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Availability of ammonium influences photosynthesis and the accumulation of mycosporine-like amino acids in two Porphyra species (Bangiales, Rhodophyta)

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Abstract

The effect of ammonium concentration on photosynthetic activity estimated as in vivo chlorophyll fluorescence, i.e. maximal quantum yield (Fv/Fm) and electron transport rate (ETR) and on the accumulation of mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs), chlorophyll a (chl a), biliproteins (BP) and soluble proteins (SP) in the red algae Porphyra leucosticta Thuret in Le Jolis collected from Lagos (Málaga, Spain) and Porphyra umbilicalis (Linnaeus) J. Agardh from Helgoland (Germany) was evaluated. Discs of both species were incubated with three ammonium concentrations (0, 100 and 300 µM) under artificial PAR and UV radiation for 7 days. Photosynthetic activity decreased under the culture conditions due to UV radiation and ammonium availability. The decrease of both Fv/Fm and maximal ETR was related to ammonium supply, i.e. the lowest decrease occurred in algae growing with the highest concentration of ammonium. In both species, after 7 days of culture, the content of chl a, BP and SP was higher under 300 µM than that under 0 and 100 µM ammonium. In both species, the content of MAAs was increased under 300 µM ammonium compared to the initial value, whereas a decrease under 0 and 100 µM ammonium was observed only in P. leucosticta. The content of MAAs in P. umbilicalis did not present significant differences compared to the initial value, probably because of the high initial content of MAAs. In both Porphyra species, four MAAs were identified: shinorine, porphyra-334, palythine and asterina-330. However, P. leucosticta modified its MAA pattern during the incubation time, reaching the same percentages found for P. umbilicalis, which did not show any change during the experimental period. P. leucosticta exhibited a decrease in BP/SP and BP/chl a ratios through the incubation time and an increase in MAAs/BP. The ratio MAAs/chl a did not show any variation with time or treatment, as was also true for all ratios in P. umbilicalis. In summary, ammonium supply diminished the decrease of Fv/Fm, increased the content of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll and biliprotein) and soluble protein, and stimulated of the accumulation of MAAs in the red algae P. leucosticta and P. umbilicalis.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology (Spain, CICYT research project AGL 2001-1888-C03-02) and by the Junta de Andalucía (research group RNM-295). N.K.P. appreciates the grant of the Ministry of Education and Science of Spain and P.H. appreciates the grant of the Academy of Finland (no. 100445).

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  1. P. Huovinen

    Present address: Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40351, Jyväskylä, Finland

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  1. Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias, Campus Universitario de Teatinos s/n, Universidad de Málaga, 29071, Málaga, Spain

    N. Korbee, P. Huovinen, F. L. Figueroa & J. Aguilera

  2. Institute of Aquatic Ecology—Applied Ecology, University of Rostock, Albert-Einstein Str. 3, 18059, Rostock, Germany

    U. Karsten

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Communicated by O. Kinne, Oldendorf/Luhe

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Korbee, N., Huovinen, P., Figueroa, F.L. et al. Availability of ammonium influences photosynthesis and the accumulation of mycosporine-like amino acids in two Porphyra species (Bangiales, Rhodophyta). Marine Biology 146, 645–654 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-004-1484-6

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