Microalgal Phycoremediation: A Glimpse into a Sustainable Environment
Biswajita Pradhan,
Prajna Paramita Bhuyan,
Rabindra Nayak,
Srimanta Patra,
Chhandashree Behera,
Jang-Seu Ki,
Andrea Ragusa,
Alexander S. Lukatkin,
Mrutyunjay Jena
Affiliations
Biswajita Pradhan
Algal Biotechnology and Molecular Systematic Laboratory, Post Graduate Department of Botany, Berhampur University, Bhanja Bihar, Berhampur 760007, Odisha, India
Prajna Paramita Bhuyan
Department of Botany, Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University, Baripada 757003, Odisha, India
Rabindra Nayak
Algal Biotechnology and Molecular Systematic Laboratory, Post Graduate Department of Botany, Berhampur University, Bhanja Bihar, Berhampur 760007, Odisha, India
Srimanta Patra
Cancer and Cell Death Laboratory, Department of Life Science, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Rourkela 769001, Odisha, India
Chhandashree Behera
Algal Biotechnology and Molecular Systematic Laboratory, Post Graduate Department of Botany, Berhampur University, Bhanja Bihar, Berhampur 760007, Odisha, India
Jang-Seu Ki
Department of Biotechnology, Sangmyung University, Seoul 03016, Korea
Andrea Ragusa
CNR-Nanotec, Institute of Nanotechnology, Via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Alexander S. Lukatkin
Department of General Biology and Ecology, N.P. Ogarev Mordovia State University, Bolshevistskaja Str., 430005 Saransk, Russia
Mrutyunjay Jena
Algal Biotechnology and Molecular Systematic Laboratory, Post Graduate Department of Botany, Berhampur University, Bhanja Bihar, Berhampur 760007, Odisha, India
Microalgae are continually exposed to heavy metals and metalloids (HMMs), which stifles their development and reproduction due to the resulting physiological and metabolic abnormalities, leading to lower crop productivity. They must thus change their way of adapting to survive in such a hostile environment without sacrificing their healthy growth, development, reproductive capacity, or survival. The mode of adaptation involves a complex relationship of signalling cascades that govern gene expression at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels, which consequently produces altered but adapted biochemical and physiochemical parameters. Algae have been reported to have altered their physicochemical and molecular perspectives as a result of exposure to a variety of HMMs. Hence, in this review, we focused on how microalgae alter their physicochemical and molecular characteristics as a tolerance mechanism in response to HMM-induced stress. Furthermore, physiological and biotechnological methods can be used to enhance extracellular absorption and clean up. The introduction of foreign DNA into microalgae cells and the genetic alteration of genes can boost the bio-accumulation and remediation capabilities of microalgae. In this regard, microalgae represent an excellent model organism and could be used for HMM removal in the near future.
