Toxicity of chromium and tin to Anabaena doliolum. Interaction with sulphur-containing amino acids and thiols.

Toxicity of chromium and tin on growth, heterocyst differentiation, nitrogenase activity and 14CO2 uptake of Anabaena doliolum and its amelioration by sulphur-containing amino acids and thiols has been studied. The final growth yield was found to be approximately 51% and 58% of control at sublethal concentration of chromium and tin respectively. Among various amino acids tested, cysteine (0.05 mM) significantly restored growth, heterocyst differentiation, nitrogenase and 14CO2 uptake of test alga. Dithiothreitol (1 mM) restored all the parameters and processes better than monothiol, mercaptoethanol. It is obvious from present investigation that sulphur-containing amino acids and thiols, viz. cysteine, methionine, cystine, mercaptoethanol and dithiothreitol, may appreciably alleviate the toxicity of heavy metals in N2-fixing cyanobacteria if present in an aquatic ecosystem.