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Effect of UV-B Radiation and Desiccation Stress on Photoprotective Compounds Accumulation in Marine Leptolyngbya sp.

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Abstract

Increased awareness regarding the harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV)-B radiation has led to the search for new sources of natural UV-B protecting compounds. Mycosporine-like amino acids are one of such promising compounds found in several organisms. Cyanobacteria are ideal organisms for isolation of these compounds due to their compatibility and adaptability to thrive under harsh environmental conditions. In the following investigation, we report the production of shinorine in Leptolyngbya sp. isolated from the intertidal region. Based on the spectral characteristics and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, the UV-absorbing compound was identified as shinorine. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the occurrence of shinorine in Leptolyngbya sp. We also investigated the effect of artificial UV-B radiation and periodic desiccation on chlorophyll-a, total carotenoids, and mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) production. The UV-B radiation had a negative effect on growth and chlorophyll concentration, whereas it showed an inductive effect on the production of total carotenoids and MAAs. Desiccation along with UV-B radiation led to an increase in the concentration of photoprotective compounds. These results indicate that carotenoids and MAAs thus facilitate cyanobacteria to avoid and protect themselves from the deleterious effects of UV-B and desiccation.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the Director, CSIR-NIO, for the facilities provided and Dr. N. Ramaiah, Head, Biological Oceanography Division, for his constant support. Authors thank Mr. RM. Meena for the DNA sequencing, Mr. Areef Sardar for SEM analysis, Dr. Dattesh Desai for the Lux meter and Dr. Prabhat Kumar Sharma, Goa University for Digital Radiometer. Devika Joshi acknowledges the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India, for the financial assistance in the form of Research Fellowship and support provided by Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR). The NIO contribution number is 6056.

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  1. Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Dona-Paula, 403004, Goa, India

    Devika Joshi

  2. Biological Oceanography Division, CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Dona-Paula, Goa, 403004, India

    C. Mohandass

  3. Food Microbiology Department, CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore, Karnataka, 570020, India

    Mohan Dhale

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  1. Devika Joshi
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Correspondence to C. Mohandass.

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Joshi, D., Mohandass, C. & Dhale, M. Effect of UV-B Radiation and Desiccation Stress on Photoprotective Compounds Accumulation in Marine Leptolyngbya sp.. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 184, 35–47 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-017-2523-3

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