Stability of molecular and rheological properties of the exopolysaccharide produced byCyanospira capsulata cultivated under different growth conditions

In order to assess the stability of molecular and rheological properties of the exopolysaccharide (EPS) produced byCyanospira capsulata the strain was cultivated under both continuous light and light-dark cycles in two culture devices, an open pond and a completely stirred reactor (CSR), having quite different surface-to-volume ratios and stirring systems. All EPS samples obtained from the cultures showed the same monosaccharidic composition and relative proportions among sugar units. However, Gel Permeation Chromatography demonstrated that EPS samples produced by cultures run in open ponds were more homogeneous in size than those obtained from cultures grown in CSR. In spite of this difference, no significant change in the flow properties was observed among the aqueous solutions of the different EPS samples.     

Cyanospira rippkae and Cyanospira capsulata (gen. nov. and spp. nov.): new filamentous heterocystous cyanobacteria from Magadi lake (Kenya)

New filamentous heterocystous cyanobacteria were isolated from the alkaline soda lake Magadi in Kenya. The characteristics of the isolates are summarized and their taxonomic position discussed.Uniform attributes of the strains, grouped in two types, Mag II 702 and Mag I 504 are the following: helical structure of the trichomes, immotility, gas vacuolation, obligate autotrophy, nitrogen fixation under aerobic conditions, and closely similar fatty acid composition, including the uncommon cis-vaccenic acid.For these organisms the assignment to a new genus named Cyanospira is proposed with the species C. rippkae and C. capsulata, separated on the basis of structural, chemical and mean DNA-base composition. Type strains 702 and 504 will be deposited at the ATCC and PCC.     

Metabolic flux analysis ofBeijerinckia indica for PS-7 production

In order to investigate central metabolic changes inBeijerinckia indica, cells were grown on different carbon sources and intracellular flux distributions were studied under varying concentrations of nitrogen. Metabolic fluxes were estimated by combining material balances with extracellular substrate uptake rate, biomass formation rate, and exopolysaccharide (EPS) accumulation rate. Thirty-one metabolic reactions and 30 intracellular metabolites were considered for the flux analysis. The results revealed that most of the carbon source was directed into the Entner-Doudoroff pathway, followed by the recycling of triose-3-phosphate back to Hexose-6-phosphate. The pentose phosphate pathway was operated at a minimal level to supply the precursors for biomass formation. The different metabolic behaviors under varying nitrogen concentrations were observed with flux analysis.     

PSII-efficiency,polysaccharide production,and phenotypic plasticity of Scenedesmus obliquus in response to changes in metabolic carbon flux

To investigate the response of Scenedesmus obliquus to changes in metabolic carbon flux, S. obliquus was cultured in medium with different concentrations of glyoxylate over 9 days. Results showed that growth rates were not affected in the lower concentration glyoxylate (0.25 and 0.5 mM). However, growth rate of S. obliquus was inhibited in the higher concentration glyoxylate (0.85 and 1.25 mM) during the early phase before recovering at higher densities. Changes in growth rates in different glyoxylate concentrations were in line with changes in F_v/F_m and Φ_PSII. Colony formation was observed in S. obliquus in the four glyoxylate treatments. As a consequence, the mean number of cells per particle of S. obliquus in the glyoxylate treatments were significantly higher than those in the control. The total polysaccharide content of S. obliquus cells increased with increased glyoxylate concentrations. The increased glyoxylate-stimulated polysaccharide levels were directly correlated with colony size of S. obliquus.     

Cellular compartmentation of photosynthetic and photorespiratory enzymes in the heterocystous cyanobacterium Anabaena cylindrica

Activities of enzymes of photosynthesis and photorespiration have been measured in extracts of vegetative cells and heterocysts from the filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena cylindrica. Phosphoribulokinase, d-ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, phosphoglycollate phosphatase and glycollate dehydrogenase activities were readily measured in vegetative cell extracts, but were undetectable or negligible in heterocyst preparations. The data help to explain why heterocysts are unable to perform photosynthetic CO₂ fixation. They also exemplify the co-ordinate compartmentation of enzymes of photosynthesis and photorespiration which occur in a differentiated phototrophic prokaryote.Abbreviations Ru5P d-ribulose 5-phosphate - RuBP d-ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate - DCPIP 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol - TES N-tris(hydroxymethyl)methyl-2-aminoethanesulphonate     

