Abstract
The microalga Haematococcus pluvialis is a biotechnologically important microorganism producing a ketocarotenoid astaxanthin. Haematococcus exists either as metabolically active vegetative cells with a high chlorophyll content or astaxanthin-rich haematocysts (aplanospores). This microalga featuring outstanding tolerance to a wide range of adverse conditions is a highly suitable model for studies of freezing tolerance in phototrophs. The retention of H. pluvialis cell viability after freezing–thawing is ascribed to elevated antioxidant enzyme activity and high ketocarotenoid content. However, we report that only haematocysts characterized by a lower photosynthetic activity were resistant to freezing–thawing even without cryoprotectant addition. The key factors of haematocyst freezing tolerance were assumed to be a low water content, rigid cell walls, reduction of the membranous structures, photosynthesis downregulation, and low chlorophyll content. Collectively, viability of Haematoccus after freezing–thawing can be improved by forcing the transition of vegetative cells to freeze-tolerant haematocysts before freezing.
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Abbreviations
- CF:
-
chlorophyll fluorescence
- Chl:
-
chlorophyll(s)
- CM:
-
cryoprotectant mixture
- DMSO:
-
dimethyl sulfoxide
- DM:
-
dry mass
- ETC:
-
electron transport chain
- FM:
-
fresh mass
- Fm :
-
maximal CF in the dark-adapted state
- F0 :
-
minimal CF in the dark-adapted state
- hC(–) :
-
haematocysts of H. pluvialis frozen without CM
- hC(+) :
-
haematocysts of H. pluvialis frozen with CM
- ROS:
-
reactive oxygen species
- SEM:
-
scanning electron microscopy
- TEM:
-
transmission electron microscopy
- vC(–) :
-
vegetative cells of H. pluvialis frozen without CM
- vC(+) :
-
vegetative cells of H. pluvialis frozen with CM
- N:
-
QA turnover number
- Ψ0 :
-
the probability of electron transport beyond QA
- φPo:
-
maximal PSII photochemical quantum yield in the dark-adapted state
- φEo:
-
the quantum yield of electron transport
- φDo:
-
the quantum yield of energy dissipation
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Acknowledgements: Financial support of the Russian Science Foundation (grant 14-50-00029) is gratefully acknowledged. The electron microscopy part of the work was carried out at the User Facilities Center of M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University. The dedicated technical assistance of Mr. Alexei Titov is greatly appreciated.
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Chekanov, K., Vasilieva, S., Solovchenko, A. et al. Reduction of photosynthetic apparatus plays a key role in survival of the microalga Haematococcus pluvialis (Chlorophyceae) at freezing temperatures. Photosynthetica 56, 1268–1277 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-018-0841-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-018-0841-5