Enhancement of dewaterability of thickened waste activated sludge by freezing and thawing treatment.

The effect of freezing speed on dewaterability of waste activated sludge thickened by flotation was investigated. The average dewatering rate of the sludge after freezing/thawing treatment was remarkably increased, and was found to be larger in the order: slow-frozen (-10 degrees C, -20 degrees C) > fast-frozen (-80 degrees C) > unfrozen sludge. This order was consistent with those of the sludge settling, elution of intracellular water and the numbers of the viable bacteria in the sludges after freezing/thawing. The expression characteristics and the final moisture contents of unfrozen and frozen sludge were evaluated from expession experiments at constant pressure. The wet-basis moisture content of final cake of frozen sludge was about 10% lower than those of unfrozen sludge, and even the cake obtained under additional 2 kgf/cm2 pressure may burn without auxiliary fuel. In addition, the mechanism responsible for the sludge dewatering was also examined.

Further study on the photochemistry of non-ortho substituted PCBs by UV irradiation in alkaline 2-propanol.

The photochemical behaviors of six non-ortho substituted PCB congeners, i.e., 3,4-DiCB, 3,5-DiCB, 3,3',5-TriCB, 3,4,5-TriCB, 3,3',4,5-TetraCB, and 3,4,4',5-TetraCB, irradiated at 254 nm in alkaline 2-propanol were investigated. Besides the determination of the photodechlorination pathways of these compounds, the presence of photorearrangement was observed in the case of 3, 4-DiCB with its products being identified. The results indicate that dechlorination is much more important than rearrangement during the process of PCB photolysis.

Bioreactor operated production of lipase: castor oil hydrolysis using partially-purified lipase.

A highly stable lipase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa KKA-5 was produced by batch cultivation technique employing shake flask and 5 L-bioreactor. The bioreactor was run at different airflow rates. Low airflow rates (1 and 3 L/min), did not lead to effective growth and lipase production. Growth increased by about one order and lipase production increased by about 6 times, at an airflow rate of 5 L/min. Lipase production occurred during decelerated cell growth. A highly stable lipase was produced which retained its activity in the running bioreactor, even after a period of one month. This stable lipase was partially-purified using ammonium sulphate precipitation technique. Castor oil was hydrolyzed using 300U crude and partially-purified lipase, each. Approximately 21-fold, partially-purified lipase could hydrolyze 81% castor oil within a period of 96 hr, where as only 63% hydrolysis was obtained, in 216 hour, when crude lipase was used.

Cobaltous chloride-induced mutagenesis in the supF tRNA gene of Escherichia coli.

The spectrum of mutations induced by cobalt(II) chloride (CoCl2) was examined using plasmid pUB3 DNA, which was propagated after transfection into Escherichia coli SY1032/pKY241 host cells. The vector plasmid carried an E.coli supF suppressor tRNA gene as a target for mutations. After CoCl2 treatment, 64 independent nalidixic acid-resistant, ampicillin-resistant and Lac+ (SupF-) clones were obtained and the altered sequences of the mutated supF genes were determined. Deletions and frameshifts were the predominant mutational event (61%) induced by CoCl2 and base substitutions were induced to a lesser degree (29%). Analysis of sequence alterations at all the sites of mutation revealed that: (i) 18 of 19 base substitutions and eight of 10 frameshifts occurred at G:C sites, suggesting that the formation of N7G-Co(II) adducts may be responsible for premutagenic lesions of these mutations; (ii) short sequence repeats were mostly found at the sites of deletions and frameshifts. Slippage-misalignment is also suggested to be a mechanism for the induction of mutations at these sites.

Single-step purification and characterization of MBP (maltose binding protein)-DnaJ fusion protein and its utilization for structure-function analysis.

