Effects of insoluble Zn, Cd, and EDTA on the growth, activities of antioxidant enzymes and uptake of Zn and Cd in Vetiveria zizanioides

A root-bag experiment was conducted to study the effects of insoluble Zn, Cd and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) on the plant growth, activities of antioxidant enzymes, proline, glutathione (GSH), water-soluble proteins and malondialdehyde (MDA) of Vetiveria zizanioides, and its uptake capacity of Zn and Cd.The results showed that plant growth of V.zizanioides was inhibited by Zn and Cd.The shoot dry weight (SDW) and root dry weight (RDW) decrease by 0.3%, 8.0%, 9.4% and 10.4%, 15.1%, 24.2% compared to the control without EDTA addition, respectively.After adding EDTA, shoot and root dry weight decreased over 10% and 15% compared to results in the absence of EDTA, respectively.The toxicity from insoluble Zn and Cd in soil on SDW and RDW of V.zizanioides was in order: Zn+Cd > Cd > Zn.The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT), and contents of MDA and proline significantly increased, while the contents of GSH and water-soluble proteins markedly decreased with increasing Zn and Cd toxicity.With EDTA, shoot and root Zn concentrations increased in the Zn treatment by 7.3% and 37.4% compared to the plants grown in absence of EDTA.Shoot and root Cd concentrations in the combined Zn and Cd treatment with EDTA increased by 18.6% and 391.9% compared to the treatment without EDTA.However, Zn and Cd concentrations in shoot and roots decreased in the Cd treatment compared to the plants grown in absence of EDTA, with exception of root Cd concentration in the presence of EDTA).     

The effects of exogenous salicylic acid on growth and H2O2-metabolizing enzymes in rice seedlings under lead stress

Salicylic acid （SA） was an essential component of the plant resistance to pathogens and also plays an important role in mediating plant response to some abiotic stress. The possible effects of SA on the growth and H2O2-metabolizing enzymes in rice seedlings under lead stress were studied. When rice seedlings grown in nutrient solution containing Pb^2＋ （0, 0.05, 0.15, 0.25 mmol/L） for 18 d, the plant biomass as well as the chlorophyll content of leaves decreased with increasing Pb concentration. The pre-treatment with SA （treated with 0.1 mmol/L SA for 48 h before Pb stress） partially protected seedlings from Pb toxicity. The chlorophyll contents were significant higher in leaves of Pb-exposed with SA pre-treatment seedlings than in Pb-exposed plants at the same Pb intensity. SA pre-treated alone could significantly increase the length of shoot and root of seedlings but the vigour difference was not marked under long-term exposure to Pb toxicity. SA pre-treated influence the H2O2 level in leaves of seedlings by up-regulating the activity of superoxide dismutase （SOD）, repressing the activity of catalase （CAT） and ascorbate peroxidase （APX） depending on the concentrations of Pb^2＋ in the growth medium. The results supported the conclusion that SA played a positive role in rice seedlings against Pb toxicity.     

巨大芽孢杆菌对土壤理化性质及植物富集镉锌的影响

不同生物之间存在复杂相互作用,构建多元生物协同修复有利于提高修复效果.微生物群落繁殖快,适应性强以及抗逆性等优势在土壤重金属污染治理中发挥着重要作用.以巨大芽孢杆菌（Bacillus megaterium）为供试菌株,以包心芥菜［Brassica juncea（L.） Czerniak.］为供试植物,探究二者联合作用下修复Cd和Zn污染土壤的可行性.首先开展60 d室内培养试验,明确巨大芽孢杆菌活化土壤Cd和Zn含量的潜力及改善土壤质量的可行性;进而通过盆栽试验探究巨大芽孢杆菌对包心芥菜富集重金属的影响.结果表明室内培养条件下,巨大芽孢杆菌能够显著降低土壤pH值,土壤有效态Cd和Zn含量显著增加,与对照相比,增幅分别为24%~47%和11%~13%;同时土壤磷酸酶（ALP）、蔗糖酶（SU）和脲酶（UR）活性明显改善.盆栽试验结果表明,与对照相比,接菌处理显著提高了包心芥菜生物量,增幅为10%~23%.同时植物富集Cd和Zn含量升高：植物地上和地下部分Cd富集浓度分别为对照组的1.61~1.70倍和1.05~1.15倍;不同部位对Zn的富集浓度分别为对照的1.38~1.61倍和1.47~1.53倍.相关性分析结果表明,土壤pH值是引起土壤重金属有效态活性和酶活性改变的关键因素.接菌处理下,植物过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性对增强植物抗逆性更为显著.试验结果初步证实了巨大芽孢杆菌-包心芥菜联合修复Cd和Zn污染土壤的可行性.     

