Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) by Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB)-Forming Phytoplankton and Their Potential Impact on Surrounding Living Organisms

Authors:
Open Access
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Most marine phytoplankton with relatively high ROS generation rates are categorized as harmful algal bloom (HAB)-forming species, among which Chattonella genera is the highest ROS-producing phytoplankton. In this review, we examined marine microalgae with ROS-producing activities, with focus on Chattonella genera. Several studies suggest that Chattonella produces superoxide via the activities of an enzyme similar to NADPH oxidase located on glycocalyx, a cell surface structure, while hydrogen peroxide is generated inside the cell by different pathways. Additionally, hydroxyl radical has been detected in Chattonella cell suspension. By the physical stimulation, such as passing through between the gill lamellas of fish, the glycocalyx is easily discharged from the flagellate cells and attached on the gill surface, where ROS are continuously produced, which might cause gill tissue damage and fish death. Comparative studies using several strains of Chattonella showed that ROS production rate and ichthyotoxicity of Chattonella is well correlated. Furthermore, significant levels of ROS have been reported in other raphidophytes and dinoflagellates, such as Cochlodinium polykrikoides and Karenia mikimotoi. Chattonella is the most extensively studied phytoplankton in terms of ROS production and its biological functions. Therefore, this review examined the potential ecophysiological roles of extracellular ROS production by marine microalgae in aquatic environment.
Funding Information
  • National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF-2017R1A2B4005582)
  • Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (18K05823)
  • National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea (MABIK 2022M00100, and 2022M00300)

This publication has 276 references indexed in Scilit: