Sample records for naphthalene degradation activity

  1. Cometabolic Degradation of Dibenzofuran and Dibenzothiophene by a Naphthalene-Degrading Comamonas sp. JB.

    PubMed

    Ji, Xiangyu; Xu, Jing; Ning, Shuxiang; Li, Nan; Tan, Liang; Shi, Shengnan

    2017-12-01

    Comamonas sp. JB was used to investigate the cometabolic degradation of dibenzofuran (DBF) and dibenzothiophene (DBT) with naphthalene as the primary substrate. Dehydrogenase and ATPase activity of the growing system with the presence of DBF and DBT were decreased when compared to only naphthalene in the growing system, indicating that the presence of DBF and DBT inhibited the metabolic activity of strain JB. The pathways and enzymes involved in the cometabolic degradation were tested. Examination of metabolites elucidated that strain JB cometabolically degraded DBF to 1,2-dihydroxydibenzofuran, subsequently to 2-hydroxy-4-(3'-oxo-3'H-benzofuran-2'-yliden)but-2-enoic acid, and finally to catechol. Meanwhile, strain JB cometabolically degraded DBT to 1,2-dihydroxydibenzothiophene and subsequently to the ring cleavage product. A series of naphthalene-degrading enzymes including naphthalene dioxygenase, 1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene dioxygenase, salicylaldehyde dehydrogenase, salicylate hydroxylase, and catechol 2,3-oxygenase have been detected, confirming that naphthalene was the real inducer of expression the degradation enzymes and metabolic pathways were controlled by naphthalene-degrading enzymes.

  2. Characterization of naphthalene degradation by Streptomyces sp. QWE-5 isolated from active sludge.

    PubMed

    Xu, Peng; Ma, Wencheng; Han, Hongjun; Hou, Baolin; Jia, Shengyong

    2014-01-01

    A bacterial strain, QWE-5, which utilized naphthalene as its sole carbon and energy source, was isolated and identified as Streptomyces sp. It was a Gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium with a flagellum, with whole, smooth, convex and wet colonies. The optimal temperature and pH for QWE-5 were 35 °C and 7.0, respectively. The QWE-5 strain was capable of completely degrading naphthalene at a concentration as high as 100 mg/L. At initial naphthalene concentrations of 10, 20, 50, 80 and 100 mg/L, complete degradation was achieved within 32, 56, 96, 120 and 144 h, respectively. Kinetics of naphthalene degradation was described using the Andrews equation. The kinetic parameters were as follows: qmax (maximum specific degradation rate) = 1.56 h⁻¹, Ks (half-rate constant) = 60.34 mg/L, and KI (substrate-inhibition constant) = 81.76 mg/L. Metabolic intermediates were identified by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, allowing a new degradation pathway for naphthalene to be proposed. In this pathway, monooxygenation of naphthalene yielded naphthalen-1-ol. Further degradation by Streptomyces sp. QWE-5 produced acetophenone, followed by adipic acid, which was produced as a combination of decarboxylation and hydroxylation processes.

  3. Advances of naphthalene degradation in Pseudomonas putida ND6

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Song, Fu; Shi, Yifei; Jia, Shiru; Tan, Zhilei; Zhao, Huabing

    2018-03-01

    Naphthalene is one of the most common and simple polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Degradation of naphthalene has been greatly concerned due to its economic, free-pollution and its fine effect in Pseudomonas putida ND6. This review summarizes the development history of naphthalene degradation, the research progress of naphthalene degrading gene and naphthalene degradation pathway of Pseudomonas putida ND6, and the researching path of this strain. Although the study of naphthalene degradation is not consummate in Pseudomonas putida ND6, there is a potential capability for Pseudomonas putida ND6 to degrade the naphthalene in the further research.

  4. Sulfate-Reducing Naphthalene Degraders Are Picky Eaters.

    PubMed

    Wolfson, Sarah J; Porter, Abigail W; Kerkhof, Lee J; McGuinness, Lora M; Prince, Roger C; Young, Lily Y

    2018-06-25

    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are common organic contaminants found in anoxic environments. The capacity for PAH biodegradation in unimpacted environments, however, has been understudied. Here we investigate the enrichment, selection, and sustainability of a microbial community from a pristine environment on naphthalene as the only amended carbon source. Pristine coastal sediments were obtained from the Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve in Tuckerton, New Jersey, an ecological reserve which has no direct input or source of hydrocarbons. After an initial exposure to naphthalene, primary anaerobic transfer cultures completely degraded 500 µM naphthalene within 139 days. Subsequent transfer cultures mineralized naphthalene within 21 days with stoichiometric sulfate loss. Enriched cultures efficiently utilized only naphthalene and 2-methylnaphthalene from the hydrocarbon mixtures in crude oil. To determine the microorganisms responsible for naphthalene degradation, stable isotope probing was utilized on cultures amended with fully labeled 13 C-naphthalene as substrate. Three organisms were found to unambiguously synthesize 13 C-DNA from 13 C-naphthalene within 7 days. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that 16S rRNA genes from two of these organisms are closely related to the known naphthalene degrading isolates NaphS2 and NaphS3 from PAH-contaminated sites. A third 16S rRNA gene was only distantly related to its closest relative and may represent a novel naphthalene degrading microbe from this environment.

  5. Isolation of a naphthalene-degrading strain from activated sludge and bioaugmentation with it in a MBR treating coal gasification wastewater.

    PubMed

    Xu, Peng; Ma, Wencheng; Han, Hongjun; Jia, Shengyong; Hou, Baolin

    2015-03-01

    A highly effective naphthalene-degrading bacterial strain was isolated from acclimated activated sludge from a coal gasification wastewater plant, and identified as a Streptomyces sp., designated as strain QWE-35. The optimal pH and temperature for naphthalene degradation were 7.0 and 35°C. The presence of additional glucose and methanol significantly increased the degradation efficiency of naphthalene. The strain showed tolerance to the toxicity of naphthalene at a concentration as great as 200 mg/L. The Andrews mode could be fitted to the degradation kinetics data well over a wide range of initial naphthalene concentrations (10-200 mg/L), with kinetic values q max = 0.84 h(-1), K s = 40.39 mg/L, and K i = 193.76 mg/L. Metabolic intermediates were identified by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, allowing a new degradation pathway for naphthalene to be proposed for the first time. Strain QWE-35 was added into a membrane bioreactor (MBR) to enhance the treatment of real coal gasification wastewater. The results showed that the removal of chemical oxygen demand and total nitrogen were similar between bioaugmented and non-bioaugmented MBRs, however, significant removal of naphthalene was obtained in the bioaugmented reactor. The findings suggest a potential bioremediation role of Streptomyces sp. QWE-35 in the removal of naphthalene from wastewaters.

  6. Combination of degradation pathways for naphthalene utilization in Rhodococcus sp. strain TFB

    PubMed Central

    Tomás-Gallardo, Laura; Gómez-Álvarez, Helena; Santero, Eduardo; Floriano, Belén

    2014-01-01

    Rhodococcus sp. strain TFB is a metabolic versatile bacterium able to grow on naphthalene as the only carbon and energy source. Applying proteomic, genetic and biochemical approaches, we propose in this paper that, at least, three coordinated but independently regulated set of genes are combined to degrade naphthalene in TFB. First, proteins involved in tetralin degradation are also induced by naphthalene and may carry out its conversion to salicylaldehyde. This is the only part of the naphthalene degradation pathway showing glucose catabolite repression. Second, a salicylaldehyde dehydrogenase activity that converts salicylaldehyde to salicylate is detected in naphthalene-grown cells but not in tetralin-or salicylate-grown cells. Finally, we describe the chromosomally located nag genes, encoding the gentisate pathway for salicylate conversion into fumarate and pyruvate, which are only induced by salicylate and not by naphthalene. This work shows how biodegradation pathways in Rhodococcus sp. strain TFB could be assembled using elements from different pathways mainly because of the laxity of the regulatory systems and the broad specificity of the catabolic enzymes. PMID:24325207

  7. Enrichment and identification of naphthalene-degrading bacteria from the Persian Gulf.

    PubMed

    Hassanshahian, Mehdi; Boroujeni, Negar Amini

    2016-06-15

    Naphthalene is a ubiquitous pollutant of the marine environment, and naphthalene biodegradation has been receiving constant scientific consideration. For cleanup of aromatic contaminated sites, bioremediation methods are considered as economical and safe approaches for the marine environment. The aims of this research are isolation and characterization of naphthalene-degrading bacteria from some marine samples of the Persian Gulf. Fifty four naphthalene-degrading bacteria were isolated from marine samples (sediment and seawater) that are enriched in ONR7a medium with naphthalene as the only carbon source. Some screening tests such as growth at high concentration of naphthalene, bioemulsifier production and surface hydrophobicity were done to select the best and prevalent strains for naphthalene degradation. Determination of the nucleotide sequence of the gene encoding for 16S rRNA shows that these isolated strains belong to these genera: Shewanella, Salegentibacter, Halomonas, Marinobacter, Oceanicola, Idiomarina and Thalassospira. These strains can degrade half of the percentage of naphthalene in 10days of incubation. This research is the first report on isolation of these genera from the Persian Gulf as naphthalene-degrader. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  8. [Degradation characteristics of naphthalene with a Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain isolated from soil contaminated by diesel].

    PubMed

    Liu, Wen-Chao; Wu, Bin-Bin; Li, Xiao-Sen; Lu, Dian-Nan; Liu, Yong-Min

    2015-02-01

    Abstract: A naphthalene-degrading bacterium (referred as HD-5) was isolated from the diesel-contaminated soil and was assigned to Pseudomonas aeruginosa according to 16S rDNA sequences analysis. Gene nah, which encodes naphthalene dioxygenase, was identified from strain HD-5 by PCR amplification. Different bioremediation approaches, including nature attenuation, bioaugmentation with strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa, biostimulation, and an integrated degradation by bioaugmentation and biostimulation, were evaluated for their effectiveness in the remediating soil containing 5% naphthalene. The degradation rates of naphthalene in the soil were compared among the different bioremediation approaches, the FDA and dehydrogenase activity in bioremediation process were measured, and the gene copy number of 16S rRNA and nah in soil were dynamically monitored using real-time PCR. It was shown that the naphthalene removal rate reached 71.94%, 62.22% and 83.14% in approaches of bioaugmentation (B), biostimulation(S) and integrated degradation composed of bioaugmentation and biostimulation (BS), respectively. The highest removal rate of naphthalene was achieved by using BS protocol, which also gives the highest FDA and dehydrogenase activity. The gene copy number of 16S rRNA and nah in soil increased by about 2.67 x 10(11) g(-1) and 8.67 x 10(8) g(-1) after 31 days treatment using BS protocol. Above-mentioned results also demonstrated that the screened bacterium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, could grow well in naphthalene-contaminated soil and effectively degrade naphthalene, which is of fundamental importance for bioremediation of naphthalene-contaminated soil.

  9. Degradation of naphthalene-2,6- and naphthalene-1,6-disulfonic acid by a Moraxella sp

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Wittich, R.M.; Tast, H.G.; Knackmuss, H.J.

    1988-07-01

    A naphthalene-2,6-disulfonic acid (2,6NDS)-degrading Moraxella strain was isolated from an industrial sewage plant. This culture could also be adapted to naphthalene-1,6-disulfonic acid as growth substrate. Regioselective 1,2-dioxygenation effected desulfonation and catabolism to 5-sulfosalicylic acid (5SS), which also could be used a the sole carbon source. 5SS-grown cells exhibited high gentisate 1,2-dioxygenase activity. Neither 5SS- nor gentisate-grown cells oxidized 2,6NDS; therefore, 2,6NDS or an early metabolite must serve as an inducer of the initial catabolic enzymes(s).

  10. Benzene and Naphthalene Degrading Bacterial Communities in an Oil Sands Tailings Pond

    PubMed Central

    Rochman, Fauziah F.; Sheremet, Andriy; Tamas, Ivica; Saidi-Mehrabad, Alireza; Kim, Joong-Jae; Dong, Xiaoli; Sensen, Christoph W.; Gieg, Lisa M.; Dunfield, Peter F.

    2017-01-01

    Oil sands process-affected water (OSPW), produced by surface-mining of oil sands in Canada, is alkaline and contains high concentrations of salts, metals, naphthenic acids, and polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAHs). Residual hydrocarbon biodegradation occurs naturally, but little is known about the hydrocarbon-degrading microbial communities present in OSPW. In this study, aerobic oxidation of benzene and naphthalene in the surface layer of an oil sands tailings pond were measured. The potential oxidation rates were 4.3 μmol L−1 OSPW d−1 for benzene and 21.4 μmol L−1 OSPW d−1 for naphthalene. To identify benzene and naphthalene-degrading microbial communities, metagenomics was combined with stable isotope probing (SIP), high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons, and isolation of microbial strains. SIP using 13C-benzene and 13C-naphthalene detected strains of the genera Methyloversatilis and Zavarzinia as the main benzene degraders, while strains belonging to the family Chromatiaceae and the genus Thauera were the main naphthalene degraders. Metagenomic analysis revealed a diversity of genes encoding oxygenases active against aromatic compounds. Although these genes apparently belonged to many phylogenetically diverse taxa, only a few of these taxa were predominant in the SIP experiments. This suggested that many members of the community are adapted to consuming other aromatic compounds, or are active only under specific conditions. 16S rRNA gene sequence datasets have been submitted to the Sequence Read Archive (SRA) under accession number SRP109130. The Gold Study and Project submission ID number in Joint Genome Institute IMG/M for the metagenome is Gs0047444 and Gp0055765. PMID:29033909

  11. Enrichment and characterization of sulfate reducing, naphthalene degrading microorganisms

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Steffen, Kümmel; Florian-Alexander, Herbst; Márcia, Duarte; Dietmar, Pieper; Jana, Seifert; Bergen Martin, von; Hans-Hermann, Richnow; Carsten, Vogt

    2014-05-01

    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are pollutants of great concern due to their potential toxicity, mutagenicity and carcinogenicity. PAH are widely distributed in the environment by accidental discharges during the transport, use and disposal of petroleum products, and during forest and grass fires. Caused by their hydrophobic nature, PAH basically accumulate in sediments from where they are slowly released into the groundwater. Although generally limited by the low water solubility of PAH, microbial degradation is one of the major mechanisms leading to the complete clean-up of PAH-contaminated sites. Whereas organisms and biochemical pathways responsible for the aerobic breakdown of PAH are well known, anaerobic PAH biodegradation is less understood; only a few anaerobic PAH degrading cultures have been described. We studied the anaerobic PAH degradation in a microcosm approach to enrich anaerobic PAH degraders. Anoxic groundwater and sediment samples were used as inoculum. Groundwater samples were purchased from the erstwhile gas works facility and a former wood impregnation site. In contrast, sources of sediment samples were a former coal refining area and an old fuel depot. Samples were incubated in anoxic mineral salt medium with naphthalene as sole carbon source and sulfate as terminal electron acceptor. Grown cultures were characterized by feeding with 13C-labeled naphthalene, 16S rRNA gene sequencing using an Illumina® approach, and functional proteome analyses. Finally, six enrichment cultures able to degrade naphthalene under anoxic conditions were established. First results point to a dominance of identified sequences affiliated to the freshwater sulfate-reducing strain N47, which is a known anaerobic naphthalene degrader, in four out of the six enrichments. In those enrichments, peptides related to the pathway of anoxic naphthalene degradation in N47 were abundant. Overall the data underlines the importance of Desulfobacteria for natural

  12. KINETICS OF CHROMATE REDUCTION DURING NAPHTHALENE DEGRADATION IN A MIXED CULTURE

    EPA Science Inventory

    A mixed culture of Bacillus sp. K1 and Sphingomonas paucimobilis EPA 505 was exposed to chromate and naphthalene. Batch experiments showed that chromate was reduced and naphthalene was degraded by the mixed culture. Chromate reduction occurred initially at a high rate followed by...

  13. Naphthalene and benzene degradation under Fe(III)-reducing conditions in petroleum-contaminated aquifers

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Anderson, Robert T.; Lovely, Derek R.

    1999-01-01

    Naphthalene was oxidized anaerobically to CO2 in sediments collected from a petroleum-contaminated aquifer in Bemidji, Minnesota in which Fe(III) reduction was the terminal electron-accepting process. Naphthalene was not oxidized in sediments from the methanogenic zone at Bemidji or in sediments from the Fe(III)-reducing zone of other petroleum-contaminated aquifers studied. In a profile across the Fe(III)-reducing zone of the Bemidji aquifer, rates of naphthalene oxidation were fastest in sediments with the highest proportion of Fe(III), which was also the zone of the most rapid degradation of benzene, toluene, and acetate. The comparative studies attempted to elucidate factors that might account for the fact that unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene and naphthalene were degraded under Fe(III)-reducing conditions at Bemidji, but not at the other aquifers examined. These studies indicated that the ability of Fe(III)-reducing microorganisms to degrade benzene and naphthalene at the Bemidji site cannot be attributed to groundwater components that make Fe(III) more available for reduction or other potential factors that were evaluated. However, unlike the other aquifers evaluated, uncontaminated sediments at the Bemidji site could be adapted for anaerobic benzene degradation merely with the addition of benzene. These findings indicate that Bemidji sediments naturally contain Fe(III) reducers capable of degradation of unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbons.

  14. Simplified MPN method for enumeration of soil naphthalene degraders using gaseous substrate.

    PubMed

    Wallenius, Kaisa; Lappi, Kaisa; Mikkonen, Anu; Wickström, Annika; Vaalama, Anu; Lehtinen, Taru; Suominen, Leena

    2012-02-01

    We describe a simplified microplate most-probable-number (MPN) procedure to quantify the bacterial naphthalene degrader population in soil samples. In this method, the sole substrate naphthalene is dosed passively via gaseous phase to liquid medium and the detection of growth is based on the automated measurement of turbidity using an absorbance reader. The performance of the new method was evaluated by comparison with a recently introduced method in which the substrate is dissolved in inert silicone oil and added individually to each well, and the results are scored visually using a respiration indicator dye. Oil-contaminated industrial soil showed slightly but significantly higher MPN estimate with our method than with the reference method. This suggests that gaseous naphthalene was dissolved in an adequate concentration to support the growth of naphthalene degraders without being too toxic. The dosing of substrate via gaseous phase notably reduced the work load and risk of contamination. The result scoring by absorbance measurement was objective and more reliable than measurement with indicator dye, and it also enabled further analysis of cultures. Several bacterial genera were identified by cloning and sequencing of 16S rRNA genes from the MPN wells incubated in the presence of gaseous naphthalene. In addition, the applicability of the simplified MPN method was demonstrated by a significant positive correlation between the level of oil contamination and the number of naphthalene degraders detected in soil.

  15. A novel Pseudomonas gessardii strain LZ-E simultaneously degrades naphthalene and reduces hexavalent chromium.

    PubMed

    Huang, Haiying; Wu, Kejia; Khan, Aman; Jiang, Yiming; Ling, Zhenmin; Liu, Pu; Chen, Yong; Tao, Xuanyu; Li, Xiangkai

    2016-05-01

    Combined pollutants with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals have been identified as toxic and unmanageable contaminates. In this work, Pseudomonas gessardii strain LZ-E isolated from wastewater discharge site of a petrochemical company degrades naphthalene and reduces Cr(VI) simultaneously. 95% of 10mgL(-1) Cr(VI) was reduced to Cr(III) while 77% of 800mgL(-1) naphthalene was degraded when strain LZ-E was incubated in BH medium for 48h. Furthermore, naphthalene promotes Cr(VI) reduction in strain LZ-E as catechol and phthalic acid produced in naphthalene degradation are able to reduce Cr(VI) abiotically. An aerated bioreactor system was setup to test strain LZ-E's remediation ability. Strain LZ-E continuously remediated naphthalene and Cr(VI) at rates of 15mgL(-1)h(-1) and 0.20mgL(-1)h(-1) of 800mgL(-1) naphthalene and 10mgL(-1) Cr(VI) addition with eight batches in 16days. In summary, strain LZ-E is a potential applicant for combined pollution remediation. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

  16. Squamocin, an annonaceous acetogenin, enhances naphthalene degradation mediated by Bacillus atrophaeus CN4.

    PubMed

    Parellada, Eduardo A; Igarza, Mercedes; Isacc, Paula; Bardón, Alicia; Ferrero, Marcela; Ameta, Keshav Lalit; Neske, Adriana

    Squamocin belongs to a group of compounds called annonaceous acetogenins. They are secondary products of Annonaceae metabolism and can be isolated from Annona cherimolia seeds. This paper deals with the stimulation of biofilm formation of Bacillus atrophaeus CN4 by employing low squamocin concentrations to increase naphthalene degradation. Bacillus atrophaeus CN4, isolated from contaminated soil, has the ability to degrade naphthalene as the only source of carbon and energy. In the absence of additional carbon sources, the strain removed 69% of the initial concentration of naphthalene (approx. 0.2mmol/l) in the first 12h of incubation. The addition of squamocin in LB medium stimulated Bacillus atrophaeus CN4 biofilm formation and enhanced naphthalene removal. Squamocin (2.5μg/ml) does not affect planktonic growth and therefore, the observed increases are solely due to the stimulation of biofilm formation. Copyright © 2017 Asociación Argentina de Microbiología. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

  17. Naphthalene degradation by bacterial consortium (DV-AL) developed from Alang-Sosiya ship breaking yard, Gujarat, India.

    PubMed

    Patel, Vilas; Jain, Siddharth; Madamwar, Datta

    2012-03-01

    Naphthalene degrading bacterial consortium (DV-AL) was developed by enrichment culture technique from sediment collected from the Alang-Sosiya ship breaking yard, Gujarat, India. The 16S rRNA gene based molecular analyzes revealed that the bacterial consortium (DV-AL) consisted of four strains namely, Achromobacter sp. BAB239, Pseudomonas sp. DV-AL2, Enterobacter sp. BAB240 and Pseudomonas sp. BAB241. Consortium DV-AL was able to degrade 1000 ppm of naphthalene in Bushnell Haas medium (BHM) containing peptone (0.1%) as co-substrate with an initial pH of 8.0 at 37°C under shaking conditions (150 rpm) within 24h. Maximum growth rate and naphthalene degradation rate were found to be 0.0389 h(-1) and 80 mg h(-1), respectively. Consortium DV-AL was able to utilize other aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, phenol, carbazole, petroleum oil, diesel fuel, and phenanthrene and 2-methyl naphthalene as sole carbon source. Consortium DV-AL was also efficient to degrade naphthalene in the presence of other pollutants such as petroleum hydrocarbons and heavy metals. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  18. New naphthalene whole-cell bioreporter for measuring and assessing naphthalene in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons contaminated site.

    PubMed

    Sun, Yujiao; Zhao, Xiaohui; Zhang, Dayi; Ding, Aizhong; Chen, Cheng; Huang, Wei E; Zhang, Huichun

    2017-11-01

    A new naphthalene bioreporter was designed and constructed in this work. A new vector, pWH1274_Nah, was constructed by the Gibson isothermal assembly fused with a 9 kb naphthalene-degrading gene nahAD (nahAa nahAb nahAc nahAd nahB nahF nahC nahQ nahE nahD) and cloned into Acinetobacter ADPWH_lux as the host, capable of responding to salicylate (the central metabolite of naphthalene). The ADPWH_Nah bioreporter could effectively metabolize naphthalene and evaluate the naphthalene in natural water and soil samples. This whole-cell bioreporter did not respond to other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs; pyrene, anthracene, and phenanthrene) and demonstrated a positive response in the presence of 0.01 μM naphthalene, showing high specificity and sensitivity. The bioluminescent response was quantitatively measured after a 4 h exposure to naphthalene, and the model simulation further proved the naphthalene metabolism dynamics and the salicylate-activation mechanisms. The ADPWH_Nah bioreporter also achieved a rapid evaluation of the naphthalene in the PAH-contaminated site after chemical spill accidents, showing high consistency with chemical analysis. The engineered Acinetobacter variant had significant advantages in rapid naphthalene detection in the laboratory and potential in situ detection. The state-of-the-art concept of cloning PAHs-degrading pathway in salicylate bioreporter hosts led to the construction and assembly of high-throughput PAH bioreporter array, capable of crude oil contamination assessment and risk management. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  19. Biodegradation of naphthalene and anthracene by chemo-tactically active rhizobacteria of populus deltoides

    PubMed Central

    Bisht, Sandeep; Pandey, Piyush; Sood, Anchal; Sharma, Shivesh; Bisht, N. S.

    2010-01-01

    Several naphthalene and anthracene degrading bacteria were isolated from rhizosphere of Populus deltoides, which were growing in non-contaminated soil. Among these, four isolates, i.e. Kurthia sp., Micrococcus varians, Deinococcus radiodurans and Bacillus circulans utilized chrysene, benzene, toluene and xylene, in addition to anthracene and naphthalene. Kurthia sp and B. circulans showed positive chemotactic response for naphthalene and anthracene. The mean growth rate constant (K) of isolates were found to increase with successive increase in substrate concentration (0.5 to 1.0 mg/50ml). B. circulans SBA12 and Kurthia SBA4 degraded 87.5% and 86.6% of anthracene while, Kurthia sp. SBA4, B. circulans SBA12, and M. varians SBA8 degraded 85.3 %, 95.8 % and 86.8 % of naphthalene respectively after 6 days of incubation as determined by HPLC analysis. PMID:24031572

  20. Biodegradation of naphthalene and phenanthren by Bacillus subtilis 3KP

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ni'matuzahroh, Trikurniadewi, N.; Pramadita, A. R. A.; Pratiwi, I. A.; Salamun, Fatimah, Sumarsih, Sri

    2017-06-01

    The purposes of this research were to know growth response, degradation ability, and uptake mechanism of naphthalene and phenanthrene by Bacillus subtilis 3KP. Bacillus subtilis 3KP was grown on Mineral Synthetic (MS) medium with addition of 1% yeast extract and naphthalene and phenanthrene respectively 200 ppm in different cultures. Bacillus subtilis 3KP growth response was monitored by Total Plate Count (TPC) method, the degradation ability was monitored by UV-Vis spectrophotometer, and the uptake mechanism of hydrocarbon was monitored by emulsification activity, decrease of surface tension, and activity of Bacterial Adherence to Hydrocarbon (BATH). Bacillus subtilis 3KP was able to grow and show biphasic growth pattern on both of substrates. Naphthalene and phenanthrene were used as a carbon source for Bacillus subtilis 3KP growth that indicated by the reduction of substrate concomitant with the growth. At room temperature conditions (± 30°C) and 90 rpm of agitation for 7 days, Bacillus subtilis 3KP could degrade naphthalene in the amount of 70.5% and phenanthrene in the amount of 24.8%. Based on the analysis of UV-Vis spectrophotometer, three metabolites, 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid, salicylic acid, and pyrocatechol were found in both cultures. The metabolite identification became basis of propose degradation pathway of naphthalene and phenanthrene by Bacillus subtilis 3KP. The results of hydrocarbon uptake mechanism test show that Bacillus subtilis 3KP used all of the mechanism to degrade naphthalene and phenanthrene.

  1. Mechanism for Clastogenic Activity of Naphthalene

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Buchholz, Bruce A.

    2016-06-24

    Naphthalene incubations form DNA adducts in vitro in a dose dependent manner in both mouse and rat tissues. Rodent tissue incubations with naphthalene indicate that naphthalene forms as many DNA adducts as Benzo(a)pyrene, a known DNA binding carcinogen. The mouse airway has the greatest number of DNA adducts, corresponding to the higher metabolic activation of naphthalene in this location. Both rat tissues, the rat olfactory (tumor target) and the airways (non-tumor target), have similar levels of NA-DNA adducts, indicating that short term measures of initial adduct formation do not directly correlate with sites of tumor formation in the NTP bioassays.

  2. Kinetics of chromate reduction during naphthalene degradation in a mixed culture

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Shen, H.; Sewell, G.W.; Pritchard, P.H.

    A mixed culture of Bacillus sp. K1 and Sphingomonas paucimobilis EPA 505 was exposed to chromate and naphthalene. Batch experiments showed that chromate was reduced and naphthalene was degraded by the mixed culture. Chromate reduction occurred initially at a high rate followed by a decrease in rate until chromate reduction ceased. Chromate reduction decreased in the mixed culture when a lower ratio of S. paucimobilis EPA 505 to Bacillus sp. K1 was utilized. A kinetic model incorporating a term for the cell density ratio is proposed to describe chromate reduction in the mixed culture under both chromate limited and electronmore » donor limited conditions. The validity of the model, and its parameter values, was verified by experimental data generated under a variety of initial population compositions and a broad range of chromate concentrations. The consistent result of experimental data with model predictions implies that the model is useful for evaluating the interactions and the use of mixed culture for chromate removal.« less

  3. Horizontal Transfer of phnAc Dioxygenase Genes within One of Two Phenotypically and Genotypically Distinctive Naphthalene-Degrading Guilds from Adjacent Soil Environments

    PubMed Central

    Wilson, Mark S.; Herrick, James B.; Jeon, Che Ok; Hinman, David E.; Madsen, Eugene L.

    2003-01-01

    Several distinct naphthalene dioxygenases have been characterized to date, which provides the opportunity to investigate the ecological significance, relative distribution, and transmission modes of the different analogs. In this study, we showed that a group of naphthalene-degrading isolates from a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-contaminated hillside soil were phenotypically and genotypically distinct from naphthalene-degrading organisms isolated from adjacent, more highly contaminated seep sediments. Mineralization of 14C-labeled naphthalene by soil slurries suggested that the in situ seep community was more acclimated to PAHs than was the in situ hillside community. phnAc-like genes were present in diverse naphthalene-degrading isolates cultured from the hillside soil, while nahAc-like genes were found only among isolates cultured from the seep sediments. The presence of a highly conserved nahAc allele among gram-negative isolates from the coal tar-contaminated seep area provided evidence for in situ horizontal gene transfer and was reported previously (J. B. Herrick, K. G. Stuart-Keil, W. C. Ghiorse, and E. L. Madsen, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 63:2330-2337, 1997). Natural horizontal transfer of the phnAc sequence was also suggested by a comparison of the phnAc and 16S ribosomal DNA sequences of the hillside isolates. Analysis of metabolites produced by cell suspensions and patterns of amplicons produced by PCR analysis suggested both genetic and metabolic diversity among the naphthalene-degrading isolates of the contaminated hillside. These results provide new insights into the distribution, diversity, and transfer of phnAc alleles and increase our understanding of the acclimation of microbial communities to pollutants. PMID:12676698

  4. Complete Genome Sequence of the Naphthalene-Degrading Bacterium Pseudomonas stutzeri AN10 (CCUG 29243)

    PubMed Central

    Brunet-Galmés, Isabel; Busquets, Antonio; Peña, Arantxa; Gomila, Margarita; Nogales, Balbina; García-Valdés, Elena; Lalucat, Jorge; Bennasar, Antonio

    2012-01-01

    Pseudomonas stutzeri AN10 (CCUG 29243) can be considered a model strain for aerobic naphthalene degradation. We report the complete genome sequence of this bacterium. Its 4.71-Mb chromosome provides insights into other biodegradative capabilities of strain AN10 (i.e., benzoate catabolism) and suggests a high number of horizontal gene transfer events. PMID:23144395

  5. Mechanisms for naphthalene removal during electrolytic aeration.

    PubMed

    Goel, Ramesh K; Flora, Joseph R V; Ferry, John

    2003-02-01

    Batch tests were performed to investigate chemical and physical processes that may result during electrolytic aeration of a contaminated aquifer using naphthalene as a model contaminant. Naphthalene degradation of 58-66% took place electrolytically and occurred at the same rates at a pH of 4 and 7. 1,4-naphthoquinone was identified as a product of the electrolysis. Stripping due to gases produced at the electrodes did not result in any naphthalene loss. Hydrogen peroxide (which may be produced at the cathode) did not have any effect on naphthalene, but the addition of ferrous iron (which may be present in aquifers) resulted in 67-99% disappearance of naphthalene. Chlorine (which may be produced from the anodic oxidation of chloride) can effectively degrade naphthalene at pH of 4, but not at a pH of 7. Mono-, di- and poly chloronaphthalenes were identified as oxidation products. Ferric iron coagulation (due to the oxidation of ferrous iron) did not significantly contribute to naphthalene loss. Overall, electrolytic oxidation and chemical oxidation due to the electrolytic by-products formed are significant abiotic processes that could occur and should be accounted for if bioremediation of PAH-contaminated sites via electrolytic aeration is considered. Possible undesirable products such as chlorinated compounds may be formed when significant amounts of chlorides are present.

  6. Naphthalene SOA: redox activity and naphthoquinone gas-particle partitioning

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    McWhinney, R. D.; Zhou, S.; Abbatt, J. P. D.

    2013-10-01

    Chamber secondary organic aerosol (SOA) from low-NOx photooxidation of naphthalene by hydroxyl radical was examined with respect to its redox cycling behaviour using the dithiothreitol (DTT) assay. Naphthalene SOA was highly redox-active, consuming DTT at an average rate of 118 ± 14 pmol per minute per μg of SOA material. Measured particle-phase masses of the major previously identified redox active products, 1,2- and 1,4-naphthoquinone, accounted for only 21 ± 3% of the observed redox cycling activity. The redox-active 5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone was identified as a new minor product of naphthalene oxidation, and including this species in redox activity predictions increased the predicted DTT reactivity to 30 ± 5% of observations. These results suggest that there are substantial unidentified redox-active SOA constituents beyond the small quinones that may be important toxic components of these particles. A gas-to-SOA particle partitioning coefficient was calculated to be (7.0 ± 2.5) × 10-4 m3 μg-1 for 1,4-naphthoquinone at 25 °C. This value suggests that under typical warm conditions, 1,4-naphthoquinone is unlikely to contribute strongly to redox behaviour of ambient particles, although further work is needed to determine the potential impact under conditions such as low temperatures where partitioning to the particle is more favourable. Also, higher order oxidation products that likely account for a substantial fraction of the redox cycling capability of the naphthalene SOA are likely to partition much more strongly to the particle phase.

  7. Degradation of phenanthrene by Burkholderia sp. C3: initial 1,2- and 3,4-dioxygenation and meta- and ortho-cleavage of naphthalene-1,2-diol.

    PubMed

    Seo, Jong-Su; Keum, Young-Soo; Hu, Yuting; Lee, Sung-Eun; Li, Qing X

    2007-02-01

    Burkholderia sp. C3 was isolated from a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-contaminated site in Hilo, Hawaii, USA, and studied for its degradation of phenanthrene as a sole carbon source. The initial 3,4-C dioxygenation was faster than 1,2-C dioxygenation in the first 3-day culture. However, 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid derived from 3,4-C dioxygenation degraded much slower than 2-hydroxy-1-naphthoic acid derived from 1,2-C dioxygenation. Slow degradation of 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid relative to 2-hydroxy-1-naphthoic acid may trigger 1,2-C dioxygenation faster after 3 days of culture. High concentrations of 5,6- and 7,8-benzocoumarins indicated that meta-cleavage was the major degradation mechanism of phenanthrene-1,2- and -3,4-diols. Separate cultures with 2-hydroxy-1-naphthoic acid and 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid showed that the degradation rate of the former to naphthalene-1,2-diol was much faster than that of the latter. The two upper metabolic pathways of phenanthrene are converged into naphthalene-1,2-diol that is further metabolized to 2-carboxycinnamic acid and 2-hydroxybenzalpyruvic acid by ortho- and meta-cleavages, respectively. Transformation of naphthalene-1,2-diol to 2-carboxycinnamic acid by this strain represents the first observation of ortho-cleavage of two rings-PAH-diols by a Gram-negative species.

  8. Stable-Isotope Probing of Bacteria Capable of Degrading Salicylate, Naphthalene, or Phenanthrene in a Bioreactor Treating Contaminated Soil

    PubMed Central

    Singleton, David R.; Powell, Sabrina N.; Sangaiah, Ramiah; Gold, Avram; Ball, Louise M.; Aitken, Michael D.

    2005-01-01

    [13C6]salicylate, [U-13C]naphthalene, and [U-13C]phenanthrene were synthesized and separately added to slurry from a bench-scale, aerobic bioreactor used to treat soil contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Incubations were performed for either 2 days (salicylate, naphthalene) or 7 days (naphthalene, phenanthrene). Total DNA was extracted from the incubations, the “heavy” and “light” DNA were separated, and the bacterial populations associated with the heavy fractions were examined by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and 16S rRNA gene clone libraries. Unlabeled DNA from Escherichia coli K-12 was added to each sample as an internal indicator of separation efficiency. While E. coli was not detected in most analyses of heavy DNA, a low number of E. coli sequences was recovered in the clone libraries associated with the heavy DNA fraction of [13C]phenanthrene incubations. The number of E. coli clones recovered proved useful in determining the relative amount of light DNA contamination of the heavy fraction in that sample. Salicylate- and naphthalene-degrading communities displayed similar DGGE profiles and their clone libraries were composed primarily of sequences belonging to the Pseudomonas and Ralstonia genera. In contrast, heavy DNA from the phenanthrene incubations displayed a markedly different DGGE profile and was composed primarily of sequences related to the Acidovorax genus. There was little difference in the DGGE profiles and types of sequences recovered from 2- and 7-day incubations with naphthalene, so secondary utilization of the 13C during the incubation did not appear to be an issue in this experiment. PMID:15746319

  9. Naphthalene biodegradation in temperate and arctic marine microcosms.

    PubMed

    Bagi, Andrea; Pampanin, Daniela M; Lanzén, Anders; Bilstad, Torleiv; Kommedal, Roald

    2014-02-01

    Naphthalene, the smallest polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), is found in abundance in crude oil, its major source in marine environments. PAH removal occurs via biodegradation, a key process determining their fate in the sea. Adequate estimation of PAH biodegradation rates is essential for environmental risk assessment and response planning using numerical models such as the oil spill contingency and response (OSCAR) model. Using naphthalene as a model compound, biodegradation rate, temperature response and bacterial community composition of seawaters from two climatically different areas (North Sea and Arctic Ocean) were studied and compared. Naphthalene degradation was followed by measuring oxygen consumption in closed bottles using the OxiTop(®) system. Microbial communities of untreated and naphthalene exposed samples were analysed by polymerase chain reaction denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) and pyrosequencing. Three times higher naphthalene degradation rate coefficients were observed in arctic seawater samples compared to temperate, at all incubation temperatures. Rate coefficients at in situ temperatures were however, similar (0.048 day(-1) for temperate and 0.068 day(-1) for arctic). Naphthalene biodegradation rates decreased with similar Q10 ratios (3.3 and 3.5) in both seawaters. Using the temperature compensation method implemented in the OSCAR model, Q10 = 2, biodegradation in arctic seawater was underestimated when calculated from the measured temperate k1 value, showing that temperature difference alone could not predict biodegradation rates adequately. Temperate and arctic untreated seawater communities were different as revealed by pyrosequencing. Geographic origin of seawater affected the community composition of exposed samples.

  10. [Effects of naphthalene on soil respiration, nutrients and enzyme activities in the subalpine forest of western Sichuan, China].

    PubMed

    Yang, Fan; Yang, Wan Qin; Wu, Fu Zhong; Wang, Hui; Lan, Li Ying; Liu, Yu Wei; Guo, Cai Hong; Tan, Bo

    2017-06-18

    As a biocide to reduce soil and litter faunal populations in field experiments, naphthalene has been widely used in the study of ecological functions of soil fauna, but the non-target effects of naphthalene bring about enormous uncertainty to its application. In order to understand whether there were non-target effects of naphthalene in subalpine forest soil, soil in the subalpine forests of west Qinghai-Tibet Plateau was taken as study object. The short-term responses of soil respiration rate, nutrient content and enzyme activity to naphthalene were studied in microcosms. The results showed that soil respiration rate was significantly suppressed by application of naphthalene within 0-10 days, and then showed a significant promotion effect. Naphthalene significantly affected the dynamics of soil NH 4 + -N and NO 3 - -N contents. With application of naphthalene, the highest contents of NH 4 + -N and NO 3 - -N occurred at the 3rd and 7th day, respectively. But they were observed at the 45th and 52nd day with no-naphthalene, respectively. Moreover, soil dissolved carbon content in the naphthalene microcosms showed a sharp increase and then decrease dynamic at the 3rd day, while small change was detected in the no-naphthalene microcosms. Dissolved nitrogen content in both the naphthalene and no-naphthalene microcosms showed an increase at first and then decreased subsequently during the study period. Similar dynamics were found for the soil enzyme activities in both the naphthalene and no-naphthalene microcosms. The highest activities of urease, nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase in both the naphthalene and no-naphthalene microcosms were at the 45th, 38th and 10th day, respectively. In addition, the interaction of naphthalene treatment and sampling time had significant effects on soil respiration rate, the contents of NH 4 + -N, NO 3 - -N and dissolved nitrogen, but had no significant effects on soil dissolved carbon content, and the activities of invertase

  11. [Degradation of Acid Orange 7 with Persulfate Activated by Silver Loaded Granular Activated Carbon].

    PubMed

    Wang, Zhong-ming; Huang, Tian-yin; Chen, Jia-bin; Li, Wen-wei; Zhang, Li-ming

    2015-11-01

    Granular activated carbon with silver loaded as activator (Ag/GAC) was prepared using impregnation method. N2 adsorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were adopted to characterize the Ag/GAC, showing that silver was successfully loaded on granular activated carbon. The oxidation degradation of acid orange 7 (AO7) by the Ag/GAC activated by persulfate (PS) was investigated at ambient temperature. The influences of factors such as Ag loading, PS or Ag/GAC dosages and initial pH on the degradation of AO7 were evaluated. The results demonstrated that the degradation rate of AO7 could reach more than 95.0% after 180 min when the Ag loading content, PS/AO7 molar ratio, the Ag/GAC dosage were 12.7 mg x g(-1), 120: 1, 1.0 g x L(-1), respectively. The initial pH had significant effect on the AO7 degradation, with pH 5.0 as the optimal pH for the degradation of AO7. The possible degradation pathway was proposed for the AO7 degradation by using UV-visible spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GG/MS). The azo bond and naphthalene ring in the AO7 were destroyed during the degradation, with phthalic acid and acetophenone as the main degradation products.

  12. Genome Sequences of Two Naphthalene-Degrading Strains of Pseudomonas balearica, Isolated from Polluted Marine Sediment and from an Oil Refinery Site.

