Effect of Ca channel blockers on glycerol levels in Dunaliella tertiolecta under hypoosmotic stress

The role of Ca²⁺ in glycerol dissimilation under hypoosmotic stress in the halotolerant alga Dunaliella tertiolecta was investigated using a pharmacological approach. A stretch-activated Ca²⁺ channel blocker, GdCl₃, inhibited glycerol dissimilation under hypoosmotic stress. However, addition of voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ channel blockers and inhibitors of mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ channels did not affect the glycerol dissimilation under hypoosmotic stress. The results of the present study suggest that the influx of Ca²⁺ from the extracellular space via the stretch-activated Ca²⁺ channels localized in the plasma membrane is required for the transduction of osmotic signal of D. tertiolecta.     

Cloning and characterization of a plastidic glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase cDNA from Dunaliella salina

A cDNA encoding a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) -dependent glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) has been cloned by rapid amplification of cDNA ends from Dunaliella salina. The cDNA is 3032 base pairs long with an open reading frame encoding a polypeptide of 701 amino acids. The polypeptide shows high homology with published NAD+ -dependent GPDHs and has at its N-terminal a chloroplast targeting sequence. RNA gel blot analysis was performed to study GPDH gene expression under different conditions, and changes of the glycerol content were monitored. The results indicate that the cDNA may encode an osmoregulated isoform primarily involved in glycerol synthesis. The 701-amino-acid polypeptide is about 300 amino acids longer than previously reported plant NAD+ -dependent GPDHs. This 300-amino-acid fragment has a phosphoserine phosphatase domain. We suggest that the phosphoserine phosphatase domain functions as glycerol 3-phosphatase and that, consequently, NAD+ -dependent GPDH from D. salina can catalyze the step from dihydroxyacetone phosphate to glycerol directly. This is unique and a possible explanation for the fast glycerol synthesis found in D. salina.     

盐生杜氏藻甘油-3-磷酸脱氢酶的分离纯化及其特性的研究

利用ＰＥＧ分级,ＤＥＡＥ离子交换层析,ＢｌｕｅＳｅｐｈａｒｏｓｅ拟亲和层析,ＭｏｎｏＱ离子交换层析等手段,分离纯化盐生杜氏藻（Ｄｕｎａｌｉｅｌａｓａｌｉｎａ（Ｄｕｎａｌ）Ｔｅｏｄ．）甘油三磷酸（Ｇ３Ｐ）脱氢酶（ＥＣ１．１．１．８）,得到比活为１２．６Ｕ／ｍｇ的电泳纯的酶,并对此酶的生化特性进行了研究。４％～２０％非变性聚丙烯酰胺梯度凝胶电泳测得全酶分子量约为２７０ｋＤ,ＳＤＳＰＡＧＥ表明该酶只有一种分子量约为６５ｋＤ的亚基,据此推测该酶应为同四聚体。酶催化磷酸二羟丙酮（ＤＨＡＰ）还原的最适ｐＨ值为７．５,催化Ｇ３Ｐ脱氢的最适ｐＨ值为１０。该酶对４个底物还原型辅酶Ⅰ（ＮＡＤＨ）,二磷酸吡啶核苷酸（ＤＨＡＰ）,辅酶Ⅰ（ＮＡＤ）,Ｇ３Ｐ的表观Ｋｍ值分别为６３μｍｏｌ／Ｌ,２７２μｍｏｌ／Ｌ,１．５３ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ,６．５２ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ。该酶在保存过程中易失活。ＮＡＤＨ能降低酶失活的速度,而ＮＡＤ则不然。低浓度ＮａＣｌ对酶略有保护作用,但高浓度ＮａＣｌ加快酶的失活,且浓度越高效应越明显。     

Glycerol-3-phosphatase and the control of glycerol metabolism in Dunaliella tertiolecta cells

