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Variation in Rubisco and other photosynthetic parameters in the life cycle of Haematococcus pluvialis

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Abstract

Cells of Haematococcus pluvialis Flot. et Will were collected in four different growth phases. We quantified the initial and total enzyme activity of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (Rubisco) in crude extracts, and the relative expression of large-subunit ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate caboxylase / oxygenase (rbcL) mRNA. We measured the ratio of photosynthetic rate to respiration rate (P/R), maximal effective quantum yield of photosystem II (F v/F m), electron transport rate (ETR), actual photochemical efficiency of PSII in the light (PSII), and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). Green vegetative cells were found to be in the most active state, with a relatively higher P/R ratio. These cells also displayed the lowest NPQ and the highest F v/F m, ETR, and PSII, indicating the most effective PSII. However, both Rubisco activity and rbcL mRNA expression were the lowest measured. In orange resting cysts with relatively lower P/R and NPQ, Rubisco activity and rbcL expression reached a peak, while F v/F m, ETR, and ΦPSII were the lowest measured. Taking into account the methods of astaxanthin induction used in industry, we suggest that Rubisco may participate in astaxanthin accumulation in H. pluvialis. A continuous and sufficient supply of a carbon source such as CO2 may therefore aid the large scale production of astaxanthin.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China

    Zhangfan Chen  (陈张帆), Guangce Wang  (王广策) & Jianfeng Niu  (牛建峰)

  2. Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Zhangfan Chen  (陈张帆)

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  1. Zhangfan Chen  (陈张帆)
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  2. Guangce Wang  (王广策)
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  3. Jianfeng Niu  (牛建峰)
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Correspondence to Guangce Wang  (王广策).

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Supported by the National Basic Projects for Science and Technology (No. SQ2012FY4910019-1), the Project of Science and Technology for Supporting Tianjin Development (No. 10ZCKFSH0070), and the Project for Developing Marine Economy by Science and Technology in Tianjin (KX2010-0005)

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Chen, Z., Wang, G. & Niu, J. Variation in Rubisco and other photosynthetic parameters in the life cycle of Haematococcus pluvialis . Chin. J. Ocean. Limnol. 30, 136–145 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-012-1060-8

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