Metabolomics-based analysis of the interaction effects and stress response mechanisms in the co-culture system of fungi and microalgae under cadmium stress

Research on the co-culture of fungi and microalgae to harvest microalgae and enhance the adsorption capacity for heavy metals to reduce contamination is well demonstrated, but the study of the correlation mechanism among critical metabolites, system stability, and stress response in the system under cadmium stress based on metabolomics analyses has not been reported in detail. In this study, the co-culture system of Aspergillus allahabadii and Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 was taken as the object of investigation, and isotope labelling (13C–Na2CO3 and 15N-(NH4)2SO4) and nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry were used to confirm the existence of carbon and nitrogen nutrient exchange. The adsorption behavior of the system after Cd treatment was investigated by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, and Scanning Electron Microscope/Transmission Electron Microscope. The content of extracellular polysaccharides in the system was increased from 40.8 mg/g to 80.12 mg/g, and the content of extracellular proteins was increased from 22.3 mg/g to 55.68 mg/g after 96 h of Cd treatment. Metabolomics results revealed 235 differential metabolites co-expressed after Cd treatment, with 95, 15, and 77 unique differential metabolites. In particular, the synthesis of extracellular polymeric substances was a factor affecting the stability of the symbiotic system, the up-regulation of the expression of the transporter system was one of the reasons for the improvement of the system's tolerance and resistance to heavy metals; and the nutrient metabolism between the fungus and the microalgae was the main defense mechanism to reduce the extent of the impairment of the system's carbon sequestration capacity by Cd. This provides a theoretical basis for the green and economically friendly application of the symbiotic system in microalgae harvesting, efficient carbon dioxide fixation and reduction of heavy metal pollution.