Cytotoxicity evaluation of three pairs of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) enantiomers on Hep G2 cell

Hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) are additive brominated flame retardants mainly used in plastics and textiles. At the present time, these compounds are found in almost all environmental and human samples. In order to evaluate the environmental safety and health risk of HBCDs, the enantiomerically pure alpha-, beta-, and gamma-HBCD were prepared using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on a PM-P-CD column and the cytotoxicities of their enantiomers were evaluated in Hep G2 cells. Results from the 3-(4,5-dimethylthioazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT), resazurin reduction and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assays showed a good agreement that the order of cytotoxicity was gamma-HBCD >= beta-HBCD > alpha-HBCD, and that significantly lower cell viability and higher LDH release were observed in all (+)-enantiomers ((+) alpha-, (+) beta- and (+) gamma-HBCD) than the corresponding (-)-forms ((-) alpha-, (-) beta- and (-) gamma-HBCD). Additionally, the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by these HBCD enantiomers were detected. The positive correlation between the LDH release and ROS formation demonstrated that the toxic mechanism might be mediated by oxidative damage. These results suggest that environmental and human health risks of HBCDs must be evaluated at the level of individual enantiomers. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Apoptosis induction on human hepatoma cells Hep G2 of decabrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE-209)

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are an important class of halogenated organic brominated flame retardants. Because of their presence in abiotic and biotic environments widely and their structural similarity to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), concern has been raised on their possible adverse health effects to humans. This study was designed to determine the anti-proliferative, apoptotic properties of decabrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE-209), using a human hepatoma Hep G2 line as a model system. Hep G2 cells were cultured in the presence of PBDE-209 at various concentrations (1.0-100.0 mu mol/L) for 72 h and the percentage of cell viability was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The results showed that PBDE-209 inhibited the cells viability in time and concentration-dependent characteristics at concentrations (10.0-100.0 mu mol/L). We found that anti-proliferative effect of PBDE-209 was associated with apoptosis on Hep G2 cells by determinations of morphological changes, cell cycle and apoptosis. Mechanism study showed that PBDE-209 could increase the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentration-dependently. Antioxidant N-acetylcyteine partially inhibited the increase of ROS. The mechanism for its hepatoma-inhibitory effects was the induction of cellular apoptosis through ROS generation. In addition, activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release increased when the cells incubated with PBDE-209 at various concentrations and times. These results suggested that PBDE-209 had the toxicity activity of anti-proliferation and induction of apoptosis in tumor cells in vitro. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Predicted glycosyl transferase genes located outside the HEP island are required for formation of heterocyst envelope polysaccharide in Anabaena sp strain PCC 7120

During maturation, heterocysts form an envelope layer of polysaccharide, called heterocyst envelope polysaccharide (HEP), whose synthesis depends on a cluster of genes, the HEP island, and on an additional, distant gene, hepB, or a gene immediately downstream from hepB. We show that HEP formation depends upon the predicted glycosyl transferase genes all4160 at a third locus and alr3699, which is adjacent to hepB and is cotranscribed with it. Mutations in the histidine kinase genes hepN and hepK appear to silence the promoter of hepB and incompletely down-regulate all4160.

低剂量辐射诱导hep G2细胞克隆存活和细胞周期适应性反应

以低剂量γ射线(0.05Gy)预照射人肝癌细胞hepG2,8h后再用高剂量(3Gy)照射,测定了细胞的克隆存活率和细胞周期。结果表明,低剂量辐射预处理可诱导hepG2细胞产生克隆存活适应性反应,并且有助于细胞通过G2/M期阻滞;低剂量辐射诱导的克隆存活适应性反应与增强的通过细胞周期阻滞的能力之间有一定的相关性。

Determination of rare-earth impurities in ultra-highly pure Er2O3 and Ho2O3 by [HEH(HEP)] extraction chromatography-atomic emission spectrometry

This article applied [HEH(HEP)] (2-ethyhexyldrogen-2-ethylhexyl phosphonate)extraction chromatography to separate 14 rare earth impurities from ultra-highly pure Er2O3 and Ho2O3, and then the impurities were determined by atomic emission spectrometry. The average percentage recovery for each element is in the range of 70%similar to 140%. The relative standard deviations of the determination are +/-3.3%similar to 2.2%. This method can be applied to the determination of the trace amounts of rare eath impurities in Er2O3 and Ho2O3 with a purity of 99.999 9%-99.999 99%.

