scholarly journals Bi-directional electron transfer between H2 and NADPH mitigates light fluctuation responses in green algae

Author(s):  
Yuval Milrad ◽  
Shira Schweitzer ◽  
Yael Feldman ◽  
Iftach Yacoby

Abstract The metabolism of green algae has been the focus of much research over the last century. These photosynthetic organisms can thrive under various conditions and adapt quickly to changing environments by concomitant usage of several metabolic apparatuses. The main electron coordinator in their chloroplasts, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), participates in many enzymatic activities and is also responsible for inter-organellar communication. Under anaerobic conditions, green algae also accumulate molecular hydrogen (H2), a promising alternative for fossil fuels. However, to scale-up its accumulation, a firm understanding of its integration in the photosynthetic apparatus is still required. While it is generally accepted that NADPH metabolism correlates to H2 accumulation, the mechanism of this collaboration is still vague and relies on indirect measurements. Here, we investigated this connection in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii using simultaneous measurements of both dissolved gases concentration, NADPH fluorescence and electrochromic shifts at 520-546 nm. Our results indicate that energy transfer between H2 and NADPH is bi-directional and crucial for the maintenance of redox balance under light fluctuations. At light onset, NADPH consumption initially eventuates in H2 evolution, which initiates the photosynthetic electron flow. Later on, as illumination continues the majority of NADPH is diverted to the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle. Dark onset triggers re-assimilation of H2, which produces NADPH and so, enables initiation of dark fermentative metabolism.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuval Milrad ◽  
Shira Schweitzer ◽  
Yael Feldman ◽  
Iftach Yacoby

AbstractThe metabolism of green algae has been the focus of much research over the last century. These photosynthetic organisms can thrive under various conditions and adapt quickly to changing environments by concomitant usage of several metabolic apparatuses. The main electron coordinator in their chloroplasts, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), participates in many enzymatic activities and is also responsible for interorganelle communication. Under anaerobic conditions, green algae also accumulate molecular hydrogen (H2), a promising alternative for fossil fuels. However, in order to scale-up its accumulation, a firm understanding of its integration in the photosynthetic apparatus is still lacking. While it is generally accepted that NADPH metabolism correlates to H2 accumulation, the mechanism of this collaboration is still vague and rely on indirect measurements. Here, we investigated this connection using simultaneous measurements of both dissolved gases concentration, NADPH fluorescence and electrochromic shifts at 520-546 nm. Our results indicate that energy transfer between H2 and NADPH is bi-directional and crucial for the maintenance of redox balance under light fluctuations. At light onset, NADPH consumption is initially eventuated in H2 evolution, which initiate the photosynthetic electron flow. Later on, as illumination continues the majority of NADPH is recycled by Nda2 rather than consumed by terminal sinks such as CBB cycle and H2 production. Dark onset triggers re-assimilation of H2, which produces NADPH and so, enables initiation of dark fermentative metabolism.One sentence summaryEnergy transfer between H2 and NADPH is bi-directional and crucial for the maintenance of redox balance under light fluctuations.


Author(s):  
Huai-Qiang Ju ◽  
Jin-Fei Lin ◽  
Tian Tian ◽  
Dan Xie ◽  
Rui-Hua Xu

Abstract Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) is an essential electron donor in all organisms, and provides the reducing power for anabolic reactions and redox balance. NADPH homeostasis is regulated by varied signaling pathways and several metabolic enzymes that undergo adaptive alteration in cancer cells. The metabolic reprogramming of NADPH renders cancer cells both highly dependent on this metabolic network for antioxidant capacity and more susceptible to oxidative stress. Modulating the unique NADPH homeostasis of cancer cells might be an effective strategy to eliminate these cells. In this review, we summarize the current existing literatures on NADPH homeostasis, including its biological functions, regulatory mechanisms and the corresponding therapeutic interventions in human cancers, providing insights into therapeutic implications of targeting NADPH metabolism and the associated mechanism for cancer therapy.


