Malaysian
Journal of Analytical Sciences Vol 24 No 5
(2020): 649 - 656
ANALYSES ON TOXICITY OF Pb2+
TOWARDS CHLOROPHYLL A, TOTAL SOLUBLE PROTEIN AND CASPASE-3-LIKE ENZYME ACTIVITY
OF Scenedesmus regularis
(Analisa
Kesan Ketoksikan Pb2+ Terhadap Klorofil A, Jumlah Protein Terlarut
dan Aktiviti Enzim Bak Kaspase-3 Scenedesmus regularis)
Hazlina Ahamad Zakeri1, 3, Nakisah Mat
Amin1, Nur Hidayah Kamilia Rassman1, Wan Bayani Wan Omar1,
2*
1Faculty of Science and
Marine Environment,
2Institute of Marine
Biotechnology,
3Biological Security and Sustainability (BioSeS) Research
Group,
Faculty
of Science and Marine Environment,
Universiti
Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
*Corresponding author: bayani@umt.edu.my
Received: 24 December 2019;
Accepted: 28 July 2020; Published: 12
October 2020
Abstract
Heavy metal
pollutions, including lead (Pb), has become an increasing concern to humans due to their adverse effects and
the fact that they are not easily degraded or destroyed. Microalgae are aquatic
organisms that can be used in metal bioremediation since they can accumulate
and detoxify metals. This study reported on the responses of a freshwater
microalga, which was Scenedesmus
regularis, when exposed to the
inhibitory concentrations (IC) of Pb2+ at 25%, 50% and 75%. The
tolerance level of S. regularis
against Pb2+ at IC25, IC50 and IC75
was determined to be 3.5 mg/L, 7.2 mg/L and 10.9 mg/L, respectively. Then, the
microalga was treated with these inhibitory concentrations. The concentration
of Chlorophyll A (Chl A) and total soluble protein (TSP), as well as
caspase-3-like enzyme activity of the alga were analysed. It was observed that
Chl A concentration of the alga significantly decreased as more cells were
inhibited by Pb2+. The highest concentration of Pb2+ significantly
reduced the TSP concentration of the alga. However, no changes were observed
amongst the concentrations of Pb2+, which inhibited 25%
and 50% of the alga population. Activity of caspase-3-like enzyme was
significantly induced by more than
3-fold of control in IC25 of Pb2+, while the activity of
this enzyme was observed to be supressed in both the IC50 and IC75.
In conclusion, the alga has the potential to be a good indicator for Pb2+
toxicity and the Chl A concentration and caspase-3-like enzyme activity can be
applied as biomarkers.
Keywords: lead(II)
ion, metal toxicity, microalgae, biochemical
analyses, inhibitory concentration
Abstrak
Pencemaran logam berat termasuk plumbum menjadi
semakin menarik perhatian manusia akibat kesan buruknya dan hakikat bahawa ia
tidak mudah diurai atau dimusnah. Mikroalga ialah organisma akuatik yang boleh
digunakan dalam bioremediasi logam kerana ia boleh mengumpul dan menyahtoksik
logam. Kajian ini melaporkan tentang tindak balas mikroalga air tawar, iaitu Scenedesmus regularis apabila didedahkan
kepada ujian toksik Pb2+ pada kepekatan rencatan (IC) 25%, 50%
dan 75%. Tahap
toleransi S. regularis terhadap Pb2+
pada IC25, IC50 dan IC75 ialah masing-masing
pada 3.5 mg/L, 7.2 mg/L dan 10.9 mg/L. Kemudian mikroalga dirawat dengan
kepekatan ini dan kepekatan Klorofil A. Jumlah protein terlarut (TSP) serta
aktiviti enzim bak kaspase-3 dianalisis. Didapati bahawa kepekatan Klorofil A
alga berkurangan apabila sel-sel lebih banyak direncat oleh Pb2+.
Kepekatan tertinggi Pb2+ mengurangkan kepekatan TSP alga dengan
ketara. Namun, tiada perubahan diperhatikan antara kepekatan Pb2+
yang merencat 25% dan 50% populasi alga. Aktiviti enzim bak kaspase-3 telah
meningkat lebih daripada tiga kali ganda dalam IC25 Pb2+
berbanding kawalan, manakala aktiviti enzim ini berkurangan pada IC50
dan IC75. Kesimpulannya, alga mempunyai potensi untuk menjadi
petunjuk yang baik untuk ketoksikan Pb2+ manakala kepekatan Klorofil
A dan aktiviti enzim bak kaspase-3 boleh digunakan sebagai biopenanda.
Kata kunci: ion plumbum(II), ketoksikan logam, mikroalga, analisa biokimia, kepekatan rencatan
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