Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Photoinduced accumulation of carotene in Phycomyces

  • Published:
Planta Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Blue light stimulates the accumulation of beta-carotene (photocarotenogenesis) in the fungus Phycomyces blakesleeanus. To be effective, light must be given during a defined period of development, which immediately precedes the cessation of mycelial growth and the depletion of the glucose supply. The competence periods for photocarotenogenesis and photomorphogenesis in Phycomyces are the same when they are tested in the same mycelium. Photocarotenogenesis exhibits a two-step dependence on exposure, as if it resulted from the additon of two separate components with different thresholds and amplitudes. The low-exposure component produces a small beta-carotene accumulation, in comparison with that of dark-grown mycelia. The high-exposure component has a threshold of about 100 J· m−2 blue light and produces a large beta-carotene accumulation, which is not saturated at 2·106 J·m−2. Exposure-response curves were obtained at 12 wavelengths from 347 to 567 nm. The action spectra of the two components share general similarities with one another and with those of other Phycomyces photoresponses. The small, but significant differences in the action spectra of the two components imply that the respective photosystems are not identical. Light stimulates the carotene pathway in the carB mutants, which contain the colourless precursor phytoene, but not beta-carotene. Carotenogenesis is not photoinducible in carA mutants, independently of their carotene content. This and other observations on various car mutants indicate that light prevents the normal inhibition of the pathway by the carA and carS gene products. The chromophore(s) for photocarotenogenesis are presumably flavins, and not carotenes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Avalos, J., Cerdá-Olmedo, E. (1986) Chemical modification of carotenogenesis in Gibberella fujikuroi. Phytochemistry 25, 1837–1841

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Avalos, J., Cerdá-Olmedo, E. (1987) Carotenoid mutants of Gibberella fujikuroi. Curr. Genet. 11, 505–511

    Google Scholar 

  • Bejarano, E.R., Cerdá-Olmedo, E. (1989) Inhibition of phytoene dehydrogenation and activation of carotenogenesis in Phycomyces. Phytochemistry 28, 1623–1626

    Google Scholar 

  • Bejarano, E.R., Parra, F., Murillo, F.J., Cerdá-Olmedo, E. (1988) End-product regulation of carotenogenesis in Phycomyces. Arch. Microbiol. 150, 209–214

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergman, K., Burke, P.V., Cerdá-Olmedo, E., David, C.N., Delbrück, M., Foster, K.W., Goodell, E.W., Heisenberg, M., Meissner, G., Zalokar, M., Dennison, D.S., Shropshire, W. (1969) Phycomyces. Bacteriol. Rev. 33, 99–157

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergman, K., Eslava, A.P., Cerdá-Olmedo, E. (1973) Mutants of Phycomyces with abnormal phototrophism. Mol. Gen. Genet. 123, 1–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Calpouzos, L., Chang, H.-S. (1971) Fungus spore germination inhibited by blue and far red radiation. Plant Physiol. 47, 729–730

    Google Scholar 

  • Carnoy, J.B. (1870) Recherches anatomiques et physiologiques sur les champignons. Bull. Soc. R. Bot. Belg. 9, 157–321

    Google Scholar 

  • Cerdá-Olmedo, E. (1985) Carotene mutants of Phycomyces. Methods Enzymol. 110, 220–243

    Google Scholar 

  • Cerdá-Olmedo, E. (1987a) Carotene. In: Phycomyces, pp. 199–222, Cerdá-Olmedo, E., Lipson, E.D., eds. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Cerdá-Olmedo, E. (1987b) Standard growth conditions and variations. In: Phycomyces, pp. 337–339, Cerdá-Olmedo, E., Lipson, E.D., eds. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Cerdá-Olmedo, E., Lipson, E.D., eds. (1987) Phycomyces. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Corrochano, L.M., Cerdá-Olmedo, E. (1988) Photomorphogenesis in Phycomyces: dependence on environmental conditions. Planta 174, 309–314

    Google Scholar 

  • Corrochano, L.M., Cerdá-Olmedo, E. (1990a) Photomorphogenesis in Phycomyces: competence period and stimulus-response relationships. J. Photochem. Photobiol. B5, 255–266

    Google Scholar 

  • Corrochano, L.M., Cerdá-Olmedo, E. (1990b) Photomorphogenesis in behavioural and colour mutants of Phycomyces. J. Photochem. Photobiol. B6, 325–335

