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Toxicity of microplastics and nano-plastics to coral-symbiotic alga (Dinophyceae Symbiodinium): Evidence from alga physiology, ultrastructure, OJIP kinetics and multi-omics

Water Research 2024 19 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 60 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Shiqi Jiang, Shiqi Jiang, Shiqi Jiang, Chengyong Li Chengyong Li Zhenqing Dai, Ruikun Sun, Ruikun Sun, Chengyong Li Zhenqing Dai, Haiyan Lu, Zhenqing Dai, Shiqi Jiang, Chengyong Li Yue Xie, Zhenqing Dai, Ruikun Sun, Zhenqing Dai, Yue Xie, Shiqi Jiang, Zhenqing Dai, Ruikun Sun, Ruikun Sun, Ruikun Sun, Ruikun Sun, Zhenqing Dai, Zhenqing Dai, Shiqi Jiang, Tao Zhou, Zhenqing Dai, Zhenqing Dai, Chengyong Li Zhenqing Dai, Zhenqing Dai, Zhenqing Dai, Zhenqing Dai, Zhenqing Dai, Ruikun Sun, Zhenqing Dai, Zhenqing Dai, Zhenqing Dai, Zhenqing Dai, Ruikun Sun, Ruikun Sun, Zhenqing Dai, Zhenqing Dai, Zhenqing Dai, Chengyong Li Zhenqing Dai, Zhenqing Dai, Zhenqing Dai, Zhenqing Dai, Zhenqing Dai, Zhenqing Dai, Ruikun Sun, Chengyong Li Zhenqing Dai, Zhenqing Dai, Ruikun Sun, Lei He, Chengyong Li Yue Xie, Ruikun Sun, Zhenqing Dai, Ruikun Sun, Zhenqing Dai, Chengyong Li Ruikun Sun, Zhenqing Dai, Ruikun Sun, Zhenqing Dai, Chengyong Li Chengyong Li Chengyong Li Zhenqing Dai, Chengyong Li Chengyong Li Chengyong Li Chengyong Li Zhenqing Dai, Zhenqing Dai, Chengyong Li Chengyong Li Zhenqing Dai, Chengyong Li Chengyong Li Ruikun Sun, Chengyong Li Chengyong Li Chengyong Li Chengyong Li Chengyong Li Zhenqing Dai, Chengyong Li Chengyong Li Chengyong Li Zhenqing Dai, Ruikun Sun, Zhenqing Dai, Chengyong Li Chengyong Li Chengyong Li Chengyong Li Chengyong Li Chengyong Li Chengyong Li Chengyong Li Chengyong Li Chengyong Li Chengyong Li Chengyong Li Chengyong Li Chengyong Li Chengyong Li

Summary

Researchers studied how microplastics and nanoplastics damage Symbiodinium, the algae that live inside coral and keep reefs alive. Even at concentrations found in the real environment, the plastic particles disrupted photosynthesis, caused oxidative stress, and triggered metabolic problems in the algae. Since the breakdown of this coral-algae partnership leads to coral bleaching, microplastic pollution could threaten the reef ecosystems that support fisheries and coastal communities worldwide.

Corals are representative of typical symbiotic organisms. The coral-algal (Symbiodinium spp.) symbiosis drives the productivity of entire coral reefs. In recent years, microplastics (MPs) and nano-plastics (NPs) have been shown to disrupt this symbiosis, leading to coral bleaching. However, how MPs/NPs affect the Symbiodinium spp. is less thoroughly explored. In this work, Dinophyceae Symbiodinium was employed as a model to study the toxicity effects of MPs and NPs with different concentrations (covering environment-related concentration) toward algae in terms of cellular responses, ultrastructure, OJIP kinetics curve and multi-omics. MPs and NPs caused adverse effects on algae growth throughout whole growing phase, with only slight differences observed in the maximal inhibition ratio. In addition to cell surface shrinkage, holes and plate sutures shedding of algae, the presence of distorted thylakoids, plasmolysis and expanded vesicle volume were observed due to the oxidative stress and physical damage caused by MPs/NPs. The results of OJIP kinetics and JIP-test revealed that MPs/NPs-induced deactivation of oxygen-releasing complex (OEC) centers, reduced electron transfer (photosystem II, PSII), and inefficient energy conversion of antenna proteins were the primary factors for photosynthesis reduction. Weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) showed that the impairment of photosynthesis further induces metabolic disturbances, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and nucleotide metabolism dysregulation, thereby exacerbating DNA damage in the algae. Proteomics further validate the accuracy of our results and underscore the significance of the phosphatidylinositol (PI) signaling system in algae responding to MP/NPs acclimation. Collectively, our findings provide comprehensive insights into the ecotoxicity of NPs/MPs on symbiotic algae.

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