    PubMed

    Salvà-Serra, Francisco; Jakobsson, Hedvig E; Busquets, Antonio; Gomila, Margarita; Jaén-Luchoro, Daniel; Seguí, Carolina; Aliaga-Lozano, Francisco; García-Valdés, Elena; Lalucat, Jorge; Moore, Edward R B; Bennasar-Figueras, Antoni

    2017-04-06

    The genome sequences of Pseudomonas balearica strains LS401 (CCUG 66666) and st101 (CCUG 66667) have been determined. The strains were isolated as naphthalene degraders from polluted marine sediment and from a sample from an oil refinery site, respectively. These genomes provide essential data about the biodegradation capabilities and the ecological implications of P. balearica . Copyright © 2017 Salvà-Serra et al.

  13. Decomposition of naphthalene by dc gliding arc gas discharge.

    PubMed

    Yu, Liang; Li, Xiaodong; Tu, Xin; Wang, Yu; Lu, Shengyong; Yan, Jianhua

    2010-01-14

    Gliding arc discharge has been proved to be effective in treatment of gas and liquid contaminants. In this study, physical characteristics of dc gliding arc discharge and its application to naphthalene destruction are investigated with different external resistances and carrier gases. The decomposition rate increases with increasing of oxygen concentration and decreases with external resistance. This value can be achieved up to 92.3% at the external resistance of 50 kOmega in the oxygen discharge, while the highest destruction energy efficiency reaches 3.6 g (kW h)(-1) with the external resistance of 93 kOmega. Possible reaction pathways and degradation mechanisms in the plasma with different gases are proposed by qualitative analysis of postdestructed products. In the air and oxygen gliding arc discharges, the naphthalene degradation is mainly governed by reactions with oxygen-derived radicals.

  14. Effects of petroleum on adrenocortical activity and on hepatic naphthalene-metabolizing activity in mallard ducks

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Gorsline, J.; Holmes, W.N.

    1981-01-01

    Unstressed mallard ducks (Anas platyrhychos), given uncontaminated food and maintained on a short photoperiod, show two daily maxima in plasma corticosterone concentration ([B]); one occurring early in the light phase and a second just before the onset of darkness. After one week of exposure to food containing 3% (v/w) South Louisiana crude oil, plasma [B] were significantly lowered throughout the day. Similar abrupt declines in plasma [B] also occurred during the first 10 days of exposure to food containing 1% and 0.5% crude oil. Although the plasma [B] in birds consuming food contaminated with 0.5% crude oil increased between 10 and 50 days of exposure, the concentration after 50 days was still lower than normal. During the same interval, normal plasma [B] were restored in birds consuming food containing 1% and 3% crude oil. Significant increases occurred in the naphthalene-metabolizing properties of hepatic microsomes prepared from birds acutely exposed to all levels of petroleum-contaminated food and elevated levels were sustained throughout the first 50 days of exposure. Birds given food containing 3% crude oil for more than 50 days, however, showed steady declines in hepatic naphthalene-metabolizing activity. After 500 days, the activity was similar to that found in contemporaneous controls. During the same interval, the plasma [B] increased until the levels were higher than normal after 500 days of exposure; at this time, an inverse relationship, similar to that seen during the first week of exposure to contaminated food, was once more established between plasma [B] and the concomitant hepatic naphthalene-metabolizing activity.

  15. Naphthalene poisoning

    MedlinePlus

    Naphthalene is a white solid substance with a strong smell. Poisoning from naphthalene destroys or changes red blood cells so they cannot carry oxygen. This can cause organ damage. This article is for information only. DO NOT use it ...

  16. Enhanced oxidation of naphthalene using plasma activation of TiO2/diatomite catalyst.

    PubMed

    Wu, Zuliang; Zhu, Zhoubin; Hao, Xiaodong; Zhou, Weili; Han, Jingyi; Tang, Xiujuan; Yao, Shuiliang; Zhang, Xuming

    2018-04-05

    Non-thermal plasma technology has great potential in reducing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) emission. But in plasma-alone process, various undesired by-products are produced, which causes secondary pollutions. Here, a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor has been developed for the oxidation of naphthalene over a TiO 2 /diatomite catalyst at low temperature. In comparison to plasma-alone process, the combination of plasma and TiO 2 /diatomite catalyst significantly enhanced naphthalene conversion (up to 40%) and CO x selectivity (up to 92%), and substantially reduced the formation of aerosol (up to 90%) and secondary volatile organic compounds (up to near 100%). The mechanistic study suggested that the presence of the TiO 2 /diatomite catalyst intensified the electron energy in the DBD. Meantime, the energized electrons generated in the discharge activated TiO 2 , while the presence of ozone enhanced the activity of the TiO 2 /diatomite catalyst. This plasma-catalyst interaction led to the synergetic effect resulting from the combination of plasma and TiO 2 /diatomite catalyst, consequently enhanced the oxidation of naphthalene. Importantly, we have demonstrated the effectiveness of plasma to activate the photocatalyst for the deep oxidation of PAH without external heating, which is potentially valuable in the development of cost-effective gas cleaning process for the removal of PAHs in vehicle applications during cold start conditions. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  17. Anaerobic Degradation of Benzene and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons.

    PubMed

    Meckenstock, Rainer U; Boll, Matthias; Mouttaki, Housna; Koelschbach, Janina S; Cunha Tarouco, Paola; Weyrauch, Philip; Dong, Xiyang; Himmelberg, Anne M

    2016-01-01

    Aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are very slowly degraded without molecular oxygen. Here, we review the recent advances in the elucidation of the first known degradation pathways of these environmental hazards. Anaerobic degradation of benzene and PAHs has been successfully documented in the environment by metabolite analysis, compound-specific isotope analysis and microcosm studies. Subsequently, also enrichments and pure cultures were obtained that anaerobically degrade benzene, naphthalene or methylnaphthalene, and even phenanthrene, the largest PAH currently known to be degradable under anoxic conditions. Although such cultures grow very slowly, with doubling times of around 2 weeks, and produce only very little biomass in batch cultures, successful proteogenomic, transcriptomic and biochemical studies revealed novel degradation pathways with exciting biochemical reactions such as for example the carboxylation of naphthalene or the ATP-independent reduction of naphthoyl-coenzyme A. The elucidation of the first anaerobic degradation pathways of naphthalene and methylnaphthalene at the genetic and biochemical level now opens the door to studying the anaerobic metabolism and ecology of anaerobic PAH degraders. This will contribute to assessing the fate of one of the most important contaminant classes in anoxic sediments and aquifers. © 2016 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  18. Extended Hansen solubility approach: naphthalene in individual solvents.

    PubMed

    Martin, A; Wu, P L; Adjei, A; Beerbower, A; Prausnitz, J M

    1981-11-01

    A multiple regression method using Hansen partial solubility parameters, delta D, delta p, and delta H, was used to reproduce the solubilities of naphthalene in pure polar and nonpolar solvents and to predict its solubility in untested solvents. The method, called the extended Hansen approach, was compared with the extended Hildebrand solubility approach and the universal-functional-group-activity-coefficient (UNIFAC) method. The Hildebrand regular solution theory was also used to calculate naphthalene solubility. Naphthalene, an aromatic molecule having no side chains or functional groups, is "well-behaved', i.e., its solubility in active solvents known to interact with drug molecules is fairly regular. Because of its simplicity, naphthalene is a suitable solute with which to initiate the difficult study of solubility phenomena. The three methods tested (Hildebrand regular solution theory was introduced only for comparison of solubilities in regular solution) yielded similar results, reproducing naphthalene solubilities within approximately 30% of literature values. In some cases, however, the error was considerably greater. The UNIFAC calculation is superior in that it requires only the solute's heat of fusion, the melting point, and a knowledge of chemical structures of solute and solvent. The extended Hansen and extended Hildebrand methods need experimental solubility data on which to carry out regression analysis. The extended Hansen approach was the method of second choice because of its adaptability to solutes and solvents from various classes. Sample calculations are included to illustrate methods of predicting solubilities in untested solvents at various temperatures. The UNIFAC method was successful in this regard.

  19. Secondary Organic Aerosol Formation from the Photooxidation of Naphthalene

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhou, S.; Chen, Y.; Wenger, J.

    2009-04-01

    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous air pollutants that are released into the atmosphere as a by-product of combustion processes. The gas-phase PAHs can be chemically transformed via reaction with the hydroxyl radical to produce a range of oxidised organic compounds and other pollutants such as ozone and secondary organic aerosol (SOA). Epidemiological studies have established that exposure to this type of air pollution is associated with damaging effects on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, and can lead to asthma, oxidative stress, health deterioration and even death. The major anthropogenic source of SOA in urban areas is believed to be aromatic hydrocarbons, which are present in automobile fuels and are used as solvents. As a result, research is currently being performed on the characterisation of SOA produced from aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene, the xylenes and trimethylbenzenes. However, significant amounts of PAHs are also released into urban areas from automobile emissions and the combustion of fossil fuels for home heating. Naphthalene is regularly cited as the most abundant PAH in polluted urban air, with typical ambient air concentrations of 0.05 - 0.20 parts per billion (ppbV) in European cities, comparable to the xylenes. Since naphthalene reacts in an analogous manner to monocyclic aromatic compounds then it is also expected to make a significant contribution to ambient SOA. However, the yield and chemical composition of SOA produced from the atmospheric degradation of naphthalene is not well known. In this presentation, the effects of NOx level and relative humidity on the SOA formation from the phootooixdation of naphthalene will be presented. A series of experiments has been performed in a large atmospheric simulation chamber equipped with a gas chromatograph and analyzers for monitoring nitrogen oxides (NOx) and ozone. SOA formation from the photooxidation of naphthalene was measured using a scanning mobility

  20. 40 CFR 704.43 - Chlorinated naphthalenes.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 40 Protection of Environment 30 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Chlorinated naphthalenes. 704.43... § 704.43 Chlorinated naphthalenes. (a) Definitions. (1) Extent of chlorination means the percent by... means the relative amounts of each isomeric chlorinated naphthalene that composes the chemical substance...

  1. 40 CFR 704.43 - Chlorinated naphthalenes.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... 40 Protection of Environment 31 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Chlorinated naphthalenes. 704.43... § 704.43 Chlorinated naphthalenes. (a) Definitions. (1) Extent of chlorination means the percent by... means the relative amounts of each isomeric chlorinated naphthalene that composes the chemical substance...

  2. Naphthalene distributions and human exposure in Southern California

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lu, Rong; Wu, Jun; Turco, Richard P.; Winer, Arthur M.; Atkinson, Roger; Arey, Janet; Paulson, Suzanne E.; Lurmann, Fred W.; Miguel, Antonio H.; Eiguren-Fernandez, Arantzazu

    The regional distribution of, and human exposure to, naphthalene are investigated for Southern California. A comprehensive approach is taken in which advanced models are linked for the first time to quantify population exposure to the emissions of naphthalene throughout Southern California. Naphthalene is the simplest and most abundant of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons found in polluted urban environments, and has been detected in both outdoor and indoor air samples. Exposure to high concentrations of naphthalene may have adverse health effects, possibly causing cancer in humans. Among the significant emission sources are volatilization from naphthalene-containing products, petroleum refining, and combustion of fossil fuels and wood. Gasoline and diesel engine exhaust, with related vaporization from fuels, are found to contribute roughly half of the daily total naphthalene burden in Southern California. As part of this study, the emission inventory for naphthalene has been verified against new field measurements of the naphthalene-to-benzene ratio in a busy traffic tunnel in Los Angeles, supporting the modeling work carried out here. The Surface Meteorology and Ozone Generation (SMOG) airshed model is used to compute the spatial and temporal distributions of naphthalene and its photooxidation products in Southern California. The present simulations reveal a high degree of spatial variability in the concentrations of naphthalene-related species, with large diurnal and seasonal variations as well. Peak naphthalene concentrations are estimated to occur in the early morning hours in the winter season. The naphthalene concentration estimates obtained from the SMOG model are employed in the Regional Human Exposure (REHEX) model to calculate population exposure statistics. Results show average hourly naphthalene exposures in Southern California under summer and winter conditions of 270 and 430 ng m -3, respectively. Exposure to significantly higher concentrations

  3. Synthesis, molecular modelling, and preliminary anticonvulsant activity evaluation of novel naphthalen-2-yl acetate and 1,6-dithia-4,9-diazaspiro [4.4] nonane-3,8-dione derivatives.

    PubMed

    Ghareb, Nagat; Abdel Daim, Mohamed M; El-Sayed, Norhan M; Elgawish, Mohamed Saleh

    2017-04-01

    The synthesis, pharmacological evaluation and molecular modelling study of novel naphthalen-2-yl acetate and 1,6-dithia-4,9-diazaspiro [4.4]nonane-3,8-dione derivatives as potential anticonvulsant agents are described. The newly synthesized compounds were characterized by both analytical and spectral data. Alkylation of 1H-imidazole or substituted piperazine with 1-(2-naphthyl)-2-bromoethanone (2) gave naphthalen-2-yl 2-(1H-imidazol-1-yl) acetate (3) and naphthalen-2-yl 2-(substituted piperazin-1-yl) acetate (4-8). Moreover, condensation of naphthalen-2-yl 2-bromoacetate or 2-bromo-1-(naphthalen-2-yl) ethanone with hydrazine hydrate and acetylacetone resulted in the formation of the cyclic pyrazole products 9 and 13. Sonication of naphthalen-2-yl acetate (1) with 2-chloropyridine, 2-chloropyrimidine and 2-(chloromethyl) oxirane gave naphthalen-2-yl 2-(pyridin-2-yl) acetate (10), naphthalen-2-yl 2-(pyrimidin-2-yl) acetate (11) and naphthalen-2-yl-3-(oxiran-2-yl) propanoate (12) respectively. Cyclocondensation reaction of 2-iminothiazolidin-4-one (14) with thioglycolic acid, thiolactic acid and thiomalic acid gave 1,6-dithia-4,9-diazaspiro [4.4]nonane-3,8-dione derivatives (15-17). The compounds were testedin vivofor the anticonvulsant activity by delaying strychnine-induced seizures. The diazaspirononane (17) and 1-(2-naphthyl)-2-bromoethanone (2) showed a high significant delay in the onset of convulsion and prolongation of survival time compared to phenobarbital. The molecular modelling study of anticonvulsant activity of synthesized compounds showed a CNS depressant activity via modulation of benzodiazepine allosteric site in GABA-A receptors. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  4. Theoretical approach to the innovative mutation of naphthalene 1,2-dioxygenase: a molecular dynamics and docking study.

    PubMed

    Librando, Vito; Pappalardo, Matteo

    2014-08-01

    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are a family of ubiquitous pollutants whose environmental behavior has been widely studied. Different bacterial species are able to decompose hydrocarbons by using them as a food source. One of the best-studied enzymes is naphthalene 1,2-dioxygenase (NDO). A practical way to optimize the degradation process is by mutating the protein involved, increasing both the degradation capacity of the enzyme and its ability to work under extreme environmental conditions of high temperature and low pH. Herein, we describe the study of NDO using molecular dynamics and docking calculations to discover new mutants with high degrading capabilities. We modeled eleven new mutants of NDO. The results indicate that increasing the size of the active site cavity in the mutants allowed for the insertion of high molecular weight PAHs. Additionally, the physicochemical properties of the NDO active sites make the sites well suited to interactions with PAHs, so most amino-acid modifications should not result in significantly altered behavior of NDO.

  5. Naphthalene

    Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)

    Naphthalene ; CASRN 91 - 20 - 3 Human health assessment information on a chemical substance is included in the IRIS database only after a comprehensive review of toxicity data , as outlined in the IRIS assessment development process . Sections I ( Health Hazard Assessments for Noncarcinogenic Effect

  6. Bacterial chemotaxis along vapor-phase gradients of naphthalene.

    PubMed

    Hanzel, Joanna; Harms, Hauke; Wick, Lukas Y

    2010-12-15

    The role of bacterial growth and translocation for the bioremediation of organic contaminants in the vadose zone is poorly understood. Whereas air-filled pores restrict the mobility of bacteria, diffusion of volatile organic compounds in air is more efficient than in water. Past research, however, has focused on chemotactic swimming of bacteria along gradients of water-dissolved chemicals. In this study we tested if and to what extent Pseudomonas putida PpG7 (NAH7) chemotactically reacts to vapor-phase gradients forming above their swimming medium by the volatilization from a spot source of solid naphthalene. The development of an aqueous naphthalene gradient by air-water partitioning was largely suppressed by means of activated carbon in the agar. Surprisingly, strain PpG7 was repelled by vapor-phase naphthalene although the steady state gaseous concentrations were 50-100 times lower than the aqueous concentrations that result in positive chemotaxis of the same strain. It is thus assumed that the efficient gas-phase diffusion resulting in a steady, and possibly toxic, naphthalene flux to the cells controlled the chemotactic reaction rather than the concentration to which the cells were exposed. To our knowledge this is the first demonstration of apparent chemotactic behavior of bacteria in response to vapor-phase effector gradients.

  7. Synthesis and photophysical characterizations of thermal-stable naphthalene benzimidazoles.

    PubMed

    Erten-Ela, Sule; Ozcelik, Serdar; Eren, Esin

    2011-07-01

    Microwave-assisted synthesis, photophysical and electrochemical properties of thermal-stable naphthalene benzimidazoles and naphthalimides are studied in this paper. Microwave-assisted synthesis of naphthalene benzimidazoles provide higher yields than the conventional thermal synthesis. Comparative photophysical properties of naphthalene benzimidazoles and naphthalimides are revealed that conjugation of electron-donating group onto naphthalimide moiety increases fluorescence quantum yields. Fluorophore-solvent interactions are also investigated using Lippert-Mataga equation for naphthalimides and naphthalene benzimidazoles. Thermal stabilities of naphthalene benzimidazoles are better than naphthalimides due to increased aromaticity. The experimental E(LUMO) levels of naphthalene benzimidazoles are found to be between 3.15 and 3.28 eV. Therefore, naphthalene benzimidazole derivatives consisting of anchoring groups are promising materials in organic dye sensitized solar cells. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011

  8. Experimental Electronic Spectroscopy of Two PAHs: Naphthalene and 2-METHYL Naphthalene

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Friha, H.; Feraud, G.; Pino, T.; Brechignac, Ph.; Parneix, P.; Dhaoudi, Z.; Jaidane, N.; Galila, H.; Troy, T.; Schmidt, T.

    2011-06-01

    The presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the interstellar medium (ISM) was suggested in the mid-80's. Since then, their important role in the physico-chemical evolution of the ISM has been confirmed. Interstellar PAHs have been in particular proposed as possible carriers of some Diffuse Interstellar Bands (DIBs). These absorption bands are seen in the spectra of reddened stars from the visible to the near infrared and constitute a major astrophysical issue. Our purpose is to obtain electronic spectra of gas phase PAHs which will be used to probe their participation to the interstellar extinction curve from the visible (DIBs) to the UV (bump). For this goal PAHs cations represent an excellent set of target species. A new way of forming PAH+-Ar_n clusters cations has been implemented in the experimental set-up 'ICARE' at ISMO (Orsay) giving us the capability to measure the electronic spectra of cold PAH cations in the gas phase through the "Ar tagging" trick. Two molecules have been investigated in this way: naphthalene (C_1_0H_8) and 2- methyl naphthalene (C_1_1H_1_0). Clusters of naphthalene and (or 2-methyl-naphthalene) with Ar atoms are first formed in a supersonic jet, before being hit by a 281 nm laser beam which photo-ionizes the clusters which are then injected in a molecular beam through a skimmer. A tunable laser beam crossing downstream photo-dissociates the cations. The bare PAH fragments are detected using a Time-Of-Flight spectrometer while scanning the visible laser wavelength from 470 to 690 nm.

  9. 2-(Naphthalen-1-yl)-4-(naphthalen-1-yl­methyl­idene)-1,3-oxazol-5(4H)-one

    PubMed Central

    Gündoğdu, Cevher; Alp, Serap; Ergün, Yavuz; Tercan, Barış; Hökelek, Tuncer

    2011-01-01

    In the title compound, C24H15NO2, the oxazole ring is oriented at dihedral angles of 10.09 (4) and 6.04 (4)° with respect to the mean planes of the naphthalene ring systems, while the two naphthalene ring systems make a dihedral angle of 4.32 (3)°. Intra­molecular C—H⋯N hydrogen bonds link the oxazole N atom to the naphthalene ring systems. In the crystal, inter­molecular weak C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules into centrosymmetric dimers. π–π contacts between the oxazole and naphthalene rings and between the naphthalene ring systems [centroid–centroid distances = 3.5947 (9) and 3.7981 (9) Å] may further stabilize the crystal structure. Three weak C—H⋯π inter­actions also occur. PMID:21754548

  10. Effects of cadmium, naphthalene, and DDVP on gut carbohydrases activity in bream (Abramis brama L. ) and Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus Peters)

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Golovanova, I.L.; Chuiko, G.M.; Pavlov, D.F.

    1994-03-01

    Previous research has shown that sublethal concentrations of cadmium, naphthalene and dichlorvos (DDVP) decreased growth rates in bream and Mozambique tilapia. One of the factors known to affect fish growth is the activity of gut digestive enzymes such as of lipases, proteases, carbohydrases. We assumed that toxicant-induced inhibition of the digestive enzyme activity and, consequently, the impaired digestion of food may contribute to the reduction of growth in fish exposed to toxicants. However, the influence of toxicants on digestive enzyme activities is poorly studied. The contribution of toxicant-induced changes of digestive enzymes activity to growth rate retardation in exposed fishmore » remains unknown. The goal of this study was to examine the influence of an organophosphorus insecticide DDVP, a polyaromatic hydrocarbon naphthalene, and a metal cadmium on fish gut carbohydrase (CH) activity. 14 refs., 2 tabs.« less

  11. 6-Substituted 3,4-dihydro-naphthalene-2-carboxylic acids: synthesis and structure-activity studies in a novel class of human 5alpha reductase inhibitors.

