Biochemical and Enzymatic investigation of Westiellopsis prolifica Janet in response to mercury stress
- P. G. Department of Environmental Science and Technology, Institute of Science and Technology for Advanced Studies and Research (ISTAR).Vallabh Vidyanagar-388 120, Gujarat, INDIA.
- Department of Bioscience and environmental science, Natubhai V Patel College of Pure and Applied Science (NVPAS), Vallabh Vidyanagar-388 120, Gujarat, INDIA.
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Cyanobacterial species are a large group of organisms largely used for the removal of heavy metals present in the various ecosystems of environment. In the present work we report the toxic effect of mercury on Westiellopsis prolifica Janet. BG-11 medium with different concentrations of Hg+2 was used to observe the effect on the organism. Effect of Hg+2 on the organismwas studied by estimating the growth, metabolic and enzymatic activities recorded after sixteen days. An increase in heavy metal concentration caused a decrease in growth along with a tremendous reduction in metabolites like carbohydrates and proteins. Also, a fall in activity of assimilating enzymes was observed with the rise in Hg+2 concentrations. Whereas, the amount of free amino acids and phenol increased at lower concentration but showed a decrease with increasing concentrations of Hg+2. The changes in the DNA content were also observed when determined by Agarose Gel Electrophoresis. The experimental conditions used in the present work are simple and have low operational cost. Thus, Westiellopsis prolifica Janet can be used as a bioremediation tool for heavy metal contamination.
[Nirmal K,J.I., Khushboo B., Rita K., Jeegna B. (2015); Biochemical and Enzymatic investigation of Westiellopsis prolifica Janet in response to mercury stress Int. J. of Adv. Res. 3 (Jul). 1018-1029] (ISSN 2320-5407). www.journalijar.com