DnaJ is a molecular chaperone, which contains a zinc finger-like motif and cooperates with DnaK to mediate the folding of newly synthesized and denatured proteins. DnaJ was overproduced and purified using the maltose binding protein (MBP) fusion vector. The fusion protein (MBP-DnaJ) was expressed in a soluble form in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity using amylose resin in a single step. The UV-visible absorption spectrum of MBP-DnaJ showed peaks at 355 and 475 nm. Moreover, these absorption peaks disappeared upon treatment with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) or p-hydroxymercuriphenylsulfonic acid (PMPS). Inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectrometry demonstrated that MBP-DnaJ contains Fe ions as well as Zn ions. MBP-DnaJ mediated the replication of the lambda phage in vivo, stimulated the ATPase activity of DnaK and prevented the aggregation of denatured rhodanase, indicating that fusion of MBP to the N-terminal of DnaJ does not affect the functions of DnaJ. To study the roles of bound metal ions, metal-free MBP-DnaJ, and MBP-DnaJ containing 2 Zn ions were prepared. MBP-DnaJ containing Fe and Zn ions, and MBP-DnaJ containing 2 Zn ions stimulated the ATPase activity of DnaK, prevented the aggregation of denatured rhodanase and bound to DNA to similar extents. On the other hand, metal-free MBP-DnaJ showed much lower DNA-binding ability and lower ability to prevent rhodanese aggregation. Therefore, the bound metal species do not affect the function of the zinc finger-like motif of DnaJ, whereas removal of the metal ions from DnaJ diminishes its binding ability as to DNA and denatured proteins.

DNA-damaging potency and genotoxicity of aflatoxin M1 in somatic cells in vivo of Drosophila melanogaster.

Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), a metabolic hydroxylation product of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), and the parent compound were comparatively assayed for DNA-damaging potency and genotoxicity in vivo in Drosophila melanogaster using, respectively, the mei-9a mei-41D5 DNA repair test and the mwh/flr3 wing spot test. In the repair test, larval stock, consisting of meiotic recombination-deficient double mutant mei-9a mei-41D5 males and repair-proficient females, was exposed to the test agents, and the preferential killing of the mutant larvae was taken as evidence of the DNA-damaging effect. In this test, AFM1 was registered as a DNA-damaging agent with an activity approximately 3-fold lower than that of AFB1. In the wing spot test, where larval flies, trans-heterozygous for the somatic cell markers mwh and flr3, were treated and the wings were inspected at adulthood for spots manifesting the phenotypes of the markers, AFM1 exerted a genotoxic effect compatible to that of AFB1. Based on these results and other data, we predict that AFM1 may be genotoxic in mammalian in-vivo systems as well.

Genotoxic activities in vivo of cobaltous chloride and other metal chlorides as assayed in the Drosophila wing spot test.

A series of metal chlorides were subjected to the wing spot test of Drosophila melanogaster. In the test, larvae trans-heterozygous for the wing-hair mutations mwh and flr were orally treated at the third instar stage with a test compound and the wings were inspected at the adult stage for spots expressing phenotypes of the markers. CoCl2, MnCl2, MoCl3, NiCl2 and ZnCl2 were clearly effective in inducing spots with one or two mutant hairs (small spots). CoCl2 was clearly effective in inducing spots with three or more mutant hairs (large spots) as well. CrCl3, FeCl2 and FeCl3 were negative under the conditions used. Based on estimated frequencies of small spots induced at the LD50, the genotoxic effectiveness of the positive metal salts were ranked in a sequence of CoCl2 > ZnCl2 > MoCl3 > (MnCl2, NiCl2). Since CoCl2 did not induce large spots in the wings of the mwh/TM3 flies with a suppressed ability of mitotic crossing-over, the large spots induced by this compound in the mwh/flr system were ascertained as mutant clones due to mitotic crossing-overs.

N-acetoxy-N-acetyl-2-aminofluorene-induced mutation spectrum in a human hprt cDNA shuttle vector integrated into mammalian cells.

The spectrum of mutations induced by N-acetoxy-N-acetyl-2-aminofluorene (N-AcO-AAF) was examined by the pZipHprtNeo shuttle vector in mammalian cells. The vector carries a cDNA of the human hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase (hprt) gene, which is stably integrated into chromosomal DNA of a mouse cell line, VH12. After treatment of the cell with N-AcO-AAF, 48 independent 6-thioguanine-resistant clones were obtained and altered sequences of the mutated cDNA hprt genes were determined. Frameshifts and deletions were the predominant mutational events (68%) induced by N-AcO-AAF and the remainder were base substitutions (32%) of various types. Analysis of sequence alterations at all the sites of mutation revealed that: (i) > 65% of mutations occurred at G:C sites, suggesting C8G adducts are responsible premutagenic lesions for these mutations; and (ii) short sequence repeats were frequently found at the sites of frameshift and deletion, and slippage--misalignment is the suggested mechanism for the induction of mutations at these sites. Implied significance of slippage--misalignment as a fundamental mechanism for mutagenesis is discussed.

