Enhancement of photosynthesis in Synechococcus bacillaris by sponge-derived Ageladine A

PLoS One. 2019 Mar 26;14(3):e0213771. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213771. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

This study is a proof of concept that the sponge derived pyrrole-imidazole alkaloid Ageladine A acts as an additional light harvesting molecule for photosynthesis of symbionts of marine sponges. The absorbance of Ageladine A is in the UV range and fluoresces blue, matching the blue absorbance of chlorophyll a. A joint modeling and experimental approach demonstrates that Ageladine A increases photosynthetic O2 production of Synechococcus bacillaris WH5701 (CCMP1333), when the cells are exposed to UV light, which is marginally used for photosynthesis. Due to the presence of Ageladine A, production of O2 increased 2.54 and 3.1-fold, in the experiments and the model, respectively.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Oxygen / chemistry
  • Oxygen / metabolism
  • Photosynthesis* / radiation effects
  • Photosystem II Protein Complex / metabolism
  • Porifera / metabolism*
  • Pyrroles / chemistry*
  • Symbiosis
  • Synechococcus / metabolism*
  • Ultraviolet Rays

Substances

  • Ageladine A
  • Photosystem II Protein Complex
  • Pyrroles
  • Oxygen

Grants and funding

We would like to thank the Helmholtz Research Program PACES II T2W3 for funding.