不同种植模式下重金属污染对牧草叶片光合特性和重金属含量的影响

为探索不同种植模式下重金属污染对牧草生理特性的影响,皇竹草(Pennisetum sinese)、黑麦草(Lolium perenne)和龙须草(Juncus effusus)采用单作和间作模式,研究了重金属污染对其叶片光合参数、光合色素和重金属含量的影响。结果表明,与单作相比,间作下皇竹草叶片的叶绿素(Chl)a、Chla+b和类胡萝卜素(Car)含量极显著上升,净光合作用速率(P_n)、气孔导度(G_s)、细胞间隙CO_2浓度(C_i)和Chl b含量极显著下降,但蒸腾速率(Tr)的差异不显著;黑麦草和龙须草叶片的C_i、Car含量极显著增加,P_n、T_r、G_s、Chl a、Chl b和Chl a+b显著或极显著下降(龙须草Chl a除外)。除龙须草的铜含量极显著降低外,3种牧草叶片和总生物量和重金属含量均极显著上升。与对照相比,低浓度污染的皇竹草叶片的光合参数、光合色素含量及叶片和总生物量极显著提高,而黑麦草和龙须草叶片的P_n、T_r、G_s、C_i、叶片和总生物量极显著减少,光合色素含量极显著增加,但黑麦草的T_r、C_i、叶片生物量及黑麦草和龙须草的Chl b差异不显著;重金属污染使3种牧草叶片的重金属含量均极显著上升。种植模式×重金属污染互作对牧草叶片的光合参数、光合色素含量、干质量及重金属含量的影响均极显著。因此,在复合污染土壤间作3种牧草有利于叶片干物质的积累和重金属的吸收,单作更有利于提高叶片的光合作用能力;且皇竹草对重金属污染的适应性强于黑麦草和龙须草。     

铜胁迫条件下AMF对海州香薷光合色素含量、抗氧化能力和膜脂过氧化的影响

以盆栽海州香薷为研究对象,模拟Cu胁迫条件下,接种丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)对海州香薷叶片光合色素含量、抗氧化酶活性、抗氧化剂含量、膜脂过氧化程度的影响。结果表明:(1)与对照相比,Cu胁迫使海州香薷叶片叶绿素a(Chl a)、叶绿素b(Chl b)、总叶绿素(Chl(a+b))、类胡萝卜素(Car)含量以及叶绿素a/b(Chl a/b)均显著降低,抗氧化酶活性和抗氧化剂含量也显著下降,质膜相对透性(MRP)和丙二醛(MDA)含量显著增大。(2)与Cu胁迫相比,Cu胁迫下接种AMF可使海州香薷叶片叶绿素含量显著增加;超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性显著提高;还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)、抗坏血酸(As A)含量显著增加;MDA含量、MRP显著下降。总之,接种AMF可提高Cu胁迫下海州香薷叶片光合色素含量和抗氧化能力,降低膜脂过氧化水平,从而缓解Cu胁迫对植株造成的伤害,增强海州香薷对Cu胁迫的适应性,提高了植株的生物量。     

5-羟色胺在红树植物秋茄幼苗抗寒中的作用

5-羟色胺(5-HT)不仅能参与植物的生长发育,还可以延缓衰老及应对非生物胁迫。为探明5-HT在调控红树林抗寒中的作用,以红树植物秋茄为试验材料,研究抗寒锻炼和喷施DL-4-氯苯丙氨酸(p-CPA, 5-HT合成抑制剂)对低温胁迫下秋茄幼苗叶片气体交换参数、CO₂响应曲线(A/Ca)和内源植物激素含量的影响。结果表明：低温胁迫显著降低了秋茄幼苗叶片5-HT、叶绿素、内源生长素(IAA)、赤霉素(GA)和脱落酸(ABA)含量,减弱了其利用CO₂的能力,降低了净光合速率,抑制了初始羧化效率。低温胁迫下施用外源p-CPA降低了秋茄幼苗叶片光合色素、内源各激素和5-HT含量,加剧了低温胁迫对秋茄幼苗叶片光合功能的伤害。抗寒锻炼可有效降低低温胁迫下秋茄幼苗叶片内源IAA含量,促使植株产生更多的5-HT,提高了叶片光合色素、GA、ABA含量和初始羧化效率,提升了光合碳同化能力,最终提高了秋茄幼苗叶片的光合作用;抗寒锻炼下喷施p-CPA会显著抑制秋茄幼苗叶片5-HT合成,促进IAA产生,同时降低光合色素、GA、ABA含量和初始羧化效率,减弱抗寒锻炼对红树林...     

