Some Effects of Derivatives of Vitamin K on the Metabolism of Unicellular Algae

Vitamin K(1), 2-methyl-3-phytyl-1,4-naphthoquinone, is a substance found in all plant chloroplasts. It is, therefore, interesting to know whether it has any influence upon the metabolism of plants. Experiments made with the phytol-free derivatives like 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone or the corresponding 3-oxy compound, phthiocol, gave the following results. These substances accelerate the respiration of Chlorella or Scenedesmus in a way similar to the action of the dinitrophenols. They inhibit photosynthesis and the compensation of respiration in the light strongly like hydroxylamine. In Scenedesmus they hinder the adaptation to the anaerobic utilization of hydrogen. If given after adaptation in amounts sufficient to stop photosynthesis they do not prevent photoreduction but rather stabilize this reaction against reversion. Their presence destroys the coupling between the reduction of carbon dioxide in the dark and the oxyhydrogen reaction in adapted algae. One can expect, therefore, that the natural vitamin K present in plants in concentrations of about 10(-3)M takes part in some metabolic reaction as a catalyst or regulator.