Mechanism of cadmium uptake by activated sludge

Summary The significance of metabolic activity in cadmium uptake by unacclimated activated sludge was studied. Below 30 mg/l cadmium in solution, biosorption was found to follow the Freundlich isotherm, which is the most common pattern for physico-chemical adsorption. More than 95% of total cadmium uptake was achieved within 5 min metal-sludge contact time. Biosorption increased strongly when the initial cadmium concentration in solution was raised from 10 to 100 mg/l, whereas in the same concentration range the metabolic activity of the sludge, as measured by respiratory activity and extracellular protein production, was very significantly inhibited. The addition of nutrients at low but significant levels failed to increase cadmium uptake in 2 h contact time, while in 24 h the addition of nutrients caused the biosorption to increase by only 5–10% without any significant growth of the biomass. Biosorption was found to increase with temperature between 5° C and 40° C, in correlation with an increase in the metabolic activity of the sludge. Pretreatment of the sludge with metabolic inhibitors (NaN₃ and UV rays) appeared to cause only a very slight decrease (5–10%) of biosorption. These results suggest that metabolic uptake of cadmium was low and that adsorption to the surface of the cells was the major mechanism of uptake.Offprint requests to: S. S. Sofer     

Preservative-mediated changes of the surface properties ofEscherichia coli

The effectiveness of two commonly used preservatives, sodium benzoate and potassium disulfite, was evaluated in terms of their bactericidal activity and capacity to induce changes in the surface properties ofEscherichia coli isolated from commercial food preserves. Preservative treatment over a five-week test period resulted in controlling the multiplication of these organisms and causing a decline in cell-surface hydrophobicity, hemagglutinating ability and adherence capacity to rat intestinal cells ofE. coli isolates. A loss in motility was also exhibited.     

BRCA1 maps proximal to D17S579 on chromosome 17q21 by genetic analysis

Previous studies have demonstrated linkage between early-onset breast cancer and ovarian cancer and genetic markers on chromosome 17q21. These markers define the location of a gene (BRCA1) which appears to be inherited as an autosomal dominant susceptibility allele. We analyzed five families with multiple affected individuals for evidence of linkage to the BRCA1 region. Two of the five families appear to be linked to BRCA1. One apparently linked family contains critical recombinants, suggesting that the gene is proximal to the marker D17S579 (Mfd188). These findings are consistent with the maximum-likelihood position estimated by the Breast Cancer Linkage Consortium and with recombination events detected in other linked families. Linkage analysis was greatly aided by PCR-based analysis of paraffin-embedded normal breast tissue from deceased family members, demonstrating the feasibility and importance of this approach. One of the two families with evidence of linkage between breast cancer and genetic markers flanking BRCA1 represents the first such family of African-American descent to be reported in detail.     

Canadian outpatients and advance directives: poor knowledge and little experience but positive attitudes.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the knowledge of, previous experience with, attitudes toward and perceived barriers to completing advance directives among outpatients at two general medicine clinics. DESIGN: Cross-sectional questionnaire administered in face-to-face structured interviews. SETTING: General internal-medicine outpatient clinics at a university teaching hospital. PATIENTS: One hundred and five adult outpatients who could communicate in spoken English and who consented to be interviewed. RESULTS: Of 167 patients approached, 58 were excluded because they could not communicate in spoken English, and 4 refused to participate. Of the remaining 105 patients, 17 (16%) knew about living wills, 12 (11%) about durable powers of attorney for health care and 4 (4%) about advance directives. Twenty-three (22%) had thought about their preferences for life-sustaining treatment, 20 (19%) had discussed them, none had written them down, and 45 (43%) had thought about choosing a proxy. Sixty-one (58%) wanted to think about their preferences for treatment, 65 (62%) wanted to discuss them, 32 (30%) wanted to write them down, and 80 (76%) wanted to choose a proxy. The perceived barriers to completing an advance directive were inability to write, the belief that an advance directive was unnecessary, a fatalistic attitude, previous discussion of preferences, a desire to leave the decision to doctors, uncertainty about preferences, a desire to discuss preferences rather than document them, a desire to wait until the situation arose, a desire to write down preferences in the future and a desire to avoid thinking about preferences or advance directives. Respondents with more knowledge of life-sustaining treatments were more likely to want to complete an advance directive. CONCLUSIONS: Outpatients have positive attitudes toward advance directives, but their knowledge and experience are limited. These data underscore the need for patient education and for policies to eliminate the barriers to completing advance directives that patients face.     

