Changes in antioxidant enzyme activity in the fine roots of black poplar (Populus nigra L.) and cottonwood (Populus deltoides Bartr. ex Marsch) in a heavy-metal-polluted environment

The effect of heavy metal deposition onto soil from a copper smelter on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activity in the fine roots of two poplars (Populus nigra L. and Populus deltoides Bartr. ex Marsch) was analyzed. The subjects were mature trees growing in real environments. In both analyzed species, heavy metals stimulated the overproduction of free radicals in fine roots (measured as malondialdehyde level), which was directly proportional to advancing senescence. In young fine roots, heavy metals caused a decrease in guaiacol peroxidase activity and presumably disturbed the lignification process. Catalase was highly sensitive to the presence of heavy metals in the soil. In contrast, ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities were unaffected by heavy metals. In the case of superoxide dismutase, a clear increase in enzyme activity was observed only in P. nigra under drought conditions, whereas it was inhibited in polluted stands.     

Effect of sewage wastewater treated byNostoc muscorum andAnabaena subcylindrica on the growth ofZea mays andPhaseolus vulgaris

Zea mays (Sakha 321 ) andPhaseolus vulagris (Giza 6) were irrigated with sewage wastewater treated withNostoc muscorum andAnabaena subcylindrica. The results showed that irrigation of plants by untreated or treated wastewater caused stimulation in the measured growth parameters of both plants. In addition pigmentation as well as protein and carbohydrate contents were stimulated. This stimulation was attributed to the presence of high levels of essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic matters in wastewater. On the other side, there was a slight inhibitory effect of wastewater on some measured growth parameters of the plants. This effect may be due to the presence of some heavy metals in wastewater.     

Proline alleviates heavy metal stress inScenedesmus armatus

Growth and some metabolic activities ofScenedesmus armatus grown in the presence of different heavy metals (Cd, Mn and Ni) with and without exogenously added proline (Pro) were monitored. The growth ofS. armatus cells (cell concentration, pigment and dry mass) was inhibited by all these heavy metals. Addition of Pro to the culture medium minimized the toxic effect of the metals. The growth rate was somewhat higher in Pro-containing cultures and started to decline I d later than in cultures containing heavy metals alone.S. armatus cells accumulated the added Pro in response to heavy metals. The accumulation correlated with protein content. Cd was the strongest inducer of Pro accumulation, Mn being the weakest. Cells accumulated nickel more than cadmium and manganese. Heavy metal-treated cells had increased peroxidase and catalase activities.     

Porphyrin metabolism in lead and mercury treated bajra (Pennisetum typhoideum) seedlings

Lead and mercury inhibited porphyrin biosynthesis significantly in the germinating seeds of bajra (Pennisetum typhoideum). Both 5-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase and porphobilinogen deaminase activities were inhibited by these metals. A comparative study of the inhibition of these two enzymes under invivo andin vitro conditions showed that 5-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase is the major site of action of heavy metals in porphyrin biosynthesis. Further, over-all production of porphyrinsviz., protoporphyrin-IX, Mg-protoporphyrin (ester) and protochlorophyllide was repressed by lead and mercury in both light and dark grown seedlings. Similarly, chlorophylla and chlorophyllb and total chlorophyll contents in dark-grown seedlings were also significantly decreased, suggesting the impairment of chlorophyll biosynthesis by lead and mercury in germinating seedlings.     

Interactions of lichens with heavy metals

Recent developments in knowledge about the interactions between lichens and heavy metals at different levels, from populations to cells and from ecology to molecular biology are reviewed. Sources of heavy metals, mechanisms of heavy metal accumulation and detoxification by lichens are discussed. Special emphasis is placed on ultrastructural changes as well as physiological parameters such as membrane integrity, pigment composition, chlorophyll a fluorescence, photosynthesis, respiration, contents of ATP, amino acids, ergosterol, ethylene, non-protein thiols, activity of antioxidant enzymes and expression of stress proteins.     

