Intracellular binding of lead in the kidney: The partial isolation and characterization of postmitochondrial lead binding components

Gel chromatography of kidney postmitochondrial fractions from control rats 2 hr after injection of ²⁰³Pb or after in vitro incubation with ²⁰³Pb disclosed the presence of two fractionated Pb-binding components plus binding in the void volume and total volume regions. The binding of Pb to the two components, with molecular weights of 11,500 and 63,000 daltons, was markedly decreased in Pb-pretreated rats. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis and autoradiography showed the presence of one major ²⁰³Pb band with an estimated molecular weight of 60,000 daltons. The 11,500-dalton peak did not incorporate ¹⁴C-leucine nor did concomitant administration of cycloheximide with the ²⁰³Pb inhibit incorporation of ²⁰³Pb activity, suggesting that the component is a preformed constituent of the kidney. In vitro incubation of brain, liver and lung postmitochondrial supernatants with ²⁰³Pb disclosed that these two binding components were also present in brain but not in liver or lung, suggesting a target tissue-specific localization for these Pb-binding macromolecules.     

Zn、Cd及其复合对小麦幼苗吸收Ca、Fe、Mn的影响

研究了溶液培养条件下Cd、Zn及其复合对小麦幼苗吸收Ca、Fe、Mn的影响.结果表明,小麦幼苗对Zn、Cd的吸收随溶液中Cd²⁺、Zn²⁺浓度的升高而增加,Cd、Zn同时存在时与其单独作用时幼苗对它们的吸收不同,Zn影响幼苗对Cd的吸收,Cd对Zn的吸收起抑制作用.Ca、Mn的吸收随溶液中Cd²⁺、Zn²⁺浓度升高而呈下降趋势,在Cd单独处理组和Zn单独处理组中Fe的吸收随Cd²⁺、Zn²⁺浓度升高而增加,但在Zn+Cd处理组中,Fe的吸收则呈下降趋势,其效应方式还与作物具体部位有关.     

Low-level environmental lead and cadmium exposures and dyslipidemia in adults: Findings from the NHANES 2005–2016

BackgroundPrevious experimental and occupational health studies have shown the toxic effects of relatively high-level cadmium and lead on lipid metabolism. However, limited studies investigated the relationships between serum lipid levels and exposure to low-level lead and cadmium in adults.ObjectiveTo investigate the associations between lead and cadmium levels in blood and dyslipidemia in adults.MethodsA retrospective cross-sectional study of 7,457 adults aged 20–79 years who were recruited in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2005–2016) was conducted. Multivariate linear and logistic regressions were used to examine the associations of blood lead and cadmium levels with serum lipid profiles and risk of dyslipidemia, respectively.ResultsThe weighted geometric means [95% confidence intervals (CIs)] of lead and cadmium in blood were 1.23 (1.21, 1.25) μg/dL and 0.36 (0.35, 0.37) μg/L, respectively. Blood lead was significantly associated with serum total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C), and apolipoprotein B (Apo B) levels after adjusting for covariates. Compared with the adults in the lowest blood lead quartile (≤0.76 μg/dL), those in the highest lead quartile (>1.90 μg/dL) had higher risks of elevated TC (OR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.59–2.22), non-HDL-C (OR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.33–1.91), LDL-C (OR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.41–1.99) and Apo B (OR = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.46–2.73). However, the single effect of cadmium exposure and the joint effect of lead and cadmium exposures on dyslipidemia were not observed.ConclusionBlood lead well below the current recommended level was positively associated with the risk of dyslipidemia in adults, while the low-level cadmium exposure currently observed in adults did not show any significant associations with lipid levels.     

Root exudates from sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) show a strong adsorption ability toward Cd(II)

Abstract

Cd(II) adsorption of root exudates from sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) seedling was investigated by Cd ion-selective electrode, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy. Root exudates from Helianthus annuus L. had strong adsorption ability toward Cd(II). The adsorption process was pH-dependent and the maximum adsorption capacity, 150.8 mg g^?1, was observed at pH 7.0. Root exudates had pK _a1 at 4.7 for carboxyl and pK _a2 at 9.2 for phenolic, and amino groups. The aliphatic and aromatic (C?H) groups, amide III group, and the C (=O)?O and sulfonate groups were responsible for Cd(II) adsorption. The excitation emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy showed protein-like substances participated in Cd adsorption and formed strong complexes, with conditional stability constants of 4.70 and 4.32, which is a little lower than that determined by potentiometric methods, 5.13. The strong Cd complexing ability of root exudates implies that root exudates may significantly affect mobility, toxicity, and phytoavailability of Cd. Cd binding of root exudates may be attributed to its interaction with the proteins, polysaccharides, and phenolic compounds in root exudates.     

