Genotoxicity of microcystic cyanobacteria extract of a water source in China

The water pollution of toxic cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) is a worldwide problem and worsens with industrialization. Microcystins are potent cyclic heptapeptidic hepatotoxins produced mainly by Microcystis aeruginosa, and their hepatotoxicity has been well-documented. In contrast, information on...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Mutation research. Genetic toxicology and environmental mutagenesis 1999-06, Vol.442 (2), p.69-77
Main Authors: Ding, Wen-Xing, Shen, Han-Ming, Zhu, Hui-Gang, Lee, Bee-Lan, Ong, Choon-Nam
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Ames test
Biological and medical sciences
Comet assay
Cyanobacteria
Cyanophyta
Environmental pollutants toxicology
Genotoxicity
Medical sciences
Microcystin
Microcystis aeruginosa
Micronucleus test
Mutagenicity
Salmonella typhimurium
Toxicology
Water
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Summary:The water pollution of toxic cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) is a worldwide problem and worsens with industrialization. Microcystins are potent cyclic heptapeptidic hepatotoxins produced mainly by Microcystis aeruginosa, and their hepatotoxicity has been well-documented. In contrast, information on the genotoxic effects of microcystins is relatively scarce. In our present study, the genotoxicity of microcystic cyanobacteria extract (MCE) of a water source in China was studied using Salmonella typhimurium assay (Ames test), comet assay (Single cell gel electrophoresis) and mouse micronucleus test. Results from Ames test indicated that MCE had strong mutagenicity regardless of the presence of S9. Moreover, MCE was able to induce DNA damage in primary cultured rat hepatocytes examined by comet assay. In addition, MCE also enhanced bone marrow micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in mice. The analysis of HPLC showed that the main component of MCE was microcystin-LR. The understanding of the potent genotoxicity of MCE will help to establish the possible link between water cyanobacteria contamination and high risk of primary liver cancer found in some endemic areas.
ISSN:1383-5718
1879-3592
DOI:10.1016/S1383-5718(99)00064-9