苔藓植物一些东亚特有属的分子系统学研究

苔藓是高等植物（有胚植物或陆地植物）中最原始的一类，但种类却丰富多样，其形态和生长环境的多样化程度高于蕨类和裸子植物，且对极端环境的忍耐力更强，分布范围也更广。“特有”是一个地理概念，它是相对广布而言，当一个类群的分布范围有一定的限制时即为特有现象。“东亚特有”是指分布范围主要局限于中国，朝鲜，日本和蒙古等，向北可及俄罗斯远东地区，少数可分布至中国南部相邻地区的植物类群。东亚地区主要以温带植物区系为主，但也包含一些热带植物区系成分，还因为第四纪以来受冰川活动影响较少，因此植物种类非常丰富。东亚地区也是苔藓植物的多样性中心之一，这里有较多的特有成分。在我国总共分布有苔藓植物东亚特有属35属，其中苔类5属，藓类30属。长期以来，特有成分始终引起人们的极大关注，不仅是因为其在植物地理学上的重要性，还因为特有类群中包含了孓遗类群，往往系统位置比较关键，此外，大部分特有类群对人为干扰比较敏感，对其保护就愈加重要，因为它在这个地区的消失就意味着一个类群的灭绝。 我国对苔藓植物东亚特有类群已有较好的认识，在前人知识积累的基础之上，我们期望通过分子系统学的方法，开展对东亚特有苔藓属的研究，逐步揭开特有属植物的神秘面纱，最终在系统树上找到它们各自应该属于自己的位置。 在本次研究中，我们总共得到十一个苔藓植物东亚特有属的新鲜材料。在实验室中我们对这十一个特有属叶绿体和核的六个基因（叶绿体atpB, rbcL, cp-SSU, cp-LSU 和核18S，26S rDNA）进行了测序，并在此基础之上，构建了来自苔藓植物106个属上述六个基因的联合矩阵，并对它们进行了系统学分析。本文所选十一个特有属中除三个苔类属和一个线齿藓类的属之外，其它七个特有属都属于侧蒴藓类。根据近几年的研究结果，侧蒴藓类中灰藓目被认为是起源自一次快速辐射演化，灰藓目各科之间的关系以及各科的范围都很难确定。即便本实验测序一万多bp，这一支之内的关系仍不能解决。 在以上结果的基础上，本文对线齿藓类的树发藓属（Microdendron）进行了较为详细的研究，我们用最大简约法分析了金发藓目15属，33种的18S, rbcL和trnL-F序列的联合矩阵。对树发藓属的微形态进行了电镜扫描。形态和分子数据的分析结果表明，这个特有属在属级水平是不成立的，它仅是小金发藓属的一个种。此结果支持将这个东亚特有属降为种的等级。此外，本文还对囊绒苔属（Trichocoleopsis）和新绒苔属（Neotrichocolea）的系统位置做了比较详细的研究。我们分别分析了一个苔类植物57属的四基因（cp-SSU, cp-LSU, atpB and rbcL）矩阵和一个苔类植物24属的九基因（cp-SSU, cp-LSU, atpB, psbA, rps4, rbcL, 18S, 26S and nad5）联合矩阵，结果显示囊绒苔属和新绒苔属互为姐妹群关系，而毛叶苔属（Ptilidium）又是它们二者的姐妹群。研究结果支持了囊绒苔属和新绒苔属组成新绒苔科（Neotrichocoleaceae），而不同于前人的观点：将上述两属放置于毛叶苔科（Ptilidiaceae）、绒苔科（Trichocoleaceae）或多囊苔科（Lepidolaenaceae）。另外值得注意的是这两个特有属和毛叶苔属组成的一支位于叶苔类（Leafy liverwort）中“Leafy I”和“Leafy II”两大支之间，但这一支确切的系统位置没有解决，仍有待于进一步研究。 除此之外，本文还利用GenBank中的数据对东亚特有属日鳞苔属（Nipponolejeunea）和耳坠苔属（Ascidiota）（未获得实验材料）进行了初步的系统学分析。结果表明传统上放在细鳞苔科的日鳞苔属与毛耳苔科的毛耳苔属（Jubula）为姐妹群关系，建议将日鳞苔属置于毛耳苔科;耳坠苔属是光萼苔科的成员，属的分类等级是合理的。 最后本文利用罚分似然法，选取多个化石作为标定点，对来自苔藓植物主要类群及其它陆地植物共115个类群5个基因（atpB, rbcL, cp-SSU, cp-LSU, 18S）的矩阵进行了分子钟的分析，初步估算11个东亚特有属的分化时间。