Zn、Cd在太原工业区和紫金山非工业区环颈雉不同组织中的分布及比较研究

为了探讨Zn、Cd在环颈雉（Phasianuscolchicus）体内的积累和分布规律,对太原工业区环颈雉体内不同组织的Zn、Cd进行了分析,并以紫荆山区为对照区（相对非污染区）,对两区环颈雉体内不同组织的Zn、Cd进行了比较。研究结果表明：Zn在环颈雉体内的分布规律为：股骨＞胸骨＞心＞肝＞肾＞肺＞股肌＞胸肌;Cd在环颈雉体内的分布规律为：肾＞胸骨＞股骨＞肝＞肺＞胸肌＞心＞股肌。两区环颈雉各组织中,Zn的含量没有明显差异,而肾脏中的Cd含量差异显著。     

Cd污染及其与大气CO2浓度升高、N添加复合作用对大叶相思生长的影响

为了解Cd污染胁迫下树木对CO_2浓度升高、N添加及其复合作用的响应,应用开顶箱,探讨Cd及其与CO_2、N的复合作用对大叶相思(Acacia auriculiformis)基径、树高和生物量的影响。结果表明,Cd添加抑制大叶相思基径、树高和生物量的增长,并且具有时间滞后性;大气CO_2浓度升高、N添加及CO_2+N均有缓解Cd对植物生长抑制作用的趋势,其中, N添加更能促进大叶相思基径的生长,树高生长则对CO_2升高更为敏感;在Cd污染土壤中,N添加的缓解作用最显著。因此,氮肥管理是重金属污染土地修复初期促进植物修复的重要策略。     

基于转录组测序的Cd胁迫下芹菜细胞自噬相关基因的筛选

细胞自噬是植物逆境应答过程中最常见的保护机制之一。动物中,自噬相关基因抵御镉(Cd)毒害的功能研究较清楚,但植物却知之甚少。文中以芹菜品种‘皇后’为试材,采用外源Cd(终浓度为0、2、4、8mg/L)添加营养液水培处理,利用转录组测序(RNA-seq)技术筛选细胞自噬相关差异基因并进行q RT-PCR验证。结果表明Cd胁迫对芹菜植株产生了明显的毒害作用,并与浓度间产生了量效关系。在筛选的8个差异表达的自噬相关基因中,ATG8a、ATG8f、ATG13、AMPK-1、AMPK-2基因随Cd浓度升高表达上调,ATG12、VPS30和VPS34则先上调后下降,说明自噬相关基因可能通过表达上调增加了自噬小体结构以抵御Cd毒性作用;而高浓度Cd(8mg/L)可能超出芹菜的耐受范围,导致多个自噬基因又出现表达下调趋势。以上结果有助于后期自噬相关基因的功能研究,为进一步探讨芹菜对Cd胁迫的耐性机制提供参考依据。     

沙地樟子松人工林土壤理化性质与微生物生物量的动态变化

为揭示不同林龄沙地樟子松人工林土壤理化性质和微生物生物量的动态和相互关系,以毛乌素沙地、科尔沁沙地和呼伦贝尔沙地不同林龄樟子松人工林为对象,分析土壤理化性质、土壤微生物生物量碳和微生物生物量氮变化规律。结果表明:樟子松人工林土壤理化性质随林龄增加在不同沙地中表现不同,毛乌素沙地土壤容重和养分含量明显降低,科尔沁沙地土壤孔隙度和养分含量明显升高,呼伦贝尔沙地土壤养分则呈现先增加后降低趋势。与土壤理化性质变化趋势类似,毛乌素沙地樟子松人工林土壤微生物生物量氮随着林龄的增加而降低,科尔沁沙地土壤微生物生物量氮随着林龄的增加而升高,呼伦贝尔沙地土壤微生物生物量氮随着林龄的增加呈先增加而后降低趋势。影响毛乌素沙地、科尔沁沙地和呼伦贝尔沙地土壤微生物生物量碳、氮的主要因子分别是硝态氮、铵态氮和有机质含量。毛乌素与科尔沁沙地樟子松人工林主要限制因子为土壤氮,而呼伦贝尔沙地樟子松受土壤有机碳限制较强。     

镉胁迫对拟南芥的毒害作用及自噬现象的观测

镉离子(Cd2+)具有强植物毒性,可抑制植物生长,甚至导致植物死亡。为了研究重金属镉对拟南芥的毒害作用,采用叶绿素荧光技术、流式细胞技术、激光共聚焦技术及半定量RT-PCR技术,检测光合参数的变化、活性氧(reactive oxygen species,ROS)的累积、自噬的发生,以及病原相关蛋白(pathogenesis-related protein,PR)基因表达的变化。实验结果显示,随着50μmol/L CdCl2处理时间的延长,ROS和Cd2+在细胞中大量积累。而在镉胁迫的初期,会观察到自噬的发生及PR基因表达的变化。说明植物受到外界Cd2+作用的初期,会通过自噬及增强PR基因表达来抵抗外界胁迫。但随着处理时间的延长,植物细胞内累积了大量的ROS和Cd2+,当植物不足以通过自噬途径抵抗胁迫时,就会导致生长受阻,最终对光合系统造成损伤。