水杨酸和茉莉酸甲酯对丹参幼苗叶片显微结构、光合及非结构糖积累的影响

研究了水杨酸(SA)和茉莉酸甲酯(MeJA)处理对丹参(Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge)幼苗叶片显微结构、叶片光合能力及幼苗中非结构糖积累的影响.结果显示:SA处理增加了丹参幼苗叶片气孔密度;叶肉细胞排列紧密、体积减小,叶肉细胞内叶绿体数目减少,但叶绿体体积增大,叶绿体基粒片层结构的数目增加;叶片中叶绿素a、b含量、叶气孔导度、蒸腾速率以及净光合速率均增加;同时,幼苗根中和叶片中酸性转化酶活性降低,幼苗地上部分蔗糖含量及可溶性糖总量显著高于对照.MeJA处理减少了叶片气孔密度,气孔发育畸形;叶肉细胞间隙增大,栅栏细胞层数减少,叶肉细胞内叶绿体数目减少,叶绿体体积减小,叶绿体基粒片层结构被破坏;叶片中叶绿素a及类胡萝卜素含量、叶片的净光合速率低于对照,叶气孔导度、蒸腾速率增强;同时,幼苗根中及叶中酸性转化酶活性增加,幼苗根中蔗糖含量及可溶性糖总量显著低于对照.可见,SA处理能促进植物叶片显微结构发育,增强叶片光合能力,抑制蔗糖降解并促进蔗糖积累;而MeJA处理则破坏了植物叶片显微结构,降低了叶片光合能力,促进了蔗糖降解并减少蔗糖积累.     

穿透雨减少下锐齿栎叶片光合色素季节动态及其反射光谱响应

通过林地穿透雨排除的方法模拟降雨减少,测定河南宝天曼自然保护区锐齿栎叶片光合色素含量与反射光谱的季节变化,对减雨处理造成的光合色素变化及其反射光谱的变化进行了定量分析,并探讨了水分控制条件下反射光谱对叶片光合色素变化的响应机制.结果表明: 锐齿栎叶片的光合色素含量和色素比率均呈现明显的季节变化.减雨样地与对照样地叶片的光合色素含量和比率在生长季的各个时期存在差异,其中,叶片叶绿素b(Chl b)含量的差异显著,说明Chl b对减雨处理的敏感性最高,叶片类胡萝卜素(Car)含量的差异较小,说明Car对减雨处理的敏感性相对较弱.550 nm处的光谱反射率对色素季节变化的响应最敏感,以其构造的简单比值指数(SR_750,550)与叶片Chl a、Chl b、总Chl和Car含量的正相关关系显著,光化学反射指数(PRI)与叶片Car/Chl的负相关关系显著.550 nm处的光谱反射率对减雨处理造成的色素变化响应最为敏感.SR_750,550对减雨处理造成的叶片Chl a、Chl b和总Chl的含量变化表现敏感(P<0.01),对Chl a/b的变化不敏感.PRI对减雨处理造成的叶片Car/Chl变化表现敏感(P<0.01).     

不同温度处理对虎耳草叶片气体交换及叶肉结构的影响

在人工气候箱中对盆栽虎耳草进行处理,测定不同温度条件下虎耳草叶片光合特征、叶绿素含量、抗氧化酶活性、叶肉结构等生理形态指标。结果表明：低温处理后,虎耳草叶片净光合速率、气孔导度下降迅速,叶绿素含量最少,SOD、CAT活性最低,MDA含量最高,栅栏组织排列更紧密,移置正常温度下,光合速率能在短时间内恢复;高温处理的净光合速率下降速度不及低温处理,但叶片海绵组织显著增加,光合速率恢复较慢。     

