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Studies of nitrate transport by marine phytoplankton using TWCl-ClO3 as a transport analogue. I. Physiological findings. [Skeletonema costatum; Nitzschia closterium]

Journal Article · · J. Phycol.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6284388

Transport of a nitrate analogue, TWCl-ClO3 , was examined in two diatoms, Skeletonema costatum (Greve.) Cleve and Nitzschia closterium (Ehrenb) W. Sm. A dinoflagellate, Gonyaulax polyedra did not transport ClO3 . Transport of TWCl-ClO3 by diatoms appeared to be active and showed saturation kinetics. The data were fitted by Michaelis-Menten equation at all but the lowest chlorate concentrations (where plots of S vs. v showed a slight concave bend). Affinity of cells for nitrate was considerably higher than for chlorate. The K/sub i/ for nitrate inhibition of chlorate transport was calculated assuming competitive inhibition. Light had little or no effect on chlorate transport. Pulse-chase experiments demonstrated that (1) ClO3 (hence NO3 ) was stored in two intracellular compartments of equal size, (2) internal ClO3 was exchangeable with external ClO3 (rates of efflux and influx were measured), and (3) efflux of intracellular ClO3 showed transient states following a chase of ClO3 or NO3 which stabilized after 10-20 min. Transport of chlorate was a function of growth phase.

Research Organization:
Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA
OSTI ID:
6284388
Journal Information:
J. Phycol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Phycol.; (United States) Vol. 23:1; ISSN JPYLA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English