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Characterization of the iron-containing superoxide dismutase and its response to stress in cyanobacterium Spirulina (Arthrospira) platensis

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Abstract

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is considered a primary antioxidant which defends against reactive oxygen species that are induced by environmental stress. In this study, we examined changes in SOD activity and expression in the cyanobacterium Spirulina (Arthrospira) platensis under iron and salinity stress; we characterized its induction under these stress conditions and we overexpressed the enzyme in a bacterial host for preliminary characterization. Analysis of SOD isoforms concludes that S. platensis was found to regulate only the iron-containing SOD isoform (FeSOD) in response to two types of stress that were tested. The FeSOD expression (on the level of both mRNA and enzyme activity) was induced by the stress conditions of salinity and iron levels. The FeSOD from S. platensis was overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL21. The recombinant FeSOD protein (about 23 kDa) was purified for characterization. It showed high specific activity and pH stability at 6.0–9.0, and it is relatively thermostable, retaining 45 % of its activity after 30 min at 90 °C. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that S. platensis FeSOD is grouped with the FeSODs from other cyanobacterial species and separated from those of the eukaryotic Chlorophyta, suggesting that the FeSOD gene may be used as a molecular marker in physiological, phylogenetic, and taxonomic studies. This study also suggests that the increased activity and expression of SOD may play a role in algal survival under stress conditions.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. D. Weihrauch, Dr. G. Hausner, Dr. M.H. Abdelfattah, and Dr. M. Elhiti for technical assistance and the Department of Missions (Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Egypt) for providing financial support through a channel system scholarship (to MSI). This work was supported by grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (to MPN and PCL) and by the Canada Research Chair program (to PCL).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada

    Mostafa M. S. Ismaiel & Michele D. Piercey-Normore

  2. Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada

    Peter C. Loewen

  3. Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt

    Mostafa M. S. Ismaiel & Yassin M. El-Ayouty

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  1. Mostafa M. S. Ismaiel
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  2. Yassin M. El-Ayouty
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  3. Peter C. Loewen
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  4. Michele D. Piercey-Normore
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Correspondence to Mostafa M. S. Ismaiel.

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Ismaiel, M.M.S., El-Ayouty, Y.M., Loewen, P.C. et al. Characterization of the iron-containing superoxide dismutase and its response to stress in cyanobacterium Spirulina (Arthrospira) platensis . J Appl Phycol 26, 1649–1658 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-013-0233-y

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