Monolayer Film of Phycobilisome-Thylakoid Membrane Complexes from Spirulina platensis

Monolayer films of phycobilisome-thylakoid membrane complexes isolated from Spirulina platensis were prepared at air/aqueous solution interface by using the Langmuir-Blodgett technique. The film preparation was optimized with 0.5 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) as sub-phase at 20 °C. The monolayer was transferred into grids and into mica surface for observing the surface image of the complexes by transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscope, respectively. The shape of complexes was disk-like with the diameter of about 50 nm and the thickness of about 35 nm. The absorption and fluorescence spectra of the complexes in the monolayer were consistent with those in buffer solution, which suggests that the complexes in the monolayer preserve the basic functional groups of photosynthetic apparatus and can be used as a model to investigate the structural connection and functional association of the light-harvesting antenna with the reaction centres.     

超富集植物蜈蚣草中砷化学形态的EXAFS研究

采用同步辐射扩展X射线吸收精细结构(SREXAFS)技术研究了超富集植物蜈蚣草(PterisvittataL.)中As的化学形态及其在转运过程中的变化。结果表明,蜈蚣草中的As主要以As(Ⅲ)与O配位的形态存在。As(V)被植物吸收后,很快转化为As(Ⅲ),其转化过程主要发生在根部。As(Ⅲ)向地上部转运的过程中价态基本不变。在植物的根部和部分叶柄中存在少量与As-GSH相似的As-S结合方式,但是在As含量最高的羽叶中基本上未发现这种结合方式。与需要提取和分离过程的化学方法相比,采用EXAFS方法研究植物中的砷形态不需经过预分离或化学预处理就可以直接测定植物样品中元素的化学形态,因此可以避免样品预处理过程对As形态的干扰,并获得可靠的砷化学形态方面的信息。     

Pork meat: A good source of selenium?

The knowledge about Se bioavailability from animal food is sparse. This study was therefore initiated in order to evaluate the bioavailability of Se from pork meat in humans. Twelve male volunteers (age 21–30 years) participated in a randomised crossover study with strictly controlled diet containing 170 g pig meat/10 MJ per day and 106 ± 13 g Se/d for 3 × 3 weeks. Complete faecal and urinary collections were made during the last week of each period. Bioavailability was evaluated from absorption and retention of Se and changes in plasma Se concentration and blood glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activity. The apparent absorption of Se was 94 ± 2% (100 ± 13 g/d). Faecal and urinary excretion were 7 ± 1 g/d and 39 ± 21 g/d, respectively, resulting in a retention of 61 ± 24 g/d. The diet intervention did not affect plasma Se concentration and GSHPx activity. Absorption and retention of Se from pig meat were high suggesting a high availability. However, the availability of pig meat Se for blood Se protein appears to be low.     

Regular oscillatory behavior of aqueous solutions of CuII salts related to effects on equilibrium dynamics of ortho/para hydrogen spin isomers of water

Cell surface and growth-related NADH oxidases with protein disulfide-thiol interchange activity, ECTO-NOX, exhibit copper-dependent, clock-related, temperature-independent and entrainable patterns of regular oscillations in the rate of oxidation of NAD(P)H as do aqueous solutions of copper salts. Because of time scale similarities, a basis for the oscillatory patterns in nuclear spin orientations of the hydrogen atoms of the copper-associated water was sought. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurements at 9302 eV on pure water were periodic with a ca. 3.5 min peak to peak separation. Decomposition fits revealed 5 unequally spaced maxima similar to those observed previously for Cu(II)Cl(2) to generate a period length of about 18 min. With D(2)O, the period length was proportionately increased by 30% to 24 min. The redox potential of water and of D(2)O also oscillated with 18 and 24 min period lengths, respectively. Measurements in the middle infrared spectral region above a water sample surface revealed apparent oscillations in the two alternative orientations of the nuclear spins (ortho and para) of the hydrogen atoms of the water or D(2)O with 5 unequally spaced maxima and respective period lengths of 18 and 24 min. Thus, the time keeping oscillations of ECTO-NOX proteins appear to reflect the equilibrium dynamics of ortho-para hydrogen atom spin ratios of water where the presence of metal cations such as Cu(II) in solution determine period length.     

Heme-heme communication during the alkaline-induced structural transition in cytochrome c oxidase

Alkaline-induced conformational changes at pH 12.0 in the oxidized as well as the reduced state of cytochrome c oxidase have been systematically studied with time-resolved optical absorption and resonance Raman spectroscopies. In the reduced state, the heme a(3) first converts from the native five-coordinate configuration to a six-coordinate bis-histidine intermediate as a result of the coordination of one of the Cu(B) ligands, H290 or H291, to the heme iron. The coordination state change in the heme a(3) causes the alteration in the microenvironment of the formyl group of the heme a(3) and the disruption of the H-bond between R38 and the formyl group of the heme a. This structural transition, which occurs within 1min following the initiation of the pH jump, is followed by a slower reaction, in which Schiff base linkages are formed between the formyl groups of the two hemes and their nearby amino acid residues, presumably R38 and R302 for the heme a and a(3), respectively. In the oxidized enzyme, a similar Schiff base modification on heme a and a(3) was observed but it is triggered by the coordination of the H290 or H291 to heme a(3) followed by the breakage of the native proximal H378-iron and H376-iron bonds in heme a and a(3), respectively. In both oxidation states, the synchronous formation of the Schiff base linkages in heme a and a(3) relies on the structural communication between the two hemes via the H-bonding network involving R438 and R439 and the propionate groups of the two hemes as well as the helix X housing the two proximal ligands, H378 and H376, of the hemes. The heme-heme communication mechanism revealed in this work may be important in controlling the coupling of the oxygen and redox chemistry in the heme sites to proton pumping during the enzymatic turnover of CcO.     

