双酚A诱导人乳腺癌MCF-7细胞上皮间质化的研究

双酚A(BPA)是一类典型的环境雌激素,能干扰机体正常内分泌系统.作为一种激素相关疾病,乳腺癌的发生发展与BPA暴露的关系已引起人们的关注.本研究旨在探讨BPA对人乳腺癌MCF-7细胞上皮细胞间质化(EMT)的诱导作用.经BPA处理的MCF-7细胞,采用MTT试验检测BPA对细胞活力的影响,Transwell试验检测BPA对细胞迁移能力的影响,Real-time RT-PCR、Western Blot检测BPA对上皮型蛋白标志物E-cadherin、间质型蛋白标志物Vimentin及EMT相关转录因子Snail表达的影响.结果发现,低浓度BPA能够促进MCF-7细胞的增殖,显著增强细胞的迁移能力.BPA处理能抑制E-cadherin的表达,促进Vimentin及Snail的表达.研究结果提示,BPA处理可能通过促进Snail的表达而调控EMT相关蛋白标志物的表达,进而增强乳腺癌MCF-7细胞的迁移能力.     

NO2吸入诱导小鼠肺组织上皮细胞间质转化及单酰基甘油酯酶抑制的保护作用

通过二氧化氮(NO_2)动式吸入染毒模型,探讨其对小鼠肺组织上皮细胞间质转化(epithelial-mesenchymal transitions,EMT)的影响及单酰基甘油酯酶(MAGL)抑制在此过程中的保护作用.首先检测暴露后肺组织硝酸盐、亚硝酸盐的含量,并考察对EMT标志蛋白E-钙粘蛋白(E-cadherin)和α平滑肌肌动蛋白(α-SMA)表达水平的影响.其次,在MAGL抑制剂JZL~(-1)84预处理后再次进行小鼠NO_2动态吸入染毒,检测不同处理条件下前列腺素E2(PGE2)含量,并考察JZL~(-1)84对E-cadherin和α-SMA表达水平的影响.结果表明,NO_2吸入显著上调小鼠肺组织中硝酸盐和亚硝酸盐的含量,且使小鼠肺组织中E-cadherin表达明显降低,α-SMA表达显著升高,说明NO_2通过其体内代谢衍生物可诱导小鼠肺组织EMT发生.而MAGL抑制可显著降低NO_2诱导的小鼠肺组织中前列腺素E2(PGE2)含量升高,并缓解吸入暴露造成的E-cadherin表达下降和α-SMA表达量增加,抑制EMT过程.由此提示,NO_2吸入暴露可诱导小鼠肺组织EMT发生,而MAGL抑制通过调控PGE2水平对这一损伤效应具有保护作用.     

北京市冬季空气中PM2.5对THP-1细胞焦亡的影响

为了验证PM_2.5进入肺部后,在肺巨噬细胞清除PM_2.5组分中是否发生细胞焦亡效应,本研究以THP-1细胞作为人巨噬细胞模型,以不同浓度PM_2.5暴露于THP-1细胞,采用CCK-8法检测细胞存活率,试剂盒检测乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)释放水平,荧光显微镜下观察细胞PI染色情况,流式细胞仪检测Annexin V/PI染色,蛋白免疫印迹(Western blotting)检测焦亡相关蛋白NLRP3、ASC、caspase-1、GSDMD的表达,以及ELISA法检测IL-1β、IL-18的分泌等来检测PM_2.5暴露诱导THP-1细胞的焦亡发生和炎症因子释放水平.结果显示：THP-1细胞暴露于PM_2.5后,细胞存活率的降低与PM_2.5暴露浓度的增加呈正相关;THP-1暴露PM_2.548 h后,细胞胀大并呈气泡状;与空白对照(PBS)组相比,PM_2.5暴露组与阳性对照组(1.0μg·mL^-1LPS+5.0...     

