Integration of Copper Toxicity Mechanisms in <i>Raphidocelis subcapitata</i>: Advancing Insights at Environmentally Relevant Concentrations

This work aimed to characterize the impact of copper (Cu), at environmentally relevant concentrations, using the freshwater microalga <i>Raphidocelis subcapitata</i>. Algae were incubated with 33 or 53 µg/L Cu, in OECD medium, and toxic impacts were evaluated over 72 h, using different c...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Manuela D. Machado, Eduardo V. Soares
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Toxics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/12/12/905
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846102611513573376
author Manuela D. Machado
Eduardo V. Soares
author_facet Manuela D. Machado
Eduardo V. Soares
author_sort Manuela D. Machado
collection DOAJ
description This work aimed to characterize the impact of copper (Cu), at environmentally relevant concentrations, using the freshwater microalga <i>Raphidocelis subcapitata</i>. Algae were incubated with 33 or 53 µg/L Cu, in OECD medium, and toxic impacts were evaluated over 72 h, using different cellular and biochemical biomarkers. The exposure to 33 µg/L Cu had an algistatic effect: slowing growth and reducing algal population (53%, at 72 h) without compromising the cell membrane. This Cu concentration promoted a transient reduction in chlorophyll <i>a</i> (chl<i>a</i>) content and typical markers of oxidative stress: increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), augmented catalase (CAT) activity, and lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde, MDA). Algae exposed to 53 µg/L Cu, suffered a severe effect with a 93% reduction in the number of cells, 50% decrease in chl<i>a</i> content, and diminished (17%) maximum photochemical quantum yield of PSII (<i>F</i><sub>v</sub>/<i>F</i><sub>m</sub>). This population also presented increased levels of ROS and MDA, 33 and 20 times higher than the control, respectively, at 72 h, augmented CAT activity, and permeabilized cell membrane (5%, at 72 h). These findings provide valuable insights into Cu toxicity in aquatic ecosystems, highlighting the biochemical and physiological impacts at environmentally relevant concentrations.
format Article
id doaj-art-fbb78e5ea65a4caf94e90dc8b8edea78
institution Kabale University
issn 2305-6304
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Toxics
spelling doaj-art-fbb78e5ea65a4caf94e90dc8b8edea782024-12-27T14:56:45ZengMDPI AGToxics2305-63042024-12-01121290510.3390/toxics12120905Integration of Copper Toxicity Mechanisms in <i>Raphidocelis subcapitata</i>: Advancing Insights at Environmentally Relevant ConcentrationsManuela D. Machado0Eduardo V. Soares1Bioengineering Laboratory, ISEP, Polytechnic of Porto, Rua Dr António Bernardino de Almeida, 431, 4249-015 Porto, PortugalBioengineering Laboratory, ISEP, Polytechnic of Porto, Rua Dr António Bernardino de Almeida, 431, 4249-015 Porto, PortugalThis work aimed to characterize the impact of copper (Cu), at environmentally relevant concentrations, using the freshwater microalga <i>Raphidocelis subcapitata</i>. Algae were incubated with 33 or 53 µg/L Cu, in OECD medium, and toxic impacts were evaluated over 72 h, using different cellular and biochemical biomarkers. The exposure to 33 µg/L Cu had an algistatic effect: slowing growth and reducing algal population (53%, at 72 h) without compromising the cell membrane. This Cu concentration promoted a transient reduction in chlorophyll <i>a</i> (chl<i>a</i>) content and typical markers of oxidative stress: increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), augmented catalase (CAT) activity, and lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde, MDA). Algae exposed to 53 µg/L Cu, suffered a severe effect with a 93% reduction in the number of cells, 50% decrease in chl<i>a</i> content, and diminished (17%) maximum photochemical quantum yield of PSII (<i>F</i><sub>v</sub>/<i>F</i><sub>m</sub>). This population also presented increased levels of ROS and MDA, 33 and 20 times higher than the control, respectively, at 72 h, augmented CAT activity, and permeabilized cell membrane (5%, at 72 h). These findings provide valuable insights into Cu toxicity in aquatic ecosystems, highlighting the biochemical and physiological impacts at environmentally relevant concentrations.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/12/12/905antioxidative defensescell membrane integritylipid peroxidationoxidative stressphotosynthetic activity<i>Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata</i> (=<i>Selenastrum capricornutum</i>)
spellingShingle Manuela D. Machado
Eduardo V. Soares
Integration of Copper Toxicity Mechanisms in <i>Raphidocelis subcapitata</i>: Advancing Insights at Environmentally Relevant Concentrations
Toxics
antioxidative defenses
cell membrane integrity
lipid peroxidation
oxidative stress
photosynthetic activity
<i>Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata</i> (=<i>Selenastrum capricornutum</i>)
title Integration of Copper Toxicity Mechanisms in <i>Raphidocelis subcapitata</i>: Advancing Insights at Environmentally Relevant Concentrations
title_full Integration of Copper Toxicity Mechanisms in <i>Raphidocelis subcapitata</i>: Advancing Insights at Environmentally Relevant Concentrations
title_fullStr Integration of Copper Toxicity Mechanisms in <i>Raphidocelis subcapitata</i>: Advancing Insights at Environmentally Relevant Concentrations
title_full_unstemmed Integration of Copper Toxicity Mechanisms in <i>Raphidocelis subcapitata</i>: Advancing Insights at Environmentally Relevant Concentrations
title_short Integration of Copper Toxicity Mechanisms in <i>Raphidocelis subcapitata</i>: Advancing Insights at Environmentally Relevant Concentrations
title_sort integration of copper toxicity mechanisms in i raphidocelis subcapitata i advancing insights at environmentally relevant concentrations
topic antioxidative defenses
cell membrane integrity
lipid peroxidation
oxidative stress
photosynthetic activity
<i>Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata</i> (=<i>Selenastrum capricornutum</i>)
url https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/12/12/905
work_keys_str_mv AT manueladmachado integrationofcoppertoxicitymechanismsiniraphidocelissubcapitataiadvancinginsightsatenvironmentallyrelevantconcentrations
AT eduardovsoares integrationofcoppertoxicitymechanismsiniraphidocelissubcapitataiadvancinginsightsatenvironmentallyrelevantconcentrations