Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 2004-06-01

Impact of nitrophenols on the photosynthetic electron transport chain and ATP content in Nostoc muscorum and Chlorella vulgaris.

A Umamaheswari, K Venkateswarlu

Index: Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf. 58(2) , 256-9, (2004)

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Abstract

Concentration-dependent inhibition of the photosynthetic electron transport chain (photosystem I (PS I), photosystem II (PS II) and whole chain reaction) and ATP content was observed in Nostoc muscorum and Chlorella vulgaris grown with o-nitrophenol, m-nitrophenol, or 2,4-dinitrophenol. Although the extents of inhibition of the photosynthetic electron transport chain in both organisms were similar, PS II was more sensitive than PS I and whole chain reaction to the nitrophenols. Depletion of the ATP pool was noted in nitrophenol-grown cultures, probably as a consequence of nearly complete inhibition of the photosynthetic electron transport chain.