    PubMed

    Baston, Eckhard; Salem, Ola I A; Hartmann, Rolf W

    2002-10-01

    Novel 3,4-dihydro-naphthalene-2-carboxylic acids were synthesized and evaluated for 5alpha reductase inhibitory activity. This enzyme exists in two isoforms and is a pharmacological target for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, male pattern baldness and acne. In the present study non-steroidal compounds capable of mimicking the transition state of the steroidal substrates were prepared. The synthetic strategy for the preparation of compounds 1-6 consisted of triflation followed by subsequent Heck-type carboxylation or methoxy carbonylation for 6-phenyl-3,4-dihydronaphthalen-2(1H)-one 1c. A Negishi-type coupling reaction between 6-(trifluoro-methanesulfonyloxy)-3,4-dihydro-naphthalene-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester 7b and various aryl bromides led, after further transformations, to 6-substituted 3,4-dihydro-naphthalene-2-carboxylic acids 7-15. In a similar way the corresponding naphthalene-2-carboxylic acids 16 and 17 were obtained. The DU 145 cell line and prostate homogenates served as enzyme sources for the human type 1 and type 2 isozymes, whereas ventral prostate was employed to evaluate rat isozyme inhibitory potency. The most active inhibitors identified in this study were 6-[4-(N,N-dicyclohexylaminocarbonyl)phenyl]-3,4-dihydro-naphthalene-2-carboxylic acid (3) (IC50 = 0.09 microM, rat type 1), 6-[3-(N,N-dicyclohexylaminocarbonyl)phenyl]-3,4-dihydro-naphthalene-2-carboxylic acid (13) (IC50 = 0.75 microM, human type 2; IC50 = 0.81 microM, human type 1) and 6-[4-(N,N-diisopropylamino-carbonyl)phenyl]naphthalene-2-carboxylic acid (16) (IC50 = 0.2 microM, human type 2). The latter compound was shown to deactivate the enzyme in an uncompetitive manner (Ki = 90 nM; Km, Testosterone = 0.8-1.0 microM) similar to the steroidal inhibitor Epristeride. Select inhibitors (13 and 16) were tested in vivo using testosterone propionate-treated, juvenile, orchiectomized SD-rats. None of the compounds was active at a dose of 25 mg/kg. This result might in part be

  12. Acute intravascular hemolysis and methemoglobinemia following naphthalene ball poisoning.

    PubMed

    Kapoor, Rajan; Suresh, P; Barki, Satish; Mishra, Mayank; Garg, M K

    2014-09-01

    Naphthalene (C10H8) is a natural component of fossil fuels such as petroleum, diesel and coal. The common consumer products made from naphthalene are moth repellents, in the form of mothballs or crystals, and toilet deodorant blocks. Major toxic effects of naphthalene are due to precipitation of acute intravascular hemolysis. Very few cases of naphthalene poisoning and its effects have been reported from India. We report a case of accidental naphthalene poisoning, who presented with intravascular hemolysis and methemoglobinemia.

  13. Degradation of some representative polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by the water-soluble protein extracts from Zea mays L. cv PR32-B10.

    PubMed

    Barone, Roberto; de Biasi, Margherita-Gabriella; Piccialli, Vincenzo; de Napoli, Lorenzo; Oliviero, Giorgia; Borbone, Nicola; Piccialli, Gennaro

    2016-10-01

    The ability of the water-soluble protein extracts from Zea mais L. cv. PR32-B10 to degrade some representative polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), has been evaluated. Surface sterilized seeds of corn (Zea mais L. Pioneer cv. PR32-B10) were hydroponically cultivated in a growth chamber under no-stressful conditions. The water-soluble protein extracts isolated from maize tissues showed peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase and catalase activities. Incubation of the extracts with naphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene and pyrene, led to formation of oxidized and/or degradation products. GC-MS and TLC monitoring of the processes showed that naphthalene, phenanthrene, fluorene and pyrene underwent 100%, 78%, 92% and 65% oxidative degradation, respectively, after 120 min. The chemical structure of the degradation products were determined by (1)H NMR and ESI-MS spectrometry. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  14. Degradation pathway of the naphthalene azo dye intermediate 1-diazo-2- naphthol-4-sulfonic acid using Fenton's reagent.

    PubMed

    Zhu, Nanwen; Gu, Lin; Yuan, Haiping; Lou, Ziyang; Wang, Liang; Zhang, Xin

    2012-08-01

    Degradation of naphthalene dye intermediate 1-diazo-2- naphthol-4-sulfonic acid (1,2,4-Acid) by Fenton process has been studied in depth for the purpose of learning more about the reactions involved in the oxidation of 1,2,4-Acid. During 1,2,4-Acid oxidation, the solution color initially takes on a dark red, then to dark black associated with the formation of quinodial-type structures, and then goes to dark brown and gradually disappears, indicating a fast degradation of azo group. The observed color changes of the solution are a result of main reaction intermediates, which can be an indicator of the level of oxidization reached. Nevertheless, complete TOC removal is not accomplished, in accordance with the presence of resistant carboxylic acids at the end of the reaction. The intermediates generated along the reaction time have been identified and quantified. UPLC-(ESI)-TOF-HRMS analysis allows the detection of 19 aromatic compounds of different size and complexity. Some of them share the same accurate mass but appear at different retention time, evidencing their different molecular structures. Heteroatom oxidation products like SO(4)(2-) have also been quantified and explanations of their release are proposed. Short-chain carboxylic acids are detected at long reaction time, as a previous step to complete the process of dye mineralization. Finally, considering all the findings of the present study and previous related works, the evolution from the original 1,2,4-Acid to the final products is proposed in a general reaction scheme. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  15. Quantification of biodegradation for o-xylene and naphthalene using first order decay models, Michaelis-Menten kinetics and stable carbon isotopes.

    PubMed

    Blum, Philipp; Hunkeler, Daniel; Weede, Matthias; Beyer, Christof; Grathwohl, Peter; Morasch, Barbara

    2009-04-01

    At a former wood preservation plant severely contaminated with coal tar oil, in situ bulk attenuation and biodegradation rate constants for several monoaromatic (BTEX) and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were determined using (1) classical first order decay models, (2) Michaelis-Menten degradation kinetics (MM), and (3) stable carbon isotopes, for o-xylene and naphthalene. The first order bulk attenuation rate constant for o-xylene was calculated to be 0.0025 d(-1) and a novel stable isotope-based first order model, which also accounted for the respective redox conditions, resulted in a slightly smaller biodegradation rate constant of 0.0019 d(-1). Based on MM-kinetics, the o-xylene concentration decreased with a maximum rate of k(max)=0.1 microg/L/d. The bulk attenuation rate constant of naphthalene retrieved from the classical first order decay model was 0.0038 d(-1). The stable isotope-based biodegradation rate constant of 0.0027 d(-1) was smaller in the reduced zone, while residual naphthalene in the oxic part of the plume further downgradient was degraded at a higher rate of 0.0038 d(-1). With MM-kinetics a maximum degradation rate of k(max)=12 microg/L/d was determined. Although best fits were obtained by MM-kinetics, we consider the carbon stable isotope-based approach more appropriate as it is specific for biodegradation (not overall attenuation) and at the same time accounts for the dominant electron-accepting process. For o-xylene a field based isotope enrichment factor epsilon(field) of -1.4 could be determined using the Rayleigh model, which closely matched values from laboratory studies of o-xylene degradation under sulfate-reducing conditions.

  16. Co-biodegradation of anthracene and naphthalene by the bacterium Acinetobacter johnsonii.

    PubMed

    Jiang, Yan; Qi, Hui; Zhang, Xian M

    2018-04-16

    NAP (Naphthalene) and ANT (anthracene) usually co-exist in environment and possessed interactional effects on their biodegradation in environment. Presently, a strain of Acinetobacter johnsonii was employed to degrade NAP and ANT in single- and dual-substrate systems. NAP was utilized as prefer substrate by cells to accelerate ANT biodegradation. As much as 200 mg L -1 ANT could be entirely degraded with 1,500 mg L -1 NAP, which was beyond bacterial potential in single substrate system. Especially, the shortest biodegradation period (103 h) for ANT was observed with the presence of 50 mg L -1 NAP. By contrast, ANT showed strong inhibition on NAP degradation, while the peak biodegradation of 1,950 mg L -1 NAP with 50 mg L -1 ANT could still proceed. By introducing an inhibition constant parameter to fit the inhibition on cells, modeling indicated the substrate inhibition for NAP and ANT over the concentrations of 174 and 49 mg L -1 , respectively. Furthermore, enzyme assay revealed the pathway of meta fission in NAP biodegradation due to the appearance of catechol 2,3-dioxygenase activity, and low-level lipase excretion was also found in both NAP and ANT biodegradation, but hardly affect NAP and ANT biodegradation in the present study. To research the interplay of NAP and ANT is conducive to targeted decontamination.

  17. Changes in oxygen consumption and respiratory enzymes as stress indicators in an estuarine edible crab Scylla serrata exposed to naphthalene.

    PubMed

    Vijayavel, K; Balasubramanian, M P

    2006-06-01

    The sublethal effect of naphthalene was studied on the physiology of a mud crab Scylla serrata. The 96 h acute toxicity of naphthalene was determined and found to be 28 mg 1(-1) (LC100), 18 mg 1(-1) (LC50), 10 mg 1(-1) (LC0) respectively. The 30 days sublethal effect (LC0) 9 mg 1(-1), 8 mg 1(-1), 10 mg 1(-1), of naphthalene was investigated in the crab S. serrata with reference to oxygen consumption and changes in the activity of respiratory enzymes. The results indicated that naphthalene caused disturbance in the normal physiology of the crab. The bioaccumulation of naphthalene was also investigated in gills, hepatopancreas, haemolymph and ovary. The consumption of oxygen increased in the naphthalene medium when compared with that of the crabs exposed to naphthalene free medium. A decreased trend in the activity of respiratory enzymes such as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (alpha-KDH) and glutathione (GSH) were recorded in the hepatopancreas, ovary and gills of S. serrata for all the tested concentrations of naphthalene and the results were analyzed for their significance.

  18. IRIS Toxicological Review of Naphthalene (1998 Final)

    EPA Science Inventory

    EPA announced the release of the final report, Toxicological Review of Naphthalene: in support of the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS). The updated Summary for Naphthalene and accompanying toxicological review have been added to the IRIS Database.

  19. Structure-Activity Relationship Studies and Molecular Modeling of Naphthalene-Based Sphingosine Kinase 2 Inhibitors.

    PubMed

    Congdon, Molly D; Kharel, Yugesh; Brown, Anne M; Lewis, Stephanie N; Bevan, David R; Lynch, Kevin R; Santos, Webster L

    2016-03-10

    The two isoforms of sphingosine kinase (SphK1 and SphK2) are the only enzymes that phosphorylate sphingosine to sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), which is a pleiotropic lipid mediator involved in a broad range of cellular processes including migration, proliferation, and inflammation. SphKs are targets for various diseases such as cancer, fibrosis, and Alzheimer's and sickle cell disease. Herein, we disclose the structure-activity profile of naphthalene-containing SphK inhibitors and molecular modeling studies that reveal a key molecular switch that controls SphK selectivity.

  20. Comparative Metabolism of Hydrazine and Naphthalene.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1980-09-01

    compounds and chemicals like those in cigarette smoke. Another question of considerable importance to the Air Force is whether animal species currently...the pulmonary cytochrome P-450 monooxygenases differ between species or that enzymes responsible for the detoxification of the "toxic" metabolite(s...metabolic steps in the activation and detoxification of a compound like naphthalene are undertaken in animal lung tissue so that such processes can be

  1. Communication: Ion mobility of the radical cation dimers: (Naphthalene)2+• and naphthalene+•-benzene: Evidence for stacked sandwich and T-shape structures

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Platt, Sean P.; Attah, Isaac K.; Aziz, Saadullah; El-Shall, M. Samy

    2015-05-01

    Dimer radical cations of aromatic and polycyclic aromatic molecules are good model systems for a fundamental understanding of photoconductivity and ferromagnetism in organic materials which depend on the degree of charge delocalization. The structures of the dimer radical cations are difficult to determine theoretically since the potential energy surface is often very flat with multiple shallow minima representing two major classes of isomers adopting the stacked parallel or the T-shape structure. We present experimental results, based on mass-selected ion mobility measurements, on the gas phase structures of the naphthalene+ṡ ṡ naphthalene homodimer and the naphthalene+ṡ ṡ benzene heterodimer radical cations at different temperatures. Ion mobility studies reveal a persistence of the stacked parallel structure of the naphthalene+ṡ ṡ naphthalene homodimer in the temperature range 230-300 K. On the other hand, the results reveal that the naphthalene+ṡ ṡ benzene heterodimer is able to exhibit both the stacked parallel and T-shape structural isomers depending on the experimental conditions. Exploitation of the unique structural motifs among charged homo- and heteroaromatic-aromatic interactions may lead to new opportunities for molecular design and recognition involving charged aromatic systems.

  2. 21 CFR 172.824 - Sodium mono- and dimethyl naphthalene sulfonates.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 3 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Sodium mono- and dimethyl naphthalene sulfonates... sulfonates. The food additive sodium mono- and dimethyl naphthalene sulfonates may be safely used in... statement declaring the presence of sodium mono- and dimethyl naphthalene sulfonates. [42 FR 14491, Mar. 15...

  3. Characterization of a Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Degradation Gene Cluster in a Phenanthrene-Degrading Acidovorax Strain▿

    PubMed Central

    Singleton, David R.; Guzmán Ramirez, Liza; Aitken, Michael D.

    2009-01-01

    Acidovorax sp. strain NA3 was isolated from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-contaminated soil that had been treated in a bioreactor and enriched with phenanthrene. The 16S rRNA gene of the isolate possessed 99.8 to 99.9% similarity to the dominant sequences recovered during a previous stable-isotope probing experiment with [U-13C]phenanthrene on the same soil (D. R. Singleton, S. N. Powell, R. Sangaiah, A. Gold, L. M. Ball, and M. D. Aitken, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 71:1202-1209, 2005). The strain grew on phenanthrene as a sole carbon and energy source and could mineralize 14C from a number of partially labeled PAHs, including naphthalene, phenanthrene, chrysene, benz[a]anthracene, and benzo[a]pyrene, but not pyrene or fluoranthene. Southern hybridizations of a genomic fosmid library with a fragment of the large subunit of the ring-hydroxylating dioxygenase gene from a naphthalene-degrading Pseudomonas strain detected the presence of PAH degradation genes subsequently determined to be highly similar in both nucleotide sequence and gene organization to an uncharacterized Alcaligenes faecalis gene cluster. The genes were localized to the chromosome of strain NA3. To test for gene induction by selected compounds, RNA was extracted from amended cultures and reverse transcribed, and cDNA associated with the enzymes involved in the first three steps of phenanthrene degradation was quantified by quantitative real-time PCR. Expression of each of the genes was induced most strongly by phenanthene and to a lesser extent by naphthalene, but other tested PAHs and PAH metabolites had negligible effects on gene transcript levels. PMID:19270134

  4. Naphthalene metabolism in relation to target tissue anatomy, physiology, cytotoxicity and tumorigenic mechanism of action

    PubMed Central

    Bogen, Kenneth T.; Benson, Janet M.; Yost, Garold S.; Morris, John B.; Dahl, Alan R.; Clewell, Harvey J.; Krishnan, Kannan; Omiecinski, Curtis J.

    2014-01-01

    This report provides a summary of deliberations conducted under the charge for members of Module C Panel participating in the Naphthalene State-of-the-Science Symposium (NS3), Monterey, CA, October 9–12, 2006. The panel was charged with reviewing the current state of knowledge and uncertainty about naphthalene metabolism in relation to anatomy, physiology and cytotoxicity in tissues observed to have elevated tumor incidence in these rodent bioassays. Major conclusions reached concerning scientific claims of high confidence were that: (1) rat nasal tumor occurrence was greatly enhanced, if not enabled, by adjacent, histologically related focal cellular proliferation; (2) elevated incidence of mouse lung tumors occurred at a concentration (30 ppm) cytotoxic to the same lung region at which tumors occurred, but not at a lower and less cytotoxic concentration (tumorigenesis NOAEL = 10 ppm); (3) naphthalene cytotoxicity requires metabolic activation (unmetabolized naphthalene is not a proximate cause of observed toxicity or tumors); (4) there are clear regional and species differences in naphthalene bioactivation; and (5) target tissue anatomy and physiology is sufficiently well understood for rodents, non-human primates and humans to parameterize species-specific physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models for nasal and lung effects. Critical areas of uncertainty requiring resolution to enable improved human cancer risk assessment were considered to be that: (1) cytotoxic naphthalene metabolites, their modes of cytotoxic action, and detailed low-dose dose–response need to be clarified, including in primate and human tissues, and neonatal tissues; (2) mouse, rat, and monkey inhalation studies are needed to better define in vivo naphthalene uptake and metabolism in the upper respiratory tract; (3) in vivo validation studies are needed for a PBPK model for monkeys exposed to naphthalene by inhalation, coupled to cytotoxicity studies referred to above; and (4

  5. Naphthalene and Naphthoquinone: Distributions and Human Exposure in the Los Angeles Basin

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lu, R.; Wu, J.; Turco, R.; Winer, A. M.; Atkinson, R.; Paulson, S.; Arey, J.; Lurmann, F.

    2003-12-01

    Naphthalene is the simplest and most abundant of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Naphthalene is found primarily in the gas-phase and has been detected in both outdoor and indoor samples. Evaporation from naphthalene-containing products (including gasoline), and during refining operations, are important sources of naphthalene in air. Naphthalene is also emitted during the combustion of fossil fuels and wood, and is a component of vehicle exhaust. Exposure to high concentrations of naphthalene can damage or destroy red blood cells, causing hemolytic anemia. If inhaled over a long period of time, naphthalene may cause kidney and liver damage, skin allergy and dermatitis, cataracts and retinal damage, as well as attack the central nervous system. Naphthalene has been found to cause cancer as a result of inhalation in animal tests. Naphthoquinones are photooxidation products of naphthalene and the potential health effects of exposure to these quinones are a current focus of research. We are developing and applying models that can be used to assess human exposure to naphthalene and its photooxidation products in major air basins such as California South Coast Air Basin (SoCAB). The work utilizes the Surface Meteorology and Ozone Generation (SMOG) airshed model, and the REgional Human EXposure (REHEX) model, including an analysis of individual exposure. We will present and discuss simulations of basin-wide distributions of, and human exposures to, naphthalene and naphthoquinone, with emphasis on the uncertainties in these estimates of atmospheric concentrations and human exposure. Regional modeling of pollutant sources and exposures can lead to cost-effective and optimally health-protective emission control strategies.

  6. Oxidation of Naphthenoaromatic and Methyl-Substituted Aromatic Compounds by Naphthalene 1,2-Dioxygenase

    PubMed Central

    Selifonov, S. A.; Grifoll, M.; Eaton, R. W.; Chapman, P. J.

    1996-01-01

    Oxidation of acenaphthene, acenaphthylene, and fluorene was examined with recombinant strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1(pRE695) expressing naphthalene dioxygenase genes cloned from plasmid NAH7. Acenaphthene underwent monooxygenation to 1-acenaphthenol with subsequent conversion to 1-acenaphthenone and cis- and trans-acenaphthene-1,2-diols, while acenaphthylene was dioxygenated to give cis-acenaphthene-1,2-diol. Nonspecific dehydrogenase activities present in the host strain led to the conversion of both of the acenaphthene-1,2-diols to 1,2-acenaphthoquinone. The latter was oxidized spontaneously to naphthalene-1,8-dicarboxylic acid. No aromatic ring dioxygenation products were detected from acenaphthene and acenaphthylene. Mixed monooxygenase and dioxygenase actions of naphthalene dioxygenase on fluorene yielded products of benzylic 9-monooxygenation, aromatic ring dioxygenation, or both. The action of naphthalene dioxygenase on a variety of methyl-substituted aromatic compounds, including 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene and isomers of dimethylnaphthalene, resulted in the formation of benzylic alcohols, i.e., methyl group monooxygenation products, which were subsequently converted to the corresponding carboxylic acids by dehydrogenase(s) in the host strain. Benzylic monooxygenation of methyl groups was strongly predominant over aromatic ring dioxygenation and essentially nonspecific with respect to the substitution pattern of the aromatic substrates. In addition to monooxygenating benzylic methyl and methylene groups, naphthalene dioxygenase behaved as a sulfoxygenase, catalyzing monooxygenation of the sulfur heteroatom of 3-methylbenzothiophene. PMID:16535238

  7. Biochemical and genotoxic response of naphthalene to fingerlings of milkfish Chanos chanos.

    PubMed

    Palanikumar, L; Kumaraguru, A K; Ramakritinan, C M

    2013-09-01

    The present study investigated the acute toxicity, sub-lethal toxicity and biochemical response of naphthalene in fingerlings of milkfish Chanos chanos. The 96 h acute toxicity LC50 values for C. chanos exposed to naphthalene was 5.18 μg l(-1). The estimated no observed effect concentration and lowest observed effect concentration values for naphthalene in C. chanos were 0.42 and 0.69 μg l(-1) respectively for 30 days. The estimated maximum allowable toxicant concentration for naphthalene was 0.53 μg l(-1). Biochemical enzyme markers such as lipid peroxidation, catalase, glutathione S transferase and reduced glutathione were measured in gills and liver tissues of C. chanos exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of naphthalene. Fluctuation in lipid peroxidation and catalase level suggests that naphthalene concentrations play a vital role in induction of oxidative stress in fish. Induction of reduced glutathione level and inhibition of glutathione S-transferase level was observed in naphthalene exposed C. chanos suggesting that there may be enhanced oxidative damage due to free radicals. Increasing concentration increases in number of nuclear abnormalities. The formation of micronuclei and binucleated micronuclei induction by naphthalene confirm its genotoxic potential. The highest levels of DNA damage (% tail length) were observed at 1.24 μg l(-1) of naphthalene. The study suggests that biochemical enzymes, nuclear abnormalities and DNA damage index can serve as a biological marker for naphthalene contamination.

