Regional lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation in rat brain after hyperbaric oxygen exposure

Reactive oxygen species may participate in development of neurological toxicity resulting from hyperbaric oxygen exposure. To explore the possibility that increased reactive O₂ metabolite generation may result in oxidative modification of lipids and proteins, rats were exposed to five atmospheres (gauge pressure) of O₂ until development of an electroencephalographic seizure. Lipid peroxidation (as thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances) and protein oxidation (as 2,4-dinitrophenyl-hydrazones) were measured in five brain regions. Oxidized and reduced glutathione were also determined because of their role in regulating lipid peroxidation. Lipid peroxidation was confined to the frontal cortex and hippocampus, while protein oxidation (in both cytoplasmic and membranous fractions) and increased oxidized glutathione was evident throughout the brain. These results support a role for formation of reactive O₂ metabolites from hyperbaric O₂ exposure and suggest that protein oxidation, especially in soluble proteins, may be one of the most sensitive measures.     

Environmental implications of the organic matter structure for white-rot fungus Pleurotus eryngii growth in a tropical climate

White-rot fungi (Pleurotus eryngii) are decomposers of lignocellulosic substrates. The relationship between the structure of humified organic matter and P. eryngii growth, is poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the growth and development of white-rot fungi (P. eryngii) in two structurally different sources of humified organic matter. Fungus growth and development (mycelium diameter, fresh and dry mycelium mass, mycelium density, and biological yield) were evaluated in experiments with the application of humic substances (HS) extracted from vermicompost (VC) and peat. Both HS were characterized by CP/MAS 13C NMR spectroscopy associated with chemometrics analysis. The HS present different structural characteristics, with those extracted from VC having a predominance of functionalized C-aliphatics (carbohydrates), low hydrophobicity, and a 90% proportion of cellulose/hemicellulose carbon in the composition. HS extracted from peat have a predominance of C-aromatics (lignin fragments), higher hydrophobicity, and a proportion of lignin carbon of up to 80%. The results showed that P. eryngii growth is dependent on the C-cellulosic and C-lignin balance. HS extracted from lignin-rich peat regulates the fungus growth at initial times and sometimes inhibits the biological performance. The highly cellulosic HS from VC regulate the fungus growth at later times and its biological performance.     

Toxicity of depleted uranium on isolated rat kidney mitochondria

Background

Kidney is known as the most sensitive target organ for depleted uranium (DU) toxicity in comparison to other organs. Although the oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage induced by DU has been well investigated, the precise mechanism of DU-induced nephrotoxicity has not been thoroughly recognized yet.

Methods

Kidney mitochondria were obtained using differential centrifugation from Wistar rats and mitochondrial toxicity endpoints were then determined in both in vivo and in vitro uranyl acetate (UA) exposure cases.

Results

Single injection of UA (0, 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/kg, i.p.) caused a significant increase in blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels. Isolated mitochondria from the UA-treated rat kidney showed a marked elevation in oxidative stress accompanied by mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) collapse as compared to control group. Incubation of isolated kidney mitochondria with UA (50, 100 and 200 μM) manifested that UA can disrupt the electron transfer chain at complex II and III that leads to induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, lipid peroxidation, and glutathione oxidation. Disturbances in oxidative phosphorylation were also demonstrated through decreased ATP concentration and ATP/ADP ratio in UA-treated mitochondria. In addition, UA induced a significant damage in mitochondrial outer membrane. Moreover, MMP collapse, mitochondrial swelling and cytochrome c release were observed following the UA treatment in isolated mitochondria.

General significance

Both our in vivo and in vitro results showed that UA-induced nephrotoxicity is linked to the impairment of electron transfer chain especially at complex II and III which leads to subsequent oxidative stress.     

Induced parthenocarpy—a way of changing the levels of endogenous hormones in tomato fruits (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) 1. Extractable hormones

Ethylene, indol-3-acetic acid (IAA), gibberellin-like substances (GAs) and abscisic acid (ABA) were analysed in extracts from normal, seed-containing and parthenocarpic tomato fruits throughout fruit development. Parthenocarpic fruit growth was induced with an auxin (4-CPA), morphactin (CME) or gibberellic acid (GA₃) and compared with that of pollinated control fruits. Fruit growth was only affected by the treatment with GA₃, decreasing size and fresh weight by 60%. The peak sequence of hormones during fruit development was ethylene-GAs-IAA-ABA. Seeded fruits contained the highest levels of IAA and ABA but the lowest levels of GAs. Also, in seeded fruits, a high proportion of IAA and ABA was found in the seeds whereas this was not the case for GAs.Hormone levels of tomato fruits may be successfully, easily and reproducibly altered by inducing parthenocarpic fruit growth and thus eliminating development of seeds which are a major source of hormone synthesis. In spite of markedly changed hormone levels, there was no obvious relationship between fruit growth and extractable hormones per se. However, the results indicate that a high ratio of GAs: auxins is unfavourable for growth of tomato fruits.     

Quorum sensing: an emerging link between temperature and membrane biofouling in membrane bioreactors

Lab-scale membrane bioreactors (MBRs) were investigated at 12, 18, and 25?°C to identify the correlation between quorum sensing (QS) and biofouling at different temperatures. The lower the reactor temperature, the more severe the membrane biofouling measured in terms of the transmembrane pressure (TMP) during filtration. More extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) that cause biofouling were produced at 18?°C than at 25?°C, particularly polysaccharides, closely associated with QS via the production of N-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL). However, at 12?°C, AHL production decreased, but the release of EPSs due to deflocculation increased the soluble EPS concentration. To confirm the temperature effect related to QS, bacteria producing AHL were isolated from MBR sludge and identified as Aeromonas sp., Leclercia sp., and Enterobacter sp. through a 16S rDNA sequencing analysis. Batch assays at 18 and 25?°C showed that there was a positive correlation between QS through AHL and biofilm formation in that temperature range.     

