Light Energy Capture Research Articles

Does calcium diffusional global feedback leads to slow light adaptation in Drosophila photoreceptors? - A 3D biophysical modelling approach

Drosophila photoreceptors transduce light signals to voltage responses. In natural environment, light intensity can change over 10 log range, whereas the coding range of photoreceptors is only about 50 mV. Thus, to reliably represent natural light changes photoreceptors rely upon powerful adaptation. How do different molecular mechanisms of phototransduction enable light adaptation? Insect photoreceptors are highly polarized, containing light-sensitive and light-insensitive parts of separate functions. The light-sensitive rhabdomere contains a matrix of 30,000 independent phototransduction units (microvilli), which capture and covert light energy into bursts of currents, fluxing through TRP/TRPL channels inside the microvilli. The light insensitive cell-body, which contains voltage-gated channels, then shapes up the resulting voltage responses. Recently, we produced a two-compartmental biophysical model of a Drosophila photoreceptor [1]. Using this model we showed that the dynamic ratio of the used and unused microvilli (ultrastucture), their stochastic reactions and calcium feedbacks cause fast adaptation of the responses, while a global feedback though the membrane voltage compresses the responses to their limited size. However, this model fails to capture slow adaptive changes in the data, which could be important for adjusting the photoreceptor dynamics to changing image statistics in a more Bayesian way. As a first step, we wish to test whether calcium could diffuse from the responding microvillus to its neighbours, affecting the speed and sensitivity of their separate reaction cascades. We call this hypothetical cross-talk between microvilli global-diffusional-calcium feedback, and ask if it could induce the slow adaptation. To investigate this question, we extend our biophysical model of Drosophila photoreceptor to a 3D-reaction-diffusion model; taking into account the 3D diffusion of calcium. Here, the signalling molecules are loaded in a reconstructed macro-cell structure, described by a 3D tetrahedral mesh. The reaction pathways are simulated using STEPS (STochastic Engine for Pathway Simulation), based on Gillespie’s Stochastic Simulation Algorithm, extended for diffusion.

Excess iron-induced changes in the photosynthetic characteristics of sweet potato

Iron (Fe) is an essential nutrient for plant growth and development. In plant tissues, approximately 80% of Fe is found in photosynthetic cells. This study was carried out to determine the effect of different iron concentrations on the photosynthetic characteristics of sweet potato plants. The fluorescence transient of chlorophyll a (OJIP), chlorophyll index and gas exchange were measured in plants grown for seven days in Hoagland solution containing an iron concentration of 0.45, 0.90, 4.50 or 9.00 mM Fe (as Fe-EDTA). The initial and maximum fluorescence increased in the plants receiving 9.00 mM Fe. In the analysis of the fluorescence kinetic difference, L- and K-bands appeared in all of the treatments, but the amplitude was higher in plants receiving 4.50 or 9.00 mM Fe. In plants grown in 9.00 mM Fe, the parameters of the JIP-Test indicated a better efficiency in the capture, absorption and use of light energy, and although the chlorophyll index was higher, the net photosynthesis was lower. The overall data showed that sweet potato plants subjected to high iron concentrations may not exhibit the toxicity symptoms, but the light reactions of photosynthesis can be affect, which may result in a declining net assimilation rate.

Global Proteomics Reveal an Atypical Strategy for Carbon/Nitrogen Assimilation by a Cyanobacterium Under Diverse Environmental Perturbations

Cyanobacteria, the only prokaryotes capable of oxygenic photosynthesis, are present in diverse ecological niches and play crucial roles in global carbon and nitrogen cycles. To proliferate in nature, cyanobacteria utilize a host of stress responses to accommodate periodic changes in environmental conditions. A detailed knowledge of the composition of, as well as the dynamic changes in, the proteome is necessary to gain fundamental insights into such stress responses. Toward this goal, we have performed a large-scale proteomic analysis of the widely studied model cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 under 33 different environmental conditions. The resulting high-quality dataset consists of 22,318 unique peptides corresponding to 1955 proteins, a coverage of 53% of the predicted proteome. Quantitative determination of protein abundances has led to the identification of 1198 differentially regulated proteins. Notably, our analysis revealed that a common stress response under various environmental perturbations, irrespective of amplitude and duration, is the activation of atypical pathways for the acquisition of carbon and nitrogen from urea and arginine. In particular, arginine is catabolized via putrescine to produce succinate and glutamate, sources of carbon and nitrogen, respectively. This study provides the most comprehensive functional and quantitative analysis of the Synechocystis proteome to date, and shows that a significant stress response of cyanobacteria involves an uncommon mode of acquisition of carbon and nitrogen.

