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Heavy-metal-induced proline accumulation and its role in ameliorating metal toxicity in Chlorella vulgaris

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 1999

S. K. MEHTA  and
J. P. GAUR
S. K. MEHTA
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Algal Biology, Department of Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221 005, India
J. P. GAUR
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Algal Biology, Department of Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221 005, India
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Abstract

Exposure of Chlorella vulgaris to elevated concentrations of copper, chromium, nickel and zinc led to intracellular accumulation of high concentrations of these metals. Concomitantly, accumulation of free proline occurred, depending on the concentration of metals in the external medium or in the cell. The greater the toxicity or accumulation of a metal, the greater the amount of intracellular proline in algal cells. However, higher concentrations of copper and chromium were inhibitory to proline accumulation by the test organism. The accumulation of proline was triggered within a few hours of metal treatment. Test metals also induced lipid peroxidation; copper was the most efficient inducer whereas zinc was the least. Pretreatment of C. vulgaris with proline counteracted metal-induced lipid peroxidation and potassium ion efflux. Thus the present work shows a protective effect of proline on metal toxicity through inhibition of lipid peroxidation.

Keywords

Chlorella vulgarislipid peroxidationmetal accumulationfree prolineoxidative stress
Type
Research Article
Information
The New Phytologist , Volume 143 , Issue 2 , August 1999 , pp. 253 - 259
Copyright
© Trustees of the New Phytologist 1999

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