Nitric oxide alleviates oxidative damage in the green alga Chlorella pyrenoidosa caused by UV-B radiation.

The effect of ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B; 280-320 nm) on induction of nitric oxide was estimated in the suspensions of green alga Chlorella pyrenoidosa with or without the NO scavenger N-acetyl-L-cysteine, and reductants such as 1,4-dithiothreitol, glutathione (reduced form), and ascorbic acid. Exogenously added sodium nitroprusside (NO donor), glutathione, 1,4-dithiothreitol, and ascorbic acid were able to prevent chlorophyll loss mediated by UV-B. Addition of NO to algal suspensions irradiated by UV-B increased the activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase but lowered the activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase. UV-B thus appears to be a strong inducer of NO production, exogenously added NO and reductants protecting the green alga against UV-B-induced oxidative damage.