Abstract
Effective and ecofriendly antifouling (AF) compounds have been arising from naturally produced chemicals. The objective of this study is to use cyanobacteria-derived agents to investigate the role of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity as an effect and/or mode of action of promising AF compounds, since AChE inhibitors were found to inhibit invertebrate larval settlement. To pursue this objective, in vitro quantification of AChE activity under the effect of several cyanobacterial strain extracts as potential AF agents was performed along with in vivo AF (anti-settlement) screening tests. Pre-characterization of different cholinesterases (ChEs) forms present in selected tissues of important biofouling species was performed to confirm the predominance of AChE, and an in vitro AF test using pure AChE activity was developed. Eighteen cyanobacteria strains were tested as source of potential AF and AChE inhibitor agents. Results showed effectiveness in selecting promising eco-friendly AF agents, allowing the understanding of the AF biochemical mode of action induced by different compounds. This study also highlights the potential of cyanobacteria as source of AF agents towards invertebrate macrofouling species.
Highlights
Biofouling is the process by which a range of micro- and macroorganisms attach to natural and artificial underwater surfaces, constituting a diverse settled community and creating serious problems for the maritime industry worldwide [1]
Agents, which might inhibit the settlement of selected biofouling species by non-biocidal mechanisms, acting in more specific signaling targets somehow related with settlement processes [4,5]
ChEs activity was observed in the foot of M. galloprovincialis as expected, since a previous study on ChE expression pattern have shown that in M. edulis, a congeneric species, the highest ChE activity was found in the foot tissue [27]
Summary
Biofouling is the process by which a range of micro- and macroorganisms attach to natural and artificial underwater surfaces, constituting a diverse settled community and creating serious problems for the maritime industry worldwide [1]. As virtually all submerged artificial structures (ships, pipelines, fishing devices) are subjected to biofouling, large investments are made worldwide in the removal and prevention of biofouling species settlement by using antifouling (AF) paints [2,3]. The majority of AF paints currently in use are based on biocidal agents that induce general toxic responses in marine ecosystems. There is a need to search for alternative non-toxic and environmental friendly AF agents, which might inhibit the settlement of selected biofouling species by non-biocidal mechanisms, acting in more specific signaling targets somehow related with settlement processes [4,5]. On the other hand, searching for settlement-inducing agents for commercially important invertebrate species would be valuable for aquaculture producing systems purposes.
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