长期铅暴露对小鼠胸腺细胞活化后诱导细胞凋亡的影响

为探讨铅暴露对小鼠胸腺T细胞活化后诱导细胞凋亡的影响,将24只健康初断乳21日龄清洁级雄性KM小鼠随机分为4组:对照(蒸馏水)组和低(200 mg·L-1)、中(400 mg·L-1)、高(800 mg·L-1)剂量乙酸铅染毒组,每组6只.采用自由饮水方式进行染毒,连续染毒12周.染毒结束后,分离胸腺细胞,采用脂质体介导法将NFκB、AP-1、NFAT的荧光素酶报告基因转染到胸腺T细胞,刺激48 h后,检测荧光素酶活性.刺激胸腺细胞后,采用流式细胞仪检测凋亡相关膜分子Fas、FasL活性及细胞凋亡率.结果表明,与健康对照组小鼠相比,中、高剂量铅暴露组小鼠胸腺T细胞膜表面Fas及FasL表达明显增强(p＜0.05),细胞凋亡率明显增加(p＜0.05);相对于刺激前,anti-CD3刺激后各组小鼠胸腺T细胞的NFκB、AP-1、NFAT转录活性明显增加(p＜0.05),Fas/FasL的表达明显增强(p＜0.05),细胞凋亡率明显增加(p＜0.05),但相对于刺激后健康对照组,各剂量铅暴露组小鼠胸腺T细胞3种核因子转录活性明显下降(p＜0.05),Fas及FasL表达明显减弱(p＜0.05),细胞凋亡率明显降低(p＜0.05),且随着染铅剂量增加,均呈现下降趋势.     

两种粒径纳米银对Nitrosomonas europaea的毒性效应

为明晰不同粒径纳米银（AgNPs）对欧洲亚硝化毛杆菌（Nitrosomonas europaea）的毒性效应,采用室内培养方式,探究10nm和50nm的AgNPs对N.europaea生长、氮转化能力、细胞结构、活性氧生成和功能基因表达的影响.结果表明,AgNPs暴露抑制N.europaea生长,随着暴露时间的延长,细菌生长抑制率增加,在4h达到最大值;培养基中NH₄⁺向NO₂^-转化速率减缓,N.europaea的铵态氮转化能力降低;扫描电镜（SEM）图像显示AgNPs造成部分细菌表面塌陷且有孔洞,细胞膜受损严重;透射电镜（TEM）图像显示AgNPs造成细菌内部核物质消融,细胞质膜界限模糊;流式细胞仪（FCM）检测发现AgNPs增加细胞内活性氧的生成;qRT-PCR技术对AgNPs暴露后N.europaea功能基因amoA、hao、merA表达进行测定,发现AgNPs抑制N.europaea功能基因的转录表达.综上所述,AgNPs通过与细胞膜相互作用和产生氧化应激损伤N.europaea,抑制amoA和merA的表达,进而影响铵态氮转化过程,且小粒径AgNPs的毒性强于大粒径.     

低温联合PM2.5对小鼠哮喘气道炎症的影响

为研究低温联合PM_2.5加重哮喘气道炎症的机制,将哮喘模型小鼠随机分为对照组、低温组、PM_2.5组和低温联合PM_2.5暴露组（n=8）,饲养于相应环境（4周）.检测细胞因子（IL-4、IL-6、IL-13、IL-17、转化生长因子TGF-β）、氧化应激指标（丙二醛MDA、谷胱甘肽GSH、超氧化物歧化酶SOD、过氧化氢酶CAT）及转录因子（相关孤核受体RORγt、叉头蛋白Foxp3）水平,流式检测Th17和Treg细胞数量差异.结果表明,联合暴露组小鼠支气管炎症细胞浸润最为明显.与对照组相比,其余3组IL-6、IL-17和TGF-β水平均较高,CAT水平较低,以联合暴露组影响最显著.联合暴露组Th17细胞比例最高,Treg细胞比例最低,RORγt水平显著高于低温组和PM_2.5组.方差分析发现联合暴露对IL-4、IL-13、IL-17、MDA及RORγt的升高有交互作用.低温联合PM_2.5可能通过促进RORγt表达,使Th17/Treg极化而加剧肺部炎症.     

