Xu_2024_J.Hazard.Mater_479_135690

beta-ionone is a volatile metabolite of Microcystis aeruginosa that is toxic to aquatic organisms. Using Daphnia sinensis as model, our present study found that beta-ionone could significantly reduce heart rate and feeding rate, and induce intestinal emptying. Transcriptomic analysis showed that beta-ionone could significantly inhibit the expression of acetylcholinesterase (AchE) mRNA, while metabolomics further revealed that beta-ionone could significantly increase the level of acetylcholine (Ach) in D. sinensis. These results indicated that beta-ionone might act as an AchE inhibitor, resulting in an increase in Ach levels. To test this hypothesis, both in vivo and in vitro experiments demonstrated that beta-ionone could significantly reduce AchE activity. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects of beta-ionone on heart rate and feeding rate could be blocked by the M-type Ach receptor (mAchR) blocker. These findings confirm that beta-ionone is a novel AchE inhibitor. beta-ionone could inhibit the activity of AchE, which in turn resulted in an increase of Ach in D. sinensis. Consequently, elevated levels of Ach could suppress the heart rate and feeding rate of D. sinensis by activating the mAchR, while concurrently accelerating the rate of intestinal emptying by stimulating intestinal peristalsis, thereby obstructing the digestion of algae within the intestinal tract.