白腐菌降解纤维素和木质素的研究进展

纤维素和木质素是潜在的可再生资源，近年来，利用微生物对它们进行降解已成为研究的热点。虽然纤维素较木质素易降解，但其被木质素包裹，故降解的关键问题就是木质素的降解。本文从木质纤维素的生物可降解性出发，重点讨论白腐菌降解木质素酶系及其作用机理。     

亚砷酸钠对酵母细胞抗氧化酶活性和脂质过氧化的影响

以模式生物酿酒酵母为材料,研究亚砷酸钠对细胞生长、抗氧化酶活性、丙二醛(MDA)含量及胞内活性氧(ROS)水平的影响。结果显示,加入亚砷酸钠(终浓度0.1~0.6 mmol·L~(-1))后,培养液在600 nm处的光密度值(OD600值)低于对照组,并呈浓度依赖性降低。经亚砷酸钠处理12 h后,酵母细胞中过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)活性均增高,但胞内ROS水平和MDA含量与对照组无显著差异。砷处理24 h后,POD在0.2 mmol·L~(-1)砷处理组中活性最高,而CAT、SOD和T-AOC活性呈浓度依赖性增高;胞内ROS水平和MDA含量在高浓度砷组(0.4和0.6 mmol·L~(-1))显著增高。结果表明,亚砷酸钠可抑制酵母细胞生长,改变细胞内抗氧化酶活性,较高浓度时可引起细胞氧化损伤。     

硝酸铊对浮萍(Lemna gibba L.)的生长抑制及其氧自由基损伤作用

为了探讨硝酸铊(Tl(I)-nitrate)对浮萍(Lemna gibba L.)的生长抑制作用及其可能的氧化损伤机制,设置了Tl(I)-nitrate的8个处理组(0.005、0.01、0.02、0.04、0.08、0.1、0.5和1.0 mg·L-1)和对照组(0.0 mg·L-1),进行96 h急性毒性实验,测定96 h内超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性及丙二醛含量。结果表明:96 h暴露时间下,浮萍生长受抑制程度与Tl(I)浓度之间呈正相关,Tl(I)-nitrate对浮萍的96 h EC50为0.076 mg·L-1,NOEC为0.01 mg·L-1。CAT活性随着Tl(I)-nitrate浓度升高逐渐降低,在0.5和1 mg·L-1时,有极显著差异(p0.01)产生,SOD活性在0.1 mg·L-1时显著升高(46%),POD活性和MDA含量在Tl(I)浓度0.5 mg·L-1时明显上升。当Tl(I)-nitrate胁迫超出浮萍抗氧化酶系统清除活性氧的能力时,活性氧积累导致浮萍受到不可逆转的氧化损伤。Tl(I)-nitrate对浮萍生长产生明显的抑制作用     

Smokeless tobacco extract impairs iron homeostasis in rats and human hepatoma,HepG2 cells

Tobacco exposure may alter homeostasis of iron (Fe), one of the most abundant and essential transition metals in the body. In this study, the effect of aqueous extract of smokeless tobacco was evaluated on Fe homeostasis in rats and human hepatoma, HepG2 cells. Our findings suggested that tobacco consumption even at low doses impairs Fe homeostasis leading to Fe deficiency anemia. Significant alterations were noted with respect to hematological parameters and expression patterns of selected intestinal Fe-transporters, Fe-binding proteins, and Fe-regulatory hormone, hepcidin. Impairment in the hepatic and renal antioxidant defense system was also observed in the treated rats. Histopathological studies revealed cirrhosis of liver and goblet cell hyperplasia of small intestine. Further, analysis of hepcidin promoter and its expression along with ferritin (expression and ELISA) in HepG2 cells demonstrated an enhanced expression of both the genes resulting in sequestration of Fe in treated cells, thus indicating systemic Fe deficiency.     

