Journal of Environmental Biology

Influence of heavy metals on the activity of antioxidant
enzymes in the metal resistant strains of Ochrobactrum
and Bacillus sp.

Sanjeev Pandey¹, Prabir Kumar Barai²?and Tushar K. Maiti^1*

¹Department of Botany, The University of Burdwan, West Bengal-713 104, India

²West Bengal Pollution Control Board, Durgapur Regional Laboratory, Sahid?? Khudiram Sarani, City Centre, Durgapur-713 216, India

*Corresponding Author email : tkmbu@yahoo.co.in

Publication Data

Paper received:

25 May 2012

Revised received:

20 November 2012

Accepted:

25 January 2013

Abstract

Three bacterial strains, a cadmium resistant Ochrobactrum sp. designated as CdSP9 and two strains of Bacillus sp. named PbSP6 and AsSP9 resistant to lead and arsenate, respectively were characterized here with respect to their oxidative enzyme activities. The bacterial strains were grown in basal medium supplemented with 50 ?g ml^-1?of respective elements to determine the changes in the level of oxidative enzymes. The superoxide dismutase activity increased in all three isolates, but the catalase activity and malondialdehyde concentration were relatively more in CdSP9 than PbSP6 and AsSP9. The glutathione peroxidase, however, remained almost uninduced in CdSP9 but was enhanced in PbSP6 and AsSP9. A possible role of these enzymes in metal tolerance is evident from these results.

Key words

Antioxidants, Bacillus sp., Free-radicals, Ochrobactrum sp., Resistant strains, Tolerance

Copyright ? 2013 Triveni Enterprises. All rights reserved. No part of the Journal can be reproduced in any form without prior permission. Responsibility regarding the authenticity of the data, and the acceptability of the conclusions enforced or derived, rest completely with the author(s).