Combined fluorescence and electrochemical investigation on the bindinginteraction between organic acid and human serum albumin

Human serum albumin (HSA) is a plasma protein responsible for the binding and transport of fatty acids and a variety of exogenous chemicals such as drugs and environmental pollutants. Such binding plays a crucial role in determining the ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) and bioavailability of the pollutants. We report investigation on the binding interaction between HSA and acetic acid (C2), octanoic acid (C8) and dodecanoic acid (C12) by the combination of site-specific fluorescent probe, tryptophan intrinsic fluorescence and tyrosine electrochemistry. Two fluorescent probes, dansylamide and dansyl-L-proline, were employed in the displacement measurement to study fatty acid interaction with the two drug-binding sites on HSA. Intrinsic fluorescence of tryptophan in HSA was monitored upon addition of the fatty acids into HSA. Electrocatalyzed response of the tyrosine residues in HSA by a redox mediator was used to investigate the binding interaction. Qualitatively, observations made by the three approaches are very similar. HSA did not show any change in either fluorescence or electrochemistry after mixing with C2, suggesting there is no significant interaction with the short-chain fatty acid. For C8, the measured signal dropped in a single-exponential fashion, indicative of independent and non-cooperative binding. The calculated association constant and binding ratio is 3.1×106 L/mol and 1 with drug binding Site I, 1.1×107 L/mol and 1 with Site II, and 7.0×104 L/mol and 4 with the tryptophan site. The measurement with C12 displayed multiple phases of fluorescence change, suggesting cooperativity and allosteric effect of C12 binding. These results correlate well with those obtained by the established methods, and validate the new approach as a viable tool to study the interactions of environmental pollutants with biological molecules.     

Concentrations and chemical forms of potentially toxic metals in road-deposited sediments from different zones of Hangzhou, China

The 25 road-deposited sediments were collected from five different land-use zones (industrial, residential, commercial, park, and countryside) in Hangzhou, China. The concentrations of metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in these samples were determined using the ICP-AES after digestion with the mixture of HNO3-HF-HCl (aqua regia), and chemically fractionated using the modified BCR (the European Community Bureau of Reference) sequential extraction procedure. The highest metal concentration level was detected in the sample from industrial zone and commercial zone having heavy traffic. While the lowest metal level was noted in the street dust sample from residential zone, park, and countryside zone. The mobility sequence based on the sum of the BCR sequential extraction stages was: Zn (80.28%), Pb (78.68%), Cd (77.66%) ＞ Cu (73.34%) ＞ Mn (67.92%) ＞ Co (41.66%) ＞ Ni (30.36%) ＞ Cr (21.56%), Fe (20.86%). Correlation analysis and principal component analysis were applied to the data matrix to evaluate the analytical results and to identify the possible pollution sources of metals. Factor analysis showed that these areas were mainly contaminated by three sources, namely lithology, traffic, and industry.     

Development and application of a two-dimensional water quality model for theDaqinghe River Mouth of the Dianchi Lake

Water quality models are important tools to support the optimization of aquatic ecosystem rehabilitation programs and assess their efficiency. Basing on the flow conditions of the Daqinghe River Mouth of the Dianchi Lake, China, two-dimensional water quality model was developed in the research. The hydrodynamics module was numerically solved by the alternating direction iteration (ADI) method. The parameters of the water quality module were obtained through the in situ experiments and the lab analyses that were conducted from 2006 to 2007. The model was calibrated and verified by the observation data in 2007. Among the four modelled key variables that were water level, CODcr, NH3-N and PO4-P, the minimum value of the coefficient of determination (CoD) was 0.69, which mean the model performed reasonably well. The developed model was then applied to simulate the water quality changes at the downstream cross-section assuming that the designed restoration programs were implemented. According to the simulated results, the restoration programs could cut down the loads of CODcr and PO4-P about 15%, however, they would have very little effect on the NH3-N removal. Besides, the water quality at the outlet cross-section would be still in class V (3838-02), indicating more measures should be taken to further reduce the loads. The study demonstrated the capability of water quality models to support aquatic ecosystem restorations.     

Adverse effects of metal exposure on chemotaxis towards water-solubleattractants regulated mainly by ASE sensory neuronin nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

Chemotaxis to water-soluble attractants is mainly controlled by ASE sensory neuron whose specification is regulated by che-1 inCaenorhabditis elegans. Our data suggested that exposure to high concentrations of metals, such as Pb, Cu, Ag, and Cr, would resultin severe defects of chemotaxis to water-soluble attractants of NaCl, cAMP, and biotin. Moreover, the morphology of ASE neuronstructures as observed by relative fluorescent intensities and relative size of fluorescent puncta of cell bodies, relative lengths of sensoryendings in ASE neurons, and the expression patterns of che-1 were obviously altered in metal exposed animals when they meanwhileexhibited obvious chemotaxis defects to water-soluble attractants. In addition, the dendrite morphology could be noticeably changedin animals exposed to 150 mol/L of Pb, Cu, and Ag. Furthermore, we observed significant decreases of chemotaxis to water-solubleattractants in Pb exposed che-1 mutant at concentrations more than 2.5 mol/L, and in Cu, Ag, and Cr exposed che-1 mutant atconcentrations more than 50 mol/L. Therefore, impairment of the ASE neuron structures and functions may largely contribute to theappearance of chemotaxis defects to water-soluble attractants in metal exposed nematodes.     

Characterizing spatial distribution and sources of heavy metals in the soilsfrom mining-smelting activities in Shuikoushan,Hunan Province, China

The spatial variation of heavy metals in the soils in Shuikoushan mining-smelting area, Hunan Province, China, was investigatedusing multivariate and geo-statistic analysis. A total of 106 composite soil samples were collected in an area of about 100 km2.Concentrations of total As, Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu and Cr were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).Arsenic and Pb were found to have a common source, indicating the same sources and spreading processes, such as aerosols andairborne particulates from smelting chimneys. Airborne sources from smelting chimneys contributed greatly to Cd in the area, whichdemonstrated the same dispersion pattern as As and Pb. However, two hot spots of Cd around smelters were possibly enlarged bywastewaters, demonstrating another important source of Cd in Shuikouhsan. Geo-statistic interpolated mapping demonstrated that hotspotsof Zn were only found proximal to the large smelters, suggesting that Zn primarily came from the chimneys of larger smelters.The major Cu hot-spots appeared closely to the tailing dam, indicating that weathering and leaching of tailings were the major sourcesof Cu contamination in Shuikoushan. Our findings indicated that airborne volatile particles and aerosols contributed the most to As,Cd, Pb, Zn and Cu contamination, while Cd and Cu may also derive from the discharge of wastewater from smelters and the leachingof tailings, respectively.     

工业园能源代谢分析

运用工业代谢分析方法对某农药化学工业园能源代谢系统进行量化分析. 结果表明:提升能源转化水平、改善能源利用效率是优化该工业园能源系统的2个有效途径,可减少能源代谢过程中的资源消耗与环境压力. 进一步根据能源代谢模型量化分析得出,提升工业园热电厂运行水平,达到供热煤耗0.043 t/GJ,供电煤耗4.538 t/(104 kW·h)(2004年江苏省平均水平),将较2005年水平减少原煤消耗35.31%;将能源利用水平较低企业的电力利用效率和蒸汽利用效率分别提高到园区平均水平(58.01%和63.84%),可较2005年水平减少原煤消耗2.5%左右.      

化学强化一级处理-人工湿地处理生活污水效果

为解决传统的污水二级生化处理工艺运行成本较高问题并满足日趋增长的小城镇污水处理实际需要,开展了粉煤灰基混凝剂化学强化一级处理—潜流式人工湿地(CEPT-SFCW)系统处理生活污水的实验研究。结果表明,在人工湿地负荷率为0.05～0.1m3/(m·2d)的条件下,CEPT-SFCW系统对COD的去除率>85%。同时,CEPT-SFCW系统对总磷的去除率很高,虽然在进水含磷量低时人工湿地会发生磷释放的现象,出水中磷浓度仍可达到GB8978-1996中的二级排放标准。该系统对氨氮去除效率较低,最高可达到10%,去除效果与植物的生长状态有关。     

超声波在低声能密度下处理污泥的实验研究

文章采用超声波在0.014W/mL、0.025W/mL、0.031W/mL、0.035W/mL四个声能密度水平下,作用时间在0～60min范围内对生活污水厂污泥进行处理。研究结果表明:在低声能密度下,超声波处理污泥45min可以使可溶性化学需氧量(SCOD)溶出率超过10%,同时可以使污泥中氨氮的含量降到5mg/L左右。     

风浪作用下太湖改性沉积物对藻体絮凝去除效果研究

以壳聚糖改性的太湖原位沉积物为分散介质,应用Y-型再悬浮发生装置,通过定量模拟太湖常见的中等级别风情,研究再悬浮作用下,改性沉积物对蓝藻水华的絮凝去除作用.结果表明,在黏土加入量为0.2　g·L^-1,壳聚糖分别为0.100和0.150　g·L^-1,其蓝藻的去除率分别为93.55%和99.19%;在静止30 min后,壳聚糖加入量为0.15 　g·L^-1时,水体的浊度去除率达到78.60%;静止8 h后,水体的浊度去除率达到93.88%.同时,短期内壳聚糖的加入对水体中PO^3-₄-P有一定的去除作用.初步结果表明,在中风风情下,壳聚糖的加入量为0.15　g·L^-1时,能更有效地去除蓝藻.表明利用壳聚糖改性沉积物来絮凝沉降太湖水华藻体,具有较好的应用前景.对比研究表明,引入水动力强度和水柱高度定量模拟方法,在确定壳聚糖投加量絮凝除藻中,具有明显的方法优势.     

BPA与3种双酚类化合物的联合作用雌激素效应

环境内分泌干扰物的联合作用已经是目前研究的重点.采用重组基因酵母检测法,分别测定了双酚A (BPA)、双酚AF(BPAF)、双酚AP(BPAP)、双酚F(BPF)4种双酚化合物的雌激素活性,并依据其测定结果,按照等效浓度比,设计了浓度比分别为EC₁₀和EC₅₀的6种二元混合物并测定了其雌激素活性.结果表明,这4种化合物的剂量-效应关系都可以用Weibull函数有效描述,BPA、BPAF、BPAP、BPF的EC₅₀值分别为：6.81×10^-6、7.44×10^-7、1.43×10^-5、7.52×10^-6 mol·L^-1,其雌激素活性大小顺序为：BPAF>BPA>BPF>BPAP.依据不同的联合作用判断方法对这4种化合物的联合效应进行判断,结果表明,相同化合物的不同混合比例可能对联合作用方式产生影响,采用DA和IA预测模型可以更加直观、方便地判断联合作用的类型,而且可以反映出不同混合比例对联合作用的影响.