Resource allocation in yolk-feeding fish

An insight is made into the main processes that occur in fish during endogenous feeding period. The ways in which yolk absorption rate can be measured are evaluated. Essential amino acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids are preferentially retained for incorporation into body tissue. Profound physiological and anatomical changes in yolk and a sequence of slow, fast, and a second period of slow absorption occur during the endogenous feeding period. Attempts to quantify the ontogenetic sequence are reviewed. Various methods of body size assessment are compared, and sources of bias in individual and population growth estimates are discussed. Several calorimetric methods are compared of which direct calorimetry using an oxygen bomb is the reference method. An advanced elemental analysis (CHNS) is a reliable technique that is adequate for early stages. Indices of growth potential are reviewed including a comparison of different measures, models and approaches used to estimate growth. Changes in body hydration, caloric value, content of lipids, protein, free amino acids (FAA) and minerals, and in content of RNA and DNA occur in early ontogeny. Ways to quantify metabolic rate are identified. Mean relative respiration rate of initial egg before activation is very low, about 20 mm³ g⁻¹ h⁻¹. Ontogenetic sequence in absolute metabolic rate of fish embryos and yolk-feeding larvae involves an increase through hatching to a peak at the time of first feeding ability, and a decrease under starvation. Models predicting the relationship between oxygen consumption and age in yolk-feeding fish are reviewed. Sequence of metabolic fuels begins with use of small molecules as carbohydrates, soon switched to FAA. Later lipids are progressively used, they provide energy for swimming activity. After yolk depletion body protein-bound amino acids are mobilised. In this review I focused on the major environmental variables as temperature, oxygen, salinity, pH, toxic xenobiotics, light, UV radiation, magnetic field and substrate, along with intrinsic factors as egg or body size, sex and genetic factors. A question was posed on how the extrinsic and intrinsic factors determine yolk absorption, growth and metabolic rates in yolk-feeding fish. Special attention is devoted to fish body size attained exclusively on yolk. A considerable variety of body size responses to temperature was found, for which several explanations are forwarded. Methodological progress made recently is characterised and the most conspicious advances in understanding of fish early life history are highlighted. Information derived from these studies can be used in management of fish populations in the field and to optimise activities in aquaculture.     

肾组织脱水对组织光学吸收和散射特性的影响

研究肾组织脱水对组织的吸收和散射特性的影响,实验利用带积分球附件的分光光度计和采用反向倍增法获取组织对532 nm和1064 nm波长的吸收和散射特性。结果表明:在37℃下脱水的肾组织对532 nm和1064 nm的吸收系数和约化散射系数都是随着脱水率的增大而明显地增大的,在37℃下脱水的肾组织对532 nm和1064 nm的吸收系数均明显地较自然的肾组织对相应波长的吸收系数要大,而在37℃下脱水的肾组织对532 nm和1064 nm的约化散射系数也明显地较自然的肾组织对相应波长的约化散射系数要大,在相同脱水率下的肾组织对于532 nm的吸收系数和约化散射系数都明显地较其对1064 nm的吸收系数和约化散射系数要大。研究结果提示,组织脱水、脱水的温度和脱水时间是影响肾组织的吸收和散射特性的重要因素。     

HCO_3~-对不同基因型水稻根生长及养分吸收分配的影响

采用营养液培养法 ,研究了缺Zn敏感 (IR2 6)和耐性水稻品种 (IR8192 31 2 )根生长和养分吸收受HCO-3影响的差异 .结果表明 ,HCO-3( 2 0mmol·L-1)严重抑制敏感品种根系生长 ,特别是在低Zn或缺Zn条件下 ,而对耐性品种影响很小 ,在低Zn水平下 ,对根系生长甚至有轻微的促进作用 .HCO-3不仅抑制敏感品种对Zn的吸收和分配 ,而且也抑制对Cu、Mn和Fe的吸收 ,表明HCO-3对Zn的吸收无专性抑制作用 ,HCO-3抑制敏感品种根系生长可能是其诱发缺Zn的最初作用 .HCO-3处理下 ,耐性品种上位叶和下位叶Zn浓度以及比率高于敏感品种 ,表明耐性品种将Zn从下位叶向上位叶转运的效率高 ,Zn在植物体内的转运能力可能是耐性品种适应石灰性土壤缺Zn的主要机制之一 .     

Absorption and retention of selenium from shrimps in man

This study was undertaken to evaluate the bioavailability of selenium in shrimps, a possible good source of selenium, by measurements of the absorption and retention of selenium and the effects on plasma selenium concentration and glutathione peroxidase activity. Twelve healthy young subjects (9F and 3M) received 100 g of shrimps each day for six weeks in addition to their habitual diet. In the third week of the study a balance period was inserted in which the subjects received all food from the department and collected faeces and urine over 5 days. Blood samples were collected at commencement of the study, after 2, 4, and 6 weeks. The selenium intake increased from 39.4 ± 15.3 μg/d to 127 ± 5.5 μg/d with the addition of shrimps. The apparent absorption of selenium from shrimps was 83 ± 4%. Faecal and urinary selenium excretion was 32.5 ± 17.0 μg/d and 21.2 ± 9.0 μg/d, respectively and the total retention of selenium was 3.1 ± 1.1 mg. Plasma selenium concentrations were 95.2 ± 9.7 μg/L and 101.5 ± 9.7 μg/L before and after six weeks of shrimp intake, respectively (p<0.05). Plasma and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activities were not influenced by shrimp intake. Thus, despite the high absorption and retention, plasma selenium concentrations were only moderately affected by an increase in selenium intake of about 100 μg/d in the chemical forms found in shrimp. Whether the accumulation of selenium from shrimps in tissues may represent a potential hazard is to be further investigated.