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Development and characterization of nickel accumulating mutants of Aspergillus nidulans

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Abstract

Stable mutants of Aspergillus nidulans, resistant to 1 mM Ni were developed by step-by-step repeated culturing of the fungus on the medium containing increasing concentrations of nickel chloride. Characterization of mutants could differentiate them into two categories NiR I and NiR II. Each category of mutants exhibited alterations in growth, conidial germination and melanin secretion both in Ni-free and Ni-containing media. NiR II mutants were little slow in growth with sparse mycelia and conidiation but showed high melanin secretion and higher Ni-uptake in comparison to NiR I mutant. Studies involving metabolic and translational inhibitors could prove that Ni-accumulation was biphasic. The initial energy independent surface accumulation was found to be followed by energy dependent intarcellular uptake. Increase in the concentration of the metal in the medium or the time of exposure did not proportionately increase the metal uptake by the mutants. Ni-uptake followed Michaelis-Menton saturation kinetics, which was enhanced under optimum pH of 6.5–7.5 and reduced complexity of the medium due to free availability of ions. Resistance to Ni was found to be constitutive in NiRI mutant, and could be induced in NiRII mutant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Sciences, Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi, 110 068, India

    Pushplata Tripathi

  2. Department of Genetics, University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi, 110 021, India

    Sheela Srivastava

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  1. Pushplata Tripathi
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  2. Sheela Srivastava
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Correspondence to Pushplata Tripathi.

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Tripathi, P., Srivastava, S. Development and characterization of nickel accumulating mutants of Aspergillus nidulans . Indian J Microbiol 47, 241–250 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12088-007-0045-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12088-007-0045-3

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