  8. Toxicity and metabolism of methylnaphthalenes: Comparison with naphthalene and 1-nitronaphthalene

    PubMed Central

    Lin, Ching Yu; Wheelock, Åsa M.; Morin, Dexter; Baldwin, R. Michael; Lee, Myong Gong; Taff, Aysha; Plopper, Charles; Buckpitt, Alan; Rohde, Arlean

    2009-01-01

    activation of each of these substrates are likely to differ. The available data showing extensive oxidation of the aromatic nucleus of naphthalene, nitronaphthalene and the methylnaphthalenes (with some oxidation of the methyl group) contrasts with the isopropylnaphthalene derivatives, where the major metabolites involve side chain oxidation. Overall, these data support the view that ring epoxidation is a key step in the process involved in cytotoxicity. Whether the epoxide itself or a downstream metabolite mediates the toxic effects is still not clear even with naphthalene, the best studied of this group of compounds. Additional work is needed in several areas to further assess the potential human health consequences of exposure to these agents. These studies should involve the definition of the extent and severity of methylnaphthalene toxicity after single dose exposures with attention to both the nasal and respiratory epithelia. The cytochromes P450 responsible for the initial activation of these agents in rodents with subsequent complimentary studies in primate models should help determine whether key metabolic processes responsible for toxicity occur also in primates. Finally, the precise involvement of reactive metabolite formation and adduction of cellular proteins in toxicity will be important in not only assessing the potential for human toxicity, but also in developing an understanding of the genetic and environmental factors which could alter the toxicity of these agents. PMID:19464565

  9. [Risk analysis of naphthalene pollution in soils of Tianjin].

    PubMed

    Yang, Yu; Shi, Xuan; Xu, Fu-liu; Tao, Shu

    2004-03-01

    Three approaches were applied and evaluated for probabilistic risk assessment of naphthalene in soils of Tianjin, China, based on the observed naphthalene concentration of 188 top soil samples from the area and LC50 of naphthalene to ten typical soil fauna species from the literature. It was found that the overlapping area of the two probability density functions of concentration and LC50 was 6.4%, the joint probability curve bend towards and very close to the bottom and left axis, and the calculated probability that exposure concentration exceeds LC50 of various species was as low as 1.67%, all indicating a very much acceptable risk of naphthalene to the soil fauna ecosystem and only some of very sensitive species or individual animals are threaten by localized extremely high concentration. The three approaches revealed similar results from different viewpoints.

  10. Desaturation, dioxygenation, and monooxygenation reactions catalyzed by naphthalene dioxygenase from Pseudomonas sp. strain 9816-4.

    PubMed

    Gibson, D T; Resnick, S M; Lee, K; Brand, J M; Torok, D S; Wackett, L P; Schocken, M J; Haigler, B E

    1995-05-01

    The stereospecific oxidation of indan and indene was examined with mutant and recombinant strains expressing naphthalene dioxygenase of Pseudomonas sp. strain 9816-4. Pseudomonas sp. strain 9816/11 and Escherichia coli JM109(DE3)[pDTG141] oxidized indan to (+)-(1S)-indanol, (+)-cis-(1R,2S)-indandiol, (+)-(1S)-indenol, and 1-indanone. The same strains oxidized indene to (+)-cis-(1R,2S)-indandiol and (+)-(1S)-indenol. Purified naphthalene dioxygenase oxidized indan to the same four products formed by strains 9816/11 and JM109(DE3)[pDTG141]. In addition, indene was identified as an intermediate in indan oxidation. The major products formed from indene by purified naphthalene dioxygenase were (+)-(1S)-indenol and (+)-(1R,2S)-indandiol. The results show that naphthalene dioxygenase catalyzes the enantiospecific monooxygenation of indan to (+)-(1S)-indanol and the desaturation of indan to indene, which then serves as a substrate for the formation of (+)-(1R,2S)-indandiol and (+)-(1S)-indenol. The relationship of the desaturase, monooxygenase, and dioxygenase activities of naphthalene dioxygenase is discussed with reference to reactions catalyzed by toluene dioxygenase, plant desaturases, cytochrome P-450, methane monooxygenase, and other bacterial monooxygenases.

  11. Desaturation, dioxygenation, and monooxygenation reactions catalyzed by naphthalene dioxygenase from Pseudomonas sp. strain 9816-4.

    PubMed Central

    Gibson, D T; Resnick, S M; Lee, K; Brand, J M; Torok, D S; Wackett, L P; Schocken, M J; Haigler, B E

    1995-01-01

    The stereospecific oxidation of indan and indene was examined with mutant and recombinant strains expressing naphthalene dioxygenase of Pseudomonas sp. strain 9816-4. Pseudomonas sp. strain 9816/11 and Escherichia coli JM109(DE3)[pDTG141] oxidized indan to (+)-(1S)-indanol, (+)-cis-(1R,2S)-indandiol, (+)-(1S)-indenol, and 1-indanone. The same strains oxidized indene to (+)-cis-(1R,2S)-indandiol and (+)-(1S)-indenol. Purified naphthalene dioxygenase oxidized indan to the same four products formed by strains 9816/11 and JM109(DE3)[pDTG141]. In addition, indene was identified as an intermediate in indan oxidation. The major products formed from indene by purified naphthalene dioxygenase were (+)-(1S)-indenol and (+)-(1R,2S)-indandiol. The results show that naphthalene dioxygenase catalyzes the enantiospecific monooxygenation of indan to (+)-(1S)-indanol and the desaturation of indan to indene, which then serves as a substrate for the formation of (+)-(1R,2S)-indandiol and (+)-(1S)-indenol. The relationship of the desaturase, monooxygenase, and dioxygenase activities of naphthalene dioxygenase is discussed with reference to reactions catalyzed by toluene dioxygenase, plant desaturases, cytochrome P-450, methane monooxygenase, and other bacterial monooxygenases. PMID:7751268

  12. 4-(Naphthalene-2-carboxamido)­pyridin-1-ium thio­cyanate–N-(pyridin-4-yl)naphthalene-2-carboxamide (1/1)

    PubMed Central

    Saeed, Sohail; Rashid, Naghmana; Butcher, Ray J.; Öztürk Yildirim, Sema; Hussain, Rizwan

    2012-01-01

    The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C16H13N2O+·NCS−·C16H12N2O, contains two N-(pyridin-4-yl)naphthalene-2-carboxamide mol­ecules, both are partially protonated in the pyridine moiety, i.e. the H atom attached to the pyridine N atom is partially occupied with an occupancy factor of 0.61 (3) and 0.39 (3), respectively. In the crystal, protonated and neutral N-(pyridin-4-yl)naphthalene-2-carboxamide mol­ecules are linked by N—H⋯N hydrogen bonding; the thio­cyanate counter-ion links with both protonated and neutral N-(pyridin-4-yl)naphthalene-2-carboxamide mol­ecules via N—H⋯S and N—H⋯N hydrogen bonding. The dihedral angles between the pyridine ring and naphthalene ring systems are 11.33 (6) and 9.51 (6)°, respectively. π–π stacking is observed in the crystal structure, the shortest centroid–centroid distance being 3.5929 (8) Å. The crystal structure was determined from a nonmerohedral twin {ratio of the twin components = 0.357 (1):0.643 (1) and twin law [-100 0-10 -101]}. PMID:23125774

  13. Comparative Biochemistry and Metabolism. Part 2. Naphthalene Lung Toxicity.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1985-11-01

    Metabolites to Intra- and Extracellular Proteins .............. ........ 18 Thiol Status in Isolated Hepatocytes Incubated with Naphthalene or Menadione ...Viabilities of isolated hepatocytes incubated with menadione and varying concentrations of n aphthalene...23 15 Intracellular reduced glutathione levels in hepa- tocytes incubated in the presence of menadione or varying concentrations of naphthalene

  14. Toxicity of Naphthalene and Benzene on Tribollium castaneum Herbst.

    PubMed

    Pajaro-Castro, Nerlis; Caballero-Gallardo, Karina; Olivero-Verbel, Jesus

    2017-06-21

    Naphthalene and benzene are widely-used volatile organic compounds. The aim of this research was to examine the toxicological effects of naphthalene and benzene against Tribolium castaneum as an animal model. Adult insects were exposed to these aromatic compounds to assess mortality after 4-48 h of exposure. The lethal concentration 50 (LC 50 ) for naphthalene, naphthalin, and benzene were 63.6 µL/L, 20.0 µL/L, and 115.9 µL/L in air, respectively. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis revealed expression changes in genes related to oxidative stress and metabolism [Glutathione S-Transferase (Gst), and Cytochrome P450 6BQ8 (Cyp6bq8)]; reproduction and metamorphosis [Hormone receptor in 39-like protein (Hr39), Ecdysone receptor: (Ecr), and Chitin synthase 2 (Chs2)]; and neurotransmission [Histamine-gated chloride channel 2 (Hiscl2)] in insects exposed for 4 h to 70.2 µL/L naphthalene. Adults exposed to benzene (80 µL/L; 4 h) overexpressed genes related to neurotransmission [GABA-gated anion channel (Rdl), Hiscl2, and GABA-gated ion channel (Grd)]; reproduction and metamorphosis [Ultraspiracle nuclear receptor (USP), Ecr; and Hr39]; and development (Chs2). The data presented here provides evidence that naphthalene and benzene inhalation are able to induce alterations on reproduction, development, metamorphosis, oxidative stress, metabolism, neurotransmission, and death of the insect.

  15. The effect of chlorpyrifos-oxon and other xenobiotics on the human cytochrome P450-dependent metabolism of naphthalene and deet.

    PubMed

    Cho, Taehyeon M; Rose, Randy L; Hodgson, Ernest

    2007-01-01

    Chlorpyrifos-oxon (CPO), a metabolite of chlorpyrifos, is a potent inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase and, although the neurotoxicological impact of this organophosphorus compound has been broadly studied both in vitro and in vivo, there are few studies of metabolic interactions of CPO with other xenobiotics. CPO significantly activated the production of 1-naphthol (5-fold), 2-naphthol (10-fold), trans-1,2-dihydro-1,2-naphthalenediol (1.5-fold), and 1,4-naphthoquinone from naphthalene by human liver microsomes (HLM). It was further demonstrated that the production of naphthalene metabolites by CYP2C8, 2C9*(1), 2C19, 2D6*(1), 3A4, 3A5, and 3A7 was activated by CPO, while the production of naphthalene metabolites by CYP1A1, 1A2, 1B1, and 2B6 was inhibited by CPO. CPO inhibited CYP1A2 production of naphthalene metabolites, while activating their production by CYP3A4. Similarly, CPO inhibited the production of N,N-diethyl-m-hydroxymethylbenzamide (BALC) from DEET by human liver microsomes, but activated the production of N-ethyl-m-toluamide (ET) from this substrate. CYP2B6, the most efficient isoform for BALC production, was inhibited by CPO, while CYP3A4, the most efficient isoform for ET production, was activated by CPO. CPO inhibited CYP2B6 production of both BALC and ET from DEET, but activated CYP3A4 production of ET, while inhibiting CYP3A4 BALC production. CPO appears to facilitate the binding of naphthalene to CYP3A4. This metabolic activation is independent of cytochrome b5, suggesting that activation of CYP3A4 by CPO is associated with a conformational change of the isoform rather than facilitating electron transfer.

  16. Hydration of a Large Anionic Charge Distribution - Naphthalene-Water Cluster Anions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Weber, J. Mathias; Adams, Christopher L.

    2010-06-01

    We report the infrared spectra of anionic clusters of naphthalene with up to three water molecules. Comparison of the experimental infrared spectra with theoretically predicted spectra from quantum chemistry calculations allow conclusions regarding the structures of the clusters under study. The first water molecule forms two hydrogen bonds with the π electron system of the naphthalene moiety. Subsequent water ligands interact with both the naphthalene and the other water ligands to form hydrogen bonded networks, similar to other hydrated anion clusters. Naphthalene-water anion clusters illustrate how water interacts with negative charge delocalized over a large π electron system. The clusters are interesting model systems that are discussed in the context of wetting of graphene surfaces and polyaromatic hydrocarbons.

  17. 21 CFR 172.824 - Sodium mono- and dimethyl naphthalene sulfonates.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... SERVICES (CONTINUED) FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION (CONTINUED) FOOD ADDITIVES PERMITTED FOR DIRECT ADDITION TO FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION Multipurpose Additives § 172.824 Sodium mono- and dimethyl naphthalene sulfonates. The food additive sodium mono- and dimethyl naphthalene sulfonates may be safely used in...

  18. Comparative Biochemistry and Metabolism: Part 2. Naphthalene Lung Toxicity

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1984-10-14

    naphthalene, produces a highly selective lesion of the pulmonary bronchiolar epithelium in mice. This lesion appears to depend upon the cytochrome P450...predominating. The rates of metabolism were lower than in rodent lung and there were marked interindividual differences. Pulmonary microsome...54 Effect of Cobalt Protoporphyrin on Naphthalene and 2-Methylnaphthalene-Induced Pulmonary Bronchiolar Necrosis

  19. Sources, concentrations, and risks of naphthalene in indoor and outdoor air.

    PubMed

    Batterman, S; Chin, J-Y; Jia, C; Godwin, C; Parker, E; Robins, T; Max, P; Lewis, T

    2012-08-01

    Naphthalene is a ubiquitous pollutant, and very high concentrations are sometimes encountered indoors when this chemical is used as a pest repellent or deodorant. This study describes the distribution and sources of vapor-phase naphthalene concentrations in four communities in southeast Michigan, USA. Outdoors, naphthalene was measured in the communities and at a near-road site. Indoors, naphthalene levels were characterized in 288 suburban and urban homes. The median outdoor concentration was 0.15 μg/m(3), and a modest contribution from rush-hour traffic was noted. The median indoor long-term concentration was 0.89 μg/m(3), but concentrations were extremely skewed and 14% of homes exceeded 3 μg/m(3), the chronic reference concentration for non-cancer effects, 8% exceeded 10 μg/m(3), and levels reached 200 μg/m(3). The typical excess individual lifetime cancer risk was about 10(-4) and reached 10(-2) in some homes. Important sources include naphthalene's use as a pest repellent and deodorant, migration from attached garages and, to lesser extents, cigarette smoke and vehicle emissions. Excessive use as a repellent caused the highest concentrations. Naphthalene presents high risks in a subset of homes, and policies and actions to reduce exposures, for example, sales bans or restrictions, improved labeling, and consumer education, should be considered. Long-term average concentrations of naphthalene in most homes fell into the 0.2-1.7 μg/m(3) range reported as representative in earlier studies. The highly skewed distribution of concentrations results in a subset of homes with elevated concentrations and health risks that greatly exceed US EPA and World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. The most important indoor source is the use of naphthalene as a pest repellant or deodorant; secondary sources include presence of an attached garage, cigarette smoking, and outdoor sources. House-to-house variation was large, reflecting differences among the residences and

  20. Does a concomitant exposure to lead influence unfavorably the naphthalene subchronic toxicity and toxicokinetics?

    PubMed

    Katsnelson, Boris A; Minigaliyeva, Ilzira A; Degtyareva, Tamara D; Privalova, Larisa I; Beresneva, Tatyana A

    2014-01-01

    Rats were given 20 times during 40 d either naphthalene per gavage or the same and lead acetate intraperitoneally in single doses corresponding to 5% of the respective 50% lethal doses. The concomitant exposure to lead not only added some typical indicators of lead toxicity to the moderate naphthalene intoxication picture but also exaggerated some less specific indices for intoxication. However, a number of such indices testified to attenuation of naphthalene's adverse effects under the impact of lead. Lead also lowered urinary excretion of both total and conjugated naphthalene, while the free- to total naphthalene ratio in urine sharply increased. These results corroborate implicitly the initial hypothesis that lead, being an inhibitor of cytochrome P450, hinders phase I of the naphthalene biotransformation and, thus, the formation of derivates which can be more toxic but are capable of entering into reactions of conjugation with resulting detoxication and elimination of naphthalene from the body. © 2013 SETAC.

  1. Sources, Concentrations and Risks of Naphthalene in Indoor and Outdoor Air

    PubMed Central

    Batterman, Stuart; Chin, Jo-Yu; Jia, Chunrong; Godwin, Christopher; Parker, Edith; Robins, Thomas; Max, Paul; Lewis, Toby

    2011-01-01

    Naphthalene is a ubiquitous pollutant, and very high concentrations are sometimes encountered indoors when this chemical is used as a pest repellent or deodorant. This study describes the distribution and sources of vapor phase naphthalene concentrations in four communities in southeast Michigan, USA. Outdoors, naphthalene was measured in the communities and at a near-road site. Indoors, naphthalene levels were characterized in 288 suburban and urban homes. The median outdoor concentration was 0.15 µg m−3, and a modest contribution from rush-hour traffic was noted. The median indoor long-term concentration was 0.89 µg m−3, but concentrations were extremely skewed and 14% of homes exceeded 3 µg m−3, the chronic reference concentration for non-cancer effects, 8% exceeded 10 µg m−3, and levels reached 200 µg m−3. The typical individual lifetime cancer risk was about 10−4, and reached 10−2 in some homes. Important sources include naphthalene's use as a pest repellent and deodorant, migration from attached garages, and to lesser extents, cigarette smoke and vehicle emissions. Excessive use as a repellent caused the highest concentrations. Naphthalene presents high risks in a subset of homes, and policies and actions to reduce exposures, e.g., sales bans or restrictions, improved labeling and consumer education, should be considered. PMID:22145682

  2. Bacterial Degradation of Aromatic Compounds

    PubMed Central

    Seo, Jong-Su; Keum, Young-Soo; Li, Qing X.

    2009-01-01

    Aromatic compounds are among the most prevalent and persistent pollutants in the environment. Petroleum-contaminated soil and sediment commonly contain a mixture of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heterocyclic aromatics. Aromatics derived from industrial activities often have functional groups such as alkyls, halogens and nitro groups. Biodegradation is a major mechanism of removal of organic pollutants from a contaminated site. This review focuses on bacterial degradation pathways of selected aromatic compounds. Catabolic pathways of naphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, pyrene, and benzo[a]pyrene are described in detail. Bacterial catabolism of the heterocycles dibenzofuran, carbazole, dibenzothiophene, and dibenzodioxin is discussed. Bacterial catabolism of alkylated PAHs is summarized, followed by a brief discussion of proteomics and metabolomics as powerful tools for elucidation of biodegradation mechanisms. PMID:19440284

  3. Solubility prediction of naphthalene in carbon dioxide from crystal microstructure

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sang, Jiarong; Jin, Junsu; Mi, Jianguo

    2018-03-01

    Crystals dissolved in solvents are ubiquitous in both natural and artificial systems. Due to the complicated structures and asymmetric interactions between the crystal and solvent, it is difficult to interpret the dissolution mechanism and predict solubility using traditional theories and models. Here we use the classical density functional theory (DFT) to describe the crystal dissolution behavior. As an example, naphthalene dissolved in carbon dioxide (CO2) is considered within the DFT framework. The unit cell dimensions and microstructure of crystalline naphthalene are determined by minimizing the free-energy of the crystal. According to the microstructure, the solubilities of naphthalene in CO2 are predicted based on the equality of naphthalene's chemical potential in crystal and solution phases, and the interfacial structures and free-energies between different crystal planes and solution are determined to investigate the dissolution mechanism at the molecular level. The theoretical predictions are in general agreement with the available experimental data, implying that the present model is quantitatively reliable in describing crystal dissolution.

  4. Photoinduced Charge Transport Spectra for Porphyrin and Naphthalene Derivative-based Dendrimers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Park, J. H.; Wu, Y.; Parquette, J. R.; Epstein, A. J.

    2006-03-01

    Dendrimers are important chemical structures for harvesting charge. We prepared model dendrimers using two porphyrin derivatives and a naphthalene derivative. Films of these porphyrin derivatives have a strong Soret band (˜430nm) and four significant Q-bands; the naphthalene derivative has strong absorption at 365 and 383nm. Two kinds of photovoltaic cell structures [ITO/BaytronP/(thick or thin) dendrimer/Al] are constructed to investigate the optical response spectra of dendrimers under electric potential(V) on the cell (range from -1V to 2V). To obtain pure optical responses, incident light is modulated with an optical chopper and a lock-in amplifier is used to measure current (IAC) and phase (θ). For the excitation of the Soret band, IAC and θ do not change substantially with change of sign and amplitude of V. For Q-bands and naphthalene absorption bands, θ nearly follows the polarity of V on the cells and IAC is linear with V. Hence, IAC is nearly ohmic for Q- band although there are shifts due to built-in-potential. IAC for Soret band is almost same for thick and thin active layer cells. In contrast, IAC increases with thickness increase for Q bands. Mechanisms of photogeneration and charge transport will be discussed.

