Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Physiological stabilization of Euglena gracilis cells by high extracellular calcium (100 mM)

  • Applied Genetics and Regulation
  • Published:
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Experiments were performed to test whether or not high concentrations of CaCl2 (100 mM) are able to arrest and stabilize internal structures and associated functions in Euglena gracilis Z cells stored in darkness at 4° C. Storage of photoheterotrophically grown green cells in high Ca2+ media (2–100 mM) retards pheophytinization of the chlorophylls, preserves photosynthetic activities and stabilizes the structural organization of the associated light-harvesting complexes of the photosystem II units. Alterations of photosynthesis and respiration by chlorpromazine or by temperature are strongly reduced in cells stored under such conditions. More precisely, a chlorpromazine inhibition site is evidenced in the mitochondrial electron pathway and its location in the chloroplastic electron pathway is clarified. Adaptation of Euglena cells from 2 mM to 100 mM Ca2+ medium is accompanied by an increase both in the externally bound and total internal calcium concentration. A mechanism involving a Ca2+ deposit on internal membranes is proposed. Such interpretation is extended to the storage of cells immobilized in Ca2+-alginate gel.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

(Ca2+)ex:

external calcium concentration

Chl:

chlorophylls

(Cl−)ex:

external chloride concentration

CPZ:

chlorpromazine or 2-chloro-10-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-phenothiazine

DCMU:

diuron or (3,4-dichorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea

EGTA:

ethylene glycol-bis(β-aminoethylether) N,N,N′ ,N′-tetraacetic acid

Fc:

initial level of chlorophyll fluorescence with DCMU

Fmax:

maximal level of chlorophyll fluorescence with DCMU

Fo:

level of chlorophyll fluorescence after transients

Ft:

level of chlorophyll fluorescence with DCMU

Pheo:

pheophytins

PS I and PS II:

photosystems I and II

SMi:

storage medium

References

  • Barr R, Troxel KS, Crane FL (1982) Calmodulin antagonists inhibit electron transport in photosystem II of spinach chloroplasts. Biochem Biophys Res Comm 104:1182–1188

    Google Scholar 

  • Borle AB (1975) Methods for assessing hormone effects on calcium fluxes in vitro. In: Hardman JG, O'Malley BW (eds) Methods in enzymology, vol. 39, Hormone action, part D. Academic Press, New York, pp 513–573

    Google Scholar 

  • Calvayrac R, Butow RA (1971) Action de l'antimycine A sur la respiration et la structure des mitochondries d'Euglena gracilis. Arch Mikrobiol 80:62–69

    Google Scholar 

  • Calvayrac R, Douce R (1970) Les polyglycérophospholipides d'Euglena gracilis. FEBS Lett 7:259–262

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell AK (1983) Intracellular Calcium. Its Universal Role as Regulator. Johns Wiley and Sons, Chichota

    Google Scholar 

  • Cerana R, Bonetti A, Lado P (1983) Uptake and accumulation at membrane level of the calmodulin antagonist chlorpromazine in higher plants. Plant Sci Lett 30:267–278

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubertret G, Joliot P (1974) Structure and organization of system II photosynthetic units during the greening of dark-grown Chlorella mutant. Biochim Biophys Acta 357:399–411

    Google Scholar 

  • Fiskum G, Lehninger AL (1982) Mitochondrial regulation of intracellular calcium. In: Cheung WY (ed) Calcium and cell function, vol. 2. Academic Press, New York, pp 39–80

    Google Scholar 

  • Hind G, Nakatani HY, Isawa S (1969) The role of Cl− in photosynthesis. I. The Cl− requirement of electron transport. Biochim Biophys Acta 172:277–289

    Google Scholar 

  • Kierstan M, Bucke C (1977) The immobilization of microbial cells, subcellular organelles and enzymes in calcium alginate gels. Biotechnol Bioeng 19:387–397

    Google Scholar 

  • Kreimer G, Melkonian M, Holtum JAM, Latzko E (1985) Characterization of calcium fluxes across the envelope of intact chloroplasts. Planta 166:515–523

