Theoretical study of adsorption of nitrogen-containing environmental contaminants on kaolinite surfaces

The adsorption of nitrogen-containing compounds (NCCs) including 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT), 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN), and 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO) on kaolinite surfaces was investigated. The M06-2X and M06-2X-D3 density functionals were applied with the cluster approximation. Several different positions of NCCs relative to the adsorption sites of kaolinite were examined, including NCCs in perpendicular and parallel orientation toward both surface models of kaolinite. The binding between the target molecules and kaolinite surfaces was analyzed and bond energies were calculated applying the atoms in molecules (AIM) method. All NCCs were found to prefer a parallel orientation toward both kaolinite surfaces, and were bound more strongly to the octahedral than to the tetrahedral site. TNT exhibited the strongest interaction with the octahedral surface and DNAN with the tetrahedral surface of kaolinite. Hydrogen bonding was shown to be the dominant non-covalent interaction for NCCs interacting with the octahedral surface of kaolinite with a small stabilizing effect of dispersion interactions. In the case of adsorption on the tetrahedral surface, kaolonite–NCC binding was shown to be governed by the balance between hydrogen bonds and dispersion forces. The presence of water as a solvent leads to a significant decrease in the adsorption strength for all studied NCCs interacting with both kaolinite surfaces.     

Molecular simulations of adsorption of RDX and TATP on IRMOF-1(Be)

The influence of different sorption sites of isoreticular metal-organic frameworks (IRMOFs) on interactions with explosive molecules is investigated. Different connector effects are taken into account by choosing IRMOF-1(Be) (IRMOF-1 with Zn replaced by Be), and two high explosive molecules: 1,3,5-trinitro-s-triazine (RDX) and triacetone triperoxide (TATP). The key interaction features (structural, electronic and energetic) of selected contaminants were analyzed by means of density functional calculations. The interaction of RDX and TATP with different IRMOF-1(Be) fragments is studied. The results show that physisorption is favored and occurs due to hydrogen bonding, which involves the C-H groups of both molecules and the carbonyl oxygen atoms of IRMOF-1(Be). Additional stabilization of RDX and TATP arises from weak electrostatic interactions. Interaction with IRMOF-1(Be) fragments leads to polarization of the target molecules. Of the molecular configurations we have studied, the Be-O-C cluster connected with six benzene linkers (1,4-benzenedicarboxylate, BDC), possesses the highest binding energy for the studied explosives (-16.4 kcal mol(-1) for RDX and -12.9 kcal mol(-1) for TATP). The main difference was discovered to be in the preferable adsorption site for adsorbates (RDX above the small and TATP placed above the big cage). Based on these results, IRMOF-1 can be suggested as an effective material for storage and also for separation of similar explosives. Hydration destabilizes most of the studied adsorption systems by 1-3 kcal mol(-1) but it leads to the same trend in the binding strength as found for the non-hydrated complexes.     

Theoretical study of the surface properties of poly(dimethylsiloxane) and poly(tetrafluoroethylene)

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) and poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) were carried out to determine their surface properties and energies. This study helps to gain better insight into the molecular modeling of PDMS and PTFE, in particular how different approaches affect calculations of surface energy. Current experimental and theoretical data were used to further understand the surface properties of PDMS and PTFE as well as to validate and verify results obtained from the combination of density functional theory (DFT) calculations (including periodic boundary conditions) and MD simulations. Detailed analysis of the structure and electronic properties (by calculation of the projected density of states) of the bulk and surface models of PDMS and PTFE was performed. The sensitivity of the surface energy calculation of these two polymers to the chemistry and model preparation was indicated. The balance between the molecular density, weight (which also reflects bond orientation in the surface region), bond flexibility, and intramolecular interactions including bond stretching was revealed to govern the results obtained. In modeling, the structural organization of polymer near a given surface (types and number of end groups and broken bonds due to application of different cut offs of the periodic structure) also significantly affects the final results. Besides the structural differences, certain simulation parameters, such the DFT functionals and simulation boxes utilized, play an important role in determining surface energy. The models used here were shown to be sufficient due to their good agreement with experimental and other theoretical data related to surface properties and surface energies.     

