Mineral and carbon usage of two synthetic pyrethroid degrading bacterial isolates

AIMS: To investigate the biodegrading ability and cometabolism of synthetic pyrethroid (SP) utilizing bacteria in cultures with various minerals and carbon sources. METHODS AND RESULTS: Previously isolated SP-degrading Pseudomonas sp. and Serratia sp. were used in cultures containing either flumethrin SP or cypermethrin SP formulations. The culture media consisted of either (i) water only, (ii) water and sucrose, (iii) mineral broth or (iv) mineral broth and sucrose. The growth of both organisms was greatest in the mineral broth and sucrose medium, but the growth-limiting factor for Pseudomonas sp. strain Circle was the mineral content whereas for Serratia sp. strain White it was the carbon substrate. CONCLUSION: The greatest extent of degradation of both SP-based compounds occurred with Pseudomonas sp. strain Circle but was dependant on the medium. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This investigation could lead to the development of a relatively inexpensive medium supplement to enhance the microbial biodegradation of undesirable compounds, either in situ or ex situ. In this particular case, for the biodegradation of SPs used in sheep dip.     

Rapid genotyping of the osteoporosis-associated polymorphic transcription factor Sp1 binding site in the COL1A1 gene by pyrosequencing

We describe a novel polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequencingbased assay for rapid genotyping of the polymorphic Sp1 binding site in the COL1A1 gene (1). A single nucleotide G-->T substitution polymorphism at this GC-rich site has recently been reported to be a predictive genetic marker for low bone mineral density (BMD). To simplify screening for this marker, we optimized PCR conditions and subjected the amplicons to pyrosequencing, which is a convenient high-throughput sequence analysis technique, readily amenable to automation. The analysis of 200 deidentified convenience DNA samples extracted from blood revealed genotype frequences in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (SS 68.0%, Ss 28.5%, and ss 3.5%) in agreement with other studies of European populations. This study demonstrates for the first time that pyrosequencing can be used for rapid identification of the osteoporosis-associated single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the COL1A1 gene.     

Estrogen receptor alpha and vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms and bone mineral density: association study of healthy pre- and postmenopausal Chinese women

In the present study, we tested the association between the estrogen receptor alpha (ER-alpha) and vitamin D receptor (VDR) genes with bone mineral density (BMD). A total of 649 healthy Chinese women, classified as pre-menopausal (N=388) and post-menopausal (N=261) groups, were genotyped at the ER-alpha PvuII, XbaI, and VDR ApaI sites. BMDs at the lumbar spine (L(1)-L(4)) and total hip were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. For the VDR ApaI locus, AA carriers had lower spine BMD than Aa (p=0.02) and aa carriers (p<0.01) in the pre-menopausal group. For the ER-alpha gene, carriers of haplotype px had lower spine BMD than the non-carriers (p=0.03) in the pre-menopausal group. Furthermore, we observed significant interaction between the ER-alpha and VDR genes in the post-menopausal group: with AA genotype (or A allele) at the VDR ApaI locus, pX carriers had higher spine BMD than the non-carriers (p=0.02), and PX carriers had lower hip BMD than the non-carriers (p=0.04). Our data suggest that the ER-alpha and VDR genes may be associated with the BMD variation in Chinese women.     

Growth and Respiration in Plants from Various Adaptation Groups as Affected by Mineral Nutrient Deficiency

The effect of the deficiency in mineral nutrients was investigated in plant species representing various adaptation groups (stress-tolerant, competitive, and ruderal plants). Dry and fresh weight, as well as the length of shoots and underground organs, were determined in 20- to 50-day-old seedlings. The ratio between the dry weights of shoot and root (SRR), relative growth rate (RGR), the rate of total dark respiration (R), gross photosynthesis (P _g), and the proportion of the respiratory expenditures to gross photosynthesis (R/P _g) were calculated. When affected by a deficiency in mineral nutrients, the weight of the whole plant decreased. In resistant species of clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), this reduction was insignificant, whereas, in the ruderal species amaranth (Amaranthus retroflexus L.), it was at its highest. In all the species investigated, the ratio R/P _g was 38–46%. Under stress conditions, this index increased. Given a deficiency in mineral nutrients, the changes in SRR, RGR, and R/P _g were greater in amaranth, suggesting that this plant species is less tolerant to stress. The correlation between RGR and R observed in amaranth under normal conditions indicates that the major energy expenditures are associated with growth. Under stress conditions, such a correlation was not observed. In more resistant species of clover and alfalfa, a weak positive correlation between RGR and R was observed both under normal and stress conditions. In these species, the deficiency in mineral nutrients probably brought about a reduction in the growth component of total dark respiration and a rise in the adaptation component. The complex of indices (R/P _g, RGR, and SRR) and the extent of their variation in the seedlings describe the potential productivity and resistance of particular species to a deficiency in mineral nutrients and may characterize the adaptation type of the plants.     

