Document Type
Article
Date of Original Version
8-1-2022
Abstract
The dominant marine filamentous N2 fixer, Trichodesmium, conducts photosynthesis and N2 fixation during the daytime. Because N2 fixation is sensitive to O2, some previous studies suggested that spatial segregation of N2 fixation and photosynthesis is essential in Trichodesmium. However, this hypothesis conflicts with some observations where all the cells contain both photosystems and the N2-fixing enzyme nitrogenase. Here, we construct a systematic model simulating Trichodesmium metabolism, showing that the hypothetical spatial segregation is probably useless in increasing the Trichodesmium growth and N2 fixation, unless substances can efficiently transfer among cells with low loss to the environment. The model suggests that Trichodesmium accumulates fixed carbon in the morning and uses that in respiratory protection to reduce intracellular O2 during the mid-daytime, when photosynthesis is downregulated, allowing the occurrence of N2 fixation. A cell membrane barrier against O2 and alternative non-O2 evolving electron transfer also contribute to maintaining low intracellular O2. Our study provides a mechanism enabling N2 fixation despite the presence of photosynthesis across Trichodesmium.
Publication Title, e.g., Journal
mSystems
Volume
7
Issue
4
Citation/Publisher Attribution
Luo, Weicheng, Keisuke Inomura, Han Zhang, and Ya Wei Luo. "N2 Fixation in Trichodesmium Does Not Require Spatial Segregation from Photosynthesis." mSystems 7, 4 (2022). doi: 10.1128/msystems.00538-22.
Creative Commons License
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