Photoprotection mechanisms against ultraviolet radiation in Heterocapsa sp. (Dinophyceae) are influenced by nitrogen availability: Mycosporine‐like amino acids vs. xanthophyll cycle

Abstract

The photoprotective and acclimation capacity against ultraviolet radiation (UVR) was assessed for the dinoflagellate Heterocapsa sp. We examined the effect of UVR and N availability on photosynthetic activity and on the accumulation of photoprotective substances such as mycosporine‐like amino acids (MAAs) and xanthophyll cycle pigments. Cells were cultivated under two different light treatments, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and PAR + UVR, and at two NaNO 3 concentrations, mid nitrogen (MN, 0.1 mmol L−1) and high nitrogen (HN, 1 mmol L−1) for 6 d. MAA and photosynthetic pigment contents as well as maximum quantum yield of fluorescence (F v : F m) and electron transport rate were analyzed at the initial time and after 3 and 6 d of experimentation. F v : F m decreased because of UVR and N limitation. N enrichment reduced the deleterious effect of UVR on photosynthesis. The content of photosynthetic pigments and MAAs was higher at HN than at MN supply and a positive effect of UVR on MAA and pigment accumulation was observed, suggesting that under HN conditions the deleterious UVR effect is counteracted by MAAs. Under N limitation thermal energy dissipation takes place by the xanthophyll cycle, i.e., an increase of the de‐epoxidation degree was observed under these culture conditions. However, UVR seems to favor diadinoxanthin accumulation; thus, no photoprotection through the xanthophyll cycle seems available in cells exposed to PAR + UVR and MN. We conclude that not only MAA accumulation but also N availability is very important to determine the photoprotective capacity against UVR of Heterocapsa sp.