Mechanistic study of bisphenol A on the growth and microcystin production of Microcystis aeruginosa at different nitrogen levels revealed by the metabolomic analysis

Water safety problems caused by cyanobacterial blooms, resulting from excessive inputs of anthropogenic pollutants, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus nutrients, have become a significant environmental issue. Limited knowledge exists regarding the mechanisms regulating the toxic by-products synthesized by cyanobacterial cells, especially the hepatotoxin microcystins (MCs). Here, the regulatory mechanisms of bisphenol A (BPA) on the growth and MCs production of Microcystis aeruginosa at different N levels were investigated using metabolomic analysis. The results indicated that the number of cyanobacterial cells decreased by 9.34 % and 14.36 % when exposed to 1 µM and 10 µM BPA, respectively, and oxidative damage was also observed in M. aeruginosa at low N levels. Increased N levels weakened the inhibitory effects of BPA on growth, chlorophyll a (Chl-a) synthesis, and photosynthetic activity, but significantly stimulated the release of extracellular MCs from M. aeruginosa cells, resulting in up to 22.1 % more MCs released. The up-regulated expression of metabolites associated with the Calvin cycle and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis metabolism promoted the cyanobacterial cell growth and photosynthesis under the combined stress of BPA and N. Fluctuating expression of metabolites related to the amino acid metabolism and the TCA cycle mediated M. aeruginosa’s MCs production and release, as well as N assimilation. These results suggested that the long-term coexistence of exogenous endocrine disruptors and MCs-producing cyanobacteria poses a potential threat to the environmental and ecological security of lake waters.