2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eddy van Hunnik ◽  
Dieter Sültemeyer

In order to understand the function of the lumen carbonic anhydrase (CA) which is bound to PSII at the lumenal side of the thylakoids in chloroplasts of eukaryotic algae, thylakoids were isolated from chloroplasts of Tetraedron minimum, Chlamydomonas noctigama, the cell wall-less mutant Chlamydomonas reinhardtii CW15, and a C. reinhardtii CW15/CIA3 mutant which lacks the lumen CA. The isolated thylakoids produced O2 on illumination and exhibited electron flow between PSII and PSI, indicating that the thylakoids were intact and the photosynthetic apparatus were functional. We could not detect any uptake of HCO3–,nor efflux of CO2, from the thylakoids upon illumination, making it improbable that the CA present in the lumen of the thylakoids would play a role in furnishing CO2 for Rubisco. We were able to determine ATP production upon illumination in isolated thylakoids. Under high inorganic carbon (Ci; 5 mM), all species showed significant amounts of ATP being produced. Under low Ci (200 M), we could not detect ATP formation from C. reinhardtii CW15/CIA3 upon illumination. This mutant was not able to survive more then 4 h of low Ci in culture. We therefore suggest that the lumen CA is not involved in the CO2 concentrating mechanism, but might play a role in the formation of a proton gradient across the thylakoid membranes.


Life ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 174
Author(s):  
Ketty Margulis ◽  
Hagit Zer ◽  
Hagar Lis ◽  
Hanan Schoffman ◽  
Omer Murik ◽  
...  

Pgr5 proteins play a major direct role in cyclic electron flow paths in plants and eukaryotic phytoplankton. The genomes of many cyanobacterial species code for Pgr5-like proteins but their function is still uncertain. Here, we present evidence that supports a link between the Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 Pgr5-like protein and the regulation of intracellular redox balance. The knockout strain, pgr5KO, did not display substantial phenotypic response under our experimental conditions, confirming results obtained in earlier studies. However, the overexpression strain, pgr5OE, accumulated 2.5-fold more chlorophyll than the wild type and displayed increased content of photosystems matching the chlorophyll increase. As a result, electron transfer rates through the photosynthetic apparatus of pgr5OE increased, as did the amount of energy stored as glycogen. While, under photoautotrophic conditions, this metabolic difference had only minor effects, under mixotrophic conditions, pgr5OE cultures collapsed. Interestingly, this specific phenotype of pgr5OE mutants displayed a tendency for reverting, and cultures which previously collapsed in the presence of glucose were now able to survive. DNA sequencing of a pgr5OE strain revealed a second site suppression mutation in slr1916, a putative esterase associated with redox regulation. The phenotype of the slr1916 knockout is very similar to that of the strain reported here and to that of the pmgA regulator knockout. These data demonstrate that, in Synechocystis 6803, there is strong selection against overexpression of the Pgr5-like protein. The pseudoreversion event in a gene involved in redox regulation suggests a connection of the Pgr5-like protein to this network.


Catalysts ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 812
Author(s):  
Hoang Chinh Nguyen ◽  
My-Linh Nguyen ◽  
Chia-Hung Su ◽  
Hwai Chyuan Ong ◽  
Horng-Yi Juan ◽  
...  

Biodiesel is a promising alternative to fossil fuels and mainly produced from oils/fat through the (trans)esterification process. To enhance the reaction efficiency and simplify the production process, various catalysts have been introduced for biodiesel synthesis. Recently, the use of bio-derived catalysts has attracted more interest due to their high catalytic activity and ecofriendly properties. These catalysts include alkali catalysts, acid catalysts, and enzymes (biocatalysts), which are (bio)synthesized from various natural sources. This review summarizes the latest findings on these bio-derived catalysts, as well as their source and catalytic activity. The advantages and disadvantages of these catalysts are also discussed. These bio-based catalysts show a promising future and can be further used as a renewable catalyst for sustainable biodiesel production.


RSC Advances ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-113
Author(s):  
Rami J. Batrice ◽  
John C. Gordon

Solar energy has been used for decades for the direct production of electricity in various industries and devices. However, harnessing and storing this energy in the form of chemical bonds has emerged as a promising alternative to fossil fuels.