Transient state characteristics of adaptation to changes in light conditions for the cyanobacterium Oscillatoria agardhii

Transitions in growth irradiance level from 92 to 7 Em^-2 s^-1 and vice versa caused changes in the pigment contents and photosynthesis of Oscillatoria agardhii. The changes in chlorophyll a and C-phycocyanin contents during the transition from high to low irradiance (HL) were reflected in photosynthetic parameters. In the LH transition light utilization efficiencies of the cells changed faster than pigment contents. This appeared to be related to the lowering of light utilization efficiencies of photosynthesis. As a possible explanation it was hypothesized that excess photosynthate production led to feed back inhibition of photosynthesis. Time-scales of changes in the maximal rate of O₂ evolution were discussed as changes in the number of reaction centers of photosystem II in relation to photosynthetic electron transport. Parameters that were subject to change during irradiance transitions obeyed first order kinetics, but hysteresis occurred when comparing HL with LH transients. Interpretation of first order kinetic analysis was discussed in terms of adaptive response vs changes in growth rate.Non-standard abbreviations Chla chlorophyll a - CPC C-phycocyanin - PS II photosystem II - PS I photosystem I - RC II reaction center of photosystem II - P photosynthetic O₂-evolution - I irradiance, Em^-2 s^-1 - light utilization efficiency of cells, mmol O₂·mg dry wt^-1·h^-1/Em^-2 s^-1 - light utilization efficiency of photosynthetic apparatus, mol O₂·mol Chla ^-1·h^-1/Em^-2 s^-1 - P_max maximal rate of O₂ evolution by cells, mol O₂·mg dry wt^-1·h^-1 - P_max maximal rate of O₂ evolution by photosynthetic apparatus, mol O₂·mol·Chla ^-1·h^-1 - LL low light, E m^-2 s^-1 - HL high light, E m^-2 s^-1 - LH low to high light transition - HL high to low light transition - k specific rate of adaptation, h^-1 - specific growth rate, h^-1 - Q pool size of cell constituent, mol·mg dry wt^-1 - q net synthesis rate of cell constituent, mol·mg dry wt^-1·h^-1     

Rearrangements of nitrogen fixation (nif) genes in the heterocystous cyanobacteria

In the vegetative cells of heterocystous cyanobacteria, such asAnabaena, two Operons harbouring the nitrogen fixaton (nif) genes contain two separate intervening DNA elements resulting in the dispersion of genes and impaired gene expression. A 11 kb element disrupts thenifD gene in thenifH, D-K operon. It contains a 11 bp sequence (GGATTACTCCG) directly repeated at its ends and harbours a gene,xisA, which encodes a site-specific recombinase. A large 55 kb element interrupts thefdxN gene in thenifB fdxN-nifS-nifU operon. It contains two 5 bp direct repeats (TATTC) at its ends and accommodates at least one gene,xisF, which encodes another site-specific recombinase. During heterocyst differentiation both the discontinuities are precisely excised by two distinct site-specific recombination events. One of them is brought about by the XisA protein between the 11 bp direct repeats. The second one is caused by the XisF protein and occurs between the 5 bp direct repeats. As a consequence the 11kb and 55 kb elements are removed from the chromosome as circles and functionalnif Operons are created. Nitrogenase proteins are then expressed from the rearranged genes in heterocysts and aerobic nitrogen fixation ensues. How these elements intruded thenif genes and how and why are they maintained in heterocystous cyanobacteria are exciting puzzles engaging considerable research effort currently. The unique developmental regulation of these gene rearrangements in heterocystous cyanobacteria is discussed.     