A flow-injection biosensor system for the amperometric determination of creatinine: simultaneous compensation of endogenous interferents.

A flow-injection biosensor system was developed for the amperometric determination of creatinine based on coupled reactions of three sequentially aligned enzyme reactors, creatinine deiminase, glutamate dehydrogenase, and glutamate oxidase, using an oxygen electrode as the detector. To overcome the problem of endogenous ammonia and glutamate, the flow was split into two channels after the injector and rejoined before the glutamate dehydrogenase reactor. Double peak recording was obtained by setting a delay coil and a reference column in one of the two channels. The first peak gave the sum response of creatinine, endogenous ammonia, and glutamate, and the second that of endogenous ammonia and glutamate. By this method compensation for endogenous ammonia and glutamate, as well as for interfering ascorbic acid, was achieved simultaneously. The system gave linear calibrations up to 2 mM for the first peak and 3 mM for the second one. The lower detection limits were 0.1 and 0.02 mM for 35- and 100-microliters injection of sample, respectively. One run was completed within 2 min. The system showed good reproducibility (< 3%) and long operational stability (> 1300 runs). The assay results of creatinine in urine showed good correlation with those obtained from the chemical method of Jaffe.

Multifunctional Flow-injection Biosensor for the Simultaneous Measurement of Creatinine, Glucose, and Urea.

An amperometric flow-injection biosensor system was developed for the simultaneous measurement of creatinine, glucose, and urea, with a single sample injection and one detector. The principle for the amperometric detection of urea and creatinine was based on coupled reactions of three sequentially aligned enzyme reactors, urease or creatinine deiminase/glutamate dehydrogenase/L-glutamate oxidase. Inclusion of a split point and two confluence points between the injector and detector (oxygen electrode) resulted in a flow-injection system composed of three channels. Triple peak recording was obtained by putting two delay coils of different lengths at the channels involving urease and glucose oxidase. The system gave linear calibrations for creatinine, glucose, and urea in the ranges of 0.2-5, 0.2-10, and 0.5-20mM, respectively. The assay procedure was simple and one run was completed within 4 min. The system was reproducible within 5-8% of relative standard deviation.

Amperometric assay of creatinine in urine by flow injection analysis based on conjugated reactions of immobilized enzymes. Simultaneous compensation of endogenous ammonia.

A flow-injection analysis biosensor system was developed for the amperometric assay of creatinine based on coupled reactions of three immobilized enzymes, using an oxygen electrode as the detection device. The ammonia produced by creatinine deiminase-catalyzed hydrolysis of creatinine was further converted into L-glutamate with two sequentially aligned enzyme reactors: glutamate dehydrogenase and glutamate oxidase. Endogenous ammonia was simultaneously compensated with a double peak recording system, where the flow was split after sample injection and rejoined before the glutamate dehydrogenase reactor. The system gave linear calibration in a range of 0.1-2.0 mM for creatinine and the first peak of ammonia, and 0.1-3.0 mM for the second peak of ammonia. One run was completed within two minutes. The system can be readily applied to the assay of creatinine in urine and showed good correlation with that from the currently used Jaffe method.

Mutagenicity of various chemicals including nickel and cobalt compounds in cultured mouse FM3A cells.

Employing a suspension culture of FM3A cells, we examined the cytotoxic and mutagenic effects of various chemical compounds. Mutagenicity of various types of mutagens (MNNG, ENNG, sterigmatocystin, mitomycin C, Trp-P-1, and X-rays) was sensitively detected by this assay. Mutagenicity of Trp-P-2 was detected in the presence of an activating enzyme system. Nickel(II) and cobalt(II) compounds (NiCl2, Ni(CH3COO)2, nickel complex [(C2H5)4N]2 [NiCl4], CoCl2, and a cobalt complex [(C2H5)4N]2-[CoCl4]) were cytotoxic to FM3A cells at concentrations of over 1 X 10(-4) M, and produced 2-6-fold increases of the control in the average number of 6-thioguanine-resistant (6TGr) colonies over a very narrow concentration range of 2-4 X 10(-4) M. Comparison of the mutagenicity of various chemical compounds suggested that some of the nickel(II) and cobalt(II) compounds were very weak mutagens.

