Biostimulation of anaerobic BTEX biodegradation under fermentative methanogenic conditions at source-zone groundwater contaminated with a biodiesel blend (B20)

Field experiments were conducted to assess the potential for anaerobic biostimulation to enhance BTEX biodegradation under fermentative methanogenic conditions in groundwater impacted by a biodiesel blend (B20, consisting of 20 % v/v biodiesel and 80 % v/v diesel). B20 (100 L) was released at each of two plots through an area of 1 m² that was excavated down to the water table, 1.6 m below ground surface. One release was biostimulated with ammonium acetate, which was added weekly through injection wells near the source zone over 15 months. The other release was not biostimulated and served as a baseline control simulating natural attenuation. Ammonium acetate addition stimulated the development of strongly anaerobic conditions, as indicated by near-saturation methane concentrations. BTEX removal began within 8 months in the biostimulated source zone, but not in the natural attenuation control, where BTEX concentrations were still increasing (due to source dissolution) 2 years after the release. Phylogenetic analysis using quantitative PCR indicated an increase in concentration and relative abundance of Archaea (Crenarchaeota and Euryarchaeota), Geobacteraceae (Geobacter and Pelobacter spp.) and sulfate-reducing bacteria (Desulfovibrio, Desulfomicrobium, Desulfuromusa, and Desulfuromonas) in the biostimulated plot relative to the control. Apparently, biostimulation fortuitously enhanced the growth of putative anaerobic BTEX degraders and associated commensal microorganisms that consume acetate and H₂, and enhance the thermodynamic feasibility of BTEX fermentation. This is the first field study to suggest that anaerobic-methanogenic biostimulation could enhance source zone bioremediation of groundwater aquifers impacted by biodiesel blends.     

Considerations on karyotype evolution in the genera Imparfinis Eigenmann and Norris 1900 and Pimelodella Eigenmann and Eigenmann 1888 (Siluriformes: Heptapteridae)

Heptapteridae is one of the fish families of the order Siluriformes with a wide distribution throughout the basins of the Neotropical region. The genera Imparfinis and Pimelodella comprise few species and/or populations with some chromosome information. Specimens of Imparfinis schubarti, Imparfinis mirini, and Pimelodella meeki from different sites located in the Paranapanema River Basin/PR/Brazil were cytogenetically analyzed. The two species of the genus Imparfinis exhibited 2n = 58 and FN = 116: I. schubarti, with a karyotypic formula of 30m + 28sm and I. mirini with a karyotype formula of 36m + 22sm. P. meeki presented a karyotype of 2n = 46 characterized by 26m + 14sm + 6st and FN = 92, confirming a variability in the 2n of the Heptapteridae family. Both Imparfinis species exhibited interstitial NORs in pair 1, coincident with a secondary constriction; P. meeki presented NORs located in the terminal position on the short arm of pair 17. All AgNORs were coincident with 18S rDNA probe and CMA₃ positive. P. meeki showed a small amount of heterochromatin rich in AT and GC bases. The heterochromatin in I. schubarti was CMA₃ positive. In I. mirini the heterochromatin was DAPI-positive. Furthermore, the long arm of one of the chromosomes of pair 19 revealed the presence of heterochromatic heteromorphism only in male individuals. After meiotic analyses, this heteromorphism could be easily identified in the pachytene and metaphase I stages, and was heteropyknotic and DAPI positive. This feature may be an indication of initial differentiation of sex chromosomes in I. mirini, increasing the great karyotypic variability within this family of fish.     

