| 1. |
- Aigner, Harald, 1973-
(författare)
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Characterization of FtsH proteases in the annual plant Arabidopsis thaliana
- 2012
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background FtsH is an ATP-dependent membrane-bound metalloprotease. A. thaliana contains 12 FtsH proteases localized in membranes of chloroplasts and mitochondria where they form homo- or hetero-hexameric complexes. FtsH11 – the main subject of this thesis – is located in the chloroplast envelope. Methods Field studies with A. thaliana to determine Darwinian fitness. A growth under outdoor conditions often allows discovering of phenotypes that are unascertainable in the controlled environment of growth chambers. Proteomic methods to discover fragments of substrate proteins (limited proteolysis) and changes in the proteome of FtsH protease deficient mutants. Results ftsh11 has increased amount of: RuBisCO activase, several Calvin cycle enzymes, two enzymes involved in starch synthesis and some chaperons. Some of those enzymes have been identified as possible substrates of FtsH11. Under long photoperiods ftsh11 develops a chlorotic phenotype accompanied by decreasing NADP+/NADPH ratio and increase of ROS damaged proteins.
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| 2. |
- Aigner, Harald, 1973-, et al.
(författare)
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FtsH11 protease is required for Arabidopsis thaliana to adapt to gtowth in continuous light
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Continuous light can increase greenhouse food production; however, some of the most important greenhouse horticulture crops are not able to adapt to long photoperiods. Here, we provide evidence that knock-out of the FtsH11 protease causes molecular differences that prevent Arabidopsis thaliana to adapt to prolonged photoperiods. Previously this protease had been shown to be critical for thermotolerance (Chen et al. 2006). We demonstrate that knock-out mutants deficient of FtsH11 develop chlorosis when shifted to continuous light. When grown under normal growth conditions and short days, ftsh11 displayed changes in protein amount of chloroplast proteins involved in the photosynthetic light reaction and the Calvin cycle as well as of the FtsH12 protease. The proteomic changes are accompanied by reduced non-photochemical quenching and faster state transition. A shift to continuous light further enhanced these effects and induced morphological changes of the chloroplast and chlorosis. No changes in the mitochondrial proteome were observed between wild type and ftsh11.
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| 3. |
- Allahverdiyeva, Yagut, et al.
(författare)
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NordAqua, a Nordic Center of Excellence to develop an algae-based photosynthetic production platform
- 2021
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Ingår i: Physiologia Plantarum. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0031-9317 .- 1399-3054. ; 173:2, s. 507-513
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- NordAqua is a multidisciplinary Nordic Center of Excellence funded by NordForsk Bioeconomy program (2017–2022). The research center promotes Blue Bioeconomy and endeavours to reform the use of natural resources in a environmentally sustainable way. In this short communication, we summarize particular outcomes of the consortium. The key research progress of NordAqua includes (1) improving of photosynthetisis, (2) developing novel photosynthetic cell factories that function in a “solar-driven direct CO2 capture to target bioproducts” mode, (3) promoting the diversity of Nordic cyanobacteria and algae as an abundant and resilient alternative for less sustainable forest biomass and for innovative production of biochemicals, and (4) improving the bio-based wastewater purification and nutrient recycling technologies to provide new tools for integrative circular economy platforms.
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| 4. |
- Alling, Teodor, et al.
(författare)
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Nordic microalgae produce biostimulant for the germination of tomato and barley seeds
- 2023
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 2045-2322. ; 13:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Microalgal biomass may have biostimulating effects on plants and seeds due to its phytohormonal content, and harnessing this biostimulating effect could contribute to sustainable agriculture. Two Nordic strains of freshwater microalgae species Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus obliquus were each cultivated in a photobioreactor receiving untreated municipal wastewater. The algal biomass and the supernatant after algal cultivation were tested on tomato and barley seeds for biostimulating effects. Intact algal cells, broken cells, or harvest supernatant were applied to the seeds, and germination time, percentage and germination index were evaluated. Seeds treated with C. vulgaris, in particular intact cells or supernatant, had up to 25 percentage units higher germination percentage after 2 days and an overall significantly faster germination time (germinated on average between 0.5 and 1 day sooner) than seeds treated with S. obliquus or the control (water). The germination index was higher in C. vulgaris treatments than in the control for both tomato and barley, and this was observed for both broken and intact cells as well as supernatant. The Nordic strain of C. vulgaris cultivated in municipal wastewater thus shows potential for use as biostimulant in agriculture, adding novel economic and sustainability benefits.
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| 5. |
- Angelcheva, Liudmila, et al.
(författare)
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Metabolomic analysis of extreme freezing tolerance in Siberian spruce (Picea obovata)
- 2014
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Ingår i: New Phytologist. - : Wiley. - 0028-646X .- 1469-8137. ; 204:3, s. 545-555
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Siberian spruce (Picea obovata) is one of several boreal conifer species that can survive at extremely low temperatures (ELTs). When fully acclimated, its tissues can survive immersion in liquid nitrogen. Relatively little is known about the biochemical and biophysical strategies of ELT survival. We profiled needle metabolites using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to explore the metabolic changes that occur during cold acclimation caused by natural temperature fluctuations. In total, 223 metabolites accumulated and 52 were depleted in fully acclimated needles compared with pre-acclimation needles. The metabolite profiles were found to develop in four distinct phases, which are referred to as pre-acclimation, early acclimation, late acclimation and fully acclimated. Metabolite changes associated with carbohydrate and lipid metabolism were observed, including changes associated with increased raffinose family oligosaccharide synthesis and accumulation, accumulation of sugar acids and sugar alcohols, desaturation of fatty acids, and accumulation of digalactosylglycerol. We also observed the accumulation of protein and nonprotein amino acids and polyamines that may act as compatible solutes or cryoprotectants. These results provide new insight into the mechanisms of freezing tolerance development at the metabolite level and highlight their importance in rapid acclimation to ELT in P.obovata.
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
- Chen, Que, et al.
(författare)
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Combining retinal-based and chlorophyll-based (oxygenic) photosynthesis : Proteorhodopsin expression increases growth rate and fitness of a Delta PSI strain of Synechocystis sp. PCC6803
- 2019
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Ingår i: Metabolic engineering. - : Elsevier. - 1096-7176 .- 1096-7184. ; 52, s. 68-76
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To fill the "green absorption gap", a green absorbing proteorhodopsin was expressed in a PSI-deletion strain (Delta PSI) of Synechocystis sp. PCC6803. Growth-rate measurements, competition experiments and physiological characterization of the proteorhodopsin-expressing strains, relative to the Delta PSI control strain, allow us to conclude that proteorhodopsin can enhance the rate of photoheterotrophic growth of Delta PSI Synechocystis strain. The physiological characterization included measurement of the amount of residual glucose in the spent medium and analysis of oxygen uptake- and production rates. To explore the use of solar radiation beyond the PAR region, a red-shifted variant Proteorhodopsin-D212N/F234S was expressed in a retinal-deficient PSI-deletion strain (Delta PSI/Delta SynACO). Via exogenous addition of retinal analogue an infrared absorbing pigment (maximally at 740 nm) was reconstituted in vivo. However, upon illumination with 746 nm light, it did not significantly stimulate the growth (rate) of this mutant. The inability of the proteorhodopsin-expressing Delta PSI strain to grow photoautotrophically is most likely due to a kinetic rather than a thermodynamic limitation of its NADPH-dehydrogenase in NADP(+)-reduction.
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| 8. |
- Chen, Que, et al.
