chlorophyll-a and beta-ionone

In order to explore the potential targets of toxicity of β-ionone on the photosynthetic system of Microcystis aeruginosa, the polyphasic rise in chlorophyll a (Chl a) fluorescence transient and transcript expression for key genes in photosystem II (PSII) of M. aeruginosa NIES-843 were studied. The EC₅₀ value of β-ionone on M. aeruginosa NIES-843 was found to be 21.23±1.87 mg/L. It was shown that β-Ionone stress can lead to a decrease in pigment content of M. aeruginosa NIES-843 cells, and that carotenoids were more sensitive to β-ionone stress than Chl a. The normalized Chl a fluorescence transients were slightly decreased at 6.67 and 10 mg/L β-ionone, but significantly increased at 15, 22.5 and 33.75 mg/L. There was no significant variation on transcript expression of psbA and psbO at a concentration of 6.67 mg/L β-ionone, but they were down-regulated at 22.5 mg/L. Ultrastructural examination by transmission electron microscopy indicated that the thylakoids were distorted, and the thylakoid membrane stacks began to collapse when M. aeruginosa NIES-843 was exposed to β-ionone at a concentration of 22.5 and 33.75 mg/L. Our results indicate that the reaction centre of PS II and the electron transport at the acceptor side of PS II are the targets responsible for the toxicity of β-ionone on the PS II of M. aeruginosa NIES-843.

Topics: Chlorophyll; Chlorophyll A; Gene Expression; Microcystis; Norisoprenoids; Photosynthesis; Water Pollutants, Chemical

Lake Dianchi is the sixth largest freshwater lake in China. The pilot experimental area (6 km2) in Lake Dianchi is one of the most severely polluted areas in the lake with heavy cyanobacteria blooms. During June 2002 to May 2003, the algal composition and number, and odorous compounds were identified monthly and monitored in the area. Meanwhile, physicochemical parameters such as total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand (COD(Mn)), dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, transparency, temperature and chlorophyll a (chla) were determined. Four odorous compounds: 2-methylisoborneol (MIB), geosmin, beta-cyclocitral and beta-ionone were found in the lake water. Both the concentration of particulate beta-cyclocitral and that of beta-ionone correlated significantly with the annual variation of Chla, biomass of total phytoplankton, cyanobacteria and Microcystis. The concentration of particulate MIB correlated significantly with the biomass of Oscillatoria, while the concentration of particulate geosmin correlated significantly with the biomass of Anabaena. Off-flavour in the pilot area was found to be caused by a combination of beta-cyclocitral- and beta-ionone-producing Microcystis, MIB-producing Oscillatoria and geosmin-producing Anabaena. beta-ionone, MIB and geosmin contributed collectively to the odour intensity in the lake water.

Topics: Aldehydes; Camphanes; China; Chlorophyll; Chlorophyll A; Diterpenes; Environmental Monitoring; Eutrophication; Fresh Water; Naphthols; Nitrogen; Norisoprenoids; Oxygen; Phosphorus; Phytoplankton; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Water Purification