Ammonium-Limited Continuous Culures of Skeletonema Costatum in Steady and Transitional State: Experimental Results and Model Simulations

Abstract

The physiological response of ammonium-limited continuous cultures of Skeletonema costatum (Grev.)Cleve to steady-state and transient conditions was tested and compared to simulations with a Droop-type quota model and a four-state variable model (internal amino acid pool added to the quota model). External ammonium, free internal amino acids, protein, silicate and culture-cell volume were measured.All cultures showed reproducible changes in growth and uptake kinetics due to spontaneous cell-cycle synchronization of the populations. Under steady-state conditions protein decreased with increasinggrowth rate from 82%; cell-nitrogen to 52% and free internal amino acids increased from 2·5% cell-nitrogen to 8%. Under transient conditions amino acids could reach 25% of cell-nitrogen.A comparison of model and culture results yielded the following information: Both models could simulate steady-state and most transient conditions. The dependence of the quota on steady-state growth rate is not the result of changes in amino acid or protein pool size. The amino acid pool, an intermediary step in the nitrogen assimilation, does not serve to increase the time lag in growth response significantly. The four-state variable model reproduced under most conditions the behaviour of theamino acid pool without the use of feedback control mechanisms on the rate of uptake. The models could simulate a strong increase in growth rate except when it was initiated by impulse dilution of the culture. Then growth response was controlled by epigenetic mechanisms induction of enzyme synthesis). (6) The maximum nutrient uptake rate per culture cell volume of Skeletonema is inversely related to cell size.