Responses of Synechocystis sp PCC 6803 (cyanobacterium) photosystem II to pyrene stress

In order to explore the mechanism of acute toxicity for pyrene to cyanobacterial organisms, the responses of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 photosystem II (PS II) under pyrene stress were studied. The results showed there was no significant difference about the oxygen evolution under 0.125 mg/L pyrene stress when compared with control, but it was significantly lower than control at 0.625 mg/L pyrene. Polyphasic chlorophyll-a fluorescence transients in cells of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 exhibited a typical increase including O, J, I, and P phases. Fluorescence yield at phases J, I and P declined slightly at 0.125 and 0.625 mg/L pyrene, and significantly lower than control at 3.125 mg/L. According to the parameters deviated from JIP-test, no modification was induced by pyrene both at the donor side and at the acceptor side of PS II, and the reaction centre of PS II is the primary damaging target. Based on the expressing of four key genes (psbA, psbB, psbC and psbO) of PS II, only psbA showed significant difference at 3.125 mg/L pyrene when compared with control.