The exacerbation of mercury methylation by Geobacter sulfurreducens PCA in a freshwater algae-bacteria symbiotic system throughout the lifetime of algae

Mine-polluted wastewater with mercury (Hg) poses severe environmental pollution since Hg(II) can be converted to highly neurotoxic methylmercury (MeHg) under anaerobic conditions. Previous studies on Hg methylation have focused on aquatic sediments, but few have investigated the MeHg formation in water layers containing algae. In this study, we investigated the dynamic effect of algae on Hg methylation throughout the lifetime of algae. We found that Chlorella pyrenoidosa was a non-methylating alga and exhibited good tolerance to Hg stress (1-20 mu g/L); thus Hg(II) could not inhibit the process of eutrophication. However, the presence of C. pyrenoidosa significantly enhanced the Hg methylation by Geobacter sulfurreducens PCA. Compared to the control sample without algae, the MeHg production rate of algae-bacteria samples remarkably exacerbated by 62.3-188.3% with the algal growth period at cell densities of 1.5 x 10(6)-25 x 10(6) cells/mL. The increase of algal organic matter and thiols with the algal growth period resulted in the exacerbation of MeHg production. The Hg methylation was also enhanced with the presence of dead algae, of which the enhancement was similar to 62.4% lower than that with the presence of live algae. Accordingly, the potential mechanism of Hg methylation in a fresh-water algae-bacteria symbiotic system throughout the algal lifetime was proposed.

Automated summary

The presence of the algae Chlorella pyrenoidosa significantly enhanced the methylation of mercury by Geobacter sulfurreducens PCA, resulting in a substantial increase in methylmercury production rates throughout the algae growth period. Additionally, the increase of algal organic matter and thiols with the algal growth period played a role in exacerbating the production of methylmercury.