A comparison of hydrogen photoproduction by sulfur-deprived Chlamydomonas reinhardtii under different growth conditions

Continuous photoproduction of H(2) by the green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, is observed after incubating the cultures for about a day in the absence of sulfate and in the presence of acetate. Sulfur deprivation causes the partial and reversible inactivation of photosynthetic O(2) evolution in algae, resulting in the light-induced establishment of anaerobic conditions in sealed photobioreactors, expression of two [FeFe]-hydrogenases in the cells, and H(2) photoproduction for several days. We have previously demonstrated that sulfur-deprived algal cultures can produce H(2) gas in the absence of acetate, when appropriate experimental protocols were used (Tsygankov, A.A., Kosourov, S.N., Tolstygina, I.V., Ghirardi, M.L., Seibert, M., 2006. Hydrogen production by sulfur-deprived Chlamydomonas reinhardtii under photoautotrophic conditions. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 31, 1574-1584). We now report the use of an automated photobioreactor system to compare the effects of photoautotrophic, photoheterotrophic and photomixotrophic growth conditions on the kinetic parameters associated with the adaptation of the algal cells to sulfur deprivation and H(2) photoproduction. This was done under the experimental conditions outlined in the above reference, including controlled pH. From this comparison we show that both acetate and CO(2) are required for the most rapid inactivation of photosystem II and the highest yield of H(2) gas production. Although, the presence of acetate in the system is not critical for the process, H(2) photoproduction under photoautotrophic conditions can be increased by optimizing the conditions for high starch accumulation. These results suggest ways of engineering algae to improve H(2) production, which in turn may have a positive impact on the economics of applied systems for H(2) production.     

Analysis of lysine-rich histones from the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

The H1 histones of the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii were extracted from isolated nuclei, fractionated by high performance liquid chromatography, and analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis, peptide mapping, and N-terminal sequencing. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of 5% perchloric acid extracts of isolated C. reinhardtii nuclei revealed two H1 proteins (H1A and H1B). Two-dimensional gel analysis did not reveal heterogeneity of either algal H1 protein, but did detect differences in the hydrophobic amino acid content of the C. reinhardtii H1A and H1B. Digestion of H1A and H1B with V8 protease revealed two distinctly different peptide maps. C. reinhardtii H1 peptide maps were not at all similar to those of Pisum H1, but algal and pea H2B peptide maps did show some peptides in common. Seventeen amino acid residues were obtained from C. reinhardtii H1A amino terminal sequencing, while the H1B N-terminus was blocked. A search of protein data bases revealed no sequence homology of the H1A N-terminus with any known protein. Chlamydomonas histones fractionated by high performance liquid chromatography revealed minor components (histone variants) for H2A and H2B. The amino acid composition of Chlamydomonas lysine-rich histones was compared to those of various other unicellular algae.     

Biochemical and morphological characterization of sulfur-deprived and H2-producing Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (green alga)

Sulfur deprivation in green algae causes reversible inhibition of photosynthetic activity. In the absence of S, rates of photosynthetic O2 evolution drop below those of O2 consumption by respiration. As a consequence, sealed cultures of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii become anaerobic in the light, induce the "Fe-hydrogenase" pathway of electron transport and photosynthetically produce H2 gas. In the course of such H2-gas production cells consume substantial amounts of internal starch and protein. Such catabolic reactions may sustain, directly or in directly, the H2-production process. Profile analysis of selected photosynthetic proteins showed a precipitous decline in the amount of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase (Rubisco) as a function of time in S deprivation, a more gradual decline in the level of photosystem (PS) II and PSI proteins, and a change in the composition of the PSII light-harvesting complex (LHC-II). An increase in the level of the enzyme Fe-hydrogenase was noted during the initial stages of S deprivation (0-72 h) followed by a decline in the level of this enzyme during longer (t >72 h) S-deprivation times. Microscopic observations showed distinct morphological changes in C. reinhardtii during S deprivation and H2 production. Ellipsoid-shaped cells (normal photosynthesis) gave way to larger and spherical cell shapes in the initial stages of S deprivation and H2 production, followed by cell mass reductions after longer S-deprivation and H2-production times. It is suggested that, under S-deprivation conditions, electrons derived from a residual PSII H2O-oxidation activity feed into the hydrogenase pathway, thereby contributing to the H2-production process in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Interplay between oxygenic photosynthesis, mitochondrial respiration, catabolism of endogenous substrate, and electron transport via the hydrogenase pathway is essential for this light-mediated H2-production process.     