桃和苹果库源关系中源叶光合作用，光抑制及其光保护机制的研究

以‘早久保’（Prunus persica (L.) Batch.）为试材，在果实最后迅速生长期，通过去果处理降低库力，同时设留果对照，并通过环剥和保留相同数量叶片严格控制库源关系，进行了源叶净光合速率（Pn）、叶绿素荧光、叶黄素循环、抗氧化酶及抗氧化同化物日变化的研究。结果表明，和留果对照相比，去果处理显著降低了源叶Pn、气孔导度（gs）和蒸腾速率（E），但显著增加了胞间二氧化碳浓度（Ci）、叶面饱和蒸汽压亏缺（VPDl）和叶片温度（Tl）。光系统II光化学效率（ΦPSII）以及羧化速率（CE）与Pn平行降低。中午去果降低Pn主要归因于非气孔限制。在低库需条件下，开放的PSII反应中心捕获能量的降低以及关闭的PSII反应中心的增加导致了ΦPSII的降低。去果处理叶片中依赖于叶黄素循环的热耗散以及抗氧化系统的上调保护叶片免受光氧化破坏。和留果对照相比，去果处理的叶片有更大的叶黄素循环库，更高的脱环氧化状态以及更高的抗氧化酶活性，包括超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶（APX）、单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶（MDAR）和脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶（DHAR）的活性以及更高的还原型抗坏血酸（AsA）和还原型谷胱甘肽（GSH）的含量。但与此同时，去果显著增加了过氧化氢（H2O2）以及丙二醛（MDA）的含量，这意味着在去果处理的叶片中可能会发生光氧化破坏。 以一年生‘皇家嘎拉’苹果（Malus domestica Borkh.）组培苗为试材，通过环剥降低库力，进行了源叶Pn、叶绿素荧光、核酮糖-1,5-二磷酸羧化酶/氧化酶（Rubisco）以及光系统II（PSII）复合体关键蛋白PsbA和PsbO含量日变化的研究。和对照相比，环剥显著降低了源叶Pn、gs和E，但是却显著增加了Ci、Tl和淀粉的含量。在低库需下，开放的PSII反应中心捕获能量的降低以及关闭的PSII反应中心的增加导致了ΦPSII的降低。另一方面，环剥降低了光合作用关键酶Rubisco以及PSII复合体PsbA和放氧复合体PsbO的含量。以上结果表明，环剥降低Pn主要归因于非气孔限制。

