Algal Cell Surface Research Articles

ECTOHYDRICITY OF LICHENS AND ROLE OF CORTEX LAYER IN ACCUMULATION OF HEAVY METALS

Abstract Heavy metal and dust pollution absorption through lichen thallus occurs on the surface, that is by means of ectohydric sorption . Protective mechanisms, among which there is heterometric (layered) structure of lichens, play a significant role in limiting this process. The aim of this research was to determine the way the pollution penetrates inside lichen thallus and to determine the role of dermal layer in stopping heavy metals on the thallus surface . Lichen thalli exposed to transport pollution near Krakow-Katowice motorway for half a year were analyzed. With the use of Electron Scanning Microscope Quanta 250 and microanalyser EDEX accumulation of pollutions depositing on the outer lichen surface, on the surface of algal cells, in subcortex layer, on the fungal hyphae surface and intercellular spaces of crack bottom of pseudocyphella were determined. The results of the analysis show an important role of pseudocyphella in the process of pollution penetration inside lichen thallus and protective effectiveness of the upper cortex whose tight structure and thickness of chitinous cell walls of mycelium, relatively thicker in comparison to parenchyma layer, influence its dermal properties. Heavy metal accumulation (Al, Fe, Cu) on the thallus surface, on algal cell surface, on the fungal hyphae surface and deep layers of pseudocyphella cracks is presented by the order: crack > alga > fungi > subcortex layer > thallus surface.

Intracellular urease activity in the lichen Cladonia verticillaris, and its implication for toxicity

Urea is currently used as a nitrogen fertilizer in many plant cultures, such as sugar cane. Several lichen species grow in the edges of the fields fertilized with urea. This implies that the hydrolysis of an excess of urea by soil bacteria or by the lichens themselves would increase the concentration of ammonia in the lichen thallus to a level that may be toxic to the photobiont. However, Cladonia verticillaris produces urease through positive feedback by urea supplied from the medium. This urease is partially secreted to the media or retained on the external surface of algal cells, as demonstrated herein by an adequate cytochemical reaction. This implies that ammonia produced by urea hydrolysis will be immediately dissolved in the water filling the intercellular spaces on the thallus. A possible protection mechanism against eventual ammonia toxicity, derived from the results described here, is also discussed.

Influence of cell properties on rheological characterization of microalgae suspensions

The influences of algal cell size and surface charge on rheological properties of microalgae suspensions were investigated. The effective viscosity of two microalgae suspensions, i.e., the freshwater Chlorella sp. and the marine Chlorella sp., was measured as a function of their volume fractions in the range of 0.70-4.31%. The hydrodynamic diameters of the freshwater Chlorella sp. and the marine Chlorella sp. were measured to be 3.13 and 6.00 μm, respectively. The Zeta potentials of these two algal cells were measured to be -23.73 and -81.81 mV, respectively. The intrinsic viscosities of these two microalgae suspensions were further determined to be 24.7 and 16.1, respectively. Combining with theoretical models, these results indicated that the algal cell size has a predominant effect over cell surface charge in affecting rheological properties of microalgae suspensions. Smaller algal cells result in a higher effective viscosity of the microalgae suspension.

Intracellular Silver Accumulation inChlamydomonas reinhardtiiupon Exposure to Carbonate Coated Silver Nanoparticles and Silver Nitrate

The intracellular silver accumulation ({Ag}(in)) upon exposure to carbonate coated silver nanoparticles (AgNP, 0.5-10 μM, average diameter 29 nm) and silver nitrate (20-500 nM) was examined in the wild type and in the cell wall free mutant of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii at pH 7.5. The {Ag}(in) was measured over time up to 1 h after a wash procedure to remove silver ions (Ag(+)) and AgNP from the algal cell surface. The {Ag}(in) increased with increasing exposure time and with increasing AgNP and AgNO(3) concentrations in the exposure media, reaching steady-state concentrations between 10(-5) and 10(-3) mol L(cell)(-1). According to estimated kinetic parameters, high Ag(+) bioconcentration factors were calculated (>10(3) L L(cell)(-1)). Higher accumulation rate constants were assessed in the cell wall free mutant, indicating a protective role of the cell wall in limiting Ag(+) uptake. The bioavailability of AgNP was calculated to be low in both strains relative to Ag(+), suggesting that AgNP internalization across the cell membrane was limited.