Solar energy conversion by green microalgae: a photosystem for hydrogen peroxide production

A photosystem for solar energy conversion, comprised of a culture of green microalgae supplemented with methyl viologen, is proposed. The capture of solar energy is based on the Mehler reaction. The reduction of methyl viologen by the photosynthetic apparatus and its subsequent reoxidation by oxygen produces hydrogen peroxide. This is a rich-energy compound that can be used as a nonpollutant and efficient fuel. Four different species of green microalgae, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (21gr) C. reinhardtii (CW15), Chlorella fusca, and Monoraphidium braunii, were tested as a possible biocatalyst. Each species presented a different efficiency level in the transformation of energy. Azide was an efficient inhibitor of the hydrogen peroxide scavenging system while maintaining photosynthetic activity of the microalgae, and thus significantly increasing the production of the photosystem. The strain C. reinhardtii (21gr), among the species studied, was the most efficient with an initial production rate of 185 micromol H(2)O(2)/h x mg Chl and reaching a maximum of 42.5 micromol H(2)O(2)/mg Chl when assayed in the presence of azide inhibitor.     

衣藻生物制氢的研究进展

综述了利用衣藻生产氢气作为再生能源的研究进展。分别介绍了衣藻产氢的代谢机理、培养条件、衣藻氢化酶的特性以及利用分子生物学手段、生物信息学手段和生物工程技术提高衣藻生物制氢效率的方法,包括氢化酶的氧耐受性的改造、外源氢化酶基因的表达、影响衣藻产氢的关键基因的筛选、利用缺硫培养基和固定化培养方法提高氢气产量等。最后,还对利用衣藻生物制氢的可行性和经济性进行了分析,对其发展方向提出自己的看法。     

Agrobacterium tumefaciens type II NADH dehydrogenase. Characterization and interactions with bacterial and thylakoid membranes

Type II NADH dehydrogenases (NDH-2) are monomeric enzymes that catalyse quinone reduction and allow electrons to enter the respiratory chain in different organisms including higher plant mitochondria, bacteria and yeasts. In this study, an Agrobacterium tumefaciens gene encoding a putative alternative NADH dehydrogenase (AtuNDH-2) was isolated and expressed in Escherichia coli as a (His)6-tagged protein. The purified 46 kDa protein contains FAD as a prosthetic group and oxidizes both NADH and NADPH with similar Vmax values, but with a much higher affinity for NADH than for NADPH. AtuNDH-2 complements the growth (on a minimal medium) of an E. coli mutant strain deficient in both NDH-1 and NDH-2, and is shown to supply electrons to the respiratory chain when incubated with bacterial membranes prepared from this mutant. By measuring photosystem II chlorophyll fluorescence on thylakoid membranes prepared from the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, we show that AtuNDH-2 is able to stimulate NADH-dependent reduction of the plastoquinone pool. We discuss the possibility of using heterologous expression of NDH-2 enzymes to improve nonphotochemical reduction of plastoquinones and H2 production in C. reinhardtii.     

豆血红蛋白基因lba的克隆及其转化衣藻叶绿体

降低细胞内的氧气含量是提高莱茵衣藻产氢效率的重要手段之一。本研究首次尝试将豆血红蛋白基因lba转入衣藻叶绿体中表达,利用豆血红蛋白具有与氧可逆结合的特性,期望降低转基因衣藻细胞内的氧气含量,达到提高衣藻产氢效率的目的。实验结果证明,lba成功转入到衣藻叶绿体中,且对其生长没有产生显著影响,这为下一步调控Lba在衣藻叶绿体中表达活性和提高衣藻产氢效率奠定了实验基础。     

Autotrophic and mixotrophic hydrogen photoproduction in sulfur-deprived chlamydomonas cells

In Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cells, H2 photoproduction can be induced in conditions of sulfur deprivation in the presence of acetate. The decrease in photosystem II (PSII) activity induced by sulfur deprivation leads to anoxia, respiration becoming higher than photosynthesis, thereby allowing H2 production. Two different electron transfer pathways, one PSII dependent and the other PSII independent, have been proposed to account for H2 photoproduction. In this study, we investigated the contribution of both pathways as well as the acetate requirement for H2 production in conditions of sulfur deficiency. By using 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU), a PSII inhibitor, which was added at different times after the beginning of sulfur deprivation, we show that PSII-independent H2 photoproduction depends on previously accumulated starch resulting from previous photosynthetic activity. Starch accumulation was observed in response to sulfur deprivation in mixotrophic conditions (presence of acetate) but also in photoautotrophic conditions. However, no H2 production was measured in photoautotrophy if PSII was not inhibited by DCMU, due to the fact that anoxia was not reached. When DCMU was added at optimal starch accumulation, significant H2 production was measured. H2 production was enhanced in autotrophic conditions by removing O2 using N2 bubbling, thereby showing that substantial H2 production can be achieved in the absence of acetate by using the PSII-independent pathway. Based on these data, we discuss the possibilities of designing autotrophic protocols for algal H2 photoproduction.     

Impact of oxidative stress on ascorbate biosynthesis in Chlamydomonas via regulation of the VTC2 gene encoding a GDP-L-galactose phosphorylase

The L-galactose (Smirnoff-Wheeler) pathway represents the major route to L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) biosynthesis in higher plants. Arabidopsis thaliana VTC2 and its paralogue VTC5 function as GDP-L-galactose phosphorylases converting GDP-L-galactose to L-galactose-1-P, thus catalyzing the first committed step in the biosynthesis of L-ascorbate. Here we report that the L-galactose pathway of ascorbate biosynthesis described in higher plants is conserved in green algae. The Chlamydomonas reinhardtii genome encodes all the enzymes required for vitamin C biosynthesis via the L-galactose pathway. We have characterized recombinant C. reinhardtii VTC2 as an active GDP-L-galactose phosphorylase. C. reinhardtii cells exposed to oxidative stress show increased VTC2 mRNA and L-ascorbate levels. Genes encoding enzymatic components of the ascorbate-glutathione system (e.g. ascorbate peroxidase, manganese superoxide dismutase, and dehydroascorbate reductase) are also up-regulated in response to increased oxidative stress. These results indicate that C. reinhardtii VTC2, like its plant homologs, is a highly regulated enzyme in ascorbate biosynthesis in green algae and that, together with the ascorbate recycling system, the L-galactose pathway represents the major route for providing protective levels of ascorbate in oxidatively stressed algal cells.     

Cryoelectron tomography of radial spokes in cilia and flagella

Radial spokes (RSs) are ubiquitous components in the 9 + 2 axoneme thought to be mechanochemical transducers involved in local control of dynein-driven microtubule sliding. They are composed of >23 polypeptides, whose interactions and placement must be deciphered to understand RS function. In this paper, we show the detailed three-dimensional (3D) structure of RS in situ in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii flagella and Tetrahymena thermophila cilia that we obtained using cryoelectron tomography (cryo-ET). We clarify similarities and differences between the three spoke species, RS1, RS2, and RS3, in T. thermophila and in C. reinhardtii and show that part of RS3 is conserved in C. reinhardtii, which only has two species of complete RSs. By analyzing C. reinhardtii mutants, we identified the specific location of subsets of RS proteins (RSPs). Our 3D reconstructions show a twofold symmetry, suggesting that fully assembled RSs are produced by dimerization. Based on our cryo-ET data, we propose models of subdomain organization within the RS as well as interactions between RSPs and with other axonemal components.     

Light-modulated exposure of the light-harvesting complex II (LHCII) to protein kinase(s) and state transition in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii xanthophyll mutants

