Advanced molecular-fingerprinting analysis of dissolved organic sulfur by electrospray ionization-Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry using optimal spray solvent

Molecular level characterization of dissolved organic sulfur (DOS) by electrospray ionization-Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI-FTICR MS) is necessary for further understanding of the role of DOS in the environment. Here, ESI spray solvent, a key parameter for ion production during ESI process, was investigated for its effect on the molecular characterization of DOS by ESI-FTICR MS. 100% MeOH as spray solvent was found for the first time to remarkably enhance the ionization efficiency of the majority of CHOS-molecules in NOM, which facilitated a total of 1473 CHOS-molecular formulas with one sulfur atom to be detected. The number of CHOS-molecular formulas obtained using 100%MeOH as spray solvent increased notably over 740 in comparison with those using 50% MeOH aqueous solution (731) or 50% ACN aqueous solution (653). Moreover, due to the enhancement of ionization efficiency of DOS during ESI processes, the tandem mass spectra of the NOM CHOS-molecules could be easily obtained using 100% MeOH as spray solvent, which were hardly obtained using 50% MeOH aqueous solution as spray solvent. The results of the tandem mass spectra suggested the first discovery of organosulfates or sulfonic acids in Suwannee River NOM sample. A simple method based on 100% MeOH as ESI spray solvent for advanced molecular characterization of DOS by ESI-FTICR MS was proposed and applied, and the results revealed more molecular information of DOS in sea DOM samples.     

FT-ICR mass spectrometry for molecular characterization of water-insoluble organic compounds in winter atmospheric fine particulate matters

Water-insoluble organic compounds（WIOCs） are an important fraction of atmospheric fine particulate matters(PM_2.5), which could affect the climate system and threaten human health potentially. In this study, molecular characterization of WIOCs in PM_2.5 were investigated by 15 T Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry（FT-ICR MS） with atmospheric pressure photoionization（APPI） source in positive ion mode. A total of 2573 and1875 molecular formulas were iden...     

太湖草、藻湖区沉积物WSOM组成和分子结构分析

草型湖泊（区）和藻型湖泊（区）是浅水湖泊的两种典型状态,两种湖泊中有机质（OM）的来源和转化存在明显差异.有机质在沉积物上的埋藏是湖泊碳汇功能的重要体现.沉积物中的有机质可能发生后续的转化,影响湖泊碳汇功能;其转化过程与其固有的性质密切相关.目前为止,有关草型和藻型湖泊沉积物中有机质的组成,特别是分子结构差异的信息较少.为此,采集太湖草型湖区（东太湖）和藻型湖区（梅梁湾）沉积物,提取和纯化沉积物中的水溶性有机质（分别记为M-WSOM和A-WSOM）,并采用紫外-可见吸收光谱、三维荧光光谱、傅立叶红外光谱和傅里叶变换-离子回旋共振-质谱（FT-ICR MS）对WSOM性质组成和分子结构进行详尽的表征与分析.结果表明：①M-WSOM的相对分子质量比A-WSOM的（E₂ ：E₃指标）稍大;FT-ICR MS的数据显示,M-WSOM和A-WSOM的相对分子质量分别为388.9和379.9.②M-WSOM的芳香性略高于A-WSOM的（SUVA₂₅₄和HIX指标）;同样地,FT-ICR MS的结果显示,M-WSOM中稠环芳烃（6.3%,强度加权平均占比,下同）、芳香类物质（7.7%）的含量高于A-WSOM （分别为1.1%和4.4%）;③荧光组分结果表明A-WSOM中类蛋白质组分的含量大于M-WSOM;FT-ICR MS的结果与之对应,A-WSOM的多肽含量（35.5%）高于M-WSOM的（15.6%）;④质谱数据显示了高分辨的分子信息：M-WSOM和A-WSOM中,沉积物中含杂原子的分子分别占82.9%和91.7%;其中含氮元素的分子占比高达53.5%和78.5%;含磷元素分子占30.4%和41.4%,M-WSOM磷元素主要分布在脂肪烃和高度不饱和低氧物质中,而A-WSOM则主要分布在多肽中.揭示了浅水湖泊两种典型状态沉积物OM的组成和分子结构;有助于研究湖泊沉积物的温室气体排放,及碳、氮、磷元素的生物地球化学过程.     