南海北部区域表层水微生物多样性及其分布特点研究

海洋中的微生物多样性是十分丰富的。南海北部区域表层水的微生物群落结构及物种多样性情况仍不十分清楚。本研究，采用构建基因克隆文库的方法，对该区域内表层水中的微生物多样性及分布特点进行研究。获得了8000多个细菌16S rDNA基因、真核微生物ITS 区基因及光合微型生物 psbA 基因单克隆。本研究结果表明：在南海北部区域表层水中存在两种不同微生物类群，即近海岸带海洋微生物类群和开阔海域海洋微生物类群。 16S rDNA基因克隆文库中，确定了507个OTUs。93.7% 的16S rDNA 序列定义在同一种水平上，1.4 %的16S rDNA序列定义在同一属的水平上，2.7%的16S rDNA序列定义在同一纲的水平上，1.2%的16S rDNA序列定义在同一门的水平上。值得一提的是有0.7%的南海表层水样品的16S rDNA 序列，属于目前数据库中的未知序列。系统育树分析表明这类序列可归属于4个不同的分枝群。与Venter’s Sorcerer II 海洋科考（马尾岛海域）的结果不同，南海北部区域表层水中，并没有发现SAR11分支细菌、丝状杆菌（Fibrobacter）和Rheinheimera细菌序列，但南海北部区域却发现了马尾岛海域未检测到的物种，如酸杆菌门、恐球菌-栖热菌门、厚壁菌门，硝化螺旋菌门，浮霉菌门以及疣微菌类细菌。除疣微菌外，其他5种细菌都是海洋环境样品中较为常见的细菌。变形菌门、蓝细菌及厚壁菌门细菌序列是南海北部表层样品16S rDNA基因克隆文库中的主要类群。 真核生物如浮游植物和海洋真菌是海洋表面生物质的主要组成部分之一。现有的研究多集中在环境样品的原核微生物的群落结构研究上，很少关注海洋微型真核生物的多样性及群落结构分布。本研究通过构建ITS基因克隆文库的方法，得到了3044条ITS序列，最终定义了1288个OTUs。其中，329个OTUs序列定义在同一种水平上，310个OTUs序列定义在同一属或纲的水平上，123个OTUs序列定义在同一门的水平上。值得注意的是有339个OTUs的序列，属于目前数据库中的未知序列。系统发育树分析表明它们分别归属于4个不同的分枝群。这表明以往对海洋真核微型生物的多样性仍知之甚少。盘菌亚门、体腔动物门和担子菌纲是南海北部表层样品ITS基因克隆文库中的主要类群。此外，在南海北部区域还发现了少数归属于绿藻、链形植物、定鞭金藻类、放射虫类、Stramenopiles、Typhlocoela、壶菌类、多孢囊霉目、子囊菌门、地位未定的物种、 酵母、领鞭毛虫门、不可培养的后生动物和海绵动物的ITS序列。 海洋初级生产力主要是依靠光合微型浮游生物进行光合作用完成的。利用新设计的psbA通用引物，对南海北部33个表层水样滤膜进行基因克隆文库建库分析，最终获得了南海北部区域表层水微生物多样性及其分布特点研究3062条部分psbA基因序列，并将其划分为957个 OTUs。其中蓝细菌和未培养的病毒序列在psbA基因库中的数量最多。本研究还发现了南海北部区域存在11个独立分支的新型psbA类群。研究证实psbA基因可以作为一种研究海洋光合微型浮游生物群落结构的指示基因。 克隆文库相似性分析发现，在所有的16S rDNA克隆文库中没有任意两个站点的克隆文库相似性超过50%。虽然N401和N420站点的16S rDNA克隆文库相似性最大，但它们在地理位置上并不接近。一些地理位置接近的站点，其16S rDNA克隆文库之间相似性比较接近。比如，海南岛区域的克隆文库之间就比较相似，且在同一分支。大多数地理环境相似的站点的16S rDNA克隆文库都聚在同一大分支上。例如，来自于珠江口区域站点的克隆文库之间的相似性比较接近，而且分布在一个大分支中；开阔海洋区域的16S rDNA克隆文库，也大多聚类在同一分支中。但也有例外的情况：比如 N107 和N400 站点的16S rDNA克隆文库，就聚类到一起，分析发现这两个文库中所处的环境都是甲烷产生区，其中都含有相似的与甲烷代谢相关的菌群。不过从整体来看，整个南海北部的细菌群落，大致分为两大类：中国大陆近海岸微生物群落和开阔海域微生物群落。33个ITS克隆文库的相似性分析发现：相似性在10%以下的类群，可以分成两大分支，而且该分类，比细菌群落的分布情况更接近南海北部的地理环境特征。对psbA基因克隆文库的相似性分析也验证了在南海北部区域表层水中存在两种不同微生物生态系统。 此外，本研究针对分子生态专业软件DOTUR程序在处理大量克隆文库数据时所遇到的

Allelopathic mechanism of pyrogallol to Microcystis aeruginosa PCC7806 (Cyanobacteria): From views of gene expression and antioxidant system

Pyrogallol is a potent allelochemical on Microcystis aeruginosa, but its allelopathic mechanism is not fully known. In order to explore this mechanism, gene expressions for prx, mcyB, psbA, recA, grpE, fabZ under pyrogallol stress were studied, and activities of the main antioxidant enzymes were also measured. The results showed that expression of grpE and recA showed no significant change under pyrogallol stress, while psbA and mcyB were up-regulated at 4 mg L-1. Both prx and fabZ were up-regulated even under exposure to 1 mg L-1 pyrogallol concentration. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were enhanced under pyrogallol stress. Levels of malodialdehyde (MDA) at 2 and 4 mg L-1 pyrogallol were significantly higher than those of the controls. It was concluded that oxidant damage is an important mechanism for the allelopathic effect of pyrogallol on M. aeruginosa. (c) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Expression of human epidermal growth factor gene in cyanobacteria

The human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) is a small single-chain polypeptide of 53 amino acid residues. It can stimulate the proliferation of many cell types, mainly those of epidermal and epithelial tissues both in vivo and in vitro. A vector pRL-hEGF was constructed using plasmids pRL-489 and pUC-hEGF. The synthetic hEGF gene was recombined into the downstream of strong promoter psbA in plasmids pRL-489. Then, the vector was introduced into Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 and Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 by triparental conjugative transfer. The transformation was confirmed by PCR amplification. The pRL-hEGF is thought to be retained as a plasmid form in the transgenic Anabaena sp. PCC 7120, since it can be recovered. However, it has been integrated into the chromosome of Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 as there is no duplication origin in the pRL-hEGF in this cyanobacterium. and plasmid cannot be isolated from the Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 either. The radioimmunoassay (RIA) proved that the hEGF gene has been expressed as the protein existed in these two strains of transgenic cyanobacteria, and the hEGF protein in Anabaena sp. PCC 7002 could be secreted into the medium.

