细菌胞壁多糖对水体中低浓度Pb2+和Cd2+的吸附研究

室内模拟研究了长春市伊通河天然水环境中优势细菌胞壁多糖对Pb2+和Cd2+吸附,结果发现胞壁多糖对pb2+和Cd2+的吸附量分别在pH为4.5、5.0时最大;且均分为两个阶段,即当pH＜4.5,对Pb2+的吸附量与pH呈正相关,当pH＞4.5时,对Pb2+的吸附量与pH呈负相关;对Cd2+的吸附量在pH＜5.0时与pH呈正相关,在pH＞5.0时与pH呈负相关.温度对胞壁多糖吸附Pb2+和Cd2+影响不显著;吸附体系在8 h达到吸附平衡.共存Cd2+对胞壁多糖吸附Pb2+影响显著,而共存Pb2+对吸附Cd2+不显著.胞壁多糖对Pb2+和Cd2+吸附过程符合Iangmuir和Freundlich热力学等温方程;胞壁多糖吸附Pb2+和Cd2+的动力学过程分为快速阶段和慢速阶段,其中慢速阶段符合二级吸附速率动力学方程.     

从铅锌矿渣中分离的微生物对重金属吸附特性的研究

从铅锌矿渣中分离到 16种菌 (包括 7株细菌和 9株真菌 ) ,并研究了它们对Zn2 + ,Pb2 + ,Cu2 + 的吸附特性。发现大多数菌株对Pb2 + 与Zn2 + 有不同程度的吸附 ,但对Cu2 + 的吸附能力较小。菌株对Zn2 + 的吸附率大于对Pb2 + 的吸附 ,能吸附Pb2 + 的菌株也能吸附Zn2 + 。pH 4～ 6是真菌吸附金属离子的较好范围 ,细菌仅在pH =5 .0条件下 ,对Pb2 + 与Zn2 + 有吸附。在测试的不同金属离子浓度范围内 (5 0mg/L 相似文献   

铜、铅、镉、锌、汞和银离子复合污染对水螅的急性毒性效应

以水螅(Hydrasp)为例,通过单因子静态急性毒性试验方法和等毒性溶液法,分别研究Hg2 、Cu2 、Cd2 、Ag 、Zn2 和Pb2 对其单一和复合毒性效应。单一实验结果表明,它们对水螅毒性大小顺序为Hg2 >Cu2 >Cd2 >Ag >Zn2 >Pb2 。复合毒性实验表明,Zn2 与Cu2 、Hg2 、Pb2 、Ag ;Pb2 与Cu2 ;Hg2 与Ag ;Pb2 与Ag 这些组合对水螅联合急性毒性总体上表现出拮抗作用,Cd2 与Cu2 、Hg2 、Pb2 、Ag 组合总体上则是协同作用,Zn2 与Cd2 、Pb2与Hg2 、Cu2 与Hg2 ,Ag 在不同的浓度水平组合下明显表现出不同的毒性效应。     

酵母菌Y17吸附Cu2+的影响因素及吸附机理研究

以高效吸附Cu2+的酵母菌Y17为材料, 对其吸附Cu2+过程中的主要影响因素, 包括溶液pH、Cu2+初始浓度、菌体添加量、吸附时间和温度以及吸附机理进行了探讨。结果表明, 对吸附过程影响较大的因素依次为吸附液pH值、Cu2+初始浓度、菌体添加量和吸附时间。正交试验得到最佳吸附条件为溶液pH5.0, 吸附时间40 min, 加菌量5.0 g湿菌/L时, 对初始浓度为8 mmol/L的Cu2+达到最佳吸附率为82.7%。通过对Y17菌体不同处理及解吸实验, 初步确定Y17吸附Cu2+的位点在细胞壁, 细胞壁表面的-NH2, -COOH基团在其吸附过程中起着重要作用。     

