Aluminium effects on growth and Al,Ca, Mg,K and P levels in triticale,wheat and rye

Summary The effects of A1 on the growth and mineral composition of different cultivars of triticale (X Triticosecale, Wittmack), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and rye (Secale cereale L.) growing in 1/5 strength Steinberg solutions containing 0 or 6 ppm A1 were evaluated after 32 days. Aluminum increased the concentrations of P and K in the roots and K in the tops of most of the cultivars tested. A1 tolerant triticale retained a lower concentration of Mg in the roots and tops than the A1 sensitive triticale, when subjected to A1 stress. In addition, A1 treatments resulted in smaller increases in root P for the A1 tolerant triticale than for the A1 sensitive cultivars.The concentration of root Ca and P of the A1 tolerant wheat cultivars were significantly below that of the more sensitive plants. Aluminum tolerance in rye appeared to be associated with lower Ca and higher Mg concentrations in the tops. The accumulation of P and A1 in the roots was characteristic of sensitivity in triticale, wheat and rye.     

The effect of variable magnesium intake on potential factors influencing endurance capacity

Rats fed a magnesium (MG) deficient diet have a lower endurance capacity than rats fed Mg adequate diets. The current study evaluates the effects of marginal, moderate, and severe Mg deficiencies on physiological and biochemical changes that may contribute to the reduced endurance capacity of Mg deficient rats. Variable levels of dietary Mg (400, 200, 100, 50 μg/g) were fed for 23 d to 5-wk-old male Osborne-Mendel rats. Indirect blood pressure and heart rate were measured during dietary treatment. Forty-eight hours after an endurance test, rats were killed and sampled for plasma glucose, insulin, and triglyceride levels. Organ weights, mineral and trace element concentrations, and carcass composition were determined. Blood pressure was lower in rats fed 50 and 100 ppm Mg during the first half of the study than in controls (400 ppm Mg). There were no significant differences in blood pressure among groups at the end of the study. Heart rate was not affected by dietary Mg intake. Plasma insulin was lowered by decreasing dietary Mg; however, plasma glucose and triglyceride concentrations were not affected by dietary Mg intake. Rats fed 100 and 50 ppm Mg diets had significantly higher calcium concentrations in plasma and gastrocnemius muscle than controls. Dietary Mg variably affected tissue trace element (iron, zinc, copper, and manganese) concentrations but did not affect Mg concentrations in any organ studied. Body composition was significantly altered by dietary Mg intake. In conclusion, variable Mg intake differentially affects the parameters evaluated. Thus, the decreased endurance capacity of the Mg deficient rat is apparently not the result of a single biochemical lesion but is likely to be multifactorial.     

Iron-magnesium antagonism in growth and metabolism of radish

A study was conducted on the interaction effect of Fe–Mg on growth, metabolism and nutrient uptake in radish (Raphanus sativus L. cv. All Season) plants grown in sand culture. Dry matter yields were maximum at normal Fe-normal Mg and excess Fe-excess Mg treatments where the Fe/Mg ratio in the rooting medium was 0.12; below or above this ratio the yields were continuously lowered. On the basis of the effects of various Fe–Mg combinations on growth, visible effects, concentration of chlorophyll, the activities of catalase, peroxidase and ribonuclease and the tissue concentration of Fe, Mg and Mn, it is inferred here in this study that Fe and Mg are mutually antagonistic in the growth and metabolism of radish.     

Metal ion-N7 coordination in a ribozyme branch domain by NMR

The N7 of purine nucleotides presents one of the most dominant metal ion binding sites in nucleic acids. However, the interactions between kinetically labile metal ions like Mg²⁺ and these nitrogen atoms are inherently difficult to observe in large RNAs. Rather than using the insensitive direct ¹⁵N detection, here we have used ²J-[¹H,¹⁵N]-HSQC (Heteronuclear Single Quantum Coherence) NMR experiments as a fast and efficient method to specifically observe and characterize such interactions within larger RNA constructs. Using the 27 nucleotides long branch domain of the yeast-mitochondrial group II intron ribozyme Sc.ai5γ as an example, we show that direct N7 coordination of a Mg²⁺ ion takes place in a tetraloop nucleotide. A second Mg²⁺ ion, located in the major groove at the catalytic branch site, coordinates mainly in an outer-sphere fashion to the highly conserved flanking GU wobble pairs but not to N7 of the sandwiched branch adenosine.     

