Determination of an ethylene biosynthesis pathway in the unicellular green alga,Haematococcus pluvialis. Relationship between growth and ethylene production

In the freshwater ChlorophyceaeHaematococcus pluvialis, precursors of ethylene biosynthesis cycle are the same as those of higher plants: L-methionine → S-adenosylmethionine → 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid → ethylene. However, the enzymatic complex of the last step of ethylene synthesis-ACCoxidase-differs from that of higher plants. It is stimulated by Co2+ (at least 10-5 M), Mn2+ (at least 10-6 M) and Ag2+ (at least 10-4 M), inhibited by Cu2+ (at least 10-5 M) and not affected by Zn2+, Fe2+ or Mg2+. ACCoxidase is also inhibited by salicylhydroxamic acid and by dark. Ethylene production is more important in young, mobile, green cells in active growth phase than in old, encysted and red cells in stationary growth phase. No peaks in ethylene production or respiration were observed during batch culture, as opposed to the situation with climacteric fruits.