Photosynthetic Antenna Systems: The Place Where Light Interfaces with Biology

All photosynthetic organisms contain a light-gathering antenna system, which functions to collect light and transfer energy to the reaction center complex where electron transfer reactions take place. Our work centers on the antenna complexes found in green photosynthetic bacteria, which include chlorosomes, the Fenna-Matthews-Olson (FMO) antenna protein and integral-membrane antenna and reaction center complexes. All of these complexes are involved in the light-energy collection process in these organisms, which are adapted for life in very low light intensities. Chlorosomes are ellipsoidal structures attached to the cytoplasmic side of the inner cell membrane. These antenna complexes provide a very large absorption cross section for light capture. Evidence is overwhelming that the chlorosome represents a very different type of antenna from that found in any other photosynthetic system yet studied. Chlorosomes do not contain traditional pigment-proteins, in which the pigments bind to specific sites on proteins. These systems are of interest from both a basic science perspective of what is the structure of this unique class of photosynthetic antennas and how they work so efficiently, as well as more applied aspects in which the principles of self organization and extraordinary pigment properties that characterize these systems are used in a bio-mimetic approach to devise artificial light-energy capture systems. Recent work involves studies on the structure of the FMO antenna complex and the architecture of the membrane that includes the chlorosome, FMO protein and reaction center. Additional work involves using chlorosomes as part of bio-hybrid systems in which the biological complex feeds energy to an inorganic semiconductor substrate such as titanium dioxide.

Euglena Light-Harvesting Complexes Are Encoded by Multifarious Polyprotein mRNAs that Evolve in Concert

Light-harvesting complexes (LHCs) are a superfamily of chlorophyll- and carotenoid-binding proteins that are responsible for the capture of light energy and its transfer to the photosynthetic reaction centers. Unlike those of most eukaryotes, the LHCs of Euglena gracilis are translated from large mRNAs, producing polyprotein precursors consisting of multiple concatenated LHC subunits that are separated by conserved decapeptide linkers. These precursors are posttranslationally targeted to the chloroplast and cleaved into individual proteins. We analyzed expressed sequence tags from Euglena to further characterize the structural features of the LHC polyprotein-coding genes and to examine the evolution of this multigene family. Of the 19 different LHC transcriptional units we detected, 17 encoded polyproteins composed of both tandem and nontandem repeats of LHC subunits; organizations that likely occurred through unequal crossing-over. Of the 2 nonpolyprotein-encoding LHC transcripts detected, 1 evolved from the truncation of a polyprotein-coding gene. Duplication of LHC polyprotein-coding genes was particularly important in the LHCI gene family where multiple paralogous sequences were detected. Intriguingly, several of the individual LHC-coding subunits both within and between transcriptional units appeared to be evolving in concert, suggesting that gene conversion has been a significant mechanism for LHC evolution in Euglena.

Coherent excitons at different orientation arrangements of local transition dipole moments in circular light-harvesting complexes

The coherent exciton plays an important role in the photosynthetic primary process, and its functions are deeply dependent on the orientation arrangements of local transition dipole moments (TDMs). We theoretically and systematically study the physical property of the coherent exciton at different orientation arrangements of the local TDMs in circular light-harvesting (LH) complexes. Especially, if the orientation arrangements are different, the delocalized TDMs of the coherent excitons and the energy locations of the optically active coherent excitons (OACEs) can be obviously different, and then there are more manners to capture, store and transfer light energy in and between LH complexes. Similarly, if the orientation arrangements are altered, light absorption and radiative intensities can be converted fully between the OACEs in the upper and lower coherent exciton bands, and then the blue and red shifts of the absorption and radiative bands of the pigment molecules can occur simultaneously at some orientation arrangements. If the systems are in the vicinities of the critical orientation arrangements, the weak static disorder or small thermal excitation can destroy the coherent electronic excitations, and then the coherent exciton cannot exist any more.

