Role of Ca as protectant under heat stress by regulation of photosynthesis and membrane saturation in Anabaena PCC 7120.

The present study was aimed at understanding the effects of heat stress on selected physiological and biochemical parameters of a model cyanobacterium, Anabaena PCC 7120 in addition to amelioration strategy using exogenous Ca. A comparison of the cells exposed to heat stress (0-24 h) in the presence or absence of Ca clearly showed reduction in colony-forming ability and increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) leading to loss in the viability of cells of Ca-deficient cultures. There was higher level of saturation in membrane lipids of the cells supplemented with Ca along with higher accumulation of proline.

Biochemical and physiological characterization of a halotolerant Dunaliella salina isolated from hypersaline Sambhar Lake, India.

The objective of the present study was to characterize intrinsic physiological and biochemical properties of the wall-less unicellular cholorophyte Dunaliella salina isolated from a hypersaline Sambhar Lake. The strain grew optimally at 0.5 M NaCl and 16:8 h L:D photoperiod along with maintaining low level of intracellular Na even at higher salinity, emphasizing special features of its cell membranes.

Photo-induced biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles from aqueous extract of Dunaliella salina and their anticancer potential.

The synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) via green route, using biological entities is an area of interest, because one of the potential applications in the nanomedicine. In the present study, we have developed photo-induced, ecofriendly, low cost method for biosynthesis of the stable silver nanoparticles using aqueous extract of Dunaliella salina (AED) which act as both reducing as well as stabilizing agent. Biosynthesis of the AgNPs was optimized as: sunlight exposure (30min), AED (5% (v/v)) and AgNO (4mM).