  5. Comparative Biochemistry and Metabolism. Part 2. Naphthalene Lung Toxicity

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1983-08-01

    Amounts of Supernatant Enzyme Protein on the Rates of Formation of a Polar Metabolite and NapY-’ halene - Glutathione Adducts...demonstrating the regio- and stereospecific formation of glutathione adducts from aromatic and aliphatic epoxides (Yagen et al., 1981; Van Bladeren et al...butylated hydroxyanisole, Cancer Res. 41:4309-4315. Bock, K.W., Van Ackeren, G., Lorch, "L., Birke, F., (1976), Metabolism of naphthalene to naphthalene

  6. Novel leads from Heliotropium ovalifolium, 4,7,8-trimethoxy-naphthalene-2-carboxylic acid and 6-hydroxy-5,7-dimethoxy-naphthalene-2-carbaldehyde show specific IL-6 inhibitory activity in THP-1 cells and primary human monocytes.

    PubMed

    Kulkarni-Almeida, Asha; Suthar, Ashish; Goswami, Hitesh; Vishwakarma, Ram; Chauhan, Vijay Singh; Balakrishnan, Arun; Sharma, Somesh

    2008-12-01

    From our screening program, we identified the anti-inflammatory effects of the extracts of Heliotropium ovalifolium in its ability to inhibit specific cytokines. The H. ovalifolium extract was found to be moderately active with an IC(50) equaling 10 microg/ml for inhibition of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in a human monocytic cell line. Interleukin-6 is a pleiotropic cytokine with implications in the regulation of the immune response, inflammation and hematopoiesis. This prompted us to examine and identify the active molecules that are responsible for the bioactivity in THP-1 cells. Bioassay guided fractionation identified two compounds 4,7,8-trimethoxy-naphthalene-2-carboxylic acid and 6-hydroxy-5,7-dimethoxy-naphthalene-2-carbaldehyde with an IC(50) of 2.4 and 2.0 microM for IL-6 inhibition and an IC(50) of 15.6 and 7.0 microM for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) inhibition in THP-1 cells. The protein expression data were supported by the inhibitory effect on mRNA gene expression. The compounds isolated from H. ovalifolium were also non-toxic in human peripheral blood monocytes from normal donors and the activity profile was similar to that obtained on THP-1 cells. Thus, we believe that these scaffolds may be of interest to develop leads for treating rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and other inflammatory disorders. However, more detailed investigations need to be carried out to explain the efficacy of these compounds as drugs.

  7. Infrared Spectroscopy of Naphthalene Aggregation and Cluster Formation in Argon Matrices

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Roser, J. E.; Allamondola, L. J.

    2011-01-01

    Fourier-transform mid-infrared absorption spectra of mixed argon/naphthalene matrices at 5 K are shown with ratios of argon-to-naphthalene that vary from 1000 to 0. These spectra show the changes as naphthalene clustering and aggregation occurs, with moderate spectral shifts affecting the C-H vibrational modes and relatively small or no shifts to the C-C and C-C-C vibrational modes. The possible contribution of homogeneous naphthalene clusters to the interstellar unidentified infrared bands is discussed. The contribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) clusters to the 7.7 micron emission plateau and the blue shading of the 12.7 micron emission band are identified as promising candidates for future research. In addition, since PAH clusters are model components of Jupiter and Titan's atmospheres, the information presented here may also be applicable to the spectroscopy of these objects.

  8. Effects of secondary carbon supplement on biofilm-mediated biodegradation of naphthalene by mutated naphthalene 1, 2-dioxygenase encoded by Pseudomonas putida strain KD9.

    PubMed

    Dutta, Kunal; Shityakov, Sergey; Khalifa, Ibrahim; Mal, Arpan; Moulik, Satya Priya; Panda, Amiya Kumar; Ghosh, Chandradipa

    2018-05-18

    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) belong to a diverse group of environmental pollutants distributed ubiquitously in the environment. The carcinogenic properties of PAHs are the main causes of harm to human health. The green technology, biodegradation have become convenient options to address the environmental pollution. In this study, we analyzed the biodegradation potential of naphthalene with secondary carbon supplements (SCSs) in carbon deficient media (CSM) by Pseudomonas putida strain KD9 isolated from oil refinerary waste. The rigid-flexible molecular docking method revealed that the mutated naphthalene 1,2-dioxygenase had lower affinity for naphthalene than that found in wild type strain. Moreover, analytical methods (HPLC, qRT-PCR) and soft agar chemotaxis suggest sucrose (0.5 wt%) to be the best chemo-attractant and it unequivocally caused enhanced biodegradation of naphthalene (500 mg L -1 ) in both biofilm-mediated and shake-flask biodegradation methods. In addition, the morphological analysis detected from microscopy clearly showed KD9 to change its size and shape (rod to pointed) during biodegradation of naphthalene in CSM as sole source of carbon and energy. The forward versus side light scatter plot of the singlet cells obtained from flow cytometry suggests smaller cell size in CSM and lower florescence intensity of the total DNA content of cells. This study concludes that sucrose may be used as potential bio-stimulation agent. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  9. Aromatic-degrading Sphingomonas isolates from the deep subsurface

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Fredrickson, J.K.; Romine, M.F.; Balkwill, D.L.

    An obligately aerobic chemoheterotrophic bacterium (strain F199) previously isolated from Southeast Coastal Plain subsurface sediments and shown to degrade toluene, naphthalene, and other aromatic compounds was characterized by analysis of its 16S rRNA nucleotide base sequence and cellular lipid composition. Strain F199 contained 2-OH14:0 and 18:1{omega}7c as the predominant cellular fatty acids and sphingolipids that are characteristic of the genus Sphingomonas. Phylogenetic analysis of its 16SrRNA sequence indicated that F199 was most closely related to Sphingomonas capsulata among the bacteria currently in the Ribosomal Database. Five additional isolates from deep Southeast Coastal Plain sediments were determined by 16S rRNA sequencemore » analysis to be closely related to F199. These strains also contained characteristic sphingolipids. Four of these five strains could also grow on a broad range of aromatic compounds and could mineralize [{sup 14C}]toluene and [{sup 14C}]naphthalene. S. capsulata (ATCC 14666), Sphingomonas paucimobiolis (ATCC 29837), and one of the subsurface isolates were unable to grow on any of the aromatic compounds or mineralize toluene or naphthalene. These results indicate that bacteria within the genus Sphingomonas are present in Southeast Coastal Plain subsurface sediments and that the capacity for degrading a broad range of substituted aromatic compounds appears to be common among Sphingomonas species from this environment. 41 refs., 2 figs., 5 tabs.« less

  10. MEASUREMENT OF HEMOGLOBIN AND ALBUMIN ADDUCTS OF NAPHTHALENE-1,2-OXIDE, 1,2-NAPHTHOQUINONE AND 1,4-NAPHTHOQUINONE AFTER ADMINISTRATION OF NAPHTHALENE TO F344 RATS

    EPA Science Inventory

    Naphthalene-1,2-oxide (NPO), 1,2-naphthoquinone (1,2-NPQ) and 1,4-naphthoquinone (1,4-NPQ) are the major metabolites of naphthalene that are thought to be responsible for the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of this chemical. We measured cysteinyl adducts of these metabolites in ...

  11. Optical biosensor for environmental on-line monitoring of naphthalene and salicylate bioavailability with an immobilized bioluminescent catabolic reporter bacterium.

    PubMed Central

    Heitzer, A; Malachowsky, K; Thonnard, J E; Bienkowski, P R; White, D C; Sayler, G S

    1994-01-01

    An optical whole-cell biosensor based on a genetically engineered bioluminescent catabolic reporter bacterium was developed for continuous on-line monitoring of naphthalene and salicylate bioavailability and microbial catabolic activity potential in waste streams. The bioluminescent reporter bacterium, Pseudomonas fluorescens HK44, carries a transcriptional nahG-luxCDABE fusion for naphthalene and salicylate catabolism. Exposure to either compound resulted in inducible bioluminescence. The reporter culture was immobilized onto the surface of an optical light guide by using strontium alginate. This biosensor probe was then inserted into a measurement cell which simultaneously received the waste stream solution and a maintenance medium. Exposure under defined conditions to both naphthalene and salicylate resulted in a rapid increase in bioluminescence. The magnitude of the response and the response time were concentration dependent. Good reproducibility of the response was observed during repetitive perturbations with either naphthalene or salicylate. Exposure to other compounds, such as glucose and complex nutrient medium or toluene, resulted in either minor bioluminescence increases after significantly longer response times compared with naphthalene or no response, respectively. The environmental utility of the biosensor was tested by using real pollutant mixtures. A specific bioluminescence response was obtained after exposure to either an aqueous solution saturated with JP-4 jet fuel or an aqueous leachate from a manufactured-gas plant soil, since naphthalene was present in both pollutant mixtures. PMID:8017932

  12. Visualization of Capsule Reentry Vehicle Heat Shield Ablation Using Naphthalene PLIF

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Combs, Christopher S.; Clemens, Noel T.; Danehy, Paul M.

    2014-01-01

    The Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) will use an ablative heat shield and improved understanding of the ablation process would be beneficial for design purposes. Given that ablation is a multi-physics process involving heat and mass transfer, codes aiming to predict heat shield ablation are in need of experimental data pertaining to the turbulent transport of ablation products for validation. At The University of Texas at Austin, a technique is being developed that uses planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) of a low-temperature sublimating ablator (naphthalene) to visualize the transport of ablation products in a supersonic flow. Since ablation at reentry temperatures can be difficult to recreate in a laboratory setting it is desirable to create a limited physics problem and simulate the ablation process at relatively low temperature conditions using naphthalene. A scaled Orion MPCV model with a solid naphthalene heat shield has been tested in a Mach 5 wind tunnel at various angles of attack in the current work. PLIF imaging reveals the distribution of the ablation products as they are transported into the heat-shield boundary layer and over the capsule shoulders into the separated shear layer and backshell recirculation region. Visualizations of the capsule shear layer using both naphthalene PLIF and Schlieren imaging compared favorably. High concentrations of naphthalene in the capsule separated flow region, intermittent turbulent structures on the heat shield surface, and interesting details of the capsule shear layer structure were observed using the naphthalene PLIF technique. The capsule shear layer was also shown to generally appear to be more turbulent at lower angles of attack. Furthermore, the PLIF signal increased steadily over the course of a run indicating that during a wind tunnel run the model heated up and the rate of naphthalene ablation increased. The shear layer showed increasing signs of turbulence over the course of a wind tunnel run

  13. Behavior of 2,6-bis(decyloxy)naphthalene inside lipid bilayer.

    PubMed

    Kepczynski, Mariusz; Kumorek, Marta; Stepniewski, Michał; Róg, Tomasz; Kozik, Bartłomiej; Jamróz, Dorota; Bednar, Jan; Nowakowska, Maria

    2010-12-02

    Interactions between small organic molecules and lipid or cell membranes are important because of their role in the distribution of biologically active substances inside the membrane and their permeation through the cell membranes. In the current paper, we have explored the effect of the attachment of long hydrocarbon tails on the behavior of small organic molecule inside the lipid membrane. Naphthalene with two decyloxy groups attached at the opposite sites of the ring (2,6-bis(decyloxy)naphthalene, 3) was synthesized and incorporated into phosphatidylcholine (PC) vesicles. Fluorescence methods as well as molecular dynamic (MD) simulations were used to estimate the position, orientation, and migration of compound 3 in PC bilayer. It was found that the naphthalene ring of compound 3 resides in the upper acyl chain region of the bilayer and the hydrocarbon tails are directed to the center of the bilayer. As was shown with cryotransmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM), such lipidlike conformation enables compound 3 to be incorporated into liposomes at a very high content without their disintegration. Moreover, compound 3 can migrate from one leaflet to other. The mechanism of this process is, however, different from that characteristic of the flip-flop event of lipid molecules in the membrane. Finally, the possible application of compound 3 as a rotational molecular probe for monitoring fluidity of liposomal membrane in the acyl side chain region was checked by studies of the effect of cholesterol on the fluorescence anisotropy of 3.

  14. Cometabolic Degradation of Naproxen by Planococcus sp. Strain S5.

    PubMed

    Domaradzka, Dorota; Guzik, Urszula; Hupert-Kocurek, Katarzyna; Wojcieszyńska, Danuta

    Naproxen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug frequently detected in the influent and effluent of sewage treatment plants. The Gram-positive strain Planococcus sp. S5 was able to remove approximately 30 % of naproxen after 35 days of incubation in monosubstrate culture. Under cometabolic conditions, with glucose or phenol as a growth substrate, the degradation efficiency of S5 increased. During 35 days of incubation, 75.14 ± 1.71 % and 86.27 ± 2.09 % of naproxen was degraded in the presence of glucose and phenol, respectively. The highest rate of naproxen degradation observed in the presence of phenol may be connected with the fact that phenol is known to induce enzymes responsible for aromatic ring cleavage. The activity of phenol monooxygenase, naphthalene monooxygenase, and hydroxyquinol 1,2-dioxygenase was indicated in Planococcus sp. S5 culture with glucose or phenol as a growth substrate. It is suggested that these enzymes may be engaged in naproxen degradation.

  15. Simultaneous Quantification of Multiple Urinary Naphthalene Metabolites by Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry

    PubMed Central

    Ayala, Daniel C.; Morin, Dexter; Buckpitt, Alan R.

    2015-01-01

    Naphthalene is an environmental toxicant to which humans are exposed. Naphthalene causes dose-dependent cytotoxicity to murine airway epithelial cells but a link between exposure and human pulmonary disease has not been established. Naphthalene toxicity in rodents depends on P450 metabolism. Subsequent biotransformation results in urinary elimination of several conjugated metabolites. Glucuronide and sulfate conjugates of naphthols have been used as markers of naphthalene exposure but, as the current studies demonstrate, these assays provide a limited view of the range of metabolites generated from the parent hydrocarbon. Here, we present a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method for measurement of the glucuronide and sulfate conjugates of 1-naphthol as well as the mercapturic acids and N-acetyl glutathione conjugates from naphthalene epoxide. Standard curves were linear over 2 log orders. On column detection limits varied from 0.91 to 3.4 ng; limits of quantitation from 1.8 to 6.4 ng. The accuracy of measurement of spiked urine standards was -13.1 to + 5.2% of target and intra-day and inter-day variability averaged 7.2 (± 4.5) and 6.8 (± 5.0) %, respectively. Application of the method to urine collected from mice exposed to naphthalene at 15 ppm (4 hrs) showed that glutathione-derived metabolites accounted for 60-70% of the total measured metabolites and sulfate and glucuronide conjugates were eliminated in equal amounts. The method is robust and directly measures several major naphthalene metabolites including those derived from glutathione conjugation of naphthalene epoxide. The assays do not require enzymatic deconjugation, extraction or derivatization thus simplifying sample work up. PMID:25853821

  16. Polyaniline nanotubes and their dendrites doped with different naphthalene sulfonic acids

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Zhang Zhiming; Chemistry and Chemical Engineering College, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003; Wei Zhixiang

    2005-03-01

    Polyaniline (PANI) nanotubes (130-250 nm in average diameter) doped with {alpha}-naphthalene sulfonic acid ({alpha}-NSA), {beta}-naphthalene sulfonic acid ({beta}-NSA) and 1,5-naphthalene disulfonic acid were synthesized via a self-assembly process. It was found that the formation yield, morphology (hollow or solid), size, crystalline and electrical properties of the nanostructures are affected by the position and number of -SO{sub 3}H groups attached to the naphthalene ring of NSA as well as the synthesis conditions. Moreover, these nanotubes aggregate to form a dendritic morphology when the polymerization is performed at a static state. The micelles composed of dopant or dopant/anilinium cations might act inmore » a template-like fashion in forming self-assembled PANI nanotubes, which was further confirmed by X-ray diffraction measurements, while the aggregated morphology of the nanotubes might result from polymer chain interactions including {pi}-{pi} interactions, hydrogen and ionic bonds.« less

  17. Influence of surface oxides on the adsorption of naphthalene onto multiwalled carbon nanotubes.

    PubMed

    Cho, Hyun-Hee; Smith, Billy A; Wnuk, Joshua D; Fairbrother, D Howard; Ball, William P

    2008-04-15

    As greater quantities of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) enter the environment, they will have an increasingly important effect on the availability and transport of aqueous contaminants. As a consequence of purification, deliberate surface functionalization, and/or exposure to oxidizing agents after release to the environment, CNTs often contain surface oxides (i.e., oxygen containing functional groups). To probe the influence that surface oxides exert on CNT sorption properties, multiwalled CNTs (MWCNTs) with varying oxygen concentrations were studied with respect to their sorption properties toward naphthalene. For pristine (as-received) MWCNTs, the sorption capacity was intermediate between that of a natural char and a granular activated carbon. Sorption data also reveal that a linear relationship exists between the oxygen content of MWCNTs and their maximum adsorption capacity for naphthalene, with 10% surface oxygen concentration resulting in a roughly 70% decrease in maximum adsorption capacity. The relative distribution of sorption energies, as characterized by Freundlich isotherm exponents was, however, unaffected by oxidation. Thus, the data are consistent with the idea that incorporated surface oxides create polar regions that reduce the surface area available for naphthalene sorption. These results highlight the important role of surface chemistry in controlling the environmental properties of CNTs.

  18. Enhanced polyaromatic hydrocarbon degradation by adapted cultures of actinomycete strains.

    PubMed

    Bourguignon, Natalia; Isaac, Paula; Alvarez, Héctor; Amoroso, María J; Ferrero, Marcela A

    2014-12-01

    Fifteen actinomycete strains were evaluated for their potential use in removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Their capability to degrade of naphthalene, phenanthrene, and pyrene was tested in minimal medium (MM) and MM with glucose as another substrate. Degradation of naphthalene in MM was observed in all isolates at different rates, reaching maximum values near to 76% in some strains of Streptomyces, Rhodococcus sp. 016 and Amycolatopsis tucumanensis DSM 45259. Maximum values of degradation of phenanthrene in MM occurred in cultures of A. tucumanensis DSM 45259 (36.2%) and Streptomyces sp. A12 (20%), while the degradation of pyrene in MM was poor and only significant with Streptomyces sp. A12 (4.3%). Because of the poor performance when growing on phenanthrene and pyrene alone, Rhodococcus sp. 20, Rhodococcus sp. 016, A. tucumanensis DSM 45259, Streptomyces sp. A2, and Streptomyces sp. A12 were challenged to an adaptation schedule of successive cultures on a fresh solid medium supplemented with PAHs, decreasing concentration of glucose in each step. As a result, an enhanced degradation of PAHs by adapted strains was observed in the presence of glucose as co-substrate, without degradation of phenanthrene and pyrene in MM while an increase to up to 50% of degradation was seen with these strains in glucose amended media. An internal fragment of the catA gene, which codes for catechol 1,2-dioxygenase, was amplified from both Rhodococcus strains, showing the potential for degradation of aromatic compounds via salycilate. These results allow us to propose the usefulness of these actinomycete strains for PAH bioremediation in the environment. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  19. Influence of the presence of PAHs and coal tar on naphthalene sorption in soils

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bayard, Rémy; Barna, Ligia; Mahjoub, Borhane; Gourdon, Rémy

    2000-11-01

    The mobility of the most water-soluble polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) such as naphthalene in contaminated soils from manufactured gas plant (MGP) sites or other similar sites is influenced not only by the naturally occurring soil organic matter (SOM) but also, and in many cases mostly, by the nature and concentration of coal tar xenobiotic organic matter (XOM) and other PAH molecules present in the medium under various physical states. The objective of the present study was to quantify the effects of these factors using batch experiments, in order to simulate naphthalene transport in soil-tar-water systems using column experiments. Naphthalene sorption was studied in the presence of (i) solid coal tar particles, (ii) phenanthrene supplied as pure crystals, in the aqueous solution or already sorbed onto the soil, (iii) fluoranthene as pure crystals, and (iv) an aqueous solution of organic molecules extracted from a liquid tar. All experiments were conducted under abiotic conditions using short naphthalene/sorbent contact times of 24-60 h. Although these tests do not reflect true equilibrium conditions which usually take more time to establish, they were used to segregate relatively rapid sorption phenomena ("pseudo equilibrium") from slow sorption and other aging phenomena. For longer contact times, published data have shown that experimental biases due to progressive changes in the characteristics of the soil and the solution may drastically modify the affinity of the solutes for the soil. Slow diffusion in the microporosity and in dense organic phases may also become significant over the long term, along with some irreversible aging phenomena which have not been addressed in this work. Results showed that PAHs had no effect on naphthalene sorption when present in the aqueous solution or as pure crystals, due to their low solubility in water. Adsorbed phenanthrene was found to reduce naphthalene adsorption only when present at relatively high

  20. Estrogen Degraders and Estrogen Degradation Pathway Identified in an Activated Sludge.

    PubMed

    Chen, Yi-Lung; Fu, Han-Yi; Lee, Tzong-Huei; Shih, Chao-Jen; Huang, Lina; Wang, Yu-Sheng; Ismail, Wael; Chiang, Yin-Ru

    2018-05-15

    The environmental release and fate of estrogens are becoming an increasing public concern. Bacterial degradation has been considered the main process for eliminating estrogens from wastewater treatment plants. Various bacterial isolates are reportedly capable of aerobic estrogen degradation, and several estrogen degradation pathways have been proposed in proteobacteria and actinobacteria. However, the ecophysiological relevance of estrogen-degrading bacteria in the environment is unclear. In this study, we investigated the estrogen degradation pathway and corresponding degraders in activated sludge collected from the Dihua Sewage Treatment Plant, Taipei, Taiwan. Cultivation-dependent and cultivation-independent methods were used to assess estrogen biodegradation in the collected activated sludge. Estrogen metabolite profile analysis revealed the production of pyridinestrone acid and two A/B-ring cleavage products in activated sludge incubated with estrone (1 mM), which are characteristic of the 4,5- seco pathway. PCR-based functional assays detected sequences closely related to alphaproteobacterial oecC , a key gene of the 4,5- seco pathway. Metagenomic analysis suggested that Novosphingobium spp. are major estrogen degraders in estrone-amended activated sludge. Novosphingobium sp. strain SLCC, an estrone-degrading alphaproteobacterium, was isolated from the examined activated sludge. The general physiology and metabolism of this strain were characterized. Pyridinestrone acid and the A/B-ring cleavage products were detected in estrone-grown strain SLCC cultures. The production of pyridinestrone acid was also observed during the aerobic incubation of strain SLCC with 3.7 nM (1 μg/liter) estrone. This concentration is close to that detected in many natural and engineered aquatic ecosystems. The presented data suggest the ecophysiological relevance of Novosphingobium spp. in activated sludge. IMPORTANCE Estrogens, which persistently contaminate surface water

  1. Microwave-assisted intramolecular dehydrogenative Diels-Alder reactions for the synthesis of functionalized naphthalenes/solvatochromic dyes.

