Santosh Kumar Dubey

Effect of four heavy metals on the biology of Nostoc muscorum.

SummaryThis study presents the effects of Cr, Pb, Ni and Ag on growth, pigments, protein, DNA, RNA, heterocyst frequency, uptake of NH4+ and N03−, loss of electrolytes (Na+ and K+), nitrate reductase and glutamine synthetase activities ofNostoc muscorum. The statistical tests revealed a direct positive correlation between the metal concentration and inhibition of different processes. Ni was found to be more toxic against growth, pigments and heterocyst differentiation compared to the other metals. Inhibition of pigment showed the following trend: chlorophyll > phycocyanin > carotenoid. No generalized trend for inhibition of macromolecules was observed. The loss of K+ and Na+ as affected by Cr, Ni and Pb was similar but more pronounced for K+ than Na+. The inhibition of physiological variables depicted the following trend: Na+ loss > K+ loss > glutamine synthetase > NH4 uptake > growth > N03− uptake > nitrate reductase > heterocyst frequency. This study therefore suggests that loss of electrolytes can be used as a first signal of metal toxicity in cyanobacteria. However, further study is needed to confirm whether the abnormality induced by nickel (branch formation) is a physiological or genetic phenomenon.

Influence of chromium on some physiological variables ofAnabaena doliolum: interaction with metabolic inhibitors

The impact of 2,4-dinitrophenol and chlorophenyl dimethylurea on ATP content carbon fixation, O2 evolution, nitrogenase activity and Cr uptake ofAnabaena doliolum has been studied. 2,4-Dinitrophenol has been found to be more toxic than chlorophenyldimethylurea for all these processes. However, when Cr toxicity to above variables was assessed in their presence the interaction was less than additive. An initial (10–15 min) concentration-dependent rapid Cr uptake, followed by a slow one, indicates a biphasic uptake. A significant inhibition of Cr uptake in the presence of both these metabolic inhibitors suggests the involvement of metabolic processes in Cr uptake.

Toxicity of chromium and tin to Anabaena doliolum. Interaction with sulphur-containing amino acids and thiols.

SummaryToxicity of chromium and tin on growth, heterocyst differentiation, nitrogenase activity and14CO2 uptake ofAnabaena doliolum and its amelioration by sulphur-containing amino acids and thiols has been studied. The final growth yield was found to be approximately 51% and 58% of control at sublethal concentration of chromium and tin respectively. Among various amino acids tested, cysteine (0.05 mM) significantly restored growth, heterocyst differentiation, nitrogenase and14CO2 uptake of test alga. Dithiothreitol (1 mM) restored all the parameters and processes better than monothiol, mercaptoethanol. It is obvious from present investigation that sulphur-containing amino acids and thiols, viz. cysteine, methionine, cystine, mercaptoethanol and dithiothreitol, may appreciably alleviate the toxicity of heavy metals in N2-fixing cyanobacteria if present in an aquatic ecosystem.Toxicity of chromium and tin on growth, heterocyst differentiation, nitrogenase activity and 14CO2 uptake of Anabaena doliolum and its amelioration by sulphur-containing amino acids and thiols has been studied. The final growth yield was found to be approximately 51% and 58% of control at sublethal concentration of chromium and tin respectively. Among various amino acids tested, cysteine (0.05 mM) significantly restored growth, heterocyst differentiation, nitrogenase and 14CO2 uptake of test alga. Dithiothreitol (1 mM) restored all the parameters and processes better than monothiol, mercaptoethanol. It is obvious from present investigation that sulphur-containing amino acids and thiols, viz. cysteine, methionine, cystine, mercaptoethanol and dithiothreitol, may appreciably alleviate the toxicity of heavy metals in N2-fixing cyanobacteria if present in an aquatic ecosystem.

Impact of chromium and tin on a nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium Anabaena doliolum: Interaction with bivalent cations

The toxicity of chromium and tin on growth, uptake of NO3- and NH4+, nitrate reductase and glutamine synthetase activity of Anabaena doliolum, and its interaction with bivalent cations, viz. Ca2+, Mg2+, Mn2+, Ni2+, Co2+, and Zn2+, has been studied. Some interacting cations, viz. Ca, Mg, and Mn, substantially antagonized the toxic effects of chromium and tin with reference to growth and nutrient (NO3- and NH4+) uptake in the hierarchical sequence Ca greater than Mg greater than Mn, whereas the sequence of hierarchy was Mn greater than Mg greater than Ca for nitrate reductase and glutamine synthetase activity of A. doliolum. A synergistically inhibitory pattern of interaction was noted for all the parameters, viz. growth, uptake of NO3- and NH4+, nitrate reductase and glutamine synthetase activity of A. doliolum, when Ni, Co, and Zn were used in combination with test metals in the growth medium. These bivalent cations followed the synergistic inhibition sequence Ni greater than Co greater than Zn and potentiated the toxicity of test metals in the N2-fixing cyanobacterium under study.