Effects of modified carbon black nanoparticles on plant-microbe remediation of petroleum and heavy metal co-contaminated soils

Abstract

Little is known about the effect of modified carbon black nanoparticles (MNCB) on the availability of heavy metals and petroleum degradation in petroleum and heavy metals co-contaminated soils. The overall objective of this study was to investigate the simultaneous effect of MNCB on heavy metal immobilization and petroleum biodegradation in co-contaminated soil in plant and plant-microbe combined remediation. The results showed that the petroleum degradation increased by 50% in petroleum-Cd co-contaminated soil and 65% in petroleum-Ni co-contaminated soil in plant-microbe combined remediation, comparing with the plant remediation and the application of MNCB did not show significant improvement on petroleum degradation in both plant and plant-microbe combined remediation. MNCB could significantly reduce the availability of heavy metals in soil and the uptakes of Cd and Ni by Suaeda salsa by roughly 18 and 10% and improve the growth of plant by alleviating the growth inhibition caused by heavy metals. The application of Bacillus subtilis and Sphingobacterium multivorum (heavy metal tolerant bacteria) inhibited the biomass of Suaeda salsa by enhancing the petroleum degradation. It could be concluded that MNCB played a major role in immobilizing the heavy metals and bacteria dominated the petroleum degradation in petroleum-metal co-contaminated soil.     

Heavy metal tolerance in marine strains of Yarrowia lipolytica

Heavy metal tolerance of two marine strains of Yarrowia lipolytica was tested on solid yeast extract peptone dextrose agar plates. Based on minimum inhibitory concentration esteems, it is inferred that the two strains of Y. lipolytica were tolerant to heavy metals such as Pb(II), Cr(III), Zn(II), Cu(II), As(V), and Ni(II) ions. The impact of various heavy metal concentrations on the growth kinetics of Y. lipolytica was likewise assessed. With increased heavy metal concentration, the specific growth rate was reduced with delayed doubling time. Furthermore, biofilm development of both yeasts on the glass surfaces and in microtitre plates was assessed in presence of different heavy metals. In microtitre plates, a short lag phase of biofilm formation was noticed without the addition of heavy metals in yeast nitrogen base liquid media. A lag phase was extended over increasing metal concentrations of media. Heavy metals like Cr(VI), Cd(II), and As(V) are contrastingly influenced on biofilms’ formation of microtitre plates. Other heavy metals did not much influence on biofilms development. Thus, biofilm formation is a strategy of Y. lipolytica under stress of heavy metals has significance in bioremediation process for recovery of heavy metals from contaminated environment.

     

Thiobacillus ferrooxidans response to copper and other heavy metals: growth, protein synthesis and protein phosphorylation

Respirometric experiments demonstrated that the oxygen uptake by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans strain LR was not inhibited in the presence of 200 mM copper. Copper-treated and untreated cells from this T. ferrooxidans strain were used in growth experiments in the presence of cadmium, copper, nickel and zinc. Growth in the presence of copper was improved by the copper-treated cells. However, no growth was observed for these cells, within 190 h of culture, when cadmium, nickel and zinc were added to the media. Changes in the total protein synthesis pattern were detected by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis for T. ferrooxidans LR cells grown in the presence of different heavy metals. Specific proteins were induced by copper (16, 28 and 42 kDa) and cadmium (66 kDa), whereas proteins that had their synthesis repressed were observed for all the heavy metals tested. Protein induction was also observed in the cytosolic and membrane fractions from T. ferrooxidans LR cells grown in the presence of copper. The level of protein phosphorylation was increased in the presence of this metal.     

金毛狗对重金属的富集特性的研究

为探讨金毛狗[Cibotium barometz(L.) J. Sm.]对重金属的富集能力,在广东省选取6个样点(南岭、南昆山、白云山、大岭山、梧桐山、西樵山)采集金毛狗的叶片、根状茎和根际土壤,采用ICP-MS测定9种重金属元素(Cr、Mn、Ni、Cu、Zn、As、Cd、Hg、Pb)的含量。结果表明,样地土壤已受到不同程度的重金属污染,土壤中Cd和Hg含量均高于广东省土壤背景值,分别为背景值的1.61~4.82倍和4.74~11.79倍。西樵山土壤中Cd含量最大,南岭土壤中Hg含量最大。在9种元素中,金毛狗对Hg的转运系数最高,达4.8,对Cd的富集系数最高,达2.2,Cu和Cd元素的转运系数和富集系数均大于1。这说明金毛狗对重金属元素的富集能力较弱而转运能力较强。     

Molecular Characterization of Endophytic Bacteria from Metal Hyperaccumulator Aquatic Plant (Eichhornia crassipes) and Its Role in Heavy Metal Removal