Plant hemoglobins may be maintained in functional form by reduced flavins in the nuclei,and confer differential tolerance to nitro‐oxidative stress

The heme of bacteria, plant and animal hemoglobins (Hbs) must be in the ferrous state to bind O₂ and other physiological ligands. Here we have characterized the full set of non‐symbiotic (class 1 and 2) and ‘truncated’ (class 3) Hbs of Lotus japonicus. Class 1 Hbs are hexacoordinate, but class 2 and 3 Hbs are pentacoordinate. Three of the globins, Glb1‐1, Glb2 and Glb3‐1, are nodule‐enhanced proteins. The O₂ affinity of Glb1‐1 (50 pm ) was the highest known for any Hb, and the protein may function as an O₂ scavenger. The five globins were reduced by free flavins, which transfer electrons from NAD(P)H to the heme iron under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Class 1 Hbs were reduced at very fast rates by FAD, class 2 Hbs at slower rates by both FMN and FAD, and class 3 Hbs at intermediate rates by FMN. The members of the three globin classes were immunolocalized predominantly in the nuclei. Flavins were quantified in legume nodules and nuclei, and their concentrations were sufficient to maintain Hbs in their functional state. All Hbs, except Glb1‐1, were expressed in a flavohemoglobin‐deficient yeast mutant and found to confer tolerance to oxidative stress induced by methyl viologen, copper or low temperature, indicating an anti‐oxidative role for the hemes. However, only Glb1‐2 and Glb2 afforded protection against nitrosative stress induced by S‐nitrosoglutathione. Because this compound is specifically involved in transnitrosylation reactions with thiol groups, our results suggest a contribution of the single cysteine residues of both proteins in the stress response.     

Effects of Futsal Demands on Serum and Salivary Levels of Trace Elements and Minerals Detected by Total Reflection X-Ray Fluorescence

Biological Trace Element Research - The aim of this study was to monitor the circulating and salivary ion concentrations by total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) in futsal players submitted to...     

Top-down characterization of resource use in LCA: from problem definition of resource use to operational characterization factors for dissipation of elements to the environment

The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment - The methods for assessing the impact of using abiotic resources in life cycle assessment (LCA) have always been heavily debated. One of the main...     

Probiotic Potential,Antioxidant Activity,and Phytase Production of Indigenous Yeasts Isolated from Indigenous Fermented Foods

While many bacteria have been used as probiotics by industries, only two yeasts, Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii and Kluyveromyces fragilis (B0399), have been used for this purpose. In the present work, a total of 116 yeasts isolated from Brazilian indigenous fermented food, cocoa fermentation, and kefir were in vitro characterized for probiotic attributes. From 116 isolates, 36 were tolerant to gastrointestinal conditions evaluated by tolerance to pH 2.0, bile salts (0.3% w/v), and 37 °C temperature. From those, 15 isolates showed a similar or higher percentage (P < 0.05) of hydrophobicity, autoaggregation, and coaggregation with E. coli than the reference strain S. boulardii. All these strains showed a high percentage of adhesion to Caco-2 cells (> 63%) and antioxidant activity (ranging from 18 to 62%). Phytate hydrolysis was evaluated for these yeasts and 13 strains showed positive results, which is important for nutrient availability in plant-based foods. These results are important insights for characterization of novel probiotic yeast strains as well as to aggregate functional value to these food products.

     

Identification of a homolog of Arabidopsis DSP4 (SEX4) in chestnut: its induction and accumulation in stem amyloplasts during winter or in response to the cold

Oligosaccharide synthesis is an important cryoprotection strategy used by woody plants during winter dormancy. At the onset of autumn, starch stored in the stem and buds is broken down in response to the shorter days and lower temperatures resulting in the buildup of oligosaccharides. Given that the enzyme DSP4 is necessary for diurnal starch degradation in Arabidopsis leaves, this study was designed to address the role of DSP4 in this seasonal process in Castanea sativa Mill. The expression pattern of the CsDSP4 gene in cells of the chestnut stem was found to parallel starch catabolism. In this organ, DSP4 protein levels started to rise at the start of autumn and elevated levels persisted until the onset of spring. In addition, exposure of chestnut plantlets to 4 °C induced the expression of the CsDSP4 gene. In dormant trees or cold-stressed plantlets, the CsDSP4 protein was immunolocalized both in the amyloplast stroma and nucleus of stem cells, whereas in the conditions of vegetative growth, immunofluorescence was only detected in the nucleus. The studies indicate a potential role for DSP4 in starch degradation and cold acclimation following low temperature exposure during activity-dormancy transition.     

