Effect of organic carbon structures on the degradation of nonylphenol by hydrogen peroxide in sediment-water system.

A laboratory experiment is conducted to investigate the effects of organic carbon (OC) from riverine and marine sediments on the degradation of ring-14 C-labeled nonylphenol (14 C-NP) by hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ). Researchers have isolated demineralized OC (DM) before and after oxidation, namely, DM and resistant OC (ROC) fractions, respectively. The structures of DM and ROC are characterized using solid-state 13 C nuclear magnetic resonance. Unstable structures (O-alkyl, OCH3 /NCH, and COO/NC=O) show a significant and positive correlation with the degradation of 14 C-NP (R2  > 0.73, p < 0.05), thus suggesting that the NP absorbed in the unstable structures is easily degraded because of the decomposition of unstable components. The stable structures (alkyl C and non-protonated aromatic C [Arom C─C]) exhibit a significant and negative correlation with the degradation of 14 C-NP (R2  > 0.69, p < 0.05), thus suggesting that the NP absorbed and protected in these resistant structures is minimally degraded. The significant correlations among the degradation kinetic parameters (Frap and Fslow ), OC structures (Falip and Farom ), and microporosity further illustrate the important protective roles of OC structures and micropores in the degradation of 14 C-NP by H2 O2 (R2  > 0.69, p < 0.05). The parent NP fraction that desorbed into the aqueous solution or extracted is completely degraded, indicating preferential degradation of the easily desorbed NP. This study provides important insights into the NP degradation mechanism in sediment-water systems, particularly regarding sediment OC structures and microporosity.

Effects of sedimentary organic matter degradation and structure on nonylphenol degradation by sodium persulfate.

The structure and constituents of sedimentary organic matter (SOM) in the degradation of benzene ring-14C labeled 4-nonylphenol (14C-NP) by sodium persulfate (Na2S2O8) were investigated. Na2S2O8 mineralized over 84 % of 14C-NP to 14CO2, and no parent unlabeled 4-nonylphenol (NP) compounds were detected in the water-soluble/supernatant phase or extractable residues. Organic carbon (OC) was sequentially separated from six sediment samples collected from the Pearl River (BET), estuary (GSD), continental shelf (S11 and S21), and deep sea (M9 and M10). Demineralized OC (DM), unstable OC (USOC), nonhydrolyzable OC (NHC), and resistant OC (ROC) were obtained and characterized using solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (SS-NMR). The correlations among USOC, NHC, and the degradation kinetic constant of 14C-NP (kNP) were significant (R2 > 0.86, p < 0.01), indicating that USOC and NHC were the main factors controlling 14C-NP degradation. SOM structure and constituent analyses indicated that O-alkyl C + OCH3/NCH C + COO/NC=O C and carbohydrate + protein were positively related to Ln(kNP) (R2 > 0.72, p < 0.05) because these structures were unstable. However, the stable structures (Alkyl C and Arom CC) and constituents (sporopollenin, algaenan, and char) hindered 14C-NP degradation because they were negatively related to Ln(kNP) (R2 > 0.81, p < 0.05). The OC removal rate was positively correlated with 14C-NP degradation (R2 > 0.86, p < 0.01), indicating that the NP was primarily degraded in parallel with the breakdown of SOM. Stoichiometric analysis showed that Na2S2O8 effectively oxidized over 58 % of the OC to CO2, and the electron transfer efficiency was 17.2-69.5 %. This study is the first to emphasize the importance of SOM degradation, structure, and constituents in the degradation of NP by persulfate.

Role of the sedimentary organic matter structure and microporosity on the degradation of nonylphenol by potassium ferrate.

In this study, the role of organic matter structure and microporosity in the adsorption and degradation of radioactive nonylphenol in sediments treated with potassium ferrate solutions was investigated. The demineralized fractions and acid non-hydrolyzable fractions were isolated and characterized via advanced solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance and CO2 gas adsorption technology, respectively. Radioactive nonylphenol in the sediments was also fractionated into 14CO2, water-soluble residues, extractable residues, and strongly bound residues after treatment with potassium ferrate. A first-order, two-compartment kinetic model well described the mineralization and degradation kinetics of radioactive nonylphenol in the sediment (R2 > 0.99). The degradation percentages of spiked nonylphenol were highly negatively correlated with aromatic carbon, aliphatic carbon, and microporosity estimated from acid-non-hydrolyzable fractions in the bulk sediments (R2 > 0.82, p < 0.01). The percentages of adsorbed parent nonylphenol residues were highly positively correlated with aromatic carbon, aliphatic carbon, and microporosity estimated from acid-non-hydrolyzable fractions in the bulk sediments (R2 > 0.90, p < 0.01). The parent nonylphenol compound desorbed into the aqueous phase and was completely degraded. This study is the first to demonstrate the important role of aromatic carbon, aliphatic carbon, and microporosity in acid non-hydrolyzable fractions on the degradation of nonylphenol during the potassium ferrate oxidation treatment process.

