Findings on the Phytoextraction and Phytostabilization of Soils Contaminated with Heavy Metals

As a result of human activities such as mining, metal pollution has become one of the most serious environmental problems today. Phytoremediation, an emerging cost-effective, non-intrusive, and aesthetically pleasing technology that uses the remarkable ability of plants to concentrate elements can be potentially used to remediate metal-contaminated sites. The aim of this work was to assess the extent of metal accumulation by plants found in a mining area in Hamedan province with the ultimate goal of finding suitable plants for phytoextraction and phytostabilization (two processes of phytoremediation). To this purpose, shoots and roots of the 12 plant species and the associated soil samples were collected and analyzed by measurement of total concentrations of some elements (Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu) using atomic absorption spectrophotometer and then biological absorption coefficient, bioconcentration factor, and translocation factor parameters calculated for each element. Our results showed that none of the plants were suitable for phytoextraction and phytostabilization of Fe, Zn, and Cu, while Chenopodium botrys, Stipa barbata, Cousinia bijarensis, Scariola orientalis, Chondrila juncea, and Verbascum speciosum, with a high biological absorption coefficient for Mn, were suitable for phytoextraction of Mn, and C. bijarensis, C. juncea, V. speciosum, S. orientalis, C. botrys, and S. barbata, with a high bioconcentration factor and low translocation factor for Mn, had the potential for the phytostabilization of this element.     

Myricetin loaded in solid lipid nanoparticles induces apoptosis in the HT-29 colorectal cancer cells via mitochondrial dysfunction

Molecular Biology Reports - Among the flavonoids, Myricetin (MCN) has negligible side effects and anti-cancer properties. However, the therapeutic potential of MCN has been limited mainly by its...     

Synthesis and characterization of new Pd(II) complexes of <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-ethylphenylalanate

Complex (S,S)-[Pd{C₆H₄(CH₂CHNH₂CO₂CH₂CH₃)}(μ-Br)]₂ (3) was prepared following the method by Vicente and Saura-Llamas (Organometallics 26:2768–2776, 2007), by the reaction of l-ethylphenylalanate and Pd(OAc)₂ in 1:1 molar ratio under acetonitrile heating conditions and subsequently treating with NaBr. In addition, the cleavage of halogeno-bridge of the complex 3 via nucleophilic attack of some neutral ligands such as triphenylphosphine, pyridine, 2,4,6-trimethylpyridine and piperidine were investigated and the corresponding complexes (S)-[Pd{C₆H₄(CH₂CHNH₂CO₂CH₂CH₃)(Y)(Br)}] (4a–f) were obtained in moderate yields. The six-member orthopalladated complexes were characterized by ¹H-NMR, ³¹P-NMR, FT-IR and elemental analysis techniques.     

Nitrile-metabolizing potential of Bacillus cereus strain FA12; Nitrilase production,purification, and characterization

Nitrile-hydrolyzing bacteria have the potential to perform useful biotransformations such as the production of industrially useful acids and amides. In this study, we report a nitrile-degrading bacterium with significant nitrile metabolism. Molecular characterization of 16S rDNA gene characterized this strain as Bacillus cereus. Medium optimization of B. cereus FA12 showed that biomass and nitrilase production was strongly supported by glucose (10 gL^{? 1}) and yeast extract (10 gL^{? 1}). Enzymatic production improved slightly in the pH range from 6.0 to 7.0. The addition of Mg⁺², Fe⁺², and Na⁺ supported biomass and nitrilase production; however, other metal ions, Co⁺² and Cu⁺², inhibited production. The apparent molecular mass of the puri?ed FA12 nitrilase as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was about 45 kDa. Nitrilase FA12 shows relatively high activity and stability at pH 7.0 and 40°C. Nitrilase FA12 was marginally inhibited with Ca^{+ 2} and Co⁺², whereas inhibition in the presence of dithiothreitol or DTT was 80%. The pseudo K_m (mM) values of resting cells (i.e., treating whole cells as if they were an enzyme) for acetonitrile and acetamide were determined to be 2.36 and 1.81, respectively. Under optimum situations, B. cereus FA12 resting cells produced 83 and 58 (U/mg) acetonitrile/acetamide degrading activity, respectively. Ammonia production from acetamide and acetonitrile by the B. cereus FA12 was maximum after 5 and 7 h of incubation, respectively. These results indicate that B. cereus FA12 resting cells may be used in nitrile biotransformations to produce commercially useful compounds.     

