Tm. Kana et al., REGULATION OF PHOTOSYNTHETIC PIGMENTS IN MICROALGAE BY MULTIPLE ENVIRONMENTAL-FACTORS - A DYNAMIC BALANCE HYPOTHESIS, New phytologist, 137(4), 1997, pp. 629-638
Environmental effects on the concentration of photosynthetic pigments
in micro-algae can be explained by dynamics of photosystem synthesis a
nd deactivation. A model that couples photosystem losses to the relati
ve cellular rates of energy harvesting (light absorption) and assimila
tion predicts optimal concentrations of light-harvesting pigments and
balanced energy flow under environmental conditions that affect light
availability and metabolic rates. Effects of light intensity, nutrient
supply and temperature on growth rate and pigment levels were similar
to general patterns observed across diverse micro-algal taxa. Results
imply that dynamic behaviour associated with photophysical stress, an
d independent of gene regulation, might constitute one mechanism for p
hoto-acclimation of photosynthesis.