遮荫处理对臭柏幼苗光合特性的影响

为了探明臭柏幼苗在不同遮荫处理下的光合特性和色素含量,通过盆栽实验,测定了0%、25%、50%、75%和90%四个遮荫处理下臭柏光合特性日变化和色素含量。结果表明:(1)随着遮荫率增加,臭柏净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)及蒸腾速率(Tr)随之减小,而胞间CO2浓度(Ci)随之增大,非气孔制限因素是臭柏光合速率下降的主要原因,且90%遮荫会影响臭柏幼苗的正常生长;(2)叶绿素a(Chl a)、叶绿素b(Chl b)和叶绿素总量(Chl a+b)均随着遮荫率增加而增大,Chl a/b则随着遮荫率的增大而呈下降趋势;(3)几乎所有遮荫处理组Gs均与Tr表现出不同程度的相关性,而Gs与Pn的相关性较差;所有遮荫处理组水分利用效率(WUE)与Pn均呈极显著相关,而与Tr相关性不显著,说明臭柏是通过较高的光合速率来实现高的水分利用效率以适应不同的光照条件。同时WUE和Ci也表现出不同程度的相关性。     

花期海蓬子对盐胁迫的生理响应

研究了花期阶段不同浓度NaCl(0、10‰、20‰、30‰、40‰、50‰和60‰)对海蓬子(Salicornia bigelovii)生长、光合色素、光合作用参数、抗氧化和离子含量的影响.结果表明:10‰NaCl盐处理下海蓬子株高、茎生物量、叶绿素(Chl)含量、净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)、蒸腾速率(Tr)、胞间CO2浓度(Ci)、茎SOD活性和POD活性等指标值均显著高于其它处理,而高盐(40‰NaCl及其以上)胁迫下,上述指标值均表现为下降,同时茎K+含量也显著下降,而茎Na+、Cl、Na+/K+和MDA含量等显著上升.相关分析显示,生物量与Chl a/Chl b呈现显著正相关,与株高、茎Pn、Gs、Ci、Chl、Chl含量、K+含量、SOD和POD活性呈现极显著正相关,与气孔限制值(Ls)、Car/Chl、MDA含量、Cl含量和Na+/K+等均呈极显著负相关.综上所述,10‰NaCl处理是花期海蓬子生长和光合生长的最适宜盐度,而无盐和高盐下海蓬子光合抑制主要是来自气孔因素,同时高盐胁迫下还伴随着非气孔限制.     

NaCl胁迫抑制玉米幼苗光合作用的可能机理

用NaCl 100mmol/L处理玉米幼苗,216 h内不同时间分别测叶片光合速率及其它生理指标,结果表明随处理时间的延长,光合速率下降,气孔导度减小,细胞间隙CO2浓度先降低后升高(图1);叶片MDA(图5a)、Cl-、Pi(图4)及可溶性糖(图2b)含量增加;质膜透性增大(图2a);Chla/Chl b(图3b)及Fv/Fm(图5b)减小;MDH、PEPC酶活性降低(图6).细胞间隙CO2浓度的变化,说明光合速率下降的原因短时间内以渗透胁迫产生的气孔限制因素为主,长时间时以非气孔因素为主.Cl-多对细胞产生离子毒害,Pi的增多可竞争性地抑制RuBP羧化酶的活性.MDA的增加表明活性氧增多,活性氧通过使酶失活和膜伤害抑制细胞生长,使细胞内糖利用减少,可溶性糖含量增加,进而反馈性地抑制光合作用.活性氧还可以漂白叶绿素、增强光抑制及使与光合作用有关的酶失活,而抑制光合作用.因此,NaCl胁迫下光合作用降低的原因是多因素共同作用的结果,短时间内以气孔限制因素为主,长时间时以非气孔因素为主,在非气孔因素中活性氧的增加是主导因素.     

模拟增温对杉木幼树生长和光合特性的影响

为阐明杉木生长特征及光合能力对未来全球变暖的响应方式,通过在福建省三明市森林生态系统与全球变化研究站陈大观测点内开展的土壤增温(电缆加热,+4℃)实验,研究了增温条件下杉木幼树生长(树高、地径)特征及光合作用参数的变化,并对土壤有效氮(N)、叶片N含量、叶绿素含量(Chl)及非结构性碳水化合物(NSC)指标进行了测定。结果表明:1)在增温条件下,杉木幼树净光合速率(P_n)和水分利用效率(WUE)显著增加,分别增加了71.4%、51.3%,增温后杉木叶片能维持较高的气孔导度(G_s)、蒸腾速率(T_r)和胞间二氧化碳浓度(C_i)。2)增温促进土壤有机氮矿化作用,使土壤中可供植物吸收利用的有效N含量显著增加,从而引起杉木叶片N含量显著提高。而N作为叶绿素的重要组成物质,增温后,叶片N含量显著提高,最终导致杉木幼树叶片Chl a、Chl b及Chl总量显著增加,增加比例分别为76.3%、55.8%、68.7%,Chl a/b值亦呈增加趋势。3)增温对杉木幼树生长及叶片NSC含量并无显著影响。综上所述,增温通过改变杉木叶片气孔导度敏感性以及促进杉木叶片Chl含量合成,增加叶片对CO_2的吸收以及光能捕获能力,进而提高光合效率。同时,增温引起的根系高温可能大幅度提高杉木呼吸强度,加剧对杉木叶片碳水化合物的消耗过程,使其NSC含量无显著变化,从而导致杉木幼树生长无显著差异。     

