Alteration of acetylcholinesterase activity in Semele solida (MOLLUSCA: SEMELIDAE) as a biochemical response to coastal anthropogenic impact

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was analyzed as a molecular marker indicative of exposure to organophosphorus pesticide residues in individuals of the endemic clam species Semele solida in selected coastal locations of Chile's VIII Region. AChE activity was assayed in clams from (i) Penco Beach near the mouth of the Andalién River (Concepción Bay), (ii) Lenga Beach, near the mouth of the Lenga Estuary (San Vicente Bay), and (iii) Coliumo Beach, near the mouth of the Coliumo Estuary (Coliumo Bay). We also analyzed variations in protein content of clam hemolymph, and variability in the activity of AChE in relation to the sizes of the individual clams sampled. Collection of the clams was done using routine methods, during the spring of 2005, the period during which the use of pesticides is typically intensified in the surrounding forestry and agriculture. The results showed no significant correlation of AChE activity with either the size of the clam, or with the concentration of proteins in the hemolymph. The lowest AChE activity was observed in clams from mouth of the Andalién River (187.5 ± 34.9 Umin^?1) which was significantly less than that measured in specimens collected near the mouth of the Coliumo Estuary and the mouth of the Lenga Estuary. A very close relation was observed between the degree of anthropogenic inputs, ocean dynamics, and alterations in AChE activity in S. solida. This clam appears to be a useful indicator species, and AChE activity a sensitive marker for the presence of xenobiotics.     

Three-dimensional quantitative structure activity relationships of quorum-sensing and biofilm inhibitors in gram-negative bacteria

Thirty N-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) analogs with variable antibacterial activity and displaying inhibition of biofilm formation were selected to develop models for establishing three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationships (3D-QSAR). Comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and comparative similarity indices analysis (CoMSIA) were carried out to determine the optimum structural requirements for selectivity and potency of quorum-sensing and bacterial biofilm inhibition. The best CoMFA model predicted a q² value of 0.519 and an r² value of 0.984 and revealed that electrostatic and steric properties play a significant role in potency and selectivity. The CoMSIA model predicted a q² value of 0.411 and an r² value of 0.938 based on a combination of steric, electrostatic, and hydrophobic effects. The analysis of the contour maps from each model provide insight into the structural requirements for increasing the activity of a compound. Consequently, manipulating the chemical and physical properties of substituted acyl groups on the homoserine lactone moiety can provide important information toward enhancing the antibacterial properties of the target chemical compound.     

Binding of the veterinary drug tetracycline to bovine hemoglobin and toxicological implications

Tetracycline (TC) is a widely used veterinary drug in animal breeding and fishery. Because of its low bioavailability, the TC residue extensively exists in the environment (e.g. soils, lakes and rivers), which can enter the human body, being potentially harmful. Hemoglobin (Hb) is a protein responsible for oxygen carrying in the vascular system of animals. The aim of this study was to investigate the interaction of bovine hemoglobin (BHb) with TC through spectroscopic and molecular modeling methods. The experimental results revealed that TC can interact with BHb with one binding site to form a TC-BHb complex, mainly through van der Waals interactions and hydrogen bonds. The UV-visible absorption, synchronous fluorescence, and circular dichroism (CD) results revealed that the binding of TC can cause conformational and some microenvironmental changes of BHb, which may affect BHb physiological functions. The synchronous fluorescence experiment disclosed that TC binds into BHb central cavity, which was verified by molecular modeling study. The work contributes to clarify the molecular mechanism of TC toxicity in vivo.     

用煤矸石合成4A沸石分子筛处理氨氮废水

以煤矸石为原料,采用碱熔一水热法合成4A沸石分子筛。由于煤矸石中铝、硅主要以高岭土形式存在,其活化过程是合成4A沸石分子筛关键环节。为提高4A沸石分子筛钙离子的交换能力,增加对模拟废水氨氮的去除率,实验考察了碳酸钠与煤矸石质量比、活化温度、活化时间、晶化温度和晶化时间对4A沸石分子筛钙离子交换能力的影响,同时也考察了模拟废水的pH、4A沸石分子筛加入量及吸附时间对氨氮去除率的影响。结果表明,最佳工艺条件为,碳酸钠与煤矸石质量比为0．9、活化温度为800％、活化时间1．5h、晶化温度90％和晶化时间3h。合成4A沸石分子筛的钙离子交换能力为310mg／g,在pH为6的100mL模拟氨氮废水中加入6g4A沸石分子筛吸附40min后,废水中氨氮的去除率达到86％。通过最佳工艺条件合成4A沸石分子筛,在处理氨氮废水方面具有一定的应用前景。     

变压吸附技术分离模拟油田火驱尾气中的CO_2

采用变压吸附技术分离模拟油田火驱尾气(CO_2-N_2-CH_4混合体系)中的CO_2。考察了吸附压力、吸附温度和气体流量对吸附效果的影响。实验结果表明:在吸附温度为25℃、吸附压力为0.6 MPa、气体流量为2 000m L/min、初始CO_2体积分数为13.01%的条件下,CO_2的穿透吸附量为60.34 m L/g,CO_2吸附率为78.92%,碳分子筛对CO_2的分离因子为8.233;在床层利用率为0.523的条件下进行降压解吸,当吸附压力降至0.1 MPa时,出口CO_2体积分数约为80%,CO_2的回收率可达96.38%。     

