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Study on oxidative stress and nitric oxide response mechanisms in Gymnodinium sp. under polystyrene microplastic stress
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Lab tests on a marine microalga, Gymnodinium sp., found that polystyrene microplastics slowed its growth and reduced photosynthesis, with smaller particles causing more harm. Microplastic exposure also raised cell stress markers and changed nitric oxide levels, which initially helped the algae cope but caused more damage at higher microplastic amounts.
Abstract The toxic effects of microplastic pollution on marine microalgae have attracted considerable attention, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study used Gymnodinium sp. as a model organism to investigate the effects of polystyrene (PS) microplastics at different particle sizes (0.1 and 10 µm) and concentrations (0–50 mg/L) on its growth, photosynthesis, oxidative stress, and nitric oxide (NO) metabolism. Results indicate that PS microplastics significantly inhibited Gymnodinium sp. growth, chlorophyll a (Chl a ) concentration, and photochemical efficiency by 16.37%, 40.34%, and 72.02% respectively, with smaller particles (0.1 µm) exhibiting stronger inhibitory effects. Low concentrations (10–20 mg/L) of microplastics might temporarily enhance algal density and Chl a content, yet exhibited long-term inhibitory effects. Microplastic exposure induced significant reactive oxygen species accumulation (up to 1.96 times the control group), with levels positively correlated to microplastic concentration and exposure duration, indicating oxidative damage as a key mechanism of microplastic toxicity. Microplastic stress markedly elevated nitrate reductase activity (NRA) (up to 2.86 times that of the control group) and altered NO release patterns-exhibiting NO uptake at low concentrations, shifting to net release at high concentrations. The dynamic changes in NO revealed its dual role in microalgal stress resistance: initially acting as an antioxidant to alleviate stress, but at higher concentrations potentially exacerbating cellular damage. This study elucidates the mechanisms by which microplastics inhibit microalgal growth through physical shading and oxidative stress, and proposes the key regulatory role of NO metabolism in microplastic stress responses, providing a theoretical basis for assessing the ecological risks of marine microplastics.
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