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Long-Term Temperature Acclimation of Photosynthesis in Steady-State Cultures of the Polar Diatom Fragilariopsis cylindrus

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Abstract

Cultures of the obligate psychrophilic diatom Fragilariopsis cylindrus (Grunow) were grown for 4 months under steady-state conditions at −1 °C and +7 °C (50 μmol photons m−2 s−1) prior to measurements in order to investigate long-term acclimation of photosynthesis to both temperatures. No differences in maximum intrinsic quantum yield of PS II (FV/FM) and relative electron transport rates could be detected at either temperature after 4 months of acclimation. Measurements of photosynthesis (relative electron transport rates) vs. irradiance (P vs. E curves) revealed similar values for relative light utilization efficiency (α = 0.57 at −1 °C, α = 0.60 at +7 °C) but higher values for irradiance levels at which photosynthesis saturates (EK) at −1 °C and, therefore, higher maximum photosynthesis (PMAX = 54 (relative units) at −1 °C, PMAX = 49 at +7 °C). Nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ) measurements at 385 μmol photons m−2 s−1 indicated higher (37%) NPQ for diatoms grown at −1 °C compared to +7 °C, which was possibly related to a 2-fold increase in the concentration of the pigment diatoxanthin and a 9-fold up-regulation of a gene encoding a fucoxanthin chlorophyll a,c-binding protein. Expression of the D1 protein encoding gene psbA was ca. 1.5-fold up-regulated at −1 °C, whereas expression levels of other genes from Photosystem II (psbC, psbU, psbO), as well as rbcL, the gene encoding the Rubisco large subunit were similar at both temperatures. However, a 2-fold up-regulation of a plastid glyceraldehyde-P dehydrogenase at −1 °C indicated enhanced Calvin cycle activity. This study revealed for the first time that a polar diatom could efficiently acclimate photosynthesis over a wide range of polar temperatures given enough time. Acclimation of photosynthesis at −1 °C was probably regulated similarly to high light acclimation.

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Abbreviations

α:

relative light utilization efficiency (ΔP/ΔE)

A, B, CCOMP:

amplitudes of fluorescence decay rate constants (K )

Chl:

chlorophyll

E :

irradiance (μmol photons m−2 s−1)

E K :

irradiance at the onset of light saturated photosynthesis

EST:

expressed sequence tag

ETR:

relative electron transport rate [(FV′/FM′) • PFD]

F 0 :

minimal Chl fluorescence in the dark

F M :

maximal Chl fluorescence in the dark

F M′ :

maximal Chl fluorescence during illumination

F t :

minimal Chl fluorescence during illumination

F V :

variable Chl fluorescence in the dark: (FM − F0)

F V′ :

variable Chl fluorescence during illumination (FM′ − Ft)

FV/FM:

maximum potential quantum yield of PSII

FV′/FM’:

effective quantum yield of PSII

K A, B, C :

rate constant for fluorescence decay

K OPEN :

fraction of oxidized PSII RCs

JCON:

connectivity between PSII RCs

NPQ:

non photochemical quenching [(FM − FM’)/FM′]

P:

photosynthesis (relative ETR)

PAR:

photosynthetically active radiation

PFD:

photon flux density (μmol photons m−2 s−1)

P MAX :

maximum photosynthetic rate (relative units)

PSII, I:

Photosystem II, I

PQ:

plastoquinone pool

PUFA:

polyunsaturated fatty acid

P vs. E:

photosynthesis versus irradiance

QA, B:

plastoquinone A, B

RC:

reaction centre

Rubisco:

ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase

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  1. Nikolai Hoch

    Present address: School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Box 357940, Seattle, Washington, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570, Bremerhaven, Germany

    Thomas Mock

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Correspondence to Thomas Mock.

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Mock, T., Hoch, N. Long-Term Temperature Acclimation of Photosynthesis in Steady-State Cultures of the Polar Diatom Fragilariopsis cylindrus. Photosynth Res 85, 307–317 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-005-5668-9

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