Photosynthesis and inorganic carbon usage by the marine cyanobacterium, Synechococcus sp
- Australian National Univ., Canberra City
The marine cyanobacterium, Synechococcus sp. Nageli (strain RRIMP N1) changes its affinity for external inorganic carbon used in photosynthesis, depending on the concentration of CO/sub 2/ provided during growth. The high affinity for CO/sub 2/ + HCO/sub 3//sup -/ of air-grown cells (K/sub 1///sub 2/ < 80 nanomoles (pH 8.2)) would seem to be the result of the presence of an inducible mechanism which concentrates inorganic carbon (and thus CO/sub 2/) within the cells. Silicone-oil centrifugation experiments indicate that the inorganic carbon concentration inside suitably induced cells may be in excess of 1,000-fold greater than that in the surrounding medium, and that this accumulation is dependent upon light energy. The quantum requirements for O/sub 2/ evolution appear to be some 2-fold greater for low CO/sub 2/-grown cells, compared with high CO/sub 2/-grown cells. This presumably is due to the diversion of greater amounts of light energy into inorganic carbon transport in these cells. A number of experimental approaches to the question of whether CO/sub 2/ or HCO/sub 3//sup -/ is primarily utilized by the inorganic carbon transport system in these cells show that in fact both species are capable of acting as substrate. CO/sub 2/, however, is more readily taken up when provided at an equivalent concentration to HCO/sub 3//sup -/. This discovery suggests that the mechanistic basis for the inorganic carbon concentrating system may not be a simple HCO/sub 3//sup -/ pump as has been suggested. It is clear, however, that during steady-state photosynthesis in seawater equilibrated with air, HCO/sub 3//sup -/ uptake into the cell is the primary source of internal inorganic carbon.
- OSTI ID:
- 6096454
- Journal Information:
- Plant Physiol.; (United States), Vol. 70:2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Isolation and characterization of high CO sub 2 -requiring mutants of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus PCC7942
Na/sup +/ requirement for growth, photosynthesis, and pH regulation of the alkalotolerant cyanobacterium Synechococcus leopoliensis
Related Subjects
14 SOLAR ENERGY
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID CARBONATES
UPTAKE
CARBON DIOXIDE
BIOLOGICAL LOCALIZATION
PHOTOSYNTHETIC BACTERIA
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ECOSYSTEMS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
SYNTHESIS
550700* - Microbiology
140505 - Solar Energy Conversion- Photochemical
Photobiological
& Thermochemical Conversion- (1980-)
500200 - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)