Author(s):  
Jeffrey Amelse

Mitigation of global warming requires an understanding of where energy is produced and consumed, the magnitude of carbon dioxide generation, and proper understanding of the Carbon Cycle. The latter leads to the distinction between and need for both CO2 and biomass CARBON sequestration. Short reviews are provided for prior technologies proposed for reducing CO2 emissions from fossil fuels or substituting renewable energy, focusing on their limitations. None offer a complete solution. Of these, CO2 sequestration is poised to have the largest impact. We know how to do it. It will just cost money, and scale-up is a huge challenge. Few projects have been brought forward to semi-commercial scale. Transportation accounts for only about 30% of U.S. overall energy demand. Biofuels penetration remains small, and thus, they contribute a trivial amount of overall CO2 reduction, even though 40% of U.S. corn and 30% of soybeans are devoted to their production. Bioethanol is traced through its Carbon Cycle and shown to be both energy inefficient, and an inefficient use of biomass carbon. Both biofuels and CO2 sequestration reduce FUTURE CO2 emissions from continued use of fossil fuels. They will not remove CO2 ALREADY in the atmosphere. The only way to do that is to break the Carbon Cycle by growing biomass from atmospheric CO2 and sequestering biomass CARBON. Theoretically, sequestration of only a fraction of the world’s tree leaves, which are renewed every year, can get the world to Net Zero CO2 without disturbing the underlying forests.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duncan Fitzpatrick ◽  
Eva-Mari Aro ◽  
Arjun Tiwari

AbstractIn plant science, 2,4-dinitrophenylether of iodonitrothymol (DNP-INT) is frequently used as an alternative to 2,5-dibromo-6-isopropyl-3-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone (DBMIB) to examine the capacity of plastoquinol and semiquinone to reduce O2. DNP-INT is considered an effective inhibitor of the photosynthetic electron transfer chain (PETC) through its binding at the Q0 site of Cyt-b6f. The binding and action of DNP-INT has been previously characterized spectroscopically in purified Cyt-b6f complex reconstituted with Plastocyanin, PSII membranes and plastoquinone, as well as in isolated thylakoids based on its property to block MV-mediated O2 consumption. Contrary to the conclusions made from these experiments, we observed clear reduction of P700+ in samples incubated with DNP-INT during our recent investigation into the sites of oxygen consumption in isolated thylakoids. Therefore, we carried out an extensive investigation of DNP-INT’s chemical efficacy in isolated thylakoids and intact leaves. This included examination of its capacity to block the PETC before PSI, and therefore its inhibition of CO2 fixation. P700 redox kinetics were measured using Dual-PAM whilst Membrane Inlet Mass Spectrometry (MIMS) was used for simultaneous determination of the rates of O2 evolution and O2 consumption in isolated thylakoids and CO2 fixation in intact leaves, using two stable isotopes of oxygen (16O2,18O2) and CO2 (12C,13C), respectively. Based on these investigations we confirmed that DNP-INT is unable to completely block the PETC and CO2 fixation, therefore its use may produce artefacts if applied to isolated thylakoids or intact cells, especially when determining the locations of reactive oxygen species formation in the photosynthetic apparatus.


2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Faschian ◽  
Ilyas Eren ◽  
Steven Minden ◽  
Ralf Pörtner

Fixed-bed processes, where cells are immobilized within macroporous carriers, are a promising alternative to processes with suspended cells. A scale-up concept is presented in order to evaluate the performance as part of process design of fixed-bed processes. Therefore,Lactococcus lactiscultivation in chemostat and batch mode was compared to fixed bed cultures on three different scales, the smallest being the downscaledMultifermwith 10 mL fixed bed units, the second a 100 mL fixed-bed reactor and the third a pilot scale reactor with 1 L fixed bed volume. As expected, the volume specific lactate productivity of all cultivations was dependent on dilution rate. In suspension chemostat culture a maximum of 2.3 g·L-1·h-1was reached. Due to cell retention in the fixed-beds, productivity increased up to 8.29 g·L-1·h-1at a dilution rate of D = 1.16 h-1(corresponding to 2.4·µmax) on pilot scale. For all fixed bed cultures a common spline was obtained indicating a good scale-up performance.


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