Electron transport to oxygen in microalgae during photosynthetic induction and at steady-state: evidence from PAM fluorimetry and oxymetry

Conference (2013, January 21)

Alternative photosynthetic electron pathways in symbiotic dinoflagellates of reef-building corals

Conference (2012, July 11)

The high productivity of coral reef ecosystems is largely attributed to the mutualistic symbiosis between reef-building corals and their intracellular dinoflagellate in the genus Symbiodinium. In the ... [more ▼]

The high productivity of coral reef ecosystems is largely attributed to the mutualistic symbiosis between reef-building corals and their intracellular dinoflagellate in the genus Symbiodinium. In the natural environment the holobiont have to cope with significant daily variations in light intensities that sometimes exceed Symbiodinium photosynthetic capacity. Fortunately, photosynthetic organisms possess regulatory features that help to ensure that high light intensities can be endured without the accumulation of photodamage. Thus, the regulation of photosynthesis can be viewed as a dynamic balance between photosynthetic efficiency (photochemical quenching) and photoprotection processes (i.e. non-photochemical quenching). In addition to the linear electron flow (LEF) operating during oxygenic photosynthesis, alternative electron flows (AEF) have been widely described in higher plants and microalgae but not in Symbiodinium. The present study aimed to highlight the existence of the Mehler ascorbate peroxidase pathway (reduction of oxygen by PSI), chlororespiration (oxidation by molecular O2 of the PQ pool) and cyclic electron flow around PSI. We report that the presence of particular AEF and/or their amplitude vary from one clade to another. These processes could play a key role under particular environmental conditions when sinks for photosynthetic electrons are scarce. Indeed, they could sustain significant levels of photosynthetic electron flux by initiating the ΔpH formation and of NPQ, regulating the ratio of ATP/NADPH to match the requirements of carbon reduction and reducing the excitation pressure over the photosynthetic apparatus. [less ▲]

Optimization of an Haematococcus pluvialis medium by a Genetic Algorithm-based strategy

Poster (2012, June 14)

The successful use of living organisms for the production of biomass or metabolites requires a careful control and optimization over growing conditions. However the range of interacting parameters makes ... [more ▼]

The successful use of living organisms for the production of biomass or metabolites requires a careful control and optimization over growing conditions. However the range of interacting parameters makes full optimization difficult and time-consuming. In this context, Genetic Algorithm-based (GA) methods emerge as promising strategies for optimization of biotechnological processes. However, the potential of GA in the microalgae field remains, today, poorly explored. As a proof-of-concept, we evaluated how GA could be applied for the optimization of a medium for high yield photoautotrophic growth of Haematoccocus pluvialis. [less ▲]

The MicroH2 project:an association of four laboratories to improve theknowledge on biohydrogen production precesses

Poster (2012, June 04)

This poster presents a collaborative research project (MicroH2) held at the University of Liège (Belgium) since 2007 (www.microh2.ulg.ac.be) and involving four different research groups. The project aims ... [more ▼]

This poster presents a collaborative research project (MicroH2) held at the University of Liège (Belgium) since 2007 (www.microh2.ulg.ac.be) and involving four different research groups. The project aims to develop a center of excellence in the fields of photo- and dark- biohydrogen production. Our studies contribute to improve the knowledge of the processes involved in the microbiological production of hydrogen, from a fundamental and practical point of view. Some results are highlighted here. The research concerning photofermentation focuses on the interactions between respiration, photosynthesis and H2-producing pathways in algal microorganisms, by using mitochondrial mutants and genetically modified strains with modified ability for hydrogen production [1-2]. To study the metabolism of the hydrogen production by anaerobic bacteria, pure cultures and defined consortia are used and their production of biogas and soluble metabolites is measured. Moreover, we have developed and optimized molecular tools, like quantitative RT-PCR and FISH, to monitor the variations of bacterial populations in novel bioreactors for hydrogen production [3-4]. We have also mined the complete genomes of Clostridium spp. for putative hydrogenase genes and found a large diversity of them [5]. [less ▲]

Regulation of the pigment optical density of an algal cell: filling the gap between photosynthetic productivity in the laboratory and in mass culture

in Journal of Biotechnology (2012), 162

An increasing number of investors is looking at algae as a viable source of biofuels, beside Q3 cultivation for human/animal feeding or to extract high-value chemicals and pharmaceuticals. However ... [more ▼]

An increasing number of investors is looking at algae as a viable source of biofuels, beside Q3 cultivation for human/animal feeding or to extract high-value chemicals and pharmaceuticals. However, present biomass productivities are far below theoretical estimations implying that a large part of the available photosynthetically active radiation is not used in photosynthesis. Light utilisation inefficiency and rapid light attenuation within a mass culture due to high pigment optical density of wild type strains have been proposed as major limiting factors reducing solar-to-biomass conversion efficiency. Analysis of growth yields of mutants with reduced light-harvesting antennae and/or reduced overall pigment concentration per cell, generated by either mutagenesis or genetic engineering, could help understanding limiting factors for biomass accumulation in photobioreactor. Meanwhile, studies on photo-acclimation can provide additional information on the average status of algal cells in a photobioreactor to be used in modellingbased predictions. Identifying limiting factors in solar-to-biomass conversion efficiency is the first step for planning strategies of genetic improvement and domestication of algae to finally fill the gap between theoretical and industrial photosynthetic productivity. [less ▲]

