Miguel A. Quiñones

Mercury-resistant rhizobial bacteria isolated from nodules of leguminous plants growing in high Hg-contaminated soils

A survey of symbiotic bacteria from legumes grown in high mercury-contaminated soils (Almadén, Spain) was performed to produce a collection of rhizobia which could be well adapted to the environmental conditions of this region and be used for restoration practices. Nineteen Hg-tolerant rhizobia were isolated from nodules of 11 legume species (of the genera Medicago, Trifolium, Vicia, Lupinus, Phaseolus, and Retama) and characterized. Based on their growth on Hg-supplemented media, the isolates were classified into three susceptibility groups. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and the effective concentrations that produce 50% mortality identified the patterns of mercury tolerance and showed that 15 isolates were tolerant. The dynamics of cell growth during incubation with mercury showed that five isolates were unaffected by exposure to Hg concentrations under the MICs. Genetic analyses of the 16S rRNA gene assigned ten strains to Rhizobium leguminosarum, six to Ensifer medicae, two to Bradyrhizobium canariense, and one to Rhizobium radiobacter. Inoculation of host plants and analysis of the nodC genes revealed that most of them were symbiotically effective. Finally, three isolates were selected for bioremediation processes with restoration purposes on the basis of their levels of Hg tolerance, their response to high concentrations of this heavy metal, and their genetic affiliation and nodulation capacity.

Flavin type action spectrum of nitrate utilization by Monoraphidium braunii

The light‐dependent utilization of nitrate by the green alga Monoraphidium braunii, coming from nocturnal dark periods, shows an action spectrum of flavin type with two main bands: one in the blue, peaking at 450 and 480 nm, and the other in the near‐UV region with a maximum at 365 nm. Other results indicate that cells growing on nitrate as the only nitrogen source resynthesize nitrate reductase daily, which implies the nocturnal loss of this enzyme. The biosynthesis of nitrate reductase at the beginning of the light periods can proceed under red light. In addition, blue or near‐UV light is required for the activation of the previously formed nitrate reductase.

Blue Light Requirement for HC03 Uptake and Its Action Spectrum in Monoraphidium braunii

The uptake and assimilation of HCO3 by the green unicellular alga Monoraphidium braunii can be monitored by the alkalinization of the external medium or by the O2 evolution associated with the uptake and reduction of this anion. The activation of HCO3 uptake in this microalga required the irradiation of the cell suspensions with low photon fluence rates of short wavelength radiation. Thus, when the cells were irradiated with strong red light in the presence of HCO3, very little alkalinization of the external medium or O2 evolution could be observed. The O2 evolution rates measured under red light could be due to the assimilation of the CO2 derived from the HCO3 present in the medium. The blue light‐dependent O2 evolution rates were not diminished by a periplasmic carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, suggesting that HCO3 ‐dependent O2 evolution was due to the photoactivation of a selective HCO3 uptake system at the plasma membrane. The action spectrum for HCO3‐ uptake in M. braunii was very similar to those reported for NO3‐ and CI‐ suggested that a flavoprotein may be the photoreceptor for this response.