蛋白核小球藻对Pb(Ⅱ)和Cd(Ⅱ)的生物吸附及其影响因素

藻类吸附作用影响重金属在水生生态系统中的迁移过程及其环境行为。同时,利用藻类吸附能力是修复重金属污染水体和重金属废水处理的一项清洁、廉价和高效的技术。测定了蛋白核小球藻对Pb2+和Cd2+的吸附和脱附动力学,表明吸附是快速表面过程,吸附4 h后基本达到平衡,不易脱附。研究了蛋白核小球藻对Pb2+和Cd2+的吸附热力学,绘制了吸附等温线,并用Langmuir模型进行拟合,相关系数R2分别为0.9906和0.9827,计算得到最大吸附量分别为0.373 mmol Pb/g和0.249 mmolCd/g。考察了pH值、离子强度和温度等环境因素对蛋白核小球藻吸附Pb2+和Cd2+的影响。结果表明,蛋白核小球藻对Pb2+和Cd2+的吸附量在pH值5.0—6.0之间达到最大值,并随着溶液离子强度的增加而降低,随着溶液温度的升高而增加。温度的影响还表明,蛋白核小球藻对Pb2+和Cd2+的吸附是吸热过程。实验还考察了水体环境中普遍存在的溶解性有机质主要成分-富里酸的影响,表明富里酸会抑制蛋白核小球藻对Pb2+和Cd2+的吸附,重金属离子浓度较低时的抑制效果更明显,最大抑制率分别达到了34.2%和34.9%。由于其对重金属的较高吸附量和吸附本身快速完成的特性,蛋白核小球藻有望成为较理想的生物吸附剂,在重金属污染水体的生物修复及废水处理中发挥重要作用。     

贵州木油厂汞矿区4种藓类植物及其基质中重金属元素分析

通过对贵州木油厂汞矿区4种藓类植物(真藓、卵蒴真藓、羽枝青藓和圆枝粗枝藓)及其生长基质中的Cu、Zn、Ca、Mg、Cd、Pb、Hg、As 8种元素进行测定分析,以揭示藓类植物与生长基质中重金属元素及其污染程度的关系.结果表明:(1)贵州木油厂汞矿区藓类植物生长基质中Cu、Hg和As元素的平均含量分别是相应国标值的1.29倍、300倍和1.69倍,说明该矿区已受到Cu、Hg和As的污染,且Hg污染特别严重.(2)羽枝青藓的As、Zn、Cd和Pb含量均最高,圆枝粗枝藓的Cu、Ca、Mg和Hg含量均最高,对重金属具有较强的耐受性.(3)羽枝青藓和圆枝粗枝藓对Zn均强烈富集,其富集系数分别为6.14和3.364;羽枝青藓、卵蒴真藓和真藓对Pb均强烈富集,其富集系数分别为13.769、9.547和3.004;表明羽枝青藓对Zn和Pb的富集能力最强,可用于土壤Zn和Pb的污染治理.(4)4种藓类植物对Cu 的富集系数为0.915～1.184,卵蒴真藓和圆枝粗枝藓对Hg的富集系数分别为0.542和0.682,圆枝粗枝藓对As的富集系数为0.74,均为同一水平,表明4种藓类植物可指示其生长基质中Cu、Hg和As的含量.(5)元素间的相关分析显示,木油厂汞矿的Cd和As之间呈显著负相关(P＜0.05),表明两元素间有拮抗作用.     

长沙城市森林土壤7种重金属含量特征及其潜在生态风险

采用调查分析方法,研究长沙城市森林土壤Zn、Cu、Ni、Pb、As、Cd、Hg7种重金属含量,并以长沙市土壤背景值和湖南省土壤背景值为参比值,采用Hakanson潜在生态危害指数法评价不同城市化梯度森林土壤重金属潜在生态风险.结果表明:7种重金属的平均含量均随着城市化程度提高而增加,Pb增幅最大,As增幅最小.同一城市化梯度森林土壤均以Zn平均含量最高,Cd最低,但均未超过土壤环境质量标准(GB15618-1995)Ⅱ级标准值.在城市中心区,桂花树林、樟树+桂花树混交林土壤Zn、Cu、Pb、As、Hg平均含量普遍较高,而樟树+马尾松混交林、桂花树+杜英混交林土壤Cu、Ni、As、Cd、Hg平均含量普遍较低,Pb、Zn空间分布差异明显,Cd、Ni、As空间分布比较均匀,Cu、Ni、Pb、As、Cd、Hg之间(除Cd与As、Ni之间外)均存在显著(P＜0.05)或极显著(P＜0.01)的相关性,与土壤有机质之间也呈显著(P＜0.05)或极显著(P＜0.01)的相关性,Zn、Cu、Ni、Pb、As、Cd、Hg主要是人为输入;中心区森林土壤重金属的潜在生态危害已达到中等生态危害程度,边缘区接近中等生态危害程度,郊区为轻微生态危害程度,Zn、Cu、Ni、Pb、As均为轻微生态危害程度,Cd、Hg已达到中等生态危害程度以上.     

