Exposure of Dunaliella salina to low temperature mimics the high light-induced accumulation of carotenoids and the carotenoid binding protein (Cbr)

Abstract

We report that growth of Dunaliella salina at either 13°C/150 μmol m-2 s-1 or 30°C/2,500 μmol m-2 s-1 results in the accumulation of comparable levels of carotenoids and the zeaxanthin-binding protein, Cbr. We conclude that carotenoid and Cbr abundance in this green alga respond to changes in PSII 'excitation pressure' rather than to high light per se.