In this study, among a collection of heavy metals resistant endophytic bacterial strains isolated from aquatic hyperaccumulator plant (Eichhornia crassipes), one plant growth promoting endophytic bacteria (PGPE), SVUB4 was selected for its ability to utilize 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) as the sole N source and accumulate different heavy metals. The SVUB4 strain was characterized as Enterobacter sp. on the basis of its 16S rDNA sequences. Assessment of the parameters of plant growth promotion revealed the intrinsic ability of the strain for the production of IAA, siderophore and solubilization of insoluble phosphate. Furthermore, plasmid DNA analysis of Enterobacter sp. strain SVUB4 indicated the presence of a single large plasmid element. The results of plasmid curing experiments demonstrated that the ability of this strain to grow in presence of Cd and Zn was encoded by the 98 kb plasmid, whereas the ability to grow in the presence of Pb appeared to be encoded by the chromosome. The Cd and Zn removal capacity of the respective metal sensitive strain (plasmidless) were about 36 and 45 μg/g-1 DW, respectively, while the removal capacity of the both metal by metal resistant strain (p SVUB4) showed a significantly higher Cd and Zn removal capacity of 153 and 228 μg/g^?1 DW, respectively. However, both strains exhibited a similar pattern of Pb accumulation. The present observation also showed that for wild-type strain SVUB4 (pSVUB4), the overall level of IAA production in the absence and in the presence of Cd²⁺ or Zn²⁺was approximately the same. Nevertheless, strain SVUB4M in this respect appeared to be more sensitive to heavy metals: a noticeable decrease in IAA production was observed under the effect of both metals, especially with Cd²⁺.     

Nutrients and heavy metal contamination of plants and sediments in Futian mangrove forest

An ecological survey was carried out to determine the levels of nutrients and heavy metals in the sediments and leaf tissues of two dominant mangrove plant species, Kandelia candel and Aegiceras corniculatum, in Futian mangrove forest, Shenzhen, the People's Republic of China. The spatial and seasonal variations of these elements were also investigated. The results show that there was no major difference between two sampling sites 150 m apart. In both sites, the sediment concentrations of total and NH₄ ⁺-N, total and extractable P, total and extractable K, total organic carbon were consistently higher in the landward locations and decreased gradually towards the sea. The sediment sample collected at the seaward edge of the mangrove plant community had the lowest levels of nutrient and organic matter. The vertical variations (from the land to the sea) of sediment heavy metals were less obvious and no particular trend could be identified. Extremely high contents of Cu, Cd, Pb, Cr and Zn were found at certain locations, suggesting the occurrence of some local contamination. The mean total metal concentrations in sediments decreased in the order Mn > Zn > Cu > Cr = Pb > Cd for the sample locations. Most of the heavy metals were not in a bioavailable form as the concentrations of extractable metals were relatively low (< 1% of total metals). Pb, Cr and Cd were not detected in leaf samples. Leaf C, N, P and K contents were similar between the two species and no significant difference was found among locations, although A. corniculatum seemed to have lower Mn concentrations than K. candel. With reference to temporal variations, no significant difference in sediment concentrations of some nutrients and metals was found between the spring and autumn seasons.     

Native Australian Species are Effective in Extracting Multiple Heavy Metals from Biosolids

Selecting native plant species with characteristics suitable for extraction of heavy metals may have multiple advantages over non-native plants. Six Australian perennial woody plant species and one willow were grown in a pot trial in heavy metal-contaminated biosolids and a potting mix. The plants were harvested after fourteen months and above-ground parts were analysed for heavy metal concentrations and total metal contents. All native species were capable of growing in biosolids and extracted heavy metals to varying degrees. No single species was able to accumulate heavy metals at particularly high levels and metal extraction depended upon the bioavailability of the metal in the substrate. Metal extraction efficiency was driven by biomass accumulation, with the species extracting the most metals also having the greatest biomass yield. The study demonstrated that Grevillea robusta, Acacia mearnsii, Eucalyptus polybractea, and E. cladocalyx have the greatest potential as phytoextractor species in the remediation of heavy metal-contaminated biosolids. Species survival and growth were the main determinants of metal extraction efficiency and these traits will be important for future screening of native species.     

