Nucleosomal structure as probed by H3 histone thiol reactivity

Two H3 histone variants are found in equal amount in HeLa cells, and they have been characterized by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by reaction with specific antibodies. These molecules are the only cysteine-containing histones, and they have been used as the target for thiol-specific reagents, in intact nuclei, isolated nucleosomes, histone complexes, and purified histones. Cysteine residues are available toN-ethylmaleimide only when histones are disassembled from the core particles. Upon reaction with these reagents, one of the H3 variants undergoes profound conformational changes, as revealed by an altered electrophoretic mobility.     

The reaction of fluorescein isothiocyanate with thiols: a method for assay of isothiocyanates

The reversible formation of dithiourethanes from fluorescein isothiocyanate and mercaptoethanol or mercaptoethylamine has been studied. It is shown that it is possible to use the reaction as the basis for a spectrophotometric titration of a number of isothiocyanates with mercaptoethanol.     

Disruption of nucleobase stacking to restore reactivity

Strong intermolecular interaction can prevent an organic molecule from dissolving in a reaction solution, thereby jeopardizing its reactivity and usefulness. Nucleobases and nucleosides (especially many purines and their derivatives) are notoriously difficult to dissolve in most organic solvents, generally attributed to their strong intermolecular interactions caused by the aromaticity, polarity and hydrogen-bonding. Guided by our computational study and prediction, to address this challenge, we have found that by doping the reaction solution with toluene (an inert aromatic compound), the added solvent molecules are capable of generating the stacking interaction with the solute molecules (e.g., purine derivatives) and disrupting the intermolecular stacking of the solute molecules. Thus, this inert doping can successfully address the insoluble challenge, dissolve the poorly soluble reactants (such as purine phosphoramidites), and restore the amidite reactivity for oligonucleotide synthesis. Our research has offered a simple strategy to efficiently synthesize labile oligonucleotides, via disrupting stacking interaction with inert aromatic molecules.     

A Perspective on the Toxicity of Petrogenic PAHs to Developing Fish Embryos Related to Environmental Chemistry

Numerous studies demonstrate polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) dissolved from weathered crude oil adversely affect fish embryos at 0.5 to 23 μg/l. This conclusion has been challenged by studies that claim (1) much lower toxicity of weathered aqueous PAHs; (2) direct contact with dispersed oil droplets plays a significant role or is required for toxicity; (3) that uncontrolled factors (oxygen, ammonia, and sulfides) contribute substantively to toxicity; (4) polar compounds produced by microbial metabolism are the major cause of observed toxicity; and (5) that based on equilibrium models and toxic potential, water contaminated with weathered oil cannot be more toxic per unit mass than effluent contaminated with fresh oil. In contrast, several studies demonstrate high toxicity of weathered oil; shifts in PAH composition were consistent with dissolution (not particle ablation), embryos accumulated dissolved PAHs at low concentrations and were damaged, and assumed confounding factors were inconsequential. Consistent with previous empirical observations of mortality and weathering, temporal shifts in PAH composition (oil weathering) indicate that PAHs dissolved in water should (and do) become more toxic per unit mass with weathering because high molecular weight PAHs are more persistent and toxic than the more abundant low molecular weight PAHs in whole oil.     

Toxicity of cadmium to Helisoma anceps and its effect on kidney ultrastructure

When specimens of Helisoma anceps were exposed to water containing 0.1, 1, and 5 ppm cadmium, mortality was proportional to concentration but tissue levels of Cd were not. The shell was the site of highest concentration and total amount of Cd due to adsorption and active accumulation. Concentrations of Cd in the kidney and mantle were equal to or greater than the remaining soft tissue. Ultrastructural changes in the kidney associated with Cd exposure were almost exclusively confined to the nephrocytes. Graded transformation of the residual body to a secondary lysosome was proportional to the Cd concentration of the medium and length of exposure. Atypical nucleoli and reticular bodies appeared in the 1-ppm Cd dose. Only after autolysis of the nephrocytes in 5 ppm did ultrastructural changes occur in the ureter cells. Ultrastructural changes in the kidney epithelia were proportional to Cd dosage but were not necessarily indicative of the tissue burden of Cd.     