Strain-Induced Grain Refinement of Cobalt During Surface Mechanical Attrition Treatment

The microstructural evolution during surface mechanical attrition treatment of cobalt (a mixture of hexagonal close packed (hep) and face-centered cubic (fcc) phases) was investigated. In order to reveal the mechanism of grain refinement and strain accommodation. The microstructure was systematically characterized by both cross-sectional and planar-view transmission electron microscopy. In the hcp phase, the process of grain refinement. Accompanied by an increase in strain imposed in the surface layer. Involved: (1) the onset of 110 111 deformation twinning, (2) the operation of (1 120) 110 1 0} prismatic and (1 120) (000 1) basal slip, leading to the formation of low-angle dislocation boundaries, and (3) the successive subdivision of grains to a finer and finer scale. Ressulting in the formation of highly misoriented nanocrystalline grains. Moreover. The formation of nanocrystalliies at the grain boundary and triple junction was also observed to occur concurrently with straining. By contrast. The fec phase accommodated strain in a sequence as follows: (1) slip of dislocations by forming intersecting planar arrays of dislocations, (2) {1 1 1} deformation twinning, and (3) the gamma(fcc) --> epsilon(hcp) martensitic phase transformation. The mechanism of grain refinement was interpreted in terms of the structural subdivision of grains together with dynamic recrystallization occurring in the hep phase and the gamma --> E: martensitic transformation in the fcc phase as well.

嗜热四膜虫的着丝粒蛋白检查

目前国际上的着丝粒蛋白研究工作几乎全是以酵母和高等生物为材料进行的. 为了从起源与进化的角度考察着丝粒蛋白, 作者以人喉癌培养细胞 Hep Ⅱ作为对照材料, 以两种 ACA 血清和 CENP-B 单抗、多抗以及 CHO 动粒蛋白单抗为探针, 用间接免疫荧光和免疫印迹技术对嗜热四膜虫(Tetrahymena thermophila)作检查. 免疫荧光结果表明, Hep Ⅱ细胞的着丝粒抗原在间期核中呈点状分布: 与 HepⅡ 细胞的不同, 嗜热四膜虫的着丝粒抗原在问期核中的分布呈不规则的斑块状。

Effects of tetrabrominated diphenyl ether and hexabromocyclododecanes in single and complex exposure to hepatoma HepG2 cells

This study was designed to determine cytotoxic effects of PBDE-47 and HBCDs individually or with a mixture of both compounds exposure to Hep G2 cells. The results showed PBDE-47 and HBCDs induced increase of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity, release of NO. dissipation of mitochondria membrane potential and cell apoptosis. Exposure to HBCDs induced ROS formation. Moreover, preincubation with PTIO (NO scavanger) and N-acetylcysteine (ROS scavanger) partially reversed cytotoxic effects of these compounds. The possible mechanism is that PBDE-47 and HBCDs could boost generation of NO and/or ROS, impact mitochondria, and result in start-ups of apoptosis program. Cells exposed to mixture of both compounds and each of them showed non-apoptotic rate significant difference, but the combination of them caused more adverse effects on cells. These results Suggest that PBDE-47 and HBCDs in single and complex exposure have the cytotoxic activity of anti-proliferation and induction of apoptosis in tumor cells in vitro. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

西藏特有植物砂生槐天然居群遗传多样性研究

采用等位酶淀粉凝胶电泳技术对西藏雅鲁藏布江中游砂生槐 (Sophoramoorcroftiana) 10个天然居群的遗传多样性进行了研究。 13个酶系统 2 4个酶位点 ( 46个等位基因 )的检测结果表明 ,砂生槐具较低的遗传变异水平。居群水平上的遗传多样性指标分别为 :多态位点百分率Pp =2 5 .0 %～ 37.5 % ,等位基因平均数Ap=1.3～ 1.7,平均期望杂合度Hep=0 .112～ 0 .16 9;种水平上的遗传多样性 (Ps=37.5 % ,As=1.9,Hes=0 .171)低于长寿命木本被子植物的平均值 (Ps=5 9.5 % ,As=2 .10 ,Hes=0 .183)。居群遗传结构的分析显示 ,10个居群中随机交配的偏差为FIS=- 0 .0 0 71,表明砂生槐在居群水平上存在轻微的杂合子过量现象 ,偏离了Hardy Weinberg平衡 ;FST=0 .1748,表明砂生槐是居群间分化较大的一类多年生木本植物 ,主要原因是环境恶化和人类活动干扰 (过度砍伐、放牧等 )导致其生境片断化 ,从而影响了居群间基因交流而造成基因流水平较低 (Nm =1.180 2 )。砂生槐高海拔居群H2 (谢通门 )、H31(江当 1)、H32 (江当 2 )、H5 (朗塞岭 )包含着绝大部分等位基因 ,显示了相对较高的遗传多样性水平 ,应加以保护和管理 ,作为砂生槐种质资源就地保存的基地。