甜瓜细菌性斑点病拮抗菌P-13的鉴定及其抑菌物质的初步研究

从新疆甜瓜根际土壤中分离到1株甜瓜细菌性斑点病拮抗放线菌P-13, 根据其形态学、生理特征和16S rRNA序列分析, 鉴定该菌株为娄彻氏链霉菌(Streptomyces rochei)。琼脂扩散法生物活性研究表明, 其发酵液对细菌性果腐病菌(Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrull)BFB、细菌性角斑病菌(Pseudomonas syringae pv. Lachrymans)P4的抑菌圈直径分别为19 mm和17 mm以上; 发酵液中抑菌物质主要为胞外代谢物, 不溶于石油醚, 乙醚, 乙酸乙酯等有机溶剂。在100°C处理10 min、pH 6处理6 h或紫外线照射7 h, 该物质抑菌活性不变。纸层析结果表明, 该物质主要为碱性水溶性物质。     

外源信号物质对肉苁蓉种子萌发与吸器形成内源激素水平变化的影响

利用外源信号物质氟草敏（norflurazon）和2,6-二甲氧基对苯醌（2,6-DMBQ）分别诱导肉苁蓉种子萌发与吸器形成,研究它们在此过程中对内源激素脱落酸（ABA）、赤霉素（GA3）、吲哚乙酸（IAA）、玉米素核苷（ZR）水平变化的影响。结果表明：在诱导肉苁蓉种子萌发时,经norflurazon处理0～168h后,种子中ABA水平呈现显著降低的变化趋势,GA3、IAA、ZR水平呈现显著升高的变化趋势。在诱导肉苁蓉种子萌发体吸器形成时,经2,6-DMBQ处理0～72h后,肉苁蓉种子萌发体ABA水平变化不显著,GA3、IAA、ZR水平均呈现显著升高的变化趋势。表明在肉苁蓉种子萌发与吸器形成中外源信号物质nor-flurazon和2,6-DMBQ能影响内源激素水平的变化。     

细菌生物被膜基质的研究进展

细菌生物被膜(biofilm)附着在生物或者非生物表面,由细菌及其分泌的糖、蛋白质和核酸等多种基质组成的细菌群落,是造成病原细菌持续性感染、毒力和耐药性的重要原因之一.细菌的生物被膜基质由复杂的胞外聚合物(extracellular polymeric substances,EPS)构成,影响生物被膜的结构和功能.本文...     

食源性致病菌激活NLRP3炎症小体及食源性功能物质的抑制机理研究进展

食源性致病菌感染是引起食源性疾病的首要因素,严重影响人类健康。炎症小体通过识别受体感知入侵宿主的危险信号进而组装形成多聚蛋白复合物,从而诱导炎症反应,是先天免疫系统中识别食源性病原菌感染和清除病原体的重要防线。NLRP3炎症小体是位于胞内的炎症反应平台,可以感知多种病原微生物的侵袭,在先天性免疫反应中起着至关重要的作用。食源性致病菌感染常引起NLRP3炎症小体的异常激活,介导多种炎症性疾病的发生和发展,因此,许多抗炎研究中常常以NLRP3炎症小体作为靶点。本文总结了食源性致病菌及其代谢产物激活NLRP3炎症小体的分子机制,以及天然产物和膳食功能物质抑制NLRP3炎症小体激活的机理,为治疗炎症性疾病、开发缓解致病菌诱导的炎症反应的功能化合物提供新的思路。     

Inhibition of galectin-3 mediated cellular interactions by pectic polysaccharides from dietary sources

Pectic polysaccharides from dietary sources such as Decalepis hamiltonii—swallow root (SRPP), Hemidesmus indicus (HPP), Nigella sativa—black cumin (BCPP), Andrographis serpyllifolia—(APP), Zingiber officinale—ginger (GRPP) and, citrus pectin (CPP) were examined for galectin inhibitory activity. Inhibition of (a) galectin-3 of MDA-MB-231 cells induced hemagglutination of red blood cells; (b) galectin-3 mediated interaction between normal/metastatic human buccal cells (NBC)/(MBC) and; (c) invasion of MDA-MB-231 and MBC in the invasive chamber was assessed. Results indicated that SRPP inhibited hemagglutination at Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of 1.86 μg ml⁻¹ equivalent of carbohydrate as apposed to those of BCPP (130 μg ml⁻¹), APP (40 μg ml⁻¹), HPP (40 μg ml⁻¹) and CPP (25 μg ml⁻¹). GRPP even at concentration >1–6 mg ml⁻¹ did not inhibit agglutination. Also SRPP showed ∼15 and 2 fold potent anti hemagglutination activity relative to that of galectin-3 specific sugars—galactose (MIC-27.1 μg ml⁻¹) and lactose (MIC-4.16 μg ml⁻¹) respectively. Further, SRPP at 10 μg ml⁻¹ inhibited agglutination of NBC by galectin-3 of MDA-MB-231 cells. Modified swallow root pectic polysaccharide (MSRPP) of 50 kDa retained anti hemagglutination activity (MIC of 1.03 μg ml⁻¹) and inhibited MDA-MB-231 and MBC invasion by 73 and 50% with an IC₅₀ of 136 and 200 μg ml⁻¹ respectively. Both SRPP and MSRPP induced apoptosis up to 80% at 100 μg ml⁻¹ concentration by activating ∼2 and 8 folds of Caspase-3 activity. Sugar composition analysis and its correlation with the galectin inhibitory property indicated that pectic polysaccharides with higher arabinose and galactose content—arabinogalactan inhibited hemagglutination significantly.