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External K+ Deficiency Inhibits Photosynthetic Activity Through Superoxide Anion Production in Protoplasts Isolated from the Thallus of Ulva pertusa

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An Erratum to this article was published on 15 June 2013

Abstract

To investigate the effects of potassium on photosynthetic activity in the green alga Ulva pertusa, we enzymatically isolated protoplasts from thallus samples. Photochemical quenching showed that protoplasts were capable of electron transport by photosystem II (PS II) during illumination. This quenching was dependent on external pH, with a reduced electron transport rate at pH >6.8 and less ability to use HCO −3 under alkaline conditions. In the presence of external Na+, K+ enhanced PS II quantum yield, indicating a functional role for K+ during photosynthesis. That yield was enhanced in a [K+]-dependent manner, with maximum activity at 100 mM. However, potassium alone did not maintain photochemical activity, and its addition supported photosynthetic O2 evolution only in the presence of Na+. A deficiency of K+ led to the production of superoxide anions. Because of that generation, activities of superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase, two key enzymes involved in scavenging reactive oxygen species in the water–water cycle, also increased during such stress. These results strongly suggest that a series of ROS-scavenging systems are initiated in Ulva chloroplasts in response to K+ deficiency and that enzyme activities might protect algal cell photosynthesis.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Young-Jae Eu and Ho-Seung Kim (Busan National University, South Korea) for providing the IMAGING-PAM Chlorophyll Fluorometer and for pigment analysis. This research was supported by grants from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the Korean Government as parts of the “Greenhouse Gas Removal by Seaweed” project (E10600107A060000120) to C.-H.G. and in part by University of Incheon Research Grant (2005) to T.H.

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  1. Chang-Hyo Goh

    Present address: Research Institute for Basic Sciences, Jeju National University, Jeju, 690-756, South Korea

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Biological Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan, 609-735, South Korea

    Chang-Hyo Goh

  2. Department of Biological Sciences and Research Institute for Basic Sciences, Jeju National University, Jeju, 690-756, South Korea

    Soon-Ja Oh

  3. Institute for Scientifically Able Youth, Kyungwon University, Seoungnam, 461-701, South Korea

    Sung-Soo Jun

  4. Division of Biology and Chemistry, University of Incheon, Incheon, 402-749, South Korea

    Taejun Han

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Correspondence to Chang-Hyo Goh.

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An erratum to this article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12374-013-0908-6.

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Goh, CH., Oh, SJ., Jun, SS. et al. External K+ Deficiency Inhibits Photosynthetic Activity Through Superoxide Anion Production in Protoplasts Isolated from the Thallus of Ulva pertusa . J. Plant Biol. 53, 155–164 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12374-010-9101-3

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