<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Microalgae are unicellular free living entities and therefore their responses to excess of heavy metals must be faster and more efficient than those in vascular plants protected by various types of tissues. Up to date, numerous studies reported metal bioaccumulation potential of algae but metabolic responses have relatively rarely been monitored. Here I provide basic overview of quantitative changes of ascorbic acid (AA), reduced glutathione (GSH), phytochelatins (PCs) and selected related enzymes (ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase) in some common microalgae exposed to various metals (cadmium mainly). Despite various culture and exposure conditions, some common signs of metal toxicity (including e.g. enhancement of phytochelatin biosynthesis) are clearly identifiable in algae. Other metal chelators such as organic acids are also briefly mentioned. Comparison with macroalgae, mosses and vascular plants is discussed in terms of basal values and evolutionary similarities.</p></abstract>

Microalgae are unicellular free living entities and therefore their responses to excess of heavy metals must be faster and more efficient than those in vascular plants protected by various types of tissues. Up to date, numerous studies reported metal bioaccumulation potential of algae but metabolic responses have relatively rarely been monitored. Here I provide basic overview of quantitative changes of ascorbic acid (AA), reduced glutathione (GSH), phytochelatins (PCs) and selected related enzymes (ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase) in some common microalgae exposed to various metals (cadmium mainly). Despite various culture and exposure conditions, some common signs of metal toxicity (including e.g. enhancement of phytochelatin biosynthesis) are clearly identifiable in algae. Other metal chelators such as organic acids are also briefly mentioned. Comparison with macroalgae, mosses and vascular plants is discussed in terms of basal values and evolutionary similarities.

Antioxidative Responses of Microalgae to Heavy Metals

Acta Environmentalica Universitatis Comenianae

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Antioxidative Responses of Microalgae to Heavy Metals"}

Microalgae are unicellular free living entities and therefore their responses to excess of heavy metals must be faster and more efficient than those in...

Antioxidative Responses of Microalgae to Heavy Metals

Publié en ligne: 24 janv. 2018

Pages: 23 - 31

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/aeuc-2016-0009

Mots clés
antioxidants, heavy metals, oxidative stress

© 2016 Jozef Kováčik, published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Antioxidative Responses of Microalgae to Heavy Metals

Publié en ligne: 24 janv. 2018

Pages: 23 - 31

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/aeuc-2016-0009

Mots clésantioxidants, heavy metals, oxidative stress

© 2016 Jozef Kováčik, published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Mots clés
antioxidants, heavy metals, oxidative stress