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Updated: Oct 18, 2025
Determination of the Settling Rate of Clay/Cyanobacterial Floccules
Published on: June 11, 2018
Programmed cell death induced by modified clay in controlling Prorocentrum donghaiense bloom.
Hena Ji1, Zhiming Yu1, Liyan He2
1CAS Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China.
Modified clay (MC) effectively eliminates harmful algal blooms (HABs) by inducing programmed cell death (PCD) in residual organisms. This study reveals MC triggers PCD through oxidative stress and mitochondrial pathways, offering a novel bloom control strategy.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Marine Biology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Modified clay (MC) is used for harmful algal bloom (HAB) elimination via flocculation.
- Residual effects of MC on HABs, particularly programmed cell death (PCD), require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate MC-induced cell death mechanisms in residual Prorocentrum donghaiense.
- To identify if MC induces PCD in P. donghaiense and elucidate the underlying pathways.
Main Methods:
- Assessing physiological changes in MC-treated P. donghaiense, including growth inhibition and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production.
- Analyzing biochemical markers of PCD: caspase-like activity, phosphatidylserine externalization, and DNA fragmentation.
- Examining ultrastructural changes and mitochondrial apoptosis pathway activation.
Main Results:
- MC treatment caused growth inhibition and increased ROS production in P. donghaiense.
- Biochemical and ultrastructural evidence confirmed MC-induced PCD, with observed nuclear changes.
- Caspase-like activity, phosphatidylserine externalization, DNA fragmentation, and mitochondrial pathway activation were detected in MC-treated cells.
- MC-induced PCD was concentration-dependent.
Conclusions:
- Modified clay induces programmed cell death (PCD) in Prorocentrum donghaiense through oxidative stress and mitochondrial pathways.
- MC's ability to induce PCD offers a secondary mechanism for controlling harmful algal blooms (HABs).
- Programmed cell death (PCD) presents a promising strategy for future HAB management.
