Unexpected Cu and Zn speciation patterns in the broiler feed-animal-excreta system revealed by XAS spectroscopy.

Trace minerals such as copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) are animal nutrition supplements necessary for livestock health and breeding performance, yet they also have environmental impacts via animal excretion. Here we investigated changes in Cu and Zn speciation from the feed additive to the broiler excreta stages. The aim of this study was to assess whether different Cu and Zn feed additives induce different Cu and Zn speciation patterns, and to determine the extent to which this speciation is preserved throughout the feed-animal-excreta system. Synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) was used for this investigation. The principal findings were: (i) in feed, Cu and Zn speciation changed rapidly from the feed additive signature (Cu and Zn oxides or Cu and Zn sulfates) to Cu and Zn organic complexes (Cu phytate and Zn phytate). (ii) in the digestive tract, we showed that Cu and Zn phytate were major Cu and Zn species; Cu sulfide and Zn amorphous phosphate species were detected but remained minor species. (iii) in fresh excreta, Cu sulfide and Zn amorphous phosphate were major species. These results should help to: (i) enhance the design of future research studies comparing different feed additive performances; (ii) assess Cu and Zn bioavailability in the digestive tract; (iii) gain further insight into the fate of Cu and Zn in cultivated soils when poultry manure is used as fertilizer.

Subcellular Mass Spectrometry Imaging and Absolute Quantitative Analysis across Organelles.

Mass spectrometry imaging is a field that promises to become a mainstream bioanalysis technology by allowing the combination of single-cell imaging and subcellular quantitative analysis. The frontier of single-cell imaging has advanced to the point where it is now possible to compare the chemical contents of individual organelles in terms of raw or normalized ion signal. However, to realize the full potential of this technology, it is necessary to move beyond this concept of relative quantification. Here we present a nanoSIMS imaging method that directly measures the absolute concentration of an organelle-associated, isotopically labeled, pro-drug directly from a mass spectrometry image. This is validated with a recently developed nanoelectrochemistry method for single organelles. We establish a limit of detection based on the number of isotopic labels used and the volume of the organelle of interest, also offering this calculation as a web application. This approach allows subcellular quantification of drugs and metabolites, an overarching and previously unmet goal in cell science and pharmaceutical development.

Pyrenoidal sequestration of cadmium impairs carbon dioxide fixation in a microalga.

Mixotrophic microorganisms are able to use organic carbon as well as inorganic carbon sources and thus, play an essential role in the biogeochemical carbon cycle. In aquatic ecosystems, the alteration of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) fixation by toxic metals such as cadmium - classified as a priority pollutant - could contribute to the unbalance of the carbon cycle. In consequence, the investigation of cadmium impact on carbon assimilation in mixotrophic microorganisms is of high interest. We exposed the mixotrophic microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to cadmium in a growth medium containing both CO2 and labelled 13 C-[1,2] acetate as carbon sources. We showed that the accumulation of cadmium in the pyrenoid, where it was predominantly bound to sulphur ligands, impaired CO2 fixation to the benefit of acetate assimilation. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM)/X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (X-EDS) and micro X-ray fluorescence (µXRF)/micro X-ray absorption near-edge structure (µXANES) at Cd LIII- edge indicated the localization and the speciation of cadmium in the cellular structure. In addition, nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) analysis of the 13 C/12 C ratio in pyrenoid and starch granules revealed the origin of carbon sources. The fraction of carbon in starch originating from CO2 decreased from 73 to 39% during cadmium stress. For the first time, the complementary use of high-resolution elemental and isotopic imaging techniques allowed relating the impact of cadmium at the subcellular level with carbon assimilation in a mixotrophic microalga.

A New Radio Frequency Plasma Oxygen Primary Ion Source on Nano Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry for Improved Lateral Resolution and Detection of Electropositive Elements at Single Cell Level.

An important application field of secondary ion mass spectrometry at the nanometer scale (NanoSIMS) is the detection of chemical elements and, in particular, metals at the subcellular level in biological samples. The detection of many trace metals requires an oxygen primary ion source to allow the generation of positive secondary ions with high yield in the NanoSIMS. The duoplasmatron oxygen source is commonly used in this ion microprobe but cannot achieve the same quality of images as the cesium primary ion source used to produce negative secondary ions (C(-), CN(-), S(-), P(-)) due to a larger primary ion beam size. In this paper, a new type of an oxygen ion source using a rf plasma is fitted and characterized on a NanoSIMS50L. The performances of this primary ion source in terms of current density and achievable lateral resolution have been characterized and compared to the conventional duoplasmatron and cesium sources. The new rf plasma oxygen source offered a net improvement in terms of primary beam current density compared to the commonly used duoplasmatron source, which resulted in higher ultimate lateral resolutions down to 37 nm and which provided a 5-45 times higher apparent sensitivity for electropositive elements. Other advantages include a better long-term stability and reduced maintenance. This new rf plasma oxygen primary ion source has been applied to the localization of essential macroelements and trace metals at basal levels in two biological models, cells of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Arabidopsis thaliana.

Chemical bioimaging for the subcellular localization of trace elements by high contrast TEM, TEM/X-EDS, and NanoSIMS.

Chemical bioimaging offers an important contribution to the investigation of biochemical functions, biosorption and bioaccumulation processes of trace elements via their localization at the cellular and even at the subcellular level. This paper describes the combined use of high contrast transmission electron microscopy (HC-TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (X-EDS), and nano secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) applied to a model organism, the unicellular green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. HC-TEM providing a lateral resolution of 1nm was used for imaging the ultrastructure of algae cells which have diameters of 5-10µm. TEM coupled to X-EDS (TEM/X-EDS) combined textural (morphology and size) analysis with detection of Ca, P, K, Mg, Fe, and Zn in selected subcellular granules using an X-EDS probe size of approx. 1µm. However, instrumental sensitivity was at the limit for trace element detection. NanoSIMS allowed chemical imaging of macro and trace elements with subcellular resolution (element mapping). Ca, Mg, and P as well as the trace elements Fe, Cu, and Zn present at basal levels were detected in pyrenoids, contractile vacuoles, and granules. Some metals were even localized in small vesicles of about 200nm size. Sensitive subcellular localization of trace metals was possible by the application of a recently developed RF plasma oxygen primary ion source on NanoSIMS which has shown good improvements in terms of lateral resolution (below 50nm), sensitivity, and stability. Furthermore correlative single cell imaging was developed combining the advantages of TEM and NanoSIMS. An advanced sample preparation protocol provided adjacent ultramicrotome sections for parallel TEM and NanoSIMS analyses of the same cell. Thus, the C. reinhardtii cellular ultrastructure could be directly related to the spatial distribution of metals in different cell organelles such as vacuoles and chloroplast.