BIOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND FATTY ACID CONTENT OF FILAMENTOUS NITROGEN-FIXING CYANOBACTERIA

The biochemical composition and fatty acid content of twelve strains of filamentous, heterocystous, nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria have been determined. When grown under diazotrophic conditions, protein, carbohydrate, lipid, and nucleic acids comprised 37–52%, 16–38%, 8–13%, and 8–11% of the dry weight, respectively. The presence of a combined nitrogen source resulted in an increase in the protein content of the cells and a decrease in the levels of lipids and carbohydrates, although biomass productivity was not affected significantly. Biochemical composition also changed during culture growth, with the highest levels of proteins and lipids occurring as the culture entered stationary phase, whereas the highest levels of carbohydrate and nucleic acids were found during the exponential phase. Total fatty acid levels in the strains assayed ranged between 3 and 5.7% of the dry weight. With regard to fatty acid composition, all strains showed high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and saturated fatty acids (SAFAs), with values of 24–45% and 31–52% of total fatty acids, respectively, whereas the levels of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) were in general lower (11– 32%). Palmitic acid (16:0) was the most prevalent SAFA, whereas palmitoleic (16:1n- 7) and oleic acid (18:1n-9) were the most abundant MUFAs in all the strains. Among PUFAs, γ-linolenic acid (GLA, 18:3n-6) was present at high levels (18% of total fatty acids) in Nostoc sp. (Chile) and at lower levels (3.6% of total fatty acids) in Anabaenopsis sp. The presence of GLA has not been previously reported in these genera of cyanobacteria. The rest of the strains exhibited high levels (12–35% of total fatty acids) of α-linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3n-3). Linoleic acid (18:2n-6) was also present at a substantial level in most of the strains. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) was also detected in Nostoc sp. (Albufera). Some filamentous nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria therefore represent potential sources of commercially interesting fatty acids.     

An assessment of biopotential of three cyanobacterial isolates from Antarctic for carotenoid production

Specific growth rates and carotenoid contents of three Antarctic and tropical strains of cyanobacteria viz. Anabaena sp., Phormidium sp. and Nostoc sp. were compared in batch and mass cultures to assess bio-potential of Antarctic strains for cost-effective carotenoid production. Antarctic strains though exhibited slightly lower specific growth rates, but contained higher carotenoid contents (per unit dry wt.), than tropical strains. Modification of normal composition of BG-11 culture medium, by altering nitrogen and carbon sources resulted in 25-38% increase in carotenoid content in both types of strains. Mass-culture in indoor and semi-outdoor bio-reactors resulted in 39-113% higher carotenoid content in Antarctic strains, compared to their respective tropical strains. The observations suggest that Antarctic cyanobacteria may have potential as superior strains for maximizing the yield of carotenoids.     

Fatty acid composition of Spirulina strains grown under various environmental conditions

The fatty acid distribution in 19 strains of Spirulina was studied. All but one contained γ-linolenic acid (GLA). No GLA was found in S. subsalsa, which had a very high content of palmitoleic acid. The fatty acid content of all but one of the tested strains increased with cultivation temperature and the relative amount of polyunsaturated fatty acid decreased. The highest content of GLA was found at 30–35° for most strains. High light intensities at a high temperature (38°), while not affecting the fatty acid composition, had a drastic effect on the fatty acid content, reducing it by as much as 46 %.     

Use of an unsaturated fatty acid auxotroph of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to modify the lipid composition and function of mitochondrial membranes

KD115 (ol1), an unsaturated fatty acid auxotroph of S. cerevisiae, was grown in a semi-synthetic medium supplemented with 3.3 x 10(-4) M palmitoleic (cis 16:1) or palmitelaidic (trans 16:1) acids. The parent strain S288C was studied as a control. The lipid composition (fatty acids, neutral lipids, and phospholipids), respiratory activity (O2 consumption), and ultrastructure were compared in mutant yeast grown with each unsaturated fatty acid supplement. The fatty acid supplement represented 70-80% of the yeast fatty acids. Yeast grown in trans 16:1 contained more squalene, a higher ratio of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) to phosphatidylcholine (PC), and had 10-20% of the respiratory activity compared to the same yeast grown in cis 16:1. The mitochondrial morphology of yeast in each growth supplement was notably different. The use of mixtures of cis and trans 16:1 in different proportions revealed that the PE/PC ratio, the squalene content, the respiratory defect, and the mitochondrial morphology were all similarly dependent on the fraction of trans 16:1 in the mixtures. As little as 10-20% of cis 16:1 in the mixture was sufficient to abrogate the physiological effects of trans 16:1 on each of the parameters noted above. The combined effects of high content of trans unsaturated fatty acid and the altered phospholipid composition seem to account for the decrease in lipid fluidity, the defective structure and function of the mitochondrial membrane.     

