Premium
The development of a CO 2 ‐concentrating mechanism in Emiliania huxleyi
Author(s) -
NIMER N. A.,
MERRETT M. J.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.1996.tb01905.x
Subject(s) - emiliania huxleyi , total inorganic carbon , photosynthesis , chemistry , carbon fixation , extracellular , carbonic anhydrase , intracellular , biophysics , dissolved organic carbon , intracellular ph , biochemistry , carbon dioxide , environmental chemistry , biology , phytoplankton , nutrient , enzyme , organic chemistry
summary The development of an inorganic carbon concentrating mechanism (CCM) in relation to the expression of extracellular carbonic anhydrase (CA ext ) in cells from the stationary phase of Emiliania huxleyi cultures was investigated. Unlike exponential phase cells, those in the stationary phase showed a high affinity for CO 2 : the K 0.5 [CO 2 ] (i.e. the CO 2 concentration required for half‐maximal rate of photosynthesis) was 1.6μM at pH 8.3. Measurement of the internal inorganic carbon concentration by the silicone oil centrifugation technique showed that, with 1 mM external dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), the intracellular inorganic carbon concentration was sixfold greater at pH 7.5 and twofold greater at pH 8.3, than the external concentration. The potent CA ext inhibitor, dextran‐bound sulphonamide (DBS), gave an 80% inhibition of DIC‐dependent photosynthetic oxygen evolution. Similarly, DBS decreased the intracellular DIC concentration and inhibited photosynthetic 14 CO 2 fixation. The lipid‐permeable CA inhibitor, ethoxyzolamide (EZ), increased the intracellular DIC concentration but inhibited photosynthetic 14 CO 2 fixation. The observed intracellular DIC concentrations indicated that the stationary phase cells have the capacity to transport CO 2 actively against a concentration gradient.