Toxicity of nickel and silver to Nostoc muscorum: interaction with ascorbic acid, glutathione, and sulfur-containing amino acids
Exposure of Nostoc muscorum to different concentrations of Ni and Ag brought about reduction in growth, carbon fixation, heterocyst production, and nitrogenase activity and increase in the loss of ions (K+, Na+). In an attempt to ameliorate the toxicity of test metals by ascorbic acid, glutathione, and sulfur-containing amino acids (L-cysteine and L-methionine), it was found that the level of protection by ascorbic acid and glutathione was more for Ag than Ni. However, metal-induced inhibition of growth and carbon fixation was equally ameliorated by methionine. But the level of protection by cysteine was quite different, i.e., 27% for Ni and 22% for Ag. Protection of metal toxicity in N. muscorum by amino acids lends further support to self-detoxifying ability of cyanobacteria because they are known to synthesize all essential amino acids.
- Research Organization:
- Banaras Hindu Univ., Varanasi (India)
- OSTI ID:
- 5295264
- Journal Information:
- Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf.; (United States), Vol. 14:1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ASCORBIC ACID
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CYANOBACTERIA
GROWTH
CYSTEINE
GLUTATHIONE
METHIONINE
NICKEL
TOXICITY
SILVER
CARBON DIOXIDE FIXATION
INHIBITION
NITROGENASE
RESPONSE MODIFYING FACTORS
WATER POLLUTION
AMINO ACIDS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
DRUGS
ELEMENTS
ENZYMES
LIPOTROPIC FACTORS
METALS
MICROORGANISMS
NITRO-GROUP DEHYDROGENASES
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
OXIDOREDUCTASES
PEPTIDES
POLLUTION
POLYPEPTIDES
PROTEINS
RADIOPROTECTIVE SUBSTANCES
THIOLS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VITAMINS
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology