Chloroplast Pigments Research Articles

Growth, salinity tolerance and extracellular carbohydrate yield of Prasinocladus marinus (Cienk.) Waern (class prasinophyceae)

Growth of Prasinocladus marinus (Cienk.) Waern was maximal in media of 35‰ salinity, showing a five-fold increase over a 7-day period. At lower salinities (10–27.5‰) growth varied between 55–90% and at 45‰ was 85% of that in ‘normal’ sea water. Yield of extracellular carbohydrate was higher than in ‘normal’ sea water in lowered salinities and at 45‰ over a 42-day period. Larger quantities of extracellular carbohydrate were obtained at all stages of growth in media of 15‰, compared with those of 35‰ and 45‰. Whilst growth forms were markedly different at low salinities, DNA measurements indicated that similar quantities of cell material were present. Mannitol and glucose were the principal carbohydrates identified in intracellular material, and glucose in the extracellular products. Chloroplast pigment synthesis appears unaffected by growth at 15‰, 35‰, and 45‰.

Influence of S-Ethyl Dipropylthiocarbamate on Growth, Chlorophyll and Carotenoid Production and Chloroplast Ultrastructure of Germinating Polytrichum commune Spores

Influence of S-Ethyl Dipropylthiocarbamate on Growth, Chlorophyll and Carotenoid Production and Chloroplast Ultrastructure of Germinating Polytrichum commune Spores

Formation of chloroplast pigments and sterols in rye leaves deficient in plastid ribosomes

1. In rye (Secale cereale L.) leaves the formation of plastidic ribosomes is sensitive to elevated growth temperatures. Parallel to the loss of 70S ribosomes, in leaves growing at 32° chlorophyll accumulation was also prevented. Except for the tips of the first leaves which still contained some 70S ribosomes, the leaves were chlorotic. The amount of chlorophyll formed at 32° depended on the light intensity and decreased with higher intensities. After return to normal temperature (22°) chlorotic parts of the first leaves greened to a varying extent while those parts of most 2. or 3. leaves which had been formed in light at 32° remained permanently bleached until they died. Those parts of 2. and 3. leaves which were newly formed at 22° became normally green again. - 2. Formation and distribution of total and individual carotenoids were compared after development at 22° and 32°. In dark-grown leaves the higher growth temperature had no marked influence on the quantity or composition of carotenoids. At 22° the content of total carotenoids was 5fold and that of β-carotene 25fold increased by light. At 32° these light-induced increases were much lower. Only 41% of the total carotenoids and 18% of the β-carotene formed at 22° in light were found at 32°. Of the carotenoids present at 32°, 76% were located in the light green tips of the leaves. In plastids isolated from completely chlorotic leaf parts, carotenoids were still present and were even the predominant pigments. - 3. The contents of total sterols, the fractions of free sterols, sterol glycosides and esters, and the composition of individual sterols were compared in rye leaves grown at 22° and at 32°, in light or darkness. Light had little effect on the total sterol contents per leaf. However, more than 2fold higher sterol contents were observed in leaves grown at 32°, as compared to those from 22°. The amounts of most sterol fractions and individual sterols were similarly increased at the higher temperature but the sterol glycosides being relatively more increased than the total sterols.

An Evaluation of Chloroplast Pigment Characteristics as an Indicator of Successional Status in Terrestrial Ecosystems

Four terrestrial community types were selected as representative of the successional sequence of the NE Georgia area. Species composition was determined for these four community types (old field through mature hardwood forest) and the leaf biomass in each stand of each species determined. Chloroplast pigments were extracted from leaf samples collected monthly throughout the growing season from the dominant species in each community type. Absorption spectra of the extracts, analyzed by computer techniques, yielded the weights per unit area of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenes present in each respective community type throughout the growing season. The Margalef pigment ratio and the ratio of the absolute weight of chlorophyll to carotene were investigated for possible correlation with the successional stage of each community tvpe. Neither biochemical diversity, expressed after Margalef as OD430/OD660, nor the absolute wekht of chlorophyll as opposed to carotene differed significantly enough between terrestrial community types to reflect their relative successional status. Seasonal variation in biochemical diversity, within community types of terrestrial ecosvstems. did not reflect changes which could be correlated with succession. Seasonal changes within each community type indicated the patterns of synthesis and degradation which occurred in the course of the year among the species comprising the community.