A requirement for phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus PCC 7942

The gene encoding phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPCase) in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus PCC 7942 has been isolated and characterized. As a first step in determining the role of this enzyme in cyanobacterial carbon metabolism we have attempted to generate PEPCase deficient mutants by insertional inactivation of the PEPCase gene (ppc) and recombination into the wild-type genome. Transformants generated by these constructs appear to be merodiploids in which some copies of ppc remain intact and PEPCase activity is present. Successful insertional inactivation of regions of the genome on either side of ppc suggest that the merodiploid state is a result of a requirement for PEPCase activity by the cyanobacteria. Attempts to select for ppc mutants by nutritional complementation during segregation are also described.Abbreviations PEPCase phosphenolpyruvate carboxylase - ppc gene coding for PEPCase - amp ampicillin - spec spectinomycin     

Response of the estuarine cyanobacterium <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lyngbya aestuarii</Emphasis> to UV-B radiation

Growth response and changes in the spectral properties of methanolic extract of an estuarine cyanobacterium, Lyngbya aestuarii Agardh, to UV-B radiation were studied. Increase in growth accompanied by increase in chlorophyll a, protein and carbohydrate content was observed up to 12 h of UV-B irradiation followed by a decline with further increase in the duration of UV exposure. Carotenoid content progressively increased with the UV-B dose. The organism synthesized, to a significant extent, mycosporine amino acid-like substances (MAAs) upon UV-B exposure. The cells in the trichome became coiled followed by formation of small bundles as a response to UV-B radiation. SDS protein profile of the UV irradiated cells showed repression of 20 and 22 kDa proteins. However, irradiation with UV-B for 6–24 h led to overproduction of 84, 73, 60, 46, 40, 37 KDa proteins, possibly conferring protection to the organism from UV-B. UV irradiated cells cultured in florescent light for up to 7 days showed revival from UV damage of the pigments and macromolecular contents, suggesting existence of a repair mechanism in the organism.     

Modelling of growth conditions for cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis in microcosms

The influence of cultivation conditions on the growth of the cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis was investigated by using two types of photobioreactors. In a rotative photobioreactor the doubling time (t _d) was 3.54 days. The better value found for t _d in an aerated photobioreactor by changing the initial nitrogen concentration (NaNO₃) at 0.003, 0.015, 0.030 and 0.060M was 2.5 days. A factorial experimental design was performed in order to estimate the contributions of initial nitrogen concentration, inoculum and cultivation time as well as their interactions. All three factors and their interactions proved to be significant in influencing the cellular concentration of S. platensis.     

干旱荒漠区不同藓结皮斑块碳通量对降雨量变化的响应

藓结皮作为干旱区重要的地表覆盖物,主要呈斑块状分布,其大小能够明显改变土壤和藓类植物的含水量、蒸散量以及养分含量,对荒漠地表的稳定和碳循环具有重要作用。降雨是干旱荒漠区土壤水分的主要来源,能够直接影响藓结皮的生理活性,决定了藓结皮土壤的碳源-碳汇效应。然而不同大小藓结皮斑块碳通量对降雨的响应是否不同并不清楚。以古尔班通古特沙漠齿肋赤藓(Syntrichia caninervis Mitt.)斑块为研究对象,施加不同降雨量(0 mm、2 mm、5 mm、15 mm降雨),连续54 h测定不同大小藓结皮斑块(直径为：4.6 cm、5.6 cm、10 cm)碳通量。结果显示：(1)在2 mm和5 mm降雨量下,不同斑块大小藓结皮静碳交换速率连续54 h内的变化趋势相似,直径为4.6 cm和5.6 cm斑块累积碳通量呈负值,表现为碳固定,10 cm斑块则相反表现为碳释放,在15 mm降雨量下,不同斑块大小藓结皮碳通量均表现为碳释放,直径为10 cm的藓结皮斑块净碳交换速率随时间的变化趋势与直径5.6 cm和4.6 cm藓结皮斑块不同;(2)斑块大小和降雨量变化均显著影响藓结皮斑块碳通量,土壤含...     

Sporulation in the filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena cylindrica

Sporulation in the filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena cylindrica involves the transformation of a vegetative cell into a thick-walled resistant structure. Because this process occurs at predictable loci in each filament and involves a significant increase in cell size, the course of sporulation in a culture can be quantitatively determined. Sporulation occurs during the late logarithmic phase of a culture, a time of slow but unbalanced growth. Under the conditions imployed here, sporulation is not a synchronous event either between or within filaments. The information in this paper provides an estimate of the rate of spore differentiation and supports the previous notion that in the formation of strings of more than one spore, a gradient of spore maturation exists.     