Influence of growth phase on harvesting of Chlorella zofingiensis by dissolved air flotation

The effects of changes in cellular characteristics and dissolved organic matter (DOM) on dissolved air flotation (DAF) harvesting of Chlorella zofingiensis at the different growth phases were studied. Harvesting efficiency increased with Al3+ dosage and reached more than 90%, regardless of growth phases. In the absence of DOM, the ratio of Al3+ dosage to surface functional group concentration determined the harvesting efficiency. DOM in the culture medium competed with algal cell surface functional groups for Al3+, and more Al3+ was required for cultures with DOM than for DOM-free cultures to achieve the same harvesting efficiency. As the culture aged, the increase of Al3+ dosage due to increased DOM was less than the decrease of Al3+ dosage associated with reduced cell surface functional groups, resulting in overall reduced demand for Al3+. The interdependency of Al3+ dosage and harvesting efficiency on concentrations of cell surface functional groups and DOM was successfully modeled.

Relationships between surface‐bound and internalized copper and cadmium and toxicity in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

In the present study, the adsorption and uptake of copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd) in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii were examined to establish fundamental toxicity relationships to glutathione and cell-growth endpoints. Establishing these fundamental relationships of metal accumulation and toxicity metrics is necessary to subsequently implement an algal biotic ligand model. The glutathione response was similar to the response measured from growth endpoints for both internal and adsorbed Cu, indicating that glutathione may be a useful biomarker of toxicity. The glutathione response with Cd contrasted markedly with that observed with Cu and was therefore observed to be a metal-specific biomarker. The density of sites binding metals and the related stability constants for the algal cell surface were also determined. Short exposures to metals (2 h) were conducted, and we determined 6.0 × 10(-6) mol/g sites binding Cu and 2.0 × 10(-6) mol/g sites binding Cd and conditional stability constants as log K' = 7.2 and log K' = 6.7 for Cu and Cd, respectively. Experiments were also conducted to determine the effect on toxicity endpoints of varying nitrate concentrations and different humic acids (HA) in the exposure media. Varying nitrate concentrations did not have an effect on cell growth over 24 h. The surface-adsorbed Cu measurements from the experiments with HA depended on the type and concentration of HA.

A new method for removing microflora from macroalgal surfaces: an important step for natural product discovery

Abstract Numerous marine organisms, including macroalgae, produce bioactive compounds. As chemical extraction processes do not distinguish between compounds originating from the alga and its associated microflora, a key step immediately prior to isolation of molecules, is elimination of epibionts from the alga studied. In chemical, ecological and biotechnological contexts, a clear identification of the source organism, when symbiotic interactions occurs, is crucial. We aimed to improve understanding of specific secondary metabolite production by macroalgae through development of a metho-dology for removing microbial epibionts immediately prior to chemical extraction without damaging algal cell surfaces (to avoid extraction of endogenous macroalgal compounds at this stage). Various solutions were tested: non-polar solvents (dichloromethane and hexane), alcohols (methanol, ethanol and isopropanol), oxidants (sodium hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide and iodine) and a natural product (tea tree oil) at various concentrations and contact times. Five macroalgal species were employed: Chondrus crispus, Fucus serratus, Palmaria palmata, Saccharina latissima and Ulva lactuca. Scanning electron microscopy was used to evaluate the surface integrity. The best epibiont removal rate without damaging tissue was obtained with mixtures of ethanol (40–50%) and sodium hypochlorite (1%). Interestingly, macroalgal moisture content influenced treatment efficacy.

