[Advances in the pathway and molecular mechanism for the biodegradation of microcystins]

Abstract

With increasing discharge of wastewater containing nitrogen and phosphorus into rivers and lakes, harmful cyanobacterial blooms have become more frequent worldwide. The main harm of cyanobacterial blooms is producing and releasing a great amount of algal toxins mainly containing microcystins (MCs). Since MCs are extremely harmful to plants and animals and difficult to be removed efficiently by the traditional processing methods, how to control harmful cyanobacterial blooms and remove MCs have become an unsolved problem in the field of environmental science all over the world. This paper summarized the structure and toxicity of MCs, the MCs-biodegrading bacterial strains, the enzymes, the genes, and the biodegradation pathway and molecular mechanism of MCs. The further research subjects were also proposed. It was hoped that this review could provide a reference for restoring MCs-polluted lakes and reservoirs and ensuring drinking water safety.