软甲纲动物和星虫动物线粒体基因组特征及分子进化研究

在过去的几十年间，利用线粒体基因组序列探讨后生动物深层次的系统发育关系已取得初步进展。这主要得益于，线粒体基因组与其它分子标记相比具备诸多优势。迄今为止，超过1,200个后生动物的线粒体基因组已被测定，然而所获得的数据分布极不均衡。 软甲纲历来是甲壳动物分类学和系统发育学研究的重要类群，在形态学特征和分子生物学各方面取得广泛的发展。尽管软甲纲本身作为单系群已得到大多数甲壳动物学家认可，但是软甲纲内部各个类群之间的系统发育关系迄今仍颇有争议。本文报道了凡纳滨对虾Litopenaeus vannamei、中国明对虾Fenneropenaeus chinensis、脊尾白虾Exopalaemon carinicauda、太平洋磷虾Euphausia pacifica和采自南极普里兹湾南极磷虾Euphausia superba的线粒体基因组，其长度分别为15,989 bp、16,004 bp、15,730 bp、16,898 bp和15,498 bp以上（部分非编码区没有测定）。 本研究发现凡纳滨对虾、中国明对虾、脊尾白虾和太平洋磷虾的线粒体基因组包含后生动物线粒体基因组典型的基因组成（13个蛋白质编码基因、22个转运RNA、2个核糖体RNA和一个非编码的AT富含区）；然而，南极磷虾与后生动物线粒体基因组典型的基因组成相比，存在1个trnN基因的重复。与泛甲壳动物线粒体基因组的原始排列相比，凡纳滨对虾和中国明对虾线粒体基因组的基因排列完全一致；脊尾白虾的线粒体基因组发生罕见的trnP和trnH易位，从而说明在真虾下目中线粒体基因组的基因排列并不保守；太平洋磷虾线粒体基因组的基因排列出现3个转运RNA的重排 （trnL1、trnL2和trnW）；南极磷虾线粒体基因组的基因排列除了出现太平洋磷虾具有的这3个转运RNA重排之外，还有1个trnN的重复和1个trnI基因的重排。另外，在太平洋磷虾线粒体基因组最大的非编码区中存在一个154 bp×4.7的串连重复区域，如此大片段的串联重复区域（>150 bp）在软甲纲动物线粒体基因组中是首次报道。 目前所获得的线粒体基因组数据强有力地支持口足目、对虾科、真虾下目和短尾下目为单系群。通过比较基因排列及蛋白质编码基因核苷酸和氨基酸序列的系统发育分析得知真虾类和龙虾类为腹胚亚目的原始类群，并支持“（（Penaeus＋Fenneropenaeus）＋Litopenaeus）＋Marsupenaeus”的系统发育关系。此外，线粒体基因组的数据也强有力地支持磷虾目为单系群。但对于磷虾目在软甲纲中的分类地位及与其它类群的系统发育关系存在一些分歧：基于蛋白质编码基因核苷酸和氨基酸数据的贝叶斯分析强有力地支持磷虾目和十足目近缘，这个结果和传统的分类系统完全一致；然而，基于核苷酸序列的邻接法、氨基酸序列的邻接法和最大似然法均强有力地支持磷虾类和对虾类亲缘关系较近，从而破坏了十足目的单系性，与传统的认识并不一致，但由于自展值的支持率非常高，所以深层次的分析需要进一步加强。 星虫动物属于海洋生物中的一个小门类，自1555年被记载以来，其在后生动物中的分类地位就备受争议。本研究测定了星虫动物门的第一条线粒体基因组：革囊星虫Phascolosoma esculenta的线粒体基因组，全长为15,494 bp，包含13个蛋白质编码基因、22个转运RNA、2个核糖体RNA和1个非编码的AT富含区，所有37个基因在同一条链上编码。与后生动物线粒体基因组的典型组成相比，存在一个trnR基因的缺失和一个trnM基因的重复。比较星虫动物和其它后生动物的线粒体基因组，可以得到以下结论：1）星虫动物和环节动物（包括螠虫动物）的线粒体基因组有相近的基因排列，而且所有基因都在同一链上编码；2）基于蛋白质编码基因的系统发育分析强有力地支持星虫动物和环节动物（包括螠虫动物）组成一个单系群，而将软体动物排除在外。因此，本研究认为以前许多星虫动物和软体动物“共享”的特征，包括发育特征和缺乏分节等，需要重新考虑。

