Microcystin-RR induced apoptosis in tobacco BY-2 suspension cells is mediated by reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial permeability transition pore status

When tobacco BY-2 cells were treated with 60 mu g/mL MC-RR for 5 d, time-dependent effects of MC-RR on the cells were observed. Morphological changes such as abnormal elongation, evident chromatin condensation and margination, fragmentation of nucleus and formation of apoptotic-like bodies suggest that 60 mu g/mL MC-RR induced rapid apoptosis in tobacco BY-2 cells. Moreover, there was a significant and rapid increase of ROS level before the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (Delta Psi(m)) and the onset of cell apoptosis. Ascorbic acid (AsA), a major primary antioxidant, prevented the increase of ROS generation, blocked the decrease in Delta Psi(m) and subsequent cell apoptosis, indicating a critical role of ROS in serving as an important signaling molecule by causing a reduction of Delta Psi(m) and MC-RR-induced tobacco BY-2 cell apoptosis. In addition, a specific mitochondrial permeability transition pores (PTP) inhibitor, cyclosporin A (CsA), significantly blocked the MC-RR-induced ROS formation, loss of Delta Psi(m), as well as cell apoptosis when the cells were MC-RR stressed for 3 d, suggesting that PTP is involved in 60 mu g/mL MC-RR-induced tobacco cell apoptosis signalling process. Thus, we concluded that the mechanism of MC-RR-induced apoptosis signalling pathways in tobacco BY-2 cells involves not only the excess generation of ROS and oxidative stress, but also the opening of PTP inducing loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. (C) 2007 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Phosphorus in interstitial water induced by redox potential in sediment of Dianchi Lake, China

The sediment redox potential was raised in the laboratory to estimate reduction of internal available phosphorus loads, such as soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) and total phosphorus (TP), as well as the main elements of sediment extracts in Dianchi Lake. Several strongly reducing substances in sediments, which mainly originated from anaerobic decomposition of primary producer residues, were responsible for the lower redox potential. In a range of -400 to 200 mV raising the redox potential of sediments decreased TP and SRP in interstitial water. Redox potentials exceeding 320 mV caused increases in TP, whereas SRP maintained a relatively constant minimum level. The concentrations of Al, Fe, Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, Na+ and S in interstitial water were also related to the redox potential of sediments, suggesting that the mechanism for redox potential to regulate the concentration of phosphorus in interstitial water was complex.

Identification of the Angel-related elements in cyprinid fishes and their phylogenetic implications

Angel-related element belongs to the family of miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements (MITEs). In this paper we report the identification of an Angel-related element in the series Leuciscini of cyprinid fishes, which is located in the second intron of the growth hormone (GH) gene. We have also found that this element is absent in orthologous locus in the series Barbini of cyprinid fishes, that provides new evidence for the monophyly of the series Leuciscini. The insertion of Angel-related element into the GH gene might take place in the common ancestor of the series Leuciscini after its divergence from the series Barbini. The high sequence divergence and relatively broad species distribution of Angel-related elements implies that they might be ancient transposons which appeared about 26 million years ago.

Microcystin-RR-induced accumulation of reactive oxygen species and alteration of antioxidant systems in tobacco BY-2 cells

Microcystins are cyclic heptapeptide hepatoxins produced by cyanobacteria. It has been shown that microcystins have adverse effects on animals and on plants as well. Previous researches also indicated that microcystins were capable of inducing oxidative damage in animals both in vivo and in vitro. In this study, tobacco BY-2 suspension cell line was applied to examine the effects of microcystin-RR on plant cells. Cell viability and five biochemical parameters including reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxide (GPX) and peroxide dismutase (POD) were investigated when cells were exposed to 50 mg/L microcystin-RR. Results showed that microcystin-RR evoked decline of the cell viability to approximately 80% after treating for 144 h. ROS levels, POD and GPX activities of the treated cells were gradually increased with a time dependent manner. Changes of SOD and CAT activities were also detected in BY-2 cells. After 168 h recovery, ROS contents, POD, GPX and CAT activities returned to normal levels. These results suggest that the microcystin-RR can cause the increase of ROS contents in plant cells and these changes led to oxidant stress, at the same time, the plant cells would improve their antioxidant abilities to combat mirocystin-RR induced oxidative injury. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Reactive oxygen species and antioxidant enzymes activity of Anabaena sp PCC 7120 (Cyanobacterium) under simulated microgravity

It was found that reactive oxygen species in Anabaena cells increased under simulated microgravity provided by clinostat. Activities of intracellular antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase were higher than those in the controlled samples during the 7 days' experiment. However, the contents of gluathione, an intracellular antioxidant, decreased in comparison with the controlled samples. The results suggested that microgravity provided by clinostat might break the oxidative/antioxidative balance. It indicated a protective mechanism in algal cells, that the total antioxidant system activity increased, which might play an important role for algal cells to adapt the environmental stress of microgravity. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Total and subcellular distribution of trace elements in the liver of a mother-fetus pair of Dall's porpoises (Phocoenoides dalli)

Total and subcellular hepatic Zn, Cu, Se, Mn, V, Hg, Cd, and Ag were determined in a mother-fetus pair of Dall's porpoises (Phocoenoides dalli). Except for higher fetal Cu concentration, all maternal elements were higher. Elements existed mostly in the cytosol of both animals except in the case of maternal Ag in the microsome and fetal Cu and Ag in the nuclei and mitochondria. In the maternal cytosol, Zn, Mn, Hg, and Ag were present in the high-molecular-weight substances (HMW); Se and V were present in the low-molecular-weight substances (LMW); Cu and Cd were mostly sequestered by metallothionein (MT). In the fetal cytosol, Zn, Se, Mn, Hg, Cd, and Ag were present in the HMW and V in the LMW, while Cu and Ag were mostly associated with MT. MT isoforms were characterized using the HPLC/ICP-MS. Two and four obvious peaks appeared in the maternal and fetal MT fractions, respectively. The highest elemental ion intensities were at a retention time of 7.8 min for the mother, and for the fetus the peak elemental ion intensities occurred at a retention time of 4.3 min, suggesting that different MT isoforms may be involved in elemental accumulation in maternal and fetal hepatocytosols. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Kinetic studies on the effects of rare earth elements (REES) on the growth of Microcystis and their accumulation by Microcystis

In the paper the kinetic effects of La3+ and Ce4+ on the growth of Microcystis and the accumulation kinetics of Microcystis in the single and combined systems of La3+ and Ce4+ were studied. The mechanism of the effects of La3+ and Ce4+ on the growth of Microcystis and their accumulation kinetics were also discussed. In the single system, La3+ stimulated the growth of Microcystis at initial concentrations below 2 mg / 1, but inhibited it above 2 mg / 1. Ce4+ accelerated the growth of Microcystis at initial concentrations below 0.2 mg / 1 and inhibited at above 0.2 mg /l. Furthermore, the stimulation weakened with the increase of initial concentrations of La3+ and Ce4+. In the combined system, the growth of Microcystis was accelerated in the over all cases. In the single system, the amount of La3+ and Ce4+ uptake was more at higher initial concentrations than at lower ones. At the same initial concentrations, La3+ and Ce4+ uptake in the combined system was less than that in the single system. The kinetic process of La3+ and Ce4+ adsorpted by Microcystis can be explained with the second order kinetics adsorption model.

Determination of some reactive oxygen species scavengers based on the peroxidase-oxidase oscillator

This paper reports a new method for detection of ROS scavengers including superoxide dismutase, ascorbic acid and glutathione based on a 'probe' of peroxidase-oxidase biochemical oscillator. The oscillation period and amplitude change with different concentrations of scavengers. The linear ranges of superoxide dismutase, ascorbic acid and glutathione are respectively 1.56 x 10(-4)-1.56 x 10(-3) mg mL(-1), 1.75 x 10(-7) -1.75 x 10(-5) mol L-1 and 9.38 x 10(-7) -7.5 x 10(-5) mol L-1. The selectivity, linearity and precision for superoxide dismutase, ascorbic acid, and glutathione are presented and discussed. The results compared well with other standard methods for determination of superoxide dismutase, ascorbic acid and glutathione. Some possible steps in the overall reaction mechanisms are discussed.

Highly efficient photoluminescence of Er2SiO5 films grown by reactive magnetron sputtering method

E2SiO5 thin films were fabricated on Si substrate by reactive magnetron sputtering method with subsequent annealing treatment. The morphology properties of as-deposited films have been studied by scanning electron microscope. The fraction of erbium is estimated to be 23.5 at% based on Rutherford backscattering measurement in as-deposited Er-Si-O film. X-ray diffraction measurement revealed that Er2SiO5 crystalline structure was formed as sample treated at 1100 degrees C for 1 h in O-2 atmosphere. Through proper thermal treatment, the 1.53 mu m Er3+-related emission intensity can be enhanced by a factor of 50 with respect to the sample annealed at 800 degrees C. Analysis of pump-power dependence of Er3+ PL intensity indicated that the upconversion phenomenon could be neglected even under a high photon flux of 10(21) (photons/cm(2)/sec). Temperature-dependent photoluminescence (PL) of Er2SiO5 was studied and showed a weak thermal quenching factor of 2. Highly efficienct photoluminescence of Er2SiO5 films has been demonstrated with Er3+ concentration of 10(22)/cm(3), and it opens a promising way towards future Si-based light source for Si photonics. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Room-temperature photoluminescence of ZnO/MgO multiple quantum wells deposited by reactive magnetron sputtering

Wurtzite ZnO/MgO superlattices were successfully grown on Si (001) substrates at 750 degrees C using radio-frequency reactive magnetron sputtering method. X-ray reflection and diffraction, electronic probe and photoluminescence analysis were used to characterize the multiple quantum wells (MQWs). The results showed the periodic layer thickness of the MQWs to be 1.85 to 22.3 nm. The blueshift induced by quantum confinement was observed. Least square fitting method was used to deduce the zero phonon energy of the exciton from the room-temperature photoluminescence. It was found that the MgO barrier layers has a much larger offset than ZnMgO. The fluctuation of periodic layer thickness of the MQWs was suggested to be a possible reason causing the photoluminescence spectrum broadening.