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Plant Biol (Stuttg) 2004; 6(3): 342-349
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-820884
Original Paper

Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart KG · New York

The Xanthophyll Cycle in Green Algae (Chlorophyta): Its Role in the Photosynthetic Apparatus

J. Masojídek1 , 2 , J. Kopecký1 , 2 , M. Koblížek1 , 2 , 3 , G. Torzillo4
  • 1Institute of Microbiology, Academy of Sciences, Opatovický mlýn, 37981 Třeboň, Czech Republic
  • 2Institute of Physical Biology, University of South Bohemia, Zámek 136, 37333 Nové Hrady, Czech Republic
  • 3Institute of Landscape Ecology, Zámek 136, 37333 Nové Hrady, Czech Republic
  • 4Istituto per lo Studio degli Ecosistemi - Sezione di Firenze, C.N.R., Via Madonna del Piano, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino (Firenze), Italy
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
14 May 2004 (online)

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Abstract

Light-dependent conversion of violaxanthin to zeaxanthin, the so-called xanthophyll cycle, was shown to serve as a major, short-term light acclimation mechanism in higher plants. The role of xanthophylls in thermal dissipation of surplus excitation energy was deduced from the linear relationship between zeaxanthin formation and the magnitude of non-photochemical quenching. Unlike in higher plants, the role of the xanthophyll cycle in green algae (Chlorophyta) is ambiguous, since its contribution to energy dissipation can significantly vary among species. Here, we have studied the role of the xanthophyll cycle in the adaptation of several species of green algae (Chlorella, Scenedesmus, Haematococcus, Chlorococcum, Spongiochloris) to high irradiance. The xanthophyll cycle has been found functional in all tested organisms; however its contribution to non-photochemical quenching is not as significant as in higher plants. This conclusion is supported by three facts: (i) in green algae the content of zeaxanthin normalized per chlorophyll was significantly lower than that reported from higher plants, (ii) antheraxanthin + zeaxanthin content displayed different diel kinetics from NPQ and (iii) in green algae there was no such linear relationship between NPQ and Ax + Zx, as found in higher plants. We assume that microalgae rely on other dissipation mechanism(s), which operate along with xanthophyll cycle-dependent quenching.

Key words

Microalgae - fluorescence - non-photochemical quenching - photobioreactor - zeaxanthin - violaxanthin

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J. Masojídek

Institute of Microbiology
Academy of Sciences

Opatovický mlýn

37981 Třeboň

Czech Republic

Email: masojidek@alga.cz

Guest Editor: F. Loreto