气相分子吸收光谱法测定海水中的硝酸盐氮

采用GMA3212型气相分子吸收光谱仪测定海水中的硝酸盐氮,在常规海水中硝酸盐氮质量浓度范围内(0~4.00 mg/L)线性良好(线性相关系数0.999 9),检出限为0.004 mg/L,标准溶液平行测定的相对标准偏差小于或等于1.44%,相对误差小于或等于1.33%,实际水样加标回收率为96.0%~102%。通过与国标方法镉柱还原法的比对实验,2种方法在精密度、准确度、实样比对等方面均无显著性差异,测定结果具有良好的一致性。气相分子吸收光谱法具有操作简便、分析快速准确、试剂消耗少、适合批量测定等优点,是值得推介的先进方法。     

直接进样-热脱附-GC-MS快速测定大气细颗粒物中有机示踪物

建立了直接进样-热脱附-GC-MS快速测定细颗粒物中甾烷类和藿烷类有机示踪物的方法。经实验条件优化,13种目标化合物的线性回归方程的相关系数均在0.990以上,空白加标回收率为81.4%~102.3%,实际样品加标回收率为79.1%~112.9%,相对标准偏差小于13.2%。当采样体积为24 m~3时,各目标化合物的检出限为0.008~0.084 ng/m~3,方法灵敏度高。利用该方法测定了北京城区采暖季和非采暖季PM2.5实际样品,结果表明:各目标物均有检出,且采暖季的甾烷类和藿烷类化合物的总量均明显高于非采暖季。该方法无需复杂的前处理和有机溶剂,操作简便快捷,在颗粒物中非极性化合物的快速检测方面具有很大的应用价值。     

利用神经网络法对胺类有机物急性毒性的分类及定量预测

运用三层误差反向传播网络对５１种胺类有机物进行了结构－毒性关系的研究,进入的结构参数为分子连接性指数信息理论指及分子量等６种均可通过分子拓扑图直接计算获得的指标。毒性参数选用大鼠经口ＬＤ５０,根据其大小将样本分为３类：高毒,中毒,低毒,在神经网络模型上作出差别归类,并分别对每类进行定量预测。     

疏水性分子筛对焦化废水生物处理尾水的吸附过程解析

采用表面活性剂为模板剂常温一步合成疏水性介孔分子筛(MCM-41-dry)和通过煅烧去除模板剂得到亲水性介孔材料(MCM-41-cal).分别以制备的两种分子筛作为吸附剂吸附焦化废水生物出水中COD和TOC组分,考察吸附剂浓度、pH值等对吸附过程的影响,并对吸附过程进行动力学拟合.结果表明,MCM-41-dry的吸附效果远远强于MCM-41-cal,归因于含有模板剂的材料表面具有较强的疏水性及含有高吸附容量的季铵基团.在25℃、吸附剂浓度为2g·L-1时,MCM-41-dry对焦化废水中COD和TOC的去除率分别达53%和66%,吸附量分别为64mg·g-1和17mg·g-1.拟二级动力学模型能够真实反映整个吸附过程.水样吸附前后的GC/MS数据表明,焦化废水生物出水中残留了长链烷烃、卤代物、多环芳烃等难降解有机物,经MCM-41-dry吸附后,各种物质浓度均得到降低,MCM-41-dry尤其对疏水性烷烃类有较好的吸附效果,表明该吸附剂能够优先吸附疏水性物质.此外,吸附剂对水具有一定的润湿性能,能与废水充分接触,从而利于其吸附水中的污染物,这使其用于实际废水的处理成为可能.     

五氯酚对稀有鮈鲫卵黄蛋白原及p53的诱导效应

采用中国特有鱼种稀有鮈鲫为实验动物,研究五氯酚（PCP）对其肝脏卵黄蛋白原（VTG）、VTG基因及抑癌基因p53的诱导效应,评价PCP的内分泌干扰作用,并从蛋白和基因表达水平上筛选PCP检测的敏感生物标志物.1.5、15、40、80、120、150、160μg.L-1PCP暴露稀有鮈鲫,同时设置空白、溶剂对照和17α-雌二醇（EE2）阳性对照,运用SDS-PAGE,ELISA法检测经PCP暴露后稀有鮈鲫肝脏VTG蛋白的表达差异;克隆稀有鮈鲫新的VTG和p53基因序列片段,运用实时荧光定量PCR方法检测PCP暴露对基因表达的影响.结果表明,40、80、120、160μg.L-1PCP均能诱导雌雄稀有鮈鲫肝脏VTG蛋白的表达,具有显著的浓度-效应关系;1.5、15、150μg.L-1PCP暴露后,雄性稀有鮈鲫肝脏VTG和p53基因表达均明显升高,具有显著的浓度-效应和时间-效应关系.证明PCP具有雌激素效应,稀有鮈鲫肝脏的VTG蛋白、VTG及p53基因可作为PCP检测的敏感分子生物标志物.