Iron-catalyzed active lipid peroxides drive ultrafast collective cell death in blooming algae

  • Science. 2026 Jun 25;392(6805):eaed3823. doi: 10.1126/science.aed3823.
Yinjie Zhu  1  2  3  4 ,  Xiaoxiong Wang  5 ,  Yifan Tong  1  2  3  4 ,  Chengzhen Jia  1  2  3  4 ,  Huansheng Cao  6 ,  Hongying Hu  7 ,  Yi Tao  1  2  3  4
Affiliations
  • 1. Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center for Urban Water Recycling and Environmental Safety, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
  • 2. Key Laboratory of Microorganism Application and Risk Control (MARC) of Shenzhen, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
  • 3. Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Ecological Remediation and Carbon Sequestration, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
  • 4. Tsinghua University-Kunming Joint Research Center for Dianchi Plateau Lake, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
  • 5. Institute for Ocean Engineering & Center of Double Helix, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
  • 6. Division of Natural and Applied Sciences, Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan, Jiangsu, China.
  • 7. Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control State Key Joint Laboratory, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Microorganism Application and Risk Control (SMARC), School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
PMID: 42348688 DOI: 10.1126/science.aed3823
Abstract

Harmful algal blooms, the most severe ecological hazards worldwide, terminate abruptly within a few days. In this work, we identified that iron-catalyzed active lipid peroxides predominantly trigger individual cell Ferroptosis and drive the population collapse of blooming cyanobacteria. We reveal the chronological sequence of labile iron burst, oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and cell death during a Microcystis bloom demise event. Dead cells exhibit a nonrandom spatial distribution within colonies. Intensifying lipid peroxidation catalyzed by cellular labile iron generates truncated Phospholipids with shortened fatty acyl chains bearing alkyl groups. These active lipid peroxides destabilize plasma membranes and induce nanoscale membrane pore formation, resulting in individual cell Ferroptosis and lysis. Oxidized lipids are also released from ferroptotic cells, propagating lipid peroxidation to neighboring cells, thereby spreading death throughout the population.

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