Rotation of ferromagnetic clusters induced magnetoresistance in the junction composed of La0.9Ca0.1MnO3+δand 1 wt.% Nb-doped SrTiO3

The coherent exciton plays an important role in the photosynthetic primary process, and its functions are deeply dependent on the orientation arrangements of local transition dipole moments (TDMs). We theoretically and systematically study the physical property of the coherent exciton at different orientation arrangements of the local TDMs in circular light-harvesting (LH) complexes. Especially, if the orientation arrangements are different, the delocalized TDMs of the coherent excitons and the energy locations of the optically active coherent excitons (OACEs) can be obviously different, and then there are more manners to capture, store and transfer light energy in and between LH complexes. Similarly, if the orientation arrangements are altered, light absorption and radiative intensities can be converted fully between the OACEs in the upper and lower coherent exciton bands, and then the blue and red shifts of the absorption and radiative bands of the pigment molecules can occur simultaneously at some orientation arrangements. If the systems are in the vicinities of the critical orientation arrangements, the weak static disorder or small thermal excitation can destroy the coherent electronic excitations, and then the coherent exciton cannot exist any more.

Phototropins Promote Plant Growth in Response to Blue Light in Low Light Environments

Phototropins (phot1 and phot2) are plant-specific blue light receptors for phototropism, chloroplast movement, leaf expansion, and stomatal opening. All these responses are thought to optimize photosynthesis by helping to capture light energy efficiently, reduce photodamage, and acquire CO2. However, experimental evidence for the promotion of plant growth through phototropins is lacking. Here, we report dramatic phototropin-dependent effects on plant growth. When plants of Arabidopsis thaliana wild type, the phot1 and phot2 mutants, and the phot1 phot2 double mutant were grown under red light, no significant growth differences were observed. However, if a very low intensity of blue light (0.1 micromol m(-2) s(-1)) was superimposed on red light, large increases in fresh weight up to threefold were found in those plants that carried functional PHOT1 genes. When the intensity of blue light was increased to 1 micromol m(-2) s(-1), the growth enhancement was also found in the phot1 single mutant, but not in the double mutant, indicating that phot2 mediated similar responses as phot1 with a lower sensitivity. The effects occurred under low photosynthetically active radiation in particular. The well-known physiological phototropin-mediated responses, including chloroplast movement, stomatal opening, and leaf expansion, in the different lines tested indicated an involvement of these responses in the blue light-induced growth enhancement. We conclude that phototropins promote plant growth by controlling and integrating a variety of responses that optimize photosynthetic performance under low photosynthetically active radiation in the natural environment.

Radiation-use efficiency and gas exchange responses to water and nutrient availability in irrigated and fertilized stands of sweetgum and sycamore

We investigated how water and nutrient availability affect radiation-use efficiency (epsilon) and assessed leaf gas exchange as a possible mechanism for shifts in epsilon. We measured aboveground net primary production (ANPP) and annual photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) capture to calculate epsilon as well as leaf-level physiological variables (light-saturated net photosynthesis, Asat; stomatal conductance, gs; leaf internal CO2 concentration, Ci; foliar nitrogen concentration, foliar [N]; and midday leaf water potential, Psileaf) during the second (2001) and third (2002) growing seasons in sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua L.) and sycamore (Platanus occidentalis L.) stands receiving a factorial combination of irrigation and fertilization at the Savannah River Site, South Carolina. Irrigation and fertilization increased PAR capture (maximum increase 60%) in 2001 and 2002 for both species and annual PAR capture was well correlated with ANPP (mean r2 = 0.77). A decreasing trend in epsilon was observed in non-irrigated stands for sweetgum in 2001 and for sycamore in both years, although this was only significant for sycamore in 2002. Irrigated stands maintained higher gas exchange rates than non-irrigated stands for sweetgum in 2001 and for sycamore in both years, although foliar [N] and Psileaf were generally unaffected. Because Ci decreased in proportion to gs in non-irrigated stands, it appeared that greater stomatal limitation of photosynthesis was associated with decreased Asat. On several measurement dates for sweetgum in 2001 and for sycamore in both years, epsilon was positively correlated with gas exchange variables (Asat, gs, Ci) (r ranged from 0.600 to 0.857). These results indicate that PAR capture is well correlated with ANPP and that gas exchange rates modified by irrigation can influence the conversion of captured light energy to biomass.

