Biometals最新文献

Lead (Pb) contamination in phosphate mining wasteland soils severely inhibits plant growth and compromises ecological safety, thereby necessitating long-term remediation strategies to restore ecosystem functions. Pot experiments were conducted to evaluate the synergistic effects of microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) and magnesium polypeptide (MP) amendments on celery growth and the restructuring of rhizosphere microbial communities. Under Pb stress (200 mg/kg), Pb accumulation in celery was significantly reduced by the combined MICP-MP treatment, with concentrations decreasing to 4.49, 0.26, and 1.93 mg/kg in roots, stems, and leaves, respectively; concurrently, plant growth and development were promoted. Correlation analysis revealed that the remediation-induced enhancement of soil physicochemical properties acted as a primary environmental driver, showing a significant negative correlation with exchangeable Pb content. The transformation of Pb from high-risk, bioavailable exchangeable forms to low-risk, stable fractions, such as carbonate-bound and Fe/Mn oxide-bound forms, was successfully promoted by the treatment, concomitant with enhanced soil physicochemical properties and biological activity. Furthermore, rigorous compositional analysis demonstrated that the MICP-MP treatment significantly enriched beneficial bacterial taxa, such as Nocardiopsis and Planococcus. These shifts in community composition played a key role in enhancing the soil bacterial community's adaptation to Pb stress. In summary, Pb-induced phytotoxicity was alleviated, and rhizosphere microbial stability and assembly were modulated by the MICP-peptide combination, providing new insights into plant-microbe interactions under heavy metal stress.

Extensive growth in the production of nanoparticles (NPs) together with increased usage in a variety of consumer products has introduced potential health risks amongst organisms, humans and ecosystems. Unique physico-chemical properties of nanoparticles facilitate their entry, bioaccumulation and subsequent interaction with biounterfaces in diverse cellular systems. These nano bio-interfaces occur in different cells/organ systems and contribute to selective toxicity through a cross talk amongst couple of mechanisms viz. oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, DNA damage and redox signaling pathways. Present review describes the role of these mechanisms especially in teratogenicity induced by metallic nanoparticles. Available data suggests that generation of ROS and oxidative stress are the predominant mechanisms of NP induced materno-fetal toxicity. They do trigger inflammatory responses in the fetus and lead to structural abnormalities. Exposure to NPs induces apoptosis and DNA damage that result in fetal cytotoxicity. Autophagy has been recognized as a major form of cell death encountered during pregnancy in NP treated models. It may involve oocytogenesis, implantation, placentation, embryogenesis and preterm delivery. Vascular signaling and toll like receptors are also involved in the feto-toxicity of NPs. It is concluded that mechanism based high throughput in vitro screening of NPs can predict the genesis of teratogenicity. A better understanding of teratogenicity induced by NPs is not only essential for health risk assessment but also for the design and synthesis of novel and safer nanomaterials.

Bread wheat is the staple food, but the concentration of mineral micronutrient, Copper (Cu) is relatively low with limited bioavailability. This study investigates the various copper-associated proteins in bread wheat using high-throughput systematic bioinformatics approaches. The wheat proteome was investigated for putative copper-associated proteins, and 47 Copper-binding proteins (CBPs) and 24 Copper transporter proteins (CTPs) were shortlisted. Out of these proteins, 11 were reported as common proteins and predicted to perform both functions. The identified 60 putative proteins showed diverse coordination geometry when bound to Cuprous (Cu⁺) and Cupric (Cu²⁺) ions. The Cysteine, Histidine, Glutamate, and Aspartate (CHED) amino acid residues were mostly found in the binding pockets of the proteins bound to copper. Functional classification and subcellular localisation of these proteins were also performed using sequence-based and annotation-based tools. Proteins were segregated based on their family, subfamily, functional classes and gene ontology (GO) terms, and a comprehensive report was prepared. A network analysis of the shortlisted proteins was also done, and network clusters were made using annotation tools. This report highlights the diverse roles of copper-associated proteins in the proper functioning of the plant and explains their importance in the major functions performed by the plant cell, like energy production, photosynthesis, plant growth and development, and maintaining homeostasis.

Macroelements and microelements/ trace elements are vital for human physiological processes. Alterations in these elements have been linked to various pathological conditions, including colorectal cancer (CRC), a significant cause of cancer-related mortality. This study investigated the concentrations of macroelements and microelements across different stages of CRC and compared them with non-neoplastic colon tissues. Additionally, four toxic elements (Hg, As, Cd, and Pb) were analysed in these tissues. Sixty tissue samples were prospectively collected from patients undergoing CRC resections and large bowel mucosal tissue samples without tumour (n=10) were also collected. The concentrations of 21 elements, including macro and microelements, were quantified using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Data analysis was performed using RStudio and SPSS software version 30. Significant differences in the concentrations of K, Mg, P, Si, Fe, Mn, Cu, Cr, and Co were observed across different colorectal cancer and non-neoplastic tissues. Heavy metals such as Hg, Cd, and As were undetectable in all tissues, except for one control sample containing 2.44 µg/g of Pb. The Cu/Zn ratio was significantly lower in advanced CRC (stages III-IV) compared to early stages (I-II). Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Si, Cr, P, and Co concentrations were significantly associated with CRC stages. Fe levels are also associated with metastasis and tumour site. Tumour size was linked to Na, K, and Mg, while disease spread (localised vs. advanced) was associated with K, Mn, Zn, Si, Cr, and P. These findings highlight dynamic alterations in element concentrations across different stages of CRC. This elemental profiling could form the basis of future research into stage-specific biomarkers or prognostic indicators in CRC.