    PubMed

    Kocsis, Laura S; Benedetti, Erica; Brummond, Kay M

    2013-04-01

    Functionalized naphthalenes have applications in a variety of research fields ranging from the synthesis of natural or biologically active molecules to the preparation of new organic dyes. Although numerous strategies have been reported to access naphthalene scaffolds, many procedures still present limitations in terms of incorporating functionality, which in turn narrows the range of available substrates. The development of versatile methods for direct access to substituted naphthalenes is therefore highly desirable. The Diels-Alder (DA) cycloaddition reaction is a powerful and attractive method for the formation of saturated and unsaturated ring systems from readily available starting materials. A new microwave-assisted intramolecular dehydrogenative DA reaction of styrenyl derivatives described herein generates a variety of functionalized cyclopenta[b]naphthalenes that could not be prepared using existing synthetic methods. When compared to conventional heating, microwave irradiation accelerates reaction rates, enhances yields, and limits the formation of undesired byproducts. The utility of this protocol is further demonstrated by the conversion of a DA cycloadduct into a novel solvatochromic fluorescent dye via a Buchwald-Hartwig palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction. Fluorescence spectroscopy, as an informative and sensitive analytical technique, plays a key role in research fields including environmental science, medicine, pharmacology, and cellular biology. Access to a variety of new organic fluorophores provided by the microwave-assisted dehydrogenative DA reaction allows for further advancement in these fields.

  2. Microwave-assisted Intramolecular Dehydrogenative Diels-Alder Reactions for the Synthesis of Functionalized Naphthalenes/Solvatochromic Dyes

    PubMed Central

    Kocsis, Laura S.; Benedetti, Erica; Brummond, Kay M.

    2013-01-01

    Functionalized naphthalenes have applications in a variety of research fields ranging from the synthesis of natural or biologically active molecules to the preparation of new organic dyes. Although numerous strategies have been reported to access naphthalene scaffolds, many procedures still present limitations in terms of incorporating functionality, which in turn narrows the range of available substrates. The development of versatile methods for direct access to substituted naphthalenes is therefore highly desirable. The Diels-Alder (DA) cycloaddition reaction is a powerful and attractive method for the formation of saturated and unsaturated ring systems from readily available starting materials. A new microwave-assisted intramolecular dehydrogenative DA reaction of styrenyl derivatives described herein generates a variety of functionalized cyclopenta[b]naphthalenes that could not be prepared using existing synthetic methods. When compared to conventional heating, microwave irradiation accelerates reaction rates, enhances yields, and limits the formation of undesired byproducts. The utility of this protocol is further demonstrated by the conversion of a DA cycloadduct into a novel solvatochromic fluorescent dye via a Buchwald-Hartwig palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction. Fluorescence spectroscopy, as an informative and sensitive analytical technique, plays a key role in research fields including environmental science, medicine, pharmacology, and cellular biology. Access to a variety of new organic fluorophores provided by the microwave-assisted dehydrogenative DA reaction allows for further advancement in these fields. PMID:23609566

  3. Thalassospira permensis sp. nov., a new terrestrial halotolerant bacterium isolated from a naphthalene-utilizing microbial consortium.

    PubMed

    Plotnikova, E G; Anan'ina, L N; Krausova, V I; Ariskina, E V; Prisyazhnaya, N V; Lebedev, A T; Demakov, V A; Evtushenko, L I

    2011-01-01

    A halotolerant bacterium, strain SMB34T, was isolated from a naphthalene-utilizing bacterial consortium obtained from primitive technogeneous soil (Vrkhnekamsk salt deposit, Perm region, Russia) by enrichment procedure. The strain itself was unable to degrade naphthalene and grew at NaCl concentrations up to 11% (w/v). The 16S rRNA-based phylogenetic analysis showed that the strain belongs to the genus Thalassospira. The DNA-DNA hybridization values between SMB34T and the type strains of phylogenetically closest species (T. xiamenensis, T. profundimaris and T. tepidiphila) did not exceed 50%. The novel strain could be distinguished from the above species by the cell motility, MALDI/TOF mass spectra of whole cells and a range of physiological and biochemical characteristics. SMB34T also considerably differs from the recently described species T. xianhensis, with the most striking differences in the DNA G + C content (53.7 +/- 1.0 vs. 61.2 +/- 1.0 mol.%) and predominant ubiquinones (Q-10 vs. Q-9). The data obtained suggest strain SMB34T (=VKM B-2527T = NBRC 106175T), designated as the type strain, represents a novel species, named Thalassospira permensis sp. nov.

  4. Thermal behavior and catalytic activity in naphthalene destruction of Ce-, Zr- and Mn-containing oxide layers on titanium

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vasilyeva, Marina S.; Rudnev, Vladimir S.; Wiedenmann, Florian; Wybornov, Svetlana; Yarovaya, Tatyana P.; Jiang, Xin

    2011-11-01

    The present paper is devoted to studies of the composition and surface structure, including those after annealing at high temperatures, and catalytic activity in the reaction of naphthalene destruction of Ce-, Zr- and Mn-containing oxide layers on titanium obtained by means of the plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) method. The composition and structure of the obtained systems were investigated using the methods of X-ray phase and energy dispersive analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was demonstrated that Ce- and Zr- containing structures had relatively high thermal stability: their element and phase compositions and surface structure underwent virtually no changes after annealing in the temperature range 600-800 °C. Annealing of Ce- and Zr-containing coatings in the temperature range 850-900 °C resulted in substantial changes of their surface composition and structure: a relatively homogeneous and porous surface becomes coated by large pole-like crystals. The catalytic studies showed rather high activity of Ce- and Zr-containing coatings in the reaction of naphthalene destruction at temperatures up to 850 °C. Mn-containing structures of the type MnOx + SiO2 + TiO2/Ti have a well-developed surface coated by “nano-whiskers”. The phase composition and surface structure of manganese-containing layers changes dramatically in the course of thermal treatment. After annealing above 600 °C nano-whiskers vanish with formation of molten structures on the surface. The Mn-containing oxide systems demonstrated lower conversion degrees than the Ce- and Zr-containing coatings, which can be attributed to substantial surface modification and formation of molten manganese silicates at high temperatures.

  5. Differentiation of naphthalene and paradichlorobenzene mothballs based on their difference in specific gravity.

    PubMed

    Fukuda, T; Koyama, K; Yamashita, M; Koichi, N; Takeda, M

    1991-08-01

    The present study was conducted to measure the specific gravities of paradichlorobenzene and naphthalene mothballs and compare them with the specific gravity of a saturated aqueous solution of sodium chloride (1.197). The specific gravities of 450 paradichlorobenzene mothballs from 5 manufactures and 150 naphthalene mothballs from 2 manufactures were measured with a specific gravity meter. The mean specific gravities of paradichlorobenzene mothballs were between 1.429 and 1.437 (p = 0.99). On the other hand, the mean specific gravities of naphthalene mothballs were between 1.094 and 1.100 (p = 0.99). Based on the fact that paradichlorobenzene mothballs sink in a saturated solution of salt whereas naphthalene mothballs float on it, these 2 kinds of mothballs ought to be rapidly and accurately distinguished in clinical settings.

  6. Interrelation of nonequivalent Csbnd C bonds of naphthalene frame and spatial orientation of substituents: Beta-naphthalene sulfonyl fluoride and beta-naphthalene sulfonyl chloride

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Giricheva, Nina I.; Petrov, Vjacheslav M.; Oberhammer, Heinz; Petrova, Valentina N.; Dakkouri, Marwan; Ivanov, Sergey N.; Girichev, Georgiy V.

    2013-06-01

    β-naphthalene sulfonyl fluoride, β-NaphSF, and β-naphthalene sulfonyl chloride, β-NaphSCl, were studied by gas-phase electron diffraction (GED) and quantum chemical calculations (B3LYP and MP2 in combination with cc-pVDZ, aug-cc-pVDZ and cc-pVTZ basis sets). For each compound the calculations predicted the existence of two conformers which are enantiomers. On the basis of the experimental data it was found that the gas phase over β-NaphSF and NaphSCl at 357(5) K and 395(5) K, respectively, consists of molecular species of C1 symmetry in which the Cβsbnd Ssbnd Hal plane deviates from the perpendicular orientation relative to the naphthalene skeleton plane. The following geometrical parameters (Å and degrees) were obtained from the experiment (uncertainties are in parentheses): rh1(Csbnd H)aver. = 1.097(7), rh1(Csbnd C)aver. = 1.410(3), rh1(Csbnd S) = 1.753(6), rh1(Ssbnd O)aver. = 1.414(4), rh1(Ssbnd F) = 1.559(5), ∠Csbnd Cβsbnd C = 122.8(3), ∠Cβsbnd Ssbnd F = 103.3(30); Φ(Cαsbnd Cβsbnd Ssbnd F) = 104(6) for β-NaphSF, and rh1(Csbnd H)aver. = 1.089(4), rh1(Csbnd C)aver. = 1.411(3), rh1(Csbnd S) = 1.757(5), rh1(Ssbnd O)aver. = 1.419(3), rh1(Ssbnd Сl) = 2.053(4), ∠Csbnd Cβsbnd C = 122.8(1), ∠Cβsbnd Ssbnd Cl = 102.2(7), Φ(Cαsbnd Cβsbnd Ssbnd Cl) = 108(3) for β-NaphSCl. The calculated barriers to internal rotation of the sulfonyl halide groups exceed considerably the thermal energy values corresponding to the temperatures of the GED experiments. Natural bond orbital (NBO) analyses of the electron density distribution were applied to explain the peculiarities of the molecular structure of the studied compounds and the deviation from the structures of their benzene analogs.

  7. Photoinduced DNA Interstrand Cross-Link Formation by Naphthalene Boronates via a Carbocation.

    PubMed

    Wang, Yibin; Lin, Zechao; Fan, Heli; Peng, Xiaohua

    2016-07-18

    Most photoinduced DNA cross-link formation by a bifunctional aryl derivative is through a bisquinone methide. DNA cross-linking via a bisarylcarbocation remains a less explored area. We designed and synthesized a series of naphthalene boronates that produce DNA interstrand cross-links via a carbocation upon UV irradiation. A free radical was generated from the naphthalene boronates with 350 nm irradiation and further converted to a carbocation by electron transfer. The activation mechanism was determined using the orthogonal traps, 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-oxyl (TEMPO) and methoxyamine that react with either the free radical or the carbocation but not both. This represents a novel example of photoinduced DNA cross-link formation via carbocations generated from a bisaryl derivative. This work provides information useful for the design of novel photoactivated DNA cross-linking agents. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  8. Accumulation of 14C-naphthalene in the tissues of redhead ducks fed oil-contaminated crayfish

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Tarshis, I.B.; Rattner, B.A.

    1982-01-01

    Crayfish, artificially contaminated with14C-naphthalene-5% water-soluble fraction of No. 2 fuel oil, were force-fed to one-year-old redhead ducks to determine the accumulation of petroleum hydrocarbons. The relative distribution of carbon-14 activity in the gall bladder containing bile, and fat were similar, and significantly greater (P < 0.05) than the activity in the blood, brain, liver, and kidney. There was a significant increase (P < 0.05) in the disintegrations per minute per gram (dpm/g) in the blood, brain, kidney, and liver between days 1 and 3 of feeding, indicating a progressive accumulation of carbon-14 activity (naphthalene and presumably its metabolites). There was no significant effect of sex or the interaction of the duration of feeding and sex on carbon-14 activity in any of the tissues. The low daily dose of petroleum hydrocarbons (a total of approximately 1.25 mg/day) received by the ducks from the crayfish and the relatively short feeding regimen did not cause any overt signs of toxicity in the ducks.

  9. Hypothesis-based weight-of-evidence evaluation and risk assessment for naphthalene carcinogenesis

    PubMed Central

    Bailey, Lisa A.; Nascarella, Marc A.; Kerper, Laura E.; Rhomberg, Lorenz R.

    2016-01-01

    Inhalation of naphthalene causes olfactory epithelial nasal tumors in rats (but not in mice) and benign lung adenomas in mice (but not in rats). The limited available human data have not identified an association between naphthalene exposure and increased respiratory cancer risk. Assessing naphthalene's carcinogenicity in humans, therefore, depends entirely on experimental evidence from rodents. We evaluated the respiratory carcinogenicity of naphthalene in rodents, and its potential relevance to humans, using our Hypothesis-Based Weight-of-Evidence (HBWoE) approach. We systematically and comparatively reviewed data relevant to key elements in the hypothesized modes of action (MoA) to determine which is best supported by the available data, allowing all of the data from each realm of investigation to inform interpretation of one another. Our analysis supports a mechanism that involves initial metabolism of naphthalene to the epoxide, followed by GSH depletion, cytotoxicity, chronic inflammation, regenerative hyperplasia, and tumor formation, with possible weak genotoxicity from downstream metabolites occurring only at high cytotoxic doses, strongly supporting a non-mutagenic threshold MoA in the rat nose. We also conducted a dose–response analysis, based on the likely MoA, which suggests that the rat nasal MoA is not relevant in human respiratory tissues at typical environmental exposures. Our analysis illustrates how a thorough WoE evaluation can be used to support a MoA, even when a mechanism of action cannot be fully elucidated. A non-mutagenic threshold MoA for naphthalene-induced rat nasal tumors should be considered as a basis to determine human relevance and to guide regulatory and risk-management decisions. PMID:26202831

  10. STABILITY OF HEMOGLOBIN AND ALBUMIN ADDUCTS OF NAPHTHALENE OXIDE, 1,2-NAPHTHOQUINONE, AND 1,4-NAPHTHOQUINONE

    EPA Science Inventory

    Naphthalene is an important industrial chemical, which has recently been shown to cause tumors of the respiratory tract in rodents. It is thought that one or more reactive metabolites of naphthalene, namely, naphthalene-1,2-oxide (NPO), 1,2-naphthoquinone (1,2-NPQ), and 1,4-na...

  11. Alkylation effects on the energy transfer of highly vibrationally excited naphthalene.

    PubMed

    Hsu, Hsu Chen; Tsai, Ming-Tsang; Dyakov, Yuri A; Ni, Chi-Kung

    2011-11-04

    The energy transfer of highly vibrationally excited isomers of dimethylnaphthalene and 2-ethylnaphthalene in collisions with krypton were investigated using crossed molecular beam/time-of-flight mass spectrometer/time-sliced velocity map ion imaging techniques at a collision energy of approximately 300 cm(-1). Angular-resolved energy-transfer distribution functions were obtained directly from the images of inelastic scattering. The results show that alkyl-substituted naphthalenes transfer more vibrational energy to translational energy than unsubstituted naphthalene. Alkylation enhances the V→T energy transfer in the range -ΔE(d)=-100~-1500 cm(-1) by approximately a factor of 2. However, the maximum values of V→T energy transfer for alkyl-substituted naphthalenes are about 1500~2000 cm(-1), which is similar to that of naphthalene. The lack of rotation-like wide-angle motion of the aromatic ring and no enhancement in very large V→T energy transfer, like supercollisions, indicates that very large V→T energy transfer requires special vibrational motions. This transfer cannot be achieved by the low-frequency vibrational motions of alkyl groups. Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  12. Fate and degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in stormwater bioretention cells

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    LeFevre, Gregory Hallett

    This dissertation describes the investigation of the fate of hydrocarbons in stormwater bioretention areas and those mechanisms that affect hydrocarbon fate in such systems. Seventy-five samples from 58 bioretention areas were collected and analyzed to measure total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) residual and biodegradation functional genes. TPH residual in bioretention areas was greater than background sites but low overall (<3 µg/kg), and well below either the TPH concentration of concern or the expected concentration, assuming no losses. Bioretention areas with deep-root vegetation contained significantly greater quantites of bacterial 16S rRNA genes and two functional genes involved in hydrocarbon biodegradation. Field soils were capable of mineralizing naphthalene, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) when incubated in the laboratory. In an additional laboratory investigation, a column study was initiated to comprehensively determine naphthalene fate in a simulated bioretention cell using a 14C-labeled tracer. Sorption to soil was the greatest sink of naphthalene in the columns, although biodegradation and vegetative uptake were also important loss mechanisms. Little leaching occurred following the first flush, and volatilization was insignificant. Significant enrichment of naphthalene degrading bacteria occurred over the course of the experiment as a result of naphthalene exposure. This was evident from enhanced naphthalene biodegradation kinetics (measured via batch tests), significant increases in naphthalene dioxygenase gene quantities, and a significant correlation observed between naphthalene residual and biodegradation functional genes. Vegetated columns outperformed the unplanted control column in terms of total naphthalene removal and biodegradation kinetics. As a result of these experiments, a final study focused on why planted systems outperform unplanted systems was conducted. Plant root exudates were harvested from hydroponic setups for three

  13. Naphthalene, an insect repellent, is produced by Muscodor vitigenus, a novel endophytic fungus

    Treesearch

    Bryn H. Daisy; Gary A. Strobel; Uvidelio Castillo; David Ezra; Joe Sears; David K. Weaver; Justin B. Runyon

    2002-01-01

    Muscodor vitigenus is a recently described endophytic fungus of Paullinia paullinioides, a liana growing in the understorey of the rainforests of the Peruvian Amazon. This fungus produces naphthalene under certain cultural conditions. Naphthalene produced by M. vitigenus was identified by gas chromatography/mass...

  14. A Thermal Dehydrogenative Diels–Alder Reaction of Styrenes for the Concise Synthesis of Functionalized Naphthalenes

    PubMed Central

    Kocsis, Laura S.; Benedetti, Erica

    2012-01-01

    Functionalized naphthalenes are valuable building blocks in many important areas. A microwave-assisted, intramolecular dehydrogenative Diels-Alder reaction of styrenyl derivatives to provide cyclopenta[b]naphthalene substructures not previously accessible using existing synthetic methods is described. The synthetic utility of these uniquely functionalized naphthalenes was demonstrated by a single-step conversion of one of these cycloadducts to a fluorophore bearing a structural resemblance to Prodan. PMID:22913473

  15. A thermal dehydrogenative Diels-Alder reaction of styrenes for the concise synthesis of functionalized naphthalenes.

    PubMed

    Kocsis, Laura S; Benedetti, Erica; Brummond, Kay M

    2012-09-07

    Functionalized naphthalenes are valuable building blocks in many important areas. A microwave-assisted, intramolecular dehydrogenative Diels-Alder reaction of styrenyl derivatives to provide cyclopenta[b]naphthalene substructures not previously accessible using existing synthetic methods is described. The synthetic utility of these uniquely functionalized naphthalenes was demonstrated by a single-step conversion of one of these cycloadducts to a fluorophore bearing a structural resemblance to Prodan.

  16. Microcosm studies of subsurface PAH-degrading bacteria from a former manufactured gas plant

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Durant, Neal D.; Wilson, Liza P.; Bouwer, Edward J.

