Effects of lindane on the photosynthetic apparatus of the cyanobacterium<Emphasis Type="Italic">anabaena</Emphasis>

INTENTION, GOAL, SCOPE, BACKGROUND: Cyanobacteria have the natural ability to degrade moderate amounts of organic pollutants. However, when pollutant concentration exceeds the level of tolerance, bleaching of the cells and death occur within 24 hours. Under stress conditions, cyanobacterial response includes the short-term adaptation of the photosynthetic apparatus to light quality, named state transitions. Moreover, prolonged stresses produce changes in the functional organization of phycobilisomes and in the core-complexes of both photosystems, which can result in large changes in the PS II fluorescence yield. The localization of ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase (FNR) at the ends of some peripheral rods of the cyanobacterial phycobilisomes, makes this protein a useful marker to check phycobilisome integrity. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this work is to improve the knowledge of the mechanism of action of a very potent pesticide, lindane (gamma-hexaclorociclohexane), in the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp., which can be considered a potential candidate for bioremediation of pesticides. We have studied the effect of lindane on the photosynthetic apparatus of Anabaena using fluorescence induction studies. As ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase plays a key role in the response to oxidative stress in several systems, changes in synthesis, degradation and activity of FNR were analyzed. Immunolocalization of this enzyme was used as a marker of phycobilisome integrity. The knowledge of the changes caused by lindane in the photosynthetic apparatus is essential for rational further design of genetically-modified cyanobacteria with improved biorremediation abilities. METHODS: Polyphasic chlorophyll a fluorescence rise measurements (OJIP) have been used to evaluate the vitality and stress adaptation of the nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium Anabaena PCC 7119 in the presence of increasing concentrations of lindane. Effects of the pesticide on the ultrastructure have been investigated by electron microscopy, and FNR has been used as a marker of phycobilisome integrity. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Cultures of Anabaena sp. treated with moderate amounts of lindane showed a decrease in growth rate followed by a recovery after 72 hours of pesticide treatment. Concentrations of lindane below 5 ppm increased the photosynthetic performance and activity of the cells. Higher amounts of pesticide caused a decrease in these activities which seems to be due to a non-competitive inhibition of PS II. Active PS II units are converted into non-QA reducing, so called heat sink centers. Specific activity and amount of FNR in lindane-treated cells were similar to the values measured in control cultures. Release of FNR from the thylakoid after 48 hours of exposure to 5 ppm of lindane towards the cytoplasm was detected by immunogold labeling and electron microscopy. CONCLUSIONS: From these results, we conclude that the photosynthetic performance and activity of the cells are slightly increased in the presence of lindane up to 5 ppm. Moreover, in those conditions, lindane did not produce significant changes in the synthesis, degradation or activity of FNR. The high capability of Anabaena to tolerate lindane makes this cyanobacterium a good candidate for phytoremediation of polluted areas. RECOMMENDATION AND OUTLOOK: The results of this study show that cultures of Anabaena PCC 7119 tolerate lindane up to 5 ppm, without significant changes in the photosynthetic vitality index of the cells. However, a slight increase in phycobiliprotein synthesis is observed, which is related to total protein content. This change might be due to degradation of proteins less stable than phycobiliproteins. An identification of the proteins with altered expression pattern in the presence of the pesticide remains the subject of further work and will provide valuable information for the preparation of strains which are highly tolerant to lindane.     

硝酸盐浓度及投加方式对反硝化除磷的影响

采用SBR反应器，详细研究了硝酸盐浓度及其投加方式对反硝化除磷过程的影响。结果表明，缺氧环境下的反硝化吸磷速率与作为电子受体的硝酸盐浓度有很大的关系，硝酸盐浓度越高．吸磷速率越快。当硝酸盐浓度较低．不足以氧化反硝化聚磷菌细胞内的PHB从而导致体系反硝化除磷效率的下降。相同浓度的硝酸盐，采用流加的方式可以获得比一次性投加更高的反硝化吸磷速率。缺氧环境下，反硝化脱氮量与磷的吸收量成良好的线性关系．借助于反硝化聚磷菌，反硝化脱氮与除磷可在一种环境中完成，有效解决了废水中COD不足的问题．同时达到了节省能源和降低污泥产量的目的。     

含氮杂环化合物吡啶缺氧降解过程中硝酸还原酶活性研究

在实验室中，采用摇床试验，在保证缺氧的条件下。研究了含氮杂环化合物吡啶缺氧反硝化降解过程中，硝酸还原酶的适宜作用条件、吡啶降解过程中硝酸还原酶活性变化情况及吡啶和硝态氮等的降解情况。结果表明，C／N对吡啶缺氧反硝化降解具有重要意义，pH和温度均对硝黧还原酶活性具有一定影响。硝酸还原酶的适宜作用条件为：温度25—30℃，pH7．5。吡啶降解过程中，硝酸还原酶活性由低到高逐渐提高，最后达到一个相对稳定的数值。在适宜的碳氮比条件下，吡啶起始浓度越高，硝酸还原酶最后稳定活性越高。     

