Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-vsgnj Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-19T14:21:36.391Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Studies on the Mechanism of Copper Toxicity in Chlorella

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

Arturo Cedeno-Maldonado  and
J. A. Swader
Arturo Cedeno-Maldonado
Affiliation:
Dep. of Plant Sci., Univ. of California, Riverside, CA 92502
J. A. Swader
Affiliation:
Dep. of Plant Sci., Univ. of California, Riverside, CA 92502
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Autotrophic growth, photosynthesis, and respiration of Chlorella sorokiniana Shihira and Krauss were inhibited by the cupric ion, but photosynthesis was more sensitive than respiration. The percent inhibition was determined by the ratio of cells to cupric ions present. Photosynthesis and respiration were inhibited within 2 and 5 min, respectively, after adding 1.0 mM cupric ions. Chlorella cells which had been incubated for a short time in concentrations of the cupric ion that completely inhibited photosynthesis were not able to grow when cultured in a fresh medium without cupric ions, indicating high concentrations of the ion may have destroyed the photosynthetic apparatus and deprived the cells of their ability for autotrophic growth. Dark preincubation of the cells, as well as high bicarbonate concentrations in the assay medium, decreased inhibition. Treatment with cupric ions reduced the cellular chlorophyll and sulfhydryl content, but anaerobiosis, a condition that increased toxicity, had little effect on the sulfhydryl content. Electron transport in photosystems I and II in intact Chlorella cells was inhibited, but the specific sites of inhibition in the photosynthetic electron transport chain could not be determined using intact cells.

Type
Research Article
Information
Weed Science , Volume 22 , Issue 5 , September 1974 , pp. 443 - 449
Copyright
Copyright © 1974 by the Weed Science Society of America 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Literature Cited