Tolerance and bioaccumulation of copper in Phragmites australis and Zea mays

The effects of copper on the growth, tolerance indices, mineral composition (N, P, K, Fe, Zn and Mn) and metal uptake of reed (Phragmites australis [Cav. Trin. ex Steudel]) and maize (Zea mays L.) were investigated in hydroponic experiments at copper concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 157 M Cu. A reduction in root length was shown to be a good indicator of copper toxicity, concentrations of 15.7 and 78.7 M Cu inhibiting root growth in maize and reed, respectively. The reed was significantly more tolerant of copper than maize and at 7.85 M Cu (external concentration), reed can be described as a Cu tolerant plant, and maize as a Cu non-tolerant species. As a result of Cu toxicity, the concentrations of macronutrients N, P and K decreased in both shoot and root of maize, while the concentrations were hardly affected in reed tissues. Fe concentration increased in shoots and roots of maize and in roots of reed with increasing Cu treatments, leading to highly significant (p<0.01) linear relationships between tissue Fe and Cu concentrations. The bioconcentration factor (BCF) of Cu was higher in roots than in shoots of both plant species, ranging from 612 to 1592 in reed for the Cu treatments tested. In the roots of maize, BCF of Cu increased from 349 to 1931 when increasing Cu in nutrient solution from 7.85 M to 78.5 M. Therefore, reed could be useful in wastewater treatments for the removal of Cu. However, the use of reed in phytoextraction of Cu from contaminated soils is limited by the low accumulation rate in shoots and although reed can be more efficient than maize for Cu phytoextraction, harvesting the full biomass, including roots, may be required.     

Montmorillonite Catalysis of 30–50 Mer Oligonucleotides: Laboratory Demonstration of Potential Steps in the Origin of the RNA World

Elongation of the primer ³²pdA(pdA)₈pA proceeds by thereaction of the 5-phosphorimidazolides of adenosine and uridine in the presence of montmorillonite clay. Daily addition of the activated nucleotides for up to 14 days results in theformation of 40–50 mers using the 5-phosphorimidazolide of adenosine (ImpA) and 25–30 mers using the 5-phosphorimidazolide of uridine (ImpU). The limitation on thelengths of the chains formed is not due to the inhibitors formedsince the same chain lengths were formed using 2–3 times the amount of montmorillonite catalyst. The shorter oligomers formedby the addition of U monomers is not due to its greater rate ofdecomposition since it was found that both the A and the U adducts decompose at about the same rates. Alkaline phosphatase hydrolysis studies revealed that some of the oligomers are cappedat the 5-end to form, with ImpA,Ap³²pdA(pdA)₈pA(pA)_n. The extent of capping depends on the reaction time and the purine or pyrimidine base inthe activated mononucleotide. Hydrolysis with ribonuclease T₂ followed by alkaline phosphatase determined the sites ofthe 3, 5- and 2, 5-phosphodiester bonding to the primer. The potential significance of the mineral catalyzed formation of 50 mer oligonucleotides to the origin of life basedon RNA (the RNA world scenario) is discussed.     

X-ray microanalytical studies of mineral localization in the needles of white pine (Pinus strobus L.)

Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.) shoots from mature trees were collected from two sites of contrasting soil pH: the Glendon campus of York University in Toronto, Ontario (pH 6.7 at 40 cm); and Muskoka near Huntsville, Ontario (pH 4.2 at 40 cm). Needles of ages 1-3 years were removed from the shoots, and the percentage of ash and silica was determined for all ages. Other needles were frozen in liquid nitrogen and kept in a cryo-biological storage system before x-ray microanalysis. Percentages of ash and silica were higher in the needles from Muskoka. Ash and silica increased with needle age for trees from the Muskoka site, but less so at the Toronto site. Of the 13 elements (Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn) detected by microanalysis, Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn were detected in small amounts in the epidermis, endodermis and transfusion tissue (the layer of tracheids and parenchyma immediately surrounding the vascular bundles), and K, P, S and Cl were almost ubiquitous in distribution. Sodium was occasionally detected in the transfusion tissue, and magnesium was concentrated in the endodermal cells. The epidermal walls, transfusion tissue and endodermis were major sites of calcium localization. Silicon was concentrated in the extreme tips of the needles in all tissues, but particularly in the transfusion tissue, and more so in the Muskoka samples. Microanalysis revealed a higher Al content in the Muskoka needles, that Al was concentrated in the needle tips and that the transfusion tissues were major sites of accumulation.     

Rapid changes in levels of mineral nutrients in root-tip cells following short-term exposure to aluminium

We investigated the rapid modification of plasma membrane and changes in mineral nutrients in root-tip cells of Al-tolerant rice and Al-sensitive barley following short-term exposure to Al (20 M Al, 1 h). The plasma membrane of the barley cells was significantly permeabilized when re-elongated in an Al-free Ca solution following a 1-h pre-treatment with Al, while that of rice cells was not affected at all. The elemental distribution and concentration in a 2-mm portion of the root apex were determined by electron probe X-ray microanalysis. Al was localized primarily to the epidermis and outer cortex cells in both species, and was much more abundant in barley than in rice. Al increased and decreased remarkably the intracellular K concentration in whole root-tip cells of rice and barley, respectively. In barley, the decrease in the concentration of Ca coincided with the accumulation of Al. Conversely, the intracellular concentration of P in the surface layers of root-tip cells increased with the accumulation of Al. The distribution and concentration of Ca and P in rice did not change after 1-h treatment with Al. These results suggest that the rapid modification of the plasma membrane of root-tip cells induced by Al affects the nutritional homeostasis in the cells.