Iron Elution from Iron and Steel Slag Using Bacterial Complex Identified from the Seawater.

Iron and steel slag (ISS) is a byproduct of iron refining processes. The lack of iron in seawater can cause barren grounds where algae cannot grow. To improve the barren grounds of the sea, a supply of iron to the seawater is necessary. This study focused on bacteria interacting with ISS and promoting iron elution in seawater. Sulfitobacter sp. (TO1A) and Pseudomonas sp. (TO1B) were isolated from Tokyo Bay and Sagami Bay. The co-culture of both bacteria promoted more iron elution than individual cultures. After the incubation of both bacteria with ISS, quartz and vaterite appeared on the surface of the ISS. To maintain continuous iron elution from the ISS in the seawater, we also isolated Pseudoalteromonas sp. (TO7) that formed a yellow biofilm on the ISS. Iron was eluted by TO1A and TO1B, and biofilm was synthesized by TO7 continuously in the seawater. The present research is expected to contribute to the improvement of ISS usage as a material for the construction of seaweed forests.

Author Correction: Formation of gold nanoparticles by glycolipids of Lactobacillus casei.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Post-column detection of cadmium chelators by high-performance liquid chromatography using 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-21H,23H-porphinetetrasulfonic acid.

Cd(II) is toxic to many species, including humans, because it inactivates a number of enzymes and induces cytopathic effects in the liver, kidney, and skeletal tissues in humans. Metallothionein and glutathione (GSH) play a major role in the protection against Cd(II)-induced toxicity in mammalian cells. In this study, a relatively simple method for detecting trace amounts of Cd(II) chelators was developed by using 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-21H,23H-porphinetetrasulfonic acid (TPPS). The TPPS-Cd(II) complex was added to the elutions of high-performance liquid chromatography. The Cd(II) chelators separated by column chromatography were mixed with Cd(II)-bound TPPS (TPPS-Cd(II)). Cd(II) from TPPS-Cd(II) was chelated by the eluted Cd(II) chelators, resulting in the formation of free TPPS. The absorbance of TPPS shifted from 434 nm (TPPS-Cd(II)) to 414 nm (TPPS), and this characteristic shift was used to estimate the quantity and affinity of the Cd(II) chelators. This new method was compared with the bathocuproine disulfonate (BCS) method developed in our previous study. Instead of BCS-Cu(I), TPPS-Cd(II) was used as the colorimetric reagent. The experimental setup of the TPPS-based method is more general, and the preparation of the colorimetric solution is also much simpler than the BCS method. To verify the efficacy of this new method, we determined the actual Cd(II)-chelating ability of GSH in horse blood; the obtained concentration was in good agreement with the previously reported value.

Free flavins accelerate release of ferrous iron from iron storage proteins by both free flavin-dependent and -independent ferric reductases in Escherichia coli.

Ferredoxin NADP+ oxidoreductase (Fpr) and oxygen-insensitive NAD(P)H nitroreductase (NfnB) are purified from Escherichia coli JM109 (E. coli JM109) as a predominant free flavin-independent ferric reductase. In the present study, we prepared natural iron storage proteins, E. coli ferritin A (FtnA) and bacterioferritin (Bfr), to show the effective ferrous iron release from these proteins by Fpr and NfnB in the presence of free flavins. Fpr and NfnB showed flavin reductase activity for flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and riboflavin, and their ferrous iron release activities were positively associated with the catalytic efficiencies (kcat/Km) for individual flavins. The ferrous iron release activity of E. coli cell-free extracts was affected by flavin reductase activity of the extracts. The Butyl TOYOPEARL column chromatography of the extracts, on the basis of NAD(P)H-dependent flavin reductase activity, resulted in the separation of six active fractions containing Fpr, NfnB, NAD(P)H-quinone oxidoreductase (QOR), flavin reductase (Fre) or alkyl hydroperoxide reductase subunit F (AhpF) as major components. Like Fpr and NfnB, recombinant QOR, Fre, and AhpF showed flavin reductase activity and ferrous iron release activity in the presence of free flavins, indicating an association of flavin reductase activity with ferrous iron releasing activity. Taken together, both free flavin-dependent and free flavin-independent ferric reductases in E. coli require free flavins to mediate an electron transfer from NAD(P)H to ferric iron in the iron storage proteins for the effective ferrous iron release.