    Google Scholar 

  • Corrochano, L.M., Galland, P., Lipson, E., Cerdá-Olmedo, E. (1988) Photomorphogenesis in Phycomyces: Fluence-response curves and action spectra. Planta 174, 315–320

    Google Scholar 

  • Curry, G.M., Gruen, H.E. (1959) Action spectra for the positive and negative phototropism of Phycomyces sporangiophores. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 45, 797–804

    Google Scholar 

  • De Fabo, E.C., Harding, R.W., Shropshire, W. (1976) Action spectrum between 260 and 800 nanometers for the photoinduction of carotenoid biosynthesis in Neurospora crassa. Plant Physiol. 57, 440–445

    Google Scholar 

  • Delbrück, M., Shropshire, W. (1960) Action and transmission spectra of Phycomyces. Plant Physiol. 35, 194–204

    Google Scholar 

  • Galland, P. (1983) Action spectra of photogeotropic equilibrium in Phycomyces wild type and three behavioral mutants. Photochem. Photobiol. 37, 221–228

    Google Scholar 

  • Galland, P., Lipson, E.D. (1985a) Action spectra for phototropic balance in Phycomyces blakesleeanus: dependence on reference wavelength and intensity range. Photochem. Photobiol. 41, 323–329

    Google Scholar 

  • Galland, P., Lipson, E.D. (1985b) Modified action spectra of photogeotropic equilibrium in Phycomyces blakesleeanus mutants with defects in genes madA, madB, madC, and madH. Photochem. Photobiol. 41, 331–335

    Google Scholar 

  • Galland, P., Lipson, E.D. (1987a) Blue-light reception in Phycomyces phototropism: evidence for two photosystems operating in low-and high-intensity ranges. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84, 104–108

    Google Scholar 

  • Galland, P., Lipson, E.D. (1987b) Light calibrations and radiometric units. In: Phycomyces, pp. 375–379, Cerdá-Olmedo, E., Lipson, E.D., eds. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Galland, P., Russo, V.E.A. (1984) Light and dark adaptation in Phycomyces phototropism. J. Gen. Physiol. 84, 101–118

    Google Scholar 

  • Govind, N., Cerdá-Olmedo, E. (1986) Sexual activation of carotenogenesis in Phycomyces blakesleeanus. J. Gen. Microbiol. 132, 2775–2780

    Google Scholar 

  • Harding, R.W., Shropshire, W. (1980) Photocontrol of carotenoid biosynthesis. Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. 31, 217–238

    Google Scholar 

  • Hsiao, K.C., Björn, L.O. (1982) Aspects of photoinduction of carotenogenesis in the fungus Verticillium agaricinum. Physiol. Plant. 54, 235–238

    Google Scholar 

  • Jayaram, M., Presti, D., Delbrück, M. (1979) Light-induced carotene synthesis in Phycomyces. Exp. Mycol. 3, 42–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Jiménes, J., Benítez, T. (1988) Selection of ethanol-tolerant yeast hybrids in pH-regulated continuous culture. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 54, 917–922

    Google Scholar 

  • Lansbergen, J.C., Renaud, R.L., Subden, R.E. (1976) Phytoene photoinduction in a carotenoid mutant of Neurospora crassa. Can. J. Bot. 54, 2445–2448

    Google Scholar 

  • Lilly, V.G., Barnett, H.L., Krause, R.F. (1957) The effect of light and temperature on the production of carotenoid pigments by + and — sexes of Phycomyces blakesleeanus. Proc. W. Va. Acad. Sci. 29, 25–31

    Google Scholar 

  • López-Díaz, I., Cerdá-Olmedo, E. (1980) Relationship of photocarotenogenesis to other behavioural and regulatory responses in Phycomyces. Planta 150, 134–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Osman, M., Valadon, L.R.G. (1978) Effect of light quality on the photoinduction of carotenoid synthesis in Verticillium agaricinum. Microbios 18, 229–234

    Google Scholar 

  • Otto, M.K., Jayaram, M., Hamilton, R.M., Delbrück, M. (1981) Replacement of riboflavin by an analogue in the blue-light photoreceptor of Phycomyces. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 78, 266–269

