Abstract
Nitrate reductase (NR) activity appeared in ammoniumgrown cultures of 5 species of marine algae, representing 4 classes, after a short period of nitrogen starvation. In nitrogen-limited chemostat cultures of Nannochloropsis oculata and Chlorella stigmatophora there was an inhibition of photosynthetic carbon fixation during nitrate assimilation. In these organisms, nitrate assimilation was light-dependent and inhibited by 3-(3′,4′-dichloro-)-1-1-dimethyl urea (DCMU). In N. oculata, an obligate autotroph, nitrite assimilation was dependent on light absolutely. Physiological changes that occur in these organisms during nitrogen deficiency enable them to assimilate nitrogen rapidly when it becomes available.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Cresswell, R. C. and P. J. Syrett: Uptake of nitrate by the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum. J. exp. Bot. 32, 19–26 (1981)
Droop, M. R.: Heterotrophy of carbon. In: Algal physiology and biochemistry, pp 530–559. Ed. by W. D. P. Stewart. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications 1974
Falkowski, P. G. and D. P. Stone: Nitrate uptake in marine phytoplankton: energy sources and the interaction with carbon fixation. Mar. Biol. 32, 77–84 (1975)
Funkhouser, E. A. and A. S. Garay: Appearance of nitrate in soybean seedlings and Chlorella caused by nitrogen starvation. Pl Cell Physiol., Kyoto 22, 1279–1286 (1981)
Grant, B. R.: The action of light on nitrate and nitrite assimilation by the marine chlorophyte, Dunaliella tertiolecta. J. gen. Microbiol. 48, 379–389 (1967)
Grant, B. R.: Effect of carbon dioxide concentration and buffer system on nitrate and nitrite assimilation in Dunaliella tertiolecta. J. gen. Microbiol. 54, 327–336 (1968)
Grant, B. R. and I. M. Turner: Light stimulated nitrate and nitrite assimilation in several species of algae. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 29, 995–1004 (1969)
Hipkin, C. R.: Some effects of nitrogen-starvation on the metabolism of Ankistrodesmus and Chlorella, 173 pp. Ph. D. thesis, University of Wales, Swansea 1976
Hipkin, C. R., B. A. R., Al-Bassam and P. J. Syrett: The roles of nitrate and ammonium in the regulation of the development of nitrate reductase in Chlamydomonas reinhardii. Planta 150, 13–18 (1980)
Hipkin, C. R. and P. J. Syrett: Enzymic determination of nitrate by use of frozen/thawed Chlorella cells. New Phytol. 72, 47–49 (1973)
Hipkin, C. R. and P. J. Syrett: Some effects of nitrogen-starvation on nitrogen and carbohydrate metabolism in Ankistrodesmus braunii. Planta, 133, 209–214 (1977a)
Hipkin, C. R. and P. J. Syrett: Post-transcriptional control of nitrate reductase formation in green algae. J. exp. Bot. 28, 1270–1277 (1977b)
Hipkin, C. R. and P. J. Syrett: Nitrate reduction by whole cells of Ankistrodesmus braunii and Chlamydomonas reinhardi. New Phytol. 79, 639–648 (1977c)
Losada, M.: The photosynthetic assimilation of nitrate. In: Conference Proceedings of the Second Congress of the Federation of European Societies of Plant Physiology, pp 112–113. Santiago: Sociedal Española de Fisiologia Vegetal 1980
McCarthy, J. J. and J. C. Goldman: Nitrogenous nutrition of marine phytoplankton in nutrient-depleted waters. Science, N.Y. 203, 670–672 (1979)
Morris, I. and P. J. Syrett: The effect of nitrogen starvation on the activity of nitrate reductase and other enzymes in Chlorella. J. gen. Microbiol. 38, 21–28 (1965)
Provasoli, L., J. J. A. McLaughlin and M. R. Droop: The development of artificial media for marine algae. Arch. Mikrobiol. 25, 392–428 (1957)
Rees, T. A. V. and P. J. Syrett: The uptake of urea by the diatom Phaeodactylum. New Phytol. 82, 169–178 (1979)
Shah, N. and P. J. Syrett: Uptake of guanine by the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum. J. Phycol. 18, 579–587 (1982)
Spiller, H., E. Dietsch and E. Kessler: Intracellular appearance of nitrite and nitrate in nitrogen-starved cells of Ankistrodesmus braunii. Planta 129, 175–181 (1976)
Syrett, P. J.: The assimilation of ammonia by nitrogen-starved cells of Chlorella vulgaris. I. The corelation of assimilation with respiration. Ann. Bot. (N.S.) 17, 1–19 (1953)
Syrett, P. J.: Nitrogen metabolism of micro-algae. Can. Bull. Fish aquat. Sciences 210, 182–210 (1981)
Syrett, P. J. and C. R. Hipkin: The appearance of nitrate reductase activity in nitrogen-starved cells of Ankistrodesmus braunii. Planta 111, 57–64 (1973)
Terry, K. L.: Nitrate uptake and assimilation in Thalassiosira weissflogii and Phaeodactylum tricornutum: interactions with photosynthesis and with the uptake of other ions. Mar. Biol. 69, 21–30 (1982)
Thomas, R. J., C. R. Hipkin and P. J. Syrett: The interaction of nitrogen assimilation with photosynthesis in nitrogen deficient cells of Chlorella. Planta 133, 9–13 (1976)
Thacker, A. and P. J. Syrett: The assimilation of nitrate and ammonium by Chlamydomonas reinhardii. New Phytol. 71, 423–433 (1972a)
Thacker, A. and P. J. Syrett: Disappearance of nitrate reductase activity from Chlamydomonas reinhardii. New Phytol. 71, 435–441 (1972b)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by J. Mauchline, Oban
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hipkin, C.R., Thomas, R.J. & Syrett, P.J. Effects of nitrogen deficiency on nitrate reductase, nitrate assimilation and photosynthesis in unicellular marine algae. Mar. Biol. 77, 101–105 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00396306
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00396306