Effect of mercuric ion on the growth, photosynthesis, and nitrogenase activity of Anabaena inaequalis

Stratton, Glenn W.; Huber, A.; Corke, Charles T.

doi:10.1128/aem.38.3.537-543.1979

Cited by 58 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 28 publications

(38 reference statements)

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“…Inhibition of nitrogen fixation might be due to either direct inhibition of the nitrogenase protein complex by Hg or to disruption of the flow of energy as described in the case of Anabaena inaqualis (Stratton et al 1979). It has been reported by many workers that mercury has high affinity towards thiol compounds and if mercury accumulates intracellularly it could interact with numerous enzyme systems of the cells (Passow et al 1961 ;Valee et al 1972).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mercury is an extremely toxic element to the living system. That the toxic effect of this metal in the environment can be counteracted by microbial cells is now well established (Furukawa and Tonomura 1972;Schottel et al 1974;Summers and Silver 1978 ;Stratton et al 1979 ;Booth and Jeffrey 1984;Mechler et al 1986 ;Pahan et al 1993). Many common bacterial cells may carry plasmids conferring resistance to H t + and organomercurials (Summers and Silver 1978 ;Misra 1992).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…However there is little information about the effect of mercury or mercury-based pesticides and fungicides on nitrogen fixation (Prasad et al 1986 ;Ray et al 1989Ray et al , 1992. However, the effect of mercury on the growth and nitrogenase activity of mercury-sensitive cyanobacteria Anabaena inaequalis was studied by Stratton et al (1979). Some workers have reported the effect of Hg on in situ nitrogen fixation in an algal community and in a Rhizobium system (Tw 1977;Rai et al 1990).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Studies on the effect of mercury and organomercurial on the growth and nitrogen fixation by mercury‐resistant Azotobacter strains

Ghosh

Sadhukhan

Ghosh

et al. 1996

Journal of Applied Bacteriology

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Five nitrogen-fixing Azotobacter strains isolated from agricultural farms in West Bengal, India, were resistant to mercuric ion and organomercurials. Resistance of Hg-resistant bacteria to mercury compounds is mediated by the activities of mercuric reductase and organomercurial lyase in the presence of NADPH and GSH as cofactors. These bacteria showed an extended lag phase in the presence of 10-50 pmol I-' HgCI,. Nitrogen-fixing ability of these isolates was slightly inhibited when the mercuryresistant bacterial cells were preincubated with 10 pmol I-' HgCI,. Acetylene reduction by these bacteria was significantly inhibited (91-97%) by 50 pmol I-' HgCI,. However, when GSH and NADPH were added to the acetylene reduction assay mixture containing 50 pmol 1-' HgC12, only 42-5Oo/o inhibition of nitrogenase activity was observed. NADPH and GSH might have a role in suppressing the inhibition of N2-fixation in the presence of H g compounds either by assisting Hg-detoxifying enzymes to lower H g concentration in the assay mixture or by formation of adduct comprising H g and GSH which is unable to inhibit nitrogen fixation.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Studies on the effect of mercury and organomercurial on the growth and nitrogen fixation by mercury‐resistant Azotobacter strains

Ghosh

Sadhukhan

Ghosh

et al. 1996

Journal of Applied Bacteriology

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“…Mercury is the most toxic heavy metal of the 'non-essential' group and is widely distributed in water bodies. Mercury inhibits or stops algal growth (Kamp-Nielsen, 1971;Nuzzi, 1972;Hannan & Patouillet, 1972;Rice, Leighty & McLeod, 1973;Zingmark & Miller, 1975 ;Agrawal & Kumar, 1975 ;Hutchinson & Stokes, 1975 ; De Filippis & Pallaghy, 1 9 7 6~; Stratton, Huber & Corke, 1979), inhibits photosynthesis (Zingmark & Miller, 1975;De Filippis & Pallaghy, 19766;Blinn, Tompkins & Zaleski, I 977), decreases nitrogen fixation by inhibiting nitrogenase activity (Stratton et al, 1979), and reduces chlorophyll content (Geike, 1977;De Filippis & Pallaghy, 19763;Rai & Dey, 1980;Rai & Khatoniar, 1980;Rai, Gaur & Kumar, 1981). De Filippis & Pallaghy (1976b), and Rai et al ( I 981) have noticed an increase in the carotenoid : chlorophyll ratio following supplementation of mercury to the algal culture medium.…”