Glycerol-3-phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.2.1) was studied by following the release of radioactive glycerol from L-(U-¹⁴C)glycerol-3-phosphate in Dunaliella tertiolecta enzyme extracts. The reaction showed a neutral pH optimum and had an absolute requirement for Mg²⁺. The substrate saturation curve was hyperbolic with an apparent K _m value for glycerol-3-phosphate of 0.7 mM in the absence of phosphate. Inorganic orthophosphate was a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme with an estimated K _j of 0.1 mM. The glycerol-3-phosphatase reaction was blocked nearly completely by millimolar Ca²⁺ concentrations. Ca²⁺ inhibition did not depend on the presence of calmodulin in the reaction medium. The characteristics of glycerol-3-phosphatase are discussed in relation to the regulation of the cyclic glycerol metabolism in Dunaliella cells during periods of osmotic stress.     

Salt relations of Dunaliella. Transitional changes in glycerol content and oxygen exchange reactions on water stress

Changes in glycerol content are reported for Dunaliella tertiolecta over an 8 h period after a salt stress or dilution stress. Under the experimental conditions, the new glycerol level was reached in about 30 min in light or dark but there was evidence of oscillations after that, particularly on dilution stress. Glycerol disappearance on dilution stress is caused predominantly by dissimilation. A salt stress immediately inhibited photosynthetic oxygen evolution and caused net oxygen uptake for a period of about 36 h after the stress. Oxygen evolution was reestablished after that and the process of recovery to the point of resumption of net evolution was not affected by conditions designed to inhibit protein synthesis. Dilution stress of comparable magnitude diminished but did not eliminate photosynthetic oxygen evolution and recovery to a pre-stress level took about 18 h. Effects of HCO ₃ ^- concentration suggested that photorespiration was not the sole determinant of oxygen uptake induced by salt stress but it was not possible to apportion with confidence the contribution of mitochondrial and other types of respiration. There was no evidence that modification by stress of energy-induced proton fluxes across the plasma membrane constituted an osmoregulatory signal in either species.     

Salinity-dependent regulation of starch and glycerol metabolism in Dunaliella parva

Abstract. The glycerol and starch metabolism of synchronized Dunaliella parva cells as a function of the salinity of the medium has been investigated.
The higher the salinity of the medium the higher is the rate of glycerol synthesis and the endogenous glycerol concentration, whereas starch content and salinity of the medium are inversely related. Upon transfer to a hyperosmotic NaCl-medium cells respond by an immediate increase in glycerol synthesis and an inhibition of starch formation in the light. Under corresponding conditions in darkness, starch degradation is stimulated. In both light and darkness hyperosmotic shocks are followed by a rapid increase in the endogenous pool of inorganic phosphate (P_i). It is suggested that in the light the increase in the endogenous phosphate level inhibits the chloroplast ADPG-pyrophosphorylase (E.G.2.7.7.27), and thereby starch synthesis, and promotes starch phosphorolysis. Photosynthetically produced triosephosphates and triosephosphates derived from starch degradation are converted to glycerol. Also, in the dark the increase in the P_i-level stimulates phosphorolytic starch degradation and thereby synthesis of glycerol. Reasons for the salt stress induced increase in the endogenous P_i-level are discussed.     

Zinc is released by cultured astrocytes as a gliotransmitter under hypoosmotic stress-loaded conditions and regulates microglial activity

Aim

Astrocytes contribute to the maintenance of brain homeostasis via the release of gliotransmitters such as ATP and glutamate. Here we examined whether zinc was released from astrocytes under stress-loaded conditions, and was involved in the regulation of microglial activity as a gliotransmitter.

Main methods

Hypoosmotic stress was loaded to astrocytes using balanced salt solution prepared to 214–314 mOsmol/L, and then intra- and extra-cellular zinc levels were assessed using Newport Green DCF diacetate (NG) and ICP-MS, respectively. Microglial activation by the astrocytic supernatant was assessed by their morphological changes and poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) polymer accumulation.