(författare)
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Functional Expression of Gloeobacter Rhodopsin in PSI-Less Synechocystis sp. PCC6803
- 2019
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology. - : Frontiers Media S.A.. - 2296-4185. ; 7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The approach of providing an oxygenic photosynthetic organism with a cyclic electron transfer system, i.e., a far-red light-driven proton pump, is widely proposed to maximize photosynthetic efficiency via expanding the absorption spectrum of photosynthetically active radiation. As a first step in this approach, Gloeobacter rhodopsin was expressed in a PSI-deletion strain of Synechocystis sp. PCC6803. Functional expression of Gloeobacter rhodopsin, in contrast to Proteorhodopsin, did not stimulate the rate of photoheterotrophic growth of this Synechocystis strain, analyzed with growth rate measurements and competition experiments. Nevertheless, analysis of oxygen uptake and-production rates of the Gloeobacter rhodopsin-expressing strains, relative to the 1 PSI control strain, confirm that the proton-pumping Gloeobacter rhodopsin provides the cells with additional capacity to generate proton motive force. Significantly, expression of the Gloeobacter rhodopsin did modulate levels of pigment formation in the transgenic strain.
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| 9. |
- Cheregi, Otilia, et al.
(författare)
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Antibiotic Disc Assay for Measuring Cell Wall Function in Synechocystis sp. PCC6803
- 2016
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Ingår i: Bio-protocol. - 2331-8325. ; 6:24
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This protocol describes how to investigate the integrity of the outer cell wall in thecyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 using antibiotics. It is adapted to the agar diffusion test(Bauer et al., 1966), in which filter paper discs impregnated with specified concentrations of antibioticswere placed on agar plates inoculated with bacteria. The antibiotics we tested, interfering with thebiosynthesis/function of bacterial cell walls, will diffuse into the agar and produce a zone ofcyanobacterial growth inhibition around the disc(s). The size of the inhibition zone reflects the sensitivityof the strain to the action of antibiotics, e.g., a mutation in a protein functioning within the cell wall or itsconstruction would render the mutant strain more sensitive to the respective antibiotic. The method hasproven to be useful for phenotyping a mutant of Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 lacking all three genesencoding Deg proteases. Deletion of these ATP-independent serine proteases was shown to haveimpact on the outer cell layers of Synechocystis cells.
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| 10. |
- Cheregi, Otilia, et al.
(författare)
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Inactivation of the Deg protease family in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 has impact on the outer cell layers
- 2015
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Ingår i: Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology. B. - : Elsevier. - 1011-1344 .- 1873-2682. ; , s. 383-394
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The serine type Deg/HtrA proteases are distributed in a wide range of organisms from Escherichia coli to humans. The cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 possesses three Deg protease orthologues: HtrA, HhoA and HhoB. Previously we compared Synechocystis 6803 wild type cells exposed to mild or severe stress conditions with a mutant lacking all three Deg proteases and demonstrated that stress had strong impact on the proteomes and metabolomes [1]. To identify the biochemical processes, which this protease family is involved in, here we compared Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 wild type cells with a mutant lacking all three Deg proteases grown under normal growth conditions (30 °C and 40 μmol photons m−2 s−1). Deletion of the Deg proteases lead to the down-regulation of proteins related to the biosynthesis of outer cell layers (e.g. the GDP mannose 4,6-dehydratase) and affected protein secretion. During the late growth phase of the culture Deg proteases were found to be secreted to the extracellular medium of the Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 wild type strain. While cyanobacterial Deg proteases seem to act mainly in the periplasmic space, deletion of the three proteases influences the proteome and metabolome of the whole cell. Impairments in the outer cell layers of the triple mutant might explain the higher sensitivity toward light and oxidative stress, which was observed earlier by Barker and coworkers [2].
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| 11. |
- Cheregi, Otilia, et al.
(författare)
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Insights into the Cyanobacterial Deg/HtrA Proteases
- 2016
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Plant Science. - : Frontiers Media S.A. - 1664-462X. ; 7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Proteins are the main machinery for all living processes in a cell; they provide structural elements, regulate biochemical reactions as enzymes, and are the interface to the outside as receptors and transporters. Like any other machinery proteins have to be assembled correctly and need maintenance after damage, e.g., caused by changes in environmental conditions, genetic mutations, and limitations in the availability of cofactors. Proteases and chaperones help in repair, assembly, and folding of damaged and misfolded protein complexes cost-effective, with low energy investment compared with neo-synthesis. Despite their importance for viability, the specific biological role of most proteases in vivo is largely unknown. Deg/HtrA proteases, a family of serinetype ATP-independent proteases, have been shown in higher plants to be involved in the degradation of the Photosystem II reaction center protein D1. The objective of this review is to highlight the structure and function of their cyanobacterial orthologs. Homology modeling was used to find specific features of the SynDeg/HtrA proteases of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Based on the available data concerning their location and their physiological substrates we conclude that these Deg proteases not only have important housekeeping and chaperone functions within the cell, but also are needed for remodeling the cell exterior.
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| 12. |
- Cheregi, Otilia, et al.
(författare)
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Presence of state transitions in the cryptophyte alga Guillardia theta
- 2015
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Ingår i: Journal of Experimental Botany. - : Oxford University Press. - 0022-0957 .- 1460-2431. ; 66:20, s. 6461-6470
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Plants and algae have developed various regulatory mechanisms for optimal delivery of excitation energy to the photosystems even during fluctuating light conditions; these include state transitions as well as non-photochemical quenching. The former process maintains the balance by redistributing antennae excitation between the photosys-tems, meanwhile the latter by dissipating excessive excitation inside the antennae. In the present study, these mecha-nisms have been analysed in the cryptophyte alga Guillardia theta. Photoprotective non-photochemical quenching was observed in cultures only after they had entered the stationary growth phase. These cells displayed a diminished overall photosynthetic efficiency, measured as CO2 assimilation rate and electron transport rate. However, in the logarithmic growth phase G. theta cells redistributed excitation energy via a mechanism similar to state transitions. These state transitions were triggered by blue light absorbed by the membrane integrated chlorophyll a/c antennae, and green light absorbed by the lumenal biliproteins was ineffective. It is proposed that state transitions in G. thetaare induced by small re-arrangements of the intrinsic antennae proteins, resulting in their coupling/uncoupling to the photosystems in state 1 or state 2, respectively. G. theta therefore represents a chromalveolate algae able to perform state transitions.
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| 13. |
- Cheregi, Otilia, et al.
(författare)
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Regulation of the scp Genes in the Cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp PCC 6803-What is New?
- 2015
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Ingår i: Molecules. - : MDPI AG. - 1431-5157 .- 1420-3049. ; 20:8, s. 14621-14637
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 there are five genes encoding small CAB-like (SCP) proteins, which have been shown to be up-regulated under stress. Analyses of the promoter sequences of the scp genes revealed the existence of an NtcA binding motif in two scp genes, scpB and scpE. Binding of NtcA, the key transcriptional regulator during nitrogen stress, to the promoter regions was shown by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. The metabolite 2-oxoglutarate did not increase the affinity of NtcA for binding to the promoters of scpB and scpE. A second motif, the HIP1 palindrome 5' GGCGATCGCC 3', was detected in the upstream regions of scpB and scpC. The transcription factor encoded by sll1130 has been suggested to recognize this motif to regulate heat-responsive genes. Our data suggest that HIP1 is not a regulatory element within the scp genes. Further, the presence of the high light regulatory (HLR1) motif was confirmed in scpB-E, in accordance to their induced transcriptions in cells exposed to high light. The HLR1 motif was newly discovered in eight additional genes.
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| 14. |
- Cheregi, Otilia, et al.
