Proceeding
Effect of iron and aluminum on growth of unicellular eukaryote Euglena gracilis Z
2002 Volume 19 Pages 19-22
Details
2002 Volume 19 Pages 19-22
Iron (Fe), an important essential trace element, causes oxidative stress in excess. Aluminum (Al), one of the most abundant elements in nature, also impairs plant growth. Al is recently suspected to cause degenerative nerve diseases in mammals. Al has been reported to enhance Fe-induced oxidative injuries in mammals. The present study was undertaken to assess whether similar adverse effect would be observed in the unicellular algae and protist, Euglena gracilis Z. The effect of single or combined exposure of Fe and Al from 0 to 5.0 mM on cell growth was examined. In comparison to the growth of E. gracilis in the Koren-Hutner medium [KH] containing 0.16 mM Fe2+ as the control, that in the KH without Fe was ca 25% less than the control. Addition of Fe2+ from 0.31 to 5.0 mM inhibited the cell growth dose dependently. Meanwhile, single addition of Al3+ from 0 to 5.0 mM also suppressed the growth above 0.16 mM, however, it was not dose dependent. Moreover, complex addition of Al3+ and Fe2+ from 0.16 to 5.0 mM for each element increased suppression of the cell growth than Fe and alone. Possible reasons for growth suppression by Fe and Al are discussed.