Expression, purification, refolding and characterization of a putative lysophospholipase from Pyrococcus furiosus: retention of structure and lipase/esterase activity in the presence of water-miscible organic solvents at high temperatures

A putative lysophospholipase (PF0480) encoded by the Pyrococcus furiosus genome has previously been cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. Studies involving crude extracts established the enzyme to be an esterase; however, owing presumably to its tendency to precipitate into inclusion bodies, purification and characterization have thus far not been reported. Here, we report the overexpression and successful recovery and refolding of the enzyme from inclusion bodies. Dynamic light scattering suggests that the enzyme is a dimer, or trimer, in aqueous solution. Circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy show, respectively, that it has mixed beta/alpha structure and well-buried tryptophan residues. Conformational changes are negligible over the temperature range of 30–80 °C, and over the concentration range of 0–50% (v/v) of water mixtures with organic solvents such as methanol, ethanol and acetonitrile. The enzyme is confirmed to be an esterase (hydrolyzing p-NP-acetate and p-NP-butyrate) and also shown to be a lipase (hydrolyzing p-NP-palmitate), with lipolytic activity being overall about 18- to 20-fold lower than esterase activity. Against p-NP-palmitate the enzyme displays optimally activity at pH 7.0 and 70 °C. Remarkably, over 50% activity is retained at 70 °C in the presence of 25% acetonitrile. The high organic solvent stability and thermal stability suggest that this enzyme may have useful biodiesel-related applications, or applications in the pharmaceutical industry, once yields are optimized.     

Patterns of mitochondrial development in reserve tissues of germinated seeds: A survey

Patterns of mitochondrial development in reserve tissues of several species of seeds were examined during 3 to 4 days after the start of imbibition. In starch-storing seeds (cowpea, kidney bean, Egyptian kidney bean, mung bean, black gram and soybean), mitochondrial activities (state 3 respiration rate, respiratory control ratio) increased during the first 1 to 2 days after imbibition and leveled off thereafter. The initial increase in the activities was little affected by cycloheximide and chloramphenicol. Activities of mitochondrial enzymes (succinate dehydrogenase, EC 1.3.99.1; NAD⁺-malate dehydrogenase, EC 1.1.1.37; cytochrome oxidase, EC 1.9.3.1) did not change much during the experimental period. This suggests that mitochondrial development in starch-storing seeds is primarily due to improvement of pre-existing mitochondria. On the other hand, in the lipid-storing seeds examined (pumpkin, cucumber, okra and castor bean), the rate of mitochondrial respiration and activities of mitochondrial enzymes continued to increase markedly during the experimental period. These increases were strongly inhibited by cycloheximide and chloramphenicol. This indicates that active de novo synthesis of mitochondrial proteins is primarily responsible for the development of organelle activities. The possibility was suggested that the patterns of mitochondrial development in reserve tissues of imbibed seeds might be determined by the kinds of reserve substances.     

Lytic enzyme complex of an antagonistic Bacillus sp. X-b: isolation and purification of components

Bacillus sp. X-b, a biocontrol agent against certain plant pathogenic fungi, secretes a complex of hydrolytic enzymes, composed of chitinase, chitosanase, laminarinase, lipase and protease. Homogenized mycelium of basidiomycete Macrolepiota procera induced activities of these enzymes more effectively than colloidal chitin or partially purified cell walls of another basidiomycete Polyporus squamosus. Subjected to a multi-step purification, the specific activity of chitinase increased 36-fold, chitosanase 69-fold, lipase 44-fold and laminarinase 15-fold. Partially purified chitinase showed two major bands with molecular masses of 46 000 and 35 000 on sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis while chitosanase and lipase appeared as single bands with molecular masses of 27 000 and 62 000, respectively.     