(författare)
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The search for new chlorophyll-binding proteins in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803
- 2012
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Ingår i: Journal of Biotechnology. - : Elsevier. - 0168-1656 .- 1873-4863. ; 162:1, s. 124-133
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Light harvesting provides a major challenge in the production of biofuels from microorganisms; while sunlight provides the energy necessary for biomass/biofuel production, at the same time it damages the cells. The genome of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 was searched for open reading frames that might code for yet unidentified chlorophyll-binding proteins with low molecular mass that could be involved in stress-adaptation. Amongst 9,167 hypothetical ORFs corresponding to potential polypeptides of 100 amino acids or less, two were identified that had the potential to be pigment-binding, because they i) encoded a potential transmembrane region, ii) showed sequence similarity with known chlorophyll-binding domains, iii) were conserved in other cyanobacterial species, and iv) their codon adaptation index indicated significant translation probability. The two ORFs were located complementary (antisense) and internal to the ferrochelatase (hemH) and the pyruvate dehydrogenase (pdh) genes and therefore were named a-fch and a-pdh, respectively. Transcription of both genes was confirmed; however, no translated proteins could be detected immunologically. Whereas mutations within a-pdh or a-fch did not lead to any obvious phenotype, it is clear that transcripts and proteins over and above the currently known set may play a role in defining the physiology of cyanobacteria and other organisms.
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| 15. |
- Clarke, SM, et al.
(författare)
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Amino acid deletions in the cytosolic domains of the chlorophyll alpha-binding protein CP47 slow Q(A)(-) oxidation and/or prevent the assembly of Photosystem II
- 2002
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Ingår i: PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY. - 0167-4412. ; 50:3, s. 563-72
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Photosystem II (PSII) core antenna chlorophyll alpha-binding protein, CP47, contains six membrane-spanning a-helices separated by five hydrophilic loops: A-E. To identify important hydrophilic cytosolic regions, oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis was employed to introduce short segment deletions into loops B and D, and the C-terminal domain. Four strains carrying deletions of between three and five residues were created in loop B. Two strains, with deletions adjacent to helices II and III, did not assemble PSII; however, the mutants Delta(F123-D125) and Delta(R127-S131) remained photoautotrophic with near wild-type levels of assembled reaction centers. In contrast, all deletions introduced into loop D, connecting helices IV and V, failed to assemble significant levels of PSII and were obligate photoheterotrophic mutants. However, deletions in the C-terminal domain did not prevent the assembly of PSII reaction centers although the mutant Delta(S471-T473), with a deletion adjacent to helix VI, exhibited retarded Q(A)(-) oxidation kinetics and the PSII-specific herbicide, atrazine, bound less tightly in the Delta(S471-T473) and Delta(F475-D477) strains. Deletions in the C-terminal domain also created mutants with large protein aggregates that were recognized by an antibody raised against the PSII reaction center D1 protein. Low-temperature fluorescence emission spectra of photoautotrophic strains carrying deletions in either the C-terminal domain or loop B did not provide evidence for impaired energy transfer from the phycobilisomes to the PSII reaction center. The data therefore suggest an important structural role for loop D in the assembly of PSII and a potential interaction between the C-terminal domain of CP47 and the PSII reaction center that, when perturbed, results in photoinduced protein aggregates involving the D1 protein.
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| 16. |
- Dedic, R, et al.
(författare)
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Hole burning study of cyanobacterial Photosystem II complexes differing in the content of small putative chlorophyll-binding proteins
- 2004
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Ingår i: Journal of Luminescence. - : Elsevier BV. - 0022-2313. ; 107:1-4, s. 230-5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This contribution presents low-temperature absorption, both broad-band and site-selective excited fluorescence, and persistent hole burning spectra of Photosystem II complexes from the Photosystem I-lacking strains of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 differing in the content of small putative chlorophyll-binding proteins (Scps). These proteins are homologous to light-harvesting complex of higher plants and may bind pigments. The excited state lifetimes of the complexes were determined from zero-phonon hole widths extrapolated to zero-burning dose. The area and spectral position of a phonon side-band with respect to the zero-phonon hole provided additional information concerning chlorophyll–protein coupling and the Stokes shift. Decrease of three absorption subbands at (670.0, 672.9, and 675.7 nm) in the Photosystem II isolated from the strain lacking ScpC and ScpD is in agreement with a hypothesis about the role of Scps in the chlorophyll binding. In addition, narrowing of the zero-phonon hole in Photosystem II without both Scps indicates slowering of the excitation energy transfer which may be explained by the absence of a protective excitation energy quenching related to the presence of Scps.
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| 17. |
- Demmig-Adams, Barbara, et al.
(författare)
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Modulation of PsbS and flexible vs sustained energy dissipation by light environment in different species
- 2006
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Ingår i: Physiologia Plantarum. - : Wiley. - 0031-9317 .- 1399-3054. ; 127, s. 670-80
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Contrasting acclimation strategies of photosynthesis and photoprotection were identified for annual mesophytes (spinach, pumpkin, and Arabidopsis) vs the tropical evergreen Monstera deliciosa. The annual species utilized full sunlight for photosynthesis to a much greater extent than the evergreen species. Conversely, the evergreen species exhibited a greater capacity for photoprotective thermal energy dissipation as well as a greater expression of the PsbS protein in full sun than the annual species. In all species, the majority of thermal energy dissipation [assessed as non-photochemical fluorescence quenching (NPQ)] was the flexible, ΔpH-dependent form of NPQ over the entire range of growth light environments. However, in response to a transfer of shade-grown plants to high light, the evergreen species exhibited a high level of sustained thermal dissipation (qI), but the annual species did not. This sustained energy dissipation in the evergreen species was not ΔpH-dependent nor did the low level of PsbS in shade leaves increase upon transfer to high light for several days. Sustained ΔpH-independent NPQ was correlated (a) initially, with sustained D1 protein phosphorylation and xanthophyll cycle arrest and (b) subsequently, with an accumulation over several days of PsbS-related one-helix proteins and newly synthesized zeaxanthin and lutein.
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| 18. |
- Engelken, Johannes, et al.
(författare)
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The extended light-harvesting complex (LHC) protein superfamily : Classification and evolutionary dynamics
- 2012
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Ingår i: Functinal genomics and evolution of photosynthetic systems. - Dordrecht, Netherlands : Springer Netherlands. - 9789400715332 - 9789400715325 ; , s. 265-284
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Bokkapitel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The evolution of algae and land plants and their photosynthetic machineries is closely connected to the development of the extended light-harvesting complex (LHC) protein superfamily. Therefore, it is not surprising that the molecular organization, function and origin of the LHC proteins have been a central topic in plant biology and photosynthesis research during the last few years. The extended LHC protein superfamily in cyanobacteria and photosynthetic eukaryotes comprises different families, such as the LHC proteins and three groups of light stress-induced proteins, consisting of the LHC-like proteins, the red lineage CAB-like proteins and the photosystem II subunit S. This chapter provides a description of the different extended LHC superfamily members and shows their taxonomic distribution. Furthermore, an overview of scenarios suggested for the evolution of the extended LHC protein superfamily is provided and arised implications for light harvesting, stress responses and photoprotection are discussed.
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| 19. |
- Ensminger, Ingo, et al.
