Growth, toxin production, active oxygen species and catalase activity of Microcystis aeruginosa (Cyanophyceae) exposed to temperature stress

摘要

Microcystis are known for their potential ability to synthesize toxins, mainly microcystins (MCs). In order to evaluate the effects of temperature on chlorophyll a (Chl a), growth, physiological responses and toxin production of a native Microcystis aeruginosa, we exposed the cells to low (23 degrees C) and high (29 degrees C) temperature in addition to a 26 degrees C control treatment. Exponential growth rate was significantly higher at 29 degrees C compared to 23 degrees C and control, reaching 0.43, 032 and 033 day(-1) respectively. In addition, there was a delay of the start of exponential growth at 23 degrees C. However, the intracellular concentration of Chl a decreased significantly due to temperature change. A significant increase in intracellular ROS was observed in coincidence with the activation of enzymatic antioxidant catalase (CAT) during the first two days of exposure to 23 and 29 degrees C in comparison to the control experiment, decreasing thereafter to nearly initial values. Five MCs were determined by LC-MS/MS analysis. In the experiments, the highest MC concentration, 205 fg [Leu(1)] MC-LRcell(-1) expressed as MC-LR equivalent was measured in the beginning of the experiment and subsequently declined to 160 fg.cell(-1) on day 2 and 70 fg.cell(-1) on day 4 in cells exposed to 29 degrees C. The same trend was observed for all other MCs except for the least abundant MC-LR which showed a continuous increase during exposure time. Our results suggest a high ability of M. aeruginosa to perceive ROS and to rapidly initiate antioxidant defenses with a differential response on MC production. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.