Abstract:

Cultivation of Nostoc flagelliforme in nitrogen-containing (BG11) and non-nitrogen-containing (BG110) media was conducted for figuring out the effects of nitrogen on the growth and the contents of phycobiliprotein (PC), allophycocyanin (APC), phycoerythrin (PE) and endo- and exopolysaccharides of Nostoc flagelliforme were investigated. The results showed that after 20 d cultivation, compared to BG110 medium, N. flagelliforme cultured in BG11 medium had much higher contents of Chl a, carotenoides, PE, APC and PC, but much lower contents of endo- and exo polysaccharides. The maximum content of endopolysaccharides was 1.03 mg/mL in BG110 and 0.78 mg/mL in BG11, while that of exopolysaccharides was 243.8μg/mL in BG110 and 74.9μg/mL in BG11. These results indicate that nitrogen deficiency may inhibit the growth of N.flagelliforme, but promote the synthesis of endo- and exopolysaccharides to a certain extent.

Key words: Nostoc flagelliforme, nitrogen, polysaccharide, phycobiliprotein