(författare)
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Intermittent low temperatures constrain spring recovery of photosynthesis in boreal Scots pine forests
- 2004
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Ingår i: Global Change Biology. - : Wiley. - 1354-1013. ; 10:6, s. 995-1008
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- During winter and early spring, evergreen boreal conifers are severely stressed because light energy cannot be used when photosynthesis is pre-empted by low ambient temperatures. To study photosynthetic performance dynamics in a severe boreal climate, seasonal changes in photosynthetic pigments, chloroplast proteins and photochemical efficiency were studied in a Scots pine forest near Zotino, Central Siberia. In winter, downregulation of photosynthesis involved loss of chlorophylls, a twofold increase in xanthophyll cycle pigments and sustained high levels of the light stress-induced zeaxanthin pigment. The highest levels of xanthophylls and zeaxanthin did not occur during the coldest winter period, but rather in April when light was increasing, indicating an increased capacity for thermal dissipation of excitation energy at that time. Concomitantly, in early spring the D1 protein of the photosystem II (PSII) reaction centre and the light-harvesting complex of PSII dropped to their lowest annual levels. In April and May, recovery of PSII activity, chloroplast protein synthesis and rearrangements of pigments were observed as air temperatures increased above 0°C. Nevertheless, severe intermittent low-temperature episodes during this period not only halted but actually reversed the physiological recovery. During these spring low-temperature episodes, protective processes involved a complementary function of the PsbS and early light-induced protein thylakoid proteins. Full recovery of photosynthesis did not occur until the end of May. Our results show that even after winter cold hardening, photosynthetic activity in evergreens responds opportunistically to environmental change throughout the cold season. Therefore, climate change effects potentially improve the sink capacity of boreal forests for atmospheric carbon. However, earlier photosynthesis in spring in response to warmer temperatures is strongly constrained by environmental variation, counteracting the positive effects of an early recovery process.
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| 20. |
- Ferro, Lorenza, 1989-, et al.
(författare)
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DNA metabarcoding reveals microbial community dynamics in a microalgae-based municipal wastewater treatment open photobioreactor
- 2020
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Ingår i: Algal Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 2211-9264. ; 51
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Controlling the growth of desired algal strains in microalgal-based wastewater treatment systems is challenging, and understanding the dynamics and interactions in the system is vital for proper management. A pilot-scale open photobioreactor located in Northern Sweden, was inoculated with the culture collection strain Scenedesmus dimorphus UTEX 417, which had been grown in Nordic climate for 8 years. The microbial diversity of eukaryotic and prokaryotic communities and their seasonal dynamics were revealed throughout the growth period by high-throughput sequencing of 18S and 16S rRNA genes and correlated with various environmental factors. S. dimorphus was stable in batch culture, but other microalgae appeared during semi-batch mode and co-dominated the system as a consequence of predation by zooplankton. Desmodesmus, Pseudocharaciopsis, Chlorella, Characium and Oocystis were the main microalgal species co-occurring in the system, with Characium and Chlorella acting as main competitors to Scenedesmus. Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria were the most abundant bacterial phyla, some of which showing significant positive or negative influence on Scenedesmus growth over time. Light, temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH and nutrients concentrations were found to have significant influence on the bacterial and/or zooplanktonic community changes.
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| 21. |
- Ferro, Lorenza, 1989-, et al.
(författare)
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Elucidating the symbiotic interactions between a locally isolated microalga Chlorella vulgaris and its co-occurring bacterium Rhizobium sp. in synthetic municipal wastewater
- 2019
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Ingår i: Journal of Applied Phycology. - : Springer. - 0921-8971 .- 1573-5176. ; 31:4, s. 2299-2310
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Co-cultivation of microalgae and bacteria during municipal wastewater treatment can boost carbon and nutrient recovery as a result of their synergistic interactions. The symbiotic relationships between the locally isolated microalga Chlorella vulgaris and the bacterium Rhizobium sp., co-isolated from municipal wastewater, were investigated batchwise under photoautotrophic, heterotrophic, and mixotrophic conditions in a synthetic municipal wastewater medium. During photoautotrophic growth in BG11 medium, photosynthetic algal oxygenation and organic carbon production supported bacterial activity but no significant beneficial effects on microalgal growth were observed. In synthetic wastewater, a twofold higher biomass concentration was achieved in the axenic algal culture compared with the co-culture under heterotrophic conditions, suggesting a competition for nutrients. A comparable carbon removal was observed in all cultures (83–79% TOC), but a faster nitrogen consumption (59% TN) and complete phosphate assimilation (100% TP) was only achieved in the co-culture. A positive synergistic relationship was found under mixotrophic conditions, clearly supported by an in situ O2/CO2 exchange between the microorganisms. This mutualism led to a threefold higher biomass production with a 13-fold higher fatty acid content compared with the axenic algal culture, as well as a superior wastewater treatment performance (+ 58% TOC, + 41% TN and + 44% TP). The co-cultivation of C. vulgaris and Rhizobium is therefore suggested as a potential microbial consortium for a cost-efficient biomass generation during municipal wastewater reclamation, especially under mixotrophic conditions.
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| 22. |
- Ferro, Lorenza, 1989-, et al.
(författare)
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Growth performance and nutrient removal of a Chlorella vulgaris-Rhizobium sp. co-culture during mixotrophic feed-batch cultivation in synthetic wastewater
- 2019
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Ingår i: Algal Research. - : Elsevier. - 2211-9264. ; 44
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The subarctic green algal strain Chlorella vulgaris 13-1, newly isolated from Northern Sweden, and its co-occurring bacterium Rhizobium sp. were tested for their ability to produce valuable biomass and remove nutrients from synthetic wastewater during mixotrophic feed-batch cultivation at multiple hydraulic retention times (HRTs = 7, 5 and 3 days). The algal-bacterial co-culture showed better performance compared to the corresponding axenic cultures (HRT = 7 days), with a biomass concentration of 0.63 +/- 0.03 g/L and removal rates of 49.5 +/- 6.1% TOC, 55.7 +/- 8.04% TN and 95.6 +/- 3.6% TP at steady-state. Culture stability and a high nutrient removal capacity were recorded in the algal-bacterial co-culture even at HRTs of 5 and 3 days. Interestingly, reducing the HRT from 7 to 5 days resulted in a higher lipid content of the biomass, further reduction of the HRT to 3 days enhanced both daily biomass productivity (1.03 g/L/day) and nutrient assimilation. Mixotrophic co-cultivation of C. vulgaris-Rhizobium sp. can successfully be applied for wastewater reclamation in continuous mode at HRT of 3-7 days, and thus is suitable for both summer and winter conditions in Nordic countries.
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| 23. |
- Ferro, Lorenza, et al.
(författare)
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Isolation and characterization of microalgal strains for biomass production and wastewater reclamation in Northern Sweden
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Algal Research. - : Elsevier. - 2211-9264. ; 32, s. 44-53
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Microalgal strains adapted to the harsh Nordic climate were isolated from Swedish fresh- and wastewater sources and tested for their ability to grow in municipal wastewater. The 62 strains able to grow in municipal wastewater belonged to 12 different genera, of those Desmodesmus, Scenedesmus and Chlorella were most representative. Eight axenic strains were further characterized, all of which could efficiently remove nitrogen (>90%) and phosphate (>99%) from the wastewater in less than two weeks. The microalga Coelastrella sp. had the highest performance in terms of both biomass concentration and total lipid content (1.46 g/L, 30.8%) after 13 days of cultivation. This is the first report of a Coelastrella strain isolated in Sweden. Even Chlorella vulgaris performed very well with a biomass concentration and total lipid content of 1.15 g/L and 34.2%, respectively. Finally, two Desmodesmus sp. strains showed desirable traits for biofuel-feedstock, due to their fast growth rates (1.18 and 1.08 d−1) together with high oil content (29.8% and 36.7% of DW).
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| 24. |
- Ferro, Lorenza, et al.
(författare)
-
Microbial population dynamics in a microalgae-based municipal wastewater treatment photobioreactor located in Northern Sweden
-
Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- A pilot-scale high-rate algal pond (HRAP) located in Northern Sweden was inoculated with the collection strain S. dimorphus UTEX 417 in spring and operated until autumn. The microbial diversity of eukaryotic and prokaryotic communities and their seasonal dynamics over time were revealed by high-throughput metabarcoding of 18S and 16S rRNA genes and correlated with various environmental factors. S. dimorphus was initially stable in the culture, but other microalgae appeared later and co-dominate the system as a consequence of predation by zooplankton. Desmodesmus, Pseudocharaciopsis, Chlorella, Characium and Oocystis were the main competing algal species. Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria were the most abundant bacterial phyla in the HRAP. The bacterial and zooplanktonic communities changed with seasonal variation, correlation not only with changes in light and temperature, but also with abiotic factors (pH and nutrients) were observed.
