Physiological Significance of Copper-slime Interactions in Mesotaenium (Zygnematales; Chlorophyta)

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Abstract
Cu interacted with extracellular polysaccharides of 2 congeneric desmids. The water soluble slimes from Mesotaenium kramstai Lemm. and M. caldariorum (Lagerh.) Hansg. were similar in composition. Uronic acid residues comprised 30-40% of the slime''s weight; 80% of these uronic acids was glucuronic acid, the remainder, galacturonic acid. Interactions of uronides with Cu in vitro were indicated by observing changes in the solubility of both Cu and the uronide, and by a type of affinity chromatography. Of the 2 desmid species, the one producing more slime was more resistant to Cu poisoning. Its slime showed a greater accumulation of Cu and its cell showed less accumulation of the metal. The addition of a slimelike compound, pectin, to a Cu-dosed culture served to lessen the toxic effect of Cu. The extracellular polysaccharide of Mesotaenium, which is similar to other freshwater algal slimes, may serve a protective function against toxic Cu2+.

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