scholarly journals The role of coccoliths in protecting <i>Emiliania huxleyi</i> against stressful light and UV radiation

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 4637-4643 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juntian Xu ◽  
Lennart T. Bach ◽  
Kai G. Schulz ◽  
Wenyan Zhao ◽  
Kunshan Gao ◽  
...  

Abstract. Coccolithophores are a group of phytoplankton species which cover themselves with small scales (coccoliths) made of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). The reason why coccolithophores form these calcite platelets has been a matter of debate for decades but has remained elusive so far. One hypothesis is that they play a role in light or UV protection, especially in surface dwelling species like Emiliania huxleyi, which can tolerate exceptionally high levels of solar radiation. In this study, we tested this hypothesis by culturing a calcified and a naked strain under different light conditions with and without UV radiation. The coccoliths of E. huxleyi reduced the transmission of visible radiation (400–700 nm) by 7.5 %, that of UV-A (315–400 nm) by 14.1 % and that of UV-B (280–315 nm) by 18.4 %. Growth rates of the calcified strain (PML B92/11) were about 2 times higher than those of the naked strain (CCMP 2090) under indoor constant light levels in the absence of UV radiation. When exposed to outdoor conditions (fluctuating sunlight with UV radiation), growth rates of calcified cells were almost 3.5 times higher compared to naked cells. Furthermore, the relative electron transport rate was 114 % higher and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) was 281 % higher in the calcified compared to the naked strain, implying higher energy transfer associated with higher NPQ in the presence of calcification. When exposed to natural solar radiation including UV radiation, the maximal quantum yield of photosystem II was only slightly reduced in the calcified strain but strongly reduced in the naked strain. Our results reveal an important role of coccoliths in mitigating light and UV stress in E. huxleyi.

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juntian Xu ◽  
Lennart T. Bach ◽  
Kai G. Schulz ◽  
Wenyan zhao ◽  
Kunshan Gao ◽  
...  

Abstract. Coccolithophores are a group of phytoplankton species which cover themselves with small scales (coccoliths) made of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). The reason why coccolithophores form these calcite platelets has been a matter of debate since decades but has remained elusive so far. One hypothesis is that they serve a role in light/UV protection, especially in surface dwelling species like Emiliania huxleyi which can tolerate exceptionally high levels of solar radiation. In this study, we tested this hypothesis by culturing a calcifying and a non-calcifying strain under different light conditions with and without UV radiation. The coccoliths of E. huxleyi reduced the transmission of visible radiation (400–700 nm) by 7.5 %, UV-A (315–400 nm) by 14.1 % and UVB (280–315 nm) by 18.4 %. Growth rates of the calcifying strain (PML B92/11) were about 2 times higher than those of the non-calcifying strain (CCMP 2090) under indoor constant light levels in the absence of UV radiation. When exposed to outdoor conditions (fluctuating sunlight with UV radiation), growth rates of calcified cells were almost 3.5 times higher compared to naked cells. Furthermore, relative electron transport rate was 114 % higher and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) 281 % higher in the calcifying compared to the non-calcifying strain, implying higher energy transfer associated with higher NPQ in the presence of calcification. When exposed to natural solar radiation including UV radiation, maximal quantum yield of photosystem II was only slightly reduced in the calcifying but strongly reduced in the non-calcifying strain. Our results reveal an important role of coccoliths in mitigating light and UV stress in E. huxleyi.


Author(s):  
Franco V. A. Camargo ◽  
Federico Perozeni ◽  
Gabriel de la Cruz Valbuena ◽  
Luca Zuliani ◽  
Samim Sardar ◽  
...  

2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (10) ◽  
pp. 1141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Govindjee ◽  
Manfredo J. Seufferheld