Celebrating the Millennium: Historical Highlights of Photosynthesis Research, Part 3

This paper introduces the third and final part of the 'millennium celebrations of historical highlights of photosynthesis research.' Part 1 (308 pages) was published in October 2002 as Vol. 73 of the journal Photosynthesis Research, and Part 2 (458 pages) was published in July 2003 as Vol. 76. Here, we recognize particularly the work of three major contributors to our understanding of photosynthesis: Roger Stanier (1916-1982); Germaine Cohen-Bazire (Stanier) (1920-2001); and William Arnold (1904-2001). We also introduce the historical papers contained in this volume; consider the legacy of Alfred Nobel (1833-1896); and identify Nobel prizes of special relevance to understanding the capture, conversion, and storage of light energy in both anoxygenic and oxygenic photosynthesis.

Functional analysis of isoforms of NADPH: protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase (POR), PORB and PORC, in Arabidopsis thaliana.

NADPH:protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase (POR) catalyzes the light-dependent reduction of protochlorophyllide. To elucidate the physiological function of three differentially regulated POR isoforms (PORA, PORB and PORC) in Arabidopsis thaliana, we isolated T-DNA tagged null mutants of porB and porC. The mature seedlings of the mutants had normal photosynthetic competencies, showing that PORB and PORC are interchangeable and functionally redundant in developed plants. In etiolated seedlings, only porB showed a reduction in the photoactive protochlorophyllide and the size of prolamellar bodies (PLBs), indicating that PORB, as well as PORA, functioned in PLB assembly and photoactive protochlorophyllide formation in etiolated seedlings. When illuminated, the etiolated porB seedling was able to green to a similar extent as the wild type, whereas the greening was significantly reduced under low light conditions. During greening, high light irradiation increased the level of PORC protein, and the greening of porC was repressed under high light conditions. The porB, but not porC, etiolated seedling was more sensitive to the far-red block of greening than the wild type, which is caused by depletion of endogenous POR proteins resulting in photo-oxidative damage. These results suggest that, at the onset of greening, PLBs are important for efficient capture of light energy for photoconversion under various light conditions, and PORC, which is induced by high light irradiation, contributes to photoprotection during greening of the etiolated seedlings.

Response of Photosynthesis and Water Relations of Rice (Oryza sativa) to Elevated Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide in the Subhumid Zone of Sri Lanka

AbstractThe objective of the present paper is to determine the response of the physiological parameters related to biomass production and plant water relations in a standard Sri Lankan rice (Oryza sativa) variety (BG‐300) to elevated CO2 (i.e. 570 µmol/mol). During two seasons, rice crops were grown under three different experimental treatments; namely, at 570 µmol/mol (i.e. ‘elevated’) and 370 µmol/mol (‘ambient’) CO2 within open top chambers, and at ambient CO2 under open field conditions. Leaf net photosynthetic rate in the elevated treatment increased by 22–75 % in comparison to the ambient. However, the ratio between intercellular and ambient CO2 concentrations remained constant across different CO2 treatments and seasons. CO2 enrichment decreased individual leaf stomatal conductance and transpiration rate per unit leaf area, and increased both leaf and canopy temperatures. However, the overall canopy stomatal conductance and daily total canopy transpiration rate of the elevated treatment were approximately the same as those achieved under ambient conditions. This was because of the significantly greater leaf area index and greater leaf–air vapour pressure deficit under CO2 enrichment. The leaf chlorophyll content increased significantly under elevated CO2; however, the efficiency (i.e. photochemical yield) of light energy capture by Photosystem II (i.e. Fv/Fm) in chlorophyll a did not show a significant and consistent variation with CO2 enrichment.

