Effect of an Amide Herbicide on Nucleic Acid and Protein Metabolism in A Diazotrophic Cyanobacterium Anabaena Doliolum

Anupma Srivastava²* and A. K. Pandey¹

¹Biological Research Lab. Department of Botany and Biotechnology, Kutir P.G. College, Chakkey - 222 146-1 India.

²Department of Botany, Shri A.K.A.P.G. College, Varanasi India.

ABSTRACT: Effect of an amide herbicide alachlor was studied on the cyanobacterium Anabaena doliolum for nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) and protein metabolism. Total DNA content in the cells, treated with 10 μgml-¹ of alachlor after 72 hrs of treatment,was reduced upto 63.4% against control culture. In contrast to DNA total RNA values under similar conditions showed a marked inhibition with the increasing concentration of alachlor. The decreased in RNA was nearly 57.12%. The increasing ratio between RNA/ DNA is also suggesting for the sensitivity of DNA synthesis. The reduction in total protein was 39% at 10 μgml-¹ and RNA/protein ratio showed a decreasing order with increasing concentration suggesting for sensitivity of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) under alachlor stress which ultimetly affects protein metabolism.

KEYWORDS: Amide herbicide; protein metabolism; Anabaena doliulum

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