Biotechnology Letters

, Volume 37, Issue 8, pp 1663–1669 | Cite as

Effects of light intensity and quality on phycobiliprotein accumulation in the cyanobacterium Nostoc sphaeroides Kützing

Original Research Paper
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Accepted:

Abstract

Objectives

To assess the effects of light intensity and quality on the growth and phycobiliproteins (PBP) accumulation in Nostoc sphaeroides Kützing (N. sphaeroides).

Results

Dry weights, dry matter, protein, chlorophyll and PBP contents were higher under 90 μmol m−2 s−1 than under other intensities (both higher and lower). Phycocyanin and allophycocyanin increased with light intensity while phycoerythrin decreased. Fresh weights, protein and PBP contents increased at the highest rates under blue light. Red light resulted in higher values of dry matter, phycocyanin and chlorophyll a.

Conclusion

White light at 90 μmol m−2 s−1 or blue light 30 μmol m−2 s−1 were optimal for the growth and phycobiliprotein accumulation in N. sphaeroides.

Keywords

Growth Light intensity Light quality Nostoc sphaeroides Phycobiliprotein 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the editor and the anonymous referees for their expert assistance and comments on this manuscript. This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 31123001).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2015

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of HydrobiologyChinese Academy of SciencesWuhanChina
  2. 2.University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
  3. 3.Hubei University of TechnologyWuhanChina

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