Effects of aluminum on light energy utilization and photoprotective systems in citrus leaves

* BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Under high photon flux, excitation energy may be in excess in aluminum (Al)-treated leaves, which use a smaller fraction of the absorbed light in electron transport due to decreased CO2 assimilation compared with normal leaves. The objectives of this study were to test the hypothesis that the antioxidant systems are up-regulated in Al-treated citrus leaves and correlate with protection from photoxidative damage, and to test whether xanthophyll cycle-dependent thermal energy dissipation is involved in dissipating excess excitation energy. * METHODS: 'Cleopatra' tangerine seedlings were fertilized and irrigated daily for 8 weeks with quarter-strength Hoagland's nutrient solution containing Al at a concentration of 0 or 2 mM from Al2(SO4)3.18H2O. Thereafter, leaf absorptance, chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence, Al, pigments, antioxidant enzymes and metabolites were measured on fully expanded leaves. * KEY RESULTS: Compared with control leaves, energy was in excess in Al-treated leaves, which had smaller thermal energy dissipation, indicated by non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). In contrast, conversion of violaxanthin (V) to antheraxanthin (A) and zeaxanthin (Z) at midday increased in both treatments, but especially in Al-treated leaves, although A + Z accounted for less 40 % of the total xanthophyll cycle pool in them. Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDAR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), glutathione reductase (GR) and catalase (CAT), and concentrations of ascorbate (AsA), dehydroascorbate (DASA), reduced glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) were higher in Al-treated than in control leaves. * CONCLUSIONS: These results corroborate the hypothesis that, compared with control leaves, antioxidant systems are up-regulated in Al-treated citrus leaves and protect from photoxidative damage, whereas thermal energy dissipation was decreased. Thus, antioxidant systems are more important than thermal energy dissipation in dissipating excess excitation energy in Al-treated citrus leaves.     

外源抗坏血酸缓解水稻幼苗的铝胁迫效应

为探讨外源抗坏血酸对铝胁迫下水稻氧化损伤的影响,该文以峰1A(不育系,籼稻)和滇优35号(杂交,粳稻)两个水稻品种为材料,采用溶液培养法研究外源抗坏血酸(AsA)对50μmol·L^-1Al³⁺胁迫下水稻根尖H₂O₂和内源AsA含量以及抗氧化酶活性的影响。结果表明:铝胁迫24 h时,水稻根尖内源AsA含量为对照的0.90倍,与对照相比,根尖H₂O₂增加了0.55倍至1.3倍,SOD、POD、CAT及APX活性分别增加了0.83倍至1.6倍、1.0倍至1.3倍、0.85倍至1.2倍、1.0倍至1.8倍;外源AsA处理铝胁迫水稻24 h,水稻根尖内源AsA含量为对照的1.2倍,SOD、POD、CAT及APX活性分别增加了1.2倍至2.2倍、1.5倍至1.6倍、1.3倍至1.7倍、1.2倍至2.6倍,根尖H₂O₂含量增加了0.1倍至0.6倍。这些研究结果说明铝胁迫加剧了细胞膜的过氧化程度,并诱导抗氧化酶活性以清除活性氧,...     

Effects of aluminum chloride on normal and uremic adult male rats

Normal and uremic adult male rats were given a daily ip injection of 20 mg Al (Al chloride)/kg for 14 d. The results indicate that Al induces a significant decrease in food ingestion, weight gain, and total protein concentration in the plasma. Compared with control animals, very high increases in Al levels were found in plasma and hepatic homogenates (about 36 and 19 times, respectively). In the brain homogenates, the Al increases were lower (about 23%). The brain cholineacetyltransferase activity was reduced: 10.6 and 14.9% in normal and uremic rats, respectively. The nephrectomy and the food restriction did not affect the total protein concentrations in plasma and the cerebral cholineacetyltransferase activity. Both were only found to be reduced in the rats treated by Al chloride.     

Where bio meets nano: the many uses for nanoporous aluminum oxide in biotechnology

Porous aluminum oxide (PAO) is a ceramic formed by an anodization process of pure aluminum that enables the controllable assembly of exceptionally dense and regular nanopores in a planar membrane. As a consequence, PAO has a high porosity, nanopores with high aspect ratio, biocompatibility and the potential for high sensitivity imaging and diverse surface modifications. These properties have made this unusual material attractive to a disparate set of applications. This review examines how the structure and properties of PAO connect with its present and potential uses within research and biotechnology. The role of PAO is covered in areas including microbiology, mammalian cell culture, sensitive detection methods, microarrays and other molecular assays, and in creating new nanostructures with further uses within biology.     

