9605069 Parker Description: This award is for the "U.S.-India Cooperative Research: Interaction of Toxic Metals with an Abundant Natural Material, Capsular Polysaccharide from Indian Cyanobacteria". The project is directed by Dorothy Parker, University of Wisconsin and L.C. Rai, Banaras Hindu University. This project will examine the accumulation of toxic metals by cyanobacteria and cyanobacterial polysaccharides from Indian waters. In addition to having unique metal content, many Indian ponds are a biologically-reliable and environmentally-constant source of the cyanobacterium Microcystis which adsorbs specific metal ions. The research will contribute to fundamental knowledge on: cyanobacterial polysaccharides with affinities for toxic or valuable metals; the role of these polysaccharides in the cycling or accumulation of metals in aquatic ecosystems; the range of extracellular polysaccharides produced by cyanobacteria from two continents; and the utility of these polysaccharides in metal- related biotechnology. Scope: This collaboration was initiated by an INT supported planning visit for Dr. Parker, plus a sabbatical visit to Baneras Hindu University. The collaboration which links two university research laboratories expands the capabilities of both groups and makes it possible to examine novel questions that pertain to environmental concerns and biotechnical applications affecting India and the U.S. ***
