Common nitrogen control of caesium uptake, caesium toxicity and ammonium (methylammonium) uptake in the cyanobacterium Nostoc muscorum

FEMS Microbiol Lett. 1994 Apr 15;117(3):243-8. doi: 10.1016/0378-1097(94)90566-5.

Abstract

Studies were carried out to examine the role of ammonium transport activity in the control of caesium uptake and toxicity in Nostoc muscorum. The results showed a definite specific role of the ammonium-repressible/derepressible ammonium transport system of the cyanobacterium in caesium uptake, accumulation and toxicity. Furthermore, the results showed that N. muscorum can acquire resistance against diazotrophically-associated caesium toxicity when supplied with ammonium as a nitrogen source. In addition, alternatively, a mutant strain was Cs-resistant in the absence of any effect on NH(+4)-transport, suggesting that Cs+ resistance may be determined at more than one cellular site.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biological Transport
  • Cesium / pharmacokinetics
  • Cesium / toxicity*
  • Cyanobacteria / metabolism*
  • Methylamines / pharmacokinetics*
  • Nitrogen / metabolism*

Substances

  • Methylamines
  • Cesium
  • methylamine
  • Nitrogen