Biometals最新文献

The research of Bombyx mori mainly focuses on the overall brewing of Bombyx mori, there are few studies on Bombyx mori protein and by-products after processing. In order to improving the utilization rate of Bombyx mori, Bombyx mori polypeptide was chelated with inorganic zinc to prepare Bombyx mori polypeptide chelated zinc in this study. Bombyx mori polypeptide was used as the raw material to prepared Bombyx mori polypeptide chelated zinc. Characterization and analysis of Bombyx mori polypeptide chelated zinc used UV spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. It detected the zinc ion absorption rate of polypeptide chelated zinc by constructing an in vitro Caco-2 cell absorption model. The results suggested that the transport amounts of ZnSO₄, glycine chelated zinc were lower than Bombyx mori polypeptide chelated zinc. A total of 5 monomeric peptide chelated zinc were identified by Bombyx mori polypeptide chelated zinc mass spectrometry analysis and named M1–M5. Based on M1–M5 and network pharmacology, verified whether Bombyx mori polypeptide chelated zinc had anti-inflammatory effects. In order to analysed the anti-inflammatory effect of network pharmacology and molecular docking calculation results, RAW264.7 inflammation model was constructed in vitro and the effects of different concentrations of polypeptide chelated zinc on the release of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β were studied. The results demonstrated that Bombyx mori polypeptide chelated zinc had inhibitory effects to the all inflammatory factors. This work provided a data foundation for the development of a new type of zinc ion nutritional enhancer.

Copper (Cu) and vanadium (V) are beneficial to the organizations as trace elements, but excessive intakes of Cu and V could damage the individual health with multi-organ injury, such as neurotoxicity. To estimate the combined effects of Cu and V on proptosis by the TLR4/NF-κB-p65 pathway in duck brains, a total of 72 ducks were divided into four groups: control group, Cu group (400 mg Cu/kg), V group (30 mg V/kg), and Cu + V group (400 mg Cu/kg + 30 mg V/kg) groups respectively. The results indicated that Cu and/or V could disrupt the trace element balance in the duck brain and caused nerve fiber disorders, neuronal vacuolization and mitochondrial destruction. Oxidative damage was observed in the brain, characterized by increased levels of MDA, NO, and LDH, and decreased levels of CAT, T-SOD, and GSH following exposure to Cu and/or V. Additionally, Cu and/or V triggered pyroptosis by upregulating the expression levels of pyroptosis-related factors (Caspase-1, NLRP3, NEK7, ASC, IL-18, IL-1β, GSDME, GSDMA, GSDMD) and enhancing the co-location puncta of Caspase-1 with GSDMD. Besides, Cu and/or V raised the expression levels of TLR4 and NF-κB-p65. Collectively, the results revealed that excess Cu or V induced oxidative stress and pyroptosis by activating the TLR4/NF-κB-p65 pathway in the duck brains, and the combined treatment of Cu and V aggravated the brain damage.

There are almost no studies in the field of speciation of trace elements in the body of farm animals, in particular cattle. In this regard, the purpose of this study was to examine the species composition of copper in dairy cows depending on their productivity level. From the total number of Red Steppe breed cows (n = 90), 2 groups were formed: cows with low-normal milk yield values (n = 17)—group I (low-productive animals, average daily milk yield up to the 25th percentile); cows with high-normal values (n = 23)—group II (highly productive animals, average daily milk yield above the 75th percentile). Regardless of the productivity level, the content of chemical elements in the blood serum was in the range of normal physiological values. However, it was reliably established that highly productive animals had lower potassium levels and higher levels of phosphorus and copper relative to low-producing animals. The results of speciation analysis showed four copper-containing fractions in the blood serum of cows: transcuprein, ceruloplasmin, albumin and low-molecular forms of copper. Copper in the blood serum of cows of the Red Steppe breed, regardless of the level of productivity, is predominantly associated with albumin and ceruloplasmin (up to 90%). The rest of the copper was bound to transcuprein and low-molecular complexes (about 10%). When the level of total copper in the blood serum was up to 900 μg/L (0.9 μg/ml), the albumin fraction predominated over ceruloplasmin, and low-molecular-weight complexes prevailed over transcuprein. However, with an increase in the level of total copper above 900 μg/L (0.9 μg/ml), a shift occurred in the protein fractions; the ceruloplasmin fraction began to predominate over the albumin fraction, and transcuprein over low-molecular-weight complexes. In addition, a significant positive statistically significant association was identified between the total content of copper and ceruloplasmin in the blood with the average daily milk yield (r = 0.47; p < 0.05). The obtained data demonstrate the features of copper redistribution in cows of the Red Steppe breed, which can be used for an expanded assessment of the microelement status of animals, and, possibly, for predicting their productive qualities.

Metal exposure has been identified as a risk factor for lung adenocarcinoma, yet the relationship between internal metal exposure and clinical characteristics reflecting tumor development has been underexplored. In this cohort study, we enrolled 285 consecutively admitted lung carcinoma patients and 118 age and sex-matched healthy participants, and determined the metal concentrations in paired plasma and blood cells by using a well-evaluated ICP-MS method. The associations between individual or combined metal exposures and tumor size, location, stage, or lymph node metastasis were evaluated by using univariable tests, logistic regression, restricted cubic spline analysis, weighted quantile sum, and Bayesian kernel machine regression. Patients with lung carcinoma and adenocarcinoma had higher levels of most plasma metals (Mg, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Cd, Pb) and blood cell metals (Mg, Ca, Co). However, they had lower levels of Hg in plasma and blood cells, and lower Cu in blood cells. Our findings further revealed significant associations of Cu, As, Se, and Cd with tumor stage, Cu, As, and Hg with lymph node metastasis, and Ca, Ni, Zn, Se, and Cd with tumor size, respectively. No metals showed associations with tumor left or right locations. Notably, Cu, Cd, Ni, and Hg were associated with increased risk, while Ca, As, Se, and Zn exhibited negative associations, particularly in cases of advanced stage, lymph node involvement, or larger tumor sizes. Moreover, the collective metal exposure was significantly associated with tumor size, suggesting that moderate exposure, compared to low exposure, may be linked to tumor growth. These results indicate that variations in circulating metals are associated with development or progression of lung adenocarcinoma.

Excess heavy metals can be toxic to plants and microbes. The application of plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) in agriculture has gained global attention for promising sustainable development, including in heavy metals polluted soil. However, the metal resistance and plant growth promoting determinants of strains belonging to the genus Acinetobacter remain poorly understood. Here, we characterize strain SC22, and analyzed the complete genome of strain SC22. The influence of inoculating with this strain on soybean growth by pot experiment was also analyzed. Our results showed that strain SC22 displayed high As(III) and Cu(II) resistance and high IAA production. The presence of operons such as, merRACDT, zntA and 4 znuABC, czcABCD and arsRBCH, and trpRABCDFS encode functions enabling strain SC22 to survive under extremely highly heavy metal contaminated environments and also produce plant hormones. The inoculation of strain SC22 stimulated soybean growth. Strains belonging to the genus Acinetobacter have an open pan-genome, and ArsH encoded on the core genome displayed differences to ArsH encoded on the genome of other Acinetobacter that were isolated from different habitats. These findings suggest the potential use of strain Acinetobacter junii SC22 in bioremediation and subsequent plant growth promotion in heavy metal polluted environments.

Ferroportin, the only known cellular iron exporter, belongs to the major facilitator superfamily of transporters, which cycle between inward-open, occluded and outward-open conformations to translocate substrates across membranes. Recently reported cryoEM structures of ferroportin identified two metal-binding sites in the central cavity of the protein, with site S1 that includes residues D39 and H43, while site S2 is formed by C326 and H507. Here we have employed fluorescence spectroscopy to evaluate the binding affinity for cobalt of human ferroportin. The results suggest that S2 has a higher affinity for cobalt than S1. Results are discussed in view of available structural data on the outward-open conformation of Fpn and of a novel structural model of the inward-open conformation, obtained with a custom implementation of AlphaFold 2. We propose a mechanism by which the outward flux of iron could be driven by the different affinity of the two sites.

Agaricus crocodilinus (Agaricaceae), an edible saprotrophic mushroom, accumulates high concentrations of cadmium (Cd) in unpolluted environments. This study investigates whether this species has evolved mechanisms to store Cd complexed with metallothioneins (MTs), proteins that bind heavy metal ions via cysteinyl (Cys)–thiolate bonds, how these MTs originated, and how similar mechanisms are present in other fungal species. Size exclusion chromatography revealed that a substantial fraction of Cd in A. crocodilinus sporocarps was sequestered in a 3.4 kDa complex containing Cys-rich peptides. Screening a sporocarp cDNA expression library in a Cd-sensitive Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain identified two MT transcripts, AcMT1 and AcMT2, encoding 49-amino acid (AA) AcMT1 with 10 Cys and 32-AA AcMT2 with 7 Cys. The presence of AcMT2 in the 3.4 kDa Cd–peptide complex isolated from sporocarp was confirmed by mass spectrometry. In mycelial isolates exposed to heavy metals, AcMT1 was more strongly upregulated, while AcMT2 was more expressed under normal conditions. Sequence comparisons revealed that AcMT2 is closer to the ancestral gene, whereas AcMT1 is a more recent duplicate. Combined bioinformatic and functional evidence supports AcMT2 as a constitutively expressed MT involved in Cd binding in the sporocarp, while AcMT1, though more inducible in mycelia and more protective in yeast, appears to serve a transient detoxification role. Moreover, the gene duplication and domain rearrangement mechanism underlying this MT diversification was also identified in other Agaricales and Boletales species.

