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Mechanism of the inhibition and detoxification effects of the interaction between nanoplastics and microalgae Chlorella pyrenoidosa
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Researchers exposed green algae to nanoplastics and observed an unexpected pattern: the algae were initially inhibited but gradually recovered over time. At the molecular level, nanoplastics initially blocked protein synthesis and damaged DNA, reducing algal growth and photosynthesis. However, the algae activated detoxification mechanisms including accelerated cell division and degradation of damaged cellular components, suggesting these organisms have some capacity to adapt to nanoplastic stress.
Most previous studies have focused on the toxicity of microplastics on aquatic organisms. However, research on nanoplastics is still limited and poses significant threat to aquatic organisms than microplastics. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of nanoplastics (80 nm) on the microalgae Chlorella pyrenoidosa. One unanticipated finding was that inhibition and detoxification effects existed in the interaction between nanoplastics and C. pyrenoidosa. Nanoplastics contributed the maximum inhibition rates of 27.73%, 29.64%, and 11.76% on algal growth, chlorophyll a, and Fv/Fm, respectively, which were much higher than those of microplastics. However, the inhibitory effect of nanoplastics gradually decreased with prolonged exposure time after reaching a maximum. The transcriptomic analysis explained that the inhibition effect of nanoplastics was due to the blockage of the gene expression of aminoacyl tRNA synthetase and the synthesis of related enzymes and proteins at low concentrations (10 mg·L). Moreover, it affected DNA damage repair and hindered photosynthesis at high concentrations (50 mg·L). The detoxification phenomenon is attributed to the promotion of cell proliferation, the acceleration of the degradation of damaged proteins and organs, and the regulation of intracellular osmotic pressure in algae. The results of this study provide an understanding of the mechanism underlying the interaction between nanoplastics and microalgae.
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Researchers studied the chronic effects of nanoplastics on a freshwater microalga and found a surprising dual response: growth was initially inhibited during the first two weeks but then promoted at lower concentrations over longer exposure. Gene expression analysis revealed that the initial toxicity stemmed from suppressed protein synthesis, while the later recovery involved the algae ramping up cell division and stress defense mechanisms. The study provides molecular-level insights into how aquatic microorganisms may adapt to ongoing nanoplastic exposure.
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