Nitrogen and Redox Metabolism in Cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 Exposed to Different Sulfate Regimes

Sulfur is an important key nutrient required for the growth and development of cyanobacteria. Several reports showed the effect of sulfate limitation in unicellular and filamentous cyanobacteria, but such studies have not yet been reported in heterocytous cyanobacteria to ascribe the mechanisms of nitrogen and thiol metabolisms. Thus, the present work was carried out to appraise the impacts of sulfate limitation on nitrogen and thiol metabolisms in Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 by analyzing the contents as well as enzymes of nitrogen and thiol metabolisms. Cells of Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 were exposed to different regimes of sulfate, i.e., 300, 30, 3, and 0 µM. Application of reduced concentration of sulfate showed negative impact on the cyanobacterium. Sulfate-limiting conditions reduces nitrogen-containing compounds in the cells of Anabaena. Additionally, reduced activities of nitrogen metabolic enzymes represented the role of sulfate in nitrogen metabolism. However, decreased activities of thiol metabolic enzymes indicated that sulfate-limited cyanobacterial cells have lower amount of glutathione and total thiol contents. Reduced accumulation of thiol components in the stressed cells indicated that sulfate-limited cells have lower ability to withstand stressful condition. Hence, Anabaena displays differential response to different concentrations of sulfate, and thus, stipulated that sulfur plays an important role in nitrogen and thiol metabolisms. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating the impact of sulfate stress on nitrogen and redox metabolisms in heterocytous cyanobacteria. This preliminary study provides a baseline idea that may help improve the production of paddy.