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Phosphorus Storage in Microalgae : STXM and XAS P K-Edge Investigation

Plouviez, Maxence ; Guieysse, Benoit ; Buwalda, Olivia ; Wolmarans, Karla ; Thånell, Karina LU ; Beinik, Igor LU orcid ; Tuyishime, J. R.Marius LU ; Mitchell, Valerie ; Kappen, Peter and Haverkamp, Richard G. (2024) In ACS Sustainable Resource Management 1(4). p.1270-1278
Abstract

When exposed to high levels of phosphate after experiencing phosphate deficiency, microalgae can synthesize granules rich in intracellular phosphate. The understanding of the mechanism of production and nature of these granules remains incomplete. Here we studied phosphate distribution and chemistry in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Desmodesmus armatus using scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM), to reveal the X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) characteristics of phosphorus, supported by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). While P K-edge XAS is not very sensitive to subtle changes in different forms of phosphate-based compounds, the analysis points to the possibility that the phosphate polymer present in the granules is... (More)

When exposed to high levels of phosphate after experiencing phosphate deficiency, microalgae can synthesize granules rich in intracellular phosphate. The understanding of the mechanism of production and nature of these granules remains incomplete. Here we studied phosphate distribution and chemistry in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Desmodesmus armatus using scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM), to reveal the X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) characteristics of phosphorus, supported by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). While P K-edge XAS is not very sensitive to subtle changes in different forms of phosphate-based compounds, the analysis points to the possibility that the phosphate polymer present in the granules is phytic acid (inositol hexaphosphate) which has not been observed previously. STXM analysis of the phosphorus (P) in the granules and the surrounding cytoplasm revealed there were no major differences in the P chemistry of the granules formed in C. reinhardtii and D. armatus and confirms that phytic acid is present in the granules. This new understanding of phosphate storage mechanisms in algae may enable directed strategies to enhance environmental removal and capture of P to mitigate eutrophication of waterways and recover a P resource.

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author
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
inositol phosphate, NEXAFS, polyphosphate, XAFS, XANES
in
ACS Sustainable Resource Management
volume
1
issue
4
pages
9 pages
external identifiers
  • scopus:105021976242
DOI
10.1021/acssusresmgt.4c00130
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
c136fb02-a264-4461-b252-e7c74b795c6e
date added to LUP
2026-02-10 09:59:55
date last changed
2026-02-10 09:59:55
@article{c136fb02-a264-4461-b252-e7c74b795c6e,
  abstract     = {{<p>When exposed to high levels of phosphate after experiencing phosphate deficiency, microalgae can synthesize granules rich in intracellular phosphate. The understanding of the mechanism of production and nature of these granules remains incomplete. Here we studied phosphate distribution and chemistry in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Desmodesmus armatus using scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM), to reveal the X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) characteristics of phosphorus, supported by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). While P K-edge XAS is not very sensitive to subtle changes in different forms of phosphate-based compounds, the analysis points to the possibility that the phosphate polymer present in the granules is phytic acid (inositol hexaphosphate) which has not been observed previously. STXM analysis of the phosphorus (P) in the granules and the surrounding cytoplasm revealed there were no major differences in the P chemistry of the granules formed in C. reinhardtii and D. armatus and confirms that phytic acid is present in the granules. This new understanding of phosphate storage mechanisms in algae may enable directed strategies to enhance environmental removal and capture of P to mitigate eutrophication of waterways and recover a P resource.</p>}},
  author       = {{Plouviez, Maxence and Guieysse, Benoit and Buwalda, Olivia and Wolmarans, Karla and Thånell, Karina and Beinik, Igor and Tuyishime, J. R.Marius and Mitchell, Valerie and Kappen, Peter and Haverkamp, Richard G.}},
  keywords     = {{inositol phosphate; NEXAFS; polyphosphate; XAFS; XANES}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{1270--1278}},
  series       = {{ACS Sustainable Resource Management}},
  title        = {{Phosphorus Storage in Microalgae : STXM and XAS P K-Edge Investigation}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acssusresmgt.4c00130}},
  doi          = {{10.1021/acssusresmgt.4c00130}},
  volume       = {{1}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}