Quantitative Evaluation of Methylmercury Bioaccumulation in Rotifer Brachionus plicatilis by AIEgen
Quantitative Evaluation of Methylmercury Bioaccumulation in Rotifer Brachionus plicatilis by AIEgen
Hangyu Lin1, Minhui Chen1, Hao Yang1, Xinying Xia1, Huaying Zhou1, Xi Song1 and Tao He1,2*
ABSTRACT
Mercury ion (Hg2+) can be transformed to methylmercury (MeHg) by a variety of aquatic microorganisms in water. MeHg accumulates in fish through the food chain and eventually poses a particular challenge to public health. In this study, we used a new tool named AIEgen (Aggregation-induced emission fluorogen) to quantify the process of MeHg bioaccumulation in vivo on the species of rotifers Brachionus plicatilis. We analysed the relationship between the ratio of photoluminescence (PL) intensities (I585/I480) and MeHg concentration (CMeHg) to create a master curve for calculating MeHg concentration based on the measurement of PL intensities. Quantitative results showed that the bioaccumulation of MeHg in the rotifers increased from 1.65 μg at 30 min to 2.33 μg at 180 min and reached a plateau concentration at the time of 180 min. After being transferred into artificial seawater without MeHg for 30 min, the rotifers released 0.38 μg MeHg into the medium, and the concentration of MeHg in water was kept relatively stable in the next 150 min. This study indicates that the bioaccumulation of MeHg in the body of zooplankton can be quantified by AIEgen effectively, and the main process of MeHg accumulation by rotifers in water may via passive transport.
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