Fate and biodegradability of sulfonated aromatic amines

Ten sulfonated aromatic amines were tested for their aerobic and anaerobic biodegradability and toxicity potential in a variety of environmental inocula. Of all the compounds tested, only two aminobenzenesulfonic acid (ABS) isomers, 2- and 4-ABS, were degraded. The observed degradation occurred only under aerobic conditions with inocula sources that were historically polluted with sulfonated aromatic amines. Bioreactor experiments, with non-sterile synthetic wastewater, confirmed the results from the aerobic batch degradation experiments. Both ABS isomers were degraded in long-term continuous experiment by abioaugmented enrichment culture. The maximum degradation rate in the aerobic bioreactor was 1.6–1.8 gl^–1 d^–1 for 2-ABS and a somewhat lower value for 4-ABS at hydraulic retention times (HRT) of 2.8–3.3h. Evidence for extensive mineralization of 2- and 4-ABS was based on oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide production during the batch experiments and the high levels of chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal in the bioreactor. Furthermore, mineralization of the sulfonate group was demonstrated by high recovery of sulfate. The sulfonated aromatic amines did not show any toxic effects on the aerobic and anaerobic bacterial populations tested. The poor biodegradability of sulfonated aromatic amines indicated under the laboratory conditions of this study suggests that these compounds may not be adequately removed during biological wastewater treatment.     

Anthocyanins,thiols, and antioxidant scavenging enzymes are involved in Lemna gibba tolerance to arsenic

The influence of arsenic (As) on the growth and the antioxidant system of Lemna gibba L. exposed to five concentrations of As (0.0, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mg L^?1) was studied. Although As exposure reduced relative growth rate, L. gibba continued to grow even after the high accumulation of this element after five days of exposure. The concentration of the superoxide anion was unaffected by As, whereas an increase of hydrogen peroxide concentrations was observed with the increasing of As concentration. Increasing concentrations of As also increased the enzyme activity of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and glutathione reductase and the total and nonprotein thiols, up to 0.5 mg L^?1, whereas the anthocyanin content increased constantly with As concentration. Catalase and ascorbate peroxidase activities as well as the content of chloroplastic pigments were reduced in plants exposed to all As concentrations. These results support a major role of anthocyanins, nonprotein thiols, and antioxidant scavenging enzymes in L. gibba tolerance to toxic As concentrations.     

Acute Toxicity for some Evaporating Aromatic Hydrocarbons for Freshwater Snails and Crustaceans

Some typical and more frequent freshwater invertebrates of running waters were studied to examine the influence of styrene, xylene and benzene on their mortality. Snails Amphimelania holandri FÉR. and Lymnaea stagnalis L. and crustacenas Asellus aquaticus L. and Gammarus fossarum KOCH. , were used in the semi-static test. Compounds were added in volume concentrations of 0.005 to 0.4% v/v. For all concentrations LC₅₀ was calculated by probit method, which demonstrated that mortality depends much more on increased concentrations (depending on the initial concentration) than on the length of exposure. Styrene was the most toxic, followed by xylene and then benzene. The species G. fossarum showed marked sensitivity, followed by A. aquaticus, and the species A. holandri and L. stagnalis showed less sensitivity.     

Luminol dependent chemiluminescence and thiol group oxidation provoked by neutrophils is attributable to different oxidizing species

Luminol-dependent chemiluminescence and thiol group oxidation of glutathione and human serum albumin were measured in order to demonstrate whether the inhibition of polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemiluminescence by albumin was attributable to thiol group oxidation. We have shown that:

• 1 thiol groups on glutathione and albumin are oxidized by PMNL stimulated by soluble and phagocytic stimuli;
• 2 thiol group oxidation in albumin and glutathione did not correlate with the inhibitory effects of these substances on luminol-dependent chemiluminescence with respect to time course, magnitude, effects of known scavengers or extracellular activity. It was therefore concluded that thiol group oxidation was not the cause of albumin inhibition of luminol-dependent chemiluminescence;
• 3 a metastable oxidant was identified after PMNL activation which was capable of oxidizing thiol groups but unable to elicit chemiluminescence form luminol.

