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CO2 acquisition in Chlamydomonas acidophila is influenced mainly by CO2, not phosphorus, availability

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Abstract

The extremophilic green microalga Chlamydomonas acidophila grows in very acidic waters (pH 2.3–3.4), where CO2 is the sole inorganic carbon source. Previous work has revealed that the species can accumulate inorganic carbon (Ci) and exhibits high affinity CO2 utilization under low-CO2 (air-equilibrium) conditions, similar to organisms with an active CO2 concentrating mechanism (CCM), whereas both processes are down-regulated under high CO2 (4.5 % CO2) conditions. Responses of this species to phosphorus (Pi)-limited conditions suggested a contrasting regulation of the CCM characteristics. Therefore, we measured external carbonic anhydrase (CAext) activities and protein expression (CAH1), the internal pH, Ci accumulation, and CO2-utilization in cells adapted to high or low CO2 under Pi-replete and Pi-limited conditions. Results reveal that C. acidophila expressed CAext activity and expressed a protein cross-reacting with CAH1 (the CAext from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii). Although the function of this CA remains unclear, CAext activity and high affinity CO2 utilization were the highest under low CO2 conditions. C. acidophila accumulated Ci and expressed the CAH1 protein under all conditions tested, and C. reinhardtii also contained substantial amounts of CAH1 protein under Pi-limitation. In conclusion, Ci utilization is optimized in C. acidophila under ecologically relevant conditions, which may enable optimal survival in its extreme Ci- and Pi-limited habitat. The exact physiological and biochemical acclimation remains to be further studied.

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Acknowledgments

ES acknowledges support from the German Science Foundation (SP695/4-2 and SP 695/5) and thanks Francesco Memmola, Anna Leetz, and Barbara Schmitz for practical assistance. Work in JB’s laboratory on inorganic carbon uptake, and its interactions with nutrient availability, was supported by the Australian Research Council. We are very grateful for the reviewers and editor’s comments on earlier versions of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universität Potsdam, Am Neuen Palais 10, 14469, Potsdam, Germany

    Elly Spijkerman

  2. School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia

    Slobodanka Stojkovic & John Beardall

  3. Marine and Atmospheric Research, CSIRO, Hobart, TAS, Australia

    Slobodanka Stojkovic

Authors
  1. Elly Spijkerman
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  2. Slobodanka Stojkovic
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  3. John Beardall
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Correspondence to Elly Spijkerman.

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Spijkerman, E., Stojkovic, S. & Beardall, J. CO2 acquisition in Chlamydomonas acidophila is influenced mainly by CO2, not phosphorus, availability. Photosynth Res 121, 213–221 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-014-0016-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-014-0016-6

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