    Google Scholar 

  • Laval-Martin DL (1985) Spectrophotometric method of controlled pheophytinization for the determination of both chlorophylls and pheophytins in plant extracts. Anal Biochem 149:121–129

    Google Scholar 

  • Marme D (1985) The role of calcium in the cellular regulation of plant metabolism. Physiol Veg 23:945–953

    Google Scholar 

  • Mattiasson B, Larsson M, Hahn-Hagerdal B (1984) Metabolic behaviour of immobilized cells: effects of some microenvironmental factors. Ann NY Acad Sci 434:475–478

    Google Scholar 

  • McCormack JG, Denton RM (1986) Ca2+ as a second messenger within mitochondria. Trends Biol Sci 11:258–262

    Google Scholar 

  • Michaylova V, Ilkova P (1971) Photometric determination of micro amounts of calcium with arsenazo III. Anal Chim Acta 53:194–198

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore AL, Akerman KEO (1984) Calcium and plant organelles. Plant Cell Environ 7:423–429

    Google Scholar 

  • Nakatani NY (1984) Inhibition of photosynthetic oxygen evolution by calmodulin-type inhibitors and other calcium antagonists. Biochem Biophys Res Comm 121:626–633

    Google Scholar 

  • Papageorgiou GC, Kalosaka K, Sotiropoulo G, Barbotin JN, Thomasset B, Thomas D (1988) Entrapment of active ion-permeable cyanobacteria (Anacystis nidulans) in calcium alginate. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 29:565–571

    Google Scholar 

  • Pistorius EK (1983) Effect of Mn2+, Ca2+ and chlorpromazine on photosystem 2 of Anacystis nidulans. Eur J Biochem 135:217–222

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson PK, Dainty AL, Goulding KH, Simplins I, Trevan MD (1985) Physiology of alginate-immobilized Chlorella. Enzyme Microb Technol 7:212–216

    Google Scholar 

  • Schnabl H, Yougman RTJ, Zimmermann U (1983) Maintenance of plant cell membrane integrity and function by the immobilization of protoplasts in alginate matrices. Planta 158:392–397

    Google Scholar 

  • Singer SJ, Nicholson GL (1972) The fluid mosaic model of the structure of cell membranes. Science 174:720–731

    Google Scholar 

  • Sparrow RW, England RR (1984) Isolation of a calcium-binding protein from an oxygen-evolving photosystem II preparation. FEBS Lett 177:95–98

    Google Scholar 

  • Tamponnet C, Costantino F, Barbotin JN, Calvayrac R (1985) Cytological and physiological behaviour of Euglena gracilis cells entrapped in a calcium alginate gel. Physiol Plant 63:277–283

    Google Scholar 

  • Tamponnet C, Rona JP, Barbotin JN, Calvayrac R (1988) Effect of high external calcium concentration on etiolated Euglena gracilis Z cells and evidence of an internal membrane potential. Biochim Biophys Acta 943:87–94

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Christian Tamponnet

    Present address: Département de Biochimie, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Recherches en Biologie Appliquée, 61 Avenue du Président Wilson, F-94235, Cachan Cedex, France

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire des Membranes Biologiques, Université Paris 7, Tour 53-54, 2ème étage, 2 Place Jussieu, F-75251, Paris, France

    Christian Tamponnet & Régis Calvayrac

  2. Laboratoire de Technologie Enzymatique, UA CNRS 532, Université de Technologie de Compiègne, B. P. 649, F-60206, Compiègne, France

    Christian Tamponnet & Jean-Noël Barbotin

Authors
  1. Christian Tamponnet
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jean-Noël Barbotin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Régis Calvayrac
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Offprint requests to: C. Tamponnet

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tamponnet, C., Barbotin, JN. & Calvayrac, R. Physiological stabilization of Euglena gracilis cells by high extracellular calcium (100 mM). Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 32, 211–217 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00165890

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00165890

Keywords

Search

Navigation