Antioxidative responses of two marine microalgae during acclimation to static and fluctuating natural UV radiation.

Photoacclimation properties were investigated in two marine microalgae exposed to four ambient irradiance conditions: static photosynthetically active radiation (PAR: 400-700 nm), static PAR + UVR (280-700 nm), dynamic PAR and dynamic PAR + UVR. High light acclimated cultures of Thalassiosira weissflogii and Dunaliella tertiolecta were exposed outdoors for a maximum of 7 days. Dynamic irradiance was established by computer controlled vertical movement of 2 L bottles in a water filled basin.

Excessive irradiance and antioxidant responses of an Antarctic marine diatom exposed to iron limitation and to dynamic irradiance.

The synergistic effects of iron limitation and irradiance dynamics on growth, photosynthesis, antioxidant activity and excessive PAR (400-700 nm) and UV (280-400 nm) sensitivity were investigated for the Antarctic marine diatom Chaetoceros brevis. Iron-limited and iron-replete cultures were exposed to identical daily irradiance levels, supplied as dynamic (20-1350 micromol m(-2) s(-1)) and constant (260 micromol m(-2) s(-1)) irradiance. After acclimation, growth, maximal quantum yield of PSII (F(v)/F(m)), pigment composition, and the activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and glutathione reductase (GR) were determined.

OXIDATIVE STRESS RESPONSES IN THE MARINE ANTARCTIC DIATOM CHAETOCEROS BREVIS (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE) DURING PHOTOACCLIMATION(1).

The enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) holds a key position in the microalgal antioxidant network. The present research focused on oxidative stress responses in the Antarctic diatom Chaetoceros brevis F. Schütt during transition to excess (including ultraviolet radiation [UVR]) and limiting irradiance conditions.

A comparison of quantitative and qualitative superoxide dismutase assays for application to low temperature microalgae.

Antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) play a key role in the removal of reactive oxygen species produced during visible and ultraviolet irradiance stress in microalgae and plants. However, little is known about the enzymatic antioxidative stress responses in ecologically important Antarctic marine microalgae. SOD in particular is difficult to analyze, possibly due to problems in obtaining sufficient quantities necessary for reliable and reproducible enzymatic assays.