Diverse molecular compositions of dissolved organic matter derived from different composts using ESI FT-ICR MS

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) derived from various composts can promote significant changes of soil properties. However, little is known about the DOM compositions and their similarities and differences at the molecular level. In this study, the molecular compositions of DOM derived from kitchen waste compost (KWC), green waste compost (GWC), manure waste compost (MWC), and sewage sludge compost (SSC) were characterized by electrospray ionization coupled with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI FT-ICR MS). The molecular formulas were classified into four subcategories: CHO, CHON, CHOS, and CHONS. The KWC, MWC, and SSC DOM represented the highest fraction (35.8%-47.4%) of CHON subcategory, while the GWC DOM represented the highest fraction (68.4%) of CHO subcategory. The GWC DOM was recognized as the nitrogen- and sulfur-deficient compounds that were less saturated, more aromatic, and more oxidized compared with other samples. Further analysis of the oxygen, nitrogen-containing (N-containing), and sulfur-containing (S-containing) functional groups in the four subcategories revealed higher organic molecular complexity. Comparison of the similarities and differences of the four samples revealed 22.8% ubiquitous formulas and 17.4%, 11.1%, 10.7%, and 6.3% unique formulas of GWC, KWC, SSC, and MWC DOM, respectively, suggesting a large proportion of ubiquitous DOM as well as unique, source-specific molecular signatures. The findings presented herein provide new insight into the molecular characterization of DOM derived from various composts and demonstrated the potential role of these different compounds for agricultural utilization.     

DAX-8和XAD-4串联树脂法大体积提取海水溶解有机质及其分子组成分析

采用DAX-8和XAD-4串联树脂技术（DAX-8/XAD-4法）对青岛近海表层海水的溶解有机质（dissolved organic matter,DOM）进行了大体积的提取制备,获得DOM中的疏水酸性组分（hydrophobic acid,HOA）、亲水酸性组分（hydrophilic acid,HIA）、疏水中性组分（hydrophobic neutral,HON）和亲水中性组分（hydrophilic neutral,HIN）共4个组分。从200 L海水中共提取海洋DOM固体样品0.3 g,总有机碳提取效率为48%。应用傅立叶变换离子回旋共振质谱（Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry, FT-ICR MS）对得到的4个组分进行分子组成表征。结果表明,酸性组分（HOA和HIA）可鉴别出4000余个分子,具有相对较高的O/C值,其氧化降解程度较高;中性组分鉴别出1000余个分子,其H/C值较高,具有较低的缩合度。含氮类化合物在亲水组分（HIA和HIN）中相对富集。富羧基脂环化合物（carboxylic-rich alicyclic molecules,CRAM）在酸性组分中相对富集。DAX-8/XAD-4树脂串联法能用于含盐高、DOM含量低的海水,适用于分离提取大体积海水样品中不同极性的DOM亚组分,其样品量及较低的灰分能满足分析表征和模拟实验等应用需求。     

某酸性矿山排水中溶解性有机物的特征分析

采集安徽某酸性矿山排水（AMD）水库不同离岸距离的表水层水样,结合傅立叶变换离子回旋共振质谱（FT-ICR MS）与三维荧光光谱（EEMs）技术对水样中溶解性有机物（DOM）来源和组分特征进行分析.三维荧光结果表明,样品中内源性色氨酸类荧光峰峰强与离岸距离正相关,且基于三维荧光特征指数（FI,HIX,BIX）分析判断DOM主要来自于内源.FT-ICR MS在分子层面进一步表明,内源性组分（脂类,脂肪族/蛋白类,糖类）在近岸点样品DOM所占比重相对较低（66%）.AMD中DOM的主要成分为CHO（40%~50%）、CHON（25%~30%）、CHOS （22%~36%）等化合物.DOM包含有高比例的CHOS化合物主要与AMD水体高浓度硫酸盐有关.     