Nitrate removal from aqueous solutions by magnetic cationic hydrogel: Effect of electrostatic adsorption and mechanism

Excessive nitrate(NO_3~-) is among the most problematic surface water and groundwater pollutants.In this study,a type of magnetic cationic hydrogel(MCH) is employed for NO_3~-adsorption and well characterized herein.Its adsorption capacity is considerably pHdependent and achieves the optimal adsorption(maximum NO_3~--adsorption capacity is95.88±1.24 mg/g) when the pH level is 5.2-8.8.The fitting result using the homogeneous surface diffusion model indicates that the surface/film diffusion controls the adsorption rate,and NO_3~-approaches the center of MCH particles within 30 min.The diffusion coefficient(D_s) and external mass transfer coefficient(k_F) in the liquid phase are1.15 × 10~(-6) cm~2/min and 4.5 × 10~(-6) cm/min,respectively.The MCH is employed to treat surface water that contains 10 mg/L of NO_3~-,and it is found that the optimal magnetic separation time is 1.6 min.The high-efficiency mass transfer and magnetic separation of MCH during the adsorption-regeneration process favors its application in surface water treatment.Furthermore,the study of the mechanism involved reveals that both-N~+(CH_3)_3 groups and NO_3~-are convoluted in adsorption via electrostatic interactions.It is further found that ion exchange between NO_3~-and chlorine occurs.     

Assessment of sources and transformation of nitrate in the alluvial-pluvial fan region of north China using a multi-isotope approach

A multi-isotope approach and mixing model were combined to identify spatial and seasonal variations of sources,and their proportional contribution to nitrate in the Hutuo River alluvial-pluvial fan region.The results showed that the NO_3~- concentration was significantly higher in the Hutuo River valley plain(178.7 mg/L) region than that in the upper and central pluvial fans of the Hutuo River(82.1 mg/L and 71.0 mg/L,respectively)and in the river(17.0 mg/L).Different land use types had no significant effect on the groundwater nitrate concentration.Based on a multi-isotope approach,we confirmed that the main sources of groundwater nitrate in different land use areas were domestic sewage and manure,followed by soil nitrogen,ammonia fertilizer,nitrate fertilizer and rainwater,and there were no significant spatial or seasonal variations.Combining δ~(15)N-NO_3,δ~(18)O-NO_3~- and δ~(37)Cl results can increase the accuracy of traceability.Nitrification could be the most important nitrogen migration and transformation process,and denitrification did not significantly affected the isotopic composition of the nitrate.The SIAR model outputs revealed that the main nitrate pollution sources in groundwater and river water were domestic sewage and manure,accounting for 55.9%-61.0% and 22.6%(dry season),50.3%-60.4% and 34.1%(transition season),42.7%-47.6% and 35.6%(wet season 2016) and 45.9%-46.7% and 38.4%(wet season 2017),respectively.This work suggests that the random discharge and disposal of domestic sewage and manure should be the first target for control in order to prevent further nitrate contamination of the water environment.     

Adsorption mechanisms of PFOA onto activated carbon anchored with quaternary ammonium/epoxide-forming compounds: A combination of experiment and model studies

When wood-based activated carbon was tailored with quaternary ammonium/epoxide (QAE) forming compounds (QAE-AC), this tailoring dramatically improved the carbon's effectiveness for removing perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) from groundwater. With favorable tailoring, QAE-AC removed PFOA from groundwater for 118,000 bed volumes before half-breakthrough in rapid small scale column tests, while the influent PFOA concentration was 200 ng/L. The tailoring involved pre-dosing QAE at an array of proportions onto this carbon, and then monitoring bed life for PFOA removal. When pre-dosing with 1 mL QAE, this PFOA bed life reached an interim peak, whereas bed life was less following 3 mL QAE pre-dosing, then PFOA bed life exhibited a steady rise for yet subsequently higher QAE pre-dosing levels. Large-scale atomistic modelling was used herein to provide new insight into the mechanism of PFOA removal by QAE-AC. Based on experimental results and modelling, the authors perceived that the QAE's epoxide functionalities cross-linked with phenolics that were present along the activated carbon's graphene edge sites, in a manner that created mesopores within macroporous regions or created micropores within mesopores regions. Also, the QAE could react with hydroxyls outside of these pore, including the hydroxyls of both graphene edge sites and other QAE molecules. This latter reaction formed new pore-like structures that were external to the activated carbon grains. Adsorption of PFOA could occur via either charge balance between negatively charged PFOA with positively charged QAE, or by van der Waals forces between PFOA's fluoro-carbon tail and the graphene or QAE carbon surfaces.     

