Effect of Photorespiration on Astaxanthin Accumulation in Haematococcus pluvialis Induced by Carbon Sources

doi:10.13560/j.cnki.biotech.bull.1985.2025-0776

Abstract

Abstract:

Objective Haematococcus pluvialis is the most promising natural source of the potent antioxidant astaxanthin. Carbon source supplementation is an effective strategy to enhance astaxanthin yield. Investigating the effect of endogenous photorespiration on astaxanthin accumulation induced by carbon sources would provide novel insights for optimizing production of H. pluvialis. Method Three different culture media were designed: Group CK: Normal control group, basic BG-11 medium. Group A: Supplemented with sodium acetate. Group H: Supplemented with sodium bicarbonate. The effects of photorespiration pathway on carbon source induced accumulation of astaxanthin in H. pluvialis were investigated by analyzing pigment accumulation, biomass, total photosynthetic rate, OJIP fluorescence induction curve, and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, in the absence or presence of CM (photorespiration inhibitor) during the incubation, respectively. Result Supplementing with carbon sources such as sodium acetate or sodium bicarbonate enhanced algal dry weight and astaxanthin/chlorophyll ratio, with sodium acetate significantly increased astaxanthin accumulation. However, CM-mediated photorespiration inhibition markedly reduced the dry weight, astaxanthin content, and astaxanthin/chlorophyll ratio. Moreover, carbon supplementation (Group A and H) reduced total photosynthetic rate, further exacerbated by photorespiration inhibition induced by CM. Both carbon sources supplementation and CM altered OJIP curve profiles and fluorescence intensity. Under CK/A conditions, photorespiration inhibition unaffected maximum photochemical efficiency (Φ_P0) or electron transport efficiency (Φ_E0), but significantly decreased the amount of active PSII reaction centers (RC/CS₀), specific energy fluxes for absorption (ABS/RC), trapping flux of excitation energy (TR₀/RC), and electron transport flux (ET₀/RC) of per active reaction center. Compared with group A, Group A+CM presented notably higher relative variable fluorescence at J-step (V_J). Conclusion Under high-light stress, the addition of sodium acetate followed by inhibition of photorespiration first reduced the number of PSII active reaction centers, which then damaged the PSII receptor side, leading to obstruction of photosynthetic light energy absorption and utilization, and further damaging algal cells of H. pluvialis, resulting in reduced dry weight, astaxanthin content, and astaxanthin/chlorophyll ratio. This confirms that photorespiration plays an important role in the accumulation of astaxanthin in H. pluvialis induced by organic carbon source sodium acetate.

Key words: Haematococcus pluvialis, astaxanthin, photorespiration, sodium acetate, chlorophyll fluorescence

ZHANG Chun-hui, JI Jing-fang, CAO Jia-min, MA Xi-xi, LIU Wen-zhong, JI Chun-li, ZHANG Li-tao, LI Run-zhi. Effect of Photorespiration on Astaxanthin Accumulation in Haematococcus pluvialis Induced by Carbon Sources[J]. Biotechnology Bulletin, 2025, 41(10): 110-120.

Figures/Tables 9

Table 1 Medium formula for each treatment group

处理组 Treatment	基础培养基 Basal medium	外接碳源 Carbon source supplementation（1 g/L）	是否补充光呼吸抑制剂CM Absence or presence of photorespiration inhibitor CM（0.1 mmol/L）
CK	BG-11	无	否
CM	BG-11	无	是
A	BG-11	醋酸钠	否
A+CM	BG-11	醋酸钠	是
H	BG-11	碳酸氢钠	否
H+CM	BG-11	碳酸氢钠	是

Fig. 1 Effects of photorespiration inhibitor CM on the astaxanthin content and astaxanthin/chlorophyll ratio in H. pluvialis cultured with different carbon sourcesa, c, e, g: Astaxanthin content; b, d, f, h: Astaxanthin/chlorophyll ratio

Fig. 2 Effects of photorespiration inhibitor CM on dry weights (a) and total photosynthetic rates (b) in H. pluvialis cultured with different carbon sources

Fig. 3 Effects of photorespiration inhibitor CM on the chlorophyll a fluorescence (OJIP) transients in H. pluvialis cultured with different carbon sources

Fig. 4 Effects of photorespiration inhibitor CM on the chlorophyll a fluorescence (OJIP) transients at 2 d and 6 d in H. pluvialis cultured with different carbon sources

Fig. 5 Effects of photorespiration inhibitor CM on relative variable fluorescence at J-step (VJ) and at K-step (WK) in H. pluvialis cultured with different carbon sourcesa, c, e, g: Relative variable fluorescence at J-step (VJ); b, d, f, h: Relative variable fluorescence at K-step (WK)

Fig. 6 Effects of photorespiration inhibitor CM on the maximum photochemical efficiency (ΦP0) and the quantum yield of electron transport (ΦE0) in H. pluvialis cultured with different carbon sourcesa, c, e, g: The maximum photochemical efficiency (ΦP0); b, d, f, h: The quantum yield of electron transport (ΦE0)

Fig. 7 Effects of photorespiration inhibitor CM on the amount of active PSII reaction centers (RCs) per excited cross section (RC/CS0), and the specific energy fluxes (per RC) for absorption (ABS/RC) in H. pluvialis cultured with different carbon sourcesa, c, e, g: The amount of active PSII reaction centers (RCs) per excited cross section (RC/CS0); b, d, f, h: The specific energy fluxes (per RC) for absorption (ABS/RC)

Fig. 8 Effects of photorespiration inhibitor CM on the trapping flux of excitation energy per active reaction center (TR0/RC), and the electron transport flux per active reaction center (ET0/RC) in H. pluvialis cultured with different carbon sourcesa, c, e, g: The trapping flux of excitation energy per active reaction center (TR0/RC); b, d, f, h: The electron transport flux per active reaction center (ET0/RC)

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