Changes in respiration, photosynthesis and protein composition during induced synchronous formation of gametes and zoospores in Ulva mutabilis Føyn.

In the marine green alga Ulva mutabilis Føyn, large daily fluctuations in respiratory and photosynthetic rates are found after the induction of synchronous formation of gametes and zoospores. A sharp reduction in photosynthetic capacity preceeds the zooid-forming cell divisions. During the same period, samples for polyacrylamide electrophoresis show an initial increase followed by a decrease in the amount of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase. Some other transient protein changes were also noted. A new protein band with MW 51,400 appears in the 48-h sample and becomes a prominent constituent of gametes and zoospores; it may represent tubulin.