尾巨桉DH3229幼苗对硝普钠-酸铝互作的响应

该研究以广西林业科学研究院提供的尾巨桉DH3229幼苗为材料,以分析纯AlCl3·6H2O为铝(Al)的供体,以硝普钠(SNP)为一氧化氮(NO)的供体,设置3个SNP浓度(0、10、500μmol·L~(-1))和2个Al水平(0、5 mmol·L~(-1)),每5 d浇一次含不同浓度Al和SNP的营养液,持续20周,分析Al胁迫对幼苗生长生理特性的影响,并探讨不同浓度外源SNP施加对植物Al毒害有无缓解作用及其缓解机理。结果表明:Al施加能显著降低尾巨桉DH3229幼苗的生物量、叶片叶绿素a、总叶绿素含量、叶绿素a/b值和可溶性糖含量;Al胁迫显著增加幼苗相对电导率、MDA、SOD、游离脯氨酸含量。外源施加适量(10μmol·L~(-1))的SNP能使Al胁迫下桉树幼苗根和叶等生物量、叶片叶绿素含量以及Chl a/b显著提高,同时降低其相对电导率、MDA含量和游离脯氨酸含量。可见,SNP具有双重性,适量SNP施加可有效缓解Al对桉树生长的胁迫,高浓度(500μmol·L~(-1)) SNP则产生硝化胁迫从而抑制桉树的生长。     

Genotoxic and cytotoxic effects induced by aluminum in the lymphocytes of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Few studies have been made in regard to the effect of aluminum on the molecular and cellular structure and function of aquatic organisms; therefore, in the present report we determined the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects induced by the metal on the lymphocytes of carp (Cyprinus carpio). Three groups of fish were exposed to 0.05, 120, and 239 mg/L of aluminum (Al), respectively, by using Al₂ (SO₄)₃·7H₂O, and another group was included as control. The cells obtained were studied with the comet assay, flow cytometry, and the TUNEL method. With the first method we found a concentration and time dependent, significant increase in the amount of DNA damage induced by Al, and a higher damage when we evaluated the level of oxidized DNA. By applying flow cytometry we established that the metal induced a DNA content increase and ploidy modifications as well as apoptosis and disturbances of the cell cycle progression. With the last method we determined a significant increase in the amount of apoptotic cells, mainly in the 72–96 h period. Our results established that Al caused deleterious DNA and cellular effects in the tested organism, and they suggested the pertinence of evaluating toxicity induced by the metal in organisms living in contaminated water bodies.     

外源NO处理对四种桉树幼苗铝胁迫抗性的影响

为探究外源一氧化氮(NO)对铝胁迫下桉树幼苗耐铝性的影响，该研究以4种3月生桉树幼苗(巨桉、尾叶桉、圆角桉、尾巨桉)为对象，将硝普钠(SNP)作为外源NO供体，采用水培法，研究不同浓度NO(0、50、100、200、400、800μmol·L^-1)对120 mg·L^-1铝胁迫条件下桉树幼苗的ROS、抗氧化酶活性和有机渗透调节物质含量等生理指标的影响，并比较4种桉树在NO处理下的耐铝性差异。结果表明：(1)铝胁迫下添加适宜浓度外源NO (50μmol·L^-1≤NO≤200μmol·L^-1),可促使4种桉树提高可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白的含量、抗氧化酶(SOD、POD、CAT、APX)活性，清除体内的ROS和降低MDA的积累，提高抗铝性，但在高浓度的NO(≥800μmol·L^-1)处理下桉树幼苗的抗氧化酶活性和渗透调节物质含量降低，表现出胁迫反应。(2)NO对于敏感型桉树的耐铝性有较强的提升作用，对耐受型桉树的耐铝性提升不明显，在NO的作用下4种桉树的抗铝性最终趋于一致。(3)SOD、M...     

