Transition of Lipid Synthesis from Chloroplasts to a Cytoplasmic System during Hardening in Chlorella ellipsoidea

Abstract

Chlorella ellipsoidea Gerneck (IAM C-27) was synchronously grown and cells at an intermediate stage in the ripening phase of the cell cycle were hardened at 3 C for 48 hours. At various times of hardening, the cells were pulse-labeled for 4 minutes with [(14)C]NaHCO(3) in the light or with [(14)C]glucose in the dark, and the incorporation rate of (14)C into total lipids was determined. A high incorporation rate of [(14)C]NaHCO(3) at zero time of hardening decreased after 6 hours. In the next 15 hours, a distinct increase was noted. This increase occurred prior to the development of frost hardiness. Cycloheximide completely inhibited both the increase and the development, and 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea remarkably lowered the high incorporation rate at zero time. The incorporation rate of [(14)C]glucose increased along with hardiness in the dark. These results suggest that the major site of lipid synthesis shifts from chloroplasts to a cytoplasmic system during hardening of Chlorella.