Rapid adaptation of some phytoplankton species to osmium as a result of spontaneous mutations

Ecotoxicology
Fernando MarváE Costas

Abstract

To understand the vulnerability of individual species to anthropogenic contamination, it is important to evaluate the different abilities of phytoplankton to respond to environmental changes induced by pollution. The ability of a species to adapt, rather than its initial tolerance, is the basis for survival under rapidly increasing levels of anthropogenic contamination. High doses of osmium (Os) cause massive destruction of diverse phytoplankton groups. In this study, we found that the coastal chlorophyte Tetraselmis suecica and the continental chlorophyte Dictyosphaerium chlorelloides were able to adapt to a lethal dose of Os. In these species, Os-resistant cells arose as a result of rare spontaneous mutations (at rates of approximately 10(-6) mutants per cell division) that occurred before exposure to Os. The mutants remained in the microalgal populations by means of mutation-selection balance. The huge size of phytoplankton populations ensures that there are always enough Os-resistant mutants to guarantee the survival of the population under Os pollution. In contrast, we observed that neither a haptophyte species from open ocean regions nor a cyanobacterium from continental freshwater were able to adapt to the lethal Os dose...Continue Reading

References

Jul 1, 1977·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·W G BurtonR Sager
Sep 8, 1988·Nature·J CairnsS Miller
Aug 1, 1974·Environmental Health Perspectives·I C SmithT L Ferguson
Nov 21, 2000·BioEssays : News and Reviews in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology·P L Foster
May 16, 2001·Environmental Science & Technology·C BarbanteC Boutron
Dec 13, 2001·Mutation Research·N M Belfiore, S L Anderson
Dec 15, 1962·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·R SAGER
Apr 12, 2005·The New Phytologist·Paul D Sniegowski
Jul 29, 2005·Environmental Science & Technology·André Poirier, Clement Gariépy
Feb 18, 2006·Journal of Environmental Science and Health. Part A, Toxic/hazardous Substances & Environmental Engineering·Zofia E GagnonSteven Hicks
May 1, 1954·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·R Sager
Aug 10, 2007·Critical Reviews in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology·Erich Heidenreich
May 7, 2009·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Cynthia ChenMukul Sharma
Mar 23, 2011·Ecotoxicology·John W Bickham
Apr 22, 2011·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·I Emma HuertasEduardo Costas
Dec 30, 2011·Aquatic Toxicology·Raquel GonzálezEduardo Costas
Dec 5, 2012·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Andrew GonzalezMichael E Hochberg

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Oct 17, 2015·International Journal of Molecular Sciences·Krystian MiazekDorothee Goffin
Mar 29, 2016·PeerJ·Beatriz Baselga-CerveraCamino García-Balboa
Mar 16, 2021·Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety·Paloma Martínez-Alesón GarcíaBeatriz Baselga-Cervera

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.