Homeostasis in Nitrogenous Uptake/Assimilation by the Green Alga Platymonas (Tetraselmis) striata (Prasinophyceae) |
| |
Authors: | RICKETTS T R |
| |
Institution: | Department of Botany, School of Biological Sciences, The University Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK |
| |
Abstract: | When nitrate, ammonium, or urea were the sole nitrogen sourcesfor the growth of Platymonas striata there was a short initiallag period, after which uptake/assimilation occurred at a constantrate. Glycine uptake was however non-linear withtime. Addition of ammonium or urea markedly inhibited nitrateuptake whereas although glycine was initiallytotally inhibitory, nitrate uptake recommencedabout 1 h after addition, but at a greatly reduced rate. Ammoniumtotally inhibited urea uptake, but did not inhibitglycine uptake. When ammonium, urea, or glycinewere present at the same time as nitrate the total rate of nitrogen'uptake/assimilation was within 40% (or closer) of that of nitratenitrogen uptake alone. In the first two casesthis reflected a total switching off of nitrate uptakewhilst the new substrate was assimilated at a rate similar tothe initial nitrate rate, whereas in the case of glycine, bothsubstrates were used simultaneously. Once the concentrationof any of the inhibitory nitrogen sources had been reduced toa low level the uptake/assimilation of nitraterecommenced. It is suggested that the ability of P. striatato maintain a more or less constant rate total nitrogen uptake/assimilationirrespective of the mixture of utilizable nitrogen sources presentedto it, is not due to controls at the level of the entry of substrateinto the cell, but to intracellular actions at the enzyme level.The relative constancy of, and high rate of uptake,irrespective of nitrogen source and over a wide range of extracellularconcentrations, is tentatively considered to be due to saturationof the assimilatory mechanisms under the conditions employed;all the sources lead, either directly or indirectly, to theproduction of amino groupings for entry into nitrogenous metabolism.This homeostasis of nitrogen uptake/assimilationwould clearly be of considerable benefit to the alga in nature,enabling it to maximize growth in changing environmental conditions. Platymonas striata, nitrogen update, nitrogen assimilation |
| |
Keywords: | |
本文献已被 Oxford 等数据库收录! |
|