Sub-lethal effect of chlorpyrifos on protein metabolism of the food fish Clarias batrachus and monitoring of recovery

The effect of sub-lethal concentrations of chlorpyrifos on protein metabolism in physiological important tissues, namely gills, kidney, liver, and muscle of the freshwater fish, Clarias batrachus, was studied. Fish were exposed to 1/20th and 1/10th of 96?h LC₅₀ concentrations for 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. After 28 days of exposure, fish were released into fresh water and kept in the same for 21 days in order to study the recovery. Fish were sacrificed at the stipulated periods and gills, kidney, liver, and muscle tissues were used for the estimation of total protein, amino acids, ammonia, urea, glutamine, protease, transaminases, and phosphatases. Total protein, amino acid, and ammonia contents were decreased in all tissues for 28 days and recovery was observed during the recovery period. Urea and glutamine levels were elevated, except in kidneys, and recovered at the end of the recovery period. The activities of protease, alanine, and aspartate aminotransferases, and acid and alkaline phosphatases were elevated in the tissues for 28 days exposure at both concentrations. Recovery of these enzymes activities was noticed during depuration.     

Effects of copper on lipid peroxidation,glutathione, metallothionein,and antioxidative enzymes in the freshwater mussel Anodonta anatina

Copper is an essential element to all animals. At elevated concentrations, it is toxic and can participate in the formation of reactive oxygen species, leading to cellular damage. In this study, the ecotoxicological relevance of copper was investigated with freshwater mussels, Anodonta anatina. When the mussels were exposed to copper at environmentally realistic concentrations, either via the water (0.3?µmol?L^?1 Cu) or fed with Cu-loaded algae (equivalent to 0.06?µmol?L^?1 Cu), the level of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances rose and glutathione decreased. This was associated with the induction of metallothionein and, relative to total protein, of glutathione reductase and the antioxidative enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. But, since the overall protein-synthetic capacity was hampered by the copper insult, the activities of the enzymes relative to tissue weight and copper concentrations were depressed. During depuration, most parameters started to normalize although not returning to control values within 12 days.     

PCB disposition and different biological effects in rats following direct soil exposure vs. PCBs off-gassed from the soil

A comparison of PCB congener profiles and limited biological effects was made between direct exposure to PCB-contaminated soil and vapor phase PCBs from that soil to determine congener patterns useful for identifying exposure sources in humans and wildlife. Weanling female Sprague–Dawley rats were exposed to either control or PCB-contaminated soil (from a landfill in Southern Illinois) for 1 and 2 weeks. The exposures were via direct contact with the soil or via airborne exposure with the rats isolated from the soil by a wire screen. Total PCB of 25% contaminated soil used in the study was 13?500?ppm. No PCBs were detectable in control rats. In direct-exposed rats, total PCB residues in fat pad, ear skin, serum, liver, and inguinal lymph nodes after the 1-week exposure were 6256, 185, 3.2, 149, and 41?ppm, respectively, but decreased to 465, 72, 1.7, 106, and 32.4?ppm after the 2-week exposure. In airborne-exposed rats, total PCB residues were 7.8, 1.6, 0.03, 0.2, and 0.6 in the same manner and slightly increased in fat pad and ear skin to 11.6 and 2.14, respectively. Decreases in both the concentrations and percentages of “episodic” PCBs (those congeners rapidly metabolized) in the fat pad were apparent following the 2-week exposure compared to the 1-week exposure by both routes. Both EROD and BROD activities were significantly increased in the direct-exposed rats, whereas only BROD activity increased in airborne-exposed rats. Serum T ₄ levels were depleted in the direct-exposed rats regardless of time of exposure but were increased insignificantly after 1-week and significantly after 2 weeks in the airborne-exposed rats. No significant changes in serum insulin levels were apparent in any of the treated groups. The results suggested that exposure of animals to PCBs via different routes could result in different PCB profiles, which could cause different biological effects.