Isolation and characterization of a Mastigocladus species capable of growth, N2-fixation and N-assimilation at elevated temperature

A Mastigocladus species was isolated from the hot spring of Jakrem (Meghalaya) India. Uptake and utilization of nitrate, nitrite, ammonium and amino acids (glutamine, asparagine, arginine, alanine) were studied in this cyanobacterium grown at different temperatures (25°C, 45°C). There was 2-3 fold increase in the heterocyst formation and nitrogenase activity in N-free medium at higher temperature (45°C). Growth and uptake and assimilation of various nitrogen sources were also 2-3 fold higher at 45°C indicating that it is a thermophile. The extent of induction and repression of nitrate uptake by NO3 - and NH4 +, respectively, differed from that of nitrite. It appeared that Mastigocladus had two independent nitrate/nitrite transport systems. Nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase activitiy was not NO3 --inducible and ammonium or amino acids caused only partial repression. Presence of various amino acids in the media partially repressed glutamine synthetase activity. Ammonium (methylammonium) and amino acid uptake showed a biphasic pattern, was energy-dependent and the induction of uptake required de novo protein synthesis. Ammonium transport was substrate (NH4 +)-repressible, while the amino acid uptake was substrate inducible. When grown at 25°C, the cyanobacterium formed maximum akinetes that remained viable upto 5 years under dry conditions. © 2007 Association of Microbiologists of India.