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Metabolism of xenobiotics by Chlamydomonas reinhardtii: Phenol degradation under conditions affecting photosynthesis

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Abstract

In the present work, the biodegradation of phenol by axenic cultures of the unicellular microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was investigated. Biodegradation proved to be a dynamic bioenergetic process, affected by changes in the culture conditions. Microalgae biodegraded defined amounts of phenol, as a result of the induced stress caused at high concentrations, despite the fact that this process proved to be energy demanding and thus affected growth of the culture. High levels of biodegradation were observed both in the absence of an alternative carbon source and in the presence of acetate as a carbon source. Biodegradation of phenol by Chlamydomonas proved to be an aerobic, photoregulated process. This is the first time that Chlamydomonas reinhardtii has been used for bioremediation purposes. This study has demonstrated that the most important factor in the biodegradation of phenol is the selection of the appropriate culture conditions (presence or absence of alternative carbon source, light intensity, and oxygen availability) that provide the best bioenergetic balance among growth, induced stress, and biodegradation of phenol.

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Abbreviations

PCV:

Packed cell volume

Acetate:

Treatment with acetate as carbon source carried out into light

CO2 :

Treatment with carbon dioxide as carbon source carried out into light

Acetate + CO2 :

Treatment with both acetate and CO2 as carbon sources carried out into light

Limit C:

Treatment with limited carbon source carried out into light

t :

Time in days

X 0 :

Total initial cell biomass in the culture (mg) at the beginning of the experiment

X :

Total cell biomass in the culture (mg) at time t

S 0 :

Total initial amount (mg) of phenol at the beginning of the experiment

S :

Total amount (mg) of phenol at time t

μ :

Specific growth rate

Y X/S :

Observed growth yield calculated according to the equation Y X/S  = (X – X0)/(S 0 − S)

F 0 :

Minimum fluorescence that corresponds to the time that all photosynthetic reaction centers are open

F max :

Maximal fluorescence that corresponds to the time that all reaction centers are closed

F v :

Variable fluorescence (F max − F o)

F v/F max :

Photosynthetic efficiency

ABS/RC:

Size of the functional antenna per active reaction center

DI0/R C:

Dissipation energy per active reaction center

RC/CS0 :

Active reaction center density

TR0/ABS:

Quantum yield of primary photochemistry

C a :

Concentration of chlorophyll-a

C b :

Concentration of chlorophyll-b

C x+c :

Concentration of total carotenoids

nd:

Not detected

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Acknowledgments

The work was funded by the Greek General Secretariat of Research and Technology (Greece-Romania bilateral program 2011–2012).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, University of Crete, Vasilika Voutes, 70013, Heraklion, Crete, Greece

    Theocharis T. Nazos, Emmanouel J. Kokarakis & Demetrios F. Ghanotakis

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  1. Theocharis T. Nazos
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  2. Emmanouel J. Kokarakis
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  3. Demetrios F. Ghanotakis
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Correspondence to Demetrios F. Ghanotakis.

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Nazos, T.T., Kokarakis, E.J. & Ghanotakis, D.F. Metabolism of xenobiotics by Chlamydomonas reinhardtii: Phenol degradation under conditions affecting photosynthesis. Photosynth Res 131, 31–40 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-016-0294-2

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