The novel peptide NbPPI1 identified from Nicotiana benthamiana triggers immune responses and enhances resistance against Phytophthora pathogens.

In plants, recognition of small secreted peptides, such as damage/danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), regulates diverse processes, including stress and immune responses. Here, we identified an SGPS (Ser-Gly-Pro-Ser) motif-containing peptide, Nicotiana tabacum NtPROPPI, and its two homologs in Nicotiana benthamiana, NbPROPPI1 and NbPROPPI2. Phytophthora parasitica infection and salicylic acid (SA) treatment induced NbPROPPI1/2 expression. Moreover, SignalP predicted that the 89-amino acid NtPROPPI includes a 24-amino acid N-terminal signal peptide and NbPROPPI1/2-GFP fusion proteins were mainly localized to the periplasm. Transient expression of NbPROPPI1/2 inhibited P. parasitica colonization, and NbPROPPI1/2 knockdown rendered plants more susceptible to P. parasitica. An eight-amino-acid segment in the NbPROPPI1 C-terminus was essential for its immune function and a synthetic 20-residue peptide, NbPPI1, derived from the C-terminus of NbPROPPI1 provoked significant immune responses in N. benthamiana. These responses led to enhanced accumulation of reactive oxygen species, activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases, and up-regulation of the defense genes Flg22-induced receptor-like kinase (FRK) and WRKY DNA-binding protein 33 (WRKY33). The NbPPI1-induced defense responses require Brassinosteroid insensitive 1-associated receptor kinase 1 (BAK1). These results suggest that NbPPI1 functions as a DAMP in N. benthamiana; this novel DAMP provides a potentially useful target for improving plant resistance to Pytophthora pathogens.

Effect of the structure and micropore of activated and oxidized black carbon on the sorption and desorption of nonylphenol.

Activated, oxidized, and solvent-extracted black carbon samples (BCs) were produced from a shale kerogen at temperatures ranging from 250 to 500 °C by chemical activation regents (KOH, ZnCl2), oxidative regents (H2O2, NaClO), and organic solvents, respectively. Extracted organic matter (EOM) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were quantified in BCs, and they increased and then decreased with increasing temperature. Sorption and desorption isotherms of nonylphenol (NP) on BCs were compared with those previously reported for phenanthrene (Phen). The desorption hysteresis coefficients of NP were greater than those of Phen, while the adsorption capacities of NP were different from those of Phen. The micropore volume and micropore size were critical factors for the micropore filling mechanism of NP in BCs. The ZnCl2 activation and oxidation treatments were observed to effectively enhance the adsorption of NP and to remove native PAHs from the investigated BCs. But the KOH activation and oxidation treatments were not as efficient as expected. Moreover, the NP desorption hysteresis suggested that a hydrogen bonding and micropore deformation mechanism occurred on the extracted activated BCs. This finding improves our understanding of the sorption and desorption mechanisms of NP from the perspective of the modified BCs and their applications.

AtRTP5 negatively regulates plant resistance to Phytophthora pathogens by modulating the biosynthesis of endogenous jasmonic acid and salicylic acid.

Plants have evolved powerful immune systems to recognize pathogens and avoid invasions, but the genetic basis of plant susceptibility is less well-studied, especially to oomycetes, which cause disastrous diseases in many ornamental plants and food crops. In this research, we identified a negative regulator of plant immunity to the oomycete Phytophthora parasitica, AtRTP5 (Arabidopsis thaliana Resistant to Phytophthora 5), which encodes a WD40 repeat domain-containing protein. The AtRTP5 protein, which was tagged with green fluorescent protein (GFP), is localized in the nucleus and plasma membrane. Both the A. thaliana T-DNA insertion rtp5 mutants and the Nicotiana benthamiana RTP5 (NbRTP5) silencing plants showed enhanced resistance to P. parasitica, while overexpression of AtRTP5 rendered plants more susceptible. The transcriptomic analysis showed that mutation of AtRTP5 suppressed the biosynthesis of endogenous jasmonic acid (JA) and JA-dependent responses. In contrast, salicylic acid (SA) biosynthesis and SA-dependent responses were activated in the T-DNA insertion mutant rtp5-3. These results show that AtRTP5 acts as a conserved negative regulator of plant immunity to Phytophthora pathogens by interfering with JA and SA signalling pathways.