Functional characterisation of two ferric-ion coordination modes of TtFbpA, the periplasmic subunit of an ABC-type iron transporter from Thermus thermophilus HB8.

The ferric ion binding protein A of Thermus thermophilus HB8 (TtFbpA) is the periplasmic subunit of an ABC-type iron transporter. Two Fe3+-bound crystal structures at pH 5.5 and pH 7.5 and one apo structure have been reported for TtFbpA. In addition to three Tyr residues, TtFbpA coordinates with Fe3+ using two monodentate HCO3- and one H2O to form a six-coordinated mode at pH 5.5 or one bidentate CO32- to form a five-coordinated mode at pH 7.5. We investigated the biological significance of these Fe3+-bound forms of TtFbpA and the synergistic anions (HCO3- and CO32-). Quantum mechanical calculations in silico indicated that only these coordination modes were plausible out of six possibilities. Comparison of the crystal structures revealed a key motif, RZX1X2L(I/V), that would couple the Fe3+ coordination mode and the TtFbpA protein conformation. Both gel filtration chromatography and isothermal titration calorimetry showed that TtFbpA could bind Fe3+ at pH 7.5 but not at pH 5.5. Isothermal titration calorimetry also revealed that the binding at pH 7.5 was a three-step endothermic reaction that required NaHCO3. These results indicate that the holo structure at pH 5.5 is unstable in solution and may correspond to a transition state of TtFbpA-Fe3+ binding at pH 7.5 because HCO3- is much more abundant than CO32- at both pH values. Reorganisation of the synergistic ions and coupled protein conformational change will occur to form the stable TtFbpA-Fe3+ complex at pH 7.5, but not at pH 5.5. Identification of such a transition state will contribute to molecular design of novel FbpA inhibitors.

Structural and functional analyses of calcium ion response factors in the mantle of Pinctada fucata.

The pearl oyster, Pinctada fucata, is cultured for pearl production in Japan. The shell of the pearl oyster consists of calcium carbonate and a small amount of organic matrix. Despite many studies of the shell matrix proteins, the mechanism by which calcium elements are transported from the mantle to the shell remains unclear. Investigating the molecular mechanism of calcium transportation, we prepared artificial seawater with a high concentration of calcium ions (10ASW) to induce calcification in the pearl oyster. When pearl oysters were cultured in 10ASW, unusual nanoparticles were precipitated on the surface of the nacreous layer. SDS-PAGE and 2D-PAGE analyses revealed that some calcium-sensing proteins (Sarcoplasmic Ca-binding Protein (Pf-SCP) and Pf-filamin A) might be related to the synthesis of these nanoparticles. The recombinant proteins of Pf-SCP can bind to calcium ions and accumulate nanoparticles of calcium carbonate crystals. However, transcriptomic analysis of the pearl oysters grown in 10ASW showed that the matrix protein genes in the shell did not differ before and after treatment with 10ASW. These results suggest that, despite increasing calcium transportation to the shell, treatment with a high concentration of calcium ions does not induce formation of the organic framework in the shell microstructure. These findings offer meaningful insights into the transportation of calcium elements from the mantle to the shell.

Decreased aluminium tolerance in the growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with SSO2 gene disruption.

Aluminium ions inhibit growth of the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Disruption of the SSO2 gene increased the susceptibility to aluminium. Sso2p belongs to the soluble N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) family. SSO2 has one paralogue, SSO1, which encodes Sso1p. The SNARE complex containing Sso1/2p plays a role in the recognition of plasma membrane targeted vesicle transport. The susceptibility to aluminium stress was not increased in the Δsso1 strain. The phenotype of aluminium ion influx between the wild-type and Δsso2 strains was not different, suggesting that Sso2p was involved in the elimination of cellular aluminium. However, the cellular lipid constitution of Δsso2 was richer in unsaturated fatty acids than the wild type, indicating that Sso2p is associated with lipid homeostasis of the plasma membrane. Aluminium treatment increased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during proliferation. ROS production was increased in the Δsso2 strain after 3 h of aluminium treatment compared with the wild type. These results suggested that Sso2p plays a role in maintaining the lipid composition of the plasma membrane and the increase in unsaturated fatty acids amplified the production of ROS in the acute phase of aluminium stress. ROS derived from aluminium stress inhibited growth and resulted in the susceptibility of the Δsso2 strain.