Impact of nano titanium dioxide exposure on cellular structure of Anabaena variabilis and evidence of internalization

The present study investigated the impact of nano titanium dioxide (nTiO(2) ) exposure on the cellular structures of the nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria Anabaena variabilis. Results of the present study showed that nTiO(2) exposure led to observable alteration in various intracellular structures and induced a series of recognized stress responses, including production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), appearance and increase in the abundance of membrane crystalline inclusions, membrane mucilage layer formation, opening of intrathylakoidal spaces, and internal plasma membrane disruption. The production of total ROS in A. variabilis cells increased with increasing nTiO(2) doses and exposure time, and the intracellular ROS contributed to only a small fraction (<10%) of the total ROS measured. The percentage of cells with loss of thylakoids and growth of membrane crystalline inclusions increased as the nTiO(2) dose and exposure time increased compared with controls, suggesting their possible roles in stress response to nTiO(2) , as previously shown for metals. Algal cell surface morphology and mechanical properties were modified by nTiO(2) exposure, as indicated by the increase in cell surface roughness and shifts in cell spring constant determined by atomic force microscopy analysis. The change in cell surface structure and increase in the cellular turgor pressure likely resulted from the structural membrane damage mediated by the ROS production. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis of nTiO(2) aggregates size distribution seems to suggest possible disaggregation of nTiO(2) aggregates when in close contact with microbial cells, potentially as a result of biomolecules such as DNA excreted by organisms that may serve as a biodispersant. The present study also showed, for the first time, with both TEM and Raman imaging that internalization of nTiO(2) particles through multilayered membranes in algal cells is possible. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2011; 30:861-869. © 2010 SETAC.

Biotoxicity of nickel oxide nanoparticles and bio-remediation by microalgae Chlorella vulgaris

Adverse effects of manufactured nickel oxide nanoparticles on the microalgae Chlorella vulgaris were determined by algal growth-inhibition test and morphological observation via transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results showed that the NiO nanoparticles had severe impacts on the algae, with 72 h EC 50 values of 32.28 mg NiO L −1. Under the stress of NiO nanoparticles, C. vulgaris cells showed plasmolysis, cytomembrane breakage and thylakoids disorder. NiO nanoparticles aggregated and deposited in algal culture media. The presence of algal cells accelerated aggregation of nanoparticles. Moreover, about 0.14% ionic Ni was released when NiO NPs were added into seawater. The attachment of aggregates to algal cell surface and the presence of released ionic Ni were likely responsible for the toxic effects. Interestingly, some NiO nanoparticles were reduced to zero valence nickel as determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. The maximum ratios of nickel reduction was achieved at 72 h of exposure, in accordance with the time-course of changes in soluble protein content of treated C. vulgaris, implying that some proteins of algae are involved in the process. Our results indicate that the toxicity and bioavailability of NiO nanoparticles to marine algae are reduced by aggregation and reduction of NiO. Thus, marine algae have the potential for usage in nano-pollution bio-remediation in aquatic system.

Cytotoxicity effects of water dispersible oxidized multiwalled carbon nanotubes on marine alga, Dunaliella tertiolecta

The multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) are novel materials with many potential applications. The ecotoxicity of these materials is not well studied, but it is essential for environmental impact assessments. In this study a commercially available MWNT material was carboxylated by microwave assisted acid oxidation. This functionalized MWNT (f-MWNT) material was examined for toxicity effects using unicellular marine green alga Dunaliella tertiolecta. D. tertiolecta was exposed to f-MWNT which had been pre-equilibrated with culture media for 24 h. Substantial growth lag phase was observed at 5 and 10 mg L −1 f-MWNT, and the resulting 50% effective concentration (EC50) on 96-h growth was 0.82 ± 0.08 mg L −1. During mid-exponential growth phase cytotoxicity was evidenced at 10 mg L −1 f-MWNT in 36% reduction in exponential growth rate, 88 mV more positive glutathione redox potential (indicative of oxidative stress), 5% and 22% reduction in photosystem II (PSII) quantum yield and functional cross section respectively, all relative to the control cultures. However, when the large f-MWNT aggregates in the media with 10 mg L −1 f-MWNT were removed by 0.2 μm filtration, D. tertiolecta did not show significant cytotoxicity effects in any of the above parameters. This suggests that the cytotoxicity effects originated predominately from the large f-MWNT aggregates. Analysis of the f-MWNT aggregation dynamics suggests active interaction between f-MWNT and algal cells or cell metabolites that promoted f-MWNT aggregation formation. The f-MWNT particles were also found absorbed on algal cell surface. The direct contact between f-MWNT and cell surface was likely responsible for reduced PSII functional cross section and oxidative stress during exponential growth.

Modelling the concentration of exuded dimethylsulphoniopropionate (DMSP) in the boundary layer: reply

Our recent paper (Fredrickson and Strom, 2009) explored the signaling function of DMSP, a molecule that plays key physiological and ecological roles in marine microbial communities. Specifically, we tested the feeding deterrent properties of DMSP with both laboratory cultures and field communities of diverse heterotrophic protist grazers. As part of our exploration, we used a simple model to suggest that deterrent concentrations of DMSP could be produced in the phycosphere of a DMSP-producing algal cell upon release of a minute fraction (0.1%) of the cell’s DMSP content. Breckels et al. (Breckels et al., 2009) modified our model to include diffusive losses from the phycosphere, and found DMSP concentrations up to 10-fold lower than our estimates. The fundamental difference between our approach and that of Breckels et al. is that we posited release over short time scales, consistent with active transport, whereas the model of Breckels et al. assumed an equivalent amount of release over a full day. Because diffusion effects scale to time, the difference between the two model estimates is largely a function of the nearly 10 s in a day. To quantify the effect of diffusive losses on short-term release of DMSP, we used Breckels et al.’s equation 2 and data (their Table 2) on the DMSP content and size of the dinoflagellate Heterocapsa pygmaea. We assessed DMSP concentration at the outer edge of a 5-mm thick phycosphere assuming release of 0.1% of cellular DMSP contents over a 2-s period. This yielded concentrations of 6.2 10 pmol L, when compared with the 14.4 pmol L calculated by Breckels et al. assuming release over 24 h. Modeling release from the algal cell surface rather than from a point source at the cell’s center reduces the path length for diffusion by nearly a factor of 2 and will correspondingly further increase modeled phycosphere DMSP concentrations. Therefore, diffusive losses to a release lasting a few seconds are minor, and we argue that the much lower DMSP concentration estimates of Breckels et al. demonstrate not that our model was inadequate, but that that the mechanisms of cellular release of this biologically important molecule are poorly understood. This makes assessment of DMSP’s small-scale patch concentrations and its role in chemical signaling very difficult. Wolfe et al. (Wolfe et al., 2002) presented evidence that algal DMSP cleavage can occur in response to physical or mechanical cues, and microalgae use specific membrane transporters for active efflux of diverse molecules (Croot et al., 2003; Chin et al., 2004; Milligan et al., 2004), which can occur in response to environmental triggers. Does active efflux also occur for DMSP? What are the triggers? Do factors such as cell surface organic layers reduce the diffusion rates of small molecules? How do other organisms react to patches of

Refining ancient carbon dioxide estimates: Significance of coccolithophore cell size for alkenone‐based pCO2 records