The effect of chilling on the photosynthetic activity in coffee (Coffea arabica L.) seedlings: The protective action of chloroplastid pigments

Coffea arabica is considered to be sensitive to low temperatures, being affected throughout its entire life cycle. Injury caused by chilling (low temperatures above zero degree centigrade) is characterized primarily by inhibition of the photosynthetic process. The objective of this work was to evaluate the role of photosynthetic pigments in the tolerance of coffee (C. arabica L.) seedlings to chilling. The evaluation the photosynthetic activity was made by emission of Chl a fluorescence at room temperature (25 ºC) in vivo and in situ, using a portable fluorometer. The pigment content was obtained by extraction with 80 % acetone, while estimation of membrane lipid peroxidation was determined by measuring the MDA content in leaf tissue extracts. The results indicated a generalized reduction in the quantum yield of PSII when the seedlings were maintained in the dark. The reduction occurred in the seedlings submitted to chilling treatment as well as in the control ones. This demonstrates that not only chilling acts to cause an alteration in PSII. It is possible that the tissue storage reserves had been totally exhausted, with the respiratory rate exceeding the photosynthetic rate; the later was nil, since the seedlings were kept in the dark. The efficiency in the capture, transfer and utilization of light energy in PS II photochemical reactions requires a sequence of photochemical, biochemical and biophysical events which depend on the structural integrity of the photosynthetic apparatus. However, this efficiency was found to be related to the protective action of chloroplastid pigments, rather than to the concentration of these pigments.

Photosynthetic Performance and Pigment Composition of Leaves from two Tropical Species is Determined by Light Quality

Abstract: A suitable light quantity and quality is essential for optimal photosynthetic metabolism. Using combinations of three lamp types, the impact of the quality of artificial light conditions on the photosynthetic apparatus of leaves developed in growth chambers was analysed. The VIALOX‐Planta lamps are quite poor outside the green to orange (520 ‐ 620 nm) wavelength range, while the HQI‐BT lamps present a more uniform spectral intensity between 425 and 650 nm (blue to red). The halogen lamps are particularly rich in the red and far red range of the electromagnetic spectra. The lamps also differ in the red: far red ratio, which were 3.07 (VIALOX), 2.06 (HQI‐BT) and 1.12 (halogen). Clear positive effects were detected in most of the photosynthetic parameters in relation to light quality, both at stomatal and mesophyll levels. Despite some species‐dependent sensitivity to blue and red/far red wavelengths, observed among the studied parameters, the best photosynthetic performances of the test plants (Packyrhizus ahipa and Piatã, a hybrid of Coffea dewevrei×Coffea arabica) were obtained almost always with the reinforcement of blue (HQI‐BT lamps), red and far red (halogen lamps) wavelengths and with a red: far red ratio closer to that observed in nature. This suggests the involvement of more than one photoreceptor family in photosynthetic performance. Under such light conditions, increases in net photosynthesis and stomatal conductance were observed and, despite the moderate effects on photosynthetic capacity, strong effects were observed in the capture and transfer of light energy in the antennae pigments, photochemical efficiency of photosystem II and electron transport. This was related to the striking quantitative and qualitative impacts observed on total chlorophylls and carotenoids, which reached, in some cases, increases of 100 and 200 %, respectively. Among carotenoids, increases as high as 9‐fold for α‐carotene were observed (P. ahipa), with chlorophyll (a/b), total (chlorophyll/carotenoid) and carotene (α/β) ratios also strongly affected. This would have affected the structure and stability of photosynthetic membranes which, in turn, affected photosynthetic‐related processes (e.g., antennae pigments, photosystem II and electron transport efficiencies). This was particularly clear in the HQI + halogen treatment. The results unequivocally show that light quality could remain a clear limiting factor for leaf/plant development under artificial light conditions, which could be overcome using more than one lamp type, with complementary emission spectra.