Response of the cyanobacterium,Oscillatoria tenuis,to low iron environments: the effect on growth rate and evidence for siderophore production

Cyanobacteria vary in their ability to grow in media contaning low amounts of biologically available iron. Some strains, such as Oscillatoria tenuis, are well adapted to thrive in low-iron environments. We investigated the mechanism of iron scavenging in O. tenuis and found that this cyanobacterium has a siderophore-mediated iron transport system that differs significantly from the traditional hydroxamate-siderophore transport system reported from other cyanobacteria. Unlike other cyanobacteria, this strain produces two types of siderophores, a hydroxamate-type siderophore and a catechol-type siderophore. Production of these two siderophores is expressed at two different iron levels in the medium, suggesting two different iron regulated uptake systems. We compared the production of each siderophore with the growth rate of the culture and found that the production of the catechol siderophore enhances the growth rate of the cyanobacterium, whereas the cells maintain lower than maximal growth rates when only the hydroxamate-type siderophore is being produced.Abbreviation EDDA ethylene diamine di-(o-hydroxyphenylacetic acid)     

Fermentation metabolism of the unicellular cyanobacterium Cyanothece PCC 7822

The hydrogenase-catalyzed hydrogen production exhibited by the unicellular cyanobacterium Cyanothece 7822 during anoxic incubation in the dark is a result of the fermentative degradation of carbon reserves. Simultaneously with hydrogen production, evolution of carbon dioxide was detected, and excretion of ethanol, lactate, formate and acetate was demonstrated. The fermentation balance indicates that carbohydrates are fermented via a branched pathway, in which both the pentose phosphate pathway and glycolysis appear to be involved. It is proposed that the physiological function of hydrogen production is the introduction of protons as terminal electron acceptors. This removal of reducing equivalents might give rise to continuation of the pyruvate decarboxylation and consequently of the acetate formation, thereby increasing the efficiency of fermentative energy generation.     

Molecular weight and quaternary structure of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase from the cyanobacterium,Synechococcus sp.

Inhibition of photosynthetic growth of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata by metronidazole was dependent on the nitrogen supply in culture solutions. Cultures fixing dinitrogen were more susceptible to inhibition by low concentrations than those supplied with NH ₄ ⁺ . Light-dependent C₂H₂ reduction and H₂ production by washed cells were inhibited by 80% and 60% respectively by 1 mM metronidazole. When this compound was first reduced with H₂-palladised asbestos prior to assay, it only partially restricted C₂H₂ reduction in washed cells (33%) compared with unreduced inhibitor (68%). Metronidazole was without effect on other metabolic functions. Thus, even at 40 mM it did not inhibit either (a) dark or light respiration in cells grown under photo- and chemo-heterotrophic conditions; (b) H₂-dependent photoreduction of ¹⁴CO₂; (c) -glutamyltransferase activity of glutamine synthetase in cell-free extracts (25 mM inhibitor).Metronidazole (1 mM) completely inhibited C₂H₂ reduction by washed cells of Azotobacter vinelandii. The dithionite-dependent C₂H₂ reduction of a partially purified nitrogenase was only partially inhibited (30%) by 1 mM metronidazole.     

Ultrastructure of the cyanobacterium,Mastigocladus laminosus

The morphology and ultrastructure of the thermophilic cyanobacteriumMastigocladus laminosus were examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Mature cultures consisted of relatively old, wide filaments that branched frequently to form younger, thinner filaments. The cells of the younger filaments had a consistently cylindrical morphology, while those of older filaments were rounded and pleomorphic. The internal ultrastructure of the cells depended somewhat on their age. As young cells became larger and wider, their thylakoids underwent slight rearrangement and spread out toward the center of the cytoplasm. Polyphosphate bodies, carboxysomes (polyhedral bodies), and lipid-body-like structures increased in number as the cells aged, but ribosomes and cyanophycin granules were depleted. Cell division involved septum formation followed by ingrowth of the outer membrane and sheath. Cells in older filaments were separated from each other by a complete layer of sheath material. Septum formation in older cells was also seen to occur parallel to the long axis of the filament, thereby confirming that true branching took place.     