    Google Scholar 

  • Presti, D., Delbrück, M. (1978) Photoreceptors for biosynthesis, energy storage and vision. Plant Cell Environ. 1, 81–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Presti, D., Galland, P. (1987) Photoreceptor biology of Phycomyces. In: Phycomyces, pp. 93–126, Cerdá-Olmedo, E., Lipson, E.D., eds. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Presti, D., Hsu, W.-J., Delbrück, M. (1977) Phototropism in Phycomyces mutants lacking beta-carotene. Photochem. Photobiol. 26, 403–405

    Google Scholar 

  • Rau, W. (1967) Untersuchungen über die lichtabhängige Carotinoidsynthese. I. Das Wirkungsspektrum von Fusarium aquaeductuum. Planta 72, 14–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Rau, W., Schrott, E.L. (1987) Blue light control of pigment biosyn thesis — Carotenoid biosynthesis. In: Blue light responses: Phenomena and occurrence in plants and microorganisms, vol. I, pp. 43–63, Senger, H., ed. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla.

    Google Scholar 

  • Revuelta, J.L., Eslava, A.P. (1983) A new gene (carC) involved in the regulation of carotenogenesis in Phycomyces. Mol. Gen. Genet. 192, 225–229

    Google Scholar 

  • Roncero, M.I.G., Cerdá-Olmedo, E. (1982) Genetics of carotene biosynthesis in Phycomyces. Curr. Genet. 5, 5–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Salgado, L.M., Bejarano, E.R., Cerdá-Olmedo, (1989) Genetic analysis of the carotene superproducing mutants of Phycomyces. Exp Mycol. 13, 332–336

    Google Scholar 

  • Sedmak, J.J., Grossberg, S.E. (1977) A rapid, sensitive, and versatile assay for protein using Coomassie blue G 250. Anal. Biochem. 79, 544–552

    Google Scholar 

  • Schopfer, W.H. (1943) Plants and vitamins, p. 81. Chronica Botanica. Waltham, Mass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schrott, E.L. (1980) Fluence response relationship of carotenogenesis in Neurospora crassa. Planta 150, 174–179

    Google Scholar 

  • Torres-Martínez, S., Murillo, F.J., Cerdá-Olmedo, E. (1980) Genetics of lycopene cyclization and substrate transfer in beta-carotene biosynthesis in Phycomyces. Genet. Res. 36, 299–309

    Google Scholar 

  • Trad, C.H., Lipson, E.D. (1987) Biphasic fluence-response curves and derived action spectra for light-induced absorbance changes in Phycomyces mycelium. J. Photochem. Photobiol. B 1, 305–313

    Google Scholar 

  • Varjú, D., Edgar, L., Delbrück, M. (1961) Interplay between the reactions to light and to gravity in Phycomyces. J. Gen. Physiol. 45, 47–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitaker, B.D., Shropshire, W. (1981) Spectral sensitivity in the blue and near ultraviolet for light-induced carotene synthesis in Phycomyces mycelia. Exp. Mycol. 5, 243–252

    Google Scholar 

  • Zalokar, M. (1955) Biosynthesis of carotenoids in Neurospora. Action spectrum of photoactivation. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 56, 318–325

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Eduardo R. Bejarano

    Present address: Centre for Biotechnology, Imperial College, SW7 2AZ, London, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Genética y Biotecnia, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Apartado 1095, E-41080, Sevilla, Spain

    Eduardo R. Bejarano, Javier Avalos & Enrique Cerdá-Olmedo

  2. Department of Physics, Syracuse University, 13244-1130, Syracuse, NY, USA

    Edward D. Lipson

Authors
  1. Eduardo R. Bejarano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Javier Avalos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Edward D. Lipson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Enrique Cerdá-Olmedo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

We thank Dr. A. Palit, C. Chmielewicz and D. Durant (same address as E.D.L.) and L.M. Corrochano, A. Fernández Estefane, and J. Córdoba López (same address as E.R.B.) for their help. This work was supported by grants from Comisión Asesora para Investigación Científica y Técnica and Comisión Interministerial para Ciencia y Tecnología to E.C.O.; from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation to E.D.L.; and from the U.S.-Spain Joint Committee for Scientific and Technological Cooperation to E.C.O. and E.D.L.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bejarano, E.R., Avalos, J., Lipson, E.D. et al. Photoinduced accumulation of carotene in Phycomyces . Planta 183, 1–9 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00197560

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00197560

Key words

Search

Navigation