1. Arnon, D.I. 1949. Copper enzymes in isolated chloroplasts. Polyphenol oxidase in Beta vulgaris . Plant Physiol. 24:1–15.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2. Ben-Hayyim, G. and Avron, M. 1970. Mn2+ as electron donor in isolated chloroplasts. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 205:86–94.Google Scholar
3. Cedeno-Maldonado, A., Swader, J.A., and Heath, R.L. 1972. The cupric ion as an inhibitor of photosynthetic electron transport in isolated chloroplasts. Plant Physiol. 50:698–701.Google Scholar
4. Dugger, W.M. Jr. and Ting, I.P. 1968. The effect of peroxyacetyl nitrate on plants: Photoreductive reactions and susceptibility of bean plants to PAN. Phytopathology 58:1102–1107.Google Scholar
5. Greenfield, S.S. 1942. Inhibitory effects of inorganic compounds on photosynthesis in Chlorella . Amer. J. Bot. 29:121–131.Google Scholar
6. Gross, R.E., Pugno, P., and Dugger, W.M. 1970. Observations on the mechanism of copper damage in Chlorella . Plant Physiol. 46:183–185.Google Scholar
7. Hassall, K.A. 1962. A specific effect of copper on the respiration of Chlorella vulgaris . Nature 193:90.Google Scholar
8. Hassall, K.A. 1963. Uptake of copper and its physiological effects on Chlorella vulgaris . Physiol. Plant. 16:323–332.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9. Hassall, K.A. 1967. Inhibition of respiration of Chlorella vulgaris by simultaneous application of cupric and fluoride ions. Nature 215:521.Google Scholar
10. Hassall, K. 1969. An asymmetric respiratory response occurring when fluoride and copper ions are applied jointly to Chlorella vulgaris . Physiol. Plant. 22:304–311.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11. Hirose, S., Yamashita, K., and Shibata, K. 1971. Formation of thiol groups in spinach chloroplasts by illumination. Plant Cell Physiol. 12:775–778.Google Scholar
12. Jorgensen, E.G. 1962. Antibiotic substances from cells and culture solutions of unicellular algae with special reference to some chlorophyll derivatives. Physiol. Plant. 15:530–545.Google Scholar
13. Kanazawa, T. and Kanazawa, K. 1969. Specific inhibitory effect of copper on cellular division in Chlorella . Plant Cell Physiol. 10:495–502.Google Scholar
14. Krogmann, D.W., Jagendorf, A.T., and Avron, M. 1959. Uncouplers of spinach chloroplasts photosynthetic phosphorylation. Plant Physiol. 34:272–277.Google Scholar
15. McBrien, D.C.H. and Hassall, K.A. 1965. Loss of cell potassium by Chlorella vulgaris after contact with toxic amounts of copper sulfate. Physiol. Plant. 18:1059–1065.Google Scholar
16. McBrien, D.C.H. and Hassall, K.A. 1967. The effect of toxic doses of copper upon respiration, photosynthesis and growth of Chlorella vulgaris . Physiol. Plant. 20:113–117.Google Scholar
17. Moore, G.T. and Kellerman, K.F., 1904. A method of destroying or preventing the growth of algae and certain pathogenic bacteria in water supplies. U.S. Dep. Agr., Bureau of Plant Industry, Bul. 64. 44 pp.Google Scholar
18. Morell, S.A., Ayers, V.E., and Greenwalt, T.J. 1959. Reaction of N-ethyl-maleimide (NEM) with intact erythrocytes. Fed. Proc., U.S.A. 18:290.Google Scholar
19. Nicholls, P. and Shonbaum, G.R. 1963. Catalases. Pages 147–225 in Boyer, P.D., Lardy, H., and Myrback, K., eds. The enzymes. Vol. 8. Academic Press, NY.Google Scholar
20. Nielsen, E.S. and Kamp-Nielsen, L. 1970. Influence of deleterious concentrations of copper on the growth of Chlorella pyrenoidosa . Physiol. Plant. 23:828–840.Google Scholar
21. Nielsen, E.S., Kamp-Nielsen, L., and Wium-Andersen, S. 1969. The effect of deleterious concentrations of copper on the photosynthesis of Chlorella pyrenoidosa . Physiol. Plant. 22:1121–1133.Google Scholar
22. Pratt, R. 1943. Studies on Chlorella vulgaris. VIII. Influence on photosynthesis of prolonged exposure to sodium bicarbonate and potassium bicarbonate. Amer. J. Bot. 30:626–629.Google Scholar
23. Roberts, E. and Rouser, G. 1958. Spectrophotometric assay for reaction of N-ethylmaleimide with sulfhydryl groups. Anal. Chem. 30:1291–1292.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
24. Sargent, D.F. and Taylor, C.P.S. 1972. The effect of cupric and fluoride ions on the respiration of Chlorella . Can. J. Bot. 50:905–907.Google Scholar
25. Sikka, H.C. and Pramer, D. 1968. Physiological effects of fluometuron on some unicellular algae. Weed Sci. 16:296–299.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
26. Stiff, M.J. 1971. Copper/bicarbonate equilibria in solutions of bicarbonate ion at concentrations similar to those found in natural water. Water Res. 5:171–176.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
27. Stiff, M.J. 1971. The chemical states of copper in polluted fresh water and a scheme of analysis to differentiate them. Water Res. 5:585–599.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
28. Trebst, A., Eck, H., and Wagner, S. 1963. Effects of quinones and oxygen in the electron transport system of chloroplasts. Pages 174–194 in Photosynthetic mechanisms of green plants. Publication 1145, Natl. Acad. Sci., Natl. Res. Coun., Wash., D.C. Google Scholar
29. Vernon, L.P. and Ihnen, E.D. 1957. Photooxidations catalyzed by plant and bacterial extracts and by riboflavin-5′-phosphate. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 24:115–123.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
30. Zweig, G., Hitt, J.E., and McMahon, R. 1968. Effect of certain quinones, diquat, and diuron on Chlorella pyrenoidosa Chick. (Emerson Strain). Weed Sci. 16:69–73.Google Scholar