絮凝特性对自絮凝颗粒酵母耐酒精能力的影响及作用机制

首次报道絮凝特性提高酵母菌耐酒精能力的现象及其机制。融合株SPSC与其两亲本粟酒裂殖酵母变异株和酿酒酵母变异株于 30℃经 18% (V/V)酒精冲击 7h的存活率分别为 52%、37%和 9%。细胞膜磷脂脂肪酸组成分析表明 ,两絮凝酵母 (融合株SPSC和粟酒裂殖酵母变异株 )的棕榈酸含量均约为非絮凝酵母 (酿酒酵母变异株 )的两倍 ,而棕榈油酸和油酸的含量明显低于后者。研究表明 ,当两絮凝酵母在培养中由于柠檬酸钠的作用 (抑制絮凝体的形成 )而以游离细胞生长存在时 ,其细胞膜磷脂棕榈酸含量显著下降 ,而棕榈油酸和油酸的含量明显增加 ,结果细胞膜磷脂脂肪酸组成特点与酿酒酵母变异株相似 ;而且实验表明 ,絮凝特性的消失伴随菌体耐酒精能力的急剧下降 ,变得与酿酒酵母变异株的水平相当。这些结果提示两絮凝酵母具有较强的耐酒精能力与其细胞膜磷脂脂肪酸组成中含有更高比例的棕榈酸有关。     

Lipid Fatty Acid Composition and Thermophilicity of Cyanobacteria

An analysis of lipid fatty acid composition in several unicellular and filamentous forms of mesophilic and thermophilic cyanobacteria was performed. At 47°C (the temperature of thermophilic cyanobacteria maintenance in the collection), the unicellular thermophilic Synechococcus strains were devoid of polyenoic acids as distinct from the mesophilic forms of this genus at the temperature of 20°C (the temperature of this cyanobacterial maintenance in the collection). In the thermophilic Synechococcus elongatusIPPAS B-267 strain, a decrease in temperature did not result in the occurrence of C18 polyenoic acids, but the quantitative relationship between the saturated and unsaturated fatty acids (S/U ratio) was decreased twofold. In contrast, the culturing of mesophilic strains at 25–32°C resulted in an increase in the S/U ratio due to an increase in the proportion of the 16:0 acid. In the Synechococcus IPPAS B-434 strain, this treatment resulted in a decrease in the relative content of monoenoic, mainly hexadecenoic, acids. The cyanobacterium Gloeobacter violaceus, which lacks thylakoids, and whose photosystems are formed in a cell membrane, contained polyenoic acids. The filamentous thermophilic cyanobacterium Phormidium laminosum, at the maintenance temperature of 47°C, did contain polyenoic acids, but their proportion was considerably lower than that in the filamentous mesophilic forms, such as Tolypothrix sp. and Spirulina platensis. A relative content of hexadecenoic acids in Ph. laminosum was higher than in the mesophilic forms. A possible role of hexadecenoic acids in the processes of adaptation of cyanobacteria to high temperatures is discussed. A relationship between the characteristics of fatty acid composition fixed by evolution and the changes caused by adaptation to a particular environment is considered.     

Molecular evaluation of the metabolism of estrogenic di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in Mycolicibacterium sp.

Cyanobacteria are prokaryotic organisms with wide morphological and metabolic diversity. By means of photosynthesis, they convert inorganic compounds into biomolecules, which may have commercial interest. In this work, we evaluated 20 cyanobacterial strains regarding their physiological aspects such as growth, photosynthesis and biochemical composition, some of which are revealed here for the first time. The organisms were cultivated in cylindrical photobioreactors (CPBR) for 144 h and the biomass was obtained. The light inside cultures was constant throughout experimental time and maintained at the saturation irradiance (Ik) of each species. Culture pH was maintained within 7.8 and 8.4 by automatic CO2 bubbling. Growth rate, dry biomass, chlorophyll a, carotenoids, phycocyanin, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) and antioxidant activity were determined. The proportionality of the biochemical composition varied among species, as well as the growth rates. Leptolyngbya sp. and Nostoc sp. (CCIBt3249) showed growth rates in the range of 0.7–0.8 d−1, followed by Rhabdorderma sp. (~ 0.6 d−1), and Phormidium sp. (~ 0.5 d−1). High carotenoid content was obtained in Rhabdoderma sp. (4.0 μg mL−1) and phycocyanin in Leptolyngbya sp. (60 μg mL−1). Higher total proteins were found in the genus Geitlerinema (75% DW), carbohydrates in Microcystis navacekii (30% DW) and lipids in Phormidium sp. (15% DW). Furthermore, Aphanocapsa holsatica showed the highest antioxidant activity (65%) and Sphaerocavum brasiliense, Microcystis aeruginosa, Nostoc sp. (CCIBt3249) and A. holsatica higher levels of PHA (~ 2% DW). This study reports on the biochemical composition of cyanobacteria that can impact the biotechnology of their production, highlighting potential strains with high productivity of specific biomolecules.     

