Effects of Rare Earth Elements on the Growth of Arnebia euchroma Cells and the Biosynthesis of Shikonin

Nd³⁺, La³⁺ and Ce³⁺ at proper concentrations had positive effects on the cell growth of Arnebia euchroma and production of shikonin derivatives. A mixture of rare earth elements (MRE, La₂O₃:CeO₂:Pr₆O₁₁: Sm₂O₃ = 255:175:3:1, mol/mol) behaved the most remarkable effects. Two-stage culture was used for the cell proliferation and the biosynthesis of shikonin derivatives. After 20 days culture, 0.05 mM MRE gave the highest cell biomass (24.8 g dry weight l⁻¹), which was 98.0% higher than that without rare earth elements. Similarly, when 0.05 mM MRE was added to the biosynthesis medium, the highest content (8.9% dry weight) and production (571.1 mg l⁻¹) of shikonin derivatives were obtained, which were 89.4% and 165.3% higher than those without rare earth elements, respectively. The increase of the cell biomass and shikonin derivatives may due to increasing the activities of peroxidase and phenylalanine ammonia lyase caused by the addition of the rare earth elements.     

稀土元素对红豆杉细胞悬浮培养及紫杉醇合成的影响

研究了在250mL摇瓶中,不同浓度的硝酸镧、硫酸铈铵、硝酸亚铈3种稀土化合物对细胞生长及紫杉醇分泌和释放的影响。结果表明,在培养初期加入稀土元素。3种不同稀土化合物对细胞生长影响强弱不同,但趋势相似,均使细胞的延迟期缩短。1ppm的Ce^4 促进细胞生长的效果最明显。细胞干重第17d达到10.9g/L。在指数期加入稀土元素。10ppmCe^3 刺激细胞生长的效果最明显,细胞干重最高值达到11.5g/dL,比对照高1.5g/L,而10ppm的La^3 抑制细胞的生长。经稀土元素处理后,细胞胞内和胞外紫杉醇含量都有大幅度的提高,其中以10ppmCe^3 处理,胞外紫杉醇释放率最大,达37.7%。     

稀土镧对铁皮石斛不定芽诱导、植株生长及次生代谢产物合成的影响

采用培养基中添加30~150 μmol·L^-1 La（NO₃）₃的方式，研究La³⁺对铁皮石斛不定芽诱导、植株生长及次生代谢产物合成的影响。结果表明：70~90 μmol·L^-1的La³⁺对茎段不定芽诱导和促生效果最好；130 μmol·L^-1的La³⁺能显著提高叶绿素含量，植株在含110 μmol·L^-1 La³⁺培养基上生长最好，鲜重增加了15.22倍，显著高于对照，干鲜比为12.05∶100，比对照提高了64.39%；一定浓度的La³⁺显著提高干品中4种成分含量，110 μmol·L^-1 La³⁺处理下其多糖含量最高，为98.84 mg·g^-1，添加90 μmol·L^-1时，总黄酮、总酚和联苄含量最高，为4.31，7.56和21.01 mg·g^-1。联苄和总黄酮含量与其他5个指标相关性较大，而总酚和叶绿素含量与其他5个指标相关性小。本研究为进一步探究稀土对铁皮石斛促生及改善品质的作用机制奠定基础，为植物组培中如何科学合理使用稀土元素提供理论依据。     

稀土氧化镧对黄粉虫生长发育和繁殖的影响

制备每kg麦麸分别含10,20,30,40,50,60,100,150,200和300mg氧化镧的饲料,用这10种剂量的饲料分别连续饲喂1日龄的黄粉虫TenebriomolitorL.幼虫和成虫。用40mg氧化镧kg麦麸的剂量处理79d后幼虫体重比对照组增加43%,同样的剂量使产卵高峰期的雌虫日平均产卵量增加59%,是最佳的处理剂量。自1日龄起连续取食50d最佳剂量氧化镧的幼虫,体内蓄积有0.4%的镧元素。用最佳剂量氧化谰处理黄粉虫在经济上具有很高的投入-产出比。     

An apoplastic mechanism for short-term effects of rare earth elements at lower concentrations

The short-term effects of rare earth elements on pollen germination and tube growth were tested. Concentrations of 2.5 approximately 20 micro m lanthanum(La3+) or cerium (Ce3+)increased pollen germination and pollen tube growth, whereas concentrations higher than 40 micro m La3+ and Ce3+ inhibited this process. The most effective concentration of La3+ needed for promotion shifted from 10 to 40 micro m, depending on the Ca2+ concentration in the medium. Calmodulin (CaM) antagonist W7-agarose and anti-CaM antibody depressed La3+-promoted pollen germination and tube growth in a dose-dependent manner. La3+-CaM complexes (La3+-CaM) increased pollen germination and tube growth more than CaM or La3+ alone. Pertussis toxin (PTX) inhibited La3+-promoted pollen germination and tube growth. Cholera toxin (CTX) partially recovered the inhibition of the above La3+-promoted process by the anti-CaM antibody. Concentrations of 10-7 approximately 10-9 m La3+-CaM increased GTPase activity inside plasma membrane vesicles of the pollen tube, but apo-CaM or La3+ alone had no positive effects. The results suggest that apoplastic CaM may be involved in the promotion effects of lower concentrations of La3+ on pollen germination and tube growth, and the heterotrimeric G-protein on the plasma membrane may transduce La3+-activated CaM signalling. The present studies provide an apoplastic mechanism for short-term effects of rare earth elements at lower concentrations in the pollen system.     

Accumulation of rare earth elements in maize plants (Zea mays L.) after application of mixtures of rare earth elements and lanthanum

Rare earth elements are applied in China to improve crop production, and the distribution patterns of individual rare earth elements in native plants have widely been reported. But our knowledge is still limited about the dose-dependent accumulation of individual rare earth elements in agricultural crops after application of rare earth elements. Effects of lanthanum and mixtures of rare earth elements were studied in pot experiments on the accumulation of individual rare earth elements in maize plants. All plant samples were divided into plant tops and roots. On addition of mixtures of rare earth elements and lanthanum to the soil, a significant dose-dependent accumulation of individual rare earth element(s) was found in the roots and in the plant tops. Application of mixtures of rare earth elements at >10 mg kg^–1 soil, resulted in a significant increase in contents of light rare earth elements in the roots, and at a dose of 50 mg kg^–1 soil, a similar phenomenon was found in the plant tops. When mixtures of rare earth elements were replaced by lanthanum alone, at a dose higher than 10 mg La kg^–1 soil, a significant increase in La content occurred in the roots and in the plant tops. The content ratio of La to Ce in maize plants appeared to increase as the application doses of rare earth element(s) increased. At a highest dose (50 mg kg^–1soil), the transport of the absorbed La from the roots to the plant tops might be substantially reduced after treatment with lanthanum alone, compared with mixtures of rare earth elements. Increasing the application doses of rare earth element(s) appeared to cause a positive Gd and negative Ce anomaly in the roots and in the plant tops, and the anomaly was more obvious in the plant tops than in the roots. The results indicated that the Gd and Ce anomaly in corns might be considered as important parameters for the safety assessment of agricultural application of rare earth elements.     

Effect of Lanthanum on Rooting of In Vitro Regenerated Shoots of Saussurea involucrata Kar. et Kir

In present study, the effect of lanthanum (La) on the rooting of regenerated shoots of Saussurea involucrata Kar. et Kir was analyzed. Rooting occurred from regenerated shoots inoculated on a medium supplemented with La, the plant rooting hormone indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), or both La and IAA together. The highest rooting efficiency (96%), root number/shoot (8.5), and root length (63 mm) were recorded in shoots cultured on medium containing 2.5 μM IAA combined with 100 μM La(3+). In order to elucidate the mechanism of rooting enhancement by La, we examined dynamic changes in antioxidant enzyme activities in plant tissue over time in culture. We found that the activities of peroxidase (POX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were significantly higher in plant tissue cultured in IAA plus La than in La or IAA alone. At the same time, the highest H(2)O(2) content was detected in plant tissue in the presence of 2.5 μM IAA plus 100 μM La(3+). In light of these data and previous results, we speculate that La enhanced IAA-induced rooting by acting as a mild abiotic stress to stimulate POX and SOD activities in plant cells. Then, IAA reacted with oxygen and POX to form the ternary complex enzyme-IAA-O(2) that dissociated into IAA radicals and O(2)(-). Subsequently, IAA-induced O(2)(-) readily converted to hydroxyl radical (HO·) via SOD-catalyzed dismutation. Finally, cell wall loosening and cell elongation occurred as a consequence of HO-dependent scission of wall components, leading to root growth. The treatment of IAA combined with La resulted in the highest plantlet survival (80%) compared to single treatments with IAA or La alone. These data suggest that rare earth elements enhance root morphogenesis and the growth of S. involucrata.     