PIGMENT AND CYTOLOGICAL EVIDENCE FOR RECLASSIFICATION OF NANNOCHLORIS OCULATA AND MONALIANTUS SALINA IN THE EUSTIGMATOPHYCEAE1

SUMMARY Nannochloris oculata Droop and Monallantus salina Bourrelly produce similar chloroplast pigments and show alike ultrastructural features separating them from the Chlorophyceae and Xanthophyceae, respectively, and linking them to the Eustigmatophyceae. It is proposed that N. oculata should be removed from the chlorophyceaen genus Nannochloris and transferred to a new taxon of coccoid eustigmatophytes containing the closely related M. salina: nomenclatural revisions are required for both strains.

Chlorophyll [formula omitted] and [formula omitted] and extraplastidic carotenoids in the dinoflagellate, Peridinium foliaceum stein

Chlorophyll c 1 and c 2 as well as fucoxanthin have been found in the binucleate dinoflagellate, Peridinium foliaceum Stein. These pigments are not characteristic of the Pyrrophyta, as typical dinoflagellates contain peridinin, not fucoxanthin, and only chlorophyll c 2 . Thus the chloroplast pigment composition of P. foliaceum lends support to the hypothesis that this species is a heterotrophic dinoflagellate hosting an algal symbiont of non-dinoflagellate origin, and is consistent with the assignment of the endosymbiont to the Chrysophyta. An investigation of the carotenes of P. foliaceum has revealed the presence of both β-carotene and γ-carotene, as well as the colorless carotenoid precursors, phytoene and phytofluene. Typically only β-carotene occurs in photosynthetic pyrrophytes and chrysophytes. Phytoene and phytofluene have not been previously detected in any naturally occurring photosynthetic alga. Preliminary evidence indicates that these unusual hydrocarbons specifically accumulate in extraplastidic oil globules in P. foliaceum, and the speculation is made that these carotenes pertain to the apochlorotic host dinoflagellate and do not originate from the chloroplasts of the endosymbiont.

The chloroplast pigments of the algal classes Eustigmatophyceae and Xanthophyceae. I. Eustigmatophyceae

Analysis of the chloroplast pigments of Pleurochloris commutata Pascher, Pleurochloris magna Boye Petersen, Polyedriella helvetica Vischer et Pascher and Vischeria stellata (Poulton) Pascher by several chromatographic methods has confirmed that they all contain violaxanthin as their major xanthophyll pigment. All had previously been assigned to the new algal class, the Eustigmatophyceae. Monodus subterraneus Boye Petersen may also belong in this class. Comparative studies have shown that the eustigmatophycean algae have different pigments from those found in Pleurochloris meiringensis Vischer, Mischococcus sphaerocephalus Vischer and Tribonema aequale Pascher which had previously been placed in the Xanthophyceae sensu stricto. The xanthophycean algae contain diadinoxanthin as their major xanthophyll and do not contain violaxanthin. It appears that it is possible to correctly assign an alga to the Chlorophyceae, Eustigmatophyceae or Xanthophyceae sensu stricto simply by examination of the absorption spectr...

The chloroplast pigments of the algal classes Eustigmatophyceae and Xanthophyceae. II. Xanthophyceae

The chloroplast pigments of Pleurochloris meiringensis Vischer, Mischococcus sphaerocephalus Vischer and Tribonema aequale Pascher have been analysed by a variety of chromatographic methods. There are significant differences between these xanthophycean algae and the eustigmatophycean algae formerly classified with them. In particular the former contain diadinoxanthin as the major xanthophyll whereas diadinoxanthin is absent from the latter and violaxanthin occurs as the major xanthophyll pigment. The other pigments of the Xanthophyceae sensu stricto include chlorophyll a, β-carotene, vaucheriaxanthin-ester, heteroxanthin, diatoxanthin, cryptoxanthin epoxide and a neoxanthin-like pigment.

Der Einfluß von Fluorverbindungen auf die Chloroplasten-pigmente von Pappel-, Holunder- und Fliederblättern im Freiland bei verschiedener Belastung1

The effect of different concentrations of fluorine on the chloroplast pigments of Poplar, Elder and Lilac occurring in the field. An important aim when studying the effects of pollutants is to find methods indicating very early injury. The concentrations of the chlorophylls a and b and of the carotinoids in leaves of Populus canadensis Moe., Sambucus nigra L., and Syringa vulgaris were measured. When affected by fluoride-ions the leaves of P. canadensis show significant loss of the three pigments. The two other species seem to be more resistant.

