A correlation between the fate and non-extractable residue formation of 14C-metalaxyl and enzymatic activities in soil

Extracellular, oxidative soil enzymes like monophenol oxidases and peroxidases play an important role in transformation of xenobiotics and the formation of organic matter in soil. Additionally, these enzymes may be involved in the formation of non-extractable residues (NERs) of xenobiotics during humification processes. To examine this correlation, the fate of the fungicide ¹⁴C metalaxyl in soil samples from Ultuna (Sweden) was studied. Using different soil sterilization techniques, it was possible to differentiate between free, immobilized, and abiotic (“pseudoenzyme”-like) oxidative activities. A correlation between the formation of metalaxyl NER and soil organic matter content, biotic activities, as well as extracellular phenoloxidase and peroxidase activities in the bulk soil and its particle size fractions was determined. Extracellular soil-bound enzymes were involved in NER formation (up to 8% of applied radioactivity after 92 days) of the fungicide independently from the presence of living microbes and different distributions of the NER in the soil humic subfractions.     

Metabolic fate of dichloromethyl‐0,0‐diphenyl phosphonate (I) and dichloromethyl‐0,0‐di‐(p‐nitrophenyl) phosphonate (II) in/on rice plants∗

Abstract

Metabolic fate of two dichloromethyl diaryl phosphonates (³²P labelled) in/on rice plants was investigated. The test compounds were found to be less persistent on the surface of rice leaves with half lives 7.4 and 6.7 days respectively. Main degradation product from both the phosphonates were dichloromethyl phosphonic acid with trace of dichloromethyl‐O‐aryl phosphonate as a transitory intermediate product.     

Uptake of cadmium into cells in culture∗

Cadmium has been recognized as pollutant of the environment for many years and numerous studies on its toxic effects have been carried out. Little, however, is known about its metabolic behaviour e.g. why the metal is accumulated so extremely rapidly into the organs of men and animals. Since the study of the individual metabolic steps is very difficult in vivo cell cultures may be used to obtain first indications of what happens in the whole animal.

We used CHO cells in monolayer culture to study the conditions under which the uptake of cadmium occurs. From serumfree medium the metal is accumulated rapidly in the cells. The uptake is inhibited very strongly by the presence of serum or albumin. Accumulation occurs against a concentration gradient and is dependent on the incubation temperature. Below 10°C no cadmium uptake is seen. Several substances which are known to affect cell metabolism have been used to influence cadmium accumulation. Neither inhibitors of energy production nor microtubule or microfilament disruptors showed any substantial effect. In contrast SH‐group blocking agents markedly reduced cadmium uptake.

The results show that cadmium uptake does not occur by passive diffusion but by some active mechanism.     

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the fetal brain

Fetal magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is technically feasible in utero and demonstrates similar findings to those observed in neonatal populations. MRS can provide additional information to conventional T1- and T2-weighted imaging of the fetal brain. It is of particular use when subtle changes are present on conventional fetal MRI sequences, and when imaging fetuses at risk of brain injury and metabolic abnormalities. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Benzoic acid, a stimulant of odorant receptors of Bombyx mori, is rapidly metabolized to N-benzoylserine on the antennae

Summary. Benzoic acid is a known stimulant of olfactory receptor cells in trichoid sensilla on the antennae of adult females of Bombyx mori. Exposure of freshly excised antennae, from B. mori females and males, to vapours of [¹⁴C]-benzoic acid revealed that the adsorbed acid is rapidly metabolized (15% conversion in 10 s), suggesting the presence of a highly active enzymatic system. The major product could be identified as N-benzoylserine by use of [²H₅]-benzoic acid, and mass spectrometry linked to a gas chromatograph (GC-MS) or a liquid chromatograph (LC-MS), for analysis of the metabolites. The conjugation of benzoic acid with an amino acid apparently represents a novel mode for the rapid deactivation of odorant molecules. Received 26 March 2001.     

甲基一六O五降解菌J5的分离及其降解性状研究

从农药厂污水处理系统中分离到 1株降解甲基一六O五 (O ,O-二甲基 -O- 对硝基苯基 -硫代磷酸酯 ,简称MP)的芽胞杆菌 ,初步鉴定为蜡状芽胞杆菌 (Bacilluscereus)J5。J5能够高效降解MP ,但它不能利用MP作为唯一碳源生长 ,其代谢方式可能为共代谢。在有葡萄糖作为碳源的条件下 ,J5可以高效转化MP ,其转化效率可达 95 %以上。用薄层层析、紫外扫描和液相色谱法初步研究了J5对MP的降解性能及相关降解产物     

The herbicide paraquat induces alterations in the elemental and biochemical composition of non-target microalgal species