稀土元素对甘草细胞生长及甘草酸合成的影响

以胀果甘草根愈伤组织为材料,研究了在150mL摇瓶中,不同浓度的两种稀土离子镧、亚铈对甘草细胞生长及甘草酸分泌和释放的影响。结果表明,在悬浮培养初期、指数期加入稀土元素,改变了细胞生长状况,均使细胞在整体上生物量减少;不同种类的稀土离子、不同的稀土浓度对细胞生长影响强弱不同,但趋势相似。其中,培养指数期,加入500μL镧溶液的培养液中,所得甘草细胞生物量较多,利用薄层-紫外分光光度计法检测到甘草酸含量为67.68mg/g。     

Studies on the Toxic Effects of La3+ to Tetrahymena thermophila by Microcalorimetry

The toxic effects of La(3+) on Tetrahymena thermophila have been studied by microcalorimetry at 28 degrees C. The metabolic rate constant (r) and peak time were linked to the concentration of La(3+). The changes of metabolic rate constant indicated that low-concentration La(3+) (0-75 mg/L) had no significant effects on the metabolism of Tetrahymena cells but high-concentration La(3+) (100-175 mg/L) could inhibit their metabolism. From the results obtained by cell counting and fluorescence depolarization measurements, the inhibition of metabolism resulted from the decrease in cell number and the reduction in cell membrane fluidity. According to the results, it is clear that the metabolic mechanism of Tetrahymena cells has been changed with the addition of high-concentration La(3+). In addition, microcalorimetry of Tetrahymena could be a sensible, easy-to-use, and convenient method for monitoring the potential effects of rare earth elements on cells and the freshwater ecosystem.     

应用稀土调控藏红花胚性愈伤组织的生长与分化

为提高藏红花（Crocus sativus）胚性愈伤组织的繁殖系数与出芽率,以建立藏红花离体快繁体系,解决其资源短缺问题,采用两步法,用稀土调控其胚性愈伤组织的生长与分化。结果表明,在添加了0.25mg·L-1NAA、3mg·L-16-BA和400mg·L-1CH的B5固体培养基中,0.04mmol·L-1La3＋促进胚性愈伤组织生长的效果最佳,繁殖系数为12,是不添加稀土处理组的1.48倍;在添加了0.25mg·L-1NAA、3mg·L-16-BA和400mg·L-1CH的1/2B5固体培养基中,0.06mmol·L-1Ce3＋促进胚性愈伤组织分化出芽的效果最佳,出芽率高达84.5%,是不添加稀土处理组的1.81倍,且高于国外报道的出芽率（40%）。初步解决了藏红花胚性愈伤组织生长慢和出芽率低等问题,为建立高效稳定的藏红花离体快繁体系奠定了基础。     

Effects of La3+ on growth,transformation, and gene expression of Escherichia coli

Rare earth elements have been emitted into the environment largely as fertilizer components. This has caused much fear about whether they would influence our environment, especially on the metabolism and genetics of microorganisms. In this article, the trivalent ion of a rare earth element, lanthanum, was studied for the effects on growth, transformation, and gene expression of Escherichia coli. The results showed that La³⁺ at concentrations from 50 to 150 μg/mL stimulated the endogenic metabolism and ectogenic metabolism, but had few effects on gene expression. La³⁺ at lower concentrations from 0.5 to 30 μg/mL inhibit intensively E. coli-absorbing external DNA, decreasing the transformation efficiency. It is also supported by observations using transmission electron microscopy. Our results are significant in understanding the function of rare earth elements to microorganisms and assessing the risk of application of rare earth compounds.     

茶园土壤类型对铁观音茶叶稀土元素分布和组成的影响

为探明铁观音茶的质量安全状况,追溯隐患来源,对福建安溪县不同土壤茶园的铁观音茶叶进行稀土元素的分布、组成、迁移和富集能力进行研究。结果表明,安溪县红壤、黄红壤、黄壤茶园稀土组成均以镧、铈、钕、钇为主,但具体组成特征各异。3种类型土壤茶园铁观音茶叶片、叶柄稀土元素组成均以钇、镧、铈、钕4种元素为主,且含量均以第3叶第2叶第1叶叶柄。同种土壤类型茶园铁观音茶树不同部位叶片的稀土元素组成特征类似,但叶与叶柄对稀土元素的吸收能力不同。土壤类型对茶叶稀土元素的累积有显著影响,黄红壤茶园的茶叶稀土元素含量要显著低于红壤、黄壤茶园的(P0.05)。土壤与茶叶中稀土元素组成的相关系数为0.886～0.985,P 0.001,表明二者稀土元素组成密切相关。因此,铁观音茶叶中稀土元素累积、分布与茶园土壤类型有显著相关性。     