AN ALBINO MUTANT IN PLANTAGO INSULARIS REQUIRING THIAMINE PYROPHOSPHATE—EFFECTS OF TPP ON CHLOROPLAST ULTRASTRUCTURE

SUMMARYThe responses of normal (al+/al+) and albino mutant (aljal) seedlings of Plantago insularis to light and thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) were studied by transmission electron microscopy.Plastids in seedlings of normal and albino genotypes grown in darkness had the structure of etioplasts with a thylakoid plexus (prolamellar body) from which extend thylakoids. Some of the thylakoids were often associated into parallel or concentric sheets. In the mutant, the thylakoid sheets were generally shorter, and some were vesiculated. Exposure of normal plants to light resulted in the transformation of the etioplasts to chloroplasts, with the loss of the thylakoid plexus and the formation of typical grana and an intergranal thylakoid system, plus a few globules in the stroma. Exposure of the albino mutant to light caused the loss of the thylakoid plexus and the formation of highly ordered, concentrically associated thylakoid sheet systems, but no grana. After 24 h of illumination, the plastids of the albino mutant showed evidence of thylakoid degeneration and accumulation of globules and starch. These changes are interpreted as a consequence of very low TPP in the mutant and as evidence for the role of TPP in the degradation of glucose through the Krebs cycle in the normal genotype.The application of TPP to the albino mutant resulted in the formation of essentially normal chloroplasts. The ultrastructural observations support the view that TPP deficiency does not handicap the mutant in protein synthesis until after exposure to light. TPP and light are essential for the formation of normal grana and TPP is in some way involved in the pathways for pigment and protein synthesis in chloroplasts.

Chloroplast pigments and algal systematics

The chloroplast pigments of one typical representative ( Pleurochloris magna) and two potential members (clone BSG Sticho and an isolate called Tunis) of the new class Eustigmatophyceae have been examined by modern methods including mass spectrometry. The three cultures all exhibited the same chloroplast pigments: Chlorophyll a, but no b or c, δ-carotene (I), canthaxanthin (II), violaxanthin (IIIa), and esterified vaucheriaxanthin (IVb) plus some free vaucheriaxanthin (IVa). Furanoid rearrangement of the epoxidic carotenoids complicated the analysis. The unique pigment complement hereby indicated for Eustigmatophyceae is clearly different from the pigment distribution patterns reported for Chlorophyceae and Xanthophyceae.

Non-disappearance of anthocyanin in differentiating guard cells

The present study contradicts the observations of Laloraya (1970) about the disappearance of betacyanin or anthocyanin on the differentiation of guard cells from guard cell mother cells accompanied with the appearance of chloroplast pigments in the guard cells. Repeated observations on developing stomata ofCelosia, Coleus andEranthemum show that betacyanin or anthocyanin persists in the guard cells even after their maturation and the appearance of chloroplasts in them. Betacyanin does disappear in the guard cells of the cotyledonary stomata ofCelosia but long after their maturation and the appearance of chloroplasts in them. Anthocyanin is absent in the guard cell mother cells ofCodiaeum, Rhoeo andSetcreasea and in these plants the pigment neither appears nor disappears at any stage of development from the mature guard cells. The ontogeny of the stomata in all these plants is also described.

Changes in chloroplast pigments during the preparation of leaf protein.

AbstractThe nature and extent of the changes in the carotenoids and chlorophylls were determined at each stage of leaf protein (LP) preparation. Loss of carotenoids during pulping and pressing of the leaves is mainly enzymic and can be minimised by adding alkali and processing quickly. Carotenoids were more stable in the juice than in the fibre. When the protein was coagulated by heating the juice little carotene was destroyed but total xanthophyll decreased mostly due to violaxanthin being partly isomerised. With leaves rich in chlorophyllase, coagulating at 80 °C led to the conversion of chlorophylls to chlorophyllides. This reaction, and others that may be deleterious to the quality of the protein, did not occur at 100 °C suggesting a higher temperature of coagulation may be preferable. Washing with acid caused a marked colour change of LPs because of the conversion of chlorophylls to pheophytins and chlorophyllides to pheophorbides; xanthophyll decreased slightly but carotene was unaffected. No pigment changes occurred on freeze‐drying. During storage with air present carotene was less stable than xanthophyll; carotenoids were lost faster from acid‐washed LPs than from unwashed preparations.

