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Freshwater alga Raphidocelis subcapitata undergoes metabolomic changes in response to electrostatic adhesion by micrometer-sized nylon 6 particles
Summary
Researchers exposed the freshwater alga Raphidocelis subcapitata to nylon 6 and nylon 12 microplastic powders as well as four other common microplastic types and measured metabolic changes. They found that the electrostatic properties of microplastics influenced how the algae responded, with some microplastics causing significant metabolic disruption at environmentally relevant concentrations.
Abstract Nylon powders are a type of microplastic (MP) used in personal care products such as cosmetics and sunscreens. To determine the effects of nylon on freshwater microalgae, we investigated the effects of two types of micrometer-sized nylons, i.e., powdered nylon 6 (Ny6-P) and nylon 12 (Ny12), and four other micrometer-sized MPs, i.e., low-density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, and ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene, on the microalga Raphidocelis subcapitata . The results showed that Ny6-P inhibited R. subcapitata growth more than the other MPs; R. subcapitata growth was inhibited by 54.2% with 6.25 mg/L Ny6-P compared with the control. Ny6-P in the culture media adhered R. subcapitata cells electrostatically, which disrupted growth and photosynthesis. Metabolomic analysis revealed that many metabolites related to the amino acid catabolic pathway and γ-glutamyl cycle were induced, which might reflect responses to avoid starvation and oxidative stress. Our study provides important information on the effects of Ny6-P on algae in freshwater environments.