Reversible phosphorylation of chl a/b protein complex II (LHCII), the mobile light-harvesting antenna, regulates its association and energy transfer/dissipation to photosystem (PS) II or I (state transition). Excitation of LHCII induces conformational changes affecting the exposure of the phosphorylation site at the N-terminal domain to protein kinase(s) [Zer, H., et al. (1999) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 96, 8277-8282; Zer, H., et al. (2003) Biochemistry 42, 728-738]. Thus, it was of interest to examine whether the pigment composition of LHCII affects the light-induced modulation of LHCII phosphorylation and state transition. To this end, we have used thylakoids of wild-type Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and xanthophyll deficient mutants npq1, lor1, npq2, npq1 lor1, and npq2 lor1. Phosphorylated protein bands P11, P13, and P17 are considered components of the mobile C. reinhardtii LHCII complex. The protein composition of these bands has been analyzed by mass spectrometry using Qtof-2 with a nanospray attachment. P11 and P13 contain C. reinhardtii light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b binding protein LhcII type I. P17 contains C. reinhardtii LhcII types III and IV. Illumination of isolated thylakoids inhibits the redox-controlled phosphorylation of polypeptide bands P13 and P17 and to a lower extent that of P11. The light-induced inhibition of LHCII phosphorylation and the state transition process are not influenced by extensive differences in the xanthophyll composition of the mutants. Thus, LHCII can be visualized as possessing two functionally distinct, independent domains: (i) the pigment binding transmembrane domain regulating the extent of energy transfer/dissipation and (ii) the surface-exposed phosphorylation site regulating the association of LHCII with PSII or PSI.     

Mutagenesis and phenotypic selection as a strategy toward domestication of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii strains for improved performance in photobioreactors

Microalgae have a valuable potential for biofuels production. As a matter of fact, algae can produce different molecules with high energy content, including molecular hydrogen (H(2)) by the activity of a chloroplastic hydrogenase fueled by reducing power derived from water and light energy. The efficiency of this reaction, however, is limited and depends from an intricate relationships between oxygenic photosynthesis and mitochondrial respiration. The way toward obtaining algal strains with high productivity in photobioreactors requires engineering of their metabolism at multiple levels in a process comparable to domestication of crops that were derived from their wild ancestors through accumulation of genetic traits providing improved productivity under conditions of intensive cultivation as well as improved nutritional/industrial properties. This holds true for the production of any biofuels from algae: there is the need to isolate multiple traits to be combined and produce organisms with increased performances. Among the different limitations in H(2) productivity, we identified three with a major relevance, namely: (i) the light distribution through the mass culture; (ii) the strong sensitivity of the hydrogenase to even very low oxygen concentrations; and (iii) the presence of alternative pathways, such as the cyclic electron transport, competing for reducing equivalents with hydrogenase and H(2) production. In order to identify potentially favorable mutations, we generated a collection of random mutants in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii which were selected through phenotype analysis for: (i) a reduced photosynthetic antenna size, and thus a lower culture optical density; (ii) an altered photosystem II activity as a tool to manipulate the oxygen concentration within the culture; and (iii) State 1-State 2 transition mutants, for a reduced cyclic electron flow and maximized electrons flow toward the hydrogenase. Such a broad approach has been possible thanks to the high throughput application of absorption/fluorescence optical spectroscopy methods. Strong and weak points of this approach are discussed.     

Localization and function of SulP,a nuclear-encoded chloroplast sulfate permease in<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Chlamydomonas reinhardtii</Emphasis>

Recent work [H.-C. Chen et al. (2003) Planta 218:98-106] reported on the genomic, proteomic, phylogenetic and evolutionary aspects of a putative nuclear gene ( SulP) encoding a chloroplast sulfate permease in the model green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. In this article, evidence is provided for the envelope localization of the SulP protein and its function in the uptake and assimilation of sulfate by the chloroplast. Localization of the SulP protein in the chloroplast envelope was concluded upon isolation of C. reinhardtii chloroplasts, followed by fractionation into envelope and thylakoid membranes and Western blotting of these fractions with specific polyclonal antibodies raised against the recombinant SulP protein. The function of the SulP protein was probed in antisense transformants of C. reinhardtii having lower expression levels of the SulP gene. Results showed that cellular sulfate uptake capacity was lowered as a consequence of attenuated SulP gene expression in the cell, directly affecting rates of de novo protein biosynthesis in the chloroplast. The antisense transformants exhibited phenotypes of sulfate-deprived cells, displaying slow rates of light-saturated oxygen evolution, low levels of Rubisco in the chloroplast and low steady-state levels of the photosystem-II D1 reaction-center protein. The role of the chloroplast sulfate transport in the uptake and assimilation of sulfate in C. reinhardtii is discussed along with its impact on the repair of photosystem-II from a frequently occurring photo-oxidative damage and potential use for the elucidation of the H(2)-evolution-related metabolism in this green alga.     

Modeling light-induced currents in the eye of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Rhodopsin-mediated electrical events in green algae have been recorded in the past from the eyes of numerous micro-algae like Haematococcus pluvialis, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Volvox carteri. However, the electrical data gathered by suction-pipette techniques could be interpreted in qualitative terms only. Here we present two models that allow a quantitative analysis of such results: First, an electrical analog circuit for the cell in suction pipette configuration is established. Applying this model to experimental data from unilluminated cells of C. reinhardtii yields a membrane conductance of about 3 Sm(-2). Furthermore, an analog circuit allows the determination of the photocurrent fraction that is recorded under experimental conditions. Second, a reaction scheme of a rhodopsin-type photocycle with an early Ca(2+) conductance and a later H(+) conductance is presented. The combination of both models provides good fits to light-induced currents recorded from C. reinhardtii. Finally, it allowed the calculation of the impact of each model parameter on the time courses of observable photocurrent and of inferred transmembrane voltage. The reduction of the flash-to-peak times at increasing light intensities are explained by superposition of two kinetically distinct rhodopsins and by assuming that the Ca(2+)-conducting state decays faster at more positive membrane voltages.     

The alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii UVS11 gene is responsible for cell division delay and temporal decrease in histone H1 kinase activity caused by UV irradiation

The aim of the present work was to study the possible role of the UVS11 gene of the alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, in regulation of the cell cycle. To characterize the defect of a uvs11 mutant in respect to DNA damage-dependent cell cycle arrest, we examined first the influence of the tubulin-destabilizing drug methyl benzimidazole-2-yl-carbamate (MBC) on inhibition of mitosis in response to UV 254nm. Then the growth and reproductive processes and activity of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK)-like kinases during the cell cycle of C. reinhardtii were investigated. In both, the wild type and the uvs11 mutant strain were compared under standard conditions and after DNA damage caused by UV 254nm. We assume the green alga C. reinhardtii possesses control mechanisms allowing to stop the cell cycle progression before mitosis in response to DNA damage. The results indicate that the uvs11 mutant is not able to stop the cell cycle after UV irradiation. We suggest that a product of the UVS11 gene affects cell response to DNA damage and influences a decrease in histone H1 kinase activity.     

Variable (CA/GT)n simple sequence repeat DNA in the alga Chlamydomonas

A partial genomic DNA library of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was screened with an (AC)₁₁ probe for the presence of (CA/GT)_n simple sequence repeats (SSRs). Based on the frequency of these repeats in the partial genomic library, we estimate that (CA/GT)_n repeats occur at a rate of about one every 17.7 kb in the C. reinhardtii genome. Ten positive clones were sequenced and four polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primer sets flanking (CA/GT)_n sequences were constructed for four loci. The PCR was used to specifically amplify these regions from multiple isolates of C. reinhardtii. All four loci were highly polymorphic in the C. reinhardtii isolates. A simple Mendelian inheritance pattern was found for all four loci, which showed 2:2 segregation in the tetrads resulting from a cross between C. reinhardtii and C. smithii. Our results suggest that these simple sequence repeat DNA loci will be useful for identity testing, population studies, linkage analysis, and genome mapping in Chlamydomonas.     

Genomewide analysis of box C/D and box H/ACA snoRNAs in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii reveals an extensive organization into intronic gene clusters

Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is a unicellular green alga, the lineage of which diverged from that of land plants >1 billion years ago. Using the powerful small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA) mining platform to screen the C. reinhardtii genome, we identified 322 snoRNA genes grouped into 118 families. The 74 box C/D families can potentially guide methylation at 96 sites of ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) and snRNAs, and the 44 box H/ACA families can potentially guide pseudouridylation at 62 sites. Remarkably, 242 of the snoRNA genes are arranged into 76 clusters, of which 77% consist of homologous genes produced by small local tandem duplications. At least 70 snoRNA gene clusters are found within introns of protein-coding genes. Although not exhaustive, this analysis reveals that C. reinhardtii has the highest number of intronic snoRNA gene clusters among eukaryotes. The prevalence of intronic snoRNA gene clusters in C. reinhardtii is similar to that of rice but in contrast with the one-snoRNA-per-intron organization of vertebrates and fungi and with that of Arabidopsis thaliana in which only a few intronic snoRNA gene clusters were identified. This analysis of C. reinhardtii snoRNA gene organization shows the functional importance of introns in a single-celled organism and provides evolutionary insight into the origin of intron-encoded RNAs in the plant lineage.