Microcystis aeruginosa bloom releases microcystins (MCs) into global aquatic environment, which other living organisms can ingest the released MCs. The toxic effects of MCs on organisms are amplified through the food chain, threatening human and animal health. Lanthanum(III) [La(III)], a pollutant in aquatic environments worldwide, has been confirmed to stimulate MC synthesis in M. aeruginosa. However, the involved cellular mechanism remains unclear. Here, using interdisciplinary approaches, it was first observed that La(III) activated the clathrin-mediated endocytosis in M. aeruginosa. This allowed the algal cells to rapidly absorb macro-elements (C, N and P) and micro-elements (K, Ca and Mg) through the clathrin-mediated endocytosis. These in turn stimulated chlorophyll production, photosynthesis, the growth of the algal cells, and the increases in the productions of MC-LW, MC-LR and MC-YR in M. aeruginosa. These results provide valuable insights for understanding the involved cellular mechanism on MC synthesis and managing MC pollution, which is important to protect global food chain and the ecosystem.

铜绿微囊藻的花朵将微囊藻毒素（MC）释放到全球水生环境中，其他生物也可以摄入释放的MC。多氯联苯对生物的毒性作用通过食物链得到放大，威胁到人类和动物的健康。镧（III）[La（III）]是全世界水生环境中的一种污染物，已证实可刺激铜绿假单胞菌中的MC合成。但是，所涉及的细胞机制仍不清楚。在这里，使用跨学科的方法，首先观察到La（III）激活了铜绿假单胞菌中网格蛋白介导的内吞作用。这使藻类细胞能够通过网格蛋白介导的内吞作用迅速吸收大量元素（C，N和P）和微量元素（K，Ca和Mg）。这些反过来刺激了铜绿假单胞菌中叶绿素的产生，光合作用，藻类细胞的生长以及MC-LW，MC-LR和MC-YR产量的增加。这些结果为了解参与MC合成的细胞机制和管理MC污染提供了宝贵的见识，这对于保护全球食物链和生态系统很重要。