Algae membrane integrity

Methods to Study Effect of Allelochemicals on Algae Membrane Integrity... 

In the integrated membrane system fed with seawater (Figure 12.4A) the pretreatment consists of two rotating microscreens of 150 pm used to remove the larger suspended particles from the water. Successively 8MF units (polypropylene (PP) hollow membranes placed in a vertical position and operated according to the deadend principle) are used to remove the suspended solids completely, algae and to disinfect the water. The MF section is designed to filter 700-750 m3/h [15]. 

Photosystem II is the multi-enzymatic chlorophyll-protein complex (water-plastoquinone oxido-reductase) located in the thylakoid membrane of algae, cyanobacteria and higher plants. It is an integral part of the electron transport chain that catalyses primary charge separation. This protein complex consists of over 25 polypeptides, which make up a light-harvesting chlorophyll protein... 

The enzymes have several putative transmembrane domains (TMD). This is consistent with previous microscopic and biochemical data indicating that cellulose synthase is an integral membrane protein and that cellulose biosynthesis occurs at the plasma membrane (Mueller and Brown, Jr. 1980 Ross et al. 1991 Brown, Jr. et al. 1996 Delmer 1999). Visible by electron microscopy, the enzymes form large linear terminal complexes in the plasma membrane of bacteria and many algae whereas they form hexagonal rosette structures in higher plants and some algae (Mueller and Brown, Jr. 1980 Ross et al. 1991 Kimura et al. 1999). Delmer (1999) has speculated that the transmembrane domains may create a... 

Many cationic surfactants are acutely toxic against aquatic organisms including algae, fish, molluscs, and others at milligram per liter range or lower. There is evidence that the toxicity of these surfactants is caused by their ability to disrupt the integral membrane. This is due to the adsorption-ionic... 

Within a photosynthetic unicellular alga function mechanisms which control the integrated activities of its nucleus and cytoplasm and vnthin its cytoplasm of the chloroplasts, mitochondria, micro-somes, ER membranes and hyaloplasm. Within the multicellular organism extra-cellular controls determine the distribution and activity of centres of organised cell division (meristems), of organised cell expansion and of the specialised tissues concerned with photosynthesis, the bio-synthesis of particular metabolic products, solute and water absorption, translocation and so on. Thus, superimposed upon the nutritive inter-relationships of the specialised structures within the cells we now have nutritive inter-relationships between cells fulfilling different and partial functions in the economy of the whole organism. 

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