Section: (I) Mercurymentioning

confidence: 99%

Phycology and Heavy‐metal Pollution

1981

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Summary 1. All heavy metals, including those that are essential micronutrients (e.g. copper, zinc, etc.), are toxic to algae at high concentrations. 2. One characteristic feature of heavy‐metal toxicity is the poisoning and inactivation of enzyme systems. Many of the physiological and biochemical processes, viz., photosynthesis, respiration, protein synthesis and chlorophyll synthesis, etc., are severely affected at high metal concentrations. 3. Some algae inhabit waters chronically polluted with heavy‐metal‐laden wastes from mining and smelting operations; Nodularia sp., Oscillatoria sp., Cladophora sp., Hormidium sp., Fucus sp. and Laminaria sp., etc., occur in metal‐rich waters. These algal forms are probably more capable of combating the toxic levels of heavy metals and this attribute is a result of physiological and/or genetic adaptations. The sensitivity or tolerance to heavy metals varies amongst different algae. The phenomena of multiple tolerance and co‐tolerance may be exhibited by some algae. 4. Heavy‐metal pollution causes reduction in species diversity leading to the dominance of a few tolerant algal forms. The primary productivity also decreases after metal supplementation. 5. The uptake and accumulation of heavy metals can be active (energy‐dependent), passive (energy‐independent), or both. 6. Heavy metals can be safely stored as intranuclear complexes by some algae. Notwithstanding this, some changes in the cell wall can enable the algae to tolerate heavy metals by checking the entry of the metals (exclusion mechanism). 7. The metal content of algae growing in a waterbody may yield valuable information for simulating heavy metal pollution: several species of Cladophora and Fucus have been extensively used for this purpose. 8. Several factors affect and determine toxicity of heavy metals to algae. At low pH, the availability of heavy metals to algae is greatly increased, as a consequence of which pronounced toxicity is evident. Hard waters decrease metal toxicity. Some ions, e.g., calcium, magnesium and phosphorus, can alleviate toxicity of metals. 9. The presence of other metals can influence toxicity of a heavy metal through simple additive effect or by synergistic and antagonistic interactions. Similarly, other pollutants can influence heavy‐metal toxicity. 10. The toxicity of heavy metals depends upon their chemical speciation. Various ionic forms of a metal characterized by different valency states, may be differentially toxic to a test alga. 11. Amino acids, organic matter, humic acids, fulvic acid, EDTA, NTA, etc. can complex with heavy metals and render them unavailable. This may eventually lead to less toxicity. 12. Heavy‐metal toxicity largely depends upon algal population density: the denser the population the more numerous the cellular sites available, leading to decreased toxicity.

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“…Anumber of inhibitors of nitrogenase activity (and hence of nitrogciase-mediated H, formation) have been employed (Bothe & Loos, 1972;Lex & Stewart, 1973;Bothe et al, 1977a;Daday et al, 1977;Kosyak et al, 1978;Tetley & Bishop, 1979;Chellappa, 1980), and are useful in distinguishing hydrogenase-from nitrogenase-mediated H, formation, or for studying the consumption in the absence of nitrogenase-mediated H, formation. Potential means of chemically stimulating nitrogenase activity (and H, formation) include the addition of low levels of Hg2+ (Stratton, Huber & Corke, 1979) or glyoxylate ( 5 mM) (Bergman, 1980a, b). The latter chemical may act as a photorespiration inhibitor, making more reductant available to nitrogenase.…”

Section: ( C ) Incubation Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 99%