Assembly and loss of the polar flagellum in plant-associated methylobacteria

On the leaf surfaces of numerous plant species, inclusive of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), pink-pigmented, methanol-consuming, phytohormone-secreting prokaryotes of the genus Methylobacterium have been detected. However, neither the roles, nor the exact mode of colonization of these epiphytic microbes have been explored in detail. Using germ-free sunflower seeds, we document that, during the first days of seedling development, methylobacteria exert no promotive effect on organ growth. Since the microbes are evenly distributed over the outer surface of the above-ground phytosphere, we analyzed the behavior of populations taken from two bacterial strains that were cultivated as solid, biofilm-like clones on agar plates in different aqueous environments (Methylobacterium mesophilicum and M. marchantiae, respectively). After transfer into liquid medium, the rod-shaped, immobile methylobacteria assembled a flagellum and developed into planktonic microbes that were motile. During the linear phase of microbial growth in liquid cultures, the percentage of swimming, flagellated bacteria reached a maximum, and thereafter declined. In stationary populations, living, immotile bacteria, and isolated flagella were observed. Hence, methylobacteria that live in a biofilm, transferred into aqueous environments, assemble a flagellum that is lost when cell density has reached a maximum. This swimming motility, which appeared during ontogenetic development within growing microbial populations, may be a means to colonize the moist outer surfaces of leaves.     

Fungal elicitors of the phytoalexin response in higher plants

Several types of fungal molecules including cell wall polysaccharides, polypeptides, glycoproteins and lipid molecules have been found to serve as elicitors of phytoalexins in higher plants. Recent work has shown that an extracellular enzyme, endopolygalacturonase, from culture filtrates of the fungusRhizopus stolonifer elicits the biosynthesis of an antifungal antibiotic, casbene, in extracts of treated castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) seedlings. A suggested mode of action of this elicitor in the plant in which fragments of the plant cell wall released through the catalytic action of the enzyme serve as secondary elicitors to trigger the plant response is proposed on the basis of preliminary observations. Possible modes of interaction of other types of fungal elicitors with plants are also discussed.     

全自动阵列离子迁移谱仪连续监测挥发性有机化合物

为了拓宽离子迁移谱仪的检测范围、提高化合物的识别准确度,研制了一套阵列离子迁移谱仪,该仪器基于63 Ni源正离子模式、63Ni源负离子模式和真空紫外灯光电离模式的组合电离源,可以连续监测空气中挥发性有机化合物.仪器采用全自动的采样进样系统,同时检测了二甲基亚砜的正离子和二氯甲烷的负离子,实现了正负离子的同时检测.通过对阵列离子迁移谱图的综合解析,识别了63Ni源正离子模式下难以鉴别的丙烯腈、间二甲苯和丙酮.连续4 d定量测定丙酮样品,结果表明仪器对丙酮的线性检测范围为2个数量级,线性相关系数R优于0.995,相对标准偏差控制在4.0%～18.3%.采用动态跟踪法,连续24 h在线监测了模拟泄漏的丙烯酸甲酯,监测结果直接反映了其泄漏的时间和浓度.     

Unpacking multi-trophic herbivore-grass-endophyte interactions: feedbacks across different scales in vegetation responses to Soay sheep herbivory

Grazing can induce changes in both plant productivity and nutritional quality, which may subsequently influence herbivore carrying capacity. While research on Soay sheep (Ovis aries L.) dynamics on Hirta Island in the St. Kilda archipelago has elucidated the complexity of population drivers, including parasites, the role of herbivore-generated feedbacks as an intrinsic regulating factor remains unclear. The sheep lack large predators and every 3–9 years undergo population crashes (overcompensatory mortality). We investigated the effects of grazing on (1) sward productivity and (2) quality (toxicity) of the primary forage species, red fescue (Festuca rubra L.), which is highly infected by an alkaloid-synthesizing fungal endophyte. Grazing had a negative impact on both forage quantity and quality. At higher sheep densities, impacts on sward growth were magnified, resulting in a nonlinear relationship with plant productivity. Simultaneously, endophyte hyphal load (and by inference, toxicity) peaked close to the time of a crash. A greenhouse experiment showed that alkaloid concentration in F. rubra increased in response to artificial defoliation. We conclude that at high sheep densities, grazing-mediated reductions in productivity, together with sustained alkaloid production, are likely to influence sheep dynamics. Future research should consider the interactive effects of forage toxicity, quantity, and nutritional content.     