Production of ω3 fatty acids in marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. strain NKBG 15041c via genetic engineering

Omega-3 fatty acids (ω3 FAs) have attracted attention because they have various health benefits for humans. Fish oils are currently major sources of ω3 FAs, but a sustainable supply of ω3 FAs based on fish oils is problematic because of the increasing demand. In this study, the production potential of a genetically engineered marine cyanobacterium, Synechococcus sp. strain NKBG 15041c, was examined as an alternative source of ω3 FAs. A change in fatty acid composition of this cyanobacterium was successfully induced by the expression of a heterologous Δ6-desaturase, and the transformants synthesized stearidonic acid, which the wild type cannot produce. As a result of optimization of culture conditions, maximal contents of stearidonic acid and total ω3 FAs reached 12.2 ± 2.4 and 118.1 ± 3.5 mg/g, respectively. The maximal ω3 FA productivity was 4.6 ± 0.7 mg/(L⋅day). These are the highest values of the contents of stearidonic acid and ω3 FAs in genetically engineered cyanobacteria reported thus far. Therefore, genetically engineered Synechococcus sp. strain NKBG 15041c may be a promising sustainable source of ω3 fatty acids.     

集胞藻PCC6803膜脂循环关键基因酶学性质和生理功能

集胞藻PCC6803野生型和其脂酰ACP合酶敲除突变株的自由脂肪酸含量和组成表明膜脂的重构和降解是细胞内自由脂肪酸的来源之一。在这一过程中脂肪酶起到关键性作用。通过基因组数据库检索,发现集胞藻PCC6803基因组中只有一个脂肪酶编码基因sll1969,但是还没有其功能相关的生化证据。为了确定该基因的功能及其在脂肪酸代谢途径中的作用,加深对集胞藻PCC6803脂肪酸代谢途径的了解,文中将sll1969基因在大肠杆菌中过表达和体外纯化,得到重组蛋白Sll1969,并对其酶学性质进行初步分析。在30℃条件下,测得Sll1969以对硝基苯丁酸酯作为底物时的Km和kcat值分别为(1.16±0.01)mmol/L和(332.8±10.0)/min;该脂肪酶的最适反应温度为55℃。通过比较分析sll1969突变株中脂肪酸含量和组成变化,发现sll1969的表达量与细胞自由脂肪酸的产量呈正相关,但Sll1969不是细胞中唯一的脂肪酶。     

深圳海域6株破囊壶菌的生长特性及油脂成分分析

【目的】从深圳海域分离得到6株破囊壶菌,对其基本形态特征、生活史和油脂含量等进行研究,开发其应用潜力。【方法】使用松花粉垂钓法对破囊壶菌进行分离,通过18S r RNA基因测序的方法对破囊壶菌进行鉴定,用显微镜观察其基本形态特征,通过使用尼罗红(Nile Red)染色法对油脂含量进行定性检测,并用GC-MS分析菌株的油脂含量和组成情况。【结果】18S r RNA基因鉴定其属于Aurantiochytrium sp.、Schizochytrium sp.和Thraustochytrium sp.三个属。破囊壶菌的脂肪酸主要成分为十六碳饱和脂肪酸和二十二碳六烯酸(DHA),其中Mn11和Mn15的饱和脂肪酸含量达到总脂肪酸含量的70%以上,Mn16和Sw7的DHA产量分别达到1.29 g/L和1.26 g/L。【结论】Mn11和Mn15菌株适合用于生物柴油的生产,Mn16和Sw7是DHA发酵生产的潜力菌株。     