Structural and functional analyses of a TIMP and MMP in the ligament of Pinctada fucata.

The bivalve hinge ligament is the hard tissue that functions to open and close shells. The ligament contains fibrous structures consisting of aragonite crystals surrounded by a dense organic matrix. This organic matrix may contribute to the formation of fibrous aragonite crystals, but the mechanism underlying this formation remains unclear. In this study, we identified a novel ligament-specific protein, Pinctada fucata tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (PfTIMP), from the fibrous organic matrix between aragonite crystals in the ligament using the amino acid sequence and cDNA cloning methods. PfTIMP consists of 143 amino acid residues and has a molecular weight of 13,580.4. To investigate the activity of PfTIMP, inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity was measured. PfTIMP strongly inhibited human MMP13 and MMP9. Eight MMP homologs were identified from a P. fucata genomic database by BLAST search. To identify the specific MMP that may contribute to ligament formation, the expression level of each MMP was measured in the mantle isthmus, which secretes the ligament. The expression of MMP54089 increased after scratching of the ligament, while the expressions of other MMPs did not increase after doing the same operation. To identify the role of MMP54089 in forming the ligament structure, double stranded (ds) RNA targeting MMP54089 was injected into living P. fucata to suppress the function of MMP54089. Scanning electron microscopic images showed disordered growing surfaces of the ligament in individuals injected with MMP54089-specific dsRNA. These results suggest that PfTIMP and MMP54089 play important roles in the formation of the fibrous ligament structure.

Formation of gold nanoparticles by glycolipids of Lactobacillus casei.

Gold nanoparticles have particular properties distinct from those of bulk gold crystals, and such nanoparticles are used in various applications in optics, catalysis, and drug delivery. Many reports on microbial synthesis of gold nanoparticles have appeared. However, the molecular details (reduction and dispersion) of such synthesis remain unclear. In the present study, we studied gold nanoparticle synthesis by Lactobacillus casei. A comparison of L. casei components before and after addition of an auric acid solution showed that the level of unsaturated lipids decreased significantly after addition. NMR and mass spectrum analysis showed that the levels of diglycosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG) and triglycosyldiacylglycerol (TGDG) bearing unsaturated fatty acids were much reduced after formation of gold nanoparticles. DGDG purified from L. casei induced the synthesis of gold nanoparticles in vitro. These results suggested that glycolipids, such as DGDG, play important roles in reducing Au(III) to Au(0) and in ensuring that the nanoparticles synthesized remain small in size. Our work will lead to the development of novel, efficient methods by which gold nanoparticles may be produced by, and accumulated within, microorganisms.

Molecular cloning and functional analysis of chitinases in the fresh water snail, Lymnaea stagnalis.

Molluscan shells, consisting of calcium carbonate, are typical examples of biominerals. The small amount of organic matrices containing chitin and proteins in molluscan shells regulates calcification to produce elaborate microstructures. The shells of gastropods have a spiral shape around a central axis. The shell thickness on the internal side of the spiral becomes thinner than that on the outer side of the spiral during the growth to expand the interior space. These observations suggest that a dissolution process works as a remodeling mechanism to change shell shape in molluscan shells. To reveal the dissolution mechanism involved in the remodeling of gastropod spiral shells, we focused on chitinases in the fresh water snail Lymnaea stagnalis. Chitinase activity was observed in the acetic acid-soluble fraction of the shell and in the buffer extract from the mantle. Allosamidin, a specific inhibitor of family 18 chitinases, inhibited the chitinase activity of both fractions completely. Homology cloning and transcriptome analyses of the mantle revealed five genes (chi-I, chi-II, chi-III, chi-IV, and chi-V) encoding family 18 chitinases. All chitinases were expressed in the mantle and in other tissues suggesting that chitinases in the mantle have multiple-functions. Treatment with commercially available chitinase obtained from Trichoderma viride altered the shell microstructure of L. stagnalis. Larvae of L. stagnalis cultured in allosamidin solution had a thinner organic layer on the shell surface. These results suggest that the chitinase activities in the shell and mantle are probably associated with the shell formation process.

