Long-Chain Saturated Fatty Acids, Palmitic and Stearic Acids, Enhance the Repair of Photosystem II

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 21; no. 20; p. 7509
• Main Authors: Jimbo, Haruhiko, Takagi, Kensuke, Hirashima, Takashi, Nishiyama, Yoshitaka, Wada, Hajime
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 12.10.2020; MDPI
• Subjects: biodiesel; Biodiesel fuels; Biofuels; Cell growth; Chemical potential; Cyanobacteria; Cyanobacteria - drug effects; Cyanobacteria - physiology; Cyanobacteria - radiation effects; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; Fatty acids; free fatty acids; Investigations; Lauric acid; Light; Linolenic acid; Membranes; Palmitic Acid - metabolism; Palmitic Acid - pharmacology; Photoinhibition; photoinhibition of PSII; Photosynthesis; Photosynthesis - drug effects; Photosystem II; Photosystem II Protein Complex - metabolism; Polypeptides; Protein synthesis; Proteins; Repair; Stearic Acids - metabolism; Stearic Acids - pharmacology; Synechocystis - drug effects; Synechocystis - physiology; Synechocystis - radiation effects; free fatty acids; photoinhibition of PSII; cyanobacteria; biodiesel
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms21207509

Free fatty acids (FFA) generated in cyanobacterial cells can be utilized for the biodiesel that is required for our sustainable future. The combination of FFA and strong light induces severe photoinhibition of photosystem II (PSII), which suppresses the production of FFA in cyanobacterial cells. In the present study, we examined the effects of exogenously added FFA on the photoinhibition of PSII in sp. PCC 6803. The addition of lauric acid (12:0) to cells accelerated the photoinhibition of PSII by inhibiting the repair of PSII and the de novo synthesis of D1. α-Linolenic acid (18:3) affected both the repair of and photodamage to PSII. Surprisingly, palmitic (16:0) and stearic acids (18:0) enhanced the repair of PSII by accelerating the de novo synthesis of D1 with the mitigation of the photoinhibition of PSII. Our results show chemical potential of FFA in the regulation of PSII without genetic manipulation.