Inhibition of photosystem 2 in starch-enriched Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cells prevents the efficient induction of H2 production in sulfur-depleted cultures

In sulfur-deprived Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cells the activity of photosystem 2 (PSII) has been shown to have a crucial role in the photosynthetic production of H2, since it allows the synthesis of internal reserves such as starch. In the present investigation, the PSII inhibitor 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU) was added in starch-enriched and sulfur-depleted C. reinhardtii cultures 1) at the very end of the aerobic phase, and 2) soon after the culture started to evolve H2. In the former case, production of H2 on a volumetric basis was completely down-regulated, although starch mobilization was enhanced. In vitro tests showed that the hydrogenase enzyme was active, although its efficiency of utilization in vivo was lowered very soon in the experiment. When an inhibitor of Rubisco such as glycolaldehyde was added under the same conditions, no substantial improvement in H2 production rates was noted. These findings indicate that, aside starch storage, PSII plays an active role in the induction of the H2 production process.

▶ In Chlamydomonas reinhardtii an active PSII is fundamental to induce a volumetric H2 production. ▶ Starch-enriched anaerobic cells show no volumetric H2 release if PSII is inhibited. ▶ In sulfur-deprived cultures starch mobilization is enhanced if PSII is inhibited. ▶ Enhanced starch mobilization does not lead to enhanced H2 production.