Skip to main content

Exopolysaccharide production by a unicellular cyanobacterium isolated from a hypersaline habitat

Journal of Applied Phycology volume 5, pages 387–394 (1993)Cite this article

Abstract

The unicellular cyanobacterial strain 16Som2, isolated from a Somaliland saltpan and identified asCyanothece sp., is characterized by cells surrounded by a thick polysaccharidic capsule, the external part of which dissolves into the medium during growth, causing a progressive increase in culture viscosity. In spite of this, the thickness of the capsule remained almost constant under all the culture conditions tested, demonstrating that the processes of its synthesis and solubilization occurred at a similar rate. The synthesis of carbohydrates was neither enhanced by increasing salinity (sea-water enriched with NaCl in the range 0 to 2.0 M) nor by Mg2+, K+ or Ca2+ deficiencies. In contrast, N-limitation and, to a lesser extent, P-limitation induced a significant enhancement of carbohydrate synthesis; in particular, N-deficiency stimulated the synthesis of all the carbohydrate fractions (intracellular, capsular and soluble). The soluble polysaccharide, separated from the culture medium and hydrolyzed with 2N trifluoroacetic acid, showed a sugar composition consisting of glucuronic acid: galacturonic acid: galactose: glucose: mannose: xylose: fucose in a molar ratio of 1: 2: 2.4: 6.8: 4.8: 2.9: 1.6.Cyanothece sp. culture subjected to nitrogen starvation synthesized polysaccharide with a mean productivity of 115 mg (EPS) l−1d−1, for the polymer solubilized into the medium, and of 15 mg (CPS) l−1d−1 for the capsular polysaccharide.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Abbreviations

CPS:

capsular polysaccharide

EPS:

exocellular polysaccharide

PAR:

photosynthetic active radiation

References

  • Aller JC (1982) Biosaline research in the United States and Canada. In San Pietro A (ed.), Biosaline Research, a Look to the Future. Plenum Press, New York, 9–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arad S(M) (1988) Production of sulfated polysaccharides from red unicellular algae. In Stadler T, Mollion J, Verdus MC, Karamanos Y, Morvan H, Christiaen D (eds), Algal Biotechnology. Elsevier Applied Science, London, 65–87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arad S(M), Friedman O(D), Rotem A (1988) Effect of nitrogen on polysaccharide production in aPorphyridium sp. Appl. environ. Microbiol. 54: 2411–2414.

    Google Scholar 

  • Balkwill DL, Stevens SE Jr (1980) Glycocalyx ofAgmenellum quadruplicatum. Arch. Microbiol. 128: 8–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Borowitzka LJ (1981) The Microflora. Adaptation to life in extremely saline lakes. In Williams WD (ed.), Salt Lakes. Developments in Hydrobiology 5. Dr W. Junk Publishers, The Hague, 33–46. Reprinted from Hydrobiologia 81/82: 33–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brock TD (1976) Halophilic Blue-Green Algae. Arch. Microbiol. 107: 109–111.

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell S, Golubic ST (1985) Benthic cyanophytes (cyanobacteria) of Solar Lake (Sinai). Arch. Hydrobiol. 38/39: 311–329.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cesaro A, Liut G, Bertocchi C, Navarini L, Urbani R (1990) Physicochemical properties of the exocellular polysaccharide fromCyanospira capsulata. Int. J. biol. Macromol. 12: 79–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Philippis R, Sili C, Tassinato G, Vincenzini M, Materassi R (1991) Effects of growth conditions on exopolysaccharide production byCyanospira capsulata. Biores. Technol. 38: 101–104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubinsky O, Barak Z, Geresh S, Arad S(M) (1990) Composition of the cell-wall polysaccharide of the unicellular red algaRhodella reticulata at two phases of growth. In Abstracts of the Fifth International Conference of the Society of Applied Algology, Recent advances in algal biotechnology, P 17.

  • Dubois M, Gilles KA, Hamilton JK, Rebers PA, Smith F (1956) Colorimetric method for determination of sugars and related substances. Analyt. Chem. 28: 350–356.

    Google Scholar 

  • Galambos JT (1967) The reaction of carbazole with carbohydrates. I. Effect of borate and sulfamate on the carbazole color of sugars. Analyt. Biochem. 19: 119–132.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kroen WK, Rayburn WR (1984) Influence of growth status and nutrients on extracellular polysaccharide synthesis by the soil algaChlamydomonas mexicana (Chlorophyceae). J. Phycol. 20: 253–257.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lange W (1976) Speculations on a possible essential function of the gelatinous sheath of the blue-green algae. Can. J. Microbiol. 22: 1181–1185.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lapasin R, Pricl S, Bertocchi C, Navarini L, Cesaro A, De Philippis R (1992) Rheology of culture broths and exopolysaccharide ofCyanospira capsulata at different stages of growth. Carbohydr. Polym. 17: 1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis JG, Stanley NF, Guist GC (1988) Commercial production and applications of algal hydrocolloids. In Lembi CA, Waaland JR (eds) Algae and human affairs. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 205–237.