冬季北京城区PM2.5诱导人肺上皮细胞系A549中多环芳烃受体(AhR)通路的激活

使用冬季北京市城区的细颗粒物（PM_2.5）评估其对人肺上皮细胞系A549中多环芳烃受体（AhR）通路的激活作用.利用CCK-8法检测细胞暴露PM_2.5后的存活率,选取50%抑制浓度（IC₅₀）作为细胞暴露剂量,采用Western blot和免疫荧光检测PM_2.5暴露诱导AhR定位变化,采用荧光定量PCR和Western blot检测AhR的靶基因CYP1A1的转录和翻译水平改变,应用双荧光素酶报告基因法测定AhR与靶基因结合位点（XRE）的活性,利用酶标仪测定CYP1A1的酶活性改变.结果显示,随着暴露时间的增加,AhR逐渐从细胞质易位至细胞核;CYP1A1 mRNA和蛋白质的表达水平也呈时间依赖性显著增加;AhR与XRE结合活性的增加表明了PM_2.5诱导CYP1A1增加的调节机制;最后引起细胞内CYP1A1酶活性显著增加.研究表明,来自冬季北京城区的PM_2.5样品可激活A549细胞的AhR通路,提示AhR介导的信号途径可能与PM_2.5的暴露毒性有关.     

SO_2和BaP复合暴露诱导小鼠心脏线粒体损伤的分子机制初探

采用C57BL6小鼠作为模型,SO2(7 mg·m-3)动式吸入染毒28 d,每天染毒6 h;SO2吸入染毒开始后的第1~5 d,每天在SO2吸入染毒结束后对小鼠进行腹腔注射Ba P(40 mg·kg-1(b.w.)),1 d注射1次.吸入染毒结束后,采用荧光定量PCR技术检测小鼠心肌细胞中由核DNA(n DNA)编码的细胞色素C氧化酶亚基CO4和由线粒体DNA(mt DNA)编码的ATP合酶亚基ATP6,以及调控线粒体呼吸链组分的核转录因子PGC1-α、NRF1和mt TFA的mRNA水平;并采用Western blot技术检测上述3种线粒体调控基因的蛋白表达.结果发现,SO2和Ba P复合暴露后,小鼠心肌线粒体氧化磷酸化复合体亚基CO4和ATP6的mRNA表达水平均显著降低,调控基因PGC1-α、NRF1和mt TFA的mRNA和蛋白水平也显著降低.提示小鼠在SO2和Ba P复合暴露后,可能通过降低心肌中NRF1表达,影响其对mt TFA的调控,进一步抑制相关基因组的转录和翻译,最终可能导致小鼠心肌线粒体的氧化磷酸化功能受损,进而引发心血管疾病.     

