Water solubility enhancements of pyrene by single and mixed surfactant solutions.

Water solubility enhancements of pyrene by both single-surfactant and mixed-surfactant solutions were compared and evaluated. The solubility of pyrene in water was greatly enhanced by each of Triton X-100 (TX100), Triton X-405 (TX405), Brij 35 and SDS, in which the water solubility enhancements increased with increasing surfactant concentrations. The extent of solubility enhancements at surfactant concentrations below the CMC is the order of TX100 > Brij 35 > TX405 > SDS; the sequence at surfactant concentrations above the CMC is TX100 > Brij 35 > SDS > TX405. Pyrene was solubilized synergistically by anionic-nonionic mixed surfactant solutions, especially at low surfactant concentrations. The synergistic power of the mixed surfactants is SDS-TX405 > SDS-Brij 35 > SDS-TX100. The synergism as noted is attributed to increasing Kmc is and/or decreasing the CMC of the mixed surfactant solution. For SDS-TX405 and SDS-Brij 35 mixed surfactant solutions, an increase in Kmc is coupled with a decrease in the CMC; for SDS-TX100, only a decreased in the CMC value is noted. Mixed-surfactant solutions may improve the performance of the surfactant-enhanced remediation (SER) of soils by increasing the bioavailability and biodegradation of non-aqueous-phase organic pollutants and reducing the level of surfactant pollution and remediation expenses.

A partition-limited model for the plant uptake of organic contaminants from soil and water.

In dealing with the passive transport of organic contaminants from soils to plants (including crops), a partition-limited model is proposed in which (i) the maximum (equilibrium) concentration of a contaminant in any location in the plant is determined by partition equilibrium with its concentration in the soil interstitial water, which in turn is determined essentially by the concentration in the soil organic matter (SOM) and (ii) the extent of approach to partition equilibrium, as measured by the ratio of the contaminant concentrations in plantwater and soil interstitial water, alphapt (< or = 1), depends on the transport rate of the contaminant in soil water into the plant and the volume of soil water solution that is required for the plant contaminant level to reach equilibrium with the external soil-water phase. Through reasonable estimates of plant organic-water compositions and of contaminant partition coefficients with various plant components, the model accounts for calculated values of alphapt in several published crop-contamination studies, including near-equilibrium values (i.e., alphapt approximately equals 1) for relatively water-soluble contaminants and lower values for much less soluble contaminants; the differences are attributed to the much higher partition coefficients of the less soluble compounds between plant lipids and plant water, which necessitates much larger volumes of the plant water transport for achieving the equilibrium capacities. The model analysis indicates that for plants with high water contents the plant-water phase acts as the major reservoir for highly water-soluble contaminants. By contrast, the lipid in a plant, even at small amounts, is usually the major reservoir for highly water-insoluble contaminants.

Tracking the assembly pathway of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Gag deletion mutants by immunogold labeling.

The Pr55gag gene product of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is sufficient to direct the formation of retrovirus-like particles (RVLPs). Recent biochemical evidence has indicated the presence of Gag intermediates in the cytoplasm; however, the Gag assembly process into RVLPs remains incompletely defined. The authors present here the subcellular localization of Gag mutant proteins in BSC40 and Jurkat cells by immunoelectron microscopy (IEM). The full Gag/Pol and Gag precursors, a C-terminal deletion mutant lacking a portion of nucleocapsid (NC), and all p6Gag gave rise to similar levels of RVLPs at the cell surface. A C-terminal deletion of all NC and p6Gag abrogated particle formation, whereas p24 was found in patches at the cell surface. Deletion of matrix (MA) sequences from Gag resulted in intracellular particles, and myristylation was not required for particle formation in the context of the MA deletion. Matrix expression was enhanced with Gag/Pol or Env coexpression as determined by semiquantitative IEM. p24 protein was targeted at vacuolar and mitochondrial membranes, but not at Golgi cisternae. In addition, aggregations of Gag intermediates and RVLPs in the cytoplasm, rough endoplasmic reticulum, cisternae, and mitochondria were noted. These results provide defined in situ evidence that HIV-1 particle assembly occurs in the cytosol in addition to budding at most intracellular membranes.

