Next Article in Journal
Colombian Scorpion Centruroides margaritatus: Purification and Characterization of a Gamma Potassium Toxin with Full-Block Activity on the hERG1 Channel
Next Article in Special Issue
New Trends in the Occurrence of Yessotoxins in the Northwestern Adriatic Sea
Previous Article in Journal
‘Floc and Sink’ Technique Removes Cyanobacteria and Microcystins from Tropical Reservoir Water
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Toxins
Volume 13
Issue 6
10.3390/toxins13060406
toxins-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Ecophysiological Aspects and sxt Genes Expression Underlying Induced Chemical Defense in STX-Producing Raphidiopsis raciborskii (Cyanobacteria) against the Zooplankter Daphnia gessneri

by
Mauro C. P. Vilar
1,*,
Thiago F. C. P. Rodrigues
1,
Luan O. Silva
1,
Ana Beatriz F. Pacheco
2,
Aloysio S. Ferrão-Filho
3 and
Sandra M. F. O. Azevedo
1
1
Laboratory Ecophysiology and Toxicology of Cyanobacteria, Carlos Chagas Filho Institute of Biophysics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21949-902, Brazil
2
Laboratory Biological Physics, Carlos Chagas Filho Institute of Biophysics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21949-902, Brazil
3
Laboratory of Evaluation and Promotion of Environmental Health, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Toxins 2021, 13(6), 406; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins13060406
Submission received: 7 May 2021 / Revised: 31 May 2021 / Accepted: 2 June 2021 / Published: 8 June 2021
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Harmful Algae and Their Ecological Interactions with Other Aquatic Ecosystem Components)
Browse Figures
Versions Notes

Abstract

Cyanobacteria stand out among phytoplankton when they form massive blooms and produce toxins. Because cyanotoxin genes date to the origin of metazoans, the hypothesis that cyanotoxins function as a defense against herbivory is still debated. Although their primary cellular function might vary, these metabolites could have evolved as an anti-predator response. Here we evaluated the physiological and molecular responses of a saxitoxin-producing Raphidiopsis raciborskii to infochemicals released by the grazer Daphnia gessneri. Induced chemical defenses were evidenced in R. raciborskii as a significant increase in the transcription level of sxt genes, followed by an increase in saxitoxin content when exposed to predator cues. Moreover, cyanobacterial growth decreased, and no significant effects on photosynthesis or morphology were observed. Overall, the induced defense response was accompanied by a trade-off between toxin production and growth. These results shed light on the mechanisms underlying zooplankton–cyanobacteria interactions in aquatic food webs. The widespread occurrence of the cyanobacterium R. raciborskii in freshwater bodies has been attributed to its phenotypic plasticity. Assessing the potential of this species to thrive over interaction filters such as zooplankton grazing pressure can enhance our understanding of its adaptive success.
Keywords: infochemicals; cyanotoxins; phytoplankton; saxitoxins; phenotypic plasticity infochemicals; cyanotoxins; phytoplankton; saxitoxins; phenotypic plasticity
Graphical Abstract

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Vilar, M.C.P.; Rodrigues, T.F.C.P.; Silva, L.O.; Pacheco, A.B.F.; Ferrão-Filho, A.S.; Azevedo, S.M.F.O. Ecophysiological Aspects and sxt Genes Expression Underlying Induced Chemical Defense in STX-Producing Raphidiopsis raciborskii (Cyanobacteria) against the Zooplankter Daphnia gessneri. Toxins 2021, 13, 406. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins13060406

AMA Style

Vilar MCP, Rodrigues TFCP, Silva LO, Pacheco ABF, Ferrão-Filho AS, Azevedo SMFO. Ecophysiological Aspects and sxt Genes Expression Underlying Induced Chemical Defense in STX-Producing Raphidiopsis raciborskii (Cyanobacteria) against the Zooplankter Daphnia gessneri. Toxins. 2021; 13(6):406. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins13060406

Chicago/Turabian Style

Vilar, Mauro C. P., Thiago F. C. P. Rodrigues, Luan O. Silva, Ana Beatriz F. Pacheco, Aloysio S. Ferrão-Filho, and Sandra M. F. O. Azevedo. 2021. "Ecophysiological Aspects and sxt Genes Expression Underlying Induced Chemical Defense in STX-Producing Raphidiopsis raciborskii (Cyanobacteria) against the Zooplankter Daphnia gessneri" Toxins 13, no. 6: 406. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins13060406

APA Style

Vilar, M. C. P., Rodrigues, T. F. C. P., Silva, L. O., Pacheco, A. B. F., Ferrão-Filho, A. S., & Azevedo, S. M. F. O. (2021). Ecophysiological Aspects and sxt Genes Expression Underlying Induced Chemical Defense in STX-Producing Raphidiopsis raciborskii (Cyanobacteria) against the Zooplankter Daphnia gessneri. Toxins, 13(6), 406. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins13060406

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop