Mochiji S, Wakabayashi KI. Redox regulation of phototactic migration in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and its possible application.
Commun Integr Biol 2012;
5:196-8. [PMID:
22808332 PMCID:
PMC3376063 DOI:
10.4161/cib.18890]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Most flagellated green algae swim toward or away from the light source, i.e., display positive or negative phototaxis. Usually, the sign of phototaxis, positive or negative, is variable depending on various factors, but the mechanism that controls it has been unclear. Using Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, an excellent model organism for studying phototaxis, we have recently shown that cellular redox poise plays a key role; cells show positive phototaxis when treated with reactive oxygen species (ROS), whereas they show negative phototaxis when treated with ROS quenching reagents. Here we discuss the possible mechanism of the redox regulation of phototactic sign, questions to be clarified in the future and its possible application.
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