Penipyrols A-B and peniamidones A-D from the mangrove derived Penicillium solitum GWQ-143.

Chemical investigation the extract of Penicillium solitum GWQ-143 led to yield four new compounds penipyrols A-B (1-2) and peniamidones A-B (3-4), together with peniamidones C-D (5-6), which had been previously described as synthetic intermediates, not obtained from natural resource. The structures of those new compounds were established through extensive spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 1-6 exhibited great radical scavenging activities against DPPH with IC50 values ranged from 4.7 to 15.0 µM.

Structural elucidation of the exopolysaccharide produced by the mangrove fungus Penicillium solitum.

A water soluble extracellular polysaccharide, designated GW-12, was obtained from the liquid culture broth of the mangrove fungus Penicillium solitum by ethanol precipitation, anion-exchange and size-exclusion chromatography. Reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography analysis showed that GW-12 mainly consisted of d-mannose, and its molecular weight was estimated to be about 11.3 kDa determined by high performance gel permeation chromatography. On the basis of chemical and spectroscopic analyses, including methylation analysis and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, the structure of GW-12 may be represented as a mannan with branches. The main chain of GW-12 was composed of (1 → 2)-linked α-D-mannopyranose and (1 → 6)-linked α-D-mannopyranose residues, branched by single α-d-mannopyranose units attached to the main chain at C-6 positions of (1 → 2)-linked α-D-mannopyranose residues. There was three branch points for every seven sugar residues in the backbone.

Two new meroterpenoids produced by the endophytic fungus Penicillium sp. SXH-65.

Two new meroterpenoids, arisugacins I (1) and J (2), together with five known meroterpenoids including arisugacin B (3), arisugacin F (4), arisugacin G (5), territrem B (6) and territrem C (7) were isolated from an endophytic fungus Penicillium sp. SXH-65. Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic experiments and comparison with literature data. Their cytotoxicities were evaluated against Hela, HL-60 and K562 cell lines, and only 3 and 4 exhibited weak cytotoxicities against Hela, HL-60 and K562 cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 24 to 60 µM.

Isolation and photoinduced conversion of 6-epi-stephacidins from Aspergillus taichungensis.

Three prenylated indole alkaloids with a rare anti bicyclo-[2.2.2]diazaoctane core ring (5-7) were isolated from Aspergillus taichungensis. The structures including absolute configurations were elucidated based on NMR, X-ray, and CD methods. (+)-Versicolamides B and C (8-9) which contain a spiro-center, together with seven analogues (7, 10-15), were isolated as photoinduced conversion products of 6. Biological evaluation indicated that 6 and 7 exhibited significant cytotoxicities with IC50 values in the low micromolar range.

Aromatic polyketides from a sponge-derived fungus Metarhizium anisopliae mxh-99 and their antitubercular activities.

In our screening for antitubercular agents, five naphtho-γ-pyrones including two new naphtho-γ-pyrones glycosides, indigotides G and H (1 and 2), and two diphenyl ethers were isolated from the extract of a sponge-derived fungus Metarhizium anisopliae mxh-99. Their structures were established on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence. The antitubercular activities of all the compounds were evaluated against Mycobacterium phlei. The known isochaetochromin B2 (6) and ustilaginoidin D (7) exhibited the highest activity with MICs 50.0 µg/mL.

Prenylated Polyhydroxy-p-terphenyls from Aspergillus taichungensis ZHN-7-07.

Six new prenylated polyhydroxy-p-terphenyl metabolites, named prenylterphenyllins A-C (1-3) and prenylcandidusins A-C (5-7), and one new polyhydroxy-p-terphenyl with a simple tricyclic C-18 skeleton, named 4''-dehydro-3-hydroxyterphenyllin (4), were obtained together with eight known analogues (8-15) from Aspergillus taichungensis ZHN-7-07, a root soil fungus isolated from the mangrove plant Acrostichum aureum. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods, and their cytotoxicity was evaluated using HL-60, A-549, and P-388 cell lines. Compounds 1 and 8 exhibited moderate activities against all three cell lines (IC50 1.53-10.90 µM), whereas compounds 4 and 6 displayed moderate activities only against the P-388 cell line (IC50 of 2.70 and 1.57 µM, respectively).