Carotenoids in pulp, peel and leaves of Persea americana

A complex pattern of chloroplast pigments was found to be common to pulp, peel and leaves of avocado. This is explained by the presence of chlorophyll in the ripe fruit and its peel. Two chromoplast-specific pigments were found in ripe pulp and are tentatively identified as α-citraurin and mimulaxanthin. The identity of the latter and of neochrome, was established inter alia by the MS. The xanthophylls occur esterified to a major extent in pulp but entirely free in peel. The coexistence of chloroplast and chromoplast pigments in avocado fruit make this a suitable object for the ultrastructural studies of the origin of the chromoplasts.

Studies on the phytoplankton ecology of the trondheemsfjord. II. Chloroplast pigments in relation to abundance and physiological state of the phytoplankton

The quantitative composition of the chloroplast pigments of phytoplankton sampled weekly at one station in the Trondheimsfjord was studied by circular paper chromatography throughout 18 months. The concentrations of total chlorophyll a (T-chl a obtained by the trichromatic method) as well as of chromatographically purified chlorophyll a (chl a) followed the variations in phytoplankton concentration. Two spring blooms and a weak autumn flowering of phytoplankton were clearly reflected in the pigment contents found, namely 14–16 mg T-chl a/ m 3 for the spring maxima, corresponding to nearly 300 mg T-chl a/ m 2 for the euphotic zone; and 3–4 mg/m 3 or 32 mg/m 2 for the autumn peak. The concentrations between blooms amounted to ≈ 1 mg T-chl a/ m 3, while concentrations down to 0.03 mg/m 3 were found for winter samples. The content of T-chl a was high in diatom cells prior to a bloom (20–40 × 10 −9 mg/cell). During rapid growth (a more or less exponential phase) the cell content of chloroplast pigments decreased (to 5–10 × 10 −9 mg). No degradation product of chlorophylls could be detected during this phase and the percentage of chl a (of T-chl a) was high (70–80 %). At the peak of the bloom, and especially when the nitrate content in the surrounding water had been exhausted, low values for T-chl a were found ( 0.3–0.5 × 10 9 ̄ mg/cell ). As soon as the cell counts started to fall, or even before the decline could be clearly detected, the percentage of chl a dropped (to 40-20 %) and derived chlorophylls (not phaeophytin a) were present in the samples. Model studies with cultured algae showed a similar behaviour. It is concluded that the proportion of chl a to T-chl a and the occurrence of chlorophyll derivatives in phytoplankton samples can give valuable information on the stage of development of the algal populations involved.

Light-induced absorbance changes of cytochromes and other pigments in pea chloroplasts and chloroplast fragments: II. The effect of inhibitors, uncouplers and ionophores

In high-salt intact chloroplasts the reversible cytochrome f photo-oxidation is relatively insensitive to 3,4(dichlorophenyl) 1,1′-dimethylurea (DCMU) and is accompanied by changes in the region 560 to 572 nm which are inhibited by n-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline- N-oxide and antimycin A. These results indicate a cyclic electron-transport system around photosystem I which may involve chtochrome b 6. In intact chloroplasts (low-salt) treated with medium concentrations (1 μ m) of carbonylcyanide p-trifluoromethoxy phenylhydrazone (FCCP), cytochrome b-559 is photo-oxidized in far-red light. This also occurs to a small extent with high concentrations of antimycin A and in aged chloroplast fragments. It is not found in chloroplasts uncoupled by valinomycin plus nigericin (or plus NH 4Cl). These results are taken to mean that FCCP induces a secondary effect as well as its primary uncoupling action, causing structural changes which result in an unnatural connection of cytochrome b-559 to photosystem I. Other effects of FCCP are also discussed. Valinomycin alone, caused marked changes in the light-induced responses of cytochrome f and in the region of the b cytochromes but these were substantially different from the effect in combination with nigericin (or NH 4Cl). The results are discussed in terms of a possible effect of an electrical potential difference across the functional photosynthetic membrane.

