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Molecular hydrogen: A new inhibitor of photosynthesis in the blue-green alga (cyanobacterium), Anabaena sp. TA 1

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Abstract

Molecular hydrogen strongly inhibits C2H2-reducing activity in intact cells of Anabaena sp. TA 1 in the light under anaerobic conditions. The inhibitory effect can be partially relieved by supplying the cells with molecular oxygen. When cells of Anabaena sp. TA 1 were grown under anaerobic N2-fixation conditions in the presence of 0.05 bar H2 with white light a pronounced decrease of growth rate occurred. With ammonium ions as nitrogen source the inhibitory effect of H2 was less pronounced.

Concomitant with the reduced growth under N2 in the presence of H2 a loss of blue-green pigmentation was observed due to a diminished phycocyanin content. On the other hand, the concentration of carotenoids and chlorophyll remained nearly constant. With NH +4 as nitrogen source nearly no alteration of phycocyanin content occurred upon incubation with H2.

In addition, H2 induced a random distribution of thylakoid membranes in vegetative cells which normally exhibited a curved, parallel pattern. In heterocysts, however, photosynthetic membranes were always arranged randomly.

Under far red light, growth and activity of photosystem II were largely diminshed. Under these conditions H2 exhibits an additional inhibitory effect. However, compared to 62% growth inhibition under white light, a decrease of only 20% occurred.

Measurements of the photosynthetic electron flow with isolated thylakoid membranes showed that oxidation of diphenylcarbazide (DCP) by membranes from H2-grown cells was inhibited by 28% compared to membranes from control cells. Using ascorbate/DCPIP as electron donor an inhibition of only 1–4% was measured. It is concluded, that H2 inhibits electron flow in the photosynthetic electron transport chain at a site between photosystem II and photosystem I.

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Abbreviations

DCMU:

3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1, 1-dimethylurea

DCPIP:

2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol

DPC:

1,5-diphenylcarbazide

TRICINE:

N-tris(hydroxymethyl)-methyl glycine

MV:

methyl viologen

DBMIB:

2,5-dibromothymoquinone

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pflanzenphysiologisches Institut der Universität Göttingen, Untere Karspüle 2, D-3400, Göttingen, Federal Republic of Germany

    P. Antarikanonda & H. Lorenzen

  2. Fachbereich Biologie-Chemie der Universität Bremen Mikrobiologie, Postfach 330440, D-2800, Bremen 33, Federal Republic of Germany

    H. Berndt

  3. Institut für Mikrobiologie der Universität Göttingen, Grisebachstrasse 8, D-3400, Göttingen, Federal Republic of Germany

    F. Mayer

Authors
  1. P. Antarikanonda
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  2. H. Berndt
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  3. F. Mayer
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  4. H. Lorenzen
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Antarikanonda, P., Berndt, H., Mayer, F. et al. Molecular hydrogen: A new inhibitor of photosynthesis in the blue-green alga (cyanobacterium), Anabaena sp. TA 1. Arch. Microbiol. 126, 1–10 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00421884

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