NF-κB通路参与邻苯二甲酸二丁酯诱导U251细胞毒性的作用研究

为探究nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)通路及其分子事件相关蛋白参与邻苯二甲酸二丁酯(dibutyl-phthalate, DBP)诱导神经毒性的作用机制,以人胶质瘤细胞U251为对象,设置6个实验组:Control组,Tween 80组(阳性对照组)、25μmol·L~(-1) DBP组、100μmol·L~(-1) DBP组、20μmol·L~(-1)维生素E (vitamin E, VE)组、100μmol·L~(-1) DBP+20μmol·L~(-1) VE组.U251细胞经不同处理组分别暴露12 h及24 h后,观察细胞形态学结晶紫染色结果,检测细胞活性(CCK-8)、活性氧(reactive oxygen species, ROS)、丙二醛(malondialdehyde, MDA)、氧化应激转录因子NF-κB,以及NF-κB通路相关蛋白钙调神经磷酸酶(calcineurin, CaN)、泛素特异性蛋白酶14(ubiquitin-specific protease 14, USP14)、胶质细胞源性神经营养因子(glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, GDNF)的表达水平.与对照组相比,100μmol·L~(-1) DBP组U251细胞的数量降低,细胞损伤,CCK-8降低,ROS、MDA含量显著升高,NF-κB水平显著升高,CaN、USP14表达均升高,GDNF表达降低,差异均有统计学意义(p0.05,p0.01);加入抗氧化剂VE处理后,与100μmol·L~(-1) DBP组相比,100μmol·L~(-1) DBP+20μmol·L~(-1)M VE组U251细胞的数量增多,细胞损伤得到缓解,CCK-8上升,ROS、MDA含量显著降低,NF-κB水平显著降低,CaN、USP14表达均降低,GDNF表达增加,差异均有统计学意义(p0.05,p0.01).NF-κB和NF-κB通路相关蛋白的水平或含量变化表明,NF-κB作为氧化应激转录因子参与DBP诱导的U251细胞毒性作用;VE作为抗氧化剂可阻断ROS的生成从而抑制NF-κB的活化,提示VE在体外对DBP介导的神经毒性具有一定的保护作用.     

改进型重组基因酵母TR-GRIP1检测化合物甲状腺激素干扰活性

应用酵母双杂交技术构建重组TR(甲状腺激素受体)基因酵母,用以检测类/抗甲状腺激素化合物及环境样品的甲状腺激素干扰活性. 提取并纯化含有TR基因的酵母表达质粒pGBT9-TR以及含有TR共激活因子GRIP1基因的酵母表达质粒pGAD424-GRIP1,将pGBT9-TR和pGAD424-GRIP1同时转化至酵母细胞Y187,以营养缺陷型培养基(SD/-Trp/-Leu)筛选阳性菌落,构建TR-GRIP1双杂交酵母. 考察该酵母与天然甲状腺激素——T₃(三碘甲状腺原氨酸)的结合情况,确定最佳暴露时间,建立剂量－效应关系曲线. 结果表明:TR-GRIP1双杂交酵母能够与T₃结合诱导β-半乳糖苷酶活性,选择暴露时间为2 h,T₃诱导酶活性的EC₅₀值为1.1×10-7 mol/L;构建的重组基因酵母TR-GRIP1提供了检测化合物甲状腺激素干扰活性的新方法.      

Regulation of matrix stiffness on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition of breast cancer cells under hypoxia environment

Substrate stiffness and hypoxia are associated with tumor development and progression, respectively. However, the synergy of them on the biological behavior of human breast cancer cell is still largely unknown. This study explored how substrate stiffness regulates the cell phenotype, viability, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of human breast cancer cells MCF-7 under hypoxia (1% O₂). TRITC-phalloidin staining showed that MCF-7 cells transformed from round to irregular polygon with stiffness increase either in normoxia or hypoxia. While being accompanied with the upward tendency from a 0.5- to a 20-kPa substrate, the percentage of cell apoptosis was significantly higher in hypoxia than that in normoxia, especially on the 20-kPa substrate. Additionally, it was hypoxia, but not normoxia, that promoted the EMT of MCF-7 by upregulating hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), vimentin, Snail 1, and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP 2) and 9 (MMP 9), and downregulating E-cadherin simultaneously regardless of the change of substrate stiffness. In summary, this study discovered that hypoxia and stiffer substrate (20 kPa) could synergistically induce phenotype change, apoptosis, and EMT of MCF-7 cells. Results of this study have an important significance on further exploring the synergistic effect of stiffness and hypoxia on the EMT of breast cancer cells and its molecular mechanism.     

