Effect of glycollate on phosphate uptake in Chlorella pyrenoidosa.

A study was carried out on a strain of Chlorella pyrenoidosa known to excrete glycollic acid to see whether the presence of this acid had any stimulatory effect on phosphate uptake. Contrary to the results of a previous author working on Ankistrodesmus, no stimulation was found at any glycollate or phosphate concentration. However, 2×10(-4) M glycollate caused a marked inhibition of phosphate uptake during the initial period of uptake, but not on a subsequent phase of linear uptake.