仿生提取ICP-MS法测定冬虫夏草8种重金属含量及健康风险评价

目的：建立冬虫夏草中铅（Pb）、镉（Cd）、汞（Hg）、砷（As）、铜（Cu）、银（Ag）、锡（Sn）和锑（Sb）8种重金属的仿生提取含量测定方法,并对其健康风险进行评价。方法：采用人工胃液、人工肠液仿生提取冬虫夏草中可溶性重金属,ICP-MS法测定重金属含量,靶标危害系数（THQ）法评价健康风险。结果：8种重金属在各自质量浓度范围内线性关系良好（R2> 0.997 0）,平均回收率84.05%～114.71%(RSD 2.9%～4.9%)。冬虫夏草中As、Hg、Cu、Cd、Sb、Pb、Ag总量均值依次为12.122、0.644、15.828、0.095、0.027、0.636、0.075 mg·kg-1,未检出Sn。As、Hg、Cu、Cd、Pb、Ag在人工胃液溶出率大于人工肠液,其在人工胃液中的溶出率均值为19.69%～52.62%,在人工肠液中的溶出率均值为0%～16.05%;Sb在人工肠液的溶出率25.54%大于人工胃液的溶出率14.68%。健康风险评价结果显示,As、Hg、Cu、Cd、Pb、Ag、Sb的THQ均<1,表明冬虫夏草中上述8种重金属不会对人体造成明显的健...     

南通沿海滩涂耐盐植物重金属抗性内生细菌的筛选及生物多样性

【目的】沿海滩涂耐盐植物重金属抗性内生细菌的筛选及其促生长潜在能力的研究有助于我们获得一些能够耐受并促进耐盐植物在被Cd2+、Pb2+、Hg2+、Cu2+,Zn2+等重金属离子污染的贫瘠的沿海滩涂上正常生长的菌株,达到既能够利用广袤的滩涂生物资源产生经济价值又能够净化生态环境的目的。【方法】以江苏南通沿海滩涂地区的4种耐盐植物为材料,采用稀释平板涂布法从中分离得到45株内生细菌,从中挑取23株代表性的菌株,对其进行抗重金属Cu2+、Pb2+、Cd2+、Zn2+,Hg2+的活性筛选;固氮、解磷、吲哚乙酸(IAA)的产生、1-氨基环丙烷-1-羧酸(ACC)脱氨酶活性等促生指标以及NaCl耐受能力的筛选。【结果】发现分离所得的大多数细菌能够耐受高浓度的Cu2+以及Pb2+,但是对Cd2+、Zn2+,Hg2+的耐受能力则较弱;26.1%的细菌具有固氮能力,21.7%的细菌具有解磷能力,60.9%的细菌能够产生IAA,39.1%的细菌含有ACC脱氨酶。对他们进行16S rRNA基因鉴定后发现,他们分属于芽胞杆菌属(Bacillus)、喜盐芽胞杆菌属(Halobacillus)、海洋芽胞杆菌属(Oceanobacillus)、微小杆菌属(Exiguobacterium)、沙雷氏菌属(Serratia)、短波单胞菌属(Brevundimonas)、弧菌属(Vibrio)、葡萄球菌属(Staphylococcus)共8个属,显示了丰富的多样性。其中菌株KLBMP 2432以及菌株KLBMP 2447为潜在的新种。【结论】沿海滩涂地区的耐盐植物内生细菌具有丰富多样的生物多样性以及促生长能力,且存在潜在的新种资源,并对重金属Cu2+,Pb2+具有较强的抗性。     

