Research Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 5 (1) Feb. (2010) Res. J. Biotech. (50) Polyphosphate Metabolism- Its Effect by Copper in Cunninghamella Elegans Paramanik Rabin Chandra*, Nezhad Ramzan Hossein, Deepa S., Roy Debojyoti Guha, Paramanik Achinto 1 and Kumara Swamy M. 2 1. Dept of Life Science, R.K.Institute, Bellandur gate, Sarjapura Main Road, Bangalore (Karnataka), INDIA 2. Dept of Biotechnology, Padmashree Institute of Management & Sciences,Kommagatta Campus, Kengeri, Bangalore (Karnataka), INDIA *robin_paramanik@yahoo.com Abstract The aim of this work was to evaluate the physiological aspects of polyphosphate metabolism of Cunninghamella. elegans (C. elegans) grown in the presence of copper. The growth profile was obtained by means of total yield in the biomass, consumption of orthophosphates and accumulation of polyphosphate and phosphatases enzyme activities. The results revealed the influence of copper on the growth, observed by the yield in biomass. Orthophosphate consumption was faster in the cells that were grown in the presence of copper. The presence of copper in the culture medium induced accumulation of polyphos- phate. The polyphosphate level was almost constant in the beginning of the control culture growth and could be related to the exponential growth phase. On the other hand, the copper treated cultures exhibited a significant reduction in the polyphosphate levels, indicating an active metabolization of the polymer. Acid phosphatase activity was not detected in the conditions studied but alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly lower in the treated cultures. The results suggest the potential use of Cunninghamella. elegans isolate in bioremediation and biosorption applied to environments polluted by copper. Keywords: Cunninghamella elegans, Phosphatases, Poly- phosphate, Copper. Introduction Cunninghamella is classified as Kingdom: Fungi, Phylum: Zygomycota, Order: Mucorales, Family: Cunning- hamellaceae, Genus: Cunninghamella. Cunninghamella is a filamentous fungus found in soil and plant material, particularly at Mediterranean and subtropical zones. It has also been recovered from animal material, cheese and Brazil nuts. In addition to being a common contaminant, Cunninghamella is an opportunistic fungus that may cause infections in immunocompromised hosts. 16, 31, 52, 54 The genus Cunninghamella (Cunninghamellaceae, Mucorales) currently comprises 15 taxa, 12 species and 3 varieties. Some of the species and varieties are mentioned in table.1. While Cunninghamella bertholletiae, Cunningha- mella elegans and Cunninghamella echinulata (Fig. 1) are the most common species; Cunninghamella bertholletiae. is the only known human and animal pathogen. Cunninghamella spp. is among the causative agents of zygomycosis. Although the term mucormycosis has often been used for this syndrome, zygomycosis is now the prefered term for this angio-invasive disease, Trauma, diabetes mellitus, immuno- suppression due to various reasons (hematological maligna- ncies, organ transplantation, AIDS) and desferoxamine therapy are the major risk factors for development of zygomycosis. Among the other genera belonging to the class zygomycetes, Cunninghamella is particularly sensitive medically to desferoxamine therapy. Cunninghamella bertholletiae (Fig. 1) may cause rhinocerebral, pulmonary, cutaneoarticular and disseminated forms of zygomycosis. The infection usually starts after inhalation of the spores or inoculation of the fungus following the primary breakdown of the skin integrity due to a trauma. 2, 4, 13, 34, 36, 48, 49, 50, 51 Cunninghamella colonies (Fig. 1) are rapidly grow- ing (mature in 4 days), cottony and white to tannish-gray in color. The reverse is pale. Cunninghamella elegans produces purely gray colonies (Fig. 1). While Cunningha-mella bertho- lletiae may grow at temperatures as high as 45°C, Cunninghamella elegans fails to grow at 45°C. 16, 31, 52, 54 Nonseptate or sparsely septate broad hyphae, sporangiophores, terminal vesicles, sporangioles (sporan- giola; sing. sporangiolum) and sporangiospores are visualized (Fig. 1). Sporangiophores are erect and form short lateral branches each of which terminates in a swollen vesicle. The vesicle (30-65 μm in diameter) has spine-like denticles on its surface. Sporangioles (5-8 x 6-14 μm) are round to oval in shape, one-spored and are formed on these denticles. Sporangiospores are one-celled, solitary and globose to ovoid in shape. The walls of the spores often have needle-like crystals. Zygospores have tuberculate projections and may form only after appropriate mating studies. 16, 31, 52, 54 Copper is an essential micronutrient for most, if not all-living organisms since it is the constituent of many metalloenzymes and proteins involved in electron transport chain, redox reactions and other important reactions. Copper is also required as a cofactor in a variety of proteins. Despite its importance, relatively little is understood about the molecular details of how organisms acquire this trace metal from the environment. Copper requirements by micro-