微生物耐砷机理及其在砷地球化学循环中的作用北大核心CSCD

砷是一种无处不在的有毒类金属,其强致癌性引起了人类的广泛关注。在自然环境中,砷的转化存在物理化学过程和生物过程,其中微生物介导的砷转化是环境砷行为的主要影响因素。微生物的耐砷特性与砷吸收、氧化还原、甲基化、区隔化和外排等过程密切相关。砷在微生物体内的转运转化主要与砷解毒有关,但某些微生物可利用氧化还原过程产生的能量以维持其生长需求。本文综述了微生物介导的砷吸收、转化、区隔化和外排机制,这对阐明砷的地球化学循环过程及指导砷污染土壤和水体修复、阻控农作物砷吸收等方面具有重要意义。     

Arsenic, microbes and contaminated aquifers

The health of tens of millions of people world-wide is at risk from drinking arsenic-contaminated well water. In most cases this arsenic occurs naturally within the sub-surface aquifers, rather than being derived from identifiable point sources of pollution. The mobilization of arsenic into the aqueous phase is the first crucial step in a process that eventually leads to human arsenicosis. Increasing evidence suggests that this is a microbiological phenomenon.     

Arsenic hazards: strategies for tolerance and remediation by plants

Arsenic toxicity has become a global concern owing to the ever-increasing contamination of water, soil and crops in many regions of the world. To limit the detrimental impact of arsenic compounds, efficient strategies such as phytoremediation are required. Suitable plants include arsenic hyperaccumulating ferns and aquatic plants that are capable of completing their life cycle in the presence of high levels of arsenic through the concerted action of arsenate reduction to arsenite, arsenite complexation, and vacuolar compartmentalization of complexed or inorganic arsenic. Tolerance can also be conferred by lowering arsenic uptake by suppression of phosphate transport activity, a major pathway for arsenate entry. In many unicellular organisms, arsenic tolerance is based on the active removal of cytosolic arsenite while limiting the uptake of arsenate. Recent molecular studies have revealed many of the gene products involved in these processes, providing the tools to improve crop species and to optimize phytoremediation; however, so far only single genes have been manipulated, which has limited progress. We will discuss recent advances and their potential applications, particularly in the context of multigenic engineering approaches.     

N-carbamoyl-beta-D(+)-glucopyranosylamine metabolism by rumen microbes

Degradation of N-carbamoyl-beta-D(+)-glucopyranosylamine (NCG) by rumen microorganisms in vitro required a viable population as it did not occur if the microbial preparation had been sterilized. Production of CO2 from glucose, or the glucose portion of NCG, was not affected by acetohydroxamic acid (AHA), but urea hydrolysis was inhibited by 79%. With N-[14C]carbamoyl-beta-D(+)-glucopyranosylamine, production of 14CO2 decreased and [14C]urea accumulated when AHA was included in the medium. Cell-free rumen fluid did not degrade NCG. These observations support the hypothesis that the first nitrogenous component formed from the degradation of NCG is urea.     

Enhancing soil carbon storage for carbon remediation: potential contributions and constraints by microbes

Terrestrial carbon sequestration represents an important option for partially mitigating anthropogenic CO(2) emissions. Evidence suggests that terrestrial ecosystems can be managed for carbon sequestration, but it is not certain to what extent the microbes within them can be manipulated. Challenges include identifying which specific microbes and mechanisms contribute to sequestered carbon; understanding how microbial communities respond over large spatial and long temporal scales to crucial environmental variables; and developing management strategies suitable for large spatial and long temporal scales. The growing recognition that microbes produce proteins that limit organic matter degradation suggests targets for basic research. Directly manipulating microbes to sequester CO(2) through other processes such as mineral formation offers intriguing alternatives that merit further attention, but at present the prospects for practical implementation appear remote.     

