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Degradation and compartmentalization of urea in Chlamydomonas reinhardii

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Abstract

Urea is accumulated against a concentration gradient in Chlamydomonas reinhardii. Only energy generated from photosynthesis is used for this accumulation, while degradation of urea utilizes other energy sources. Exogenous supplied urea is distributed between two pools, one large nonmetabolic and one metabolic pool. Ammonia inhibits the transport from the nonmetabolic to the metabolic pool.

The nonmetabolic pool is probably located in the chloroplast, and the accumulation of urea is due to an active transport into the chloroplast.

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Abbreviations

N medium:

medium without nitrogen source

TCA:

trichloroacetic acid

TCAI:

trichloroacetic acid insoluble fraction

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Dagestad, D., Lien, T. & Knutsen, G. Degradation and compartmentalization of urea in Chlamydomonas reinhardii . Arch. Microbiol. 129, 261–264 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00414694

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00414694

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