Determination of ferric iron chelators by high-performance liquid chromatography using luminol chemiluminescence detection.

Iron is an essential element for higher plants, and its acquisition and transportation is one of the greatest limiting factors for plant growth because of its low solubility in normal soil pHs. Higher plants biosynthesize ferric iron [Fe(III)] chelator (FIC), which solubilizes the iron and transports it to the rhizosphere. A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) post-column method has been developed for the analysis of FICs using the luminol/H2O2 system for chemiluminescence (CL) detection. A size-exclusion column was the most suited in terms of column efficiency and CL detection efficiency. Mixing of the luminol with H2O2 in a post-column reaction was feasible, and a two-pump system was used to separately deliver the luminol and H2O2 solutions. The luminol and H2O2 concentrations were optimized using Fe(III)-EDTA and Fe(III)-citrate (Cit) solutions as analytes. A strong CL intensity was obtained for Fe(III)-Cit when EDTA was added to the luminol solution, probably because of an exchange of Cit with EDTA after separation on the HPLC column; CL efficiency was much higher for Fe(III)-EDTA than for Fe(III)-Cit with the luminol/H2O2 system. The present method can detect minute levels of Fe(III)-FICs; the detection limits of Fe(III)-EDTA, Fe(III)-Cit and Fe(III)-nicotianamine were 0.77, 2.3 and 1.1pmol, respectively.

Synthesis of CdSe Quantum Dots Using Fusarium oxysporum.

CdSe quantum dots are often used in industry as fluorescent materials. In this study, CdSe quantum dots were synthesized using Fusarium oxysporum. The cadmium and selenium concentration, pH, and temperature for the culture of F. oxysporum (Fusarium oxysporum) were optimized for the synthesis, and the CdSe quantum dots obtained from the mycelial cells of F. oxysporum were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Ultra-thin sections of F. oxysporum showed that the CdSe quantum dots were precipitated in the intracellular space, indicating that cadmium and selenium ions were incorporated into the cell and that the quantum dots were synthesized with intracellular metabolites. To reveal differences in F. oxysporum metabolism, cell extracts of F. oxysporum, before and after CdSe synthesis, were compared using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The results suggested that the amount of superoxide dismutase (SOD) decreased after CdSe synthesis. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that cytoplasmic superoxide increased significantly after CdSe synthesis. The accumulation of superoxide may increase the expression of various metabolites that play a role in reducing Se4+ to Se2- and inhibit the aggregation of CdSe to make nanoparticles.

Cucumis sativus secretes 4'-ketoriboflavin under iron-deficient conditions.

A new compound in cucumber, Cucumis sativus, nutrient solution that appears under iron-deficient conditions, but not under ordinary culture conditions, has been revealed by HPLC analysis. The chemical structure of this compound was identified using LC-MS and NMR techniques as that of 4'-ketoriboflavin. This is the first report to show that 4'-ketoriboflavin can be found in metabolites from organisms.

Long-Chain Fatty Acids Elicit a Bitterness-Masking Effect on Quinine and Other Nitrogenous Bitter Substances by Formation of Insoluble Binary Complexes.

We have previously found that fatty acids can mask the bitterness of certain nitrogenous substances through direct molecular interactions. Using isothermal titration calorimetry, we investigated the interactions between sodium oleate and 22 bitter substances. The hydrochloride salts of quinine, promethazine, and propranolol interacted strongly with fatty acids containing 12 or more carbon atoms. The (1)H NMR spectra of these substances, obtained in the presence of the sodium salts of the fatty acids in dimethyl sulfoxide, revealed the formation of hydrogen bonds between the nitrogen atoms of the bitter substances and the carboxyl groups of the fatty acids. When sodium laurate and the hydrochloride salt of quinine were mixed in water, an equimolar complex formed as insoluble heterogeneous needlelike crystals. These results suggested that fatty acids interact directly with bitter substances through hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions to form insoluble binary complexes that mask bitterness.