Human Phenol Sulfotransferase: Correlation of Brain and Platelet Activities

Phenol sulfotransferase (PST; EC 2.8.2.1) catalyzes the sulfate conjugation of phenolic and catechol neurotransmitters and drugs. The human blood platelet has been the most thoroughly studied source of PST because of the possibility that the regulation of the enzyme in this easily accessible tissue might reflect the regulation of PST in the CNS. The human brain and platelet contain at least two forms of PST, forms designated as thermostable (TS) and thermolabile (TL) PST. TS PST catalyzes the sulfate conjugation of micromolar concentrations of phenol and p-nitrophenol and TL PST catalyzes the sulfate conjugation of dopamine and other monoamines. This study was performed to determine whether individual variations in the activities of human platelet TS and TL PST reflect individual variations in cerebral cortical PST activities. PST activities were measured in platelets and in cerebral cortical tissue obtained from 15 patients with epilepsy during clinically indicated neurosurgery. There was a highly significant correlation between the activities of the TS form of PST in cerebral cortex and platelets of these patients (r = 0.940, p less than 0.001), but there was not a significant correlation between activities of the TL form of PST in the two tissues (r = 0.396, p greater than 0.14). In addition to variations in the level of enzyme activity, there are also wide individual variations in the thermal stability of platelet TS PST.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Comparative Effects of Dietary Fat Types on Hepatic Enzyme Activities Related to the Synthesis and Oxidation of Fatty Acid and to Lipogenesis in Rats

The effects of different types of dietary fat on the activities of hepatic enzymes related to fatty acid synthesis {glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase ACC)}, oxidation {acyl-CoA synthetase (AST), carnitine palmitoyl transferase (CPT), and peroxisomal β-oxidation (P βOX)}, and lipogenesis {phosphatidate phosphohydrolase (PAP), diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT), and phosphocholine diacylglycerol transferase (PCDGT)}, and plasma and liver lipid levels were investigated in male Wistar rats. The animals were 6 weeks old and about 120 g of body weight, and were fed on test diets containing 20% of a mixture of tripalmitin, tristearin and corn oil (SFA), olive oil (OLI), sunflower oil (SUN), linseed oil (LIS), and sardine oil (SAR) for 2 weeks. The concentrations of plasma total cholesterol (T-CHOL), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-CHOL), triacylglycerol (TG) and phospholipid (PL) were generally higher in the rats fed on SEA and OLI than in those given SUN, LIS and SAR. The rats fed on OLI had a higher level of liver T-CHOL than those fed on the other fats. The liver TG content was nearly higher from the intake of SFA and OLI than from SUN, LIS and SAR, although the liver PL level was not affected by the type of dietary fat. The SFA and OLI groups had the highest activities of hepatic G6PDH and ACC, and the SAR group, the lowest activities. The activities of AST and CPT, and peroxisomal P βOX in the liver were higher in the rats fed on the LIS and SAR diets than in those given the other diets. The hepatic PAP activity was higher from the intake of OLI and SUN, and tended to be higher from SFA than from LIS and SAR. The activity of liver DGAT was higher from SFA and inclined to be higher from OLI, SUN, and LIS than from SAR, while the PCDGT activity in the liver was not effected by the type of dietary fat. The concentrations of plasma and liver TG were generally positively correlated with the activities of liver enzymes related to the synthesis of fatty acids and lipids, and negatively with those involved in fatty acid oxidation. Based on these results, it is suggested that the levels of plasma and liver TG were controlled by different types of dietary fat through changes in the hepatic enzyme activities related to fatty acid synthesis, lipogenesis, and fatty acid oxidation.     

Pectic and cellulolytic enzymes in soybeans

The dominant cell wall degrading enzymes detected in extracts from 6-day-old, dark grown, Lee soybean seedlings carried out random (endo) and hydrolytic cleavages of pectic acid, pectin and methylcellulose. The pH optima of these activities were 6·0, 6·5 and 5·7 respectively. Monogalacturonic acid and another unidentified product accumulated during the degradation of polygalacturonic acid.     