    Google Scholar 

  • Linton JD, Ash SG, Huybrechts L (1991) Microbial polysaccharides. In Byrom D (ed.), Biomaterials. Stockton Press, New York, 215–261.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lloyd AG, Dodgson KS (1959) Infrared spectra of carbohydrate sulphate esters. Nature 184: 548–549.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lowry OH, Rosebrough NJ, Farr AL, Randall RJ (1951) Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. J. biol. Chem. 193: 265–275.

    Google Scholar 

  • Margheri MC, Tredici MR, Barsanti L, Balloni W (1987) The photosynthetic community of the Trapani saline Lagoons: an alternative option for the exploitation of an extreme environment. Ann. Microbiol. 37: 203–215.

    Google Scholar 

  • Navarini L, Bertocchi C, Cesaro A, Lapasin R, Crescenzi V (1990) Rheology of aqueous solutions of an extracellular polysaccharide fromCyanospira capsulata. Carbohydr. Polym. 12: 169–187.

    Google Scholar 

  • Painter TJ (1983) Algal polysaccharides. In Aspinall GO (ed.), The polysaccharides, vol 2. Academic Press, New York, 195–285.

  • Panoff JM, Priem B, Morvan H, Joset F (1988) Sulphated exopolysaccharides produced by two unicellular strains of cyanobacteria,Synechocystis PCC 6803 and 6714. Arch. Microbiol. 150: 558–563.

    Google Scholar 

  • Percival E (1979) The polysaccharides of green, red and brown seaweeds: their basic structure, biosynthesis and function. Br. phycol. J. 14: 103–117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phlips EJ, Zeman C, Hansen P (1989) Growth, photosynthesis, nitrogen fixation and carbohydrate production by a unicellular cyanobacteriumSynechococcus sp (Cyanophyta). J. appl. Phycol. 1: 137–145.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rippka R, Waterbury JB (1977) The synthesis of nitrogenase by non-heterocystous cyanobacteria. FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 2: 83–86.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rippka R, Deruelles J, Waterbury JB, Herdman M, Stanier RY (1979) Generic assignments, strain histories and properties of pure culture of cyanobacteria. J. gen. Microbiol. 111: 1–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roussomoustakaki M, Anagnostidis K (1991)Cyanothece halobia, a new planktic chroococcalean cyanophyta from hellenic heliothermal saltworks. Arch. Hydrobiol. 64: 71–95.

    Google Scholar 

  • Solorzano L (1969) Determination of ammonia in natural waters by the phenolhypoclorite method. Limnol. Oceanogr. 14: 799–801.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thepenier C, Chaumont D, Gudin C (1988) Mass culture ofPorphyridium cruentum: a multiproduct strategy for the biomass valorization. In Stadler T, Mollion J, Verdus MC, Karamanos Y, Morvan H, Christiaen D (eds), Algal Biotechnology. Elsevier Applied Science, London, 413–420.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner GL, Gibson AH (1980) Measurement of nitrogen fixation by indirect means. In Bergerson FI (ed.), Methods for evaluating biological nitrogen fixation. Wiley & Sons, New York, 111–138.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vincenzini M, De Philippis R, Sili C, Materassi R (1990a) A novel exopolysaccharide from a filamentous cyanobacterium: production, chemical characterization and rheological properties. In Dawes EA (ed.), Novel biodegradable microbial polymers. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, 295–310.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vincenzini M, De Philippis R, Sili C, Materassi R (1990b) Studies on exopolysaccharide release by diazotrophic batch cultures ofCyanospira capsulata. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 34: 392–396.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Alimentari e Microbiologiche, Sez. Microbiologia Applicata, Università, and Centro di Studio dei Microrganismi Autotrofi, CNR, Piazzale delle Cascine 27, Firenze, I-50144, Italy

    Roberto De Philippis, Maria Cristina Margheri, Elio Pelosi & Stefano Ventura

Authors
  1. Roberto De Philippis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Maria Cristina Margheri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Elio Pelosi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Stefano Ventura
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

De Philippis, R., Margheri, M.C., Pelosi, E. et al. Exopolysaccharide production by a unicellular cyanobacterium isolated from a hypersaline habitat. J Appl Phycol 5, 387–394 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02182731

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02182731

Key words

  • exocellular polysaccharide
  • cyanobacteria
  • Cyanothece
  • salinity
  • nutrient depletion
  • monosaccharidic composition