Light intensity modulation by coccoliths of Emiliania huxleyi as a micro-photo-regulator.
In this study, we present experimental evidence showing that coccoliths have light-scattering anisotropy that contributes to a possible control of solar light exposure in the ocean. Changing the angle between the incident light and an applied magnetic field causes differences in the light-scattering intensities of a suspension of coccoliths isolated from Emiliania huxleyi. The magnetic field effect is induced by the diamagnetic torque force directing the coccolith radial plane perpendicular to the applied magnetic fields at 400 to 500 mT. The developed technique reveals the light-scattering anisotropies in the 3-μm-diameter floating coccoliths by orienting themselves in response to the magnetic fields. The detached coccolith scatters radially the light incident to its radial plane. The experimental results on magnetically oriented coccoliths show that an individual coccolith has a specific direction of light scattering, although the possible physiological effect of the coccolith remains for further study, focusing on the light-scattering anisotropies of coccoliths on living cells.
Graduate School of Advanced Sciences of Matter, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 739-8527, Japan.|Research Institute for Nanodevice and Bio Systems, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 739-8527, Japan.
Yuri
Y
Mizukawa
Graduate School of Advanced Sciences of Matter, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 739-8527, Japan.|Research Institute for Nanodevice and Bio Systems, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 739-8527, Japan.
Yuito
Y
Miyashita
Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8572, Japan.|CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Tsukuba 305-8572, Japan.
Manami
M
Satoh
Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8572, Japan.|CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Tsukuba 305-8572, Japan.
Yoshihiro
Y
Shiraiwa
Graduate School of Advanced Sciences of Matter, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 739-8527, Japan.|Research Institute for Nanodevice and Bio Systems, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 739-8527, Japan.|PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Saitama 332-0012, Japan.
Masakazu
M
Iwasaka
D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D000067493:Dynamic Light Scattering; D058087:Haptophyta / Q000502:physiology*; D008027:Light; D060526:Magnetic Fields; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
D002119:Calcium Carbonate