Heavy Metal Phytotoxicity to Radish (Raphanus sativus L.) in a Digested Sludge-amended Gangetic Alluvium

A limiting factor in land application of sewage sludge is the resultant heavy metal accumulation in soils followed by biomagnification in the food chain, posing a potential hazard to animal and human health. In view of this fact, pot experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of digested sludge application to soil on phytotoxicity of heavy metals such as Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb to radish (Raphanus sativus L.) plants. Increasing sludge levels resulted in increased levels of DTPA-extractable heavy metals in the soil. Cadmium was the dominant metal extracted by DTPA followed by Ni, Pb, and Cr. The extractability of metals by DTPA tended to decrease from the first to the second crop. Dry matter yield of radish increased significantly as a function of increasing sludge treatments. Soil application of sludge raised the concentration of one or more heavy metals in plants. Shoots contained higher concentrations of Cd, Cr, and Ni than the roots of radish plants. Shoot concentrations of Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb were within the tolerance levels of this crop at all rates of sludge application. Shoot as well as root concentration of Cd was above 0.5 mg kg^?1, considered toxic for human and animal consumption. The levels of DTPA-extractable Cd and Ni were less correlated while those of Cr and Pb were more correlated with their respective shoot and root contents. The results emphasize that accumulation of potentially toxic heavy metals in soil and their build-up in vegetable crops should not be ignored when sludge is applied as an amendment to land.     

Growth of human tumor cell lines in transferrin-free,low-iron medium

Summary Iron is essential for tumor cell growth. Previous studies have demonstrated that apart from transferrin-bound iron uptake, mammalian cells also possess a transport system capable of efficiently obtaining iron from small molecular weight iron chelates (Sturrock et al., 1990). In the present study, we have examined the ability of tumor cells to grow in the presence of low molecular weight iron chelates of citrate. In chemically defined serum-free medium, most human tumor cell lines required either transferrin (5 μg/ml) or a higher concentration of ferric citrate (500 μM) as an iron source. However, we have also found that from 13 human cell lines tested, 4 were capable of long-term growth in transferrin-free medium with a substantially lower concentration of ferric citrate (5 μM). When grown in medium containing transferrin, both regular and low-iron dependent cell lines use transferrin-bound iron. Growth of both cell types in transferrin medium was inhibited to a certain degree by monoclonal antibody 42/6, which specifically blocks the binding of transferrin to the transferrin receptor. On the contrary, growth of low-iron dependent cell lines in transferrin-free, low-iron medium (5 μM ferric citrate) could not be inhibited by monoclonal antibody 42/6. Furthermore, no autocrine production of transferrin was observed. Low-iron dependent cell lines still remain sensitive to iron depletion as the iron(III) chelator, desferrioxamine, inhibited their growth. We conclude that low-iron dependent tumor cells in transferrin-free, low-iron medium may employ a previously unknown mechanism for uptake of non-transferrin-bound iron that allows them to efficiently use low concentrations of ferric citrate as an iron source. The results are discussed in the context of alternative iron uptake mechanisms to the well-characterized receptor-mediated endocytosis process.     

Distribution of nutrients and phytotoxic metal ions in the soil and in two forest floor plant species of a beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) stand

In a beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) stand in north-west Germany vegetation of two transects (25m:1m and 20m:1m) was mapped and contents of macronutrients (Ca, Mg and K), micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu), and potentially phytotoxic metals (Pb, Cd, Ni and Al) were measured in different soil compartments and in roots, rhizomes, stems and leaves of two forest floor plant species (Mercurialis perennis L. and Polygonatum multiflorum L.). NH₄Cl extractable cation contents, pH and other soil variables were also determined.The highest macronutrient contents could be found in the leaves of M. perennis and P. multiflorum. Heavy metals and Al accumulated in the roots. Correlation analysis suggests a considerable translocation of Zn and Cd between below- and above-ground organs of both investigated forest floor plants. No significant correlation was found between the contents of the other elements in the below- and above-ground parts.Available data indicate a considerable uptake by the plants not only of nutrients, but also of heavy metals from the upper mineral soil. Amounts of heavy metals and Al solubilized in the presence of NH₄Cl increased with decreasing pH, whereas levels of soluble Ca and Mg were maximal at high pH-values of the extracts. It can be concluded that element uptake in the investigated plants is indirectly controlled by the pH of the upper mineral soil.     

