Date of Award
2008
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Program
Biology
Supervisor
Dr. Denis Maxwell
Second Advisor
Dr. Norman Huner
Third Advisor
Dr. Mark Bernards
Abstract
The current study investigated the influence of photosynthesis on the nitratedependent induction of AOX by using C. reinhardtii. Measurement of light response curves for oxygen evolution, assessment of changes in photochemistry of PSII by chlorophyll a fluorescence technique, measurement of respiration, measurement of de-epoxidation state, measurement of total ATP content and western blot analysis of AOX were performed. Flourescence parameters like excitation pressure and non-photochemical quenching were decreased during the nitrate shift. Nitrate shifted cells showed higher alternative pathway capacity than the ammonium grown one, but no significant change in overall respiration occurred. The kinetics and extent of AOX accumulation were also monitored at three different irradiances. Accumulation of AOX protein abundance is insensitive to growth irradiance. This result shows that nitrate dependent induction of AOX is not influenced by the up regulation of chloroplast energy level. Based on the observations it remains unclear why AOX is induced under nitrate.
Recommended Citation
Pakkiriswami, Shanmugasundaram, "REGULATION OF THE ALTERNATIVE OXIDASE IN CHLAMYDOMONAS REINHARDTII BY NITROGEN SOURCE" (2008). Digitized Theses. 4748.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/digitizedtheses/4748