Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Measurements of electron transport activities in marine phytoplankton

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A simple and sensitive spectrophotometric method of measuring electron transfer in the transport system (ETS) in marine phytoplankton has been developed and characterized. The assay is based on the reduction of the tetrazolium salt 2-(p-iodophenyl)-3-(p-nitrophenyl)-5-phenyl tetrazolium chloride (INT) by homogenates in the presence of the nonionic detergent Triton X-100. The simplicity and sensitivity of this assay have considerable advantage over existing methods of measuring ETS activity in marine samples where numerous assays must be rapidly carried out on samples which often demonstrate low activities. Several established substrates and inhibitors of electron transport in the ETS were investigated, and each is discussed in relation to the site of INT reduction in the diatoms Skeletonema costatum and Chaetoceros debilis and in the unicellular green alga Dunaliella tertiolecta. The results from these studies suggest that the maximum rate of electron transport, V max, is measured in each case.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  • Bahr, J.T. and W.D. Bonner, Jr.: Cyanide-insensitive respiration. I. The steady state of skunk cabbage spadix and bean hypocotyl mitochondria. J. biol. Chem. 248, 3441–3445 (1973a)

    Google Scholar 

  • ——: Cyanide-insensitive respiration. II. Control of the alternate pathway. J. biol. Chem. 248, 3446–3550 (1973b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Camerino, P.W. and T.E. King: Studies on cytochrome oxidase in soluble and particulate forms. J. biol. Chem. 241, 970–979 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chance, B.: Enzyme mechanisms in living cells. In: A symposium of enzyme action, pp 399–453. Ed. by W.D. McElroy and B. Glass. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press 1954

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Reaction of oxygen with the respiratory chain in cells and tissues. J. gen. Physiol. 49, 163–188 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • —, W.D. Bonner, Jr. and B.T. Storey: Electron transport in respiration. A. Rev. Pl. Physiol. 19, 295–320 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • —, L. Ernster, P.B. Garland, C.P. Lee, P.A. Light, T. Ohnishi, C.I. Ragan and D. Wong: Flavoproteins of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 57, 1498–1505 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • — and G.R. Williams: Respiratory enzymes in oxidative phosphorylation. VI. The effects of adenosine diphosphate on azide-treated mitochondria. J. biol. Chem. 221, 447–489 (1956a)

    Google Scholar 

  • ——: The respiratory chain and oxidative phosphorylation. Adv. Enzymol. 27, 65–134 (1956b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Curl, H.C., Jr. and J. Sandberg: The measurement of dehydrogenase activity in marine organisms. J. mar. Res. 19, 123–138 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ernster, L., M. Ljunggren and L. Danielson: Purification and some properties of highly dicumarol-sensitive liver diaphorase. Biochem. biophys. Res. Commun. 2, 88–92 (1960)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gahan, P.B. and M. Kalina: The use of tetrazolium salts in the histochemical demonstration of succinic dehydrogenase activity in plant tissue. Histochemie 14, 81–88 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Green, D.E.: The mitochondrion. Scient. Am. 210, 63–74 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hatefi, Y.: Oxidation of reduced triphosphopyridine nucleotide by submitochondrial particles from beef heart. Biochem. biophys. Res. Commun. 50, 978–984 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kenner, R.A. and S.I. Ahmed: Correlation between oxygen utilization and electron transport activity in marine phytoplankton. Mar. Biol. 33, 129–133 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambowitz, A.M., E.W. Smith and C.W. Slayman: Electron transport in Neurospora mitochondria Studies on wild type and poky. J. biol. Chem. 247, 4850–4858 (1972a)

    Google Scholar 

  • ———: Oxidative phosphorylation in Neurospora mitochondria. Studies on wild type, poky, and chloramphenicol-induced wild type. J. biol. Chem. 247, 4859–4865 (1972b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lester, R.L. and A.L. Smith: Studies on the electron transport system. XXVIII. The mode of reduction of tetrazolium salts by beef heart mitochondria; role of coenzyme Q and other lipids. Biochim. biophys. Acta 47, 475–496 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  • Linnane, A.W., E. Vitols and P.C. Nowland: Studies on the origin of yeast mitochondria. J. Cell Biol. 13, 345–350 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nachlas, M.M., S.I. Margulies and A.M. Seligman: A colorimetric method for the estimation of succinic dehydrogenase activity. J. biol. Chem. 235, 449–503 (1960a)

    Google Scholar 

  • ———: Site of electron transfer to tetrazolium salts in the succinoxidase system. J. biol. Chem. 235, 2739–2743 (1960b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohnishi, T., K. Kawaguchi and B. Hagihara: Preparation and some properties of yeast mitochondria. J. biol. Chem. 241, 1797–1806 (1966a)

    Google Scholar 

  • —, G. Sottocas and L. Ernster: Current approaches to the mechanism of energy-coupling in the respiratory chain. Studies with yeast mitochondria. Bull. Soc. Chim. biol. 48, 1189–1203 (1966b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Packard, T.T.: The measurement of respiratory electron transport activity in marine plankton. J. mar. Res. 29, 235–244 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • — and M.L. Healy: Electrochemical standardization of the dehydrogenase assay used in the estimation of respiratory rates. J. mar. Res. 26, 66–74 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • —— and F.A. Richards: Vertical distribution of the activity of the respiratory electron transport system in marine plankton. Limnol. Oceanogr. 16, 60–70 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pavlou, S.P.: Phytoplankton growth dynamics. Technical Series 1. Chemostat methodology and chemical analyses. Spec. Rep. Dep. Oceanogr. Univ. Wash. 52, 1–130 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Siekevitz, P.: Origin and functional nature of microsomes. Fedn Proc. Fedn Am. Socs exp. Biol. 24, 1153–1155 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Strittmatter, P.: Microsomal electron transport. In: Biological oxidations, pp 171–192. Ed. by T.P. Singer. New York: Wiley Interscience 1968

    Google Scholar 

  • Udenfriend, S., S. Stein, P. Bohlen, W. Dairman, W. Leimbruber and M. Weigele: Applications of fluorescamine, a new reagent for amino acids, peptides, proteins and other primary amines in the picomole range. Science, N.Y. 178, 871–872 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Vitols, E. and A.W. Linnane: Studies on the oxidative metabolism of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. II. Morphology and oxidative phosphorylation capacity of mitochondria and derived particles from Baker's yeast. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 9, 701–710 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  • Weigele, M., S. Debernardo, J. Tengi and W. Leimgruber: A novel reagent for the fluorometric assay of primary amines. J. Am. chem. Soc. 94, 5927–5928 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA

    R. A. Kenner & S. I. Ahmed

  2. Department of Genetics SK-50, University of Washington, 98195, Seattle, Washington, USA

    R. A. Kenner

Authors
  1. R. A. Kenner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. I. Ahmed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Communicated by J.S. Pearse, Santa Cruz

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kenner, R.A., Ahmed, S.I. Measurements of electron transport activities in marine phytoplankton. Marine Biology 33, 119–127 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00390716

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00390716

Keywords

Search

Navigation