PROTOCOLS ON ALGAL AND CYANOBACTERIAL RESEARCH is an up-to-date and consolidated compilation of ready-to-use protocols embodied in twenty three chapters and grouped in four sections, highlighting methods related to preparation and characterization of components, assessment of biological activities of toxins, and biotechnology utilizing algae and cyanobacteria as research material. In the first section aspects of sub-cellular fractionation and estimation of photosynthetically active particles, phycobilisomes, carotenoids, lipids, DNA, RNA, proteins and peptides are discussed. The second section is devoted to the analysis of physiological processes namely transport and assimilation of ammonia, phosphate, nitrate and water (Solutes), and primary photochemical activity and CO2 fixation. A variety of toxins of planktonic algae affect the ecosystem balance and human/animal life and the third section illustrates the procedures for their determination. Since microalgae can sense and respond to toxic anthropogenic compounds like heavy metals, the application of various indicatory/sequestering bioassays is the highlight of the fourth section.

• • Protocols conceived and standardized by experts

Foreword / Preface / List of Contributors / Preparation and Description of Components: Advanced Laboratory Course of Methods used in Standard Cyanobacterial Research / Characterization of Bioactive Cyclic Oligopeptides of Freshwater Cyanobacteria (Microcystins, Cyanopeptolins, Cyclamides) / Isolation and Characterization of Cyanobacterial Polar Lipids with Bioactivity towards Platelet Aggregation / Carotenoid Production and Characterization in Cultured Haematococcus pluvialis / Protocol for Cyanobacterial Proteomics I / Cyanobacterial Proteomics- Protocol II: Alternatives to Gel Electrophoresis and Methods of Protein Identification / Purification and Characterization of Photosystem I Light Harvesting Complex I Supercomplexes from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii / Isolation of Phycobilisomes from Cyanobacteria and Red Algae / Assessment of Biological Activities: Ammonium Transport in Cyanobacteria and Microalgae – Basic Protocols and Accurate Guidance / Analysis of the Adaptive Phosphate Uptake Behaviour in Respect to Cellular Information Processing about an Environmental Alteration / Assay Methods for Nitrate Assimilatory Enzymes in Spirulina (Arthospira) / A Cell Pressure Probe for Measuring Water Relations in Algal Cells / Methods for Assessment of Activity and Stress Acclimation of Photosynthetic Machinery in Cyanobacteria and Symbiotic Microalgae / Spectrophotometric Quantification of Photochemical Active Reaction Centers of Photosystem II by Reversible Photoreduction of Pheophytin in Cells of Green Algae and Cyanobacteria / Chlorophyll a Fluorescence: A Sensitive Reporter of Osmotic Properties and Permeability Properties of Cyanobacterial Cells / Toxins: Analysis of Cyanobacterial Neurotoxins / Toxicity Evaluation of Cyanobacterial Toxins / Zooplankton-based Bioassay for Investigating Toxic Cyanobacteria / Toxic Effects of Cyanobacterial Toxins on Fish / Rapid and Sensitive Detection of Microcystin Producing Water Blooms using PCR and MALDI-TOF MS / Biotechnology: Use of the Green Alga Scenedesmus sp. in Studying Metal Ion Toxicity Symptoms: Assay of Physiological Parameters / Protocols for the Isolation and Characterization of Chlorella, Growing in the Effluents of Paper-Pulp and Electroplating Industry / Strategies to Remove Fluoride through Biosorption over Algal Biomass / Appendix / Index.

Undergraduate and Postgraduate Students and Researchers in Plant Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Plant Biophysics, Biotechnology, Agriculture, Molecular Biology, Bioprospecting and Biofuels