REGULATION OF FATTY ACID COMPOSITION BY IRRADIANCE LEVEL IN THE EUSTIGMATOPHYTE NANNOCHLOROPSIS SP.1

Chemical composition and quantitative cytological measurements were determined for the eustigmatophyte Nannochloropsis sp. Cultures were grown in turbidostats at three irradiance levels: growth-limiting light, growth-saturating light and photoinhibiting light. Cellular chlorophyll a content decreased as irradiance level increased, concomitant with a disproportionate reduction in carotenoid content. Nannochloropsis sp. grown in saturating light was characterized by a high content of lipid, fatty acids and carbohydrate compared with cells grown in light-limiting conditions. The increase in cellular lipid content coincided with a reduction in the percentage of eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5) and arachidonic acid (C20:4), fatty acids that are mainly associated with galactolipids, and with an increase in the relative abundance of palmitic acid (C16:0) and palmitoleic acid (C16:1). At growth limiting light conditions, Nannochloropsis sp. preferentially synthesized galactolipids; however, as growth became light saturated, relatively more neutral lipids, mainly triacylglycerols, were synthesized. Changes in lipid content and composition were qualitatively related to changes in cell morphology. Cells grown under low light conditions were characterized by a large relative volume of chloroplast, high surface density of thylakoid membranes and low relative volume of lipid storage bodies. The physiological implications of the changes in cellular lipid composition and ultrastructure are discussed in relation to light/shade adaptation.     

Effect of temperature and growth phase on fatty acid composition of the psychrophilic Vibrio sp. strain no. 5710

Abstract The cellular fatty acid composition of the psychrophilic Vibrio sp. strain No. 5710 isolated from a deep-sea sediment sample was analyzed. The presence of docosahexaenoic acid (22:6) was demonstrated as found previously in other deep-sea bacteria, and the relative amount of 22:6 decreased as the growth temperature increased. A temperature shift from 10°C to 0°C resulted in a relative increase of 22:6, and an opposite shift led to a decrease. In addition, hexadecanoic acid (16:0) was found to increase as the growth temperature increased. Therefore, it is suggested that the adaptation of 5710 to the growth temperature was carried out by the changes in the relative amounts of 22:6 and 16:0. When 5710 was grown at low temperature, it increased the relative amount of 22:6 presumably to maintain membrane fluidity at that temperature. In contrast, 5710 grown at high temperature probably maintained the membrane fluidity by increasing the amount of a saturated fatty acid, 16:0. Furthermore, observation of the fatty acid compositions at mid-exponential phase and early stationary phase revealed the proportions of several fatty acids, including a major fatty acid, 9- cis -hexadecenoic acid (16:1c, palmitoleic acid), were affected by the growth phase which may be due to the physiological difference between the growth phases.     

Formation and degradation of lipid bodies found in the riboflavin-producing fungus Ashbya gossypii

Microdroplets in the hyphae of Ashbya gossypii were found to become stained by Nile red. Purification of the stainable substance showed that the yellow fluorescent bodies consisted of triacylglycerol. During growth on glucose as the carbon source 8%–12% of the mycelial dry weight was found to be neutral lipid. When glucose declined in the medium, the content decreased to 3%–4% and the respiration quotient shifted to 0.6 indicating a reserve function of the fat. The fatty acid composition of the storage lipid was found to be strongly influenced by the carbon source. Mycelia cultivated on glucose contained 5% linoleic acid and 20% palmitoleic acid in their neutral fat while linoleic acid made up 54% and palmitoleic acid was not detectable (< 0.1%) in soybean-oil-grown mycelia. When plant oil was given as the sole carbon source, the fatty acid composition of the storage lipid showed a high similarity to the fed fat. ¹⁴C-labelled free oleic acid added to a culture growing on soybean oil was immediately incorporated into the fungal lipid. A pulse of 0.9 g/l free palmitoleic acid, fed during growth on olive oil, increased the content of this particular fatty acid in the fungal triacylglycerol from 0.8% to 9.6%. In addition, a liberation of free fatty acid and diacylglyceride was found in the culture supernatant when pure triolein was given as the sole carbon source. Obviously, the fungus cleaved the lipid serving as the carbon source extracellularly and used the liberated fatty acids for its storage lipid formation.This paper is dedicated to Prof. Dr. F. Wagner on the occasion of his 65th birthday     

