Dissipation,half-lives,and mass spectrometric identification of endosulfan isomers and the sulfate metabolite on three field-grown vegetables

Endosulfan 3 EC, a mixture of α- and β-stereo isomers, was sprayed on field-grown pepper, melon, and sweet potato plants at the recommended rate of 0.44 kg A.I. acre^?1. Plant tissue samples (leaves, fruits, or edible roots) were collected 1 h to 30 days following spraying and analyzed for endosulfan isomers (α- and β-isomers). Analysis of samples was accomplished using a gas chromatograph (GC) equipped with a mass detector in total ion mode. The results indicated the formation of endosulfan sulfate as the major metabolite of endosulfan sulfite and the relatively higher persistence of the β-isomers as compared to the α-isomer. The initial total residues (α- and β-isomers plus endosulfan sulfate) were higher on leaves than on fruits. On pepper and melon fruits, the α-isomer, which is the more toxic to mammals, dissipated faster (T_1/2 = 1.22 and 0.95 d, respectively) than the less toxic β-isomer (T_1/2 = 3.0 and 2.5 d, respectively). These results confirm the greater loss of the α-isomer compared to the β-isomer, which can ultimately impact endosulfan dissipation in the environment. Additionally, the higher initial residues of endosulfan on pepper and sweet potato leaves should be considered of great importance for timing field operations and the safe entry of harvesters due to the high mammalian toxicity of endosulfan.     

Degradation of 17α-ethinylestradiol by ozonation--identification of the by-products and assessment of their estrogenicity and toxicity

The presence of the synthetic estrogen 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) in waters at low levels is a concern due to its ability to act as an endocrine disruptor. Ozone (O₃) is commonly used in water treatment and reacts with EE2 to form by-products having characteristics that are mostly unknown. The aim of this study was to identify the by-products of E2 and EE2 ozonation and determine their estrogenicity and toxicity relative to the parent compound. Ozonation by-products were identified via LC-MS analysis. The estrogenicity was measured using the YES assay, and toxicity was determined by monitoring effects on histology of fetal rat testes and testosterone secretion by these tissues. Two EE2 by-products were identified with open phenolic ring structures (masses 302 and 344 u). The Yeast Estrogen Screening (YES) assay showed a decreased but incomplete removal of estrogenicity after ozonation of EE2. Histological analysis of fetal testes revealed that neither E2 nor EE2, with or without ozonation, had any effect on seminiferous cord formation; however, a remarkable negative effect on testosterone secretion was observed, with EE2 by-products after ozonation showing the most rapid and extensive inhibition. These results show that the removal of EE2 via reaction with O₃ resulted in the formation of by-products that are less estrogenic (as demonstrated by the YES assay), but have a greater negative impact on testosterone secretion. Thus, the disappearance of the parent compound is not a sufficient endpoint, as the by-products created may be more toxic. Care should be taken when implementing oxidation applications such as ozone during waste water treatment.     

Adsorption behavior of 17α-ethynylestradiol onto soils followed by fluorescence spectral deconvolution

In this study, a simple and rapid procedure for monitoring adsorption of 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) onto soil samples was developed. The used method is based on a multiwavelength fluorescence spectral deconvolution (FSD) where the emission fluorescence spectrum of a sample is considered as a linear combination of emission spectra, named reference spectra. The combination of the reference spectra allows the restitution of the shape of the emission spectrum of any unknown sample. This approach was applied to follow EE2 adsorption onto four soil samples and is an easy and low cost alternative.Adsorption experimental data showed a good fit with the Hill equation, mathematically equivalent to the Langmuir-Freundlich model assuming that the adsorption is a cooperative process influenced by adsorbate-adsorbate interactions. Molecular modelling studies clearly support the “co-operative adsorption” model, showing that after the adsorption of the first layer of EE2 molecules onto the soil, at least one more layer of EE2 is adsorbed, due to interactions established with the first adsorbed layer. Notwithstanding, packing a third row would imply interactions between two EE2 molecules that differ from the ones verified in the lowest energy structure, which also explains the plateau achieved in the adsorption curve.     

Activity and multiple forms of α-L-fucosidase and hexosaminidase in chorion biopsy specimens and some fetal organs

It was shown that activities and isoenzyme patterns of x-L-fucosidase and hexosaminidase were similar in biopsy specimens of chorion obtained immediately before induced abortion in normal pregnancy and in chorion tissue itself. A comparative study of isoenzyme patterns of these glycosidases showed their similarity in chorion and human fetal kidney, liver and lungs. The data obtained may be applied to the investigation of the multiple forms of α-L-fucosidase and hexosaminidase in chorion biopsy specimens for the prenatal diagnosis of fucosidosis (α-L-fucosidase deficiency). Tay-Sachs diseases (hexosaminidase A deficiency) and Sandhoff disease (deficiency of hexosaminidase A and B).     

