Gene expression analysis reveals genes related to heavy metals and produced water exposure in Synechococcus elongatus

<p dir="ltr">Produced water (PW), a major by-product of the petrochemical industry, contains a complex mixture of contaminants that limit its reuse and pose environmental risks if discharged untreated. Numerous treatment technologies have been developed to remediate this water, with...

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Main Author: Alaa Hassanien (19420603) (author)
Other Authors: Nisar Ahmed (584617) (author), Borbala Misfud (22997953) (author), Hareb M. Al-Jabri (19420609) (author), Sara Al-Marri (17075137) (author), Tasneem Dalgamouni (19420606) (author), Maryam Al-Merekhi (22997956) (author), Kira Schipper (17316883) (author), Imen Saadaoui (14159025) (author), Suhur Saeed (17632212) (author), Mustapha Aouida (417652) (author)
Published: 2025
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_version_ 1864513524504461312
author Alaa Hassanien (19420603)
author2 Nisar Ahmed (584617)
Borbala Misfud (22997953)
Hareb M. Al-Jabri (19420609)
Sara Al-Marri (17075137)
Tasneem Dalgamouni (19420606)
Maryam Al-Merekhi (22997956)
Kira Schipper (17316883)
Imen Saadaoui (14159025)
Suhur Saeed (17632212)
Mustapha Aouida (417652)
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author_facet Alaa Hassanien (19420603)
Nisar Ahmed (584617)
Borbala Misfud (22997953)
Hareb M. Al-Jabri (19420609)
Sara Al-Marri (17075137)
Tasneem Dalgamouni (19420606)
Maryam Al-Merekhi (22997956)
Kira Schipper (17316883)
Imen Saadaoui (14159025)
Suhur Saeed (17632212)
Mustapha Aouida (417652)
author_role author
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Alaa Hassanien (19420603)
Nisar Ahmed (584617)
Borbala Misfud (22997953)
Hareb M. Al-Jabri (19420609)
Sara Al-Marri (17075137)
Tasneem Dalgamouni (19420606)
Maryam Al-Merekhi (22997956)
Kira Schipper (17316883)
Imen Saadaoui (14159025)
Suhur Saeed (17632212)
Mustapha Aouida (417652)
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025-09-22T09:00:00Z
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv 10.1007/s10123-025-00715-x
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Gene_expression_analysis_reveals_genes_related_to_heavy_metals_and_produced_water_exposure_in_Synechococcus_elongatus/31057117
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv CC BY 4.0
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Biological sciences
Genetics
Microbiology
Environmental sciences
Environmental biotechnology
Produced water
Bioremediation
Transcriptomics
Wastewater
Cyanobacteria
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Gene expression analysis reveals genes related to heavy metals and produced water exposure in Synechococcus elongatus
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv Text
Journal contribution
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
text
contribution to journal
description <p dir="ltr">Produced water (PW), a major by-product of the petrochemical industry, contains a complex mixture of contaminants that limit its reuse and pose environmental risks if discharged untreated. Numerous treatment technologies have been developed to remediate this water, with bioremediation standing out as one of the most promising novel approaches. One such bioremediation method is through the application of cyanobacteria, which are able to remove pollutants such as heavy metals from produced water, although the mechanism by which the pollutants are removed is still unknown. In this study, a well-characterized cyanobacterium, S<i>ynechococcus elongatus</i>, was used as a model organism to establish a proof of concept for identifying genes responsive to PW exposure and heavy metal stress. RNA sequencing was performed to analyze transcriptomic changes in S. elongatus grown in BG-11 (control) and exposed to 3 mg/mL of iron (heavy metal (HM)) or 25% v/v PW in BG-11. Differential expression analysis revealed that 11 and 67 genes were ≥ fivefold upregulated, and 337 and 27 genes were ≥ fivefold downregulated under HM and PW exposure, respectively, compared to the control. Among the over-expressed genes, the plasma membrane transporter, nitrate ABC transporter permease, was identified, suggesting its important role in the bioremediation process of heavy metals from wastewater. These findings provide foundational insights into stress-responsive gene networks in cyanobacteria and inform future bioengineering strategies for enhancing bioremediation capabilities in <i>S. elongatus</i> and related strains.</p><h2 dir="ltr">Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">Published in: International Microbiology<br>License: <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0" target="_blank">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10123-025-00715-x" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10123-025-00715-x</a></p>
