Changing in the Short-Term: Acclimation

Kinetic curves, which allow initial rates of reaction and maximal responses to be quantified, lead investigators to think that such responses are “fixed” for a given species. However, such responses are indeed variable, depending on environmental conditions and the physiological state of the cells. Here, both photoacclimation and nutrient acquisition kinetic responses are explored with an aim toward understanding how the cell knows when and how to regulate, the factors that affect regulation and the consequences for cell stoichiometry and ultimately for growth.