Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Isolation and Characterization of Intact Phycobilisome in Cyanobacteria
Published on: November 10, 2021
Energization and activation of inorganic carbon uptake by light in cyanobacteria
A Kaplan1, D Zenvirth, Y Marcus
1Department of Botany, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel.
Abstract:
The requirement of the inorganic carbon (C(i)) transport system for light in cyanobacteria was investigated in Anabaena variabilis by the filtering centrifugation technique and in a mutant (E(1)) isolated from Anacystis nidulans using a gas exchange system. C(i) transport capability increased with time of preillumination and decreased following darkening. Full activity could not be obtained by operating either photosystem II (PSII) or photosystem I alone. 3(3,4 Dichlorophenyl)-1,1 dimethylurea strongly inhibited C(i) uptake. Very low activity of PSII was sufficient to activate C(i) uptake. However, in the presence of dithiothreitol PSII activity was not required. We conclude that light may be required to activate as well as to energize C(i) uptake in cyanobacteria.
Related Concept Videos
Oxygenic Photosynthesis
Anoxygenic Photosynthesis
Bacterial Phylum Cyanobacteria
Carbon-dioxide Fixation
Photosystem II
The pigment molecules are arranged across two photosystem domains — the antenna complex and the reaction center. The main aim of the pigment molecules...
What is Photosynthesis?