紫色土有机质对团聚体吸附-解吸Pb~(2+)的影响

选取名山河流域4种土地利用方式(茶园、旱地、水田、林地)的紫色土为对象,采用平衡液吸附法及NH4OAc、EDTA解吸法研究有机质对Pb2+在全土及各粒径团聚体中吸附-解吸的影响,用Langmuir、Freundlich和Temkin方程对等温吸附过程进行拟合。结果表明:去除有机质前后,4种土地利用方式紫色土全土及各粒径团聚体对Pb2+的吸附量均随Pb2+初始浓度的增大而增加,各粒径团聚体对Pb2+的吸附量排序为(0.002 mm)2~0.25 mm全土0.053~0.002 mm0.25~0.053 mm,Freundlich方程拟合效果最佳,分布系数Kd值与Pd2+初始浓度呈曲线负相关,林地对Pb2+的吸附容量最大,茶园最小;4种土地利用方式紫色土全土及各粒径团聚体以静电吸附方式为主,络合吸附方式为辅,非解吸率大小关系均为林地旱地水田茶园,说明茶园紫色土对Pb2+的固持能力最弱,林地最强。去除有机质后,4种土地利用方式紫色土全土及各粒径团聚体对Pb2+的吸附量均有所降低,相较于茶园和水田,林地和旱地吸附减少量更为明显,Pd2+最大吸附减少量与有机质去除量呈极显著正相关,4种土地利用方式紫色土NH4OAc解吸率明显增加,EDTA解吸率相应减少,非解吸率均有不同程度的降低。     

Inhibition of (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase by carbodiimides. A structure-activity study

Nine hydrophobic carbodiimides were synthesized and their chemical reactivities (towards acetic acid) and inhibitory capacities (towards the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase were measured. No correlation between chemical reactivity and inhibitory efficacy emerges, but a significant effect of molecular bulk on reactivity towards the calcium-protectable carboxyl groups of the ATPase is noted: methyl-substituted compounds inhibit the enzyme in the presence of Ca2+, while aryl- or cyclohexyl-substituted compounds do not inactivate in the presence of Ca2+.     

Distribution of soil organic matter between fractions and aggregate size classes in grazed semiarid steppe soil profiles

Grazed steppe ecosystems are discussed as one of the big global carbon sinks that may have the potential to sequester large amounts of atmospheric CO₂ and mitigate the effects of global change if grazing is abandoned or management improved. But until today, little is known about sequestration potentials and stabilisation mechanisms in complete soil profiles of semiarid grasslands and how these systems react to grazing cessation. We applied a combined aggregate size, density and particle size fractionation procedure to sandy steppe soils under different grazing intensities (continuously grazed = Cg, winter grazing = Wg, ungrazed since 1999 = Ug99, ungrazed since 1979 = Ug79). Higher inputs of organic matter in ungrazed treatments led to higher amounts of OC in coarse aggregate size classes (ASC) and especially in particulate organic matter (POM) fractions across all depth. These processes started in the topsoil and took more than 5 years to reach deeper soil horizons (>10 cm). After 25 years of grazing cessation, subsoils showed clearly higher POM amounts. We found no grazing-induced changes of soil organic matter (SOM) quantity in fine ASC and particle size fractions. Current C-loading of fine particle size fractions was similar between differently grazed plots and decreased with depth, pointing towards free sequestration capacities in deeper horizons. Despite these free capacities, we found no increase in current C-loading on fine mineral soil fractions after 25 years of grazing exclusion. Silt and clay fractions appeared to be saturated. We suppose empirical estimations to overestimate sequestration potentials of particle size fractions or climatic conditions to delay the decomposition and incorporation of OM into these particle size fractions. POM quality was analysed using solid-state ¹³C NMR spectroscopy to clarify if grazing cessation changed chemical composition of POM in different ASC and soil depths via changing litter quality or changing decomposition dynamics. We found comparable POM compositions between different grazing intensities. POM is decomposed hierarchically from coarse to fine particles in all soil depths and grazing cessation has not affected the OM decomposition processes. The surplus of OM due to grazing cessation was predominately sequestered in readily decomposable POM fractions across all affected horizons. We question the long-term stabilisation of OM in these steppe soils during the first 25 years after grazing cessation and request more studies in the field of long-term OM stabilisation processes and assessment of carbon sequestration capacities to consider deeper soil horizons.     