Sex pheromone component ratios and mating isolation among three Lygus plant bug species of North America

The plant bugs Lygus hesperus, Lygus lineolaris, and Lygus elisus (Hemiptera: Miridae) are major pests of many agricultural crops in North America. Previous studies suggested that females release a sex pheromone attractive to males. Other studies showed that males and females contain microgram amounts of (E)-4-oxo-2-hexenal, hexyl butyrate, and (E)-2-hexenyl butyrate that are emitted as a defense against predators. Using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, we found that female L. lineolaris and L. elisus have a 4:10 ratio of hexyl butyrate to (E)-2-hexenyl butyrate that is reversed from the 10:1 ratio in female L. hesperus (males of the three species have ~10:1 ratio). These reversed ratios among females of the species suggest a behavioral role. Because both sexes have nearly equal amounts of the major volatiles, females should release more to attract males. This expectation was supported because L. hesperus females released more hexyl butyrate (mean of 86 ng/h) during the night (1800–0700 hours) than did males (<1 ng/h). We used slow-rotating pairs of traps to test the attraction of species to blends of the volatiles with a subtractive method to detect synergism. Each species’ major butyrate ester was released at 3 μg/h, the minor butyrate according to its ratio, and (E)-4-oxo-2-hexenal at 2 μg/h. The resulting catches of only Lygus males suggest that (E)-4-oxo-2-hexenal is an essential sex pheromone component for all three species, (E)-2-hexenyl butyrate is essential for L. elisus and L. lineolaris, and hexyl butyrate is essential for L. hesperus. However, all three components are recognized by each species since ratios of the butyrate esters are critical for conspecific attraction and heterospecific avoidance by males and thus play a role in reproductive isolation among the three species. Because L. hesperus males and females are known to emit these major volatiles for repelling ant predators, our study links defensive allomones in Lygus bugs with an additional use as sex pheromones.     

水体系中EDTA-Fe(Ⅱ)/Ｋ２Ｓ２Ｏ８降解敌草隆的研究

对水体系中EDTA-Fe(Ⅱ)/K2S2O8降解敌草隆的方法进行了研究.在综合考虑经济性和降解率的前提下,提出了反应的最佳条件:K2S2O8初始浓度为2.0 mmol·L-1, Fe(Ⅱ)初始浓度为1.0 mmol·L-1, EDTA初始浓度为0.5 mmol·L-1,反应时间为300 min, pH=7.0,最终0.1 mmol·L-1,敌草隆降解率可达67.6%.同时,采用分子探针竞争实验鉴定了体系中产生的硫酸根自由基和羟基自由基,并采用LC/MS法鉴定了敌草隆的主要降解产物,从而探讨了敌草隆在EDTA-Fe(Ⅱ)/K2S2O8体系中可能的降解途径.     

Identification and characterization of the chromium（Ⅵ） responding protein from a newly isolated Ochrobactrum anthropi CTS-325

A Gram-negative, chromium(VI) tolerant and reductive strain CTS-325, isolated from a Chinese chromate plant, was identified as Ochrobactrum anthropi based on its biochemical properties and 16S rDNA sequence analysis. It was able to tolerate up to 10 mmol/L Cr(VI) and completely reduce 1 mmol/L Cr(VI) to Cr(III) within 48 h. When the strain CTS-325 was induced with Cr(VI), a protein increased significantly in the whole cell proteins. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis revealed that this protein was a superoxide dismutase (SOD) homology. The measured superoxide dismutase activity was 2694 U/mg after three steps of purification. The SOD catalyzes the dismutation of the superoxide anion (O₂^·−) into hydrogen peroxide and molecular oxygen. This protein is considered to be one of the most important anti-oxidative enzymes for O. anthropi as it allows the bacterium to survive high oxygen stress environments, such as the environment produced during the reduction process of Cr(VI).     

