Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) cause biotoxicity and pose a potential ecological threat; however, their effects on plant metabolism and eco-corona evolution between NPs and organisms remain unclear. This study clarified the molecular mechanisms underlying physiological and metabolic responses induced by three different ZnO NPs with different sizes and hydrophobicity in sprouts (Vigna radiata) and explored the critical regulation of eco-corona formation in root–nano systems. Results indicated that smaller-sized ZnO inhibited root elongation by up to 37.14% and triggered oxidative burst and apoptosis. Metabolomics confirmed that physiological maintenance after n-ZnO exposure was mainly attributed to the effective stabilization of nitrogen fixation and defense systems by biotransformation of the flavonoid pathway. Larger-sized or hydrophobic group-modified ZnO exhibited low toxicity in sprouts, with 0.89-fold upregulation of citrate in central carbon metabolism. This contributed to providing energy for resistance to NP stress through amino acid and carbon/nitrogen metabolism, accompanied by changes in membrane properties. Notably, smaller-sized and hydrophobic NPs intensely stimulated the release of root metabolites, forming corona complexes with exudates. The hydrogen-bonded wrapping mechanism in protein secondary structure and hydrophobic interactions of heterogeneous functional groups drove eco-corona formation, along with the corona evolution intensity of n-ZnO > s-ZnO > b-ZnO based on higher (α-helix + 3-turn helix)/β-sheet ratios. This study provides crucial insight into metabolic and eco-corona evolution in bionano fates.

中文翻译：

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不同尺寸和疏水性的氧化锌纳米颗粒对豆芽（Vigna radiata）代谢反应和生态电晕形成的驱动作用


氧化锌纳米粒子（ZnO NPs）会产生生物毒性并构成潜在的生态威胁；然而，它们对植物代谢以及纳米颗粒与生物体之间的生态冠进化的影响仍不清楚。本研究阐明了三种不同尺寸和疏水性的ZnO NPs在豆芽（Vigna radiata）中诱导生理和代谢反应的分子机制，并探索了根纳米系统中生态冠形成的关键调控。结果表明，较小尺寸的 ZnO 抑制根伸长高达 37.14%，并引发氧化爆发和细胞凋亡。代谢组学证实，n-ZnO暴露后的生理维持主要归因于类黄酮途径的生物转化有效稳定固氮和防御系统。较大尺寸或疏水基团修饰的 ZnO 在芽中表现出低毒性，中心碳代谢中的柠檬酸盐上调 0.89 倍。这有助于通过氨基酸和碳/氮代谢提供抵抗NP应激的能量，并伴随着膜特性的变化。值得注意的是，较小尺寸和疏水性的纳米粒子强烈刺激根代谢物的释放，与渗出物形成冠复合物。蛋白质二级结构中的氢键包裹机制和异质官能团的疏水相互作用驱动了生态冠的形成，以及基于更高（α-螺旋+3）的n-ZnO > s-ZnO > b-ZnO的冠演化强度-转角螺旋)/β-折叠比率。这项研究为生物纳米命运中的代谢和生态冠进化提供了重要的见解。