The protective role of melanin, either synthetic or derived from a metastatic lung melanoma nodule, was studied in terms of its ability to interact with active oxygen species (O2., H2O2, RO., ROO., etc.). Both melanins showed the ability to react with O2.. The superoxide dismutase-like activity corresponds to 21 and 10 U/mg for synthetic and tumor melanin, respectively. The latter value accounts for about 8% of the superoxide dismutase activity of cultured melanoma cells. Neither type of melanin showed catalase-like or glutathione peroxidase-like activity. Both types of melanin reacted with RO. and ROO. radicals as determined by inhibition of the lipid peroxidation reaction of rat liver homogenates. The spontaneous lipid peroxidation of rat liver homogenate was inhibited up to 90% and 80% by synthetic and tumor melanin with half-maximal effects at 2.5 and 5.5 micrograms melanin/ml, respectively. The 2,2-azo-bis-(2 amidino propane) (AAPH)-initiated lipid peroxidation of rat liver homogenate was inhibited up to 30% and 20% by synthetic and tumor melanin, with half maximal effect at 120 and 500 micrograms melanin/ml, respectively. Both types of melanin were able to protect the in vitro inactivation of glucose oxidase, which occurs in the presence of AAPH-generated radicals.

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Microcystis are known for their potential ability to synthesize toxins, mainly microcystins (MCs). In order to evaluate the effects of temperature on chlorophyll a (Chl a), growth, physiological responses and toxin production of a native Microcystis aeruginosa, we exposed the cells to low (23°C) and high (29°C) temperature in addition to a 26°C control treatment. Exponential growth rate was significantly higher at 29°C compared to 23°C and control, reaching 0.43, 0.32 and 0.33 day −1 respectively. In addition, there was a delay of the start of exponential growth at 23°C. However, the intracellular concentration of Chl a decreased significantly due to temperature change. A significant increase in intracellular ROS was observed in coincidence with the activation of enzymatic antioxidant catalase (CAT) during the first two days of exposure to 23°and 29°C in comparison to the control experiment, decreasing thereafter to nearly initial values. in cells exposed to 29°C. The same trend was observed for all other MCs except for the least abundant MC-LR which showed a continuous increase during exposure time. Our results suggest a high ability of M. aeruginosa to perceive ROS and to rapidly initiate antioxidant defenses with a differential response on MC production.