Catechol Alters the Biochemical Composition with Specific Increment in Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Crypthecodinium Cohnii

Burgeoning commercial applications of catechol in various sectors lead to excessive accumulation in the environment, thereby posing a severe threat to the ecosystems. Bioremediation of such toxic pollutants has emerged as a promising approach to alleviate the existing ecological threat. However, despite their commercial and environmental significance, the identification of model biological systems with such characteristics and the underpinning molecular mechanisms are yet to be explored in microalgae. Here, we investigated the potential of a versatile heterotrophic algae C. cohnii in degrading the catechol and utilize as a carbon source. Interestingly, catechol provision significantly enhanced the growth rate of C. cohnii and the cells rapidly catabolize the catechol (100 mg/L) within 60 hours of cultivation. In silico analysis of the full transcriptome sequences exemplified the key genes involved in catechol degradation. qPCR analysis showed the relative transcript level of key genes involved in ortho-cleavage pathway including CatA, CatB and SaID were remarkably increased in the treated cells by 2.94-, 4.24- and 2.35- fold than control. Electron microscopic and antioxidant analyses showed that C. cohnii withstand the catechol treatment without any morphological aberrations and oxidative stress, respectively. Altogether, our data showed the potential of C. cohnii in remediating catechol by recruiting O-cleavage pathway and exemplified the promising biotechnological approach for algal mediated catechol remediation.