铝胁迫对拟南芥根尖ＡｔＰＩＮ２ 蛋白表达活性的影响

铝胁迫能影响根尖生长素的运输,这与生长素运输载体密切相关,PIN2作为根尖生长素的运输蛋白,其独特的组织定位可能诱导PIN2蛋白参与了铝调节生长素的运输过程。该研究以拟南芥PIN2缺失突变体( pin2)、PIN2□∷□GFP融合体及其野生型( WT)为材料,应用激光扫描共聚焦显微技术,研究铝处理对拟南芥根尖生长素运输蛋白PIN2的表达活性、蛋白在组织及亚细胞水平分布及其对铝内置化作用的影响。结果表明：短期铝处理或低铝浓度能明显增加拟南芥根尖细胞PIN2蛋白表达活性,而长期铝处理或高铝浓度抑制其表达活性;以100μmol?L-1 AlCl3处理4 h的蛋白表达活性最高。蛋白印迹反应发现,铝处理促进PIN2蛋白在细胞膜上累积,减少胞内囊泡中PIN2蛋白的含量;囊泡运输抑制剂( BFA)能抑制铝诱导PIN2蛋白的分配。铝胁迫增加拟南芥根尖细胞H2 O2累积,pin2的H2 O2累积量大于WT,而相对根长小于WT。 Morin染色结果显示,pin2的铝内置化显著小于WT。上述研究表明,PIN2蛋白在100μmol?L-1 AlCl3处理条件下活性最高,细胞膜累积程度加强,铝内置化能力增强,从而调节根系的生长发育。该研究结果进一步为铝抑制生长素的运输机制提供了理论基础。     

In vivo and in vitro effects of aluminum treatment on rat liver mitochondrial function

This study examines the effect on mitochondrial respiration and permeability of in vivo and in vitro aluminium (Al) exposure. Rats were treated intraperitoneally with AlCl₃ to achieve serum and liver Al concentrations comparable to those seen in Al-related disorders. Mitochondria isolated from Al-treated rats had higher (p<0.01) Al concentration, lower (p<0.05) state 3 respiration, respiratory control (RCR), and ADP/O ratio (succinate substrate), and greater passive swelling in 100 mM KCl or 200 mM NH₄NO₃ than controls. The in vitro addition of Al (0–180 μM) to mitochondria from normal rats also decreased (p<0.01) state 3 respiration, RCR, and ADP/O and stimulated passive swelling in KCl and NH₄NO₃ at 42–180 μM Al. These studies show that Al depresses mitochondrial energy metabolism and increases membrane permeability. The toxicity associated with Al may be related to its effect on mitochondria.     

Metabolic reengineering invoked by microbial systems to decontaminate aluminum: Implications for bioremediation technologies

As our reliance on aluminum (Al) increases, so too does its presence in the environment and living systems. Although generally recognized as safe, its interactions with most living systems have been nefarious. This review presents an overview of the noxious effects of Al and how a subset of microbes can rework their metabolic pathways in order to survive an Al-contaminated environment. For instance, in order to expulse the metal as an insoluble precipitate, Pseudomonas fluorescens shuttles metabolites toward the production of organic acids and lipids that play key roles in chelating, immobilizing and exuding Al. Further, the reconfiguration of metabolic modules enables the microorganism to combat the dearth of iron (Fe) and the excess of reactive oxygen species (ROS) promoted by Al toxicity. While in Rhizobium spp., exopolysaccharides have been invoked to sequester this metal, an ATPase is known to safeguard Anoxybacillus gonensis against the trivalent metal. Hydroxyl, carboxyl and phosphate moieties have also been exploited by microbes to trap Al. Hence, an understanding of the metabolic networks that are operative in microorganisms residing in polluted environments is critical in devising bioremediation technologies aimed at managing metal wastes. Metabolic engineering is essential in elaborating effective biotechnological processes to decontaminate metal-polluted surroundings.     

Effects of dietary tin and aluminum on selenium utilization by adult males

The main purpose of these studies was to determine whether the amounts of tin and aluminum that can enter foods during processing and storage are sufficient to affect the utilization of selenium by human subjects. Two 40-day balance studies were conducted. The eight adult males who participated in the first study lost significantly more selenium in their feces when fed a test diet containing 50 mg tin daily than when fed the control diet containing 0.1 mg tin daily. During the first study subjects tended to excrete less selenium in the urine when fed the test diet rather than the control diet. In the second study, the dietary treatments (5 and 125 mg aluminum daily) had no effect on the excretion and apparent retention of selenium by eight adult males.     

外源水杨酸对铝胁迫下菊芋根系分泌物的影响

为探究铝胁迫对菊芋根系分泌物的影响以及外源水杨酸(SA)的缓解作用,该文以耐铝型南京菊芋和铝敏感型资阳菊芋为试验材料,采用土培法,设置铝浓度500μmol·L^-1,分析了不同浓度(10、100、1 000μmol·L^-1)SA对铝胁迫下菊芋根系分泌物中有机酸、氨基酸以及根尖相关代谢酶活的影响。结果表明：(1)单铝胁迫会导致菊芋根系分泌物中柠檬酸、草酸、苹果酸浓度升高,且南京菊芋升高幅度大于资阳菊芋;柠檬酸合酶和苹果酸脱氢酶在单铝胁迫下活性增强;脯氨酸含量显著提升,总氨基酸浓度均显著减少。(2)外源SA加入后,南京菊芋根系分泌的柠檬酸、草酸、苹果酸浓度均得到不同程度提高,但经高浓度(1 000μmol·L^-1)SA处理后资阳菊芋根系分泌草酸显著降低,且在各浓度SA处理下苹果酸浓度均无明显变化;柠檬酸合酶活性出现不同程度的增强,但对南京菊芋根尖中苹果酸脱氢酶活性影响不大,且高浓度(1 000μmol·L^-1)SA处理后显著降低了资阳菊芋根尖中苹果酸脱氢酶活性;脯氨酸含量显著下降,从总氨基酸浓度变化来看,...     

