Salt stress induced changes in chlorophyll-a content and protein profile of cyanobacteria from different habitats

Salinity tolerance of Anabaena torulosa, Mastigocladus laminosus and Aulosira fertilissima, isolated from an estuary, hot spring and rice field respectivly was examined. Anabaena torulosa tolerated up to 1M NaCl and induced some new proteins upon exposure to high salinity. Mastigocladus laminosus survived up to 0.9M of NaCl. Several proteins were repressed at high salt levels and three low molecular weight proteins of 17, 30 and 31 kDa were induced, which probobly provided protection from salt injury. Aulosira fertilissima was susceptible even to 0.5M NaCl. In this organism none of the proteins were induced, rather two proteins were repressed on exposure to salt.