离子液体氯化1-辛基-3-甲基咪唑对EMT6细胞的毒性及其机理研究

为评估咪唑类离子液体的生物毒性,研究了氯化1-辛基-3-甲基咪唑([C8mim] [C1])对EMT6细胞的毒性作用和可能的机制.不同浓度(0.06、0.25、1 mmol·L-)的[C8 mim][Cl]对EMT6细胞染毒12h后,采用MTT方法检测细胞活力,二乙酸荧光素(FDA)方法检测细胞膜通透性的变化,Rhodamine 123染色方法检测线粒体膜电位的变化,ELISA方法检测了Caspase-3的活性,并测定了细胞内活性氧(ROS)的含量.结果表明,经[Csmim] [Cl]染毒12h后,EMT6细胞活力下降,并呈剂量依赖关系.当[Csmim] [Cl]浓度高于0.25 mmol·L-1时,细胞活力与对照相比,差异显著.研究还发现,[Csmim][Cl]染毒增加了EMT6细胞膜通透性,降低了线粒体膜电位并诱导产生过量的活性氧,增强了Caspase-3活性.实验结果表明,[C8mim] [Cl]染毒造成了EMT6细胞膜通透性的改变、活性氧的过量产生和凋亡分子表达的增强,这可能是[Csmim] [Cl]导致细胞凋亡和活力下降的主要原因.     

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA): A controversial environmental pollutant

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is one of the most widely used brominated flame retardants and is extensively used in electronic equipment, furniture, plastics, and textiles. It is frequently detected in water, soil, air, and organisms, including humans, and has raised concerns in the scientific community regarding its potential adverse health effects. Human exposure to TBBPA is mainly via diet, respiration, and skin contact. Various in vivo and in vitro studies based on animal and cell models have demonstrated that TBBPA can induce multifaceted effects in cells and animals, and potentially exert hepatic, renal, neural, cardiac, and reproductive toxicities. Nevertheless, other reports have claimed that TBBPA might be a safe chemical. In this review, we re-evaluated most of the published TBBPA toxicological assessments with the goal of reaching a conclusion about its potential toxicity. We concluded that, although low TBBPA exposure levels and rapid metabolism in humans may signify that TBBPA is a safe chemical for the general population, particular attention should be paid to the potential effects of TBBPA on early developmental stages.     

铜绿假单胞菌NY3及其突变株好氧降解四溴双酚A特性研究

为明确铜绿假单胞菌NY3 2个烷羟化酶基因alk B1和alk B2基因在该菌代谢四溴双酚A中的作用,研究了野生NY3菌及其突变菌株(NB1D、NB2D及NB12DD)对四溴双酚A好氧降解特性.研究表明,NY3、NB1D、NB2D及NB12DD菌株均能以四溴双酚A为单一碳源和能源进行生长,并对四溴双酚A进行一定程度上的降解.NY3菌中alk B1基因和alk B2基因的缺失对NY3菌株在四溴双酚A中的生长有抑制作用,而且alk B1基因和alk B2基因在NY3菌降解四溴双酚A中起一定的作用,但不完全,说明NY3菌中还存在其他影响四溴双酚A降解的基因.缺失alk B2基因的突变株NB2D在高浓度的四溴双酚A溶液中降解转化率最少,说明alk B2基因的缺失,对NY3菌降解高浓度四溴双酚A碳源更重要.加入同一易降解共代谢碳源,野生株NY3菌及其各突变株生长特性无明显差异,然而,因共存碳源种类不同,同一菌株细胞生长量、对四溴双酚A降解及其脱溴效率等特性差别明显.加最佳共代谢碳源乳酸钠的体系内,突变株NB2D存在下易积累中间产物3,3',5-三溴双酚A和2-溴-4(异丙基-溴苯)-苯酚等直接脱溴产物,说明alk B1基因可能为NY3菌株代谢四溴双酚A脱溴时的关键基因.     

