Kinetics and Apparent K(m) of Oxygen Cycle under Conditions of Limiting Carbon Dioxide Fixation

A mass spectrometer with a membrane inlet was used to monitor light-driven O(2) evolution, O(2) uptake, and CO(2) uptake in suspensions of algae (Scenedesmus obliquus). We observed the following. (a) The rate of O(2) uptake, which, in the presence of iodoacetamide, replaces the uptake of CO(2), showed a distinct plateau (V(max)) beyond approximately 30% O(2) and was half-maximal at approximately 8% O(2). We concluded that this light-driven O(2) uptake process, which does not involve carbon compounds, is saturated at lower O(2) concentrations than are photorespiration and glycolate formation. (b) In the absence of inhibitor, O(2) evolution was relatively unaffected by the presence or absence of CO(2). During the course of CO(2) depletion, electron flow to CO(2) was replaced by an equivalent flow to O(2). (c) There was a distinct delay between the cessation of CO(2) uptake and the increase in O(2) uptake. We ascribe this delay to the transient utilization of another electron acceptor-possibly bicarbonate or another bound form of CO(2).