     

Patterns of cortisol reactivity to laboratory stress

Cortisol responses to a laboratory stress protocol were investigated in 82 male firefighters. Saliva samples were collected during an adaptation period beginning between 9 and 10 am, and then at the end of each of six 10-min trials (a mental arithmetic task, an inter-task recovery period, a speech task, and three recovery periods). Individual differences in the mean cortisol response to the stress tasks were characterized by variation in the direction of the response, as well as the size of the response. Neither pre-stress cortisol levels nor responses were correlated with cardiovascular and mood responses. Cortisol levels before stress task presentation were negatively correlated with recent stress severity. Larger mean cortisol responses were associated with lower reports of recent stress exposure, lower negative affect scores, and a coping style characterized less experience of anger, more control over anger expression, and a tendency to screen out threatening information in stressful situations. Thus, increased cortisol activity was associated with less recent stress exposure and a more adaptive behavioral style than for those whose cortisol levels fell or were largely unchanged in response to a laboratory stressor.     

百里酚对刺足根螨的毒力实验

根据植物精油在抗菌、杀虫和杀螨等方面的研究,考虑其无污染、无残留、用量少、价格低以及可阻止或延缓螨类的抗药性的特点,我们采用药膜法,进行了百里酚对刺足根螨[Rhizoglyphus echinopus(Fumouze&Rob in)]的毒力实验。结果表明,24 h的LC50=2.2222 g.L-1;48 h的LC50=0.6086 g.L-1。该实验为植物油应用于害螨防治提供了参考。     

蔗渣浆CEH漂白废水的毒性及毒性污染负荷的研究

采用发光细菌法对蔗渣浆CEH三段漂白废水进行了毒性研究 ,其中C段废水的毒性最大 ,其EC50 为 2 8.83% ,属于强毒级别 ;E段、H段废水的EC50 分别为 6 8.92 %、2 6 7.9% ,分别属于毒、无毒级别 ;其中C段的毒性排放负荷约占总废水毒性排放负荷的 6 7.5 %左右 ;结果表明 ,漂白废水的毒性排放负荷较大 ,约为 4 2 3.92 (TU·m3 吨浆 ) ,相当于 4 2 .93(gHgCl2 吨浆 ) ,对其治理不容忽视     

Toxicity of fipronil to German and American cockroaches

Topical and oral toxicity of fipronil, compared to chlorpyrifos, was determined for the German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.), and American cockroach, Periplaneta americana (L.). Fipronil and Combat bait matrices were evaluated for their attractancies to both species. In the topical toxicity tests, LD50's of fipronil, at 72 h after topical application, were 0.03 and 0.02 µg/g for adult B. germanica and P. americana, respectively. Fipronil was significantly more toxic than topically applied chlorpyrifos (LD50's were 0.06 and 0.16 µg/g for B. germanica and P. americana, respectively). The oral toxicity of fipronil and chlorpyrifos in Petri dish experiments, against both species, was affected by stage (for B. germanica), diet concentration, and feeding assay. Fipronil caused higher mortality of B. germanica than chlorpyrifos in two feeding assays (continuous and abbreviated). Both compounds were equally toxic to adult males of P. americana at all rates. Fipronil caused higher nymphal mortality than chlorpyrifos 48–72 h after exposure in both feeding assays. In large population chamber tests, fipronil bait was more effective and faster in killing P. americana than Raid and Combat. LT50's were 0.8, 2.4, and 7.6 d for fipronil, Raid (a.i. = chlorpyrifos), and Combat (a.i. = hydramethylnon) baits, respectively. Mortality reached 96.5, 93.4, and 84.6%, respectively, at the end of the 14 d test. In the bait attractancy tests, both strains of B. germanica were attracted similarly to fipronil and Combat bait matrices. P. americana were attracted more to fipronil than to Combat bait matrix or to other alternative foods.     