Pollution caused by heavy metals is one of the most prominent environmental challenges, and these pollutants induce various detrimental effects on plants. Copper (Cu) is an essential micronutrient for the normal growth and development of plants in trace amounts, while lead (Pb) causes deleterious effects even at low levels. Although pumpkin is used extensively worldwide for its nutritional and medicinal value, little is known about this plant in the context of heavy metal stress. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of different concentrations of lead (25 mM and 50 mM) and copper (50 mM and 100 mM) on pumpkin at the ecophysiological and molecular levels, focusing on the mechanisms involved in heavy metal tolerance. As a result, both lead and copper stress generally favored stem growth while limiting root growth. Pumpkin accumulated lead and copper mostly in the roots to reduce the hazardous effects of Pb and Cu, as evidenced by higher Pb and Cu content in the roots than in the leaves. Additionally, Pb-treated plants had noticeably higher chlorophyll amounts, whereas Cu-treated plants showed a concentration-dependent response. Pb and Cu stress increased malondialdehyde (MDA) content at higher concentrations, accompanied by a general decline in total protein amounts. Furthermore, Pb and Cu stress increased superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities, as well as the gene expression of these enzymes. Overall, this study revealed that pumpkin is highly tolerant to lead and copper and achieves this tolerance by enhancing the activities and gene expressions of antioxidant enzymes.

Overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) causes oxidative stress, which is a significant risk factor for the onset and advancement of atherosclerosis. However, in current study, rats with experimentally generated atherosclerosis (EA) are used to examine the effects of prolonged cobalt nitrate exposure on oxidative stress and hematological markers. An atherogenic diet, methylprednisolone, alcohol, and mercazolil were all used in a polyetiological method to imitate atherosclerosis. In the following 60 days, rats were given drinking water containing 2 mg/kg of cobalt nitrate. The following oxidative stress markers were examined: hematological indices, diene conjugates (DC), catalase (CA), and malondialdehyde (MDA) at baseline, after EA induction, and during cobalt exposure. However, Significant oxidative imbalance was caused on by EA alone, which increased MDA (18%) and DC (20%) while decreasing CA activity (22%). By day 60, cobalt exposure amplified these effects, leading to a decrease in CA (27%) and increasing increases in MDA (64%) and DC (35%). Hematologically, EA first increased granulocytes (1.2 ×), leukocytes (1.8 ×), and lymphocytes (1.3 ×), which were indicative of systemic inflammation. Cobalt, however, overcomes these patterns, gradually causing hemoglobin depletion, erythrocytopenia, and leukopenia. Hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) dropped by 24% and 25%, respectively, by day 60, suggesting that erythropoiesis and iron metabolism were compromised. The investigation emphasizes that cobalt complicates oxidative stress and blood abnormalities associated with atherosclerosis. Chronic exposure contributes to vascular damage through oxidative and inflammatory mechanisms, even at subtoxic concentrations, exposing people with cardiovascular diseases at risk. In addition to offering treatment options for oxidative stress and hematopoietic support, it emphasizes the necessity of tracking cobalt exposure in at-risk populations. It is advised to conduct additional research and reevaluate the cobalt safety limits.

Given the need of more effective and safe treatments for diseases such as cancer, metal complexes can be highlighted. Among these, two copper(II) complexes linked to phenanthroline and two different sulfonamides identified as [Cu(smtr⁻)₂(phen)] (1) and [Cu(sdmx⁻)₂(phen)] (2) presented promising antibacterial and anti-proliferative activities. Continuing the in vitro preclinical studies, this study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic effect on human colorectal tumor cells (HCT-15) and the genotoxic effect on immortalized Chinese hamster’s ovarian cells (CHO-K1) of complexes 1 and 2. Both complexes significantly reduced HCT-15 viability in monolayer and spheroid models, along with increased frequency of micronuclei after short-term treatment without metabolic activation in CHO-K1 cells. Furthermore, both in the presence of the metabolic enzyme mixture and with increasing exposure time, the genotoxic effect was not observed. In CHO-K1 cells, complexes 1 and 2 induced S-phase cycle arrest. Complex 2 was more active than complex 1 in increasing the production of reactive oxygen species in both cell lines evaluated. The cytotoxic and genotoxic effects observed for complexes 1 and 2 appear to be mediated by oxidative stress. Additional studies will be needed to further investigate the mechanisms of action, as well as to confirm the mutagenic potential of these complexes.