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Effect of dissolved inorganic carbon on the expression of carboxysomes, localization of Rubisco and the mode of inorganic carbon transport in cells of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus UTEX 625

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Abstract

In the cyanobacterium Synechococcus UTEX 625, the extent of expression of carboxysomes appeared dependent on the level of inorganic carbon (CO2+HCO sup-inf3 ) in the growth medium. In cells grown under 5% CO2 and in those bubbled with air, carboxysomes were present in low numbers (<2 · longitudinal section-1) and were distributed in an apparently random manner throughout the centroplasm. In contrast, cells grown in standing culture and those bubbled with 30 μl CO2 · 1-1 possessed many carboxysomes (>8 · longitudinal section-1). Moreover, carboxysomes in these cells were usually positioned near the cell periphery, aligned along the interface between the centroplasm and the photosynthetic thylakoids. This arrangement of carboxysomes coincided with the full induction of the HCO sup-inf3 transport system that is involved in concentrating inorganic carbon within the cells for subsequent use in photosynthesis. Immunolocalization studies indicate that the Calvin cycle enzyme ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase was predominantly carboxysome-localized, regardless of the inorganic carbon concentration of the growth medium, while phosphoribulokinase was confined to the thylakoid region. It is postulated that the peripheral arrangement of carboxysomes may provide for more efficient photosynthetic utilization of the internal inorganic carbon pool in cells from cultures where carbon resources are limiting.

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Abbreviations

Chl:

chlorophyll

DIC:

dissolved inorganic carbon (CO2+HCO sup-inf3 +CO sup2-inf3 )

PRK:

phosphoribulokinase

RuBP:

ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate

Rubisco LS:

large subunit of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase

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Author notes

  1. George S. Espie

    Present address: Institute of Marine Science, University of Alaska, 99775-1080, Fairbanks, AK, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, McGill University, 1205 ave. Docteur Penfield, H3A 1B1, Montréal, Québec, Canada

    R. Michael L. McKay & Sarah P. Gibbs

  2. Department of Botany, Erindale College, University of Toronto, L5L 1C6, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

    George S. Espie

Authors
  1. R. Michael L. McKay
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  2. Sarah P. Gibbs
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  3. George S. Espie
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McKay, R.M.L., Gibbs, S.P. & Espie, G.S. Effect of dissolved inorganic carbon on the expression of carboxysomes, localization of Rubisco and the mode of inorganic carbon transport in cells of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus UTEX 625. Arch. Microbiol. 159, 21–29 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00244259

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