Anaerobic fungi and their cellulolytic and xylanolytic enzymes

Anaerobic fungi are the inhabitants of the digestive tract of herbivorous mammals, ruminants as well as non-ruminants. One of the major characteristics of all anaerobic fungi examined thus far, is their production and secretion of a range of polysaccharide-degrading enzymes, including cellulases, xylanases and glucoside-hydrolases. The cellulolytic enzymes of the anaerobic fungusNeocallimastix frontalis have been shown to possess a high activity. Therefore anaerobic fungi and/or their enzymes could be interesting for many biotechnological applications including saccharafication of lignocellulosic residues, production of polysacchari-dehydrolysing enzymes. This review summarizes the present knowledge of anaerobic fungi with special emphasis on their cellulolytic and xylanolytic enzymes. Further, a comparison with aerobic fungi is made.Abbreviations G₂ cellobiose - G₃ cellotriose - G₄ cellotetraose - G₅ cellopentaose - HMM-complex high molecular mass complex - PNPF p-nitrophenyl--fucopyranoside - PNPG p-nitrophenyl--glucopyranoside     

阿维菌素对半闭弯尾姬蜂保护酶系和解毒酶系的影响

为明确阿维菌素对半闭弯尾姬蜂保护酶系和解毒酶系的影响,采用试管药膜法以阿维菌素亚致死浓度(LC10和LC25)处理半闭弯尾姬蜂成虫,分别于处理后1、12、24和48 h测定其体内保护酶和解毒酶活性变化。结果表明,阿维菌素亚致死浓度处理后,随着时间的延长,对寄生蜂体内超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化物酶(POD)活性总体表现为诱导作用;对过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性表现为先抑制后诱导作用;对酯酶(EST)、谷胱甘肽S-转移酶(GST)和多功能氧化酶(MFO)具有显著的抑制作用。研究结果为深入了解半闭弯尾姬蜂对阿维菌素的防御机理提供了一定的理论基础。     

Interactions of betulinic acid with xenobiotic metabolizing and antioxidative enzymes in DMBA-treated Sprague Dawley female rats

Cancer chemoprevention is related to classical epidemiology and involves the use of agents that inhibit, delay, or reverse the carcinogenesis that occurs as a result of accumulation of mutations and increased proliferation. Betulinic acid is known for its cytotoxic effects against a panel of cancer cell lines. In the present study, interactions of betulinic acid (BA) with xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes including mixed function oxidases (cytochrome b5, P420, P450, NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase, and NADH cytochrome b5 reductase), phase II enzymes (GST, DT-diaphorase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase), LDH, antioxidative enzymes (glutathione reductase, SOD, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and guaiacol peroxidase), and lipid peroxidation are studied alone as well as in the presence of 7,12 dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA)—a potent carcinogen using Sprague Dawley female rats. The effect of BA on reduced glutathione content and protein content is also taken into consideration. It has been found that administration of BA decreased the level of mixed function oxidases that are involved in the conversion of carcinogen to electrophile, elevated the level of phase II enzymes which participated in the removal of electrophiles by sulfation, conjugation etc. It has been found that BA effectively removed or neutralized the reactive species by the action of phase II enzymes and such an effect was reflected from the specific activities of antioxidative enzymes which were found to be lower as compared to positive control (DMBA-treated group) and in some cases even that of untreated control. BA was also found to have a pronounced effect in protecting the animals from lipid peroxidation as evident from the reduced levels of TBARS, conjugated diene, and lipid hydroperoxide formation. This study highlights the role of BA in modulating the activities of xenobiotic and antioxidative enzymes that have putative roles in cancer initiation and proliferation.     

Antimicrobial enzymes: An emerging strategy to fight microbes and microbial biofilms

With the increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance, antimicrobial enzymes aimed at the disruption of bacterial cellular machinery and biofilm formation are under intense investigation. Several enzyme-based products have already been commercialized for application in the healthcare, food and biomedical industries. Successful removal of complex biofilms requires the use of multi-enzyme formulations that contain enzymes capable of degrading microbial DNA, polysaccharides, proteins and quorum-sensing molecules. The inclusion of anti-quorum sensing enzymes prevents biofilm reformation. The development of effective complex enzyme formulations is urgently needed to deal with the problems associated with biofilm formation in manufacturing, environmental protection and healthcare settings. Nevertheless, advances in synthetic biology, enzyme engineering and whole DNA-Sequencing technologies show great potential to facilitate the development of more effective antimicrobial and anti-biofilm enzymes.