title: γ-Lindane Increases Microcystin Synthesis in Microcystis aeruginosa PCC7806.
abstract: HCH factories, and the waste dumpsites associated to its production, have become a global environmental concern, and their runoff could pollute ground and surface waters with high levels of the pollutant. In this study, the influence of lindane (γ-HCH) on microcystin production has been investigated in Microcystis aeruginosa PCC7806. This toxic cyanobacterium is highly tolerant to γ-lindane (20 mg/L), and produces more toxin (microcystin) in the presence of the pollutant. Microcystis degrades γ-lindane and presence of γ-lindane induces genes involved in its own degradation (nirA). RT-PCRsq has been used to monitor changes in levels of transcripts encoded by the mcy operon (mcyD, mcyH and mcyJ), responsible for the microcystin synthesis machinery, as well as other genes involved in its transcriptional regulation, such as ntcA and fur family members. The presence of lindane in the culture media induces mcyD expression, as well as ntcA gene transcription, while other genes, such as mcyH, (putative ABC transporter), are downregulated. The amount of microcystin found in the cells and the culture media is higher when M. aeruginosa is treated with γ-lindane than in control cells. The results suggest that in a lindane polluted environment, Microcystis toxic strains may enhance their microcystin synthesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, and the Institute for Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), University of Zaragoza, Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain. laura_ceballos1@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ceballos-Laita
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, and the Institute for Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), University of Zaragoza, Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain. laucalvobegueria@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Calvo-Begueria
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Calidad de las Aguas, Confederación Hidrografica del Ebro, Plaza Canal Imperial, n° 9, 50004 Zaragoza, Spain. kekika1983@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lahoz
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, and the Institute for Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), University of Zaragoza, Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain. tbes@unizar.es.
authors.forename: María-Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Bes
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, and the Institute for Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), University of Zaragoza, Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain. fillat@unizar.es.
authors.forename: María F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Fillat
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, and the Institute for Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), University of Zaragoza, Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain. mpeleato@unizar.es.
authors.forename: María-Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Peleato
mesh_terms: D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects*; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D052998:Microcystins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D046931:Microcystis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D052998:Microcystins; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane
keywords: Microcystis; lindane; microcystin