The blue green alga, Microcystis aeruginosa, was found to accumulate proline under the stressful concentration of cupric ions. The changes of proline level in Microcystis aeruginosa in response to copper(Cu) have been monitored and the function of the accumulated proline was studied with respect to its effect on Cu uptake. Exposure of Microcystis aeruginosa elevated concentrations of Cu led to accumulation of fee proline depending on the concentrations of the metal in the external medium. The greater the toxicity or accumulation of the metal, the higher the amount of proline in algal cells were found. When proline was exogenously supplied prior to Cu treatment, the absorption of Cu was markedly reduced. When exogenous proline was supplied after Cu treatment, it resulted in a remarkable desorption of the adsorbed Cu immediately after the addition of proline. Pretreatment of Microcystis aeruginosa with proline counteracted with metal-induced lipid peroxidation. The results of the present study showed a protective elect of proline on metal toxicity through inhibition of lipid peroxidation and suggested that the accumulation of proline may be related to the tolerance mechanism for dealing with Cu stress.