Activity of biotin-dependent and gaba metabolizing enzymes in chorionic villus samples: Potential for 1st trimester prenatal diagnosis

We have documented the presence of five mitochondrial enzymes in samples of chorionic villus tissue and measured the levels of activity. Three of the enzymes catalyse biotindependent reactions. These are propionyl-CoA carboxylase, 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase and pyruvate carboxylase. the other enzymes. 4-aminobutyric acid aminotransferase and succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase, are involved inthe degradation of the central inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA. Distinct diseases in whichthere is deficiency of each of these enzymes have been documented in man. Significant levels of activity were observed for all five enzymes in chorionic villus tissue. This methodology should permit early prenatal diagnosis of deficiencies of these enzymes by chorionic villus biopsy in the first trimester.     

3种重金属对青萍毒害的研究

对水体中主要的3种重金属(铜、镉、铅)对青萍抗氧化酶系统的几种酶,包括过氧化物酶(POD)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)的活性,丙二醛(MDA)的含量,可溶性蛋白含量及叶绿体色素含量等指标的影响进行了研究.研究表明青萍对镉污染反应最为敏感,对铜的反应相对缓和一些;青萍在铅的胁迫下表现出无序的状态.因此,青萍不适合应用于重金属镉污染的富营养化水体的治理和生态修复中.     

Enzyme-Retted Flax Fiber and Recycled Polyethylene Composites

Municipal solid wastes generated each year contain potentially useful and recyclable materials for composites. Simultaneously, interest is high for the use of natural fibers, such as flax (Linum usitatissimum L.), in composites thus providing cost and environmental benefits. To investigate the utility of these materials, composites containing flax fibers with recycled high density polyethylene (HDPE) were created and compared with similar products made with wood pulp, glass, and carbon fibers. Flax was either enzyme- or dew-retted to observe composite property differences between diverse levels of enzyme formulations and retting techniques. Coupling agents would strengthen binding between fibers and HDPE but in this study fibers were not modified in anyway to observe mechanical property differences between natural fiber composites. Composites with flax fibers from various retting methods, i.e., dew- vs. enzyme-retting, behaved differently; dew-retted fiber composites resulted in both lower strength and percent elongation. The lowest level of enzyme-retting and the most economical process produces composites that do not appear to differ from the highest level of enzyme-retting. Flax fibers improved the modulus of elasticity over wood pulp and HDPE alone and were less dense than glass or carbon fiber composites. Likely, differences in surface properties of the various flax fibers, while poorly defined and requiring further research, caused various interactions with the resin that influenced composite properties.     

矿区植被恢复方式对土壤微生物和酶活性的影响

矿区废弃地生态退化形势严峻,生态修复已成为矿区可持续发展的主要措施,土壤微生物和酶活性可作为评价土壤恢复质量的敏感因子.本研究将以山西省安太堡煤矿复垦区作为对象,分析植被恢复方式对土壤微生物和酶活的影响.结果表明,不同植被方式对土壤理化特征、参与氮代谢的3类菌群(固氮菌、硝化细菌和反硝化细菌)和4种酶活性(蔗糖酶、过氧化氢酶、脲酶和多酚氧化酶活)均有显著影响.土壤总氮含量与固氮菌和硝化细菌数量均显著相关,而与反硝化细菌不相关.多酚氧化酶活性与有机碳和总氮含量之间为负相关,而其它3种酶与有机碳和总氮之间呈正相关.通过主成分分析计算综合肥力指标,刺槐-油松混交林土壤综合肥力指标最高,而未复垦综合肥力指标最低.可见,刺槐-油松混交林是晋西北干旱区矿区复垦较为适宜的植被恢复模式.     

Arsenic biotransformation and an arsenite S-adenosylmethionine methyltransferase in plankton

<正>Arsenic(As)is a well-recognized toxicant and carcinogen.Chronic exposure to inorganic arsenic causes a range of human cancers(e.g.,skin,bladder,and lung)and increases the risk of developing diabetes,hypertension,and cardiovascular and neurological diseases.The prevalence of arsenic species and the severity of their health effects continue to drive and demand for extensive research(Carlin et al.,2016).     

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.     

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.     

Imidacloprid induced alterations in oxidative stress,biochemical, genotoxic,and immunotoxic biomarkers in non-mammalian model organism Galleria mellonella L. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Imidacloprid (IMI), a neonicotinoid insecticide, is widely used to control pests in agriculture. We investigated the changes in antioxidant enzyme activities, lipid peroxidation levels, biochemical effects, genotoxic effect, and immunotoxic effect of sublethal doses (0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.00?µg) of IMI at different time periods (24, 48, 72, and 96?h) on a model organism, Galleria mellonella L. The results indicated that there were dose-dependent increases in both antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD and CAT) and MDA levels. Protein content was not affected by IMI at 24th and 48th, whereas it was decreased by the highest dose of IMI (1.00?µg) at 72nd and 96th h. Lipid and carbohydrate contents were reduced with increasing doses of IMI. Micronucleus frequency significantly increased in all IMI doses. All IMI doses caused a significant decrease in THC at 24th, 48th, and 72nd h. Our results can help to illustrate the effects of IMI in target organisms and indirectly may aid to discover potential risk of it on nontarget organisms. Future studies, at molecular levels, will be helpful in understanding the mechanism of action of IMI on these biomarkers.     

生物质炭对Cd污染土壤团聚体酶活性的影响

为探究生物质炭对Cd污染土壤团聚体酶活性的影响,采用盆栽试验,向模拟Cd污染土壤中添加生物质炭并测定水稻根际土壤团聚体碳循环酶与氧化还原酶活性.结果表明:Cd污染土壤团聚体酶活性对添加量为2.5％的生物质炭响应明显,氧化还原酶活性指数值介于0.522～0.792之间.在2.5mg/kg的外源Cd条件下,2.5％的生物质...     

Imazaquin degradation and metabolism in a sandy loam soil amended with farm litters

Irnazaquin applied in legume crops has a long residual time in soil, which often impacts safety of the susceptible crops. To increase safety of imazaquin application, two composted litters, bovine manure （BM） and chicken manure （CM）, were used to determine their effects on imazaquin environmental behavior by incorporating each kind of manure into the tested sandy loam soil at 10% （w/w）. The degradation of imazaquin in BM- and CM-amended soil was about 2.4 and 1.5 times, respectively, faster than that in unamended soil. The half-lives of imazaquin in BM-amended soil varied between 6.7 and 15.4 d over the temperature range of 20 to 40℃, and the degradation rate constant （k） increased by a factor of about 1.5 for every 10℃ change. Higher mix ratio did not significantly increase the degradation, and the optimal active degradation of imazaquin was observed approximately at the mix ratio of 10：1 of soil to BM. The different moisture levels had negligible effect on imazaquin degradation. In both unamended and BM-amended treatments, two metabolites were observed at 5, 10 and 30 d after treatment. One metabolite at retention time （RT） of 8.4 rain was identified as 2-（4- hydroxyl-5-oxo-2-imidazolin-2-yl） quinoline acid, originating from the loss of isopropyl group and hydroxylation at the 4-position of imidazolinone ring. The other at RT of 12.9 rain was identified as quinoline-2,3-dicarboxylic anhydride, resulting from detachment of imidazolinone ring and the forming of dicarboxylic anhydride. This finding suggested that the addition of farm litters into soil might be a good management option since it can not only increase soil fertility but also contribute to increase safety of imazaquin application to the following susceptible crops.