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.

Effect of UV-B on photosynthesis, membrane lipids and MAAs in marine cyanobacterium, Phormidium corium (Agardh) Gomont.

UV-B radiation (0.8 +/- 0.1 mW cm(-2)) and UV-B radiation supplemented with low intensity PAR (approximately 80 micro mol m(-2) s(-1)) affected photosynthesis at the level of antenna system as well as PS II reaction centre (Fo and Fm declined) in Phormidium corium (Agardh) Gomont. UV-B radiation resulted in decline in sugar content, peroxidation of membrane lipids as well as quantitative and qualitative changes in phosphoglycolipids and neutral lipids. Fatty acid profile did not show any qualitative changes due to the treatment, however, UV-B supplemented with low PAR resulted in slightly higher level of unsaturation. P. corium synthesized MAAs in response to UV-B. Quantity of MAAs increased when UV-B treatment was supplemented with low level PAR.