Physiological response to chlorination of the unicellular marine alga Dunaliella primolecta Butcher
In: Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. Elsevier: New York. ISSN 0022-0981; e-ISSN 1879-1697, more
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| Authors | | Top |
- Videau, C.
- Khalanski, M.
- Penot, M.
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| Abstract |
The effect of static chlorination on the metabolism of Dunaliella primolecta Butcher has been investigated in terms of oxygen exchanges, uptake and evolution of phosphate ions. The immediate effects of chlorine on photosynthesis and respiration appear to be dependent on light: when algae were kept in the dark, chlorinations induced a decrease in respiration proportional to mortality, while chlorinations performed during a light-dark cycle reduced only the photosynthetic rate for mortalities ≤ 40%.Small amounts of chlorine, although inducing no mortality, significantly reduced the phosphate uptake. Higher chlorine concentrations caused a leakage of PO43− ions but, after a time depending on chlorine concentration, the phosphate absorption rate in the surviving chlorinated cells and in their respective control cells was similar.The measurement of acid-soluble fractions of organic and inorganic phosphorus suggested that metabolism was primarily affected by the action of chlorine. One hour after chlorination, which induced a 50% mortality, the intracellular ATP content was reduced by 70% and the formation of other phosphorylated compounds was completely inhibited. Twenty-four hours after this static chlorination. however, the surviving cells showed no apparent metabolic alteration. |
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