Directed Biofabrication of Nanoparticles through Regulating Extracellular Electron Transfer.

Biofabrication of nanomaterials is currently constrained by a low production efficiency and poor controllability on product quality compared to chemical synthetic routes. In this work, we show an attractive new biosynthesis system to break these limitations. A directed production of selenium-containing nanoparticles in Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 cells, with fine-tuned composition and subcellular synthetic location, was achieved by modifying the extracellular electron transfer chain. By taking advantage of its untapped intracellular detoxification and synthetic power, we obtained high-purity, uniform-sized cadmium selenide nanoparticles in the cytoplasm, with the production rates and fluorescent intensities far exceeding the state-of-the-art biosystems. These findings may fundamentally change our perception of nanomaterial biosynthesis process and lead to the development of fine-controllable nanoparticles biosynthesis technologies.

Role of chelant on Cu distribution and speciation in Lolium multiflorum by synchrotron techniques.

Chelants are known to enhance metal translocation in plants; however, the underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood. This study aimed to elucidate the distribution and speciation of Cu in ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) in both absence and presence of the biodegradable chelant [S,S']-ethylenediamine disuccinic acid (EDDS). The results showed that EDDS increased the Cu translocation factor from root to shoot by 6-9 folds under CuEDDS in comparison with free Cu (50-250µM). Synchrotron-based microscopic X-ray fluorescence (µ-XRF) mapping revealed that EDDS alleviated Cu deposition in the root meristem of root apex and the junction of lateral root zone, and facilitated Cu transport to root stele for subsequent translocation upwards. X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) analysis found that free Cu was sequestered in plants as a mixture of Cu-organic ligands. In the EDDS treatment, Cu was primarily present as CuEDDS (49-67%) in plants with partial chemical transformation to Cu-histidine (21-36%) and Cu(I)-glutathione (0-24%). These results suggest that EDDS improves internal Cu mobility through forming CuEDDS, thus decreasing the root sequestration of Cu, and ultimately facilitating Cu transport to plant shoots.