Effects of plant diversity on greenhouse gas emissions in microcosms simulating vertical constructed wetlands with high ammonium loading

Wastewater with relatively high nitrogen concentrations is a major source of nitrous oxide (N₂O) and methane (CH₄) emissions and exerts multiple stresses on the environment. Studies have shown that plant diversity plays an important role in ecosystem functioning. However, the effects of plant species diversity on CH₄ and N₂O emissions under high ammonium (NH₄⁺-N) loading rates remain unclear. In this study, a microcosm experiment simulating vertical constructed wetlands supplied with high NH₄⁺-N water levels was established. The treatments included four species richness levels (1, 2, 3, 4) and 15 species compositions. There was no significant relationship between species richness and N₂O emissions. However, N₂O emissions were significantly reduced by specific plant species composition. Notably, the communities with the presence of Rumex japonicus L. reduced N₂O emissions by 62% compared to communities without this species. This reduction in N₂O emissions may have been a result of decreased N concentrations and increased plant biomass. CH₄ emissions did not respond to plant species richness or species identity. Overall, plant species identity surpassed species richness in lowering N₂O emissions from constructed wetlands with high NH₄⁺-N water. The results also suggest that communities with R. japonicus could achieve higher N removal and lower greenhouse gas emissions than other wetland species.     

Two selenium tolerant Lysinibacillus sp. strains are capable of reducing selenite to elemental Se efficiently under aerobic conditions

Microbes play important roles in the transport and transformation of selenium (Se) in the environment, thereby influencing plant resistance to Se and Se accumulation in plant. The objectives are to characterize the bacteria with high Se tolerance and reduction capacity and explore the significance of microbial origins on their Se tolerance, reduction rate and efficiency. Two bacterial strains were isolated from a naturally occurred Se-rich soil at tea orchard in southern Anhui Province, China. The reduction kinetics of selenite was investigated and the reducing product was characterized using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy. The bacteria were identified as Lysinibacillus xylanilyticus and Lysinibacillus macrolides, respectively, using morphological, physiological and molecular methods. The results showed that the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of selenite for L. xylanilyticus and L. macrolides were 120 and 220 mmol/L, respectively, while MICs of selenate for L. xylanilyticus and L. macrolides were 800 and 700 mmol/L, respectively. Both strains aerobically reduced selenite with an initial concentration of 1.0 mmol/L to elemental Se nanoparticles (SeNPs) completely within 36 hr. Biogenic SeNPs were observed both inside and outside the cells suggesting either an intra- or extracellular reduction process. Our study implied that the microbes from Se-rich environments were more tolerant to Se and generally quicker and more efficient than those from Se-free habitats in the reduction of Se oxyanions. The bacterial strains with high Se reduction capacity and the biological synthesized SeNPs would have potential applications in agriculture, food, environment and medicine.     

Effects of TiO2 nanoparticles on the aquatic plant Spirodela polyrrhiza: Evaluation of growth parameters, pigment contents and antioxidant enzyme activities

Plants are essential components of all ecosystems and play a critical role in environmental fate of nanoparticles. However, the toxicological impacts of nanoparticles on plants are not well documented. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂-NPs) are produced worldwide in large quantities for a wide range of purposes. In the present study, the uptake of TiO₂-NPs by the aquatic plant Spirodela polyrrhiza and the consequent effects on the plant were evaluated. Initially, structural and morphological characteristics of the used TiO₂-NPs were determined using XRD, SEM, TEM and BET techniques. As a result, an anatase structure with the average crystalline size of 8nm was confirmed for the synthesized TiO₂-NPs. Subsequently, entrance of TiO₂-NP_S to plant roots was verified by fluorescence microscopic images. Activity of a number of antioxidant enzymes, as well as, changes in growth parameters and photosynthetic pigment contents as physiological indices were assessed to investigate the effects of TiO₂-NPs on S. polyrrhiza. The increasing concentration of TiO₂-NPs led to the significant decrease in all of the growth parameters and changes in antioxidant enzyme activities. The activity of superoxide dismutase enhanced significantly by the increasing concentration of TiO₂-NPs. Enhancement of superoxide dismutase activity could be explained as promoting antioxidant system to scavenging the reactive oxygen species. In contrast, the activity of peroxidase was notably decreased in the treated plants. Reduced peroxidase activity could be attributed to either direct effect of these particles on the molecular structure of the enzyme or plant defense system damage due to reactive oxygen species.     

