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Abstract Detail


A tribute to Lawrence R. Blinks: Ions, light, and algae

Thorhaug, Anitra [1], Katchalsky, A. ( Posthumously) [2].

A Lawrence R. Blinks.

IN 1966-69, Blinks and Thorhaug worked on temperature relations in Valonia membrane systems. A change was noted for dφ/dT values of bioelectric potential measured across the membrane systems below 15degrees centigrade and above 30degrees C from values of dφ/dT near zero between 15 and 30 C (Thorhaug,1971). Blinks (1974) in tandem with this work examined Halicystis membrane systems vs. temperature. The next step, beyond the purely physical chemical system (which we tested with a butanol membrane over these temperatures), was to halt the “active” properties of the Valonia system (with a cardiac glycoside) to investigate the Valonia passive temperature relations in a model living membrane system. Our results for this first membrane “passive” conductance and potential showed that 10-3M ouabain created a major negative potential on the external cell membrane, but no effects using lesser concentrations and no effect on the tonoplast. The non-equilibrium thermodynamic theories of Katchalsky & Curran (1965) and Kedem (1961) were applied to Valonia (in our work at University of California Berkeley and the Weizmann Institute) on experiments devised to examine reponses across living Valonia membrane systems to temperature or salinity gradients to derive values for entropy and enthalpy of living membranes. We sought Blinks’ advice on experimental aspects. We integrated Blinks’ 1930’s methods with giant plant cells via thermo-osmosis work with Chara into the British membrane work (Dainty, MacRobbie, Raven, and Spanswick). Presently being explored for an array of macroalgae and seagrasses are these species’ light responses to spectra of temperature and salinity measured by spectral reflectance, absorbance and fluorescence sequentially (in collaboration with Graeme Berlyn) ascertaining sensitive non-destructive, non-intrusive tools for seagrass and algal physiological responses to environmental variables, derivative of Blink’s work. Reflectance also measures spectral characteristics useful to remote sensing mapping of shallow marine macroplants.


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1 - Yale University, School of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, Greeley Laboratories 359 Prospect St., New Haven, Connecticut, 06901, USA
2 - Weizmann Institute, Polymer Sciences, Rehovoth, , Israel

Keywords:
Biolelectric measurements 
Valonia
spectral relfectance.
Thermosmosis
Halicystis
gradients temperature and salinity
Blinks
Katchalsky.

Presentation Type: Symposium or Colloquium Presentation
Session: 18-7
Location: 134/Performing Arts Center
Date: Monday, July 31st, 2006
Time: 4:30 PM
Abstract ID:134


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