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Mechanistic study on the increase of Microcystin-LR synthesis and release in Microcystis aeruginosa by amino-modified nano-plastics.
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This study examined how amino-modified nanoplastics increase production and release of the toxin Microcystin-LR in the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa, revealing the cellular and gene-expression mechanisms behind this enhancement. The findings highlight how nanoplastic pollution can amplify harmful algal bloom toxicity.
Ecological risk of micro/nano-plastics (MPs/NPs) has become an important environmental issue. Microcystin-leucine-arginine (MC-LR) produced by Microcystis aeruginosa (M. aeruginosa) is the most common and toxic secondary metabolites (SM). However, the influencing mechanism of MPs and NPs exposure on MC-LR synthesis and release have still not been clearly evaluated. In this work, under both acute (4d) and long-term exposure (10d), only high-concentration (10 mg/L) exposure of amino-modified polystyrene NPs (PS-NH-NPs) promoted MC-LR synthesis (32.94 % and 42.42 %) and release (27.35 % and 31.52 %), respectively. Mechanistically, PS-NH-NPs inhibited algae cell density, interrupted pigment synthesis, weakened photosynthesis efficiency, and induced oxidative stress, with subsequent enhancing the MC-LR synthesis. Additionally, PS-NH-NPs exposure up-regulated MC-LR synthesis pathway genes (mcyA, mcyB, mcyD, and mcyG) combined with significantly increased metabolomics (Leucine and Arginine), thereby enhancing MC-LR synthesis. PS-NH-NPs exposure enhanced the MC-LR release from M. aeruginosa via up-regulated MC-LR transport pathway genes (mcyH) and the shrinkage of plasma membrane. Our results provide new insights into the long-time coexistence of NPs with algae in freshwater systems might pose a potential threat to aquatic environments and human health.
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Nanoplastics Promote Microcystin Synthesis and Release from Cyanobacterial Microcystis aeruginosa
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Researchers discovered that amino-modified polystyrene nanoplastics promote both the production and release of microcystin, a harmful toxin, from the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa. The nanoplastics inhibited photosynthesis, induced oxidative stress, and damaged cell membranes, which enhanced toxin synthesis and extracellular release. The findings suggest that nanoplastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems could worsen the threat of harmful algal blooms to aquatic ecology and human health.
Nanoplastics promote microcystin synthesis and release from cyanobacterial Microcystis aeruginosa.
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Researchers showed that amino-modified polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NH2) stimulate microcystin synthesis and release in the bloom-forming cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa by inhibiting photosystem II and increasing membrane permeability. This is the first direct evidence linking nanoplastics to enhanced cyanotoxin production in freshwater blooms.
Micro- and nanoplastic stress intensifies Microcystis aeruginosa physiology and toxin risks under environmentally relevant water chemistry conditions
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Researchers exposed the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa to environmentally relevant concentrations of micro- and nanoplastics, finding both significantly enhanced algal biomass and microcystin toxin production, with nanoplastics additionally promoting extracellular toxin release.
Interactive effects of amine-modified nanoplastics and nitrogen source on Microcystin-LR synthesis and release in Microcystis aeruginosa
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Tiny plastic particles called nanoplastics, when combined with certain types of nitrogen pollution, can make harmful algae produce more toxins in water, a problem that could threaten drinking water and food sources. This study found that a specific type of plastic particle increased toxin production by up to 76% in algae under certain conditions, and the effect got worse in warmer temperatures. Understanding how plastics and pollution interact to create these toxic algae blooms is important for protecting our water supplies and public health.
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Researchers found that amino-modified nanoplastics are more toxic to the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa than unmodified particles, and that high light intensity amplifies this toxicity by generating additional reactive oxygen species — including singlet oxygen and hydroxyl radicals — through interactions between visible light and the particle surface.
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