Siderophore mediated uranium sequestration by marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus BDU 130911

Four different marine cyanobacterial morphotypes were tested for their efficacy to produce siderophores in Fe minus [Fe(−)], Fe minus Uranium dosed [Fe(−)U(+)], and Fe dosed Uranium dosed [Fe(−)U(+)] media. Of the four organisms tested, Synechococcus elongatus BDU 130911 produced the highest amount of siderophore of 58 μg mg−1 dryweight. The results clearly indicate that uranium induces siderophore production in marine cyanobacteria even in the presence of iron [Fe(−)U(+)] condition. The type of siderophore revealed by FeCl3, Tetrazolium and Atkin’s tests is a hydroxamate; and thin layer chromatogram also authenticates our finding. Uranium siderophore complexation was confirmed through modified Chrome Azurol S (CAS) assay as well as based on residual uranium presence. In silico docking studies further validate siderophore complexation with uranium.