Effect of capping agent concentration on thermoluminescence and photoluminescence of copper‐doped zinc sulfide nanoparticles

Copper‐doped zinc sulfide (ZnS:Cu) nanoparticles with varying concentrations of capping agent were prepared using a chemical route technique. These particles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). Optical absorption studies showed that the absorption edge shifted towards the blue region as the concentration of the capping agent increased. Using effective mass approximation, calculation of the nanoparticle size indicated that effective band gap energy increases with decreasing particle size. The thermoluminescence (TL) properties of sodium hexameta phosphate (SHMP)‐passivated ZnS:Cu nanoparticles were investigated after UV irradiation at room temperature. The TL glow curve of capped ZnS:Cu showed variations in TL peak position and intensity with the change in capping agent concentration. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra of ZnS:Cu nanoparticles excited at 254 nm exhibited a broad green emission band peaking around 510 nm, which confirmed the characteristic feature of Zn²⁺ as well as Cu²⁺ ions as the luminescent centres in the lattice. The PL spectra of ZnS:Cu nanoparticles with increasing capping agent concentrations revealed that the emission becomes more intense and shifted towards shorter wavelengths as the sizes of the samples were reduced. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Drug release properties of polyethylene-glycol-treated ciprofloxacin-Indion 234 complexes

The polyethylene glycol (PEG) treatment of ciprofloxacin-Indion 234 complex was aimed to retard rapid ion exchange drug release at gastric pH. Ciprofloxacin loading on Indion 234 was performed in a batch process, and the amount of K⁺ in Indion 234 displaced by drug with time was studied as equilibrium constant K_DM. Drug-resin complex (DRC) was treated with aqueous PEG solution (0.5%–2% wt/vol) of different molecular weights (MWs) for 2 to 30 minutes. The PEG-treated ciprofloxacin-Indion 234 complex was evaluated for particle size, water absorption time, and drug release at gastric pH. During drug loading on Indion 234, the equilibrium constant (K_DM) increased rapidly up to 20 minutes with efficient drug loading. Increased time of immersion of the drug resinate in PEG solutions significantly retained higher size particles upon dehydration. The larger DRC particles showed longer water absorption times owing to compromised hydrating power. The untreated DRC showed insignificant drug release in deionized water; while at gastric pH, ciprofloxacin release was complete in 90 minutes. A trend of increased residual particle size, proportionate increase in water absorption time, and hence the retardation of release with time of immersion was evident in PEG-treated DRC. The time of immersion of DRC in PEG-treated DRC. The time of immersion of DRC in PEG solution had predominant release retardant effect, while the effect of molecular weight of PEG was insignificant. Thus, PEG treatment of DRC successfully retards ciprofloxacin ion exchange release in acidic pH.     

Enhanced and selective adsorption of Pb2+ and Cu2+ by EDTAD-modified biomass of baker's yeast

Enhanced and selective removal of Pb2+ and Cu2+ in the presence of high concentration of K+, Na+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ were achieved by adsorption on biomass of baker's yeast modified with ethylenediaminetetraacetic dianhydride (EDTAD). The modified biomass was found to have high adsorption capacities and fast rates for Pb2+ and Cu2+, and it also displayed consistently high levels of metal uptake over the pH range from 2.7 to 6.0. From Langmuir isotherm, the adsorption capacities for Pb2+ and Cu2+ were found to be 192.3 and 65.0 mg g(-1), respectively, which are about 10 and 14 times higher than that of the unmodified biomass. Competitive biosorption experiments showed that the co-ions of K+, Na+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ had little effects on the uptake of Pb2+ and Cu2+ even at the concentration of 1.0 mol L(-1). The adsorbed Pb2+ and Cu2+ on the modified biomass could be effectively desorbed in an EDTA solution, and the regenerated biomass could be reused repeatedly with little loss of the adsorption capacity.     

The influence of particle size distribution and operating conditions on the adsorption performance in fluidized beds

The influence of matrix properties and operating conditions on the performance in fluidized-bed adsorption has been studied using Streamline diethyl-aminoethyl (DEAE), an ion exchange matrix based on quartz-weighted agarose, and bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model protein. Three different particle size fractions (120-160 mum, 120-300 mum, and 250-300 mum) were investigated. Dispersion in the liquid phase was reduced when particles with a wide size distribution were fluidized compared to narrow particle size distributions. When the mean particle diameter was reduced, the breakthrough capacities during frontal adsorption were enlarged due to a shorter diffusion path length within the matrix. At small particle diameters the effect of film mass transfer became more relevant to the adsorption performance in comparison to larger particles. Therefore matrices designed for fluidized-bed adsorption should have small particle diameter and increased mean particle density to ensure small diffusion path length in the particle and a high interstitial velocity to improve film mass transfer. Studies on the influence of sedimented matrix height on axial mixing showed an increased Bodenstein number with increasing bed length. Higher breakthrough capacities were also found for longer adsorbent beds due to reduced dispersion and improved fluid and particle side mass transfer. With increasing bed height the influence of flow rate on breakthrough capacity was reduced. For a settled bed height of 50 cm breakthrough capacities of 80% of the equilibrium capacity for flow rates varying from 3 to 9 cm/min could be achieved. (c) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 55: 54-64, 1997.     

