Abstract
Phytotoxicity of cyanobacterial toxins has been confirmed at the subcellular level with consequences on whole plant physiological parameters and thus growth and productivity. Most of the data are available for two groups of these toxins: microcystins (MCs) and cylindrospermopsins (CYNs). Thus, in this review we present a timely survey of subcellular cyanotoxin effects with the main focus on these two cyanotoxins. We provide comparative insights into how peculiar plant cellular structures are affected. We review structural changes and their physiological consequences induced in the plastid system, peculiar plant cytoskeletal organization and chromatin structure, the plant cell wall, the vacuolar system, and in general, endomembrane structures. The cyanotoxins have characteristic dose-and plant genotype-dependent effects on all these structures. Alterations in chloroplast structure will influence the efficiency of photosynthesis and thus plant productivity. Changing of cell wall composition, disruption of the vacuolar membrane (tonoplast) and cytoskeleton, and alterations of chromatin structure (including DNA strand breaks) can ultimately lead to cell death. Finally, we present an integrated view of subcellular alterations. Knowledge on these changes will certainly contribute to a better understanding of cyanotoxin–plant interactions.
Highlights
In the context of this paper, the most important changes were: (i) in the abundance of proteins related to photosynthetic activity as an important chloroplast function; (ii) chaperone-related plastid and ER proteins involved in protein folding and stress resistance
This raised the possibility that the toxin combination induces structural alterations in these compartments; (iii) proteins involved in cytoskeletal assembly and biosynthesis of cell wall macromolecules; (iv) proteases, raising the possibility of cell death induction
Cyanotoxin-induced changes in the chromatin of non-dividing cells will be shown in the “Plant cell death” Section 2.5; here, we present only mitotic chromatin
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. The amino acid type toxin β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) is defined as a neurotoxin [12] While the latter neurotoxic groups affect mainly human and animal tissues and cells, MCs and CYNs, traditionally called hepatotoxins, have a broad spectrum of toxicity since several other organisms (bacteria, fungi, algae, plants) were investigated and toxic consequences were noted [7]. We concentrate on cyanotoxin-induced changes in the organization of plant-specific structures to highlight their different effects on animal/human cells. These peculiar structures are [16]:. We will treat toxin effects on the above peculiar plant structures in separate subsections, it should be noted they function in close relationship to each other to integrate different compartments in a eukaryotic cell. Research in this field will certainly contribute to selection of the proper methods for combating their adverse effects on crops
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