Localizations of NS3 and E proteins in mouse brain infected with mutant strain of Japanese encephalitis virus.

Infection with a mutant Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) strain RP-2ms showed reduced neurovirulence than wild type or RP-9 strains after inoculation in BALB/c mice. However, higher intracellular viral titer was detected in Rp-2ms infected cultured cells. Localizations of non-structural 3 (NS3) and envelope (E) proteins were demonstrated by immunocytochemistry. NS3 protein was primarily found in the pyramidal neurons in cerebrum, in the molecular and granular layers of cerebellum. Neither E nor NS3 protein was detected in Purkinje cells of the cerebellum. Immunoelectron microscopic observations showed that E and NS3 proteins were positive in JEV-induced membranous systems, mainly hypertrophic rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER) and membrane vesicle structure (MVS) but not smooth membrane structure. Virus particles were seen in the Golgi apparatus, rER, nuclear envelope, MVS and cytoplasmic vacuoles. Different mechanisms of intracellular trapping in vivo provide a possible basis for attenuation of RP-2ms strains of JEV.

Ultrastructure and localization of E proteins in cultured neuron cells infected with Japanese encephalitis virus.

A unique structure and in situ localization of E proteins were demonstrated in cultured neurons infected with neurovirulent and aneurovirulent strains of local Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). Dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER) containing smooth membrane structures (SMS) was continuous with the outer membrane of the nuclear envelope. These membranes were found to be connected to unique dense bodies, membrane vesicle structures (MVS). The de novo formation of SMS, annulate lamellae, and the appearance of MVS indicated proliferation of the membranous system in response to JEV infection. E proteins were possibly assembled in the virions in the nuclear envelope or rER or on the plasma membrane. The interconnections between MVS, rER, and the nuclear envelope and immunogold labeling of E proteins on the MVS provided strong evidence that MVS serve as a reservoir of JEV components during virus assembly.

A physical concept of soil-water equilibria for nonionic organic compounds.

Soil-water equilibrium data suggest that the transfer of nonionic chemicals from water to soil may be described in terms of a hypothesis of solute partitioning in the soil organic matter. This concept allows estimation of soil-water distribution coefficients either from solvent-water partition coefficients or aqueous solubilities.

Some physical factors in toxicological assessment tests.

Many thousand organic compounds are in common use and new ones introduced daily. With many of these materials, little is known about their toxic hazard. For years scientists have been investigating the relation of structure and properties to biological activity. Among the factors relating to toxicity are bioaccumulation and persistence in the organism. In this study, the relation of partition coefficient and solubility to bioaccumulation of some organochlorine compounds was investigated as was also the reactivity of several organophosphates. The work adds confirmation to the relation of molecular parameters to penetration, accumulation, and persistence in toxic action.

Chemodynamics: transport and behavior of chemicals in the environment--a problem in environmental health.

In the manufacture and use of the several thousand chemicals employed by technological societies, portions of these chemicals escape or are intentionally introduced into the environment. The behavior, fate, and to some extent the effects produced by these chemicals are a result of a complex interaction of the properties of the chemical with the various processes governing transport, degradation, sequestration, and uptake by organisms. In addition, such processes as adsorption, evaporation, partitioning, and degradation are influenced by ambient conditions of temperature, air movement, moisture, presence of other chemicals, and the concentration and properties of the subject chemicals. These influence the level and extent of exposure to these chemicals that man might receive. Study of the physiochemical properties and extent of exposure to these chem;cals that man might receive. Study of the physiochemical properties of compounds in relation to these various processes has provided a basis for better understanding of the quantitative behavior. Such information is useful in development of predictive models on behavior and fate of the chemicals in relation to human exposure. Beyond this, it provides information that could be used to devise procedures of manufacture, use, and disposal that would minimize environmental contamination. Some of the physical principles involved in chemodynamics are presented in this review.