Inhibitory effects of hypo-osmotic stress on extracellular carbonic anhydrase and photosynthetic efficiency of green alga Dunaliella salina possibly through reactive oxygen species formation

In this study, Dunaliella salina (D. salina) maintained in 30‰ salinity for more than two years was exposed to the salinities of 5‰, 10‰, 20‰, 30‰ (control) in order to investigate oxidative burst and it's possible connection with extracellular carbonic anhydrase (CA) under hypo-osmotic stress (low salinity). The results indicated that intracellular ROS contents increased significantly when cells were exposed to salinity of 5 and 10‰, and the increase also occurred at 20‰ salinity. The activity of extracellular CA and its gene (P60) expression decreased significantly when cells were exposed to salinity of 5–20‰. Data from H2O2 treatments hinted that ROS production was possibly one of the factors affecting CA, including enzyme activity and gene expression levels. Significant inhibition of effective quantum efficiency of PSII and photosynthetic oxygen evolution rate were observed with the increase of ROS production and decline of CA activities. Taken together, hypo-osmotic stresses could induce ROS production in D. salina, and CA enzyme activities and expression levels were consequently inhibited. As a result, algal photosynthesis and oxygen evolution were inhibited.

► Dunaliella salina was exposed to the salinities of 5‰, 10‰, 20‰, 30‰ (control).
► 5–20‰ salinity increased ROS levels.
► 5–20‰ salinity decreased carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity and its gene expression.
► There may exist a connection between ROS production and CA activity.
► As a result, algal photosynthesis and oxygen evolution were inhibited.