Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 21, 2026
11:55
In Vitro Reconstitution of Light-harvesting Complexes of Plants and Green Algae
Published on: October 10, 2014
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PH-dependent cell-cell interactions in the green alga Chara
Alexey Eremin1, Alexander A Bulychev2, Christopher Kluge1
1Institute of Physics, Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg, 39016, Magdeburg, Germany.
Protoplasma
|August 2, 2019
Summary
Characean internodal cells exhibit dynamic pH banding crucial for photosynthesis. Neighboring cells influence each other
Area of Science:
- Plant cell physiology
- Photosynthesis
- Cellular communication
Background:
- Characean internodal cells regulate surface pH for carbon uptake.
- Alternating acid and alkaline zones are essential for photosynthesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate alkaline band formation and decomposition kinetics.
- Explore intercellular interactions and their effect on pH banding.
- Determine how pH banding influences cellular structures and chloroplast activity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a pH-indicating membrane dye (4-heptadecylumbiliferone) to monitor pH dynamics.
- Analyzed growth/decay kinetics of alkaline bands.
- Observed effects of cell alignment on pH banding and chloroplast activity.
- Examined cytoplasmic reorganization in response to altered pH patterns.
Main Results:
- Alkaline band growth is autocatalytic; decomposition is diffusion-driven.
- Parallel alignment of cells synchronizes pH banding and chloroplast activity.
- Neighboring cell pH bands influence membrane conductance and photosynthetic activity.
- Cortical cytoplasm reorganizes, with charasome degradation and mitochondria repositioning, in response to pH changes.
Conclusions:
- Characean internodal cells exhibit flexible responses to environmental cues, including neighboring cells.
- Intercellular communication via pH banding plays a significant role in regulating photosynthesis and cell structure.
- pH dynamics are actively regulated and influenced by both internal and external factors.
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