Modern views on an ancient chemical: serotonin effects on cell proliferation, maturation, and apoptosis

Evolutionarily, serotonin existed in plants even before the appearance of animals. Indeed, serotonin may be tied to the evolution of life itself, particularly through the role of tryptophan, its precursor molecule. Tryptophan is an indole-based, essential amino acid which is unique in its light-absorbing properties. In plants, tryptophan-based compounds capture light energy for use in metabolism of glucose and the generation of oxygen and reduced cofactors. Tryptophan, oxygen, and reduced cofactors combine to form serotonin. Serotonin-like molecules direct the growth of light-capturing structures towards the source of light. This morphogenic property also occurs in animal cells, in which serotonin alters the cytoskeleton of cells and thus influences the formation of contacts. In addition, serotonin regulates cell proliferation, migration and maturation in a variety of cell types, including lung, kidney, endothelial cells, mast cells, neurons and astrocytes). In brain, serotonin has interactions with seven families of receptors, numbering at least 14 distinct proteins. Of these, two receptors are important for the purposes of this review. These are the 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors, which in fact have opposing functions in a variety of cellular and behavioral processes. The 5-HT1A receptor develops early in the CNS and is associated with secretion of S-100β from astrocytes and reduction of c-AMP levels in neurons. These actions provide intracellular stability for the cytoskeleton and result in cell differentiation and cessation of proliferation. Clinically, 5-HT1A receptor drugs decrease brain activity and act as anxiolytics. The 5-HT2A receptor develops more slowly and is associated with glycogenolysis in astrocytes and increased Ca ++ availability in neurons. These actions destabilize the internal cytoskeleton and result in cell proliferation, synaptogenesis, and apoptosis. In humans, 5-HT2A receptor drugs produce hallucinations. The dynamic interactions between the 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors and the cytoskeleton may provide important insights into the etiology of brain disorders and provide novel strategies for their treatment.

Oxyphotobacteria. Antenna ring around photosystem I.

The oceanic picoplankton Prochlorococcus - probably the most abundant photosynthetic organism on our planet - can grow at great depths where light intensity is very low. We have found that the chlorophyll-binding proteins in a deep-living strain of this oxyphotobacterium form a ring around a trimer of the photosystem I (PS I) photosynthetic reaction centre, a clever arrangement that maximizes the capture of light energy in such dim conditions.

Changes in photosynthetic capability and carbohydrate production in an epiphytic CAM orchid plantlet exposed to super-elevated CO 2

The effects on growth in super-elevated (1%) CO 2 in terms of photosynthetic capability and carbohydrate production were studied in an epiphytic CAM (Crassulacean acid metabolism) orchid plantlet, Mokara Yellow ( Arachnis hookeriana× Ascocenda Madame Kenny). The growth of the plantlets was greatly enhanced after growing for 3 months at 1% CO 2 compared with the control plantlets (0.035% CO 2). CO 2 enrichment produced more than a 2-fold increase in dry matter production. The enhanced root growth at 1% CO 2 led to a higher root:shoot ratio. Plantlets grown at super-elevated CO 2 had higher F v/ F m values, a higher photochemical quenching ( q P) and a relatively lower non-photochemical quenching ( q N). CO 2 at 1% appeared to enhance the utilization of captured light energy in the orchid plantlets. CO 2 enrichment also increased contents of soluble sugars (glucose and sucrose) and starch in the orchid plantlets. The extra starch formed under 1% CO 2 did not cause a disruption of the chloroplasts. Chlorophyll content was higher and a clear granal stacking was evident in young leaves and roots of plantlets grown at 1% CO 2. An extensive thylakoid system was observed in the young leaf chloroplasts of the CO 2-enriched plantlets indicating an improved development of the photosynthetic apparatus when compared to that of the control plantlets. The increased photosynthetic capacity and enhanced growth of the epiphytic roots under CO 2 enrichment would facilitate the generation of more photoassimilates and acquisition of essential resources, thereby increasing the survival rate of orchid plantlets under stressful field conditions.