Light-induced absorbance changes of cytochromes and other pigments in pea chloroplasts and chloroplast fragments: I. The effect of red and near far-red actinic light and of ruby laser flashes

Light-induced spectral changes in the region 540 to 580 nm were studied by means of dual-wavelength differential spectrophotometry and by a Q-switched ruby laser flash technique in intact chloroplasts, swollen chloroplasts, and chloroplast fragments. In intact chloroplasts the major spectral components are attributed to cytochrome f (photo-oxidized), an unknown pigment with a broad band (decrease in absorbance) centered around 572 nm, and possibly a b-type cytochrome (photo-oxidized). In swollen chloroplasts and chloroplast fragments the photo-oxidation of cytochrome f is modified, cytochrome b 6 is photoreduced, and the P-572 response is diminished. The changeover from the intact to the swollen response is brought about by the addition to the suspension medium of certain cations of which sodium, with an effect beginning at about 10 m m, is the most potent. Laser flashes onto dense suspensions of high-salt chloroplasts produced fast ( t 1 2 , 300 μsec) oxidation of cytochrome f, even in the absence of ascorbate and slower ( t 1 2 , 5 msec) reduction of a b-type cytochrome. However, it is suspected that cations leaking from the chloroplasts in these dense suspensions modified the cytochrome responses.

Investigations of the chloroplast pigments of higher plants, green algae and brown algae and their influence upon the invention, modifications, and applications of Tswett's chromatographic method

Investigations of the chloroplast pigments of higher plants, green algae and brown algae and their influence upon the invention, modifications, and applications of Tswett's chromatographic method

Biogenetische beziehungen zwischen den keto-carotinoiden des kartoffelkäfers (chrysomela decemlineata L.) und den chloroplastenpigmenten der kartoffelpflanze (solanum tuberosum L.): I. Analyse der pigmente und fütterungsversuche mit grünen und etiolierten kartoffelpflanzen

The eggs, larvae, pupae, and imagines of the Colorado-beetle ( Chrysomela Decemlineata L.) contain echinenone, and canthaxanthin, the 4-mono- and 4,4′-dioxo-derivatives of β-carotene, besides β-carotene, lutein, and traces of other chloroplast carotenoids. — With respect to our hypothesis that nitrogen deficient cells of green unicellular algae synthesize keto-carotenoids from decomposition products of chlorophylls, the problem has been studied how far biosynthetic connections may exist between the pigments of the beetle and the chloroplast pigments of its food-plant ( Solanum tuberosum L. ). The results show that the concentration of keto-carotenoids in imagines and larvae reaches its full level only, if there are sufficient amounts of chlorophylls in their food-plants. After feeding with etiolated plants the amounts of keto-carotenoids have been extremely reduced. Die Eier, Larven, Puppen und erwachsenen Tiere des Kartoffelkäfers enthalten neben β-Carotin, Lutein und Spuren weiterer Chloroplastenfarbstoffe Echinenon und Canthaxanthin, die 4-Mono- und 4,4′-Dioxo-Derivate des β-Carotins. - Nach unserer Hypothese werden in Stickstoffmangel-Zellen verschiedener Grünalgen Keto-Carotinoide aus Abbauprodukten der Chlorophylle aufgebaut. Wir prüften, ob biogenetische Beziehungen zwischen den Pigmenten des Kartoffelkäfers und den Chlorophyllen und Carotinoiden der Kartoffelpflanze, seiner Futterpflanze, bestehen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, daß nur dann die Pigmentkonzentration der Imagines und Larven der der Tiere vom natürlichen Standort entspricht, wenn die Futterpflanzen ausreichend Chlorophylle enthalten. Nach Verfüttern etiolierter Kartoffelpflanzen werden die Mengen an Keto-Carotinoiden stark vermindert.

The effect of artificial electron donor and acceptor systems on light-induced absorbance responses of cytochromes f and other pigments in intact chloroplasts

An investigation has been made into the effect of low concentrations of 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol (DCIP) and N, N, N′, N′-tetramethyl- p-phenylenediamine (TMPD), in the presence of ascorbate, on light-induced absorbance changes in the α-band region of cytochrome f and b-type cytochromes. Strong photo-oxidation of cytochrome f occurred with DCIP, in the presence of 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU) (2 μM), but not with TMPD. However, with TMPD a large light-induced absorbance increase occurred due to a broad band centred at 566 nm. With DCIP, the uncoupler, carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenyl hydrazone (FCCP), in conjunction with the electron acceptor 1,1′-ethylene-2,2′-bipyridylium dibromide (diquat), inhibited the cytochrome f response and an absorbance increase in the 560–575 nm region occurred similar to that with TMPD. Neither FCCP nor diquat had any great effect on the TMPD system. The results support a pathway of electron transport between the two photosystems in which (a) DCIP-ascorbate interacts with an intermediate on the Photosystem II side of a coupling site; (b) TMPD-ascorbate interacts after this site, and (c) cytochrome f is located on the Photosystem I side of the site.