title: Bioenergetic investigation of action of lithium to Tetrahymena thermophila bF5 by microcalorimetry.
abstract: Microcalorimetry was employed to investigate the action of Li(I) to aquatic ecosystem from the point view of bioenergetics. Tetrahymena thermophila BF5 was chosen as the model organism. The power-time curves of T. thermophila BF5 growth metabolism in the absence and presence of Li(I) were obtained. The corresponding thermokinetic parameters were derived. The generation time was calculated as 592.3 min, which was consistent with the biomass values. Low concentration of Li(I) (1-20 mmol l-1) stimulated the growth of T. thermophila BF5, whereas the inhibition effect was observed in high concentration (30-100 mmol l-1). The value of IC50 was 52.8 mmol l-1. In the concentration range of 30-100 mmol l-1, the growth rate constants (k) and the maximum heat out power (P max) decrease with the concentration of Li(I), whereas the heat output (Q) increases slightly compared to the control. Other than the classic mechanism of inositol-phosphate cycle, the involvement of mitochondria mechanism was discussed and suggested.
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hui-Rong
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Cai-Qin
authors.initials: CQ
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Qiang-Guo
authors.initials: QG
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002151:Calorimetry / Q000379:methods; D018021:Lithium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016808:Tetrahymena thermophila / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D018021:Lithium Chloride