Evaluation of the level of selected iron-related proteins/receptors in the liver of rats during separate/combined vanadium and magnesium administration

BackgroundThe current knowledge about the effects of vanadium (V) on iron (Fe)-related proteins and Fe homeostasis (which is regulated at the systemic, organelle, and cellular levels) is still insufficient.ObjectiveThis fact and our earlier results prompted us to conduct studies with the aim to explain the mechanism of anemia accompanied by a rise in hepatic and splenic Fe deposition in rats receiving sodium metavanadate (SMV) separately and in combination with magnesium sulfate (MS).ResultsWe demonstrated for the first time that SMV (0.125 mg V/mL) administered to rats individually and in conjunction with MS (0.06 mg Mg/mL) for 12 weeks did not cause significant differences in the hepatic hepcidin (Hepc) and hemojuvelin (HJV) concentrations, compared to the control. In comparison with the control, there were no significant changes in the concentration of transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1) in the liver of rats treated with SMV and MS alone (in both cases only a downward trend of 14% and 15% was observed). However, a significant reduction in the hepatic TfR1 level was found in rats receiving SMV and MS simultaneously. In turn, the concentration of transferrin receptor 2 (TfR2) showed an increasing trend in the liver of rats treated with SMV and/or MS.ConclusionsThe experimental data suggest that the pathomechanism of the SMV-induced anemia is not associated with the effect of V on the concentration of Hepc in the liver, as confirmed by the unaltered hepatic HJV and TfR1 levels. Therefore, further studies are needed in order to check whether anemia that developed in the rats at the SMV administration (a) results from the inhibitory effect of V on erythropoietin (EPO) production, (b) is related to the effect of V on the induction of matriptase-2 (TMPRSS6) expression, or (c) is associated with the influence of this metal on haem synthesis.     

Long-term effects of cutting tap roots ofPinus caribaea growing on infertile savanna soils

Summary The content of elements in needles ofPinus caribaea trees growing upon infertile savanna soils was analysed at 3 and 5 years after the tap roots of a subset of trees had been severed. No significant differences were found between the content of elements in treated and control trees, nor were significant differences found in increments of diameter of the trees over 5 years. It is concluded that this organ plays no significant nutritional role in the trees on these soils, and that tree growth can be achieved exclusively from atmospheric nutrient accessions and exchangeable nutrient reserves in the topsoil.     

Nutrient accumulation byPinus caribaea in its native savanna habitat

Summary Concentrations of P, N, K, Ca, and Mg in above-ground tissues ofP. caribaea were sampled in the species'native savanna habitat. Concentrations were relatively low, but some evidence of higher consumption of K and Ca was found in trees grown on more fertile soils. Regressions were developed to predict the quantities of nutrients sequestered in above-ground tree tissues, and estimates made of the quantities stored in above-ground stands of this species in its native habitat and in several plantations elsewhere. Estimates were also made of the nutrient removals to be expected by harvesting these stands in different ways. Nutrient quantities stored in stands generally exceed those extractable from savanna surface soils, and it is suggested that inputs from the atmosphere are the most probable alternate nutrient source. A comparison of these inputs for tropical areas with the quantities required for stand growth in the savanna, and harvesting removals, suggests that an adequate supply of all elements except P exists, provided that capture by pine is effective. However, atmospheric inputs generally fall below the storage and harvest removal rates for fast growing exotic plantations of this species suggesting that multiple rotations of these plantations at current growth rates may not be feasible without artifical fertilization.     

Protein metalation in biology

Inorganic metals supplement the chemical repertoire of organic molecules, especially proteins. This requires the correct metals to associate with proteins at metalation. Protein mismetalation typically occurs when excesses of unbound metals compete for a binding site ex vivo. However, in biology, excesses of metal-binding sites typically compete for limiting amounts of exchangeable metals. Here, we summarise mechanisms of metal homeostasis that sustain optimal metal availabilities in biology. We describe recent progress to understand metalation by comparing the strength of metal binding to a protein versus the strength of binding to competing sites inside cells.