Cloning and characterization of senC, a gene involved in both aerobic respiration and photosynthesis gene expression in Rhodobacter capsulatus

The purple nonsulfur photosynthetic eubacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus is a versatile organism that can obtain cellular energy by several means, including the capture of light energy for photosynthesis as well as the use of light-independent respiration, in which molecular oxygen serves as a terminal electron acceptor. In this study, we have identified and characterized a novel gene, senC, mutations in which affect respiration as well as the induction of photosynthesis gene expression. The protein coded by senC exhibits 33% sequence identity to the yeast nucleus-encoded protein SCO1, which is thought to be a mitochondrion-associated cytochrome c oxidase assembly factor. Like yeast SCO1, SenC is required for optimal cytochrome c oxidase activity in aerobically grown R. capsulatus cells. We further show that senC is required for maximal induction from the puf and puh operons, which encode the structural polypeptides of the light-harvesting and reaction center complexes.

“SYMBIOSE” system for microgravity bioregenerative support of experiments

SYMBIOSE is an ESA supported research and development program which aims at establishing a first pilot model of a closed ecological system, compatible with operation in weightlessness conditions, and dedicated to scientific investigations in the microgravity environment. It integrates microalgal photosynthesis within an artificial ecosystem featuring a symbiotic strain of Chlorella (241.80, Göttingen), which synthesizes and excretes substantial amounts of maltose, and is further looped on a consumer compartment. A technological concept has been developed. It is presently being integrated in order to gain knowledge on the system dynamics, and ultimately demonstrate the feasibility of such a biotechnology. Preliminary work on the photosynthetic metabolism of this microalga is being undertaken in order 1) to support later a mathematical formalisation of the dynamics of this artificial ecosystem, and, on this basis, 2) to compensate for its lack of stability with model-based external control. The most recent results are presented, along with a new design of the photobioreactor which integrates efficient light energy capture, microgravity compatible gas transfer and reduced shear stress.

Characterization of Amaranthus hypochondriacus light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b-binding polypeptide cDNAs.

The Lhcp constituents of the photosynthetic apparatus of higher plants form protein-pigment complexes that are involved in the capture and distribution of light energy in both photosystems in the thylakoid membranes (Anderson, 1986). Severa1 Lhcps encoded by multigene families and closely related on a structural basis are found in each plant species (Buetow et al., 1988). Sequences for Lhcp genes isolated from C4 monocotyledonous plants such as maize (Viret et al., 1990) have been reported previously. Here we report the sequence and characterization of two cDNA clones of the C4 dicotyledonous plant Amaranthus hypochondriachus (Table I). The two Lhcp Amaranth clones show varying degrees of homology (44-60% when coding sequences are compared) with other Lhcp clones found in the GenBank data base. Lhcb2*Ahl is 11 16 bp long and corresponds to a full-length Lhcp mRNA, which has a putative untranslated leader sequence of 169 bp and a 3' untranslated region of 152 bp. The deduced amino acid sequence for this clone corresponds to a 264-amino acid protein, 35 amino acids making up the transit peptide and 229 making up the mature polypeptide. LhcbZ*Ahl shows strong (>75%) homology to the deduced amino acid sequences corresponding to PSII type I1 genes from other species. In addition, the transit peptide also corresponds to PSII type I1 sequences. Lhcbl*Ahl is a 5' truncated clone, 679 bp in length, comprising a putative coding region corresponding to a 180amino acid polypeptide and a 3' untranslated region of 121 bp. The degree of homology of Lhcbl*Ahl (>60% at the nucleotide level) with PSII type I sequences of other species suggests that this gene is of this type. The Amaranthus cDNAs have 79% homology at the nucleotide sequence level and differ in 22 amino acids in the deduced amino acid sequences. The octanucleotide sequence, GGAGAAAA, is the only common feature of the 3' untranslated region of both cDNA '