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| 25. |
- Ferro, Lorenza, 1989-, et al.
(författare)
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Statistical Methods for Rapid Quantification of Proteins, Lipids, and Carbohydrates in Nordic Microalgal Species Using ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Molecules. - : MDPI. - 1431-5157 .- 1420-3049. ; 24:18
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy is a simple, cheap, and fast method to collect chemical compositional information from microalgae. However, (semi)quantitative evaluation of the collected data can be daunting. In this work, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy was used to monitor changes of protein, lipid, and carbohydrate content in seven green microalgae grown under nitrogen starvation. Three statistical methods-univariate linear regression analysis (ULRA), orthogonal partial least squares (OPLS), and multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares (MCR-ALS)-were compared in their ability to model and predict the concentration of these compounds in the biomass. OPLS was found superior, since it i) included all three compounds simultaneously; ii) explained variations in the data very well; iii) had excellent prediction accuracy for proteins and lipids, and acceptable for carbohydrates; and iv) was able to discriminate samples based on cultivation stage and type of storage compounds accumulated in the cells. ULRA models worked well for the determination of proteins and lipids, but carbohydrates could only be estimated if already determined protein contents were used for scaling. Results obtained by MCR-ALS were similar to ULRA, however, this method is considerably easier to perform and interpret than the more abstract statistical/chemometric methods. FTIR-spectroscopy-based models allow high-throughput, cost-effective, and rapid estimation of biomass composition of green microalgae.
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| 26. |
- Ferro, Lorenza, et al.
(författare)
-
Subarctic microalgal strains treat wastewater and produce biomass at low temperature and short photoperiod
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Algal Research. - : Elsevier. - 2211-9264. ; 35, s. 160-167
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In Northern countries, microalgal-based processes are challenging due to low light and temperature conditions during a significant part of the year. Three natural strains from Northern Sweden (Chlorella vulgaris, Scenedesmus sp., Desmodesmus sp.) and a collection strain (Scenedesmus obliquus UTEX 417) were cultured in municipal wastewater, comparing their performances, biomass composition and nutrients removal under continuous light at standard (25 °C) and low temperature (5 °C), short photoperiod (3 h light, 25 °C), or moderate winter conditions (6 h light, 15 °C). Only the natural strains grew at low temperature, highly consuming total nitrogen and phosphate (>80% and >70%, respectively) even during cold- and dark-stress. At reduced growth rates, C. vulgaris and Scenedesmus sp. produced similar amounts of biomass (>1 g/l) as in standard conditions. Scenedesmus sp. and Desmodesmus sp. showed phenotypic plasticity and increased carbohydrate content. Short photoperiod strongly reduced growth rates, biomass and storage compounds and induced flocculation in C. vulgaris.
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| 27. |
- Ferro, Lorenza, 1989-
(författare)
-
Wastewater treatment and biomass generation by Nordic microalgae : growth in subarctic climate and microbial interactions
- 2019
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Nordic native microalgal strains were isolated, genetically classified and tested for their ability to grow in municipal wastewater. Eight of the isolated strains could efficiently remove nitrogen and phosphate in less than two weeks. Two of these strains, Coelastrella sp. and Chlorella vulgaris, were found to have high biomass concentration and total lipid content; also two Desmodesmus sp. strains showed desirable traits for biofuel-feedstock, due to their fast growth rates and high oil content.The adaptation to subarctic climate was comparatively evaluated in three Nordic strains (C. vulgaris, Scenedesmus sp. and Desmodesmus sp.) and a collection strain (S. obliquus). Their growth performance, biomass composition and nutrients removal was investigated at standard (25°C) or low temperature (5°C), under continuous light at short photoperiod (3 h light, 25°C) or moderate winter conditions (6 h light, 15°C). Only the Nordic strains could grow and produce biomass at low temperature, and efficiently removed nitrogen and phosphate during both cold- and dark-stress. Phenotypic plasticity was observed in Scenedesmus and Desmodesmus under different growth conditions, adaptation to low temperature increased their carbohydrate content. Short photoperiod strongly reduced growth rates, biomass and storage compounds in all strains and induced flocculation in C. vulgaris, which, however, performed best under moderate winter conditions.The symbiotic relationships between the Nordic microalga C. vulgaris and the naturally co-occurring bacterium Rhizobium sp. were investigated batchwise under photoautotrophic, heterotrophic and mixotrophic conditions, comparing the co-culture to the axenic cultures. The photoautotrophic algal growth in BG11 medium mainly supported Rhizobium activity in the co-culture, with no significant effects on C. vulgaris. In synthetic wastewater, a synergistic interaction only occurred under mixotrophic conditions, supported by CO2/O2 exchange and a lower pH in the culture, resulting in higher biomass and fatty acids content and more efficient wastewater treatment in the co-culture. Under heterotrophic conditions, the lower biomass production in the co-culture suggested a competition for nutrients, although nutrients removal remained efficient.A pilot-scale high rate algal pond (HRAP) located in Northern Sweden was inoculated with the collection strain Scenedesmus dimorphus UTEX 417 and operated from spring to autumn. Using metabarcoding of 18S and 16S rRNA genes, the microbial diversity of eukaryotic and prokaryotic communities was revealed. S. dimorphus was initially stable in the culture, but other microalgal species later colonized the system, mainly due to parasitic infections and predation by zooplankton in summer. The main competitor algal species were Desmodesmus, Pseudocharaciopsis, Chlorella, Characium and Oocystis. Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria were the most abundant bacterial phyla in the HRAP. The structure of the microbial communities followed a seasonal variation and partially correlated to environmental factors such as light, temperature and nutrients concentrations.Overall, these results contribute with new knowledge on the establishment and optimization of microalgal-based wastewater treatment systems coupled with biomass generation in Nordic areas. The use of native microalgal species is proposed as a potential strategy to overcome the limitations posed to algal cultivation in subarctic regions.
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| 28. |
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| 29. |
- Funk, Christiane, et al.
(författare)
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D1' centers are less efficient than normal photosystem II centers
- 2001
-
Ingår i: FEBS Letters. - 0014-5793 .- 1873-3468. ; 505:1, s. 113-117
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- One prominent difference between the photosystem II (PSII) reaction center protein D1 ' in Synechocystis 6803 and normal D1 is the replacement of Phe-186 in D1 with leucine in D1 '. Mutants of Synechocystis 6803 producing only D1 ', or containing engineered D1 proteins with Phe-186 substitutions, were analyzed by 77 K fluorescence emission spectra, chlorophyll a fluorescence induction yield and decay kinetics, and flash-induced oxygen evolution. Compared to D1-containing PSII centers, D1 ' centers exhibited a 50% reduction in variable chlorophyll a fluorescence yield, while the flash-induced O-2 evolution pattern was unaffected. In the F186 mutants, both the P680(+)/Q(A)(-) recombination and O-2 oscillation pattern were noticeably perturbed.
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| 30. |
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| 31. |
- Funk, Christiane, et al.
(författare)
-
From photosynthesis to industrial applications
- 2024
-
Ingår i: Physiologia Plantarum. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0031-9317 .- 1399-3054. ; 176:4
-
Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
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| 32. |
- Funk, Christiane, et al.
