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The mineral composition of chlorella pyrenoidosa grown in culture media containing varying concentrations of calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium

✍ Scribed by Scott, G. Taylor


Publisher
Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
Year
1943
Tongue
English
Weight
570 KB
Volume
21
Category
Article
ISSN
0095-9898

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✦ Synopsis


The inorganic composition of living cells is regulated by a selective a h -r p t i o n process which undoubtedly is intimately associated with metabolism. The mineral environment, however, may influence the absorption of electrolytes by effecting a shift in metabolism itself (Steward and Preston, '41), or, as recent data seem to indicate, by direct chemical interaction of environmental cations with cellular constituents. A systematic study of the relationship of the electrolytic environment to the chemical composition of living organisms reveals the degree to which the surrounding medium may determine the concentration of intra-cellular mineral elements.

Chlorella pyrenoidosa is found in most naturally occurring bodies of fresh water. Consequently this unicellular algal cell can adjust to a considerable variation in its mineral environment. This paper reports a study of the extent to which the amount of calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium and phosphorus in this plant cell varies as the concentration of the various cations in the culture medium are altered.