Ecotoxicological assessment of lanthanum with Caenorhabditis elegans in liquid medium

With their widespread applications in industry, agriculture and many other fields, more and more rare earth elements (REEs) are getting into the environment, especially the aquatic systems. Therefore, understanding the aquatic ecotoxicity of REEs has become more and more important. In the present work, Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) was used as a test organism and life-cycle endpoints were chosen along with elemental assay to evaluate the aquatic toxicity of lanthanum (La), a representative of REEs. The results show La3+ had significant adverse effects on the growth and reproduction of worms above a concentration of 10 μmol L?1. The elemental mapping by microbeam synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence (μ-SRXRF) illustrated how La treatment disturbed the metals distribution in the whole body of a single tiny nematode at lower levels. Our results suggested that the high-level REEs in some polluted water bodies would lead to an aquatic ecological crisis. The assessment we performed in the present work could be developed as a standardized test design for aquatic toxicological research.     

Distribution of Rare Earth Elements and Structure Characterization of Chlorophyll-Lanthanum in a Natural Plant Fern Dicranopteris dichotoma

The distribution pattern of La, Ce, Nd, Th, Dy was in the order as leaf > root > stem, that of Pr, Sm, Eu, Cd, Ho, Y was as root > leaf > stem in fern Dicranopteris dichotoma Underw. Light and moderately heavy rare earth elements were easily selectively absorbed and then accumulated by the fern D. dichotoma. Many mainly light rare earth elements are bound to chlorophyll in D. dichotoma. Among the 15 detectable rare earth elements binding to chlorophyll, lanthanum content (50.08 % ) was the highest, and cerium content (19.40%) is the second of all. FXAFS (Fluorescence X-ray absorption fine structure) spectral analysis revealed that lanthanum coordinated 2 porphyrin rings and La-chlorophyll-a may have bilayer structure in D.d/chotoma.     

天然植物铁芒萁体内稀土元素的分布及其叶绿素镧的结构表征

Ｌａ、Ｃｅ、Ｎｄ、Ｔｂ、Ｄｙ 等稀土元素在铁芒萁（ Ｄｉｃｒａｎｏｐｔｅｒｉｓｄｉｃｈｏｔｏｍａ Ｕｎｄｅｒｗ） 体内的分布规律是叶＞ 根＞ 茎, 而Ｐｒ、Ｓｍ 、Ｅｕ、Ｇｄ、Ｈｏ 和Ｙ等稀土元素在铁芒萁体内的分布规律是根＞ 叶＞ 茎。轻、中稀土元素容易被吸收和积累,并表现出选择性吸收。铁芒萁叶绿素中结合有较多的稀土元素,且主要是轻稀土元素,其中Ｌａ 含量最高,占５６ ．０８％ ,其次是Ｃｅ,占１９ ．４０％ 。利用荧光Ｘ射线吸收精细结构（ＦＸＡＦＳ）光谱表征出,在铁芒萁体内Ｌａ 是与两个卟啉环配位的,推断叶绿素镧为双层结构     

Effects of lanthanum and cerium on the growth and mineral nutrition of corn and mungbean

Background and Aims: Plant growth responses to the rare earth elements lanthanum(La) and cerium (Ce) have been reported, but little is knownabout the effects of these two elements on plant mineral nutrition. Methods: Corn (Zea mays ‘Hycorn 82’) and mungbean (Vignaradiata ‘Berken’) were grown in continuous flowingnutrient solutions containing 0, 0·2, 1·0 and5·0 µM La or Ce. At harvest plants were dividedinto roots and shoots, dried, weighed and analysed for macro-and micronutrients, as well as for La and Ce. Key Results: La and Ce did not increase the growth of corn or mungbean. Thedry weight of corn shoots was decreased by 32 % in the presenceof 5·0 µM Ce; the other La and Ce concentrationshad no effect. La and Ce concentrations of 0·9 and 5·0µM decreased the shoot dry weight of mungbean by 75 or95 %, the two elements having closely similar effects. Decreasesin the uptake of Ca, Na, Zn and Mn by corn were observed withincreases in solution La and Ce. For mungbean, the uptake ratesof all measured elements decreased with increases in solutionLa and Ce. The concentrations of La and Ce in the roots of bothspecies were higher than in the shoots and increased stronglywith increasing concentrations of La or Ce in solution. TheLa and Ce concentrations in mungbean shoots were always higherthan in corn shoots. Conclusions: La and Ce did not enhance the growth of corn or mungbean, butdecreased the growth, root function and consequently the nutritionalstatus of mungbean at concentrations >0·2 µMin solution. It is concluded that if La or Ce have positiveeffects on corn and mungbean growth, they can only occur atsolution concentrations below 0·2 µM.     