Long‐term alkenone‐based pCO2 records are widely applied in paleoclimate evaluations. These pCO2 estimates are based on records of the carbon isotope fractionation that occurs during marine haptophyte photosynthesis (ɛp37:2). In addition to the concentration of aqueous CO2 (CO2(aq)) the magnitude of ɛp37:2 is also influenced by algal growth rates and cell geometry. To date, the influence of haptophyte cell geometry on the expression of ancient ɛp37:2 values has received little attention. This study evaluates changes in cell geometry of ancient alkenone‐producing algae at Deep See Drilling Project Site 516 in the southwest Atlantic Ocean by analyzing individual coccolith dimensions, which are proportional to algal cell volume and surface area. We show that during part of the early Miocene, mean cell sizes of alkenone‐producing algae were smaller relative to modern Emiliania huxleyi. Cell size variations coincide with significant changes in ɛp37:2, with a distinct 6‰ decrease in ɛp37:2 at ∼20.3 Ma associated with a 27% increase in haptophyte cell sizes. These changes in cell size impact ɛp37:2‐based interpretations of growth rate variation and CO2(aq) estimates for this southwest Atlantic site. After correcting for cell geometry, CO2(aq) estimates at Site 516 are consistent with those reported from other oligotrophic sites during this time, resulting in overall low atmospheric pCO2 estimates (&lt;350 ppmv) for the early Miocene.

Iron regeneration and organic iron(III)-binding ligand production during in situ zooplankton grazing experiment

To elucidate iron regeneration and organic iron(III)-binding ligand formation during microzooplankton and copepod grazing on phytoplankton, incubation experiments were conducted in the western subarctic Pacific. During 8 days of dark incubation of ambient water and that amended with plankton concentrate, dissolved iron and organic iron(III)-binding ligands accumulated, approximately proportionally to the decrease in chlorophyll a. The observed increases in dissolved iron concentration were much greater than those expected from the consumption of phytoplankton biomass and previously reported Fe:C value of cultured algal cells, suggesting resolution from colloidal or particulate iron adsorbed onto the algal cell surface. When copepods were added to the ambient water, organic iron(III)-binding ligands accumulated more rapidly than in the control receiving no copepod addition, although consumed phytoplankton biomass was comparable between the two treatments. Bioassay experiment using filtrates collected from the incubation experiment showed that organic ligands formed during microzooplankton grazing reduced the iron bioavailability to phytoplankton and suppressed their growth. Moreover, picoplankton Synechococcus sp. and Micromonas pusilla were more suppressed by the organic ligands than the diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii. In conclusion, through microzooplankton and copepod grazing on phytoplankton, organic iron(III)-binding ligands as well as regenerated iron are released into the ambient seawater. Because the ligands lower iron bioavailability to phytoplankton through complexation and the degree of availability reduction varies among phytoplankton species, grazing by zooplankton can shift phytoplankton community structure in iron-limited waters.

Lectin/glycan interactions play a role in recognition in a coral/dinoflagellate symbiosis

Recognition is an important stage in the establishment of highly specific mutualistic associations. Yet, for the majority of symbioses, very few of the mechanisms involved in recognition and specificity are known. In this study, we provide evidence for a recognition mechanism at the onset of symbiosis between larvae of the coral Fungia scutaria and their endosymbiotic dinoflagellate algae. This recognition step occurs during initial cellular contact between the symbiotic partners through a lectin/glycan interaction. We determined that an intact algal cell surface was required for successful infection of F. scutaria larvae. Modification of the algal cell surface by enzymatic digestion with trypsin or N-glycosidase significantly reduced infection success, and implicated algal cell surface glycans in recognition. Using flow cytometry, alpha-mannose/alpha-glucose and alpha-galactose residues were identified as potential recognition ligands on the algal cell surface. Finally, inhibition of these cell surface glycans significantly reduced infection of F. scutaria larvae by the algae. These data provide evidence that the algal cell surface contains glycan ligands, such as alpha-mannose/alpha-glucose and alpha-galactose, which play a role in recognition during initial contact at the onset of symbiosis with F. scutaria larvae.

The Effect of pH on the Uptake and Toxicity of Copper and Zinc in a Tropical Freshwater Alga (Chlorella sp.)

