Dynamic changes in carbonate chemistry in the microenvironment around single marine phytoplankton cells

Chrachri, A, Hopkinson, BM, Flynn, KJ, Brownlee, C and Wheeler, G 2018 Dynamic changes in carbonate chemistry in the microenvironment around single marine phytoplankton cells. Nature Communications, 9 (1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-02426-y

Preview

Text s41467-017-02426-y.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract/Summary

Photosynthesis by marine diatoms plays a major role in the global carbon cycle, although the precise mechanisms of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) uptake remain unclear. A lack of direct measurements of carbonate chemistry at the cell surface has led to uncertainty over the underlying membrane transport processes and the role of external carbonic anhydrase (eCA). Here we identify rapid and substantial photosynthesis-driven increases in pH and [CO32-] primarily due to the activity of eCA at the cell surface of the large diatom Odontella sinensis using direct simultaneous microelectrode measurements of pH and CO32- along with modelling of cell surface inorganic carbonate chemistry. Our results show that eCA acts to maintain cell surface CO2 concentrations, making a major contribution to DIC supply in O. sinensis. Carbonate chemistry at the cell surface is therefore highly dynamic and strongly dependent on cell size, morphology and the carbonate chemistry of the bulk seawater.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Divisions:	Marine Biological Association of the UK > Marine Microbiome
Depositing User:	Barbara Bultmann
Date made live:	23 Mar 2018 13:35
Last Modified:	09 Feb 2024 17:05
URI:	https://plymsea.ac.uk/id/eprint/7856

Actions (login required)

View Item