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Phosphite cannot be used as a phosphorus source but is non-toxic for microalgae.

Maribel M Loera-Quezada1, Marco Antonio Leyva-González2, Damar López-Arredondo2

  • 1Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad, Unidad de Genómica Avanzada del Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Km 9.6 carretera Irapuato León, 36500 Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico.

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PubMed
Summary

Microalgae cannot use phosphite (Phi) as a sole phosphorus source. While not toxic, phosphite inhibits growth in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, likely due to transport competition with phosphate.

Keywords:
Chlamydomonas reinhardtiiMicroalgaePhosphatePhosphiteReduced phosphorous assimilation

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Microbiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Phycology

Background:

  • Phosphorus is essential for all life, forming RNA, DNA, and phospholipids.
  • Microalgae typically assimilate inorganic phosphate (Pi) as their phosphorus source.
  • Some bacteria and cyanobacteria can utilize reduced phosphorus compounds like phosphite (Phi).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the capability of microalgae to utilize phosphite (Phi) as a sole phosphorus source.
  • To assess the impact of phosphite on the growth of specific microalgal species.
  • To understand the underlying mechanisms of phosphite's effect on microalgal growth.

Main Methods:

  • Cultivation of microalgae (Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Botryococcus braunii, Ettlia oleoabundans) with phosphite as the sole phosphorus source.
  • Growth rate analysis under varying concentrations of phosphite and phosphate.
  • Cellular recovery assessment after transfer from phosphite-containing to phosphate-containing media.

Main Results:

  • Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Botryococcus braunii, and Ettlia oleoabundans cannot use phosphite as a sole phosphorus source.
  • Phosphite inhibits the growth of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii at concentrations equal to or higher than phosphate.
  • Chlamydomonas reinhardtii can survive prolonged exposure to phosphite and recover growth upon phosphate reintroduction, indicating a lack of toxicity.

Conclusions:

  • The studied microalgae species are incapable of metabolizing phosphite for growth.
  • Phosphite exhibits an inhibitory effect on Chlamydomonas reinhardtii growth, potentially through competition with phosphate transport.
  • Phosphite is not inherently toxic to Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, suggesting a transport-related growth inhibition mechanism.