Selection on multiple sexual signals in two Central and Eastern European populations of the barn swallow

Variation in intensity and targets of sexual selection on multiple traits has been suggested to play a major role in promoting phenotypic differentiation between populations, although the divergence in selection may depend on year, local conditions or age. In this study, we quantified sexual selection for two putative sexual signals across two Central and East European barn swallow (Hirundo rustica rustica) populations from Czech Republic and Romania over multiple years. We then related these differences in selection to variation in sexual characters among barn swallow populations. Our results show that tail length and ventral coloration vary between populations, sexes, and age classes (first‐time breeders vs. experienced birds). We found that selection on tail length was stronger in first‐time breeders than in experienced birds and in males than in females in the Romanian population, while these differences between age groups and sexes were weak in Czech birds. We suggest that the populational difference in selection on tail length might be related to the differences in breeding conditions. Our results show that ventral coloration is darker (i.e., has lower brightness) in the Romanian than in the Czech population, and in experienced birds and males compared with first‐time breeders and females, respectively. The sexual difference in ventral coloration may suggest sexual selection on this trait, which is supported by the significant directional selection of ventral coloration in first‐time breeding males on laying date. However, after controlling for the confounding effect of wing length and tarsus length, the partial directional selection gradient on this trait turned nonsignificant, suggesting that the advantage of dark ventral coloration in early breeding birds is determined by the correlated traits of body size. These findings show that ventral coloration may be advantageous over the breeding season, but the underlying mechanism of this relationship is not clarified.     

Effect of antibiotic treatment and gamma-irradiation on cuticular hydrocarbon profiles and mate choice in tsetse flies (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Glossina m. morsitans</Emphasis>)

Background

Symbiotic microbes represent a driving force of evolutionary innovation by conferring novel ecological traits to their hosts. Many insects are associated with microbial symbionts that contribute to their host’s nutrition, digestion, detoxification, reproduction, immune homeostasis, and defense. In addition, recent studies suggest a microbial involvement in chemical communication and mating behavior, which can ultimately impact reproductive isolation and, hence, speciation. Here we investigated whether a disruption of the microbiota through antibiotic treatment or irradiation affects cuticular hydrocarbon profiles, and possibly mate choice behavior in the tsetse fly, Glossina morsitans morsitans. Four independent experiments that differentially knock down the multiple bacterial symbionts of tsetse flies were conducted by subjecting tsetse flies to ampicillin, tetracycline, or gamma-irradiation and analyzing their cuticular hydrocarbon profiles in comparison to untreated controls by gas chromatography – mass spectrometry. In two of the antibiotic experiments, flies were mass-reared, while individual rearing was done for the third experiment to avoid possible chemical cross-contamination between individual flies.

Results

All three antibiotic experiments yielded significant effects of antibiotic treatment (particularly tetracycline) on cuticular hydrocarbon profiles in both female and male G. m. morsitans, while irradiation itself had no effect on the CHC profiles. Importantly, tetracycline treatment reduced relative amounts of 15,19,23-trimethyl-heptatriacontane, a known compound of the female contact sex pheromone, in two of the three experiments, suggesting a possible implication of microbiota disturbance on mate choice decisions. Concordantly, both female and male flies preferred non-treated over tetracycline-treated flies in direct choice assays.

Conclusions

While we cannot exclude the possibility that antibiotic treatment had a directly detrimental effect on fly vigor as we are unable to recolonize antibiotic treated flies with individual symbiont taxa, our results are consistent with an effect of the microbiota, particularly the obligate nutritional endosymbiont Wigglesworthia, on CHC profiles and mate choice behavior. These findings highlight the importance of considering host-microbiota interactions when studying chemical communication and mate choice in insects.

     

Sphingomyelinase activity in mother's milk is essential for juvenile development: a case from lactating tsetse flies

Sphingosine is a structural component of sphingolipids. The metabolism of phosphoethanolamine ceramide (sphingomyelin) by sphingomyelinase (SMase), followed by the breakdown of ceramide by ceramidase (CDase) yields sphingosine. Female tsetse fly is viviparous and generates a single progeny within her uterus during each gonotrophic cycle. The mother provides her offspring with nutrients required for development solely via intrauterine lactation. Quantitative PCR showed that acid smase1 (asmase1) increases in mother's milk gland during lactation. aSMase1 was detected in the milk gland and larval gut, indicating this protein is generated during lactation and consumed by the larva. The higher levels of SMase activity in larval gut contents indicate that this enzyme is activated by the low gut pH. In addition, cdase is expressed at high levels in the larval gut. Breakdown of the resulting ceramide is likely accomplished by the larval gut-secreted CDase, which allows absorption of sphingosine. We used the tsetse system to understand the critical role(s) of SMase and CDase during pregnancy and lactation and their downstream effects on adult progeny fitness. Reduction of asmase1 by short interfering RNA negatively impacted pregnancy and progeny performance, resulting in a 4-5-day extension in pregnancy, 10%-15% reduction in pupal mass, lower pupal hatch rates, impaired heat tolerance, reduced symbiont levels, and reduced fecundity of adult progeny. This study suggests that the SMase activity associated with tsetse lactation and larval digestion is similar in function to that of mammalian lactation and represents a critical process for juvenile development, with important effects on the health of progeny during their adulthood.