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Title: Carbon and hydrogen metabolism of green algae in light and dark

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7244687· OSTI ID:7244687

After adaptation to a hydrogen metabolism, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii can photoanaerobically metabolize acetate with the evolution of H{sub 2} and CO{sub 2}. An enzyme profile of the chloroplastic, cytoplasmic, and mitochondrial fractions were obtained with a cellular fractionation procedure that incorporated cell wall removal by autolysine, digestion of the plasmalemma with digitonin and fractionation by differential centrifugation on a Percoll step gradient. The sequence of events leading to the photo-evolution of H{sub 2} from acetate includes the conversion of acetate into succinate via the extraplastidic glyoxylate cycle, the oxidation of succinate to fumarate by chloroplastic succinic dehydrogenase and the oxidation of malate to oxaloacetate in the chloroplast by NAD dependent malate dehydrogenase. The level of potential activity of the enzymes was sufficient to accommodate the observed rate of gas evolution. The isolated darkened chloroplast evolves aerobically CO{sub 2} from glucose indicating a chloroplastic respiratory pathway. Evolution of CO{sub 2} is blocked by mitochondrial inhibitors.

Research Organization:
Brandeis Univ., Waltham, MA (USA)
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE/ER
DOE Contract Number:
FG02-86ER13486
OSTI ID:
7244687
Report Number(s):
DOE/ER/13486-T1; ON: DE90008648
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English