The relationship between serum electrolyte levels and nutrient intake in environmentally exposed populations has received little attention in the international literature. This study aimed to investigate serum potassium and sodium levels and nutrient intake in populations exposed to radiation from the former Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site compared with non-exposed populations. A cross-sectional study was conducted in four settlements of East Kazakhstan and Pavlodar provinces, with three classified as exposed and one as non-exposed. A total of 907 adults with lifelong residency were enrolled, and exposure status was verified using official residency documents and the state automated medical registry. Dietary intake was assessed using the validated EPIC-Norfolk Food Frequency Questionnaire, and fasting blood samples were collected to measure serum potassium and sodium using ion-selective electrodes. Compared with the non-exposed group, exposed individuals reported significantly lower consumption of nearly all macro- and micronutrients, except for vitamin A. Serum potassium levels did not differ significantly between groups (median 4.3 mmol/l, p = 0.337), whereas median serum sodium levels were significantly higher in the non-exposed group (141 vs. 140 mmol/l, p = 0.02). The sodium-to-potassium ratio was not significantly different between groups (32.56 in exposed vs. 32.79 in non-exposed, p = 0.156). Correlation analysis showed a moderate positive association between serum sodium levels and sodium intake (rho = 0.495, p < 0.001), and a strong positive association between sodium and potassium intake (rho = 0.642, p < 0.001). These findings underscore the need for further investigation into dietary patterns and possible physiological adaptations in environmentally exposed populations.

SARS-CoV-2 still poses as a threat to health systems despite the vaccination and the use of emergency repurposed drugs. Therefore, the development of novel anti-SARS-CoV-2 compounds is still needed. Organometallic copper(I)-N-heterocyclic carbenes [Cu(NHC)] are a class of metallodrugs that hold promise for drug development due to their variety of geometries, charges, and ligand design. Here we evaluated the activity of Cu(IPr)Cl, Cu(IMes)Cl, and [Cu(IMes)₂]BF₄ molecules against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Through a dose-response assay using A549-AT cells and the SARS-CoV-2-Wuhan infectious clone expressing mNeonGreen (SARS-CoV-2-mNeonGreen), Cu(IPr)Cl, Cu(IMes)Cl, and [Cu(IMes)₂]BF₄ inhibited SARS-CoV-2 replication with a selectivity index (SI) of 11.23, 10.84, and 5.94, respectively. The complexes Cu(IMes)Cl and [Cu(IMes)₂]BF₄ inhibited all stages of viral replication (pretreatment: 99.9% and 87.7%, entry: 99.6% and 74%, post-entry steps: 99.6% and 87.6%, respectively), while Cu(IPr)Cl impaired only entry (48%) and post-entry steps (95%). In addition, Cu(IMes)Cl and [Cu(IMes)₂]BF₄ complexes decreased the titres of both Delta and Omicron variants, while Cu(IPr)Cl only inhibited Omicron. In addition, [Cu(IMes)₂]BF₄ was able to decrease cell to cell spread of SARS-CoV-2; and for Cu(IMes)Cl a strong interaction with PL^pro was revealed. Based on this data further investigations of Cu(I) based organometallics are warranted and Cu(IPr)Cl and Cu(IMes)Cl may be considered for utilization in pre-clinical assays.

Copper (Cu) is a vital trace element essential for numerous neurological functions, such as neurotransmission and antioxidant defense mechanisms. Nevertheless, Cu dyshomeostasis has been increasingly associated with neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease (AD).This review provides an overview of the intricate mechanisms of Cu homeostasis in the brain, detailing the pathways through which Cu enters neural tissues and its subsequent metabolic roles. We also discuss the emerging concept of cuproptosis, a Cu-dependent regulated cell death mechanism, and highlight its relevance to AD pathophysiology. Furthermore, we examine the interplay between glutamate, a key excitatory neurotransmitter, and cuproptosis, illustrating how alterations in glutamate levels may exacerbate Cu toxicity and contribute to neuronal degeneration in AD. Additionally, we review several compounds with the potential to modulate Cu concentrations, emphasizing their therapeutic implications for restoring Cu balance and mitigating neurodegenerative processes.By integrating current findings on Cu metabolism, cuproptosis, and glutamate interactions, this review provides novel insights into potential therapeutic interventions that may help prevent or slow AD progression.