藻细胞和高岭土的存在对病毒MS2存活的影响

选用病毒MS2作为水中肠道病毒的指示病毒,高岭土和铜绿微囊藻分别作为无机颗粒物和有机颗粒物,研究颗粒物浓度、pH值、不同价态离子浓度、天然有机物(NOM)等水质条件下,无机(高岭土)、有机(铜绿微囊藻)颗粒物存在对病毒MS2存活的影响.结果表明,无机颗粒物高岭土对病毒MS2的存活无明显影响,但当水体钙硬度(钙离子产生的硬度)较大时,病毒MS2的表观存活量增加1个对数;铜绿微囊藻的存在会导致病毒MS2的存活量降低1个对数左右,但当溶液的pH值大于4.0或铜绿微囊藻的浓度小于1.0×106cells·L-1时,藻类对病毒的生存无明显影响;当水体钙硬度较大时,藻反而会增加病毒MS2的存活对数.因此在高浊水、高藻水中,水的钙硬度增加会使水体中病毒生存能力变强,进而增加饮用水的安全风险.     

膜萃取处理水溶液中镉、锌离子的工艺

以P204+正庚烷为萃取剂,将中空纤维膜萃取技术用于处理水溶液中镉离子、锌离子.研究了两相流速、初始浓度及溶液pH等因素对传质系数和萃取率的影响,计算了膜萃取器的传质单元高度(HTU)_w,同时还研究了萃取剂的再生问题.实验结果表明,在低浓度下(＜500 mg/L),平衡分配系数较大,传质阻力主要是在水相;在初始浓度较高时(＜2000mg/L),由于分配系数较小,三项传质阻力均不可忽略;在初始浓度很高时(＞2000mg/L),传质由有机相和膜相阻力控制.实验还表明通过膜器串联可以实现萃取剂的再生.对于稀溶液(＜200mg/L),中空纤维膜萃取可以使水溶液中金属离子浓度减小2个数量级,通过计算,中空纤维膜萃取器(HTU)_w在15～30cm之间,大大低于传统的萃取塔.     

喀斯特高原退化湿地草海土壤微生物群落碳源代谢活性研究

为了揭示土壤微生物群落功能多样性对湿地退化过程的响应及其与环境因子的关系,采用BIOLOG-ECO微平板法对喀斯特高原湿地草海不同植被演替阶段根际土壤微生物的碳源代谢活性进行了研究.结果表明,沿湿地植被演替梯度,根际土壤微生物群落碳源代谢强度逐渐增加,原生湿地竹叶眼子菜(Comm.Potamogeton malaianu)根际土壤微生物碳源利用能力最低,碳源代谢类型单一;草甸灯芯草(Juncus effusus L.)群落利用能力最强,碳源代谢类型丰富;Shannon指数(H')和Mc Intosh指数(U)均沿植被演替梯度逐渐升高,这可能与地上植物和土壤理化环境变化有关;主成分分析(PCA)提取的3个主成分累计贡献率为92.85%,能够很好解释不同阶段碳源利用的分异,醇类和氨基酸类是引起碳源利用分异的主要基质;冗余分析(RDA)表明,环境因子对微生物碳源代谢活性具有重要影响,p H、DOC是引起碳源利用分异的主要环境因子.土壤微生物群落碳源代谢活性影响湿地碳循环功能.