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Molecular networks and metabolic adaptations of Skeletonema costatum under polystyrene nanoplastic stress
Summary
Tiny plastic particles from pollution (called nanoplastics) can seriously stress out a key type of ocean algae, damaging its cell membranes and slowing its growth and photosynthesis — though the algae fight back by ramping up antioxidants and energy production to survive. This matters because this algae is a foundational food source in ocean ecosystems, so if nanoplastic pollution weakens it, that disruption could ripple up the food chain — the same food chain that eventually includes the seafood we eat.
海洋纳米塑料（nanoplastics, NPs）污染日益严重，其对初级生产者微藻的毒性机制亟待阐明。本研究以典型海洋硅藻中肋骨条藻（Skeletonema costatum）为对象，探究其在聚苯乙烯纳米塑料（polystyrene nanoplastics, PS-NPs）暴露（0.1 mg/L低浓度、10 mg/L高浓度）下的毒性效应及分子机制。结果表明，PS-NPs显著抑制藻细胞生长和叶绿素a合成，且呈浓度依赖性。转录组分析揭示，PS-NPs通过抑制脂肪酸（fabG, fabZ）和甘油磷脂（AGPAT, EPT）代谢基因来破坏细胞膜，下调光合基因（psbK）表达水平，同时诱导氧化应激。作为响应，藻细胞上调抗氧化基因（SOD1, GST, APX, RRM1）并激活能量代谢通路（柠檬酸循环、糖酵解、氧化磷酸化）关键基因以弥补能量缺口。代谢组分析进一步显示，氨基酸生物合成、2-氧代羧酸代谢和ABC转运蛋白通路被显著富集，相关代谢物（如L-谷氨酰胺、2-酮戊二酸、α,α-海藻糖等）上调，表明藻细胞通过储备抗氧化前体、加强能量供应和外排毒物来应对胁迫。本研究解析了PS-NPs对海洋硅藻的多层次毒性机制及藻细胞的适应性防御策略，为海洋纳米塑料生态风险评估提供了重要科学依据。