Air pollution in the places of Betula pendula growth and development changes the physicochemical properties and the main allergen content of its pollen.

Pollen allergy becomes an increasing problem for humans, especially in the regions, where the air pollution level increases due to the traffic and urbanization. These factors may also affect the physiological activity of plants, causing changes in pollen allergenicity. The aim of the study was to estimate the influence of air pollutants on the chemical composition of birch pollen and the secondary structures of the Bet v1 protein. The research was conducted in seven locations in Malopolska region, South of Poland of a different pollution level. We have found slight fluctuations in the values of parameters describing the photosynthetic light reactions, similar spectra of leaf reflectance and the negligible differences in the discrimination values of the δ13C carbon isotope were found. The obtained results show a minor effect of a degree of pollution on the physiological condition B. pendula specimen. On the other hand, mean Bet v1 concentration measured in pollen samples collected in Kraków was significantly higher than in less polluted places (p = .03886), while FT-Raman spectra showed the most distinct variations in the wavenumbers characteristic of proteins. Pollen collected at sites of the increased NOx and PM concentration, show the highest percentage values of potential aggregated forms and antiparallel ß-sheets in the expense of α-helix, presenting a substantial impact on chemical compounds of pollen, Bet v1 concentration and on formation of the secondary structure of proteins, what can influence their functions.

Central metal determines pharmacokinetics of chlorophyll-derived xenobiotics.

Chlorophyll derivatives are potentially dangerous xenobiotics of dietary origin. The interactions of water-soluble derivatives of chlorophyll a with the animal organism were investigated using chlorophyllide a and its Zn-substituted analogue as model xenobiotics. The chlorophyllides were administered to tumor-bearing mice and their uptake, distribution, and clearance were compared. The centrally bound metal determines important aspects of the in vivo behavior of metallochlorophyllides as xenobiotics. The uptake and clearance of chlorophyllide a were significantly faster than those of [Zn]-chlorophyllide a. Chlorophyllide a showed some tissue selectivity, while [Zn]-chlorophyllide a was uniformly distributed among tissues. Interestingly, the tissue levels of the latter compound were ten times higher than those of the Mg-derivative. These differences indicate that [Zn]-chlorophyllide a, in contrast to chlorophyllide a, is only weakly recognized by the system of active transport of xenobiotics and by enzymes involved in chlorophyll metabolism. The dependence of chlorophyllide pharmacokinetics on the central metal is of great relevance to chlorophyll-based phototherapy.