Photosynthetic response mechanism to polybrominated diphenyl ether exposure in Chlorella pyrenoidosa

Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) contamination is common in aquatic environments and can severely damage aquatic organisms. However, there is a lack of information on the response and self-adaptation mech-anisms of these organisms. Chlorella pyrenoidosa was treated with 2,2 & PRIME;,4,4 & PRIME;-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE47), causing significant growth inhibition, pigment reduction, oxidative stress, and chloroplast atrophy. Photosyn-thetic damage contributed to inhibition, as indicated by Fv/Fm, Chl a fluorescence induction, photosynthetic oxygen evolution activity, and photosystem subunit stoichiometry. Here, Chl a fluorescence induction and quinone electron acceptor (QA ) reoxidation kinetics showed that the PSII donor and acceptor sides were insensitive to BDE47. Quantitative analyses of D1 and PsaD proteins illustrated that PSII and PSI complexes were the main primary targets of photosynthesis inhibition by BDE47. Significant modulation of PSII complex might have been caused by the potential binding of BDE47 on D1 protein, and molecular docking was performed to investigate this. Increased activation of antioxidant defense systems and photosystem repair as a function of exposure time indicated a positive resistance to BDE47. After a 5-day exposure, 23 % of BDE47 was metabolized. Our findings suggest that C. pyrenoidosa has potential as a bioremediator for wastewater-borne PBDEs and can improve our understanding of ecological risks to microalgae.

Automated summary

Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) contamination is common and harmful in aquatic environments. This study investigates the response mechanisms of Chlorella pyrenoidosa to PBDE exposure, finding that photosynthetic damage and inhibition were caused by the binding of BDE47 to PSII and PSI complexes. However, C. pyrenoidosa showed a positive resistance and metabolic ability to PBDEs, indicating its potential as a bioremediator for wastewater-borne PBDEs.