不同氮源及氮浓度对真眼点藻纲微藻生长及油脂积累的影响

以真眼点藻纲8株微藻(类波氏真眼点藻(Eustigmatos cf. polyphem)、大真眼点藻(Eustigmatos magnus)、波氏真眼点藻(Eustigmatos polyphem)、魏氏真眼点藻(Eustigmatos vischeri)、斧形魏氏藻(Vischeria helvetica)、点状魏氏藻(Vischeria punctata)、星形魏氏藻(Vischeria stellata)和眼点拟微绿球藻(Nan-nochloropsis oculata))为研究材料, 用3种氮源(硝酸钠、碳酸氢铵或尿素)和4种氮浓度(18、9、6和3 mmol) 在改良的BG-11培养基中对藻细胞进行培养。比较分析这8株微藻在不同培养条件下的藻液pH、生物量、油脂含量、脂肪酸组成的差异, 从而筛选出适合该类微藻生长和油脂积累的最适氮源与最佳氮浓度。结果表明, 这8株微藻均能在3种氮源中生长, 但是随着培养时间延长, 以碳酸氢铵和尿素为氮源时藻液pH逐渐降低, 其变化范围为5.0—6.0, 而以硝酸钠为氮源时藻液pH保持在7.0—8.0, 变化不大。当以尿素为氮源培养时, 能获得较高的生物量, 但是不同藻株在不同尿素浓度时达到最高生物量。最高生物量是波氏真眼点藻(E. polyphem)在9 mmol时达到, 为10.96 g/L。总脂含量分析发现, 在低氮浓度下均能促进8株微藻油脂的积累, 真眼点藻属中的魏氏真眼点藻(E. vischeri)在8株藻中获得最高油脂含量, 达到59.24%。进一步对脂肪酸分析发现, 8株微藻总脂肪酸含量为细胞干重的50%—58%, 主要脂肪酸组成为豆蔻酸(C14鲶0)、棕榈酸(C16鲶0)、棕榈油酸(C16鲶1)、油酸(C18鲶1)和二十碳五烯酸(C20鲶5), 其中拟微绿球藻(N. oculata)细胞中棕榈酸的含量最高占总脂肪酸50%左右; 其他7株微藻细胞中棕榈油酸的含量较高, 其占总脂肪酸含量范围在40%—60%。8株微藻均表现出较高的生物量与油脂积累能力, 以尿素为氮源, 氮浓度为6 mmol时更有利于该类微藻生物量和油脂的积累。总体来说, 真眼点藻纲的微藻是一类极具潜力适合于微藻生物燃料生产的微藻, 而真眼点藻属藻株表现更为明显的优势。     

丝状真菌被孢霉产生油脂的研究

被孢霉的三个菌株Mortierella sp.M10,M13与M14生长在以葡萄糖为碳源、尿素为氮源的液体培养基中,所得到的菌丝体内堆积含γ-亚麻酸的油脂。油脂产率以M10菌株为高,而油脂中的γ-亚麻酸含量却以M14菌株为高。这种油脂的脂肪酸中,所含饱和脂肪酸主要有豆蔻酸(C14:0),棕榈酸(C16:0)和硬脂酸(C18:0);所含不饱和脂肪酸主要有棕榈油酸(C16:1),油酸(C18:1),亚油酸(C18:2)以及γ-亚麻酸(C18:3,n-6)。上述被孢霉菌株的培养物接种在含葡萄糖、尿素的培养基中生长大约48小时后,菌丝体顶端细胞形成鼓胀球状,此后仍继续胀大。菌体细胞形态的这种特异变化,可能与胞内油脂的累积有关。     

Differentiation of Three Varieties of Rhizoctonia circinata; var. circinata, var. oryzae and var. zeae on the Basis of Cellular Fatty Acid Composition

Cellular fatty acid analysis was employed to differentiate three varieties of Rhizoctonia circinata ; var. circinata , var. oryzae and var. zeae . Eight fatty acids including myristic (14 : 0), pentadecanoic (15 : 0), palmitic (16 : 0), palmitoleic (16 : 1  cis 9), stearic (18 : 0), oleic (18 : 1  cis 9), linoleic (18 : 2  cis 9,12) and linolenic (18 : 3  cis 9,12) acids were present in isolates of all three varieties of R. circinata . Heptadecanoic acid (17 : 0) was detected in isolates of R. circinata var. zeae but not in isolates of R. circinata var. circinata or R. circinata var. oryzae . Palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids were the major fatty acids found, comprising 94–98% of the whole-cell fatty acid content. The remaining fatty acids were present in small amounts. Based on the composition (%) of fatty acids, isolates of R. circinata var. circinata , R. circinata var. oryzae and R. circinata var. zeae were clearly differentiated into three groups as shown by principal component and cluster analyses. This finding agrees well with the grouping of R. circinata into three varieties based on differences in colony morphology of the vegetative state. In principal component and cluster analysis, isolates of R. circinata var. circinata from Japan and Alaska were indistinguishable.     