Key findings

Exposure of astrocytes to hypoosmotic buffer, increased the extracellular ATP level in osmolarity-dependent manners, indicating a load of hypoosmotic stress. In hypoosmotic stress-loaded astrocytes, there were apparent increases in the intra- and extra-cellular zinc levels. Incubation of microglia in the astrocytic conditioned medium transformed them into the activated “amoeboid” form and induced PAR formation. Administration of an extracellular zinc chelator, CaEDTA, to the astrocytic conditioned medium almost completely prevented the microglial activation. Treatment of astrocytes with an intracellular zinc chelator, TPEN, suppressed the hypoosmotic stress-increased intracellular, but not the extracellular, zinc level, and the increase in the intracellular zinc level was blocked partially by a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, but not by CaEDTA, indicating that the mechanisms underlying the increases in the intra- and extra-cellular zinc levels might be different.

Significance

These findings suggest that under hypoosmotic stress-loaded conditions, zinc is released from astrocytes and then plays a primary role in microglial activation as a gliotransmitter.     

Rapid changes in polyphosphoinositide metabolism associated with the response of Dunaliella salina to hypoosmotic shock

The inositol phospholipids phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PIP), and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) comprise 14.8, 1.2, and 0.3 mol %, respectively, of Dunaliella salina phospholipids. In isolated plasma membrane fractions, PIP and PIP2 are highly concentrated, together comprising 9.5 mol % of plasmalemma phospholipids. The metabolism of these inositol phospholipids and phosphatidic acid (PA) is very rapid under normal growth conditions. Within 5 min after introduction of 32Pi into the growth medium, over 75% of lipid-bound label was found in these quantitatively minor phospholipids. Within 2 min after a sudden hypoosmotic shock, the levels of PIP2 and PIP dropped to 65 and 79%, respectively, of controls. Within the same time frame, PA rose to 141% of control values. These data suggest that a rapid breakdown of the polyphosphoinositides may mediate the profound morphological and physiological changes which allow this organism to survive drastic hypoosmotic stress. In contrast to hypoosmotic shock, hyperosmotic shock induced a rise in PIP2 levels to 131% of control values, whereas the level of PA dropped to 56% of controls after 4 min. These two different types of osmotic stress affect inositol phospholipid metabolism in a fundamentally opposite manner, with only hypoosmotic shock inducing a net decrease in polyphosphoinositides.     

Glycerol cycle enzymes and intermediates during adaption of Dunaliella teriolecta cells to hyperosmotic stress

Abstract Dunaliella tertiolecta cells subjected to a hyperosmotic shock of 0.930 osmol kg^?1 start almost immediately to synthesize glycerol at a rate of some 100 nmol min^?1 mg protein^?1. Glycerol synthesis was equally fast in both light and darkness, and was not affected by the nature but only by the concentration of solutes. During the period of rapid glycerol synthesis, which lasted about 1h, the concentration of glycerol-3-phosphate transiently increased. During the same period, ATP, fructose 1-6-bisphosphate, and triosephosphate content decreased markedly, especially when 0.1 kmol m^?3 NaCl-grown cells were used. The content of hexose-6-phosphates, nicotinamide coenzymes, and phosphate underwent no dramatic changes. Since no in vitro activity changes of the glycerol cycle enzymes could be detected during the adaptation period, the activity of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in vivo is probably increased by a change in concentration of its effectors such as ATP.     

Loss of intracellular glycerol from Dunaliella by electroporation at constant osmotic pressure: subsequent restoration of glycerol content and associated volume changes

The effect of electroporation on Dunaliella tertiolecta at constant osmotic pressure (or water activity) was investigated. The following metabolic and physiological parameters were determined: extracellular and intracellular glycerol content, soluble protein content, photosynthetic oxygen evolution, mitochondrial oxygen uptake, cell volume and cell density. Electroporation conditions are described that released about 10% of intracellular glycerol to the external medium with minimal apparent effects on metabolism. Glycerol release originated from most cells rather than by total rupture of a small proportion of cells. Cell volume, measured on motile cells by video microscopy, reduced by 23% immediately after electroporation. Cell density did not increase. The uptake of mannitol, the major solute in the electroporation medium, was less than 20% of glycerol release. Following electroporation, the intracellular glycerol content and the cell volume both returned to pre-electroporation values after about 30min. Because the cells were maintained at constant external osmotic pressure throughout the procedure, it is concluded that the regulatory mechanism responsible for setting the intracellular glycerol content does not sense external osmotic pressure per se. These findings are consistent with a mechanism that senses a parameter linked directly to cell volume to set the intracellular glycerol content.     

Carotenoid and fatty acid metabolism in light‐stressed Dunaliella salina

β‐Carotene is overproduced in the alga Dunaliella salina in response to high light intensities. We have studied the effects of a sudden light increase on carotenoid and fatty acid metabolism using a flat panel photobioreactor that was run in turbidostat mode to ensure a constant light regime throughout the experiments. Upon the shift to an increased light intensity, β‐carotene production commenced immediately. The first 4 h after induction were marked by constant intracellular levels of β‐carotene (2.2 g LCV^?1), which resulted from identical increases in the production rates of cell volume and β‐carotene. Following this initial phase, β‐carotene productivity continued to increase while the cell volume productivity dropped. As a result, the intracellular β‐carotene concentration increased reaching a maximum of 17 g LCV^?1 after 2 days of light stress. Approximately 1 day before that, the maximum β‐carotene productivity of 30 pg cell^?1 day^?1 (equivalent to 37 mg LRV^?1 day^?1) was obtained, which was about one order of magnitude larger than the average productivity reported for a commercial β‐carotene production facility, indicating a vast potential for improvement. Furthermore, by studying the light‐induced changes in both β‐carotene and fatty acid metabolism, it appeared that carotenoid overproduction was associated with oil globule formation and a decrease in the degree of fatty acid unsaturation. Our results indicate that cellular β‐carotene accumulation in D. salina correlates with accumulation of specific fatty acid species (C16:0 and C18:1) rather than with total fatty acid content. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2010;106: 638–648. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Transient Decrease of Light-harvesting Complex Ⅱ Phosphorylation Level by Hypoosmotic Shock in Dark-adapted Dunaliella salina

This study investigated the regulation of major light harvesting chlorophyll a/b protein （LHCⅡ） phosphorylation by hypoosmotic shock in dark-adapted Dunaliella salina cells. When the external NaCI concentration decreased in darkness, D. salina LHCⅡ phosphorylation levels transiently dropped within 20 min and then restored gradually to basal levels. The transient decrease in LHCII phosphorylation levels was insensitive to NaF, a phosphatase inhibitor. Inhibition of intracellular ATP production by addition of an uncoupler or an ATP synthase inhibitor increased LHCⅡ phosphorylation levels in D. salina cells exposed to hypoosmotic shock. Taken together, these results indicate that hypoosmotic shock inhibits the LHCⅡ phosphorylation process. The related mechanism and physiological significance are discussed.     

Utilisation of glycerol and glycerol 3-phosphate is differently affected by the phosphotransferase system in Bacillus subtilis

Glycerol and glycerol 3-phosphate uptake in Bacillus subtilis does not involve the phosphotransferase system. In spite of this, B. subtilis mutants defective in the general components of the phosphotransferase system, EnzymeI or Hpr, are unable to grow with glycerol as sole carbon and energy source. Here we show that a Hpr mutant can grow on glycerol 3-phosphate and that glycerol 3-phosphate, but not glycerol, can induce glpD encoding glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Induction of glpD also requires the glpP gene product which is a regulator of all known glp genes. Thus the phosphotransferase system general components do not interfere with the overall regulation of the glp regulon. Revertants of a Hpr mutant which can grown on glycerol carry mutations closely linked to the glp region at 75 degrees on the B. subtilis chromosomal map. This region contains the glpP, the glpFK and the glpD operons. The glpFK operon encodes the glycerol uptake facilitator (glpF) and glycerol kinase (glpK). The present results demonstrate that one of these genes, or their gene products, is the target for phosphotransferase system control of glycerol utilisation. Furthermore we conclude that utilisation of glycerol and glycerol 3-phosphate is differently affected by the phosphotransferase system in B. subtilis.     