Copper and zinc toxicity to the freshwater alga Chlorella sp. was determined at a range of pH values (5.5-8.0) in a synthetic softwater (hardness 40-48 mg CaCO(3)/L). The effects of the metals on algal growth (cell division) rate were determined after 48-h exposure at pH 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, and 8.0. The toxicity of both metals was pH dependent. As pH decreased from 8.0 to 5.5, the copper concentration required to inhibit the algal growth rate by 50% (IC50) increased from 1.0 to 19 microg/L. For zinc, the IC50 increased from 52 to 2,700 microg/L over the same pH range. Changes in solution speciation alone did not explain the increased toxicity observed as the pH increased. Modelled Cu(2+) and Zn(2+) concentrations decreased with increasing pH, whereas toxicity was observed to increase. Measurements of extracellular (cell-bound) metal concentrations support the biotic ligand model (BLM) theory of competition between protons (H(+)) and metals for binding sites at the algal cell surface. Higher extracellular metal concentrations were observed at high pH, indicating reduced competition. Independent of pH, both extracellular and intracellular copper were directly related to growth inhibition in Chlorella sp., whereas zinc toxicity was related to cell-bound zinc only. These findings suggest that the algal cell surface may be considered as the biotic ligand in further development of a chronic BLM with microalgae. Conditional binding constants (log K) were determined experimentally (using measured intracellular metal concentrations) and theoretically (using concentration-response curves) for copper and zinc for Chlorella sp. at selected pH values. Excellent agreement was found indicating the possibility of using concentration-response data to estimate conditional metal-cell binding constants.

UPTAKE OF CADMIUM BY FRESHWATER GREEN ALGAE: EFFECTS OF PH AND AQUATIC HUMIC SUBSTANCES1

The effects of humic substances and low pH on short‐term Cd uptake by Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata (Korshikov) Hindak and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Dang were investigated under defined exposure conditions. The uptake experiments were run in the presence of either a synthetic organic ligand (nitrilotriacetate) or natural organic ligands (Suwannee River fulvic or humic acid). An ion‐exchange method was used to measure the free Cd2+ concentrations in the exposure solutions. At pH 5, measured free Cd2+ concentrations agreed with estimations made using the geochemical equilibrium model WHAM, but at pH 7 the model overestimated complexation by both Suwannee River fulvic and humic acids compared with the ion‐exchange measurements. Consistent with the metal internalization step being rate limiting for overall short‐term uptake, intracellular Cd uptake was linear for exposure times less than 20 min at pH 5 or pH 7 for both algal species. After taking into account complexation of Cd in solution, Suwannee River humic substances had no additional effects on cadmium uptake at pH 7, as would be predicted by the free ion model. This absence of effects other than complexation persisted at pH 5, where the tendency of humic substances to adsorb to the algal cell surface is favored. Changes in pH strongly influenced Cd uptake, with the intracellular flux of Cd being at least 20 times lower at pH 5 than at pH 7 for P. subcapitata. Our results support models such as the free ion model or the biotic ligand model, in which humic substances act indirectly on Cd uptake by reducing the bioavailability of Cd by complexation in solution.

Tolerance of Oocystis nephrocytioides to copper: intracellular distribution and extracellular complexation of copper

Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain how algae can tolerate heavy metals. In order to better understand the mechanisms determining metal tolerance, we examined the interaction of copper with two strains of the copper-tolerant green algae Oocystis nephrocytioides, isolated from algal communities differing only in copper exposure. The strains were cultured in chemically-defined media containing 0.04 μM Cu total (pCu 12.4) or 2 μM Cu total (pCu 10.6). Growth, photosynthesis rate, content of chlorophyll a and b, copper accumulation, its cellular distribution and ultrastructural localization, as well as the influence of algal growth on extracellular copper complexation were determined. Both strains had comparable growth and photosynthesis rates. The cellular content of both chlorophyll a and b was reduced, by roughly the same extent, at pCu 10.6 compared to pCu 12.4. Copper titration of the media indicated the production of copper-complexing ligands by O. nephrocytioides cultured at pCu 12.4 that increased with increased algal density during cell growth. No additional ligands were detected at pCu 10.6. Copper-complexing ligands had a conditional stability constant of K = 10 13 at pH 7.3. The intracellular concentration of copper in O. nephrocytioides was 80 μM at pCu 12.4 and increased to 7.5 mM at pCu 10.6. The proportion of intracellular Cu accumulated increased from 8% of total Cu content at pCu 12.4 to 60% at pCu 10.6. By electron spectroscopic imaging, intracellular Cu was detected in the thylakoids and the pyrenoid of O. nephrocytioides cells. The results indicate that the tolerance of O. nephrocytioides to Cu is constitutive and does not need to be induced by previous exposure to Cu. We propose that accumulation and sequestration of Cu in thylakoids and, to a lesser extent, adsorption of copper to the algal cell surface represent the most important tolerance mechanism, for O. nephrocytioides.

Secreted arginases from phylogenetically far-related lichen species act as cross-recognition factors for two different algal cells

Purified arginases secreted from Evernia prunastri and Xanthoria parietina thalli hydrolyze arginine in a Mn2+ -dependent reaction. Ca2+ cannot replace Mn2+, but its addition to reaction mixtures in the presence of Mn2+ significantly inhibited arginase activity. Arginases from both lichen species also show lectin function, binding to the cell wall of both homologous and heterologous algae. Such binding is enhanced by both Ca2+ and Mn2+ and results in cytoagglutination, which is counteracted by alpha-D-galactose. A putative ligand for these lectins consists of a glycosylated urease, the polysaccharide moiety of which is uniquely composed of alpha-D-galactose. Binding of lectins inhibits its enzymatic activity, which is recovered after desorption of the lectin with alpha-D-galactose. Urease is also eluted from arginase-agarose columns by using alpha-D-galactose as eluent. Data demonstrate ligand-dependent retention of the fungal lectin on the algal cell surface and this is consistent with a model of recognition of compatible algae, through which algal cells would form a lichen with a lectin-secreting fungus only when these cells contain the specific ligand for the lectin in their cell walls. This is, lectin binding is used as a mechanism for ensuring specificity in the association.

Exocytosis of a complement component C3-like protein by tunicate hemocytes

This study investigates the exocytic responses of invertebrate hemocytes to pathogen-associated antigens. It demonstrates that a homologue of complement component C3, a key defensive protein of the innate immune system, is expressed by phagocytic hemocytes (non-refractile vacuolated cells) of the tunicate, Styela plicata. C3-like molecules are localized in sub-cellular vesicles and are rapidly exocytosed after stimulation with bacterial, fungal or algal cell surface molecules. Signal transduction analysis indicated that the induced secretion of C3-like molecules is mediated by a G-protein dependent signaling pathway, which modulates tubulin microtubules. All of this evidence indicates that hemocytes can contribute to host defense responses by rapidly exocytosing C3-like proteins at sites of infection.

Treatment of simulated Reactive Yellow 22 (Azo) dye effluents using Spirogyra species

The potential of commonly available green algae belonging to Spirogyra species was investigated as viable biomaterials for biological treatment of simulated synthetic azo dye (Reactive Yellow 22) effluents. The results obtained from the batch experiments revealed the ability of the algal species in removing the dye colour and was dependent both on the dye concentration and algal biomass. Maximum dye colour removal was observed on the third day for all the system conditions. Monitoring of ORP values helped to understand the overlying biochemical mechanism of algal–dye system. Based upon the results, the dye–algal treatment mechanism was attributed to biosorption (sorption of dye molecules over the surface of algal cells), bioconversion (diffusion of dye molecules into the algal cells and subsequent conversion) and biocoagulation (coagulation of dye molecules present in the aqueous phase onto the biopolymers released as metabolic intermediates during metabolic conversion of dye and subsequent settlement).