Effects of sodium chloride concentration on phospholipid fatty acid composition of yeasts differing in osmotolerance

The effect of growth medium NaCl concentration on the fatty acid composition of phospholipids of 3 strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and 6 osmotolerant yeast strains was examined. The S. cerevisiae strains were characterized by a high content of palmitoleic (C_16:1) acid and by having no polyunsaturated C₁₈ acids, whereas the osmotolerant strains had a low content of C_16:1 and a high proportion of polyenoic C₁₈ acids. An increase of the NaCl concentration from 0% to 8% resulted in a decrease of the cellular phospholipid content on a dry-weight basis, for all strains but one of the osmotolerant strains. For the S. cerevisiae strains increased salinity produced a slight decrease of the proportion of C₁₆ fatty acids with a concomitant increase of C₁₈ acids, whereas the osmotolerant strains showed an increase of the relative content of oleic acid (C_18:1) at the expense of the proportion of polyenoic C₁₈ acids.     

Isolation and analysis of natural compounds from silkworm pupae and effect of its extracts on alcohol detoxification

Silkworm pupae have much potential and many applications as a natural medicine to promote human health. However, their chemical components have not been fully characterized or understood. HPLC analysis was conducted to determine the content ratio (%) of individual amino acids in total protein of the pupae. It showed that glutamic acid (18.3%), histidine (14.6%) and alanine (10.2%) are the most common amino acids in silkworm pupae. Fatty acid composition of silkworm pupae oil was revealed by high‐pressure liquid chromatography and gas chromatography – mass spectroscopy analyses. They contain a high ratio of essential fatty acids, [α‐linolenic acid (ω‐3 fatty acid]+ linoleic acid) (49.0%), and also contain non‐essential fatty acids, oleic acid (19.9%), palmitoleic acid (2.5%), palmitic acid (19.7%), stearic acid (8.6%), and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (0.3%). In addition, they also contain antioxidants, quercetin diglucoside and nutritionally important riboflavin (vitamin B2). This study suggests that silkworm pupae are a nutritionally valuable food product and are applicable as cosmetic components with essential amino acids, essential fatty acids, antioxidants and vitamins. The animal experiment showed that alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity was significantly higher in the liver of mice orally administered with 0.5 mg/mL of silkworm extract and alcohol than with commercial Dawn808? and alcohol, indicating that silkworm pupae extracts have alcohol detoxification activity.     

Effect of UV-B and high visual radiation on photosynthesis in freshwater (nostoc spongiaeforme) and marine (Phormidium corium) cyanobacteria

Human activity is causing depletion of ozone in stratosphere, resulting in increased UV-B radiation and global warming. However, impact of these climatic changes on the aquatic organism (especially marine) is not fully understood. Here, we have studied the effect of excess UV-B and visible radiation on photosynthetic pigments, fatty acids content, lipid peroxidation, nitrogen content, nitrogen reductase activity and membrane proteins, induction of mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) and antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) in freshwater (Nostoc spongiaeform) and marine (Phormidium corium) cyanobacteria. UV-B treatment resulted in an increase in photosynthetic pigments in Nostoc and decrease in Phormidium, but high light treatment caused photobleaching of most of the pigments in both the species. Unsaturation level of fatty acids of both total and glycolipids remained unchanged in both the cyanobacteria, as a result of UV-B and high light treatments. Saturated fatty acids of total and glycolipids declined slightly in Nostoc by both the treatments. but remained unchanged in Phormidium. No changes in the unsaturated lipid content in our study probably suggested adaptation of the organism to the treatments. However, both treatments resulted in peroxidation of membrane lipids, indicating oxidative damage to lipids without any change in the level of unsaturation of fatty acid in the cell membrane. Qualitative and quantitative changes were observed in membrane protein profile due to the treatments. Cyanobacteria were able to synthesize MAAs in response to the UV-B treatment. Both treatments also increased the activities of SOD and APX. In conclusion, the study demonstrated induction of antioxidants such as SOD and APX under visible light treatment and screening pigment (MAAs) under UV-B treatment, which might protect the cyanobacteria from oxidative damage caused by high light and UV-B radiation.