THE INVOLVEMENT OF A PLASMA MEMBRANE H⁺‐ATPase IN THE BLUE‐LIGHT ENHANCEMENT OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS IN LAMINARIA DIGITATA (PHAEOPHYTA)¹

Abstract

Many brown algae, including the kelp Laminaria digitata (Huds.) Lamour., exhibit enhanced photosynthesis when they are given a small amount of blue‐light in addition to a background of saturating red light. This blue light effect is correlated with an increased uptake of carbon. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that blue light acts by increasing the activity of a plasma membrane H+‐ATPase, thereby promoting an active carbon uptake across the plasma membrane. Photosynthetic carbon uptake was studied in pH‐drift experiments under illumination with red and blue light and using different inhibitors. Vanadate, an inhibitor of plasma membrane H+‐ATPases, had a minor inhibitory effect on carbon uptake rates under saturating red light conditions, but inhibited the blue‐light enhancement by approximately 60%. An inhibitor of external carbonic anhydrase, acetazolamide, decreased the carbon uptake in both red light and in red plus blue light by 48% and 68%, respectively. These results suggest that photosynthetic carbon uptake depends on an external carbonic anhydrase under both red and red plus blue light conditions, and that blue light induces an increased activity of a P‐type H+‐ATPase in the plasma membrane. The proton buffer Tris, which has a buffering capacity similar to vanadate in seawater, had no inhibitory effect on carbon uptake rates neither in red light nor in red plus blue light, showing that the inhibitory effect of vanadate is not caused by its effect as a buffer. The blue‐light enhancement was also abolished by a protein kinase inhibitor (H‐7), suggesting that the transduction of the blue‐light signal involves a protein kinase, which activates the plasma membrane H+‐ATPase by phosphorylation.

Effect of blue light on indoor seedling culture of Saccharina japonica (Phaeophyta)

“…It has been further shown that stimulation of photosynthesis of brown algae by blue light is correlated with an increased inorganic carbon uptake (Klenell et al 2002(Klenell et al , 2004Dring 1993a, b, 1996a, b;Schmid et al 1996). The degree of blue light stimulation is absolutely dependent on the CO 2 concentration of the medium (Forster and Dring 1992).…”

Solar UV Radiation Drives CO2 Fixation in Marine Phytoplankton: A Double-Edged Sword

“…Previous studies have shown that low levels of UVR can enhance CO 2 acquisition in the diatom Skeletonema costatum by stimulating the extracelluar (periplasmic) carbonic anhydrase (data not shown). Blue light was demonstrated to increase the activity of plasma membrane H 1 -ATPase in a brown alga, Laminaria digitata (Klenell et al, 2002). UV-A, as a neighboring radiation of blue light, may serve a similar function and accelerate CO 2 acquisition and fixation.…”

Acquisition of inorganic carbon byEndarachne binghamiae(Scytosiphonales, Phaeophyceae)

“…(Axelsson et al, 2000;Klenell et al, 2002Klenell et al, , 2004Mercado et al, 2006) and other macrophytes (Price & Badger, 1985;Hellblom et al, 2001;Hellblom & Axelsson, 2003;Uku et al, 2005). That is, a proton-gradient-driven CO 2 pump in the cell membrane based on the proton extrusion forming low pH (acid zones) on the thalli surface is integrated with HCO À 3 dehydration via external CA activity.…”