Studies of delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydrase from Skeletonema costatum, a marine plankton diatom
- Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY
The accumulation of delta-aminolevulinic acid and activities of delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydrase were examined in the marine diatom, Skeletonema costatum, grown in the presence of levulinic acid. Levulinic acid concentrations greater than 10 mM affect growth and morphology, and inhibit chlorophyll synthesis. The algae recover from the effects of levulinic acid after 48 hours of exposure. The recovery is characterized by increased cellular cholorphyll content, decreased delta-aminolevulinic acid accumulation, decreased 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea-enhanced in vivo fluorescence, and the induction of a levulinic acid-activated delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydrase which does not follow Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The data indicate that levulinic acid blocks may be ineffective in vivo, and that delta-aminolevulinic acid is metabolized to amino and dicarboxylic acids. delta-Aminolevulinic acid dehydrase activities are used to estimate the capacity for chlorophyll synthesis. Results suggest this diatom may be capable of rapid chlorophyll turnover, which would allow the plant to light-shade adapt on the time scales appropriate to vertical mixing rates in the sea.
- DOE Contract Number:
- EY-76-C-02-0016
- OSTI ID:
- 6138685
- Journal Information:
- Plant Physiol., Suppl.; (United States), Journal Name: Plant Physiol., Suppl.; (United States) Vol. 62; ISSN PPYSA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
550500 -- Metabolism
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ALGAE
AMINO ACIDS
AMINOLEVULINIC ACID
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
BIOLOGICAL ADAPTATION
BIOSYNTHESIS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHLOROPHYLL
DIATOMS
DICARBOXYLIC ACIDS
ENZYMES
HETEROCYCLIC ACIDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
KETO ACIDS
KINETICS
LEVULINIC ACID
METABOLISM
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYTOCHROMES
PHYTOPLANKTON
PIGMENTS
PLANKTON
PLANTS
PORPHYRINS
REACTION KINETICS
SYNTHESIS