Huge quantities of pesticides are dispersed in the environment, affecting non-target organisms. Since paraquat affects the photosynthetic process, the biochemical composition of affected species should be altered. The effect of paraquat on Chlamydomonas moewusii, a freshwater non-target species, was studied. After 48 h of herbicide exposure, growth rate, dry weight, and chlorophyll a and protein content were affected by paraquat concentrations above 0.05 μM. C/N ratio was also affected due to a decrease in nitrogen content in the dry biomass, while the carbon content remained constant for all paraquat concentrations assayed. Enzymes involved in nitrogen assimilation were affected by paraquat, being nitrate reductase activity more sensitive to paraquat than nitrite reductase. Based on the results obtained in the present study, paraquat exerts adverse effects upon a common freshwater green microalga, thus the application of this herbicide for weed control must be carried out very carefully, so that any disturbance affecting algae will have severe repercussions on higher trophic levels and on the elemental biogeochemical cycles.     

Dissimilatory Fe(III) reduction characteristics of paddy soil extract cultures treated with glucose or fatty acids

Dissimilatory Fe(Ⅲ) reduction is a universal process with irreplaceable biological and environmental importance in anoxic environments. Our knowledge about Fe(Ⅲ) reduction predominantly comes from pure cultures of dissimilatory Fe(Ⅲ) reducing bacteria (DFRB). The objective of this study was to compare the effects of glucose and a selection of short organic acids (citrate, succinate, pyruvate, propionate, acetate, and formate) on Fe(Ⅲ) reduction via the anaerobic culture of three paddy soil solutions with Fe(OH)3 as the sole electron acceptor. The results showed significant differences in Fe(Ⅲ) reduction among the three paddy soil solutions and suhstrate types. Bacteria from the Sichuan paddy soil responded quickly to substrate supply and showed higher Fe(Ⅲ) reducing activity than the other two soil types. Bacteria in the Jiangxi paddy soil culture solution could not use propionate as a source of electrons for Fe(Ⅲ) reduction. Similarly, bacteria in the Jilin paddy soil culture could not use succinate effectively. Pyruvate was readily used by cultures from all three paddy soil solutions, thus indicating that there were some similarities in substrate utilization by bacteria for Fe(Ⅲ) reduction. The use of glucose and citrate as substrate for dissimilatory Fe(Ⅲ) reduction indicates important ecological implications for this type of anoxic respiration.     

滇池流域磷循环系统的物质流分析

研究营养元素在社会经济系统中的物质代谢结构及特征,是有效预防和控制地表水体富营养化的关键性分析技术之一.以滇池流域磷循环为研究案例,运用物质流分析方法建立了2000年流域静态物质流模型(PHOSFAD),并在此基础上识别出流域磷循环系统的总体结构特征,以及资源开采、化工生产、农业种植、畜禽养殖、居民生活等生产和消费部门的物质利用效率特征,为科学防治滇池水体富营养化提供了重要决策依据和参考.     

Mn对超富集植物短毛蓼和水蓼生长、Mn吸收及氮素代谢的影响

采用水培的方法,研究了不同浓度Mn(0.0003、0.5、1、2、4、8 mmol · L^-1)对Mn超富集植物短毛蓼(Polygonum pubescens Blume)和水蓼(Polygonum hydropiper L.)叶片铵态氮、硝态氮、游离脯氨酸、可溶性蛋白质含量及氮素代谢关键酶:硝酸还原酶(NR)、谷氨酰胺合成酶(GS)、谷氨酸合酶(GOGAT)和谷氨酸脱氢酶(GDH)活性的影响.结果表明,随着Mn处理浓度的增加,短毛蓼和水蓼的根、茎、叶中Mn含量显著增加(p<0.05),在相同Mn处理浓度下短毛蓼中Mn含量均大于同部位水蓼中Mn含量.在Mn处理浓度小于1 mmol · L^-1时,Mn对短毛蓼的株高、株重影响不显著,但对水蓼的影响显著(p<0.05),表明短毛蓼比水蓼更耐Mn污染.Mn处理显著降低了短毛蓼硝态氮含量(p<0.05),提高了可溶性蛋白质含量,浓度为8 mmol · L^-1的Mn处理显著提高了水蓼硝态氮、铵态氮、可溶性蛋白质含量及短毛蓼、水蓼游离脯氨酸含量(p<0.05).Mn引起了短毛蓼和水蓼氮素代谢关键酶活性的变化,显著降低了水蓼叶片NR、短毛蓼叶片GS活性(p<0.05);在Mn处理浓度为1 mmol · L^-1时,短毛蓼叶片NR活性最高,为对照的1.91倍,而2、4、8 mmol · L^-1 Mn处理显著降低了短毛蓼和水蓼GOGAT活性(p<0.05).另外,Mn处理显著提高了短毛蓼和水蓼叶片GDH活性(p<0.05),在Mn处理浓度为8 mmol · L^-1时,短毛蓼、水蓼叶片GDH活性分别为对照的16.29倍和1.29倍.