Abstract
Light-induced potential changes have been measured in the filamentous blue-green alga Phormidium uncinatum both intracellularly and between the two ends of a trichome. There is evidence that these potential changes are correlated with photophobic reactions in this organism.
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1.
The potential changes follow the light-dark regime with a lag phase of about 10 s. The photophobic reaction time has been found to be about the same length of time.
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The action spectra of both externally and internally measured light-induced potential changes correspond with the photophobic action spectrum, indicating the participation of the main photosynthetic pigments of Phormidium, chlorophyll a and phycobilins.
A hypothesis is being discussed according to which sensory transduction between photoreceptor and motor apparatus of the cell is mediated by light-induced electrical potential changes.
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On leave to Michigan State University, Plant Research Laboratory, East Lansing, MI 48824, U.S.A., until April 1, 1979
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Häder, DP. Extracellular and intracellular determination of light-induced potential changes during photophobic reactions in blue-green algae. Arch. Microbiol. 119, 75–79 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00407931
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00407931