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Wei N, Hu C, Dittmann E, Song L, Gan N. The biological functions of microcystins. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 262:122119. [PMID: 39059200 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.122119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2024] [Revised: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Microcystins are potent hepatotoxins predominantly produced by bloom-forming freshwater cyanobacteria (e.g., Microcystis, Planktothrix, Dolichospermum). Microcystin biosynthesis involves large multienzyme complexes and tailoring enzymes encoded by the mcy gene cluster. Mutation, recombination, and deletion events have shaped the mcy gene cluster in the course of evolution, resulting in a large diversity of microcystin congeners and the natural coexistence of toxic and non-toxic strains. The biological functions of microcystins and their association with algal bloom formation have been extensively investigated over the past decades. This review synthesizes recent advances in decoding the biological role of microcystins in carbon/nitrogen metabolism, antioxidation, colony formation, and cell-to-cell communication. Microcystins appear to adopt multifunctional roles in cyanobacteria that reflect the adaptive plasticity of toxic cyanobacteria to changing environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nian Wei
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuhan 430223, China
| | - Chenlin Hu
- College of Pharmacy, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Elke Dittmann
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Lirong Song
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Nanqin Gan
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China.
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Chen Q, Wang Z, Wei H, Wang J, Zhou W, Zhou P, Li D. Environmental concentrations of anionic surfactants in lake surface microlayers enhance the toxicity of Microcystis blooms: Insight from photosynthesis, interspecies competition, and MC production. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 244:120430. [PMID: 37678037 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Anionic surfactants represented by linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) exhibit vertical heterogeneity of concentrations in aquatic environments owing to their amphiphilic structure. Field investigations showed that the concentration of anionic surfactants (mainly LAS) in the water surface microlayer (SML) of Lake Taihu reached 580 μg/L, higher than that in the lower layer. Floating Microcystis blooms overlap in space with the high concentration of anionic surfactants in SML. However, few studies have focused on the effects of anionic surfactants (e.g., LAS) on the interspecies competition between toxic and nontoxic Microcystis. In this study, coculture and monoculture experiments were conducted with both toxic and nontoxic Microcystis species to explore how the environmental concentration of LAS regulates the dominance of toxic Microcystis and toxicity from the perspective of photosynthesis, species dominance, and MC production. The results showed that LAS concentrations above 0.267 or 0.431 mg/L (depending on light conditions) selectively promoted the photosynthetic competitive advantage of toxic Microcystis, leading to its higher population proportion in the community. Additionally, LAS concentrations above 0.5 mg/L induced the synthesis and release of microcystins (MCs). The results of chlorophyll fluorescence analysis, electron microscopy and transcriptome sequencing suggested that compared with nontoxic Microcystis, toxic Microcystis can better resist LAS stress by dissipating excess light, maintaining an intact membrane structure and maintaining cellular homeostasis. Transcriptome sequencing revealed that the photosynthetic damage of nontoxic Microcystis might be attributed to the impacts of LAS on the absorption and assimilation of nitrogen, which finally resulted in the degradation of phycobilisomes. This study can provide novel insight for establishing standards and safety management of wastewater discharge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinyi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, P.R. China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P.R. China
| | - Zhicong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, P.R. China.
| | - Hui Wei
- Yulin Municipal Ecology and Environment Emergency and Technical Service Center, Yulin 537000, P.R. China
| | - Jinglong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, P.R. China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P.R. China
| | - Weicheng Zhou
- School of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Xiangnan University, Chenzhou 423000, P.R. China
| | - Panpan Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, P.R. China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P.R. China
| | - Dunhai Li
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, P.R. China
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Song Y, Li R, Song W, Tang Y, Sun S, Mao G. Microcystis spp. and phosphorus in aquatic environments: A comprehensive review on their physiological and ecological interactions. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 878:163136. [PMID: 37001662 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Cyanobacterial blooms caused by eutrophication have become a major environmental problem in aquatic ecosystems worldwide over the last few decades. Phosphorus is a limiting nutrient that affects the growth of cyanobacteria and plays a role in dynamic changes in algal density and the formation of cyanobacterial blooms. Therefore, identifying the association between phosphorus sources and Microcystis, which is the most representative and harmful cyanobacteria, is essential for building an understanding of the ecological risks of cyanobacterial blooms. However, systematic reviews summarizing the relationships between Microcystis and phosphorus in aquatic environments are rare. Thus, this study provides a comprehensive overview of the physiological and ecological interactions between phosphorus sources and Microcystis in aquatic environments from the following perspectives: (i) the effects of phosphorus source and concentration on Microcystis growth, (ii) the impacts of phosphorus on the environmental behaviors of Microcystis, (iii) mechanisms of phosphorus-related metabolism in Microcystis, and (iv) role of Microcystis in the distribution of phosphorus sources within aquatic environments. In addition, relevant unsolved issues and essential future investigations (e.g., secondary ecological risks) have been highlighted and discussed. This review provides deeper insights into the relationship between phosphorus sources and Microcystis and can serve as a reference for the evaluation, monitoring, and effective control of cyanobacterial blooms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhao Song
- School of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu 273165, China.
| | - Ruikai Li
- School of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu 273165, China
| | - Wenjia Song
- School of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu 273165, China
| | - Yulu Tang
- School of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu 273165, China
| | - Shuangyan Sun
- School of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu 273165, China
| | - Guannan Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Environment and Resources (TPESER), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
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