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TRACE METAL REDUCTION BY PHYTOPLANKTON: THE ROLE OF PLASMALEMMA REDOX ENZYMES 1,2
Author(s) -
Jones Gary J.,
Palenik Brian P.,
Morel François M. M.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
journal of phycology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.85
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1529-8817
pISSN - 0022-3646
DOI - 10.1111/j.1529-8817.1987.tb04131.x
Subject(s) - thalassiosira weissflogii , redox , metal , trace metal , electron acceptor , copper , biology , inorganic chemistry , biophysics , phytoplankton , chemistry , biochemistry , ecology , organic chemistry , nutrient
The phytoplankton cell surface reduces external copper(II) and iron(III) complexes and redox dyes. This reductive activity appears to be mediated by one or more plasmalemma redox enzymes. Trace metal complexes are directly reduced by the redox enzyme, therefore the reduction rate is not regulated by the metal free ion activity in solution. This is in direct contrast to previous measurements of trace metal interactions with the phytoplankton cell membrane. Half‐saturation constants for the reduction of Cu(II) complexes with carbonate, phenanthroline and bathocuproinedisulfonate are in the range 2.3–14.7 μM, which suggests that trace metal complexes are not the main electron acceptor in natural waters. In the diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii there is additional reductive activity associated with the cell wall.