(författare)
-
High-light stress and the one-helix LHC-like proteins of the cryptophyte Guillardia theta
- 2011
-
Ingår i: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Bioenergetics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0005-2728 .- 1879-2650. ; 1807:7, s. 841-846
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Cryptophytes like the cryptomonad Guillardia theta are part of the marine phytoplankton and therefore major players in global carbon and biogeochemical cycles. Despite the importance for the cell in being able to cope with large changes in illumination on a daily basis, very little is known about photoprotection mechanisms in cryptophytes. Here we show that G. theta is able to perform non-photochemical quenching, although none of the usual xanthophyll cycle pigments (e.g. zeaxanthin, diadinoxanthin, diatoxanthin) are present at detectable levels. Instead, acclimation to high light intensity seems to involve an increase of alloxanthin. G. theta has genes for two one-helix "light-harvesting-like" proteins, related to some cyanobacterial genes which are induced in response to high light stress. Both the plastid-encoded gene (hlipP) and the nucleomorph-encoded gene (HlipNm) are expressed, but transcript levels decrease rather than increase during high light exposure, suggesting they are not involved in a high light stress response. The HlipNm protein was detected with a specific antibody; expression was constant, independent of the light exposure.
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| 33. |
- Garcia-Lorenzo, Maribel, et al.
(författare)
-
Protease gene families in Populus and Arabidopsis
- 2006
-
Ingår i: BMC Plant Biology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2229. ; 6:30, s. 1-24
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Proteases play key roles in plants, maintaining strict protein quality control and degrading specific sets of proteins in response to diverse environmental and developmental stimuli. Similarities and differences between the proteases expressed in different species may give valuable insights into their physiological roles and evolution. RESULTS: We have performed a comparative analysis of protease genes in the two sequenced dicot genomes, Arabidopsis thaliana and Populus trichocarpa by using genes coding for proteases in the MEROPS database 1 for Arabidopsis to identify homologous sequences in Populus. A multigene-based phylogenetic analysis was performed. Most protease families were found to be larger in Populus than in Arabidopsis, reflecting recent genome duplication. Detailed studies on e.g. the DegP, Clp, FtsH, Lon, rhomboid and papain-Like protease families showed the pattern of gene family expansion and gene loss was complex. We finally show that different Populus tissues express unique suites of protease genes and that the mRNA levels of different classes of proteases change along a developmental gradient. CONCLUSION: Recent gene family expansion and contractions have made the Arabidopsis and Populus complements of proteases different and this, together with expression patterns, gives indications about the roles of the individual gene products or groups of proteases.
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| 34. |
- Garcia Cerdan, Jose Gines, 1977-, et al.
(författare)
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Antisense inhibition of the PsbX protein affects PSII integrity in the higher plant Arabidopsis Thaliana
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Plant and Cell Physiology. - : Oxford University Press. - 0032-0781 .- 1471-9053. ; 50:2, s. 191-202
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PSII, the oxygen-evolving complex of photosynthetic organisms, contains an intriguingly large number of low molecular weight proteins. PsbX, one of these proteins, is ubiquitous in PSII complexes of cyanobacteria and plants. In previous studies, deletion of the PsbX protein in cyanobacteria has not resulted in clear phenotypic changes. Here we report the construction of an antisense (AS-PsbX) line in Arabidopsis thaliana with <10% of wild-type PsbX levels. AS-PsbX plants are capable of photoautotrophic growth, but biochemical, biophysical and immunological evidence demonstrates that reduction of PsbX contents leads to reduced levels of functional assembled PSII core complexes, while the light-harvesting antennae are not affected. In addition, levels of phosphorylation of the core proteins D1, D2 and CP43 are severely reduced in the antisense plants relative to their wild-type counterparts. We conclude that PsbX is important for accumulation of functional PSII.
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| 35. |
- Garcia-Cerdan, Jose G., et al.
(författare)
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The PsbW protein stabilizes the supramolecular organization of photosystem II in higher plants
- 2011
-
Ingår i: The Plant Journal. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 0960-7412 .- 1365-313X. ; 65:3, s. 368-381
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PsbW, a 6.1-kDa low-molecular-weight protein, is exclusive to photosynthetic eukaryotes, and associates with the photosystem II (PSII) protein complex. In vivo and in vitro comparison of Arabidopsis thaliana wild-type plants with T-DNA insertion knock-out mutants completely lacking the PsbW protein, or with antisense inhibition plants exhibiting decreased levels of PsbW, demonstrated that the loss of PsbW destabilizes the supramolecular organization of PSII. No PSII-LHCII supercomplexes could be detected or isolated in the absence of the PsbW protein. These changes in macro-organization were accompanied by a minor decrease in the chlorophyll fluorescence parameter F-V/F-M, a strongly decreased PSII core protein phosphorylation and a modification of the redox state of the plastoquinone (PQ) pool in dark-adapted leaves. In addition, the absence of PsbW protein led to faster redox changes in the PQ pool, i.e. transitions from state 1 to state 2, as measured by changes in stationary fluorescence (F-S) kinetics, compared with the wild type. Despite these dramatic effects on macromolecular structure, the transgenic plants exhibited no significant phenotype under normal growth conditions. We suggest that the PsbW protein is located close to the minor antenna of the PSII complex, and is important for the contact and stability between several PSII-LHCII supercomplexes.
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| 36. |
- García-Lorenzo, Maribel, et al.
(författare)
-
ATP-dependent proteases in the chloroplast
- 2008
-
Ingår i: ATP-dependent Proteases in the Plant Chloroplast. - Kerala, India : Research Signpost. - 9788130802824 ; , s. 145-176
-
Bokkapitel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Systematic comparative analysis of the available sequenced genomes of model organisms has led to the identification of an increasing number of protease genes. ATP-dependent proteases are one of the largest groups of proteolytic enzymes found across all kingdoms of life and are associated to several essential physiological pathways. FtsH-, Clp-, and Lon-like proteases, all derived from bacterial ancestors, also have been identified in the plant chloroplast, where they form multi-subunit complexes consisting of different gene products. Recent studies in model organisms like the annual plant Arabidopsis thaliana or the photosynthetic cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 have identified substrates and functions of these isomers. Although only a limited number of proteases has been identified by biochemical methods, novel protease homologous that are targeted to plastids have been predicted. This review covers the current knowledge on ATP-dependent proteases in the chloroplast.
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| 37. |
- García-Lorenzo, Maribel, et al.
(författare)
-
Degradation of the main Photosystem II light-harvesting complex
- 2005
-
Ingår i: Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1474-905X .- 1474-9092. ; 4, s. 1065-1071
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Many factors trigger the degradation of proteins, including changes in environmental conditions, genetic mutations, and limitations in the availability of cofactors. Despite the importance for viability, still very little is known about protein degradation and its regulation. The degradation of the most abundant membrane protein on Earth, the light-harvesting complex of Photosystem II (LHC II), is highly regulated under different environmental conditions, e.g. light stress, to prevent photochemical damage of the reaction center. However, despite major effort to identify the protease/proteases involved in the degradation of the apoproteins of LHC II the molecular details of this important process remain obscure. LHC II belongs to the family of chlorophyll a/b binding proteins (CAB proteins) and is located in the thylakoid membrane of the plant chloroplast. The results of biochemical experiments to isolate and characterize the protease degrading LHC II are summarized here and compared to our own recent finding indicating that a metalloprotease of the FtsH family is involved in this process.
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| 38. |
- Garcia-Lorenzo, Maribel, 1975-
(författare)
-
The Role of Proteases in Plant Development
- 2007
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Proteases play key roles in plants, maintaining strict protein quality control and degrading specific sets of proteins in response to diverse environmental and developmental stimuli. Similarities and differences between the proteases expressed in different species may give valuable insights into their physiological roles and evolution. Systematic comparative analysis of the available sequenced genomes of two model organisms led to the identification of an increasing number of protease genes, giving insights about protein sequences that are conserved in the different species, and thus are likely to have common functions in them and the acquisition of new genes, elucidate issues concerning non-functionalization, neofunctionalization and subfunctionalization. The involvement of proteases in senescence and PCD was investigated. While PCD in woody tissues shows the importance of vacuole proteases in the process, the senescence in leaves demonstrate to be a slower and more ordered mechanism starting in the chloroplast where the proteases there localized become important. The light-harvesting complex of Photosystem II is very susceptible to protease attack during leaf senescence. We were able to show that a metallo-protease belonging to the FtsH family is involved on the process in vitro. Arabidopsis knockout mutants confirmed the function of FtsH6 in vivo.
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| 39. |
- Gojkovic, Zivan, et al.
(författare)
-
Cryogenic X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy determines surface composition of algal cells and gives insights into their spontaneous sedimentation
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Algal Research. - : Elsevier. - 2211-9264. ; 47
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The flotation properties of two green microalgal species isolated from Northern Sweden, Chlorella vulgaris 13-1 and Coelastrella sp. 3-4, were investigated. C. vulgaris 13-1 is a flotating alga that remains suspended in solution during culturing, while Coelastrella sp. 3-4 is readily sedimenting in the stationary growth phase. We were the first to use cryogenic X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (Cryo-XPS) to gain information on the chemical composition of the algal cell surface and added to these data results obtained from diffuse reflectance - Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (DR-FTIR) and classical chemical extractions of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins. Based on the Cryo-XPS data the surface of the sedimenting Coelastrella sp. 3-4 strain is rich in proteins and lipids, while the cell surface of non-flocculating C. vulgaris 13-1 is predominated by carbohydrates, but is poor in lipids. The Zeta-potential of both strains was equally negative. Cell size and the amount of carbohydrates on the algal cell surface, but not the negative surface charge, therefore indicate colloidal stability of microalgae in solutions and can be applied to predict flotation properties of green microalgae.
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| 40. |
- Gojkovic, Zivan, et al.
(författare)
-
Modeling biomass production during progressive nitrogen starvation by North Swedish green microalgae
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Algal Research. - : Elsevier. - 2211-9264. ; 47
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Five newly isolated green algal species from Northern Sweden and one culture collection strain were tested for their ability to remove nitrogen and accumulate carbohydrates and neutral lipids (TAGs) under progressive nitrogen starvation. All six microalgal species increased biomass during N starvation, the amount of proteins decreased, and species dependent either TAGs and/or carbohydrates accumulated. Biomass of the algal strains Coelastrella sp. 3-4, Scenedesmus sp. B2-2 and S. obliquus RISE (UTEX 417) had very low final TAG content (≤3.4%) and high carbohydrate content (>41%) at the end of the starvation period. C. astroideum RW10 accumulated 9.2% TAGs and 53.9% carbohydrates during N-starvation; due to its modest growth rate (1.60 g/L and 1.06 1/day) resulting in low final biomass concentration, its cumulativeTAG and carbohydrate productivity were poor (175 mgTAG/system and 1.03 gCARBS/system). C. vulgaris 13-1 preferentially accumulated TAGs (10.3%) over carbohydrates (35%), with low minimal and maximal N quotas (2.27 and 11.6 mM/gDW) in its biomass and a very high growth rate (1.86 1/day) and cumulative TAGs productivity (278 mgTAG/system). Desmodesmus sp. RUC2 had the highest final biomass concentration (3.48 g/L) as well as cumulative TAG and carbohydrate productivity (269 mgTAG/system and 1.79 gCARBS/system). This species had the lowest minimal and maximal N quotas (1.58 and 8.50 mM/gDW) of all tested species, it can produce high amounts of biomass even when the available nitrogen concentration is low.A Droop's mathematical model with four basic parameters was applied to interpret the experimental data on N assimilation and biomass production under N starvation. The model corresponded well to the experimental data and therefore can successfully be applied to predict biomass production and N assimilation in Nordic algal species.
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| 41. |
- Gojkovic, Zivan, et al.
(författare)
-
Northern green algae have the capacity to remove active pharmaceutical ingredients
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. - : Elsevier. - 0147-6513 .- 1090-2414. ; 170, s. 644-656
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Eight recently isolated microalgal species from Northern Sweden and the culture collection strain Scenedesmus obliquus RISE (UTEX 417) were tested for their ability to remove 19 pharmaceuticals from growth medium upon cultivation in short light path, flat panel photobioreactors. While the growth of one algal species, Chlorellasorokiniana B1-1, was completely inhibited by the addition of pharmaceuticals, and the one of Scenedesmus sp. B2-2 was strongly inhibited, the other algal strains grew well and produced biomass.In general, lipophilic compounds were removed highly efficient from the culture medium by the microalgae (>70% in average within 2 days). The most lipophilic compounds Biperiden, Trihexyphenidyl, Clomipramine and Amitriptyline significantly accumulated in the biomass of most algal species, with a positive correlation between accumulation and their total biomass content. More persistent in the growth medium were hydrophilic compounds like Caffeine, Fluconazole, Trimetoprim, Codeine, Carbamazepin, Oxazepam and Tramadol, which were detected in amounts of above 60% in average after algal treatment.While Coelastrella sp. 3–4 and Coelastrum astroideum RW10 were most efficient to accumulate certain compounds in their biomass, two algae species, Chlorella vulgaris13-1 and Chlorella saccharophila RNY, were not only highly efficient in removing all 19 pharmaceuticals from the growth medium within 12 days, at the same time only small amounts of these compounds accumulated in their biomass allowing its further use. Chlorella vulgaris 13-1 was able to remove most compounds within 6 days of growth, while Chlorella saccharophila RNY needed 8–10 days.”Wild” Nordic microalgae therefore are able to remove active pharmaceutical ingredients, equally or more efficient than the investigated culture collection strain, thereby demonstrating their possible use in sustainable wastewater reclamation in Nordic conditions.
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| 42. |
- Gojkovic, Zivan, et al.
(författare)
-
The role of microalgae in the biogeochemical cycling of Methylmercury (MeHg) in aquatic environments
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Phycology. - : MDPI. - 2673-9410. ; 2:3, s. 344-362
-
Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Methylmercury (MeHg) is the most important and the most abundant organic Hg pollutant in the aquatic ecosystem that can affect human health through biomagnification. It is the most toxic organic Hg form, which occurs naturally and by human-induced contamination in water and is further biomagnified in the aquatic food web. MeHg is the only Hg form that accumulates in living organisms and is able to cross the blood–brain barrier, presenting an enormous health risk. Anthropogenic activity increases eutrophication of coastal waters worldwide, which promotes algae blooms. Microalgae, as primary producers, are especially sensitive to MeHg exposure in water and are an important entrance point for MeHg into the aquatic food web. MeHg assimilated by microalgae is further transferred to fish, wildlife and, eventually, humans as final consumers. MeHg biomagnifies and bioaccumulates in living organisms and has serious negative health effects on humans, especially newborns and children. Knowledge of the microalgae–MeHg interaction at the bottom of the food web provides key insights into the control and prevention of MeHg exposure in humans and wildlife. This review aims to summarize recent findings in the literature on the microalgae–MeHg interaction, which can be used to predict MeHg transfer and toxicity in the aquatic food web.
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| 43. |
- Gomez, Facundo M., et al.