川西北高寒草甸不同放牧模式对土壤呼吸的影响

采用土壤二氧化碳(CO_2)通量自动测量系统,对不同放牧模式(全年禁牧、夏季放牧、冬季放牧和自由放牧)下川西北高寒草甸的土壤呼吸进行监测,比较了不同放牧模式下土壤呼吸的季节动态和温度敏感性。研究发现:1)放牧模式可以改变高寒草甸土壤呼吸的季节动态变化。禁牧、夏季放牧以及自由放牧样地的土壤呼吸在季节上的变化趋势基本相似,而冬季放牧样地的土壤呼吸最大值与前者相比明显向后推迟;2)放牧模式并不改变高寒草甸年平均土壤呼吸速率,但对不同季节土壤呼吸速率的影响不同;3)不同放牧模式可以改变土壤呼吸对温度的敏感性(Q_(10))。不同放牧模式下土壤呼吸Q_(10)值大小依次为:禁牧1a(8.13)冬季放牧(7.49)禁牧3a(5.46)夏季放牧(5.20)自由放牧(4.53)。该地区土壤呼吸的Q_(10)值均明显高于热带和其它温带草地土壤呼吸的Q_(10)值。结果表明,放牧模式是影响高寒草甸土壤碳排放的一个重要因素。此外,在未来全球气候变暖背景下,在生长季节无放牧干扰的高寒草甸可能比放牧干扰的高寒草甸释放出更多的CO_2到大气中。     

刈割降低热浪对内蒙古草甸草原碳通量的影响

热浪（Heat waves）是近年来频发的一种极端气候,其短期时间会影响生态系统植被健康并对生态系统碳通量产生长期负面影响,但其影响强度往往因生态系统类型而异。而内蒙古高原草甸草原属高纬度半干旱生态脆弱区,受气候变化影响显著,且正在遭受频繁热浪侵袭。在内蒙古呼伦贝尔草甸草原进行为期2年的野外原位模拟热浪控制实验,关注热浪对生态系统碳循环关键过程的影响和调节机制,并研究人类活动（刈割）与极端气候（热浪）对草甸草原碳通量的交互作用。结果表明,热浪处理显著降低了生态系统的土壤含水量,并显著降低草甸草原净碳交换（NEE）、生态系统呼吸（Re）和生态系统总生产力（GEP）,分别为31%、1%和14%。然而,刈割处理下,能够有效降低热浪的负面影响,表现为热浪后草地恢复所需时间缩短了约1/3。同时,热浪后水分供给能缓解热浪对生态系统碳通量的滞后效应,并缩短生态系统所需的恢复时间。     

Photophobic responses of the cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis

The photophobic responses in the Cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis which belongs to the Nostocaceae have been studied with aid of a population method as well as by single trichome observations. In white light experiments both step-up and step-down photophobic responses were observed. The wavelength dependence was examined at a constant fluence rate. The photophobically active light is absorbed by the photosynthetic pigments, mainly by the phycobiliproteins and chlorohyll a. Above 690 nm only negative reactions were observed, i.e. the trichomes left the light trap. In white light experiments DCMU strongly inhibited the photophobic responses, whereas photokinesis was not affected to the same extent indicating that the reaction is coupled with the non cyclic photosynthetic electron transport. DBMIB impaired the photophobic behaviour only slightly. It seems that the photophobic responses of A. variabilis are controlled by a similar mechanism as in Phormidium uncinatum (Oscillatoriaceae) although the two families and, hence, the two species differ in their movement mechanism as well as in their photoactic behaviour.     

Programmed cell death in the marine cyanobacterium Trichodesmium mediates carbon and nitrogen export

The extent of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) export to the deep ocean depends upon the efficacy of the biological pump that transports primary production to depth, thereby preventing its recycling in the upper photic zone. The dinitrogen-fixing (diazotrophic) Trichodesmium spp. contributes significantly to oceanic C and N cycling by forming extensive blooms in nutrient-poor tropical and subtropical regions. These massive blooms generally collapse several days after forming, but the cellular mechanism responsible, along with the magnitude of associated C and N export processes, are as yet unknown. Here, we used a custom-made, 2-m high water column to simulate a natural bloom and to specifically test and quantify whether the programmed cell death (PCD) of Trichodesmium mechanistically regulates increased vertical flux of C and N. Our findings demonstrate that extremely rapid development and abrupt, PCD-induced demise (within 2–3 days) of Trichodesmium blooms lead to greatly elevated excretions of transparent exopolymers and a massive downward pulse of particulate organic matter. Our results mechanistically link autocatalytic PCD and bloom collapse to quantitative C and N export fluxes, suggesting that PCD may have an impact on the biological pump efficiency in the oceans.