Review: Biodegradation of tributyltins (organotins) by marine bacteria

Many marine bacterial strains have an inherent capability to degrade toxic organotin compounds, especially tributyltins (TBTs), that enter into the environment in the form of insecticides, fungicides and antifouling paints as a result of anthropogenic and industrial activities. Significant degradation of these compounds in the ambient environment may take several years, and it is necessary to consider methods or strategies that can accelerate the degradation process. There have been few demonstrations of biological degradation of these organotin biocides exclusively in laboratory‐scale experiments. Compared with the few bench‐scale degradation processes, there are no reports of field‐scale processes for TBT bioremediation, in spite of its serious environmental threat to non‐target organisms in the aquatic environment. Implementation of field‐scale biodegradation of TBT requires inputs from biology, hydrology, geology, chemistry and civil engineering. A framework is emerging that can be adapted to develop new processes for bioremediation of toxic environmental wastes. In the case of TBT bioremediation, this framework incorporates screening and identification of natural bacterial strains, determination of optimal conditions for growth of isolates and TBT degradation, establishment of new metabolic pathways involved in TBT degradation, identification, localization and cloning of genes involved in degradation and in TBT resistance, development of suitable microbial strains using genetic manipulation techniques for practical applications and optimization of practical engineering processes for bioremediation of organotin‐contaminated sites. The present review mainly addresses the aspect of TBT biodegradation with special reference to environmental sources of TBT, chemical structure and biological activity, resistant and degrading bacterial strains, possible mechanisms of resistance and degradation and the genetic and biochemical basis of TBT degradation and resistance. It also evaluates the feasibility and potential of natural and genetically modified TBT‐degrading bacterial strains in field‐scale experiments to bioremediate TBT‐contaminated marine sites, and makes recommendations for more intensive and focused research in the area of TBT bioremediation mediated by marine bacterial strains. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and cytotoxic activity of silacycloalkyl‐substituted heterocyclic aldehydes and their thiosemicarbazones

A series of 5‐[1‐methylsilacyclo‐pentyl/‐hexyl]‐2‐furfural, 5‐[1‐methylsilacyclo‐pentyl/‐hexyl]‐2‐thiophene carbaldehyde and 1,1‐bis(5‐formyl‐2‐furyl)silacyclo‐pentane/‐hexane and their thiosemicarbazones has been synthesized and subjected to antitumour assay. The effects of the substituents and the heterocycle were examined to establish structure–activity relationships. Thiosemicarbazones of 5‐(1‐methylsilacyclohexyl)furfural and 5‐(1‐methylsilacyclopentyl)furfural were very active (1.0–4.0 µg ml^?1) in vitro against human fibrosarcoma HT‐1080 and mouse hepatoma MG‐22A cells. At the same time, they were less toxic for normal fibroblasts 3T3. All compounds synthesized exhibited low or moderate toxicity (LD₅₀ 152–1904 mg kg^?1). Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An Environmentally Friendly and Flexible Aqueous Zinc Battery Using an Organic Cathode

Rechargeable batteries have been used to power various electric devices and store energy from renewables, but their toxic components (namely, electrode materials, electrolyte, and separator) generally cause serious environment issues when disused. Such toxicity characteristic makes them difficult to power future wearable electronic devices. Now an environmentally friendly and highly safe rechargeable battery, based on a pyrene‐4,5,9,10‐tetraone (PTO) cathode and zinc anode in mild aqueous electrolyte is presented. The PTO‐cathode shows a high specific capacity (336 mAh g^?1) for Zn²⁺ storage with fast kinetics and high reversibility. Thus, the PTO//Zn full cell exhibits a high energy density (186.7 Wh kg^?1), supercapacitor‐like power behavior and long‐term lifespan (over 1000 cycles). Moreover, a belt‐shaped PTO//Zn battery with robust mechanical durability and remarkable flexibility is first fabricated to clarify its potential application in wearable electronic devices.     

Characterization of Cinnamic Acid-Attached Nonionic Amphiphiles in UV Extinction,Emulsification, and In Vitro Toxicity

Cinnamic acid (CA) was covalently attached to nonionic surfactants by condensation reaction. The mass and the molar extinction coefficient of CA residue of each conjugate did not markedly deviate from those of free CA, indicating CA could absorb the UV light after being conjugated to the surfactants. When the concentration of the conjugates in aqueous phase was 0.1% and 1.0%, mineral oil could readily be emulsified by polyoxyehtylene(20) cetyl ether–CA conjugate (CE20–CA), polyoxyethylene(20) oleyl ether–CA conjugate (OE20–CA), and polyoxyehtylene(20) sorbitan monolaurate–CA conjugate (Tween 20–CA). The extinction coefficients of the surfactant–CA conjugates contained in O/W emulsion did not markedly deviate from those of the conjugates dissolved in water, suggesting that the conjugate could maintain their extinction coefficients when they coexisted with oil droplets. According to the result of 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, the viability of cell (BALB/c 3T3 clone A31) was greater than 80% for all the surfactant–CA conjugates tested when the conjugate concentration was 0.2%. It is believed that CE20–CA, OE20–CA, and Tween 20–CA could be used as an emulsifier which absorbs UV light effectively.     