(författare)
-
Extra-plastidial degradation of chlorophyll and photosystem I in tobacco leaves involving 'senescence-associated vacuoles'
- 2019
-
Ingår i: The Plant Journal. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0960-7412 .- 1365-313X. ; 99:3, s. 465-477
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Chlorophyll (Chl) loss is the main visible symptom of senescence in leaves. The initial steps of Chl degradation operate within the chloroplast, but the observation that ‘senescence‐associated vacuoles’ (SAVs) contain Chl raises the question of whether SAVs might also contribute to Chl breakdown. Previous confocal microscope observations (Martínez et al., 2008) showed many SAVs containing Chl. Isolated SAVs contained Chl a and b (with a Chl a/b ratio close to 5) and lower levels of chlorophyllide a. Pheophytin a and pheophorbide a were formed after the incubation of SAVs at 30°C in darkness, suggesting the presence of Chl‐degrading activities in SAVs. Chl in SAVs was bound to a number of ‘green bands’. In the most abundant green band of SAVs, Western blot analysis showed the presence of photosystem I (PSI) Chl‐binding proteins, including the PsaA protein of the PSI reaction center and the apoproteins of the light‐harvesting complexes (Lhca 1–4). This was confirmed by: (i) measurements of 77‐K fluorescence emission spectra showing a single emission peak at around 730 nm in SAVs; (ii) mass spectrometry of the most prominent green band with the slowest electrophoretic mobility; and (iii) immunofluorescence detection of PsaA in SAVs observed through confocal microscopy. Incubation of SAVs at 30°C in darkness caused a steady decrease in PsaA levels. Overall, these results indicate that SAVs may be involved in the degradation of PSI proteins and their associated chlorophylls during the senescence of leaves.
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| 44. |
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| 45. |
- Granlund, Irene, et al.
(författare)
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The TL29 protein is lumen located, associated with PSII and not an ascorbate peroxidase
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Plant and Cell Physiology. - : Oxford Journals. - 0032-0781 .- 1471-9053. ; 50:11, s. 1898-1910
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The TL29 protein is one of the more abundant proteins in the thylakoid lumen of plant chloroplasts. Based on its sequence homology to ascorbate peroxidases, but without any supporting biochemical evidence, TL29 was suggested to be involved in the plant defense system against reactive oxygen species and consequently renamed to APX4. Our in vivo and in vitro analyses failed to show any peroxidase activity associated with TL29; it bound neither heme nor ascorbate. Recombinant overexpressed TL29 had no ascorbate-dependent peroxidase activity, and various mutational analyses aiming to convert TL29 into an ascorbate peroxidase failed. Furthermore, in the thylakoid lumen no such activity could be associated with TL29 and, additionally, TL29 knock-out mutants did not show any decreased peroxidase activity or increased content of radical oxygen species when grown under light stress. Instead we could show that TL29 is a lumen-located component associated with PSII.
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| 46. |
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| 47. |
- Hall, Michael, et al.
(författare)
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The HhoA protease from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 : novel insights into structure and activity regulation
- 2017
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Ingår i: Journal of Structural Biology. - : Elsevier. - 1047-8477 .- 1095-8657. ; 198:3, s. 147-153
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Proteases play a vital role in the removal of proteins, which become damaged due to temperature or oxidative stress. Important to this process in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 is the family of Deg/HtrA proteases; HhoA (sll1679), HhoB (sll1427) and HtrA (slr1204). While previous studies have elucidated the structures of Deg/HtrA proteases from Escherichia coli and from the chloroplast of the higher plant Arabidopsis thaliana, no structural data have been available for any Deg/HtrA protease from cyanobacteria, the evolutionary ancestor of the chloroplast. To gain a deeper insight into the molecular mechanisms and regulation of these proteins we have solved the structure of the Synechocystis HhoA protease in complex with a co-purified peptide by X-ray crystallography. HhoA assembles into stable trimers, mediated by its protease domain and further into a cage-like hexamer by a novel interaction between the PDZ domains of opposing trimers. Each PDZ domain contains two loops for PDZ-PDZ formation: interaction clamp one and two (IC1, IC2). IC1 interacts with IC2 on the opposing PDZ domain and vice versa. Our structure shows a peptide bound to a conserved groove on the PDZ domain and the properties of this pocket suggest that it binds substrate proteins as well as the neo C-termini of cleaved substrates. In agreement with previous studies showing the proteolytic activity of HhoA to be activated by Ca2+ or Mg2+, binding of divalent metal ions to the central channel of the trimer by the L1 activation loop was observed.
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| 48. |
- Hernández-Prieto, Miguel Angel, 1975-, et al.
(författare)
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Imbalance in tetrapyrrole metabolites caused by deletion of scp genes in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 results in dramatic cellular effects
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Light-harvsting like (Lil) proteins contain a chlorophyll-binding domain similar to the chlorophyll a/b binding antenna proteins of plants. The five small Cab-like proteins (SCPs) of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 belong to the Lil family. They have been shown to stabilize chlorophyll and to play a role in the tetrapyrrole biosynthesis pathway (Xu, H., Vavilin, D., Funk, C. and Vermaas, W. (2004) J. Biol. Chem. 279, 27971-27979). Here we show that deletion of the five scp genes in a PSI-less mutant results in a decrease of Photosystem II amount in the thylakoid membrane. This reduction of Photosystem II leads to increased cell volume, disorganized thylakoid membranes in the cell, and metabolic imbalance. We conclude that the lack of SCPs alters the assembly/repair of Photosystem II, causing an imbalance in the energetic level of the mutant cells.
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| 49. |
- Hernández-Prieto, Miguel Angel, 1975-
(författare)
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The Small Cab-like Proteins in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803
- 2009
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The Small Cab-like Proteins (SCPs) in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 accumulate in cells grown under different stress conditions. Genes coding for SCPs have been found in all sequenced organisms performing oxygenic photosynthesis and even in the genomes of cyanophages. Deletion of multiple scp genes in Synechocystis resulted in mutants with severely impaired growth and altered pigment content. These findings indicate the importance of SCPs in photosynthesis; however, their specific function is not well understood. SCPs share a chlorophyll-binding motif with the plant light harvesting complex, suggesting that they bind chlorophyll. Here I describe my findings, which unambiguously show that SCPs are able to bind chlorophyll in vitro. Although they affect both the stoichiometric ratio of Photosystem I to II and chlorophyll stability, they do not seem to be directly involved in non-photochemical quenching. I was able to reveal the location of the SCPs within the cyanobacterial cell: in stressed cells they attach to Photosystem II in the thylakoid membrane. Furthermore, I revealed the presence of another light-harvesting like (Lil)/SCP protein in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. The gene, slr1544, codifying for this newly characterised LilA protein, co-transcribes together with scpD and also appears to bind to Photosystem II during stress.
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| 50. |
- Hernandez-Prieto, Miguel A., et al.
(författare)
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The small CAB-like proteins of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 : Their involvement in chlorophyll biogenesis for Photosystem II
- 2011
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Ingår i: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Bioenergetics. - : Elsevier. - 0005-2728 .- 1879-2650. ; 1807:9, s. 1143-1151
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The five small CAB-like proteins (ScpA-E) of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 belong to the family of stress-induced light-harvesting-like proteins, but are constitutively expressed in a mutant deficient of Photosystem I (PSI). Using absorption, fluorescence and thermoluminescence measurements this PSI-less strain was compared with a mutant, in which all SCPs were additionally deleted. Depletion of SCPs led to structural rearrangements in Photosystem II (PSII): less photosystems were assembled; and in these, the Q(B) site was modified. Despite the lower amount of PSII, the SCP-deficient cells contained the same amount of phycobilisomes (PBS) as the control. Although, the excess PBS were functionally disconnected, their fluorescence was quenched under high irradiance by the activated Orange Carotenoid Protein (OCP). Additionally the amount of OCP, but not of the iron-stress induced protein (isiA), was higher in this SCP-depleted mutant compared with the control. As previously described, the lack of SCPs affects the chlorophyll biosynthesis (Vavilin, D., Brune, D. C., Vermaas, W. (2005) Biochim Biophys Acta 1708, 91-101). We demonstrate that chlorophyll synthesis is required for efficient PSII repair and that it is partly impaired in the absence of SCPs. At the same time, the amount of chlorophyll also seems to influence the expression of ScpC and ScpD.
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