Amyloid fibril formation by circularly permuted and C-terminally deleted mutants

The natural N- and C-termini, i.e., the given order of secondary structure segments, are critical for protein folding and stability, as shown by several studies using circularly permuted proteins, mutants that have their N- and C-termini linked and are then digested at another site to create new termini. A previous work showed that circularly permuted mutants of sperm whale myoglobin (Mb) are functional, have native-like folding and bind heme, but are less stable than the wild-type protein and aggregate. The ability of wild-type myoglobin to form amyloid fibrils has been established recently, and because circularly permuted mutations are destabilizing, we asked whether these permutations would also affect the rate of amyloid fibril formation. Our investigations revealed that, indeed, the circularly permuted mutants formed cytotoxic fibrils at a rate higher than that of the wild-type. To further investigate the role of the C-terminus in the overall stability of the protein, we investigated two C-terminally deleted mutant, Mb(1-123) and Mb(1-99), and found that Mb(1-123) formed cytotoxic fibrils at a higher rate than that of the wild-type while Mb(1-99) formed cytotoxic fibrils at a similar rate than that of the wild-type. Collectively, our findings show that the native position of both the N-and C-termini is important for the precise structural architecture of myoglobin.     

Role of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trypanosoma cruzi</Emphasis> peroxiredoxins in mitochondrial bioenergetics

Trypanosoma cruzi cytosolic (TcCPx) and mitochondrial tryparedoxin peroxidase (TcMPx) play a fundamental role in H₂O₂ detoxification. Herein, mitochondrial bioenergetics was evaluated in cells that overexpressed TcCPx (CPx) and TcMPx (MPx) and in pTEX. In MPx, a higher expression was observed for TcCPx, and the same correlation was true for CPx. Differences in H₂O₂ release among the overexpressing cells were detected when the mitochondrial respiratory chain was inhibited using antimycin A or thenoyltrifluoroacetone. MPx had higher O₂ consumption rates than pTEX and CPx, especially in the presence of oligomycin. In all of the cells, the mitochondrial membrane potential and the ATP levels were similar. Because of the mild uncoupling that was observed in MPx, the presence or induction of a proton transporter in the mitochondrial membrane is suggested when TcMPx is expressed at higher levels. Our results show a possible interplay between the cytosolic and mitochondrial antioxidant systems in a trypanosomatid.     

Kinetics of production and characterization of the fucose-containing exopolysaccharide from Enterobacter A47

A fucose-containing exopolysaccharide (EPS) was produced by the bacterium Enterobacter A47 using glycerol byproduct from the biodiesel industry. The analysis of kinetic data suggested a partially growth associated EPS synthesis model. Although the EPS was composed of fucose, galactose and glucose at all cultivation stages, their relative proportion has varied considerably during the run. At the beginning (24 h), glucose was the main component (82.4 wt.%), being fucose and galactose minor components (5.0 wt.% and 10.9 wt.%, respectively), while at the end (96 h) it was composed of 26.0 wt.% fucose, 28.9 wt.% galactose and 43.7 wt.% glucose. The acyl groups content and composition have also changed, reaching their maximum content (19.2 wt.%) at the end of the run. Moreover, the molecular weight has increased linearly during the run (from 8 × 10⁵ to 5 × 10⁶). The changes observed in EPS composition and molecular weight have also had an impact upon the polymer's intrinsic viscosity, as shown by its linear increase from 3.95 to 10.72 dL g⁻¹. The results suggest that the culture might have synthesized at least two distinct EPS, with different sugar composition and average molecular weight, which predominated at different cultivation stages.