title: Hydrogen peroxide inhibits the growth of cyanobacteria.
abstract: H2O2 at concentrations of 10(-5)-10(-4) M suppresses phototrophic growth of Anacystis nidulans and Anabaena variabilis in dialysis culture. The growth of the cyanobacteria resumed after a long adaptation period. In batch cultures, the growth of A. nidulans and A. variabilis was suppressed after one-time addition of 10(-2)and 10(-3)-10(-2) M H2O2, respectively. Inducing intracellular H2O2 formation by adding methylviologen, vitamin K3, or phenazine methosulfate suppresses the growth of both cyanobacteria. The catalase inhibitor salicylic acid suppresses the growth of A. nidulans and A. variabilis at a concentration of 5.10(-3) M. The data suggest an inhibitory effect of H2O2 on the growth of the cyanobacteria. H2O2 is unlikely to serve as an electron donor during photosynthesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Physiology and Immunology, School of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119899, Russia.
authors.forename: V D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Samuilov
authors.forename: D V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Bezryadnov
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Gusev
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Kitashov
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Fedorenko
mesh_terms: D017033:Anabaena / Q000378:metabolism; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008773:Methylphenazonium Methosulfate / Q000494:pharmacology; D010269:Paraquat / Q000494:pharmacology; D010788:Photosynthesis; D020156:Salicylic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000494:pharmacology