Synthesis and spectroscopic characterization study of new palladium complexes containing bioactive O,O-chelated ligands: evaluation of the DNA/protein BSA interaction,in vitro antitumoural activity and molecular docking

[Pd{(C,N)–C₆H₄CH₂NH(Et) (Qu)] (2) and [Pd{(C,N)–C₆H₄CH₂NH(Et) (Nar)] (3) (Qu = Quercetin, Nar = Naringin) mononuclear palladium (II) complexes have been synthesized and characterized using elemental analysis, IR and electronic spectroscopy. The interaction of the prepared complexes with calf thymus DNA and bovine serum albumin (BSA), monitored by UV–visible and fluorescence titrations, respectively, have been carried out to better understand the mode of their action under biological conditions. Intercalative binding mode between the complexes and DNA is suggested by the binding constant (K_b) values of 2.5 × 10⁶ and 3.2 × 10⁶ for complexes 2 and 3, respectively. In particular, the in vitro cytotoxicity of the complexes on two cancer cells lines (bladder carcinoma TCC and breast cancer MCF7) showed that the compounds had broad spectrum, anti-cancer activity with low IC₅₀ values and the order of in vitro anticancer activities is consistent with the DNA-binding affinities. In the meantime, the quenching of tryptophan emission with the addition of complexes using BSA as a model protein indicated the protein binding ability. The quenching mechanisms of BSA by the complexes were static processes, according to the results obtained. The competitive binding using Warfarin, Digoxin and Ibuprofen site markers, which contain definite biding sites, demonstrated that the complexes bind to site I on BSA. Ultimately, the binding sites of DNA and BSA with the complexes have been determined by molecular modelling studies.     

Elucidating the protein cold-adaptation: Investigation of the parameters enhancing protein psychrophilicity

To investigate the role of the critical parameters in adaptation of proteins to low temperatures, a comparative systematic analysis was performed. Several parameters were proposed to have contribution to cold adaptation of proteins. Among proposed parameters, total values of residual structure states, secondary structure states and oligomeric states were alike in both psychrophilic and mesophilic proteins. In addition, our results provided new quantitative information about the trends in the substitution preference of Ile, Phe, Tyr, Lys, Arg, His, Glu and Leu with most of amino acids and substitution avoidance of Gly, Thr and Ala with most of amino acids. These findings would help future efforts propose a strategy for designing psychrophilic proteins.     

LINE1 methylation levels associated with increased bladder cancer risk in pre-diagnostic blood DNA among US (PLCO) and European (ATBC) cohort study participants

Global methylation in blood DNA has been associated with bladder cancer risk in case-control studies, but has not been examined prospectively. We examined the association between LINE1 total percent 5-methylcytosine and bladder cancer risk using pre-diagnostic blood DNA from the United States-based, Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial (PLCO) (299 cases/676 controls), and the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention (ATBC) cohort of Finnish male smokers (391 cases/778 controls). Logistic regression adjusted for age at blood draw, study center, pack-years of smoking, and sex was used to estimate odd ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using study- and sex-specific methylation quartiles. In PLCO, higher, although non-significant, bladder cancer risks were observed for participants in the highest three quartiles (Q2–Q4) compared with the lowest quartile (Q1) (OR = 1.36, 95% CI: 0.96 -1.92). The association was stronger in males (Q2–Q4 vs. Q1 OR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.00–2.20) and statistically significant among male smokers (Q2–Q4 vs. Q1 OR = 1.83, 95% CI: 1.14–2.95). No association was found among females or female smokers. Findings for male smokers were validated in ATBC (Q2–Q4 vs. Q1: OR = 2.31, 95% CI: 1.62–3.30) and a highly significant trend was observed (P = 8.7 × 10⁻⁷). After determining that study data could be combined, pooled analysis of PLCO and ATBC male smokers (580 cases/1119 controls), ORs were significantly higher in Q2-Q4 compared with Q1 (OR = 2.03, 95% CI: 1.52–2.72), and a trend across quartiles was observed (P = 0.0001). These findings suggest that higher global methylation levels prior to diagnosis may increase bladder cancer risk, particularly among male smokers.     

