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Overview of the management of heavy metals toxicity by microalgae

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Abstract

Microalgae are among the oldest life forms on Earth and over centuries of evolution they have developed adaptive mechanisms that allow them to survive harsh environmental conditions, including exposure to toxic xenobiotics such as heavy metals (HMs). The response of microalgae to HM stress is like that occurring under any other stress conditions; it generally leads to the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). An increased ROS level in algal cells causes alterations of various biological functions, primarily lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, and nucleic acid damage. To cope with these perturbations, microalgae cells employ several self-defense mechanisms based on the action of ROS-scavenging enzymes and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems. The contribution of phytohormones to the management of oxidative stress is also one of the most important mechanisms. Although several studies suggest that microalgae are potential organisms for the phycoremediation of HMs, the mechanisms by which they cope with oxidative stress remain unclear. This review aims to (i) highlight the oxidative stress of HMs on the cells of microalgae, (ii) describe the enzymatic and biochemical mechanisms by which microalgae manage the oxidative stress, and finally (iii) point out the roles of phytohormones in the regulation of oxidative stress caused by HMs.

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modified from Pikula et al. (2019) and Hajiboland (2014)

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the Moroccan Foundation for Advanced Science, Innovation and Research (MAScIR) for their financial and technical support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Green Biotechnology Center, Moroccan Foundation for Advanced Science, Innovation and Research (MAScIR), Rabat, Morocco

    Mohammed Danouche & Hicham Arroussi

  2. Microbial Biotechnology and Bioactive Molecules Laboratory, Sciences and Technologies Faculty, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, P.O. Box 2202, Fez, Morocco

    Mohammed Danouche & Naïma El Ghatchouli

  3. AgroBioScience (AgBS), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Ben Guerir, Morocco

    Hicham Arroussi

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  1. Mohammed Danouche
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  2. Naïma El Ghatchouli
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  3. Hicham Arroussi
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Correspondence to Mohammed Danouche.

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Danouche, M., El Ghatchouli, N. & Arroussi, H. Overview of the management of heavy metals toxicity by microalgae. J Appl Phycol 34, 475–488 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-021-02668-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-021-02668-w

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