Isolation and characterisation of phycobiliprotein rich mutant of cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp.
Chemical (N' methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine) mutagenesis and penicillin selection were utilised to isolate a phenotypically altered mutant of cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. This mutant (ntm60A) exhibited enhanced protein content and nitrogen fixing potential but lower amount of chlorophyll and nitrate reductase activity. A remarkable and significant increase was observed in the total phycobiliprotein content of the mutant, especially in relation to the amount of phycoerythrin. This strain can be exploited as a rich source of natural coloring agent such as phycobilins in the bioindustry.
Prasanna
Radha
R
National Centre for Conservation and Utilisation of Blue-Green Algae, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012, India. radha_p@angelfire.com
Dhar
Dolly Wattal
DW
Dominic
T K
TK
Tiwari
O N
ON
Singh
P K
PK
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D007700:Kinetics; D045342:Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008769:Methylnitronitrosoguanidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D016296:Mutagenesis; D009154:Mutation
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D045342:Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes; D008769:Methylnitronitrosoguanidine; D002734:Chlorophyll