赤子爱胜蚓对不同浓度四溴双酚A代谢的急性与亚急性毒性响应

运用核磁共振一维氢谱研究不同浓度四溴双酚A(TBBPA)急性暴露与亚急性暴露对赤子爱胜蚓(Eisenia fetida)的代谢影响.通过设置不同剂量TBBPA进行急性暴露和亚急性暴露,运用正交偏最小二乘投影分析法(OPLS)比较急性和亚急性暴露下蚯蚓的代谢差异,研究蚯蚓代谢水平与暴露剂量的关系,以找出差异代谢物作为TBBPA毒性效应的代谢标志物.结果表明,急性暴露和亚急性暴露均能很好地区分不同剂量染毒组间的代谢差异,且TBBPA暴露剂量越大,蚯蚓体内代谢与空白组的差异越大.急性暴露和亚急性暴露后,亮氨酸、赖氨酸和甜菜碱等代谢物剂量随TBBPA剂量增加的变化趋势是一致的,亚急性暴露中的变化幅度大于急性暴露.TBBPA暴露剂量为100 mg·kg~(-1)时,赤子爱胜蚓受到毒害作用,体内代谢物变化显著,代谢平衡遭到破坏,差异代谢物对毒性效应的指示作用比较敏感.甜菜碱、亮氨酸和赖氨酸可作为标志性代谢物揭示TBBPA对赤子爱胜蚓在渗透压调节、能量供给以及免疫功能方面的毒性效应,为进一步探索TBBPA毒性机理提供理论基础.     

四溴双酚A和镉复合污染对不同生物体的安全阈值

以赤子爱胜蚓（Eisenia fetida）、斑马鱼（Zebrafish）作为受试生物,进行急性毒性试验,死亡率、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）为效应指标,采用基准剂量（BMD）法推导四溴双酚A （TBBPA）和镉（Cd）单一及联合暴露对不同生物体的安全阈值.结果表明,在本研究的试验剂量范围内,蚯蚓、斑马鱼TBBPA、Cd暴露剂量与死亡率、SOD、CAT活性效应指标存在明显剂量-效应关系.单一暴露下,CAT、SOD活性指标最敏感,蚯蚓和斑马鱼的TBBPA安全阈值分别为0.95,0.44mg/L,Cd安全阈值分别为71.17,0.42mg/L.联合暴露下安全阈值小于单一暴露.蚯蚓、斑马鱼TBBPA安全阈值分别为0.33,0.024mg/L,Cd为6.45,0.176mg/L.     

四溴双酚A对斑马鱼胚胎体内外发育的毒性效应

四溴双酚A(TetrabromobisphenolA,TBBPA)是广泛使用的溴阻燃剂,在环境中普遍存在.采用斑马鱼胚胎体内外微环境模拟实验,研究了TBBPA对斑马鱼(Danio rerio)胚胎体内外发育的影响.结果发现,斑马鱼胚胎直接暴露在TBBPA溶液中,会造成胚胎心包囊水肿、尾部延伸不全等畸形或使胚胎死亡;当TBBPA浓度高于1.6mg·L-1时,处理斑马鱼胚胎的致死率显著升高,与对照组有极显著差异(p<0.01),且致死效应主要发生在24h内.当TBBPA浓度为6.4mg·L-1时,斑马鱼胚胎在48h内全部死亡.在TBBPA浓度大于0.4mg·L-1的各组中,24h内斑马鱼胚胎在20s内的活动频率明显降低;当胚胎直接接触TBBPA48h,表现出的主要毒性效应为胚胎心包囊水肿,但胚胎的心率没观察到异常变化.当斑马鱼胚胎发育到72h时,TBBPA引起斑马鱼胚胎毒性的主要特征是心包囊水肿和脊柱畸形.另外,TBBPA处理后斑马鱼胚胎的孵化率和生存率均显著降低,这表明斑马鱼胚胎直接暴露在TBBPA污染的环境中,会出现明显的发育障碍,主要表现为心脏功能受损和致死效应,这些毒性特征有显著的剂量-效应关系.当成年亲代斑马鱼暴露在TBBPA溶液(1.5mg·L-1)中3～7d后,子代胚胎的发育表现出明显的毒性效应,其胚胎发育到24h和72h时的致死率均呈现一定的时间-效应关系;72h时的死亡率与对照组有极显著差异,子代胚胎的孵化率降低,但没有统计学差异;但子代胚胎的致畸率却显著升高,并呈现显著差异.研究结果表明,水体中残留的TBBPA对体内外斑马鱼胚胎的发育均有直接影响,对于鱼类的生殖和发育具有潜在的危害.     