High-performance liquid chromatography method for ferric iron chelators using a post-column reaction with Calcein Blue.

Iron (Fe) is an essential element for higher plants, which take it up from the soil at the root surface and transport it to shoots through the xylem. Fe(III) chelators, such as organic acids and phytosiderophores, play important roles in the acquisition and transportation of Fe(III). Therefore, a selective and sensitive method for analyzing Fe(III) chelators is required to study the many Fe-related physiological mechanisms in plants. A novel analytical approach employing a high-performance liquid chromatography post-column method with fluorescence detection was developed to separate and detect Fe(III) chelators. This method takes advantage of the quenching of the fluorescence of Calcein Blue (CB) that occurs with the formation of an Fe(III)-CB complex and the dequenching that occurs with the release of CB as a result of competition for Fe(III) between CB and an Fe(III) chelator. This simple experimental method does not require complicated pretreatments and can selectively detect Fe(III) chelators according to their Fe(III)-chelating ability. The detection limit for citric acid using this method was 72pmol. Furthermore, this method can also detect unknown Fe(III) chelators that exhibit a high affinity for Fe(III). The method was evaluated with xylem sap of barley, which was shown to contain several Fe(III) chelators.

Luminescence amplification by enzymatic Eu2+ oxidation to Eu3+ for time-resolved peroxidase activity measurement.

A novel peroxidase activity assay was developed for horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and myeloperoxidase (MPO), in which substrate Eu(2+) was catalytically oxidized to Eu(3+), and the Eu(3+) luminescence was enhanced by the addition of sensitizer 4,4'-bis(1″,1″,1″,2″,2″,3″,3″-hepatafluoro-4″,6″-hexanedione-6″-yl)chlorosulfo-o-terphenyl (BHHCT) for time-resolved measurement of the BHHCT-Eu(3+) complex. Since BHHCT-Eu(3+) has a long lifetime (more than 500 µs), typical of Eu(3+) oxidation state, and the emission wavelength (615 nm) is totally different from those of Eu(2+) complexes, time-resolved luminescence measurement of the Eu(3+) complex enabled suppressed background and high signal/background ratio. The present method was successfully applied to monitor the oxidative stress level, which is closely associated with peroxidase activity level, in rat heart muscle homogenates. Notable parallel temporal change was observed for peroxidase activity and 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE) concentration after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection for induction of oxidative stress in rats. Such a relation does not contradict the oxidative stress mechanism that HNE is produced via lipid peroxidation, which is caused by the (•)OH radical generated by peroxidase activity.

Osmotic stress responses and plant growth controlled by potassium transporters in Arabidopsis.

Osmotic adjustment plays a fundamental role in water stress responses and growth in plants; however, the molecular mechanisms governing this process are not fully understood. Here, we demonstrated that the KUP potassium transporter family plays important roles in this process, under the control of abscisic acid (ABA) and auxin. We generated Arabidopsis thaliana multiple mutants for K(+) uptake transporter 6 (KUP6), KUP8, KUP2/SHORT HYPOCOTYL3, and an ABA-responsive potassium efflux channel, guard cell outward rectifying K(+) channel (GORK). The triple mutants, kup268 and kup68 gork, exhibited enhanced cell expansion, suggesting that these KUPs negatively regulate turgor-dependent growth. Potassium uptake experiments using (86)radioactive rubidium ion ((86)Rb(+)) in the mutants indicated that these KUPs might be involved in potassium efflux in Arabidopsis roots. The mutants showed increased auxin responses and decreased sensitivity to an auxin inhibitor (1-N-naphthylphthalamic acid) and ABA in lateral root growth. During water deficit stress, kup68 gork impaired ABA-mediated stomatal closing, and kup268 and kup68 gork decreased survival of drought stress. The protein kinase SNF1-related protein kinases 2E (SRK2E), a key component of ABA signaling, interacted with and phosphorylated KUP6, suggesting that KUP functions are regulated directly via an ABA signaling complex. We propose that the KUP6 subfamily transporters act as key factors in osmotic adjustment by balancing potassium homeostasis in cell growth and drought stress responses.