Differential heme oxygenase induction by stannous and stannic ions in the heart

Heme oxygenase is the rate-limiting enzyme in heme catabolism, and is induced by oxidative stress, foreign and endogenous chemicals, and many trace elements and heavy metals. This study examined the effect of the oxidative state of the heavy metal tin, on heme oxygenase-1 induction in cardiac tissue. Subcutaneous administration of stannous and stannic chloride failed to induce the enzyme in this tissue. Atomic absorption spectroscopy revealed the absence of tin in the heart cells. Investigation of several metal formulations showed that both stannous and stannic citrate were able to enter the bloodstream from the injection site and into heart tissue. Northern blot analysis revealed that heme oxygenase-1 mRNA was elevated several-fold in rat hearts from animals which received either stannous or stannic citrate, and that mRNA levels corresponded with the increase in enzyme activity. The presence of citrate facilitated the transport of the tin ion into the blood stream and possibly across cardiac cell membrane. The stannous ion was more potent as an inducer of heme oxygenase than was the stannic ion.     

Nitrate as a sole nitrogen source forMethanococcus thermolithotrophicus and its effect on growth of several methanogenic bacteria

Methanococcus (Mc.) thermolithotrophicus can use nitrate as the sole source of nitrogen, but four other species of methanogens cannot. The growth rate was similar on both nitrate and ammonium, but yields were 20–25% lower on nitrate.Mc. thermolithotrophicus, Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum, andMethanobrevibacterium smithii were not inhibited by 20 mM nitrate, butMethanospirillum hungatei was inhibited 35%, andMethanosarcina barkeri was completely inhibited by 20 mM nitrate. WhenMc. thermolithotrophicus was growing with nitrate as the sole source of nitrogen, growth was dependent on either molybdenum or tungsten, and the presence of both gave the best growth response; vanadium or chromium did not replace the requirement for these metals. Growth on ammonium could not be strictly demonstrated to require either of these metals, but both molybdenum and tungsten stimulated growth.     

Effects of lead on bioaccumulation patterns and the ecophysiological response inMonochoria korsakowi

Phytoextraction is a feasible method for eliminating heavy metals from contaminated soil. However, only a few plant species can hyperaccumulate toxic metals. We examined bioaccumulation patterns and the ecophysiological responses (i.e., photosynthetic pigments, total antioxidative capacity, and variations in antioxidant enzymes) in plants ofMonochoria korsakowi that were exposed to various concentrations of lead. Contents increased significantly when more lead was applied, with most of this metal being found in the roots. Biomass for each organ type decreased with higher lead concentrations. Chlorophyll a contents declined in proportion to lead amounts, whereas those of chlorophyllb were not significantly diminished. Carotenoid contents were not influenced by such treatment. Total antioxidant capacity in the leaf blades of treated plants increased greatly with higher lead concentrations. We conclude thatM. korsakowi could be used as a potential phytoremediator of heavy metals in contaminated soils.     

Biosorption of Chromium(VI) and Lead(II): Role of Spirulina platensis in the Treatment of Industrial Effluent

Biosorption is the process of removal of any chemical molecules by the treatment of biological material. Industrialization resulted in the discharge of various toxic heavy metals into water bodies, which poses serious health hazards to humans and animals. In the present study, live Spirulina platensis was used as a biosorbent for the removal of the heavy metals chromium (Cr(VI)) and lead (Pb(II)) from the aqueous samples. S. platensis were cultured in the presence of different concentrations of heavy metals. The growth of the algal cells was found to be decreased by 59% and 36% in media containing 50 ppm Cr(VI) and Pb(II), respectively. To assess the biosorption of heavy metals, at different time intervals, the spent culture media were used to detect Cr(VI) by atomic absorption spectroscopy method and Pb(II) by 4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol indicator method. Results suggested that there was a significant uptake of Cr(VI) and Pb(II) from the medium by S. platensis, with corresponding decrease of metals in the medium. When metal salt solutions or industrial effluent samples were passed through the column containing immobilized live S. platensis in calcium alginate beads, the concentration of Cr(VI) was found to be reduced drastically. The present study indicates the application of S. platensis for the bioremediation of heavy metals from the samples obtained from industrial effluents.     

Effects of cadmium, nickel and lead on growth, chlorophyll content and proteins of weeds

The effects of Cd, Ni and Pb on the growth, chlorophyll (Chl) and protein contents, and content of proteases of potted weed plants Cyperus difformis, Chenopodium ambrosioides and Digitaria sanguinolis were determined. The three heavy metals inhibited the shoot growth but were less suppresive to root growth. They also lowered leaf Chl content. The changes in root and shoot protein and proteases contents of weeds were interrelated. The heavy metal additions to soil increased their contents in both roots and shoots, several times more in roots than in shoots. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.