Arsenic metabolism and thioarsenicals

Arsenic has received considerable attention in the world, since it can lead to a multitude of toxic effects and has been recognized as a human carcinogen causing cancers. Here, we focus on the current state of knowledge regarding the proposed mechanisms of arsenic biotransformation, with a little about cellular uptake, toxicity and clinical utilization of arsenicals. Since pentavalent methylated metabolites were found in animal urine after exposure to iAs(III), methylation was considered to be a detoxification process, but the discovery of methylated trivalent intermediates and thioarsenicals in urine has diverted the view and gained much interest regarding arsenic biotransformation. To further investigate the partially understood phenomena relating to arsenic toxicity and the uses of arsenic as a drug, it is important to elucidate the exact pathways involved in metabolism of this metalloid, as the toxicity and the clinical uses of arsenic can be best recognized in context of its biotransformation. Thereby, in this perspective, we have focused on arsenic metabolic pathways including three proposed mechanisms: a classic pathway by Challenger in 1945, followed by a new metabolic pathway proposed by Hayakawa in 2005 involving arsenic-glutathione complexes, while the third is a new reductive methylation pathway that is proposed by our group involving As-protein complexes. According to previous and present in vivo and in vitro experiments, we conclude that the methylation reaction takes place with simultaneous reductive rather than stepwise oxidative methylation. In addition, production of pentavalent methylated arsenic metabolites are suggested to be as the end product of metabolism, rather than intermediates.     

Arsenic metabolism in freshwater and terrestrial plants

Freshwater and terrestrial plants differ markedly in their ability to metabolize arsenate. In experiments with higher terrestrial plants, e.g. tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Better boy, ⁷⁴As-arsenate was readily taken up and reduced to arsenite. Methylation and reduction to methanearsonic acid, methanearsinic acid (indicated for the first time) and dimethylarsinic acid were apparent only in phosphate deficient plants. Lower and higher freshwater plants, e.g. Nitella tenuissima Kütz. and Lemna minima Phill., not only methylated arsenic but also produced considerable amounts of an arsoniumphospholipid previously identified in marine algae. These differences indicate that freshwater but not terrestrial plants have evolved mechanisms for rapid detoxication of arsenate, arsenite and other toxic arsenic species.     

Arsenic possibly influences carcinogenesis by affecting arginine and zinc metabolism

The role of arsenic in carcinogenesis is controversial. There is no doubt arsenic can influence carcinogenesis under certain conditions. However, a review of the findings relating arsenic to cancer indicates that arsenic mainly affects carcinogenesis indirectly by influencing other metabolic systems (i.e., immune system) or nutrients (i.e., arginine, zinc) that may have a more direct role in the carcinogenic process. Depending upon the level of exposure, arsenic can either inhibit or activate interferon, an inhibitor of virus replication. Furthermore, arsenic can apparently inhibit some virusinduced tumorigenesis. However, once a tumor is initiated, arsenic enhances tumor growth, possibly by affecting the immune response. Recent experiments in our laboratory demonstrated that arsenic metabolically interacts with arginine and zinc, both of which apparently influence the immune response. Arsenic evidently has a role that strongly influences the metabolism of arginine, which is an immunostimulatory amino acid. Furthermore, the effect of arsenic on arginine metabolism is apparently modified by the zinc status of the animal. Because arsenic can apparently affect cancer development through several indirect or direct mechanisms, probably the only general conclusion that can be made about arsenic and cancer is that arsenic, depending upon dosage, route of administration, and chemical form, modifies the induction or development of some tumors.     

全球变化下海岸带微生物生态研究进展

海岸带地区是元素循环最活跃的自然区域之一,微生物作为地球元素循环的主要驱动者,对该区域生态系统中物质转化与能量流动起着至关重要的作用.本文从典型海岸带生态系统:海岸带湿地、海草床与海藻森林、近岸水体出发,围绕微生物参与的碳、氮循环过程以及其中的温室气体排放情况,综述了在全球气候变化与人为活动干扰的作用下,海岸带地区的微...     