This paper deals first with the early, although incomplete, history of photoinhibition, of 'non-QA-related chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence changes', and the xanthophyll cycle that preceded the discovery of the correlation between non-photochemical quenching of Chl a fluorescence (NPQ) and conversion of violaxanthin to zeaxanthin. It includes the crucial observation that the fluorescence intensity quenching, when plants are exposed to excess light, is indeed due to a change in the quantum yield of fluorescence. The history ends with a novel turn in the direction of research — isolation and characterization of NPQ xanthophyll-cycle mutants of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Dangeard and Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh., blocked in conversion of violaxanthin to zeaxanthin, and zeaxanthin to violaxanthin, respectively. In the second part of the paper, we extend the characterization of two of these mutants (npq1, which accumulates violaxanthin, and npq2, which accumulates zeaxanthin) through parallel measurements on growth, and several assays of PSII function: oxygen evolution, Chl a fluorescence transient (the Kautsky effect), the two-electron gate function of PSII, the back reactions around PSII, and measurements of NPQ by pulse-amplitude modulation (PAM 2000) fluorimeter. We show that, in the npq2 mutant, Chl a fluorescence is quenched both in the absence and presence of 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU). However, no differences are observed in functioning of the electron-acceptor side of PSII — both the two-electron gate and the back reactions are unchanged. In addition, the role of protons in fluorescence quenching during the 'P-to-S' fluorescence transient was confirmed by the effect of nigericin in decreasing this quenching effect. Also, the absence of zeaxanthin in the npq1 mutant leads to reduced oxygen evolution at high light intensity, suggesting another protective role of this carotenoid. The available data not only support the current model of NPQ that includes roles for both pH and the xanthophylls, but also are consistent with additional protective roles of zeaxanthin. However, this paper emphasizes that we still lack sufficient understanding of the different parts of NPQ, and that the precise mechanisms of photoprotection in the alga Chlamydomonas may not be the same as those in higher plants.


2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Liu ◽  
Wojciech J Nawrocki ◽  
Roberta Croce

Non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) is the process that protects photosynthetic organisms from photodamage by dissipating the energy absorbed in excess as heat. In the model green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, NPQ was abolished in the knock-out mutants of the pigment-protein complexes LHCSR3 and LHCBM1. However, while LHCSR3 was shown to be a pH sensor and switching to a quenched conformation at low pH, the role of LHCBM1 in NPQ has not been elucidated yet. In this work, we combine biochemical and physiological measurements to study short-term high light acclimation of npq5, the mutant lacking LHCBM1. We show that while in low light in the absence of this complex, the antenna size of PSII is smaller than in its presence, this effect is marginal in high light, implying that a reduction of the antenna is not responsible for the low NPQ. We also show that the mutant expresses LHCSR3 at the WT level in high light, indicating that the absence of this complex is also not the reason. Finally, NPQ remains low in the mutant even when the pH is artificially lowered to values that can switch LHCSR3 to the quenched conformation. It is concluded that both LHCSR3 and LHCBM1 need to be present for the induction of NPQ and that LHCBM1 is the interacting partner of LHCSR3. This interaction can either enhance the quenching capacity of LHCSR3 or connect this complex with the PSII supercomplex.


2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 1441-1452 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Xu ◽  
K. Gao ◽  
V. E. Villafañe ◽  
E. W. Helbling

Abstract. Changes in calcification of coccolithophores may affect their photosynthetic responses to both, ultraviolet radiation (UVR, 280–400 nm) and temperature. We operated semi-continuous cultures of Emiliania huxleyi (strain CS-369) at reduced (0.1 mM, LCa) and ambient (10 mM, HCa) Ca2+ concentrations and, after 148 generations, we exposed cells to six radiation treatments (>280, >295, >305, >320, >350 and >395 nm by using Schott filters) and two temperatures (20 and 25 °C) to examine photosynthesis and calcification responses. Overall, our study demonstrated that: (1) decreased calcification resulted in a down regulation of photoprotective mechanisms (i.e., as estimated via non-photochemical quenching, NPQ), pigments contents and photosynthetic carbon fixation; (2) calcification (C) and photosynthesis (P) (as well as their ratio) have different responses related to UVR with cells grown under the high Ca2+ concentration being more resistant to UVR than those grown under the low Ca2+ level; (3) elevated temperature increased photosynthesis and calcification of E. huxleyi grown at high Ca2+ concentrations whereas decreased both processes in low Ca2+ grown cells. Therefore, a decrease in calcification rates in E. huxleyi is expected to decrease photosynthesis rates, resulting in a negative feedback that further reduces calcification.


2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaoguo QIN ◽  
Zesheng YAN ◽  
Honghui GU ◽  
Zhengxiang WANG ◽  
Xiong JIANG ◽  
...  