First chromosome scale genomes of ithomiine butterflies (Nymphalidae: Ithomiini): Comparative models for mimicry genetic studies

The ithomiine butterflies (Nymphalidae: Danainae) represent the largest known radiation of Müllerian mimetic butterflies. They dominate by number the mimetic butterfly communities, which include species such as the iconic neotropical Heliconius genus. Recent studies on the ecology and genetics of speciation in Ithomiini have suggested that sexual pheromones, colour pattern and perhaps hostplant could drive reproductive isolation. However, no reference genome was available for Ithomiini, which has hindered further exploration on the genetic architecture of these candidate traits, and more generally on the genomic patterns of divergence. Here, we generated high-quality, chromosome-scale genome assemblies for two Melinaea species, M. marsaeus and M. menophilus, and a draft genome of the species Ithomia salapia. We obtained genomes with a size ranging from 396 to 503 Mb across the three species and scaffold N50 of 40.5 and 23.2 Mb for the two chromosome-scale assemblies. Using collinearity analyses we identified massive rearrangements between the two closely related Melinaea species. An annotation of transposable elements and gene content was performed, as well as a specialist annotation to target chemosensory genes, which is crucial for host plant detection and mate recognition in mimetic species. A comparative genomic approach revealed independent gene expansions in ithomiines and particularly in gustatory receptor genes. These first three genomes of ithomiine mimetic butterflies constitute a valuable addition and a welcome comparison to existing biological models such as Heliconius, and will enable further understanding of the mechanisms of adaptation in butterflies.     

Cytogenetics of modern sugar canes

Modern sugar cane varieties are derived from interspecific crosses involving as many as four species. Because a chromosome increase accompanies certain crosses and backcrosses, modern varieties have very high aneuploid chromosome numbers and complicated genetics. Despite this complexity, the chromosome behavior of some modern varieties approaches that of allopolyploids. In achieving homozygosity, therefore, such varieties should respond to inbreeding almost like diploids. The meiotic chromosome behavior of F₁ hybrids and modern varieties indicates little or no genetic exchange between chromosomes ofSaccharum officinarum andS. spontaneum. Irradiation may break linkages between desirable and undesirableS. spontaneum genes not ordinarily broken by crossing-over between the chromosomes of the two species. The quick success of nobilizingS. spontaneum (recurrently back-crossing to “noble canes”) depends on a peculiar increase of the chromosomes ofS. officinarum. Experience with nobilizingS. spontaneum should not make breeders impatient when they turn to interspecific crosses unaccompanied by chromosome increases.     

Effect of nutrient variations on growth and brefeldin A formation inCurvularia lunata

The highest level of secreted brefeldin A was present in glucose-grown cultures, intermediate levels in glucose-fructose, and xylose cultures and low levels in fructose- and galaotose-grown cultures ofCurvularia lunata. The biomass decreased from glucose, fructose, xylose, glucose-fructose to galactose cultures. Brefeldin A levels and mycelial yields were low in citrate-, gluconate-, and succinate-grown cultures. Inorganic phosphate-limited cultures supported a high level of brefeldin A. Intermediate levels were present in trace elements-, and inorganic phosphate-trace elements-limited cultures.     

The effect of prostaglandins A2,E1,E2,15 methyl E2, 16, 16 dimethyl E2 and F2α on erythropoiesis

Prostaglandins A₂, E₁, E₂, methylated E₂s and F₂α affected erythropoiesis and/or erythropoietin (Ep) production. This action is indicated in the exhypoxic, polycythemic mouse where radioiron incorporations into RBC increased after administration of these compounds. The kidney and liver have been indicated through previous studies, to actively participate in Ep production. By the removal of one of these active sites in a murine system treated with prostaglandins it is shown that a response is reflected in Ep levels. Interference of the action of prostaglandins (PG) is altered by the removal of one of these target sites of Ep production. The erythropoietic responses elicited by PGA₂, E₁, and perhaps the methylated PGE₂s act through the liver whereas PGE₂ may operate through a renal pathway for its response. PGF_2α reveals no effect on erythropoietic activity and is no different than that observed for vehicle-treated controls. The prostaglandins tested appear to act primarily through the kidney or liver but the possibility exists that some yet undetermined organ site may also be involved.     

Carnitine uptake and fatty acid utilization by diploid cells aging in culture

Uptake of carnitine by cultured human fetal lung flbroblasts (WI-38 and IMR-90) and by smooth muscle cells from calf aorta and from human uterus was found to be temperature dependent and saturable. IMR-90 cells showed an apparent K_m of 6–8 μM and a V of 21–28 pmol/h/10⁶ cells for l-carnitine. Transport was abolished by N-ethylmaleimide and was inhibited variably by octanoyl-d-carnitine, d-carnitine, and carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone. Although WI-38 and IMR-90 cells accumulate lipids as they age in culture, they take up carnitine as rapidly as do smooth muscle cells of aorta and uterus that do not exhibit such accumulation. Comparison of the rates of carnitine uptake by IMR-90 fibroblasts during the logarithmic phase of growth shows no difference between “young” and “old” cultures. In contrast, when confluent or postconfluent monolayers were compared and uptake expressed as a function of cell number, cells grown from late passages took up carnitine more rapidly than did cells grown from early passages. However, when account was taken of cell size, and carnitine expressed as a function of cell volume, the differences in carnitine uptake between early and late passages were no longer apparent for the confluent or postconfluent monolayers examined. Moreover, late passage fibroblasts took up and oxidized radioactive palmitate at least as rapidly as did cells from early passages. Our results suggest that accumulation of lipid in aging fibroblasts is not due to decreased carnitine uptake or fatty acid oxidation.