fish ide (Leuciscusidus) and perch (Perca fluviatilis). These results support thehypothesis that S. obliquus responds to a herbivorous zooplanktonchemical cue, rather than to a more general animal excretoryproduct. No support was obtained for the hypothesis that cuesfrom the enemy of their enemy could serve as signals to thealgae: despite the presence of filtrate from fish culture, filtratefrom Daphnia cultures induced the formation of colonies in S.obliquus. The biological activity seems to be linked to thealga–grazer interaction, which ensures a reliable cuethat evokes the morphological response of S. obliquus only whennecessary. The grazer-induced colony formation can be viewedas an adaptive reaction in habitats with variable grazing pressurefrom an assemblage of many different herbivores to pare downmortality through grazing.     

The effect of small-scale fluid motion on the green alga Scenedesmus quadricauda

The effect of shear flow on the green alga Scenedesmus quadricauda grown in Bristol's medium wastested. The shear flow was generated using a Couettetype rotating cylinder apparatus. Growth of Scenedesmus quadricauda, measured in terms ofchlorophyll a concentration, was inhibited underdifferent fluid motions. Inhibition was mostpronounced at high Reynolds number (Re) and thecorresponding mean rate of energy dissipation(). Algal growth was maximum during thestagnant fluid flow experiment. The flocs comprised of dead and living cells of algae formed as a resultof shear flow. Cell morphometry did not changeconsistently under different flow conditions but celldestruction was evident. A two step model isproposed, relating algal growth as a function of Re,and . The attenuation factor, _F for growth limiting conditions underdifferent fluid motions, was defined as the ratio of the algal growth rate constant to the maximum algalgrowth constant under stagnant fluid flowconditions.     

Physiological and structural effects of phosphorus starvation on the unicellular green alga Scenedesmus

The effects of phosphorus starvation on morphology and intracellular structure and on reactions related to the energy metabolism of the unicellular green alga Scenedesmus obtusiusculus (Chod.) were studied over a period of 96 h by employing transmission electron microscopy and various methods for measurement of physiological reactions. Increase in cell size and shape and in cell wall thickness are dominating features of phosphorus starvation. There is also an increase in number and size of starch granules and lipid globules and the internal structure of the cells appears successively disorganized. Shortage of phosphorus in the medium initially induces an increase of the adenylate pool whereas the energy charge value remains the same as for the controls. The photosynthetic and respiratory activities are high during incipient phosphorus starvation. After 24 h, as shortage of phosphorus becomes critical, the internal phosphorus reaches a low steady-state value, and this is also true for the adenylate energy charge. The total content of adenylates, however, peaks after 24 h of starvation and then decreases with increasing length of phosphorus starvation. Light-induced oxygen evolution appears not to be as much inhibited by a low phosphorus content in the cells as by the concomitant starch accumulation. The data indicate that the strategy for survival of the cells in a phosphorus-poor environment includes morphological and physiological changes that facilitate the transfer and adaption of the cells to environments with a more favourable supply of phosphorus, such as the often oxygen-poor but phosphorus-rich bottom zones.     

Redox control of hydrogenase activity in the green alga Scenedesmus obliquus by thioredoxin and other thiols.

The activity of the NiFe-hydrogenase from the green alga Scenedesmus obliquus is inhibited by both algal thioredoxins f and I+II, and by Escherichia coli thioredoxin. The strongest inhibition was observed with homologous chloroplastic thioredoxin f (I50 = 21 nM) and E. coli thioredoxin (I50 = 83 nM). For the homologous cytoplasmic thioredoxins I+II an I50 of 667 nM was determined. Glutathione shows a similar but much less pronounced inhibitory effect whereas dithiothreitol had no effect. In addition to glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, NiFe-hydrogenase is only the second enzyme known to be inhibited by reduced thioredoxin.     

Comparison of light induced and cell cycle dependent changes in the photosynthetic apparatus: A fluorescence induction study on the green alga Scenedesmus obliquus

Changes in the photosynthetic apparatus occurring during the synchronous cell cycle of the green alga Scenedesmus obliquus are compared to the adaptational response induced by light intensity variations. To investigate and compare these two phenomena, we analyze the polyphasic rise of the chlorophyll fluorescence yield exhibited by plants and cyanobacteria when exposed to high intensity actinic light. Four fluorescence parameters are calculated which are closely related to Photosystem II (PS II) structure and function: ABS/RC, the antenna size of PS II; _PO, the quantum yield for reduction of the primary PS II quinone acceptor; q_PQ, related to the size of the plastoquinone pool; q_Emax, the capacity for pH dependent non-photochemical quenching. The capacity for non-photochemical quenching changes in response to light intensity variations, but it is not affected by the developmental changes occurring during the cell cycle. In contras t, for ABS/RC, _PO and q_PQ, we observe light induced as well as cell cycle dependent variations. We discuss the relations of the four fluorescence parameters to the molecular organization of the photosynthetic apparatus and its cell cycle and light dependent changes.