Decreasing arsenic accumulation but promoting arsenate biotransformation in Microcystis aeruginosa regulated by nano-Fe2O3.

Abstract

Iron oxide nanoparticles (nano-Fe2O3) widely distribute in waters with low toxicity to aquatic organisms. But it is unclear for nano-Fe2O3 to affect the fate of coexisting arsenic (As) with its bioaccumulation and biotransformation. In this study, we thus mainly investigated arsenate (As(V)) toxicity, uptake kinetics, biotransformation and subcellular distribution in Microcystis aeruginosa influenced by nano-Fe2O3. The results showed that M. aeruginosa was more sensitive to As(V) associated with nano-Fe2O3. Due to the exaggerated increase of efflux rate constants of As compared with the uptake rate constants in algal cells affected by different levels of nano-Fe2O3, the As(V) bioconcentration factor decreased with nano-Fe2O3 increasing correspondingly, indicating that As bioaccumulation was diminished by nano-Fe2O3. The decreased As accumulation in M. aeruginosa could be supported by the evidential As(V) sequestration through high adsorption of nano-Fe2O3, which resulted in decreasing free As level for algae uptake in media. Meanwhile, As subcellular distribution was adjusted by nano-Fe2O3 with decreasing in cell walls and rising in cytoplasmic organelles compared with nano-Fe2O3 free. As(V) reduction and methylation were enhanced with increasing nano-Fe2O3, stimulating by its sensitivity to the interaction of nano-Fe2O3 and As(V) as well as the rising level of As in cytoplasmic organelles of this algae. It is confirmed by the higher relative gene expression levels of arsC and arsM in elevated nano-Fe2O3. Accordingly, it is highlighted to be deserved more attention that the changing behavior of As(V) by nano-Fe2O3 that reduce As bioaccumulation and accelerate its biotransformation in algae in As contaminated water.