Inverse correlation between combined mutagenicity in Salmonella typhimurium and strength of coordinate bond in mixtures of cobalt(II) chloride and 4-substituted pyridines.

Cobalt(II) chloride (CoCl2), non-mutagenic by itself, has been tested for mutagenic activity in the presence of 4-substituted pyridines in the test strains of Salmonella typhimurium. CoCl2 was found to be mutagenic in strains TA1537 and TA2637, when combined pyridine, with methyl isonicotinate, 4-methyl-pyridine, 4-ethylpyridine, 4-chloropyridine or 4-bromopyridine. Mixtures of CoCl2 and isonicotinic acid, 4-cyanopyridine, 4-aminopyridine, or 4-dimethylaminopyridine exhibited no mutagenicity. Judging from the spectral observations, such combined mutagenicity may be due to the formation of moderate to weak complexes between these compounds and the Co(II) cation.

Combined mutagenicity of cobalt(II) salt and heteroaromatic compounds in Salmonella typhimurium.

Mutagenic activities of 4-aminopyridine (4AP), 4-aminoquinoline (4AQ), 9-aminoacridine (9AA) and harman (HM) were examined by the Salmonella test system in the presence of cobalt(II) chloride (CoCl2), which itself is non-mutagenic in this system. Mutagenic activity of the mixture of 9AA and CoCl2 was found to be much higher than that of 9AA alone in strains TA1537 and TA2637. A similar enhancing phenomenon was observed in 4AQ-CoCl2 and HM-CoCl2 mixtures but not in that of 4AP-CoCl2. Judging from visible and nuclear magnetic resonance spectral data, this increased mutagenicity may be attributable to the formation of moderate to weak complexes between these chemicals and the Co(II) cation. A survey of the mutagenicity of several Co(II) complexes supported this interpretation.

Characterization of a mycoplasma virus (MV-O1) derived from and infecting Acholeplasma oculi.

A new Mycoplasmatales virus, referred to as MV-O1, was isolated during cloning of Acholeplasma oculi 19L. The virus formed plaques only on strains of A. oculi, i.e. the original clone, A. oculi 19L, a subclone of A. oculi 19L (A.oculi-i), A. oculi Goat 5 and wild isolate (K-2) of A. oculi, but not on other acholeplasmas, including strains of A. laidlawii, nor on five human mycoplasma species tested. The virus required horse serum for multiplication as well as for plaque formation and passed through a 100 nm filter. Electron microscopy revealed enveloped, spherical particles 80-130 nm in diameter. The buoyant density of purified virus was 1.23 g ml-1 in CsCl, and agarose gel electrophoresis indicated that the viral nucleic acid was DNA.

Physical and genetic map of the organomercury resistance (Omr) and inorganic mercury resistance (Hgr) loci of the IncM plasmid R831b.

Tn7 insertion mutagenesis has been used to facilitate the generation of a physical (restriction endonuclease) and genetic map of the IncM plasmid, R831b. The only selectable phenotypes carried by this 90-kb conjugative plasmid are resistances to inorganic mercury [Hg(II)] and to organomercury compounds. Mutants in the Hgr locus of R831b complemented previously described mutants in the mer operon of the IncFII plasmid R100, indicating functional homology of the locus in each of these different plasmids. However, the R831b Hgr locus is not notably similar in restriction site pattern to either the mer operon of R100 or the mercury resistance transposon, Tn501. Although the enzymes they encode are co-ordinately regulated, the Omr locus of R831b maps approx. 13.5 kb away from the Hgr locus. Three insertions which affect neither phenotype lie between the Hgr and Omr loci; thus, the loci are separated both physically and genetically. One mutant was obtained which tentatively identifies the position of the Tra locus of R831b as adjacent to the Hgr locus.