Optical and Thermal Enhancement of Plasmonic Nanofluid Based on Core/Shell Nanoparticles

The plasmonic effect is introduced in solar thermal areas to enhance light harvest and absorption. The optical properties of plasmonic nanofluid are simulated by finite difference time domain (FDTD) method. Due to the excitation of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect, an intensive absorption peak is observed at 0.5 μm. The absorption characteristics are sensitive to particle size and concentration. As the particle size increases, the absorption peak is broadened and shifted to longer wavelength. The absorption of SiO₂/Ag plasmonic nanofluid is improved gradually as the volume concentration increases, especially in the UV region. The absorption edge is shifted from 0.6 to 1.0 μm as the volume concentration increases from 0.001 to 0.01. The thermal simulation of suspended SiO₂/Ag nanoparticle shows a uniform temperature rise of 17.91 K under solar irradiation (AM 1.5), while under the same condition, the temperature rises in Ag nanoparticle and Al nanoparticle are 11.12 and 5.39 K, respectively. The core/shell plasmonic nanofluid exhibits a higher photothermal performance, which has a potential application in photothermal areas. A higher temperature rise can be obtained by improving the incident light intensity or optical absorption properties of nanoparticles.     

Decrease in the particle size of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) by oxidation

A radical reaction of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) causes fragmentation and cross-link of apolipoprotein B-100 (apoB). LDL (50 microg/ml) was subjected to the well-studied oxidation with Cu(2+) (1.67 microM). The concentration of alpha-tocopherol decreased to 10% of the initial level during the first 30 min. After this lag time, the conjugated diene content, as measured by absorption at 234 nm, started increasing and the residual apoB at 512 kDa determined by immunoblot after SDS-PAGE (sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) was also decreased. The particle size of LDL determined by nondenaturing gradient gel electrophoresis decreased steadily during the initial 120 min, when residual native apoB was only 30% of the initial level. Plasma was also oxidized with Cu(2+) (400 microM). Under this condition, a clear lag time was not observed and alpha-tocopherol content, apoB, and the LDL particle size were decreased simultaneously. Based on these experiments, we propose that an oxidation reaction is involved in the formation of small dense LDL.     

A novel zinc-dependent D-serine dehydratase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

YGL196W of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes a putative protein that is unidentified but is predicted to have a motif similar to that of the N-terminal domain of the bacterial alanine racemase. In the present study we found that YGL196W encodes a novel D-serine dehydratase, which belongs to a different protein family from that of the known bacterial enzyme. The yeast D-serine dehydratase purified from recombinant Escherichia coli cells depends on pyridoxal 5'-phosphate and zinc, and catalyses the conversion of D-serine into pyruvate and ammonia with the K(m) and k(cat) values of 0.39 mM and 13.1 s(-1) respectively. D-Threonine and beta-Cl-D-alanine also serve as substrates with catalytic efficiencies which are approx. 3 and 2% of D-serine respectively. L-Serine, L-threonine and beta-Cl-L-alanine are inert as substrates. Atomic absorption analysis revealed that the enzyme contains one zinc atom per enzyme monomer. The enzyme activities toward D-serine and D-threonine were decreased by EDTA treatment and recovered by the addition of Zn2+. Little recovery was observed with Mg2+, Mn2+, Ca2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, K+ or Na+. In contrast, the activity towards beta-Cl-D-alanine was retained after EDTA treatment. These results suggest that zinc is involved in the elimination of the hydroxy group of D-serine and D-threonine. D-Serine dehydratase of S. cerevisiae is probably the first example of a eukaryotic D-serine dehydratase and that of a specifically zinc-dependent pyridoxal enzyme as well.