Intranasal administration of tetrabromobisphenol A bis(2-hydroxyethyl ether) induces neurobehavioral changes in neonatal Sprague Dawley rats

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and its derivatives are now being highly concerned due to their emerging environmental occurrence and deleterious effects on non-target organisms. Considering the potential neurotoxicity of TBBPA derivatives which has been demonstrated in vitro, what could happen in vivo is worthy of being studied. Tetrabromobisphenol A bis(2-hydroxyethyl ether) (TBBPA-BHEE), a representative TBBPA derivative, was selected for a 21-day exposure experiment on neonatal Sprague Dawley (SD) rats through intranasal administration. The neurobehavioral, histopathological changes, and differentially expressed genes based on RNA microarray were investigated to evaluate the neurological effects of this chemical. The results indicated that TBBPA-BHEE exposure significantly compromised the motor co-ordination performance and the locomotor activities (p < 0.05). The neurobehavioral phenotype could be attributed to the obvious histopathological changes in both cerebrum and cerebellum, such as neural cell swelling, microglial activation and proliferation. A total of 911 genes were up-regulated, whereas 433 genes were down-regulated. Gene set enrichment analysis showed multiple signaling pathways, including ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis and wingless-int (Wnt) signaling pathway etc. were involved due to TBBPA-BHEE exposure. The gene ontology enrichment analysis showed the basic cellular function and the neurological processes like synaptic transmission were influenced. The toxicological effects of TBBPA-BHEE observed in this study suggested the potential neuronal threaten from unintended exposure, which would be of great value in the biosafety evaluation of TBBPA derivatives.     

Effects of Cu2+ and humic acids on degradation and fate of TBBPA in pure culture of Pseudomonas sp. strain CDT

Soil contamination with tetrabromobisphenol A(TBBPA) has caused great concerns;however, the presence of heavy metals and soil organic matter on the biodegradation of TBBPA is still unclear. We isolated Pseudomonas sp. strain CDT, a TBBPA-degrading bacterium, from activated sludge and incubated it with ~(14)C-labeled TBBPA for 87 days in the absence and presence of Cu~(2+)and humic acids(HA). TBBPA was degraded to organic-solvent extractable(59.4% ± 2.2%) and non-extractable(25.1% ± 1.3%) metabolites,mineralized to CO_2(4.8% ± 0.8%), and assimilated into cells(10.6% ± 0.9%) at the end of incubation. When Cu~(2+)was present, the transformation of extractable metabolites into non-extractable metabolites and mineralization were inhibited, possibly due to the toxicity of Cu~(2+)to cells. HA significantly inhibited both dissipation and mineralization of TBBPA and altered the fate of TBBPA in the culture by formation of HA-bound residues that amounted to 22.1% ± 3.7% of the transformed TBBPA. The inhibition from HA was attributed to adsorption of TBBPA and formation of bound residues with HA via reaction of reactive metabolites with HA molecules, which decreased bioavailability of TBBPA and metabolites in the culture. When Cu~(2+)and HA were both present, Cu~(2+)significantly promoted the HA inhibition on TBBPA dissipation but not on metabolite degradation. The results provide insights into individual and interactive effects of Cu~(2+)and soil organic matter on the biotransformation of TBBPA and indicate that soil organic matter plays an essential role in determining the fate of organic pollutants in soil and mitigating heavy metal toxicity.