To study the effects of shading level on the photosynthesis and corm weight of konjac plant, the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, daily variation of relative electron transport rate (rETR), net photosynthetic rate (Pn), and corm weight of konjac plants under different treatments were measured and comparatively analyzed through covered cultivation of biennial seed corms with shade nets at different shading rates (0%, 50%, 70%, and 90%). The results showed that with the increase in shading rate, the maximum photochemical efficiency, potential activity, and non-photochemical quenching of photosystem Ⅱ (PSⅡ) of konjac leaves constantly increased, whereas the actual photosynthetic efficiency, rETR, and photochemical quenching of PSⅡ initially increased and then decreased. This result indicated that moderate shading could enhance the photosynthetic efficiency of konjac leaves. The daily variation of rETR in konjac plants under unshaded treatment showed a bimodal curve, whereas that under shaded treatment displayed a unimodal curve. The rETR of plants with 50% treatment and 70% treatment was gradually higher than that under unshaded treatment around noon. The moderate shading could increase the Pn of konjac leaves. The stomatal conductance and transpiration rate of the leaves under shaded treatment were significantly higher than those of the leaves under unshaded treatment. Shading could promote the growth of plants and increase corm weight. The comprehensive comparison shows that the konjac plants had strong photosynthetic capacity and high yield when the shading rate was 50%-70% for the area.   ********* In press - Online First. Article has been peer reviewed, accepted for publication and published online without pagination. It will receive pagination when the issue will be ready for publishing as a complete number (Volume 47, Issue 3, 2019). The article is searchable and citable by Digital Object Identifier (DOI). DOI link will become active after the article will be included in the complete issue. *********


2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 2383-2393 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Li ◽  
K. Gao ◽  
J. Beardall

Abstract. It has been proposed that ocean acidification (OA) will interact with other environmental factors to influence the overall impact of global change on biological systems. Accordingly we investigated the influence of nitrogen limitation and OA on the physiology of diatoms by growing the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin under elevated (1000 μatm; high CO2 – HC) or ambient (390 μatm; low CO2 – LC) levels of CO2 with replete (110 μmol L−1; high nitrate – HN) or reduced (10 μmol L−1; low nitrate – LN) levels of NO3- and subjecting the cells to solar radiation with or without UV irradiance to determine their susceptibility to UV radiation (UVR, 280–400 nm). Our results indicate that OA and UVB induced significantly higher inhibition of both the photosynthetic rate and quantum yield under LN than under HN conditions. UVA or/and UVB increased the cells' non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) regardless of the CO2 levels. Under LN and OA conditions, activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were enhanced, along with the highest sensitivity to UVB and the lowest ratio of repair to damage of PSII. HC-grown cells showed a faster recovery rate of yield under HN but not under LN conditions. We conclude therefore that nutrient limitation makes cells more prone to the deleterious effects of UV radiation and that HC conditions (ocean acidification) exacerbate this effect. The finding that nitrate limitation and ocean acidification interact with UV-B to reduce photosynthetic performance of the diatom P. tricornutum implies that ocean primary production and the marine biological C pump will be affected by OA under multiple stressors.


2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (22) ◽  
pp. 7382-7392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chuan Ching Foo ◽  
Alexandra J Burgess ◽  
Renata Retkute ◽  
Pracha Tree-Intong ◽  
Alexander V Ruban ◽  
...  

Abstract High light intensities raise photosynthetic and plant growth rates but can cause damage to the photosynthetic machinery. The likelihood and severity of deleterious effects are minimised by a set of photoprotective mechanisms, one key process being the controlled dissipation of energy from chlorophyll within PSII known as non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). Although ubiquitous, the role of NPQ in plant productivity is important because it momentarily reduces the quantum efficiency of photosynthesis. Rice plants overexpressing and deficient in the gene encoding a central regulator of NPQ, the protein PsbS, were used to assess the effect of protective effectiveness of NPQ (pNPQ) at the canopy scale. Using a combination of three-dimensional reconstruction, modelling, chlorophyll fluorescence, and gas exchange, the influence of altered NPQ capacity on the distribution of pNPQ was explored. A higher phototolerance in the lower layers of a canopy was found, regardless of genotype, suggesting a mechanism for increased protection for leaves that experience relatively low light intensities interspersed with brief periods of high light. Relative to wild-type plants, psbS overexpressors have a reduced risk of photoinactivation and early growth advantage, demonstrating that manipulating photoprotective mechanisms can impact both subcellular mechanisms and whole-canopy function.


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