A Comparison of CO₂ Uptake by the Green Algae Tetraedron minimum and Chlamydomonas monoica

Abstract

The ability of the green alga Tetraedron minimum to acquire inorganic carbon from its environment was investigated and compared with that of Chlamydomonas monoica. T. minimum showed a higher affinity for bicarbonate ions than C. monoica, regardless of whether it was grown at high or low CO₂ concentrations. Furthermore, T. minimum was distinguished by the fact that it maintained a large intracellular pool of inorganic carbon. These features may explain why this alga is able to proliferate in alkaline conditions.

Abbreviations

CCM: carbon concentrating mechanism

Ci: inorganic carbon

AZ: acetazolamide

EZ: ethoxyzolamide

Rubisco: ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase

BTP: bis-tris-propane

Carbon concentrating mechanism - Tetraedron - Chlamydomonas - carbonic anhydrase

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Section Editor: A. M. Emons