The effect of ionic stress on photosynthesis in Dunaliella tertiolecta

A comparison of the effects of ionic stress and an uncoupler on long-term fluorescence transients (the Kautsky effect) in the green alga Dunaliella tertiolecta indicated that the large quenching induced by ionic stress was caused by a pH gradient across the thylakoid membrane. This possiblity was given support by the increase in the slow phase of 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea-induced fluorescence relaxation in algae subjected to ionic stress. Low-temperature fluorescence emission spectra indicated that salt stress enhanced photosystem-I emission in the dark, and a comparison of simultaneous emissions at 695 and 720 nm at room temperature indicated a further increase in photosystem-I emission during the fluorescence transients. Taken together with the decrease in the fast phase of 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea-induced fluorescence relaxation in stressed algae, our results indicate that ionic stress stimulates cyclic electron flow, and that non-cyclic flow is inhibited. The effect of sucrose-induced osmotic stress was similar to, but less marked than, the effects of NaCl and KCl; the effect of decreasing the external salinity was small.Abbreviations DCMU 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea - FCCP carbonylcyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone - PSI, II photosystem I, II     

Fate of compatible solutes during dilution stress in Ectothiorhodospira halochloris

Abstract Ectothiorhodospira halochloris reacts upon enhancement of the water activity in the environment by excreting its major compatible solute, glycine betaine, thus decreasing the osmotic pressure inside the cell. A suddenly induced dilution stress leads to an overshoot of this reaction, so that more glycine betaine than necessary to compensate the external osmotic change is released. Subsequently the cells take up glycine betaine until they reach osmotic balance with the medium. E. halochloris possesses an active transport system that allows an uptake of glycine betaine against a concentration gradient. Glycine betaine is not metabolized in E. halochloris . Ectoine, a minor compatible solute of E. halochloris , is excreted in a similar manner to that of glycine betaine during dilution stress, whereas no excretion of the third compatible solute, trehalose, was detected.     

Regulation of glycerol metabolism in Zygosaccharomyces rouxii in response to osmotic stress

Summary Enzyme analyses indicated that the metabolism of glycerol by Zygosaccharomyces rouxii occurred via either glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P) or dihydroxyacetone (DHA). The route via DHA is significant in osmoregulation. The specific activities of glycerol dehydrogenase (GDHG) and DHA kinase, which metabolize glycerol via DHA, increased nine- and fourfold respectively during osmotic stress [0.960 water activity (a_w) adjusted with NaCl] when compared to non-stressed conditions (0.998 a_w). Both pathways are under metabolic regulation. Glycerol kinase, mitochondrial G3P dehydrogenase and DHA kinase are induced by glycerol while the latter is also repressed by glucose. Cells treated with cycloheximide prior to osmotic upshock showed significantly lower DHA kinase and GDHG levels and lower intracellular glycerol concentrations when compared to untreated control cells. Thus protein synthesis is essential for osmotic adaptation. Offprint requests to: B. A. Prior     

Analysis of protein expression in response to osmotic stress in Escherichia coli

Two strains of Escherichia coli isogenic except for the cya (adenylate cyclase) allele were grown with [35S]methionine and cysteine in minimal defined glucose medium and in this medium with 600 mM NaCl to induce osmotic stress. Cells were grown for approximately two generations. The labeled proteins were separated by 2-dimensional electrophoresis and were quantified fluorographically. Of the 263 major proteins (proteins incorporating 0.10% or more of the total radioactivity) in the cya+ control culture, radioactivity in 41 proteins was at least ten times greater in cells grown with osmotic stress. Six of these individual proteins each accounted for 1.0% or more of the total radioactive label in the cells. Conversely, radioactivity in 31 major proteins appeared to decrease at least ten times when cells grew with osmotic stress. These data indicate that the response of the bacterium to osmotic stress involves induction of some proteins and repression of others. 61% of the proteins that appear to be stimulated by salt stress were found in both strains indicating there is no obligatory requirement for cAMP.