大气中OH引发的有机磷农药MTMPDA降解机理的研究

采用量子化学方法在ωB97XD/6-311++G(3df,2pd)//ωB97XD/6-31+G(d,p)和M062X/6-311++G(3df,2pd)//M062X/6-31+G(d,p)水平下对大气中MTMPDA在OH自由基引发下的反应机理及其产物的后继反应进行理论研究.结果表明MTMPDA+OH反应主要通过OH抽提与N原子相连的—CH3上的H原子、以及抽提与O原子相连的—CH3上的H原子的方式进行.此外,抽提与N原子相连的—CH3上的H原子生成的产物与大气中的O2和NO发生进一步反应并没有导致MTMPDA毒性明显地降低;而抽提与O原子相连的—CH3上的H原子的产物发生一系列后继反应可以降低MTMPDA的毒性.     

新洁尔灭与过氧化氢酶的微观作用机理

模拟生理条件下,利用多种光谱技术和酶活性测定法研究了新洁尔灭与过氧化氢酶的相互作用过程,探讨了二者的结合特性,过氧化氢酶空间结构和酶活性的变化.结果表明新洁尔灭对过氧化氢酶无荧光猝灭作用,其使过氧化氢酶骨架结构变松散,部分氨基酸残基微环境和蛋白二级结构发生改变,说明新洁尔灭对过氧化氢酶活性具有显著的抑制作用.从分子水平上证明了新洁尔灭可改变过氧化氢酶的结构和功能.     

Modulation of antioxidant systems by subchronic exposure to the aqueous extract of leaves from Achillea millefolium L. in rats

We determined the effects of subchronic exposure to aqueous extract of leaves from Achillea millefolium (AE) on enzyme- and non-enzyme-dependent antioxidant systems in rats. Seven days treatment with AE (1 g/kg/twice a day, p.o.) altered the reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and antioxidant enzyme activities in several organs of the animals. Amount of GSH in uterus was increased (73%) while in kidneys it was decreased (23%). Besides, NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) activity was increased in forestomach (26%) and in liver (64%), while glutathione S-transferase activity was decreased in the forestomach (32%) and increased in the liver (41%), kidney (35%) and uterus (37%). In preliminary experiments targeting the interaction of AE with acetaminophen (600 mg/kg, p.o.), we observed augmentation of acetaminophen-induced increase of the plasmatic alanine aminotransaminase, aspartate aminotransaminase and lactate dehydrogenase. Overall, the results indicate a potential toxic interaction of AE compounds with xenobiotics that use the glutathione pathway.     

Biological activities of Peristrophe bivalvis extracts: promising potential for anti-snake venoms against Naja kaouthia and Trimeresurus albolabris venoms

This study evaluates the in vitro anti-snake venom potential of Peristrophe bivalvis (PB) extracts against Naja kaouthia (NK) and Trimeresurus albolabris (TA) venoms, including inhibition of cytotoxic effects and enzymatic activities, and the binding-precipitation of extracts and venom proteins analysis. In addition, the antioxidant, cytotoxic and in vivo acute oral toxic activities of PB extracts are also reported. The in vitro cytotoxic and enzymatic analysis reveals that the ethanol extracts of stems and leaves of PB showed good anti-snake venom activity against NK and TA venoms. In addition, the antioxidant result indicated that only the ethanol extract of leaves exhibited weak DPPH radical-scavenging activity. The ethanol whole-plant extract of PB also showed no cytotoxicity against four cell lines. Moreover, the in vivo acute oral toxicity result of the ethanol whole-plant extract showed that all treated rats did not exhibit abnormal toxic signs or deaths.     

Chemical composition,protoscolicidal effects and acute toxicity of Pistacia atlantica Desf. fruit extract

The present study was designed to evaluate the chemical composition and scolicidal effects of Pistacia atlantica Desf. extract against protoscoleces of hydatid cysts and its acute toxicity in mice model. Various concentrations of the methanolic extract (5–50 mg/mL) were used for 10–60 min. Viability of protoscoleces was confirmed using eosin exclusion test (0.1%). Acute toxicity was also determined in mice model. The main components were β-myrcene (41.4%), α-pinene (32.48%) and limonene (4.66%). Findings demonstrated that P. atlantica extract at the concentrations of 25 and 50 mg/mL after 20 and 10 min of exposure killed 100% protoscoleces. The LD₅₀ of the intraperitoneal injection of the P. atlantica methanolic extract was 2.43 g/kg and the maximum non-fatal dose was 1.66 g/kg. Obtained results showed the potential of P. atlantica extract as a natural source with no significant toxicity for the production of new scolicidal agent to use in hydatid cyst surgery.