13种植物源化合物对南方根结线虫的毒力比较

利用离体生物测定法比较了13种植物源化合物对南方根结线虫(Meloidogyne incognita Chitwood)的毒力,并探讨了紫外光照射对这些化合物杀虫活性的影响。结果表明,对苯二酚、DL-薄荷醇、丁子香酚和苦豆碱对南方根结线虫的毒杀活性最强,邻苯二酚等6种化合物的毒杀活性次之,野靛碱、毒扁豆碱和间苯二酚的毒力较低。紫外光照射可明显降低苦豆碱和柠檬酸对南方根结线虫的毒杀活性,而其他11种化合物的毒杀活性则基本不受紫外光照射的影响。     

Lethal and sublethal tolerances of aquatic oligochaetes with reference to their use as a biotic index of pollution

A series of recent studies have been completed by the authors involving: 1) determining the lethal tolerances of 12 oligochaete species classified (from ecological studies) as tolerant, moderately tolerant and intolerant to selected chemical toxicants and environmental factors under defined bioassay conditions with and without sediment; 2) determining lethal tolerances of candidate species to toxicants in combination with a range of abiotic factors; 3) measuring respiratory stress imposed by exposure to individual and combined sublethal concentrations of toxicants and environmental factors; and, 4) determining differences in lethal tolerance and respiratory stress between individual and mixed species. Surprisingly few previous studies have been done in this area considering the importance of oligochaetes as field pollution indicators. The results of the above major studies coupled with histopathological work are reviewed. Data from these studies substantiate the present use of oligochaete species assemblages as indicators of organic pollution and suggest their use in the laboratory for toxicant screening tests. The range of responses of different oligochaete species to individual and combined stress is complex, particularly in mixed species, which provides useful indications of specific stress factors. The application of these experimental laboratory studies to field situations is described.     

钼对多刺裸腹溞的毒性

运用急性毒性和生命表实验方法,研究了钼对多刺裸腹溞(Moina macrocopa)的急性毒性和生命表统计学参数的影响。结果表明,钼对多刺裸腹溞的48hLC50值为134.46mg·L-1,95%置信区间为107.05～194.53mg·L-1;在2.0～15.0mg·L-1的浓度范围内,钼对多刺裸腹溞的生命期望、世代时间、平均寿命和净生殖率均无显著影响,但对种群内禀增长率有显著影响。空白对照组中,多刺裸腹溞的种群内禀增长率为0.0448±0.0033h-1,显著高于6.4、8.4、11.2和15.0mg·L-1钼浓度下多刺裸腹溞的种群内禀增长率(分别为0.0334±0.0007、0.0327±0.0010、0.0335±0.0003和0.0346±0.0005h-1)。与其他已测试的物种相比,多刺裸腹溞对钼具有较强的敏感性;在所研究的生命表统计学参数中,种群内禀增长率是最敏感的指标。     

Dimethylsulfide and methane thiol in sediment porewater of a Danish estuary

Seasonal variation of dimethylsulfide (DMS) and methane thiol (MSH) concentrations in sediment porewater was determined in a Danish estuary. Dimethylsulfide (DMDS) was never found. Detectable DMS levels of up to 0.1 M were found only in the summer and only within the upper 5 cm of the sediment. The DMS accumulation was probably associated with decomposing fragments of macro-algae in the surface layer. Significant MSH accumulation of up to 1 M was found only in the deep, CH₄-rich sediment below the SO₄ ^2- zone. With depth, a detectable MSH level could thus be observed below the 1 mM SO₄ ^2--isopleth which also marked the SO₄ ^2--CH₄ transition. The transition zone was located deeper in the sediment in winter (20–25 cm depth) than in summer (5–10 cm depth). The absence of MSH in the SO₄ ^2- zone could be due to rapid utilization of the compound by SO₄ ^2--reducing bacteria. A possible involvement of MSH in anaerobic CH₄ oxidation at the transition zone is discussed; CH₄ and sulfide (HS^- form, pH 7) are proposed to form MSH and H₂ which in turn may be metabolized by, e.g. SO₄ ^2--reducing bacteria.     

杀虫双对菲隐翅虫的毒力测定

采用残膜法,室内对菲隐翅虫Philonthus sp.雌雄成虫进行毒力测定。实验结果表明,菲隐翅虫对杀虫双的耐药性雌性大于雄性。杀虫双对雌虫产卵的影响主要表现为雌成虫产卵数较少,并且卵的孵化率较低。