Reduced incorporation of the influenza B virus BM2 protein in virus particles decreases infectivity

BM2 is the fourth integral membrane protein encoded by the influenza B virus genome. It is synthesized late in infection and transported to the plasma membrane from where it is subsequently incorporated into progeny virus particles. It has recently been reported that BM2 has ion channel activity and may be the functional homologue of the influenza A virus M2 protein acting as an ion channel involved in viral entry. Using a reverse genetic approach it was not possible to recover virus which lacked BM2. A recombinant influenza B virus was generated in which the BM2 AUG initiation codon was mutated to GUG. This decreased the efficiency of translation of BM2 protein such that progeny virions contained only 1/8 the amount of BM2 seen in wild-type virus. The reduction in BM2 incorporation resulted in a reduction in infectivity although there was no concomitant decrease in the numbers of virions released from the infected cells. These data imply that the incorporation of sufficient BM2 protein into influenza B virions is required for infectivity of the virus particles. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Caracterização molecular de acessos de capim-colchão (Digitaria nuda) e resposta à ametrina

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Molecular characterization of accessions of crabgrass (Digitaria nuda) and response to ametryn

Digitaria species are sugar cane crop weeds in Brazil and are being controlled with herbicides, although there are some reports of control failure, notably to the triazine group. Molecular techniques are recommended to analyze the genetic variability in weeds. RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA), PCR-RFLP (Polymerase Chain Reaction - Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) and, in combination with sequencing, allow the localization of resistance genes, as well as possible mutations related to the onset of resistant individuals in some species. Thus, the objective of this work was to characterize ten accessions of Digitaria spp. by RAPD and PCR-RFLP markers, to sequence a conserved region of the psbA gene and evaluate the accessions response to ametryn. As showed by molecular analysis there was high genetic similarity among the accessions, all of them presented similar genetics profiles and were susceptible to ametryn.

Retenção de clorofila em sementes de soja (Glycine max (L.) Merr.): estudos fisiológicos, bioquímicos e moleculares

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Agricultura) - FCA

The nitrogen costs of photosynthesis in a diatom under current and future pCO2

With each cellular generation, oxygenic photoautotrophs must accumulate abundant protein complexes that mediate light capture, photosynthetic electron transport and carbon fixation. In addition to this net synthesis, oxygenic photoautotrophs must counter the light-dependent photoinactivation of Photosystem II (PSII), using metabolically expensive proteolysis, disassembly, resynthesis and re-assembly of protein subunits. We used growth rates, elemental analyses and protein quantitations to estimate the nitrogen (N) metabolism costs to both accumulate the photosynthetic system and to maintain PSII function in the diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana, growing at two pCO2 levels across a range of light levels. The photosynthetic system contains c. 15-25% of total cellular N. Under low growth light, N (re)cycling through PSII repair is only c. 1% of the cellular N assimilation rate. As growth light increases to inhibitory levels, N metabolite cycling through PSII repair increases to c. 14% of the cellular N assimilation rate. Cells growing under the assumed future 750 ppmv pCO2 show higher growth rates under optimal light, coinciding with a lowered N metabolic cost to maintain photosynthesis, but then suffer greater photoinhibition of growth under excess light, coincident with rising costs to maintain photosynthesis. We predict this quantitative trait response to light will vary across taxa.

Seawater carbonate chemistry, pigments and proteins during experiments with phytoplankton, 2010

In the high-nutrient, low-chlorophyll waters of the Gulf of Alaska, microcosm manipulation experiments were used to assess the effect of CO2 on growth and primary production under iron-limited and iron-replete conditions. As expected, iron had a strong effect on growth and photosynthesis. A modest and variable stimulation of growth and biomass production by CO2 (high CO2: 77-122 Pa; low CO2: 11-17 Pa) was observed under both iron-replete and iron-limited conditions, though near the limit of precision of our measurements in slow-growing low-iron experiments. Physiological acclimations responsible for the changes in growth were assessed. Under iron-limited conditions, growth stimulation at high CO2 appeared to result from an increase in photosynthetic efficiency, which we attribute to energy savings from down-regulation of the carbon concentrating mechanisms. In some cases, iron-rich photosynthetic proteins (PsbA, PsaC, and cytochrome b6) were down-regulated at elevated CO2in iron-limited controls. Under iron-replete conditions, there was an increase in growth rate and biomass at high CO2 in some experiments. This increase was unexpectedly supported by reductions in cellular carbon loss, most likely decreased respiration. We speculate that this effect may be due to acclimation to decreased pH rather than high CO2. The variability in responses to CO2 among experiments did not appear to be caused by differences in phytoplankton community structure and may reflect the sensitivity of the net response of phytoplankton to antagonistic effects of the several parameters that co-vary with CO2.

