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Effects of a Novel Allelochemical Ethyl 2-Methyl Acetoacetate (EMA) on the Ultrastructure and Pigment Composition of Cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa

Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology volume 83, pages 502–508 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Allelochemical ethyl 2-methyl acetoacetate (EMA) can significantly inhibit the growth of bloom-forming Microcystis aeruginosa. In order to assess the implication of the damage of EMA on the algal photosynthetic apparatus, the effects of EMA on the algal ultrastructure and pigment composition were investigated. At initial exposure time to EMA (0–40 h), algal allophycocyanin, phycoerythrin and carotenoid degraded firstly; chlorophyll a increased, especially by 47% in the algae exposed to 2 mg L−1 of EMA; phycocyanin was not significantly affected; lipid bodies increased remarkably. After 40 h of EMA exposure, chlorophyll a decreased gradually, especially by 45% in the algae exposed to 4 mg L−1 of EMA; lipid bodies greatly reduced but cyanophycin granules accumulated; thylakoid structures were dissolved or disappeared with the presence of numerous vacuoles. These results showed that all ophycocyanin, phycoerythrin and carotenoid were more sensitive to EMA than other pigments, the cells of M. aeruginosa was stressed by EMA with the occurrence of cyanophycin granules and the photosynthesis pigments and ultrastructure of M. aeruginosa were quickly destroyed by EMA with exposure time increasing.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Beijing Forestry University Young Scientist Fund (No. BLX2008025), National Natural Science Foundation of China-Japan Science and Technology Agency (NSFC-JST) Joint Project (No. 50721140017), Support Project (Nansi Lake) (No. 2006BAC10B03) and National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (No. 50825801).

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Affiliations

  1. College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, P.O. Box 60, 35# Qinghua Dong Road, Haidian District, 100083, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

    Yu Hong

  2. Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control State Key Joint Laboratory, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

    Yu Hong, Jing-Jing Huang & Hong-Ying Hu

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  1. Yu Hong
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  2. Jing-Jing Huang
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  3. Hong-Ying Hu
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Correspondence to Yu Hong or Hong-Ying Hu.

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Hong, Y., Huang, JJ. & Hu, HY. Effects of a Novel Allelochemical Ethyl 2-Methyl Acetoacetate (EMA) on the Ultrastructure and Pigment Composition of Cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa . Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 83, 502–508 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-009-9795-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-009-9795-4

Keywords

  • Ethyl 2-methyl acetoacetate (EMA)
  • Microcystis aeruginosa
  • Photosynthetic pigments
  • Ultrastructure