紫色非硫细菌的砷代谢机制

[目的]系统阐述紫色非硫细菌(PNSB)砷代谢机制和砷代谢基因簇的进化关系.[方法]通过生物信息学方法分析了PNSB砷代谢基因簇的分布、组成、排布方式.采用UV-Vis和HPLC-ICP-MS方法,研究了3个PNSB种类对砷的抗性、砷形态及价态的转化、砷在细胞中的积累和分布以及磷酸盐对As细胞毒性的影响.[结果]砷基因簇分析表明:已公布全基因组序列的17个PNSB菌株基因组中均含有以ars operon为核心的砷代谢基因簇,由1-4个操纵子组成,主要含有与细胞质砷还原和砷甲基化代谢相关的基因,但基因的组成和排列方式因种和菌株而异,尤其是arsM和两类进化来源不同的arsC.实验结果表明:光照厌氧条件下,3个PNSB种类对As(V)和As(Ⅲ)均具有抗性,As(V)和As(Ⅲ)均能进入细胞 ;在胞内As(V)能够还原为As(Ⅲ)并被排出胞外,但不能将As(Ⅲ)氧化为As(V),也未检测到甲基砷化物 ;磷酸盐浓度升高,能够抑制As(V)进入细胞,降低As(V)对细胞的毒性,而不能抑制As(Ⅲ)进入细胞.[结论]PNSB砷代谢机制主体为细胞质As(V)还原,也还有砷甲基化途径.通过对砷代谢基因簇结构多样性特点和进化方式分析,提出了与Rosen不同的ars operon进化途径.这对深入开展PNSB砷代谢和基因之间的相互作用研究奠定基础.     

Arsenic metabolism in multiple myeloma and astrocytoma cells

Arsenic trioxide (As2O3, Trisenox) is used to treat patients with refractory or relapsed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Its ability to induce apoptosis in various malignant cell lines has made it a potential treatment agent for other malignancies and many clinical trials are currently in progress to evaluate its clinical usefulness for multiple myeloma and glioblastoma cancer. In the present study, we investigated the metabolism of As2O3 regarding its cellular biotransformation and interaction with metallothionein (MT) as a possible protective responses of cells to arsenic-induced cytotoxicity. The study was performed on two types of cell treated with As2O3: (1) human astrocytoma (glioblastoma) cell line U87MG treated with 0.6 microM arsenic for 0, 3, 12, 24, and 48 h or 12 microM arsenic for 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h and (2) bone marrow cells (BM) from two patients with multiple myeloma (MM) treated with 7 microM arsenic for 0, 43, and 67 h. Cotreatment with vitamin C (1 mg/mL) was tested in longer exposure of MM BM cells. Traces of methylation products (mainly monomethylarsenic acid) were detected in cell lysates of both cell types and in pellets of U87 MG cells, although we found problems with column-sample interactions in cases where methanol pretreatment of the sample was not used. Pentavalent inorganic arsenic (AsV) was identified in both cell types, and up to 80% of total As in MM bone marrow cell lysates was present as AsV. Such an occurrence (generation) of pentavalent arsenic after As2O3 treatment demonstrates the presence of biological oxidation of trivalent arsenic, which could represent an additional protective mechanism of the cell. Vitamin C decreased As cell content and increased the percentage of pentavalent inorganic arsenic (in the growth medium and cells). The presence of metallothionein (MT) and its response to arsenic treatment was checked in all U87 MG cells, in the control, and in one exposed sample of MM BM cells. During 48 h exposure to 0.6 or 12 muM arsenic MTI/II levels increased in U87 MG cells, but with variable Zn levels, increased Cu levels, and As binding observed in traces only. Involvement of the MT-III isoform was negligible. In contrast, 43 h exposure to 7 microMarsenic did not increase MT content in multiple myeloma cells, and the levels even decreased with respect to the control. To evaluate the importance of the observed processes, MTs in U87 and AsIII-AsV conversion in MM BM cells, which could represent a resistance response of cancer cells treated by As2O3, longer-term observation with different arsenic concentrations should be performed.     

微生物对砷的作用机理及利用真菌修复砷污染土壤的可行性

利用真菌修复砷污染土壤和水体具有很大的发展潜力,是环境科学领域研究的热点.环境中存在的砷虽然不能像有机污染物那样被微生物降解,但可以通过微生物对砷的氧化/还原、吸附/解吸、甲基化/去甲基化、沉淀/溶解等作用影响其生物有效性,从而达到降低环境中的砷毒害、修复砷污染环境的目的.本文阐述了微生物对砷的作用机理,综述了真菌对砷累积与挥发研究的最新进展,探讨了其在修复砷污染土壤方面的可行性,旨在为利用真菌来修复砷污染土壤提供理论依据.