A closer look at plastic colonisation: Prokaryotic dynamics in established versus newly synthesised marine plastispheres and their planktonic state

Abstract

The taxonomy of marine plastisphere communities has been extensively studied, demonstrating the ubiquity of hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria of potential biotechnological significance. However, prokaryotic functioning on plastic surfaces has received limited attention, and the question of whether these microorganisms are active and expressing specific molecular mechanisms underpinning plastisphere colonisation remains to be addressed. The aim of this study was to investigate the plastic colonisation process, to identify the active taxa involved in biofilm formation and the mechanisms used to initiate colonisation. To achieve this, a marine plastisphere characterised by active hydrocarbonoclastic genera was used as the inoculum for a short-term microcosm experiment using virgin low-density polyethylene as the sole carbon source. Following incubation for 1 and 2 weeks (representing early and late colonisation, respectively), a taxonomic and comparative metaproteomic approach revealed a significant shift in plastisphere diversity and composition, yet highlighted stability in the predominance of active Proteobacteria spanning 16 genera, including Marinomonas, Pseudomonas, and Pseudoalteromonas. Relative quantification of 1762 proteins shared between the initial plastisphere inoculum, the microcosm plastisphere and the planktonic cells in the surrounding artificial seawater, provided insights into the differential regulation of proteins associated with plastisphere formation. This included the upregulation of proteins mediating cellular attachment in the plastisphere, for example flagellin expressed by Marinomonas, Cobetia, Pseudoalteromonas, and Pseudomonas, and curli expressed by Cobetia. In addition to the differential regulation of energy metabolism in Marinomonas, Psychrobacter, Pseudomonas and Cobetia within the plastisphere relative to the surrounding seawater. Further, we identified the upregulation of amino acid metabolism and transport, including glutamine hydrolysis to glutamate in Marinomonas and unclassified Halomonadaceae, potentially coupled to ammonia availability and oxidative stress experienced within the plastisphere. Our study provides novel insights into the dynamics of plastisphere formation and function, highlighting potential targets for regulating plastisphere growth to enhance plastic bioremediation processes.