Abstract
Microalgae are a source of numerous compounds that can be used in many branches of industry. Synthesis of such compounds in microalgal cells can be amplified under stress conditions. Exposure to various metals can be one of methods applied to induce cell stress and synthesis of target products in microalgae cultures. In this review, the potential of producing diverse biocompounds (pigments, lipids, exopolymers, peptides, phytohormones, arsenoorganics, nanoparticles) from microalgae cultures upon exposure to various metals, is evaluated. Additionally, different methods to alter microalgae response towards metals and metal stress are described. Finally, possibilities to sustain high growth rates and productivity of microalgal cultures in the presence of metals are discussed.
Highlights
Microalgae are photosynthetic microorganisms, using solar light to convert CO2 from the atmosphere into organic carbon
Inhibitory effects of TiO2, ZnO, CeO2, NiO, BaTiO3, Y2O3, Al2O3, Ag and Pt nanoparticles were reported towards numerous freshwater and marine microalgae strains and their inhibitory activity was suggested to be due to Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) generation [49,50] or mechanical damage caused by nanoparticles themselves [51], and due to metal ions released from nanoparticles [50,52,53], light shading effect [54], interactions with growth media components [55] or simultaneous effect of various factors [56]
A UTEX strain cultivated in C&M medium; 4, a MAT strain cultivated in C&M medium; 1x, for a lowest metal mixture tested; Ut, Pb was partially utilized by strain; +ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), a six fold increase in EDTA concentration suggested; EPF, from Extracellular Polymeric Fraction; RENP, released from Engineered Nanoparticles; NL, nitrogen limited medium; NE, nutrient enriched medium; CM, in cultivation media; RC, the release from cells; +B, plus brassinolide 10−8 M; Ct, when compared to control without heavy metal and brassinolide; M, composition and concentration of other micro/macro nutrients changed; FSC, during the first stage of cultivation; PCT, in prolonged cultivation time
Summary
Krystian Miazek 1,*, Waldemar Iwanek 2, Claire Remacle 3, Aurore Richel 4 and Dorothee Goffin 5. AgricultureIsLife Platform, University of Liege-Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Passage des Déportés 2, Gembloux B-5030, Belgium. Received: 18 August 2015 / Accepted: 24 September 2015 / Published: 9 October 2015
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