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Chlorine affects photosystem II and modulates the transcriptional levels of photosynthesis-related genes in the dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum

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Abstract

Chlorine (Cl2) is a commonly used biocide; however, the cellular mechanism and pathways associated with Cl2 exposure in algae have not been elucidated. Here, we investigated the physiological and gene transcriptional responses in the dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum upon chlorination, with emphasis on the photosynthetic system. The time-course stress response of P. minimum was assessed by measuring transcription of photosynthesis-related genes, chlorophyll autofluorescence (CAF), and photosynthesis efficiency (F v /F m ), in response to a series of Cl2 doses (0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 mg L−1). CAF data showed a marked reduction in fluorescence intensity with increasing Cl2 doses and exposure time (0, 6, 12, and 24 h). F v /F m dramatically decreased after 1 mg L−1 Cl2 exposure. Transcriptional responses of the photosystem related genes (PmpsbA, PmatpB, PmrbcL, and PmpsaA) were analysed using quantitative real-time (qRT)-PCR. PmpsbA transcription was significantly upregulated in 0.5 and 1.0 mg L−1 of Cl2 after a 24 h exposure. However, the transcriptional expressions of PmatpB and PmpsaA were downregulated. Our results suggest that photosynthesis-related genes such as PmpsbA may act as indicators of environmental stress response and can be useful and rapid biomarker candidates for ecotoxicogenomic assessments.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea Grant funded by the Korean Government (2013R1A1A2013596 and 2015M1A5A1041805) and by a grant from the National Fisheries Research and Development (R2016046) funded to J.-S. Ki.

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  1. Vinitha Ebenezer

    Present address: Center for Climate Change Studies, Sathyabama University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Life Science, Sangmyung University, Seoul, 03016, South Korea

    Ruoyu Guo, Vinitha Ebenezer & Jang-Seu Ki

  2. Department of Life Science, Sangmyung University, Seoul, 03016, South Korea

    Hui Wang & Jang-Seu Ki

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  1. Ruoyu Guo
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  2. Vinitha Ebenezer
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Correspondence to Jang-Seu Ki.

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Ruoyu Guo and Vinitha Ebenezer equally contribute to this paper.

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Guo, R., Ebenezer, V., Wang, H. et al. Chlorine affects photosystem II and modulates the transcriptional levels of photosynthesis-related genes in the dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum . J Appl Phycol 29, 153–163 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-016-0955-8

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