盐胁迫下镧对水稻幼苗生长的保护效应

通过液培实验,研究水稻幼苗在盐胁迫下,镧对水稻幼苗的保护作用。结果表明：水稻幼苗植株在≤1．5％的盐浓度的盐胁迫下,10mg·L^-1镧能提高幼苗植株超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）和过氧化氢酶（CAT）的活性;降低幼苗植株脂质过氧化产物丙二醛（MDA）的含量和脯氨酸（Pro）的含量;减小质膜透性;提高叶片叶绿素含量和叶绿素a／b的比值;增强根系的活力,进而促进水稻幼苗的生长。10mg·L^-1镧对盐胁迫的缓解作用与盐浓度有关,随着盐浓度增大,镧的缓解作用将逐渐消失。分析表明,在≤1．0％和≥0．5％的盐浓度胁迫下,镧对水稻幼苗的生长存在更有效的防御机制,能够促进水稻幼苗的生长代谢。     

Effects of rare earth elements on telomerase activity and apoptosis of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

To study the effects of rare earth exposure on human telomerase and apoptosis of mononuclear cells from human peripheral blood (PBMNCs). The blood contents of 15 rare earth elements, including La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, and Y, were measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay and flow cytometer analysis were carried out to analyze the telomerase activity and apoptosis of PBMNCs, respectively. The total content of rare earth elements in the blood showed significant differences between the exposed group and the control group. The rare earth exposure increased the telomerase activity and the percentages of cells in the S-phase and the G₂/M phase in PBMNCs, but it had no effect on the apoptotic rate of PBMNCs. Under the exposure to lower concentrations of rare earth elements, the telomerase activity of PBMNCs in the exposed group was higher than that of the control group, and there was no effect on the apoptotic rate of PBMNCs, but promoted the diploid DNA replication and increased the percentages of G₂/M- and S-phase cells.     

Mechanism of lanthanum effect on chlorophyll of spinach

The mechanism of La3+ effect on chlorophyll (chl) of spinach in solution culture has been studied. The results show that La3+ can obviously promote growth, increase chlorophyll contents and photosynthetic rate of spinach. La3+ may substitute Mg2+ for chlorophyll formation of spinach when there is no Mg2+ in solution. La3+ improves significantly PSII formation and enhances electron transport rate of PSII. By ICP-MS and atom absorption spectroscopy methods, it has been revealed that rare earth elements (REEs) can enter chloroplasts and increase Mg2+-chl contents; and REEs bind to chlorophyll and also form REE-chl. REE-chl is about 72% in total chlorophyll with La3+ treatment and without Mg2+ in solution. By UV-Vis, FT-IR and extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (EXAFS) methods, it has been found that La3+ coordinates with nitrogen of porphyrin rings with the average La-N bond length of 0.253 nm.     

Mechanism of lanthanum effect on chlorophyll of spinach

The mechanism of La3+ effect on chlorophyll (chl) of spinach in solution culture has been studied. The results show that La3+ can obviously promote growth, increase chlorophyll contents and photosynthetic rate of spinach. La3+ may substitute Mg2+ for chlorophyll formation of spinach when there is no Mg2+ in solution. La3+ improves significantly PSII formation and enhances electron transport rate of PSII. By ICP-MS and atom absorption spectroscopy methods, it has been revealed that rare earth elements (REEs) can enter chloroplasts and increase Mg2+-chl contents; and REEs bind to chlorophyll and also form REE-chl. REE-chl is about 72% in total chlorophyll with La3+ treatment and without Mg2+in solution. By UV-Vis, FT-IR and extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (EXAFS) methods, it has been found that La3+ coordinates with nitrogen of porphyrin rings with the average La-N bond length of 0.253 nm.