Abstract
High light stress (40 W/m2)-induced alterations in the nitrogen assimilatory enzymes in Spirulina platensis were studied under the Ca2+ and phosphate (Pi)-supplemented as well as starved conditions. Results revealed that activities of nitrate reductase (NR), amino acid transferases (AST/GOT and ALT/GPT), and protease enzymes in the high-light-incubated cells were relatively higher under the Ca2+- and Pi-starved conditions. On the contrary, relative rates of glutamine synthetase (GS) and ATPase activities were lower in the Ca2+- and Pi-starved cells. But the Spirulina cells under the Ca2+- and Pi-added conditions showed enhanced activity of both GS and ATPase enzymes. During the high-light stress, a decline in the GS activity, particularly under the Ca2+- and Pi-starved conditions, was indicative of a nitrogen starvation-like condition. This could be one of the reasons for induction of the NR and protease enzymes. A higher rate of GS activity was recorded under both the Ca2+- and Pi-supplemented conditions, perhaps owing to the enhanced rate of ATPase activity in such conditions. But a declining pattern of both NR and protease activities in the presence of Ca2+ and Pi, despite the higher rate of ATPase activity, might involve some other mechanism like the protein-kinase system.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received: 11 May 2000 / Accepted: 13 June 2000
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Singh, D., Singh, N. Calcium and Phosphate Regulation of Nitrogen Metabolism in the Cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis Under the High Light Stress. Curr Microbiol 41, 368–373 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002840010151
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002840010151