Optimization of thermo-chemical pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis of kitchen wastes

The use of abundant waste materials with high carbohydrate content may contribute substantially to reduction of biofuels production cost. The present study aimed at optimizing the combined effect of thermo-chemical pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis of kitchen wastes (KW) for maximizing the production of fermentable soluble sugars. To this end, acid pretreatment of KW samples was performed with hydrochloric acid (0–3% HCl) at 30–100 °C for 0–120 min treatment time. Alternatively, alkaline pretreatment of KW samples was performed with potassium hydroxide solution (0–11%) at constant temperature and time (0 °C and 20 min, respectively). KOH pretreatment at such conditions targets to degrade the resistant starch of KW samples. Both acid and alkaline pretreatments were followed by addition of variable levels of enzyme dosage (0–3.6% v/v α-amylase and 0–3.2% v/v amyloglucosidase-AMG) at constant pH, temperature and time (pH = 5, T = 50 °C and t = 30 min, respectively). Based on our results, glucose concentration increased by ～300% after pretreatment with either acid or KOH in combination with enzymatic hydrolysis (2% HCl, 85 °C, 80 min, 0.1% α-amylase, AMG, and 1% KOH, 0 °C, 20 min, 1.1% α-amylase, 0.4% AMG) compared to raw (untreated) KW. Estimating the different Y_G yields at KW loading of 5%, an increase of 192% and 121% for total soluble monosugars and total soluble sugars, respectively, was succeeded compared to untreated KW. The effect of solids loading on the obtained sugar yields using the optimum conditions for thermo-chemical pretreatment followed by enzymatic hydrolysis was also tested resulting to 27.5% increase of the soluble glucose yield when half of the solids loading (2.5%) was used. A decrease of total soluble sugars yield by 32.2% was observed when solely acid hydrolysis at optimum conditions from our previous study was applied at 30% solids loading.     

两种启动子对聚γ-谷氨酸降解酶基因在地衣芽胞杆菌中的加强表达效果

聚γ-谷氨酸(γ-PGA)是一种应用前景良好的生物高分子材料.比较了蔗糖诱导的枯草芽胞杆菌果聚糖蔗糖酶基因(SacB)启动子和地衣芽胞杆菌α-淀粉酶基因启动子对γ-PGA降解酶基因ywtD在地衣芽胞杆菌中加强表达的影响.分别用SacB基因启动子和α-淀粉酶启动子构建了穿梭表达载体pHY300-SYT和pHY300-PYT,通过电转化地衣芽胞杆菌WX-02获得重组子SYT和PYT.酶活测定结果显示SYT和PYT中γ-PGA降解酶基因ywtD得到加强表达,摇瓶发酵结果显示两个重组菌株的γ-PGA相对分子质量都由1 000 000~1 200 000降低为800 000~900 000,PYT的γ-PGA产量较对照菌株PLK提高了33%,由13.50 g L-1提高到17.97 g L-1,而SYT的γ-PGA产量则降低为10.85 g L-1.因此,α-淀粉酶启动子更适合于在地衣芽胞杆菌WX-02菌株中表达γ-PGA降解酶基因,从而获得高产低分子量γ-PGA的工程菌.     

1株α-蒎烯降解菌的分离鉴定及降解特性研究

从处理废气的生物滤塔内筛选到1株能高效降解α-蒎烯的菌株PT.通过菌落形态、生理生化特征、16SrRNA基因序列相似性分析及Biolog鉴定等方法,确定该菌株属于荧光假单胞菌(Pseudomonas fluorescens).菌株PT最佳生长条件为: NaCl浓度0.00%、pH7.13、温度25.5℃,降解速率达到最大值5.22mg/(L×h).降解过程符合Haldane’s抑制生长动力学模型,最大比降解速率为0.0364h-1.菌株PT能不同程度地降解一些分子结构较为简单或与α-蒎烯结构相似的工业有机污染物.代谢产物分析表明,菌株PT在降解α-蒎烯的过程中产生柠檬油精、紫苏酸等结构较为简单的物质,它们最终被完全矿化为CO2或合成细胞自身组成物质.碳平衡分析表明,底物有机碳含量完全矿化和转化为细胞生物量的比例分别为64.83%和30.37%.