Photosynthesis in protoplasts of Macrocystis pyrifera (Phaeophyta)

Journal Article · Fri Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Journal of Phycology; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0022-3646.1990.00384.x· OSTI ID:6168536

Davison, I R ^[1]; Polne-Fuller, M ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Maine, Orono (USA)
2. Univ. of California, Santa Barbara (USA)

Photosynthetic rates measured in protoplasts isolated from the brown alga Macrocystis pyrifera (L.) Ag. were compared to those for intact tissue. Both {sup 14}C incorporation and O{sub 2} evolution gave similar rates of light-saturated protoplast photosynthesis (approximately 0.4 mmol{center dot}g chl a{sup {minus}1}{center dot}min{sup {minus}1}). Light saturated photosynthetic rates (P{sub max}) and light harvesting efficiencies ({alpha}) of protoplasts were approximately 40% those of intact tissue. In contrast, protoplasts had a greater substrate affinity for photosynthetic HCO{sub 3} uptake (lower K{sub 0.5}) than intact tissue (0.87 and 4.1 mMolar, respectively), presumably because of a reduction in the thickness of the unstirred boundary layer in the absence of the cell wall. Overall, the data suggest that protoplasts isolated from Macrocystis pyrifera are of value in the study of photosynthesis. However, experiments with intact tissue are necessary as controls to aid interpretation of protoplast data.

• OSTI ID: 6168536
• Journal Information: Journal of Phycology; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Phycology; (USA) Vol. 26:2; ISSN 0022-3646; ISSN JPYLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

551001* -- Physiological Systems-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ACID CARBONATES
ALGAE
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
PLANT CELLS
PLANTS
SYNTHESIS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
UPTAKE