Dark Ammonium Assimilation Reduces the Plastoquinone Pool of Photosystem II in the Green Alga Selenastrum minutum

The impact of dark NH(4) (+) and NO(3) (-) assimilation on photosynthetic light harvesting capability of the green alga Selenastrum minutum was monitored by chlorophyll a fluorescence analysis. When cells assimilated NH(4) (+), they exhibited a large decline in the variable fluorescence/maximum fluorescence ratio, the fluorescence yield of photosystem II relative to that of photosystem I at 77 kelvin, and O(2) evolution rate. NH(4) (+) assimilation therefore poised the cells in a less efficient state for photosystem II. The analysis of complementary area of fluorescence induction curve and the pattern of fluorescence decay upon microsecond saturating flash, indicators of redox state of plastoquinone (PQ) pool and dark reoxidation of primary quinone electron acceptor (Q(A)), respectively, revealed that the PQ pool became reduced during dark NH(4) (+) assimilation. NH(4) (+) assimilation also caused an increase in the NADPH/NADP(+) ratio due to the NH(4) (+) induced increase in respiratory carbon oxidation. The change in cellular reductant is suggested to be responsible for the reduction of the PQ pool and provide a mechanism by which the metabolic demands of NH(4) (+) assimilation may alter the efficiency of photosynthetic light harvesting. NO(3) (-) assimilation did not cause a reduction in PQ and did not affect the efficiency of light harvesting. These results illustrate the role of cellular metabolism in the modulating photosynthetic processes.