Distribution and abundance of fish in the southwest of Caspian Sea coastal waters

This study was carried out in southwestern Caspian Sea coastal area to elucidate demersal bony fishes distribution and abundance. Twenty two species were found in shore line, which belong to 6 families. In deeper waters down to 7 meters only 5 species of Gobiidae and 1 species of Syngnathidae were identified. Two species Neogobius caspius and N. pallasi were the main components of demersal fishes; however in some regions Rutilus caspicus, Rutilus kutum and Liza spp. were dominated. Most places were dominantly occupied by Atherina boyeri, which had the highest abundance among the pelagic fishes. Conversely, the Ponticola gorlap, N. melanostomus and Proterorhinus nasalis showed the lowest abundances (less than 1 ind./100 m²). Benthophilus stellatus and P. nasali had the lowest niche overlaps with other species. Both of these two species and P. gorlap are suggested to be classified as endangered or vulnerable species based on their low abundance. The distribution of Syngnathus abaster depends on algae, while algae grow up into the stony construction of the coastal line. A negative insignificant correlation was observed between pelagic and demersal fish abundances. The commercial fisheries data of 76 beach seines in our study area during 2002–2013 was compared with our results on fish abundance and species composition. More than 93% of total fish catch constituted Liza spp. and Rutilus kutum. The relationship between the abundance and distribution of the studied species, and the restocking activities performed by Iranian fisheries organization are discussed. The high abundance and distribution of small size fish in tidal zone could be related to the distribution of crustacean, which provide a good source of food for these fish species.     

Evaluation of Oxidative Stress,Apoptosis, and Expression of MicroRNA-208a and MicroRNA-1 in Cardiovascular Patients

Background:MicroRNA expression signature and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production have been associated with the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This study aimed to evaluate oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and the expression of miRNA-208a and miRNA-1 in cardiovascular patients.Methods:The study population included four types of patients (acute coronary syndromes (ACS), myocardial infarction (MI), arrhythmia, and heart failure (HF)), with 10 people in each group, as well as a control group. Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to measure mir-208 and miR-1 expression, the mRNAs of inflammatory mediators (TNFα, iNOS/eNOS), and apoptotic factors (Bax and Bcl2). XOX, MDA, and antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD, and GPx) were measured by ZellBio GmbH kits by an ELISA Reader.Results:The results showed significant decreases in the activity of antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD, and Gpx) and a significant increase in the activity of the MDA and XOX in cardiovascular patients. Significant increases in IL-10, iNos, iNOS / eNOS, and TNF-α in cardiovascular patients were also observed. Also, a significant increase in the expression of miR-208 (HF> arrhythmia> ACS> MI) and a significant decrease in the expression of miR-1 (ACS> arrhythmia> HF> MI) were found in all four groups in cardiovascular patients.Conclusion:The results showed increases in oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptotic factors, and in the expression of miR-208a in a variety of cardiovascular patients (ACS, MI, arrhythmia, and HF). It is suggested that future studies determine the relationships that miR-1, miR-208, and oxidative stress indices have with inflammation and apoptosis.Key Words: Apoptosis, Cardiovascular diseases, Inflammation, microRNA-208a, microRNA-1, Oxidative stress     

Parasitism capacity and searching efficiency of Diaeretiella rapae parasitizing Brevicoryne brassicae on susceptible and resistant canola cultivars

Different cultivars of aplant species can affect the foraging and efficiency of natural enemies, both directly through physical and biochemical properties or indirectly through the herbivore's diet. In this study, the parasitism capacity and functional response of Diaeretiella rapae McIntosh were determined on the cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae (L.) reared on susceptible (Opera) and resistant (Okapi) canola cultivars under laboratory conditions at 25?±?1?°C, 60?±?5% RH and a16:8?h L:D photoperiod. The parasitoid exhibited Type II and Type III functional responses on the resistant and susceptible cultivars, respectively. The estimated value of searching efficiency (a) was 0.1637?±?0.1095?h^?1 on the resistant cultivar whereas its value was dependent on host density on the susceptible cultivar. The handling times (T_h) on the susceptible and resistant canola cultivars were 0.108?±?0.040 and 0.320?±?0.048?h, respectively. The net parasitism rate (C₀) of the parasitoid wasp varied from 128.09 hosts per parasitoid lifetime on the susceptible to 71.01hosts on the resistant canola cultivar. The transformation rate from host population to parasitoid offspring (Qp) was equal to 1 on both cultivars (C₀?=?R₀). The finite parasitism rate (ω) on the susceptible cultivar (0.819 hosts per parasitoid per day) was significantly higher than that on the resistant one (0.578 hosts per parasitoid per day). In conclusion, canola cultivars affected the performance of D. rapae in controlled small-scale laboratory experiments and compared with the susceptible cultivar, the resistant one had anadverseeffect on the efficiency of the parasitoid.