花生铝响应类受体蛋白激酶AhPRK4的原核表达分析

花粉类受体蛋白激酶(pollen receptor-like protein kinase,PRK)是一类富含LRR结构域的类受体蛋白激酶,不仅在花粉发育和植物受精中发挥作用,也在胁迫响应中发挥作用。基于对前期花生根尖铝胁迫转录组数据的分析,我们发现了在转录水平响应铝胁迫的花粉类受体蛋白激酶基因AhPRK4,为探究AhPRK4在花生铝胁迫中的功能,该文进一步分析了铝胁迫处理下AhPRK4在花生耐铝品种‘99-1507''和铝敏感品种‘中花2号''(‘ZH2'')根尖中的转录变化,通过序列分析、进化树构建等分析了AhPRK4蛋白的结构特点和亲缘关系,克隆了AhPRK4的胞内域序列(AhPRK4-CD),并通过原核表达和体外磷酸化体系分析了AhPRK4-CD的自磷酸化活性。结果表明:(1)不同铝处理时间及不同铝浓度处理后,AhPRK4的转录水平上调,显著响应铝处理,是铝诱导基因;(2)AhPRK4含有673个氨基酸,属于LRR-III蛋白激酶家族成员,具跨膜域和信号肽,且预测具有磷酸化活性位点;(3)体外诱导表达出约71 kD的可溶性蛋白(GST-AhPRK4-CD),经凝胶亲和层析纯化,得到基于蛋白印迹实验(Western Blot)验证正确的重组蛋白,重组蛋白可发生磷酸化修饰,但无明显的自磷酸化现象。综上认为,AhPRK4是一个铝胁迫应答基因,参与花生铝胁迫早期应答机制,且能发生磷酸化修饰。     

Effects of aluminum on the release and-or immobilization of soluble phosphate in corn root tissue

The effects of aluminum ions on the generation of mobile inorganic phosphate (Pi) within the cells of excised maize (Zea mays L.) root tips were examined using ³¹P-nuclear magnetic resonance (³¹P-NMR) spectroscopy. When perfused with a solution containing 50 mM glucose and 0.1–5.0 mM Ca²⁺ at pH 4.0, 3–5-mm-long excised maize root tips from 3-d-old seedlings showed a significant (approx. 100%) increase in the amount of mobile Pi, (primarily vacuolar) over a period of 30 h. This increase was above that which can be accounted for by the hydrolysis of endogenous sugar phosphates and nucleotides. A change of the pH of the perfusion solution to 7.0 reduced the increase in Pi to approx. 50%. Omission of Ca²⁺ in the solution at pH 4.0 caused the mobile Pi to increase to about 170%. However, the presence of Al³⁺ or both Ca²⁺ and Al³⁺ in the solution resulted in a significant loss (35–50%) of mostly vacuolar Pi over the same period of time. When root tips containing up to 65% of newly released Pi, produced after 20 h perfusion, were exposed to Al³⁺, no additional increase in the level of the mobile-Pi signal area was noted. Exposure to Al³⁺ with Ca²⁺ and glucose under hypoxia at pH 4.0 resulted in a threefold decrease in intracellular Pi content after the root tips were returned to aerobic conditions. These results indicate that external pH plays an important role in the generation of mobile intracellular Pi and that the presence of both Ca²⁺ and Al³⁺ can independently suppress the production of this excess Pi and ultimately reduce the vacuolar Pi.Abbreviations and symbols NMR nuclear magnetic resonance - Pi morganic phosphate - UDPG uridine diphosphoglucose - chemical shift     

Phosphorus deficiency enhances aluminum tolerance of rice (Oryza sativa) by changing the physicochemical characteristics of root plasma membranes and cell walls

