engleski

Adhesion behavior of algal cells under stress in laboratory conditions: electrochemical approach

The aim of the study was to link the algal cell behavior in terms of its adhesion at the model interface and physiological activity under salinity change and the presence of heavy metal cadmium. A culture grown halotolerant green alga Dunaliella tertiolecta Butcher was selected as a model organism. Deficiency of a rigid cell wall makes this species very susceptible to changes in the ecosystem, thus making it an excellent applicant in stress research. Microscopic method and electrochemical methods of polarography and chromoamperometry at the dropping mercury electrode were used for characterization of cell suspensions. Optical microscopy was used to visualize cellular shape and to determine cell abundance. The electrochemical method of amperometry at the dropping mercury electrode was applied to characterize cell suspensions in terms of concentration, level of polydispersity and adhesion behavior of cells at the wide potential range. Adaptation of D. tertiolecta cell culture in lower salinity conditions suggests a somewhat faster growth, while the adhesion properties at the broader potentials area remains preserved. Adaptation of D. tertiolecta to the presence of heavy metal cadmium in culture resulted in decrease of cell density and size with increasing cadmium concentration, and the occurrence of released surface-active particles and microagregates in the cell culture, presumably as a consequence of metabolic activity under stress. The results of this study contribute to better understanding of survival strategy and cell adaptation of algal species in aquatic systems under pressure.

Alga ; Dunaliella ; Electrochemistry

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