미세조류 독성 해법, 미세조류, Microalgae Toxicity Solution, Microalgae

미세조류는 현미경으로 관찰이 가능한 단세포성 생물로서 담수 및 해양생태계에서 산소를 발생시키고 유기물을 생산하는 등 중요한 역할을 하지만 모든 미세조류가 환경에 이로운 것은 아니다.

대표적인 유해 미세조류 중 하나인 '알렉산드리움 퍼시피컴(이하 퍼시피컴)'은 수산물에 축적될 수 있는 신경 독소(패독)를 생성해 사람이 섭취할 경우 중추신경계에 치명적이며, 해양생태계에도 악영향을 미쳐 수산물 안전성에 심각한 위협이 되고 있다.


한국생명공학연구원(원장 김장성)은 이준 생물자원센터 박사팀이 미세 조류와 박테리아의 상호작용을 이용해 유해 미세조류 독소 생성 원리를 전 세계 최초로 규명하고, 이를 억제할 수 있는 생물학적 제어 기술을 개발했다고 밝혔다.

기존 독소 제어 방식은 화학약품을 사용하거나 기계적인 제거 방법을 주로 사용해 환경오염 문제가 있었으나, 이번 연구성과로 친환경적 독소 제어 기술이 나올 것으로 기대되고 있다.

연구팀은 자연 생태계에서 빈번하게 발생하는 미세조류인 퍼시피컴과 박테리아 자나스키아 시스타우젠스(이하 시스타우젠스) 간 상호작용을 심층적으로 분석했다.

시스타우젠스의 쿼럼 센싱(세균의 세포밀도 인식기전) 신호가 퍼시피컴 독소 합성 유전자 발현을 초기 단계와 고도화 단계에 모두 걸쳐 촉진하는 것을 확인했다.

또 퍼시피컴은 자연에서 시스타우젠스와 영양분을 경쟁하며 독소의 합성경로와 에너지 대사를 조정했다.

이는 박테리아와의 물리적인 접촉이 퍼시피컴의 독소 합성과 휴면포자 형성을 유도하는 핵심 요인임을 밝혀낸 것이다.

이번 연구성과는 박테리아와 미세조류 간 신호전달 기전이 단순히 스트레스 신호전달 이상의 역할을 한다는 사실과 함께 특정 환경 조건에서 미세조류의 독소 농도와 독성 조성을 변화시키는 분자적 원리를 전 세계 최초로 규명한 데 의미가 있다.

이는 유해 미세조류가 스트레스 환경에서 독소 생산을 통해 생존 전략을 강화한다는 기존 가설을 검증해 낸 것이다.

또 연구팀은 퍼시피컴이 영양분의 공급 환경에 따라 스스로 대사 전략을 선택할 수 있음을 전 세계 최초로 규명했다.


영양분이 충분한 환경에서는 고에너지를 소모하며 저독성의 패독을 합성하고, 영양분이 제한된 환경에서는 고에너지의 소모를 억제하며 고독성의 패독으로 합성을 전환한다는 사실을 확인했다.

 

 

Microalgae are single-celled organisms that can be observed under a microscope and play an important role, such as generating oxygen and producing organic matter in freshwater and marine ecosystems, but not all microalgae are beneficial to the environment.

One of the representative harmful microalgae, "Alexandrium Percipicom," produces neurotoxins (defects) that can accumulate in aquatic products, which are fatal to the central nervous system when consumed by humans, and adversely affects the marine ecosystem, posing a serious threat to seafood safety.


The Korea Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (Director Kim Jang-sung) announced that Dr. Lee Joon's team at the Biological Resource Center has developed the world's first biological control technology to identify the principle of harmful microalgae toxin production using the interaction of microalgae and bacteria and suppress it.

Existing toxin control methods have had environmental pollution problems by using chemicals or mechanical removal methods, but eco-friendly toxin control technology is expected to come out as a result of this study.

The research team analyzed in-depth the interaction between Percypicom, a microalgae that occurs frequently in natural ecosystems, and the bacterium Janaskia cystaugens (hereinafter referred to as cystaugens).

We confirmed that the quorum sensing (cell density recognition mechanism of bacteria) signaling of cystaugenes promotes persificom toxin synthesis gene expression throughout both the early and advanced stages.

In addition, Persificom competed for nutrients with cystaugen in nature, coordinating the synthesis pathway and energy metabolism of toxins.

This revealed that physical contact with bacteria is a key factor in inducing toxin synthesis and dormant sporulation of Percipicum.

The findings are meaningful in identifying the world's first molecular principle that changes the toxin concentration and toxic composition of microalgae under certain environmental conditions, along with the fact that the signaling mechanism between bacteria and microalgae plays a role more than just stress signaling.

This is a test of the existing hypothesis that harmful microalgae strengthen survival strategies through toxin production in a stressful environment.

The research team also identified for the first time in the world that Percipicom can choose its own metabolic strategy depending on the nutrient supply environment.


It has been confirmed that in an environment with sufficient nutrients, it consumes high energy and synthesizes low-toxicity paddles, suppresses high energy consumption in an environment with limited nutrients, and converts synthesis to high-toxicity paddles.