The negative charge at the root surface is mainly derived from the phosphate group of phospholipids in plasma membranes (PMs) and the carboxyl group of pectins in cell walls, which are usually neutralized by calcium (Ca) ions contributing to maintain the root integrity. The major toxic effect of aluminum (Al) in plants is the inhibition of root elongation due to Al binding tightly to these negative sites in exchange for Ca. Because phospholipid and pectin concentrations decrease in roots of some plant species under phosphorus (P)-limiting conditions, we hypothesized that rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings grown under P-limiting conditions would demonstrate enhanced Al tolerance because of their fewer sites on their roots. For pretreatment, rice seedlings were grown in a culture solution with (+P) or without (−P) P. Thereafter, the seedlings were transferred to a solution with or without Al, and the lipid, pectin, hemicellulose, and mineral concentrations as well as Al tolerance were then determined. Furthermore, the low-Ca tolerance of P-pretreated seedlings was investigated under different pH conditions. The concentrations of phospholipids and pectins in the roots of rice receiving −P pretreatment were lower than those receiving +P pretreatment. As expected, seedlings receiving the −P pretreatment showed enhanced Al tolerance, accompanied by the decrease in Al accumulation in their roots and shoots. This low P-induced enhanced Al tolerance was not explained by enhanced antioxidant activities or organic acid secretion from roots but by the decrease in phospholipid and pectin concentrations in the roots. In addition, low-Ca tolerance of the roots was enhanced by the −P pretreatment under low pH conditions. This low P-induced enhancement of low-Ca tolerance may be related to the lower Ca requirement to maintain PM and cell wall structures in roots of rice with fewer phospholipids and pectins.     

Effect of oral aluminum and aluminum citrate on blood level and short-term tissue distribution of aluminum in the rat

Aluminum (Al) absorption seems to be very low, but many factors can enhance it in animals and humans. In the present study, we investigated the acute effect of Na citrate on Al absorption by monitoring Al levels in blood and several tissues. For this purpose, 18 Wistar male rats were divided into 3 groups: control, Al, and Al + Na citrate. After a 14-h fasting period, animals were dosed orally with deionized water, or 2 mmol Al chloride, or 2 mmol Al chloride plus 2 mmol Na citrate. Blood samples were taken before and 1, 2, 4, and 6 h after the gavage. Al concentrations in blood, liver, tibia, kidney, and intestinal wall were determined by ICP-OES. In the Al and Al + citrate groups, Al blood concentrations peaked at 1 h and 2 h with higher levels in the Al + citrate group. Al gavage resulted in an increase in Al level in intestinal wall, but not in the other investigated tissues. Simultaneous gavage of citrate with Al significantly increased its tissue levels in tibia, kidney, and in intestinal wall. Our data show clearly that Al as chloride can be absorbed, but not well retained by the organism tissues. Furthermore, the model used in the present study is appropriate for acute studies to investigate the effect of various compounds on Al absorption in the rat.     

Apoplastic binding of aluminum is involved in silicon-induced amelioration of aluminum toxicity in maize

The alleviating effect of silicon (Si) supply on aluminum (Al) toxicity was suggested to be based on ex or in planta mechanisms. In our experiments with the Al-sensitive maize (Zea mays) cultivar Lixis, Si treatment but not Si pretreatment ameliorated Al-induced root injury as revealed by less root-growth inhibition and callose formation. Si treatment did not affect monomeric Al concentrations in the nutrient solution, suggesting an in planta effect of Si on Al resistance. A fractionated analysis of Si and Al in the 1-cm root apices revealed that more than 85% of the root-tip Al was bound in the cell wall. Al contents in the apoplastic sap, the symplastic sap, and the cell wall did not differ between -Si and +Si plants. Si did not affect the Al-induced exudation of organic acid anions and phenols from the root apices. However, Al treatment greatly enhanced Si accumulation in the cell wall fraction, reducing the mobility of apoplastic Al. From our data we conclude that Si treatment leads to the formation of hydroxyaluminumsilicates in the apoplast of the root apex, thus detoxifying Al.     

The effect of aluminum chloride on some steps of heme biosynthesis in rats after oral exposure

Certain disturbances in heme biosynthesis induced by aluminum chloride were examined. The experiment was performed on female rats that received AlCl₃ orally at the dose 100 mg Al/kg daily for 21 d. The effects of aluminum on the activity of delta-aminolevulinic acid synthetase (ALA-S), dehydratase (ALA-D), and heme oxygenase (O.H.) were observed on 3, 7, 14, and 21 d in liver and kidneys of rats. Also the activity of ALA-D in blood and the concentration of delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA-U) in urine were observed. Orally administered aluminum caused increase in the activity of ALA-D in the liver and blood, and parallel decrease of ALA-U in urine (r=−0.85) of rats. Aluminum chloride also induced an increase of ALA-S and O.H. in the liver but not in the kidneys. The changes of the enzymes activity participating in heme biosynthesis after administration of aluminum may be correlated with anemia and iron metabolism in rats.