Seawater carbonate chemistry and photosystem II photoinactivation of the coastal diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana in a laboratory experiment

We studied the interactive effects of pCO2 and growth light on the coastal marine diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana CCMP 1335 growing under ambient and expected end-of-the-century pCO2 (750 ppmv), and a range of growth light from 30 to 380 µmol photons/m**2/s. Elevated pCO2 significantly stimulated the growth of T. pseudonana under sub-saturating growth light, but not under saturating to super-saturating growth light. Under ambient pCO2 susceptibility to photoinactivation of photosystem II (sigma i) increased with increasing growth rate, but cells growing under elevated pCO2 showed no dependence between growth rate and sigma i, so under high growth light cells under elevated pCO2 were less susceptible to photoinactivation of photosystem II, and thus incurred a lower running cost to maintain photosystem II function. Growth light altered the contents of RbcL (RUBISCO) and PsaC (PSI) protein subunits, and the ratios among the subunits, but there were only limited effects on these and other protein pools between cells grown under ambient and elevated pCO2.

Trichodesmium's strategies to alleviate phosphorus limitation in the future acidified oceans

Global warming may exacerbate inorganic nutrient limitation, including phosphorus (P), in the surface-waters of tropical oceans that are home to extensive blooms of the marine diazotrophic cyanobacterium, Trichodesmium. We examined the combined effects of P limitation and pCO2, forecast under ocean acidification scenarios, on Trichodesmium erythraeum IMS101 cultures. We measured nitrogen acquisition, glutamine synthetase activity, C uptake rates, intracellular Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) concentration and the pool sizes of related key proteins. Here, we present data supporting the idea that cellular energy re-allocation enables the higher growth and N2 fixation rates detected in Trichodesmium cultured under high pCO2. This is reflected in altered protein abundance and metabolic pools. Also modified are particulate organic carbon and nitrogen production rates, enzymatic activities, and cellular ATP concentrations. We suggest that adjusting these cellular pathways to changing environmental conditions enables Trichodesmium to compensate for low P availability and to thrive in acidified oceans. Moreover, elevated pCO2 could provide Trichodesmium with a competitive dominance that would extend its niche, particularly in P-limited regions of the tropical and subtropical oceans.

Seawater carbonate chemistry and combined mechanistic effects of CO2 and light on the N2-fixing cyanobacterium Trichodesmium IMS101, 2010

The marine diazotrophic cyanobacterium Trichodesmium responds to elevated atmospheric CO2 partial pressure (pCO2) with higher N2 fixation and growth rates. To unveil the underlying mechanisms, we examined the combined influence of pCO2(150 and 900 µatm) and light (50 and 200 µmol photons m-2 s-1) on TrichodesmiumIMS101. We expand on a complementary study that demonstrated that while elevated pCO2 enhanced N2 fixation and growth, oxygen evolution and carbon fixation increased mainly as a response to high light. Here, we investigated changes in the photosynthetic fluorescence parameters of photosystem II, in ratios of the photosynthetic units (photosystem I:photosystem II), and in the pool sizes of key proteins involved in the fixation of carbon and nitrogen as well as their subsequent assimilation. We show that the combined elevation in pCO2 and light controlled the operation of the CO2-concentrating mechanism and enhanced protein activity without increasing their pool size. Moreover, elevated pCO2 and high light decreased the amounts of several key proteins (NifH, PsbA, and PsaC), while amounts of AtpB and RbcL did not significantly change. Reduced investment in protein biosynthesis, without notably changing photosynthetic fluxes, could free up energy that can be reallocated to increase N2 fixation and growth at elevated pCO2 and light. We suggest that changes in the redox state of the photosynthetic electron transportchain and posttranslational regulation of key proteins mediate the high flexibility in resources and energy allocation in Trichodesmium. This strategy should enableTrichodesmium to flourish in future surface oceans characterized by elevated pCO2, higher temperatures, and high light.