Effect of four heavy metals on the biology of Nostoc muscorum

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Abstract
This study presents the effects of Cr, Pb, Ni and Ag on growth, pigments, protein, DNA, RNA, heterocyst frequency, uptake of NH4 + and N03 −, loss of electrolytes (Na+ and K+), nitrate reductase and glutamine synthetase activities ofNostoc muscorum. The statistical tests revealed a direct positive correlation between the metal concentration and inhibition of different processes. Ni was found to be more toxic against growth, pigments and heterocyst differentiation compared to the other metals. Inhibition of pigment showed the following trend: chlorophyll > phycocyanin > carotenoid. No generalized trend for inhibition of macromolecules was observed. The loss of K+ and Na+ as affected by Cr, Ni and Pb was similar but more pronounced for K+ than Na+. The inhibition of physiological variables depicted the following trend: Na+ loss > K+ loss > glutamine synthetase > NH4 uptake > growth > N03 − uptake > nitrate reductase > heterocyst frequency. This study therefore suggests that loss of electrolytes can be used as a first signal of metal toxicity in cyanobacteria. However, further study is needed to confirm whether the abnormality induced by nickel (branch formation) is a physiological or genetic phenomenon.