Une brève histoire des centres réactionnels de la photosynthèse

in Bulletin de la Société Royale des Sciences de Liège (2012), 81

La production de biocarburants de troisième génération à partir de microalgues: biodiésel et hydrogène

Conference (2012)

Interplay between non-photochemical plastoquinone reduction and re-oxidation in pre-illuminated Chlamydomonas reinhardtii: a chlorophyll fluorescence study

in Photosynthesis Research (2011), 110

In photosynthetic eukaryotes, the redox state of the plastoquinone (PQ) pool is an important sensor for mechanisms that regulate the photosynthetic electron transport. In higher plants, a multimeric ... [more ▼]

In photosynthetic eukaryotes, the redox state of the plastoquinone (PQ) pool is an important sensor for mechanisms that regulate the photosynthetic electron transport. In higher plants, a multimeric nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate) (NAD(P))H dehydroge- nase (NDH) complex and a plastid terminal oxidase (PTOX) are involved in PQ redox homeostasis in the dark. We recently demonstrated that in the microalgae Chla- mydomonas reinhardtii, which lacks the multimeric NDH complex of higher plants, non-photochemical PQ reduction is mediated by a monomeric type-II NDH (Nda2). In this study, we further explore the nature and the importance of non-photochemical PQ reduction and oxidation in relation to redox homeostasis in this alga by recording the ‘dark’ chlorophyll fluorescence transients of pre-illuminated algal samples. From the observation that this fluorescence tran- sient is modified by addition of propyl gallate, a known inhibitor of PTOX, and in a Nda2-deficient strain we conclude that it reflects post-illumination changes in the redox state of PQ resulting from simultaneous PTOX and Nda2 activity. We show that the post-illumination fluo- rescence transient can be used to monitor changes in the relative rates of the non-photochemical PQ reduction and reoxidation in response to different physiological situa- tions. We study this fluorescence transient in algae acclimated to high light and in a mutant deficient in mitochondrial respiration. Some of our observations indi- cate that the chlororespiratory pathway participates in redox homeostasis in C. reinhardtii. [less ▲]

Insertional mutagenesis to select mutants for modified hydrogen photoproduction in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Poster (2011, September 18)

The unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii has evolved the ability to redirect electrons from the photosynthetic chain to drive hydrogen production via chloroplast oxygen-sensitive hydrogenases ... [more ▼]

The unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii has evolved the ability to redirect electrons from the photosynthetic chain to drive hydrogen production via chloroplast oxygen-sensitive hydrogenases. This process occurs under anaerobic conditions and provides a biological basis for solar-driven hydrogen production. Nevertheless, the yield is a major limitation for an economic viability and fundamental knowledge is still needed in order to have a better understanding of the process. In 2000, Melis and co-worker defined a protocol allowing a sustainable hydrogen production in sulfur deprivation condition. By adjustment of an existent protocol called the Winkler test, we are trying to isolate mutants with an attenuated photosynthesis to respiration capacity ratio (P/R ratio). This kind of mutants could be able to reach anoxia needed for hydrogenases activity without the stressful impact of sulfur deprivation. An insertional mutagenesis of Chlamydomonas has been carried out with an hygromycin resistance cassette and about 2500 transformants have generated and screened by the adapted Winkler test. We have isolated several oxygen-consuming mutants and the most promising one is subject to functional, molecular and genetic characterization. [less ▲]

A Chlamydomonas mutant locked in anaerobiosis

Conference (2011, May)

The soil dwelling microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii most likely encounters transient periods of anaerobiosis in its natural environment, for instance at night time or when photosynthesis is turned down ... [more ▼]

The soil dwelling microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii most likely encounters transient periods of anaerobiosis in its natural environment, for instance at night time or when photosynthesis is turned down in response to macronutrient limitation. Anoxic conditions trigger state I to state II transition in C.r. and the induction of a chloroplast hydrogenase., which ability to accept electrons from reduced Fd results in a transient light driven H2 evolution. We present evidence that hydrogenase induction and state transitions are required for the induction of photosynthesis in anaerobiosis and therefore critical for this alga in order to survive transient anaerobic periods in the dark. In an anaerobic metabolic context the induction of photosynthesis is severely slowed down. The highly reduced state of the NAD(P) pools and the absence of O2 as electron sink hamper light driven reoxydation of the intersystem electron carriers while CO2 assimilation by the Calvin cycle is inhibited by ATP deficiency. We have seen that gradual increase of hydrogenase activity during anaerobiosis restores a PSI acceptor pool and leads to a reduction of the induction lag of oxygenic photosynthesis. A mutant HydEF devoid of hydrogenase maturation genes typically shows 3 to 4 times longer lag phases that the WT. State transitions provide another mechanism by which photosynthetic electron transport can be unlocked in anaerobic conditions. A state II conformation is known to stimulate photo-phosphorylation, and may therefore restore Calvin cycle activity in an ATP depleted metabolic context. We observed that an anaerobically adapted stt7 mutant locked in state I is only able to induce oxygenic photosynthesis upon hydrogenase expression. We therefore constructed a double mutant Stt7HydEF impaired of state transition ability and hydrogenase activity and found it to have lost the capacity of inducing photosynthesis in anaerobic conditions. [less ▲]