Probing the Role of the Chloroplasts in Heavy Metal Tolerance and Accumulation in Euglena gracilis.

ABSTRACT: The E. gracilis Zm-strain lacking chloroplasts, characterized in this study, was compared with the earlier assessed wild type Z-strain to explore the role of chloroplasts in heavy metal accumulation and tolerance. Comparison of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values indicated that both strains tolerated similar concentrations of mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb), but cadmium (Cd) tolerance of the Z-strain was twice that of the Zm-strain. The ability of the Zm-strain to accumulate Hg was higher compared to the Z-strain, indicating the existence of a Hg transportation and accumulation mechanism not depending on the presence of chloroplasts. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed maximum accumulation of Hg in the cytosol of the Zm-strain and highest accumulation of Cd in the

SUBMITTER: Khatiwada B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7023027 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature