TY - JOUR
T1 - Cellular lipids and protein alteration during biodegradation of expanded polystyrene by mealworm larvae under different feeding conditions
AU - Tsochatzis, E. D.
AU - Berggreen, I. E.
AU - Vidal, N. Prieto
AU - Roman, L.
AU - Gika, H.
AU - Corredig, M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Author(s)
PY - 2022/8
Y1 - 2022/8
N2 - The present study reports the biodegradation of polystyrene (PS) by mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) following different feeding regimes. Changes in lipids and protein were studied to evaluate possible differences in the growth and metabolic pathways of the insects depending on the diets. Thermo-gravimetric analysis of the excretions (frass) revealed a decrease in the molecular mass of the PS polymers. The insects' biomass contained less protein when PS was part of the diet, suggesting that the insects undergo a certain level of stress compared to control diets. The frass also contained lower amount of nitrogen content compared to that from insects fed a control diet. NH4+ and other cations involved in biochemical processes were also measured in insects’ frass, including potassium, sodium, magnesium, and calcium, combined with a small pH change. The decrease in the mineral content of the frass was attributed to increased cellular activity in PS-fed insects. A higher amount of ceramides and cardiolipins, biomarkers of apoptosis, were also found in association with PS consumption. It was concluded that the insects could metabolize PS, but this caused an increase in its stress levels.
AB - The present study reports the biodegradation of polystyrene (PS) by mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) following different feeding regimes. Changes in lipids and protein were studied to evaluate possible differences in the growth and metabolic pathways of the insects depending on the diets. Thermo-gravimetric analysis of the excretions (frass) revealed a decrease in the molecular mass of the PS polymers. The insects' biomass contained less protein when PS was part of the diet, suggesting that the insects undergo a certain level of stress compared to control diets. The frass also contained lower amount of nitrogen content compared to that from insects fed a control diet. NH4+ and other cations involved in biochemical processes were also measured in insects’ frass, including potassium, sodium, magnesium, and calcium, combined with a small pH change. The decrease in the mineral content of the frass was attributed to increased cellular activity in PS-fed insects. A higher amount of ceramides and cardiolipins, biomarkers of apoptosis, were also found in association with PS consumption. It was concluded that the insects could metabolize PS, but this caused an increase in its stress levels.
KW - Biodegradation of polystyrene
KW - Lipidomics
KW - Molecular and cellular activity
KW - Protein alterations
KW - UHPLC-QTOF-MS
KW - Yellow mealworms (Tenebrio molitor)
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85128203386&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134420
DO - 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134420
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 35367488
AN - SCOPUS:85128203386
SN - 0045-6535
VL - 300
JO - Chemosphere
JF - Chemosphere
M1 - 134420
ER -