Induction of glutathione reductase enzyme activity by β‐aminobutyric acid in plant leaves

Abstract

Treatment of pea and tobacco leaf discs with the resistance inducer DL‐β‐amino‐n‐butyric acid (BABA) led to a substantial induction of glutathione reductase (GR, E.C. 1.6.4.2.) enzyme activity. After exposure to 1 mM BABA for 96 hrs, the GR activities were 3.2‐fold and 2.9‐fold higher in pea and tobacco leaf discs, respectively, than GR activities in untreated controls. Elevated GR levels may contribute to the antioxidative protection of plants during pathogen attack.     

稳定同位素追踪水体中的氮来源的研究现状

氮是水体中的主要污染物之一。近几十年来,随着工农业的发展,使得水体中氮的污染呈上升趋势,并在今后可能会持续,最根本的解决方法是找到源头,从根本上切断污染途径以达到消除氮源的污染。在查阅相关文献的基础上,阐述了水中用同位素追踪研究氮的来源的研究进展和存在的问题,对于评价氮的污染现状、污染控制和环境管理具有十分重要的意义。     

The fate of nitrogen in a moderately alkaline and calcareous soil amended with biosolids and urea

The determination of nitrogen (N) based loading rates for land application of biosolids is challenging and site specific. Over loading may contribute to environmental, agricultural, or human health problems. The objective of this study was to monitor N mineralization and losses in a moderately alkaline and calcareous desert soil amended with either anaerobically digested (AN) or lime-stabilized (LS) biosolids, and irrigated with and without urea enriched water. For Experiment 1, N inputs, leaching and residuals in soil were evaluated in an open soil column system. For Experiment 2, ammonia (NH₃) emissions were evaluated in a closed soil column system. In Experiment 1, AN and LS biosolids increased soil ON (organic N) by three and two fold, respectively. Respective net N mineralization of ON from biosolids alone was 90% and 62% without urea, and 71% and 77%, respectively with added urea. Nitrogen leaching losses and residuals in amended soil did not account for all N inputs into the soil/biosolids system. In Experiment 2, NH₃ emissions were not significantly different among treated soils with or without added urea, except LS amended soil receiving urea. Ammonia losses did not account for unaccounted N in Experiment 1. We concluded that deep placement and rapid mineralization of AN biosolids promoted anaerobic soil conditions and denitrification, in addition to the high denitrification potential of desert soil. LS biosolids showed greater potential than AN biosolids for safe and beneficial land application to desert soils regardless of biosolids placement and the inclusion of N rich irrigation water.     

Recharge processes drive sulfate reduction in an alluvial aquifer contaminated with landfill leachate

Natural attenuation of contaminants in groundwater depends on an adequate supply of electron acceptors to stimulate biodegradation. In an alluvial aquifer contaminated with leachate from an unlined municipal landfill, the mechanism of recharge infiltration was investigated as a source of electron acceptors. Water samples were collected monthly at closely spaced intervals in the top 2 m of the saturated zone from a leachate-contaminated well and an uncontaminated well, and analyzed for delta(18)O, delta(2)H, non-volatile dissolved organic carbon (NVDOC), SO(4)(2-), NO(3)(-) and Cl(-). Monthly recharge amounts were quantified using the offset of the delta(18)O or delta(2)H from the local meteoric water line as a parameter to distinguish water types, as evaporation and methanogenesis caused isotopic enrichment in waters from different sources. Presence of dissolved SO(4)(2-) in the top 1 to 2 m of the saturated zone was associated with recharge; SO(4)(2-) averaged 2.2 mM, with maximum concentrations of 15 mM. Nitrate was observed near the water table at the contaminated site at concentrations up to 4.6 mM. Temporal monitoring of delta(2)H and SO(4)(2-) showed that vertical transport of recharge carried SO(4)(2-) to depths up to 1.75 m below the water table, supplying an additional electron acceptor to the predominantly methanogenic leachate plume. Measurements of delta(34)S in SO(4)(2-) indicated both SO(4)(2-) reduction and sulfide oxidation were occurring in the aquifer. Depth-integrated net SO(4)(2-) reduction rates, calculated using the natural Cl(-) gradient as a conservative tracer, ranged from 7.5x10(-3) to 0.61 mM.d(-1) (over various depth intervals from 0.45 to 1.75 m). Sulfate reduction occurred at both the contaminated and uncontaminated sites; however, median SO(4)(2-) reduction rates were higher at the contaminated site. Although estimated SO(4)(2-) reduction rates are relatively high, significant decreases in NVDOC were not observed at the contaminated site. Organic compounds more labile than the leachate NVDOC may be present in the root zone, and SO(4)(2-) reduction may be coupled to methane oxidation. The results show that sulfur (and possibly nitrogen) redox processes within the top 2 m of the aquifer are directly related to recharge timing and seasonal water level changes in the aquifer. The results suggest that SO(4)(2-) reduction associated with the infiltration of recharge may be a significant factor affecting natural attenuation of contaminants in alluvial aquifers.