OsTZF1, a CCCH-tandem zinc finger protein, confers delayed senescence and stress tolerance in rice by regulating stress-related genes.

OsTZF1 is a member of the CCCH-type zinc finger gene family in rice (Oryza sativa). Expression of OsTZF1 was induced by drought, high-salt stress, and hydrogen peroxide. OsTZF1 gene expression was also induced by abscisic acid, methyl jasmonate, and salicylic acid. Histochemical activity of ß-glucuronidase in transgenic rice plants containing the promoter of OsTZF1 fused with ß-glucuronidase was observed in callus, coleoptile, young leaf, and panicle tissues. Upon stress, OsTZF1-green fluorescent protein localization was observed in the cytoplasm and cytoplasmic foci. Transgenic rice plants overexpressing OsTZF1 driven by a maize (Zea mays) ubiquitin promoter (Ubi:OsTZF1-OX [for overexpression]) exhibited delayed seed germination, growth retardation at the seedling stage, and delayed leaf senescence. RNA interference (RNAi) knocked-down plants (OsTZF1-RNAi) showed early seed germination, enhanced seedling growth, and early leaf senescence compared with controls. Ubi:OsTZF1-OX plants showed improved tolerance to high-salt and drought stresses and vice versa for OsTZF1-RNAi plants. Microarray analysis revealed that genes related to stress, reactive oxygen species homeostasis, and metal homeostasis were regulated in the Ubi:OsTZF1-OX plants. RNA-binding assays indicated that OsTZF1 binds to U-rich regions in the 3' untranslated region of messenger RNAs, suggesting that OsTZF1 might be associated with RNA metabolism of stress-responsive genes. OsTZF1 may serve as a useful biotechnological tool for the improvement of stress tolerance in various plants through the control of RNA metabolism of stress-responsive genes.

Microcirculation system with a dialysis part for bioassays evaluating anticancer activity and retention.

Medicines are distributed to the whole body and excreted over time. A micromodel of the circulation-excretion system was developed to mimic these processes. This system comprised a dialysis part, a microperistaltic pump, and a target tissue. This microcirculation system was created on a microchip composed of a glass slide and polydimethylsiloxane sheets with microchannels fabricated by photolithography. A dialysis membrane was settled between two channels to form the dialysis part, and a pneumatic peristaltic pump was used to make the solution flow. The excretion and half-life of solute substances absorbed to albumin were changed according to their affinity to the protein. MCF-7 human breast cancer cells were cultured as target cells for drug samples, and the activities of anticancer agents were assayed using our system. Our data demonstrated that the anticancer activity of docetaxel or thio-TEPA could be assayed on the microcirculation-excretion chip. This system may allow for reduced consumption of cells and reagents compared to those required for conventional in vitro bioassay systems.

Comparison of methanol and acetonitrile eluents for the quantitation of chelators specific to soft-metal ions by HPLC.

HPLC eluent systems employing acetonitrile and methanol were evaluated for the quantitation of glutathione (GSH) and phytochelatin (PC(n)), a family of peptides implicated in heavy-metal detoxification in higher plants. The detection system is based on the dequenching of copper(I)-bathocuproine disulfonate and is specific for soft-metal chelators. Although both elution systems yielded comparable analytical performance for each PC(n), the acetonitrile system had a lower sensitivity for GSH and a steadily increasing baseline. The inferior properties of the acetonitrile system may be due to complex formation between acetonitrile and Cu(I) ions. Both methods were applied to measure peptide levels in the primitive red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae. Coefficients of variation (CVs) were less than 5%, except for GSH and PC(4) determinations in the acetonitrile system, in cases when CV values were found to be 8.8% and 6.3%, respectively. Recoveries were greater than 96%, except for GSH determination in the acetonitrile system, with a recovery of 84.4%; however, the concentration measured in the acetonitrile system did not differ from that measured in the methanol system at a significance level of 0.05.