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
id Manara2_8c479b5b86a9df3b36b2483c8e4f6b9d
identifier_str_mv 10.1007/s10123-025-00715-x
network_acronym_str Manara2
network_name_str Manara2
oai_identifier_str oai:figshare.com:article/31057117
publishDate 2025
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rights_invalid_str_mv CC BY 4.0
spelling Gene expression analysis reveals genes related to heavy metals and produced water exposure in Synechococcus elongatusAlaa Hassanien (19420603)Nisar Ahmed (584617)Borbala Misfud (22997953)Hareb M. Al-Jabri (19420609)Sara Al-Marri (17075137)Tasneem Dalgamouni (19420606)Maryam Al-Merekhi (22997956)Kira Schipper (17316883)Imen Saadaoui (14159025)Suhur Saeed (17632212)Mustapha Aouida (417652)Biological sciencesGeneticsMicrobiologyEnvironmental sciencesEnvironmental biotechnologyProduced waterBioremediationTranscriptomicsWastewaterCyanobacteria<p dir="ltr">Produced water (PW), a major by-product of the petrochemical industry, contains a complex mixture of contaminants that limit its reuse and pose environmental risks if discharged untreated. Numerous treatment technologies have been developed to remediate this water, with bioremediation standing out as one of the most promising novel approaches. One such bioremediation method is through the application of cyanobacteria, which are able to remove pollutants such as heavy metals from produced water, although the mechanism by which the pollutants are removed is still unknown. In this study, a well-characterized cyanobacterium, S<i>ynechococcus elongatus</i>, was used as a model organism to establish a proof of concept for identifying genes responsive to PW exposure and heavy metal stress. RNA sequencing was performed to analyze transcriptomic changes in S. elongatus grown in BG-11 (control) and exposed to 3 mg/mL of iron (heavy metal (HM)) or 25% v/v PW in BG-11. Differential expression analysis revealed that 11 and 67 genes were ≥ fivefold upregulated, and 337 and 27 genes were ≥ fivefold downregulated under HM and PW exposure, respectively, compared to the control. Among the over-expressed genes, the plasma membrane transporter, nitrate ABC transporter permease, was identified, suggesting its important role in the bioremediation process of heavy metals from wastewater. These findings provide foundational insights into stress-responsive gene networks in cyanobacteria and inform future bioengineering strategies for enhancing bioremediation capabilities in <i>S. elongatus</i> and related strains.</p><h2 dir="ltr">Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">Published in: International Microbiology<br>License: <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0" target="_blank">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10123-025-00715-x" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10123-025-00715-x</a></p>2025-09-22T09:00:00ZTextJournal contributioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersiontextcontribution to journal10.1007/s10123-025-00715-xhttps://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Gene_expression_analysis_reveals_genes_related_to_heavy_metals_and_produced_water_exposure_in_Synechococcus_elongatus/31057117CC BY 4.0info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:figshare.com:article/310571172025-09-22T09:00:00Z
spellingShingle Gene expression analysis reveals genes related to heavy metals and produced water exposure in Synechococcus elongatus
Alaa Hassanien (19420603)
Biological sciences
Genetics
Microbiology
Environmental sciences
Environmental biotechnology
Produced water
Bioremediation
Transcriptomics
Wastewater
Cyanobacteria
status_str publishedVersion
title Gene expression analysis reveals genes related to heavy metals and produced water exposure in Synechococcus elongatus
title_full Gene expression analysis reveals genes related to heavy metals and produced water exposure in Synechococcus elongatus
title_fullStr Gene expression analysis reveals genes related to heavy metals and produced water exposure in Synechococcus elongatus
title_full_unstemmed Gene expression analysis reveals genes related to heavy metals and produced water exposure in Synechococcus elongatus
title_short Gene expression analysis reveals genes related to heavy metals and produced water exposure in Synechococcus elongatus
title_sort Gene expression analysis reveals genes related to heavy metals and produced water exposure in Synechococcus elongatus
topic Biological sciences
Genetics
Microbiology
Environmental sciences
Environmental biotechnology
Produced water
Bioremediation
Transcriptomics
Wastewater
Cyanobacteria