    1995-01-01

    A study was conducted to evaluate the potential for natural in situ biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH's) in the subsurface at the site of a former manufactured gas plant. Fifty-seven samples of unconsolidated subsurface sediments were aseptically obtained from five boreholes across the site. Bacteria capable of aerobically degrading PAH's without an acclimation period were detected throughout shallow (2.7 m) and deep (24.7 m) areas of the subsurface in both relatively clean (<20 μg L -1 naphthalene) and contaminated (4400 μg L -1 naphthalene) zones. Significant ( p < 0.05) quantities of naphthalene (8±3% to 43±7%) and/or phenanthrene (3±1% to 31±3%) were mineralized in sediment-groundwater microcosms during 4 weeks of aerobic incubation at 22°C. Three samples out of 11 were able to aerobically mineralize significant quantities of benzene (6±2% to 24±1%). Of 11 samples tested for anaerobic mineralization, naphthalene biodegradation (7±1% to 13±2%) in the presence of N03 was observed in two samples. Compound removals were first order with respect to substrate concentration during the first 10-15 days of incubation. Compound biodegradation plateaued in the later stages of incubation (15-40 days), most likely from diminishing bioavailability and nutrient and oxygen depletion. Population densities in the sediments were typically low, with viable aerobic counts ranging from 0 to 10 5 CFU gdw -1, viable anaerobic counts ranging from 0 to 104 CFU gdw -1, and total counts (AODC) usually 10-fold greater than viable counts. Total counts exhibited a strong ( p < 0.01) positive correlation with sample grain size. Viable aerobic and anaerobic populations commonly occurred in the same sample, suggesting the presence of facultative anaerobes. Bacteria were metabolically active in samples from groundwaters with low pH (3.7) and high naphthalene concentrations (11,000 μg L -1). Data from these enumeration and microcosm studies suggest that natural

  17. Benzene and naphthalene in air and breath as indicators of exposure to jet fuel

    PubMed Central

    Egeghy, P; Hauf-Cabalo, L; Gibson, R; Rappaport, S

    2003-01-01

    Aims: To estimate exposures to benzene and naphthalene among military personnel working with jet fuel (JP-8) and to determine whether naphthalene might serve as a surrogate for JP-8 in studies of health effects. Methods: Benzene and naphthalene were measured in air and breath of 326 personnel in the US Air Force, who had been assigned a priori into low, moderate, and high exposure categories for JP-8. Results: Median air concentrations for persons in the low, moderate, and high exposure categories were 3.1, 7.4, and 252 µg benzene/m3 air, 4.6, 9.0, and 11.4 µg benzene/m3 breath, 1.9, 10.3, and 485 µg naphthalene/m3 air, and 0.73, 0.93, and 1.83 µg naphthalene/m3 breath, respectively. In the moderate and high exposure categories, 5% and 15% of the benzene air concentrations, respectively, were above the 2002 threshold limit value (TLV) of 1.6 mg/m3. Multiple regression analyses of air and breath levels revealed prominent background sources of benzene exposure, including cigarette smoke. However, naphthalene exposure was not unduly influenced by sources other than JP-8. Among heavily exposed workers, dermal contact with JP-8 contributed to air and breath concentrations along with several physical and environmental factors. Conclusions: Personnel having regular contact with JP-8 are occasionally exposed to benzene at levels above the current TLV. Among heavily exposed workers, uptake of JP-8 components occurs via both inhalation and dermal contact. Naphthalene in air and breath can serve as useful measures of exposure to JP-8 and uptake of fuel components in the body. PMID:14634191

  18. 2,4-Dinitrotoluene dioxygenase from Burkholderia sp. strain DNT: similarity to naphthalene dioxygenase.

    PubMed Central

    Suen, W C; Haigler, B E; Spain, J C

    1996-01-01

    2,4-Dinitrotoluene (DNT) dioxygenase from Burkholderia sp. strain DNT catalyzes the initial oxidation of DNT to form 4-methyl-5-nitrocatechol (MNC) and nitrite. The displacement of the aromatic nitro group by dioxygenases has only recently been described, and nothing is known about the evolutionary origin of the enzyme systems that catalyze these reactions. We have shown previously that the gene encoding DNT dioxygenase is localized on a degradative plasmid within a 6.8-kb NsiI DNA fragment (W.-C. Suen and J. C. Spain, J. Bacteriol. 175:1831-1837, 1993). We describe here the sequence analysis and the substrate range of the enzyme system encoded by this fragment. Five open reading frames were identified, four of which have a high degree of similarity (59 to 78% identity) to the components of naphthalene dioxygenase (NDO) from Pseudomonas strains. The conserved amino acid residues within NDO that are involved in cofactor binding were also identified in the gene encoding DNT dioxygenase. An Escherichia coli clone that expressed DNT dioxygenase converted DNT to MNC and also converted naphthalene to (+)-cis-(1R,2S)-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydronaphthalene. In contrast, the E. coli clone that expressed NDO did not oxidize DNT. Furthermore, the enzyme systems exhibit similar broad substrate specificities and can oxidize such compounds as indole, indan, indene, phenetole, and acenaphthene. These results suggest that DNT dioxygenase and the NDO enzyme system share a common ancestor. PMID:8759857

  19. Energy transfer of highly vibrationally excited naphthalene: collisions with CHF3, CF4, and Kr.

    PubMed

    Chen Hsu, Hsu; Tsai, Ming-Tsang; Dyakov, Yuri A; Ni, Chi-Kung

    2011-08-07

    Energy transfer of highly vibrationally excited naphthalene in the triplet state in collisions with CHF(3), CF(4), and Kr was studied using a crossed-beam apparatus along with time-sliced velocity map ion imaging techniques. Highly vibrationally excited naphthalene (2.0 eV vibrational energy) was formed via the rapid intersystem crossing of naphthalene initially excited to the S(2) state by 266 nm photons. The shapes of the collisional energy-transfer probability density functions were measured directly from the scattering results of highly vibrationally excited naphthalene. In comparison to Kr atoms, the energy transfer in collisions between CHF(3) and naphthalene shows more forward scatterings, larger cross section for vibrational to translational (V → T) energy transfer, smaller cross section for translational to vibrational and rotational (T → VR) energy transfer, and more energy transferred from vibration to translation, especially in the range -ΔE(d) = -100 to -800 cm(-1). On the other hand, the difference of energy transfer properties between collisional partners Kr and CF(4) is small. The enhancement of the V → T energy transfer in collisions with CHF(3) is attributed to the large attractive interaction between naphthalene and CHF(3) (1-3 kcal/mol).

  20. Development of Naphthalene PLIF for Making Quantitative Measurements of Ablation Products Transport in Supersonic Flows

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Combs, Christopher; Clemens, Noel

    2014-11-01

    Ablation is a multi-physics process involving heat and mass transfer and codes aiming to predict ablation are in need of experimental data pertaining to the turbulent transport of ablation products for validation. Low-temperature sublimating ablators such as naphthalene can be used to create a limited physics problem and simulate ablation at relatively low temperature conditions. At The University of Texas at Austin, a technique is being developed that uses planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) of naphthalene to visualize the transport of ablation products in a supersonic flow. In the current work, naphthalene PLIF will be used to make quantitative measurements of the concentration of ablation products in a Mach 5 turbulent boundary layer. For this technique to be used for quantitative research in supersonic wind tunnel facilities, the fluorescence properties of naphthalene must first be investigated over a wide range of state conditions and excitation wavelengths. The resulting calibration of naphthalene fluorescence will be applied to the PLIF images of ablation from a boundary layer plug, yielding 2-D fields of naphthalene mole fraction. These images may help provide data necessary to validate computational models of ablative thermal protection systems for reentry vehicles. Work supported by NASA Space Technology Research Fellowship Program under grant NNX11AN55H.

  1. Infrared spectroscopy of hydrated naphthalene cluster anions.

    PubMed

    Knurr, Benjamin J; Adams, Christopher L; Weber, J Mathias

    2012-09-14

    We present infrared spectra of mass-selected C(10)H(8)(-)·(H(2)O)(n)·Ar(m) cluster anions (n = 1-6) obtained by Ar predissociation spectroscopy. The experimental spectra are compared with predicted spectra from density functional theory calculations. The OH groups of the water ligands are involved in H-bonds to other water molecules or to the π system of the naphthalene anion, which accommodates the excess electron. The interactions in the water network are generally found to be more important than those between water molecules and the ion. For 2 ≤ n ≤ 4 the water molecules form single layer water networks on one side of the naphthalene anion, while for n = 5 and 6, cage and multilayer structures become more energetically favorable. For cluster sizes with more than 3 water molecules, multiple conformers are likely to be responsible for the experimental spectra.

  2. Characterization of a Naphthalene Dioxygenase Endowed with an Exceptionally Broad Substrate Specificity Toward Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Jouanneau,Y.; Meyer, C.; Jakoncic, J.

    In Sphingomonas CHY-1, a single ring-hydroxylating dioxygenase is responsible for the initial attack of a range of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) composed of up to five rings. The components of this enzyme were separately purified and characterized. The oxygenase component (ht-PhnI) was shown to contain one Rieske-type [2Fe-2S] cluster and one mononuclear Fe center per {alpha} subunit, based on EPR measurements and iron assay. Steady-state kinetic measurements revealed that the enzyme had a relatively low apparent Michaelis constant for naphthalene (K{sub m} = 0.92 {+-} 0.15 {mu}M) and an apparent specificity constant of 2.0 {+-} 0.3 M{sup -1} s{sup -1}.more » Naphthalene was converted to the corresponding 1,2-dihydrodiol with stoichiometric oxidation of NADH. On the other hand, the oxidation of eight other PAHs occurred at slower rates and with coupling efficiencies that decreased with the enzyme reaction rate. Uncoupling was associated with hydrogen peroxide formation, which is potentially deleterious to cells and might inhibit PAH degradation. In single turnover reactions, ht-PhnI alone catalyzed PAH hydroxylation at a faster rate in the presence of organic solvent, suggesting that the transfer of substrate to the active site is a limiting factor. The four-ring PAHs chrysene and benz[a]anthracene were subjected to a double ring-dihydroxylation, giving rise to the formation of a significant proportion of bis-cis-dihydrodiols. In addition, the dihydroxylation of benz[a]anthracene yielded three dihydrodiols, the enzyme showing a preference for carbons in positions 1,2 and 10,11. This is the first characterization of a dioxygenase able to dihydroxylate PAHs made up of four and five rings.« less

  3. Salinity and Conductivity Amendment of Soil Enhanced the Bioelectrochemical Degradation of Petroleum Hydrocarbons.

    PubMed

    Li, Xiaojing; Wang, Xin; Zhang, Yueyong; Zhao, Qian; Yu, Binbin; Li, Yongtao; Zhou, Qixing

    2016-09-06

    The extreme salinity and high internal resistance of saline-alkali soil contaminated by petroleum hydrocarbons were two key limitations for using the bioelectrochemical remediation. In order to solve two problems, we simply rinsed soil, added carbon fiber to polluted soil. The charge output was enhanced by 110% with increase of the maximum current densities from 81 to 304 mA·m(-2) while hydrocarbons degradation rate enhanced by 484%, especially the high molecular weight fractions (C28-C36 of n-alkanes and 4-6 rings of PAHs). These effects were possibly due to the selective enrichment of species belonged to δ-Proteobacteria (Proteobacteria), Flavobacteriia (Bacteroidetes) or Clostridia (Firmicutes), the activities of biological electron transfer and enzymes. As we know, oxygenase gene that directly decided the process of degradation, was surveyed for the first time in soil bioelectrochemical remediation system. The results confirmed that the bio-current stimulated the activities of naphthalene dioxygenase and xylene monooxygenase and thus the hydrocarbons degradation and the electricity generation. Given that electricity generation and the remediation performance are governed by multiple factors, understanding of microbial community and enzyme gene is crucial to promote the power yield and the bioelectrochemical remediation applicability.

  4. Salinity and Conductivity Amendment of Soil Enhanced the Bioelectrochemical Degradation of Petroleum Hydrocarbons

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Xiaojing; Wang, Xin; Zhang, Yueyong; Zhao, Qian; Yu, Binbin; Li, Yongtao; Zhou, Qixing

    2016-09-01

    The extreme salinity and high internal resistance of saline-alkali soil contaminated by petroleum hydrocarbons were two key limitations for using the bioelectrochemical remediation. In order to solve two problems, we simply rinsed soil, added carbon fiber to polluted soil. The charge output was enhanced by 110% with increase of the maximum current densities from 81 to 304 mA·m-2 while hydrocarbons degradation rate enhanced by 484%, especially the high molecular weight fractions (C28-C36 of n-alkanes and 4-6 rings of PAHs). These effects were possibly due to the selective enrichment of species belonged to δ-Proteobacteria (Proteobacteria), Flavobacteriia (Bacteroidetes) or Clostridia (Firmicutes), the activities of biological electron transfer and enzymes. As we know, oxygenase gene that directly decided the process of degradation, was surveyed for the first time in soil bioelectrochemical remediation system. The results confirmed that the bio-current stimulated the activities of naphthalene dioxygenase and xylene monooxygenase and thus the hydrocarbons degradation and the electricity generation. Given that electricity generation and the remediation performance are governed by multiple factors, understanding of microbial community and enzyme gene is crucial to promote the power yield and the bioelectrochemical remediation applicability.

  5. Chemical and cellular oxidant production induced by naphthalene secondary organic aerosol (SOA): effect of redox-active metals and photochemical aging.

    PubMed

    Tuet, Wing Y; Chen, Yunle; Fok, Shierly; Gao, Dong; Weber, Rodney J; Champion, Julie A; Ng, Nga L

    2017-11-09

    Exposure to air pollution is a leading global health risk. Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) constitute a large portion of ambient particulate matter (PM). In this study, the water-soluble oxidative potential (OP) determined by dithiothreitol (DTT) consumption and intracellular reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) production was measured for SOA generated from the photooxidation of naphthalene in the presence of iron sulfate and ammonium sulfate seed particles. The measured intrinsic OP varied for aerosol formed using different initial naphthalene concentrations, however, no trends were observed between OP and bulk aerosol composition or seed type. For all experiments, aerosol generated in the presence of iron-containing seed induced higher ROS/RNS production compared to that formed in the presence of inorganic seed. This effect was primarily attributed to differences in aerosol carbon oxidation state [Formula: see text]. In the presence of iron, radical concentrations are elevated via iron redox cycling, resulting in more oxidized species. An exponential trend was also observed between ROS/RNS and [Formula: see text] for all naphthalene SOA, regardless of seed type or aerosol formation condition. This may have important implications as aerosol have an atmospheric lifetime of a week, over which [Formula: see text] increases due to continued photochemical aging, potentially resulting in more toxic aerosol.

  6. 40 CFR 721.10045 - Diazotized substituted heteromonocycle coupled with naphthalene sulfonic acid derivative, nickel...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... coupled with naphthalene sulfonic acid derivative, nickel complex, alkaline salt (generic). 721.10045... derivative, nickel complex, alkaline salt (generic). (a) Chemical substance and significant new uses subject... heteromonocycle coupled with naphthalene sulfonic acid derivative, nickel complex, alkaline salt (PMN P-02-737) is...

  7. 40 CFR 721.10045 - Diazotized substituted heteromonocycle coupled with naphthalene sulfonic acid derivative, nickel...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... coupled with naphthalene sulfonic acid derivative, nickel complex, alkaline salt (generic). 721.10045... derivative, nickel complex, alkaline salt (generic). (a) Chemical substance and significant new uses subject... heteromonocycle coupled with naphthalene sulfonic acid derivative, nickel complex, alkaline salt (PMN P-02-737) is...

  8. 40 CFR 721.10045 - Diazotized substituted heteromonocycle coupled with naphthalene sulfonic acid derivative, nickel...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... coupled with naphthalene sulfonic acid derivative, nickel complex, alkaline salt (generic). 721.10045... derivative, nickel complex, alkaline salt (generic). (a) Chemical substance and significant new uses subject... heteromonocycle coupled with naphthalene sulfonic acid derivative, nickel complex, alkaline salt (PMN P-02-737) is...

  9. 40 CFR 721.10045 - Diazotized substituted heteromonocycle coupled with naphthalene sulfonic acid derivative, nickel...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... coupled with naphthalene sulfonic acid derivative, nickel complex, alkaline salt (generic). 721.10045... derivative, nickel complex, alkaline salt (generic). (a) Chemical substance and significant new uses subject... heteromonocycle coupled with naphthalene sulfonic acid derivative, nickel complex, alkaline salt (PMN P-02-737) is...

  10. 40 CFR 721.10045 - Diazotized substituted heteromonocycle coupled with naphthalene sulfonic acid derivative, nickel...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... coupled with naphthalene sulfonic acid derivative, nickel complex, alkaline salt (generic). 721.10045... derivative, nickel complex, alkaline salt (generic). (a) Chemical substance and significant new uses subject... heteromonocycle coupled with naphthalene sulfonic acid derivative, nickel complex, alkaline salt (PMN P-02-737) is...

  11. Native Fluorescence Detection Methods and Detectors for Naphthalene and/or Other Volatile Organic Compound Vapors

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hug, William F. (Inventor); Bhartia, Rohit (Inventor); Reid, Ray D. (Inventor); Lane, Arthur L. (Inventor)

    2014-01-01

    Naphthalene, benzene, toluene, xylene, and other volatile organic compounds have been identified as serious health hazards. This is especially true for personnel working with JP8 jet fuel and other fuels containing naphthalene as well as other hazardous volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Embodiments of the invention are directed to methods and apparatus for near-real-time in-situ detection and accumulated dose measurement of exposure to naphthalene vapor and other hazardous gaseous VOCs. The methods and apparatus employ excitation of fluorophors native or endogenous to compounds of interest using light sources emitting in the ultraviolet below 300 nm and measurement of native fluorescence emissions in distinct wavebands above the excitation wavelength. The apparatus of some embodiments are cell-phone-sized sensor/dosimeter "badges" to be worn by personnel potentially exposed to naphthalene or other hazardous VOCs. The badge sensor of some embodiments provides both real time detection and data logging of exposure to naphthalene or other VOCs of interest from which both instantaneous and accumulated dose can be determined. The badges employ a new native fluorescence based detection method to identify and differentiate VOCs. The particular focus of some embodiments are the detection and identification of naphthalene while other embodiments are directed to detection and identification of other VOCs like aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, and xylene.

  12. Degradation mechanism of Direct Pink 12B treated by iron-carbon micro-electrolysis and Fenton reaction.

    PubMed

    Wang, Xiquan; Gong, Xiaokang; Zhang, Qiuxia; Du, Haijuan

    2013-12-01

    The Direct Pink 12B dye was treated by iron-carbon micro-electrolysis (ICME) and Fenton oxidation. The degradation pathway of Direct Pink 12B dye was inferred by ultraviolet visible (UV-Vis), infrared absorption spectrum (IR) and high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). The major reason of decolorization was that the conjugate structure was disrupted in the iron-carbon micro-electrolysis (ICME) process. However, the dye was not degraded completely because benzene rings and naphthalene rings were not broken. In the Fenton oxidation process, the azo bond groups surrounded by higher electron cloud density were first attacked by hydroxyl radicals to decolorize the dye molecule. Finally benzene rings and naphthalene rings were mineralized to H2O and CO2 under the oxidation of hydroxyl radicals. Copyright © 2013 The Research Centre for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  13. Cadmium and naphthalene-induced hyperglycemia in the fiddler crab, Uca pugilator: Differential modes of action on the neutroendocrine system

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Reddy, P.S.; Katyayani, R.V.; Fingerman, M.

    1996-03-01

    Hyperglycemia is a typical response of aquatic organisms to heavy metals. In crustaceans, the medulla terminalis X-organ-sinus gland neuroendocrine complex in the eyestalk is the source of the crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH). The role of CHH in pollutant-induced b1ood glucose changes has only recently begun to be studied. Reddy provided evidence that CHH mediates cadmium-induced hyperglycemia in the red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii. In a study of another hormonally-regulated function, color changes, cadmium exposure resulted in pigment in the melanophores of the fiddler crab, Uca pugilator, becoming less dispersed than in unexposed crabs. Earlier studies showed that, like cadmium, bothmore » a PCB, Aroclor 1242, and naphthalene induced black pigment aggregation in Uca poor. In general, when crabs are exposed to a pollutant, hydrocarbon or cadmium, they aggregate the pigment in their melanophores, but apparently by different mechanisms. Hydrocarbons appear to inhibit release of black pigment-dispersing hormone (BDPH), whereas cadmium appears to inhibit its synthesis. These apparent different modes of action of cadmium and naphthalene on the color change mechanism led us to compare the impact of these pollutants on the hormonal regulation of blood glucose in Uca pugilator. The present study was performed to determine (1) whether cadmium and naphthalene induce hyperglycemia in Uca pugilator, (2) whether CH has a role, if naphthalene and cadmium do induce hyperglycemia, and (3) the effects, if any, of cadmium and naphthalene on CHH activity in the eyestalk neuroendocrine complex.« less

  14. Response of PAH-degrading genes to PAH bioavailability in the overlying water, suspended sediment, and deposited sediment of the Yangtze River.

    PubMed

    Xia, Xinghui; Xia, Na; Lai, Yunjia; Dong, Jianwei; Zhao, Pujun; Zhu, Baotong; Li, Zhihuang; Ye, Wan; Yuan, Yue; Huang, Junxiong

    2015-06-01

    The degrading genes of hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) serve as indicators of in situ HOC degradation potential, and the existing forms and bioavailability of HOCs might influence the distribution of HOC-degrading genes in natural waters. However, little research has been conducted to study the relationship between them. In the present study, nahAc and nidA genes, which act as biomarkers for naphthalene- and pyrene-degrading bacteria, were selected as model genotypes to investigate the response of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-degrading genes to PAH bioavailability in the overlying water, suspended sediment (SPS), and deposited sediment of the Yangtze River. The freely dissolved concentration, typically used to reflect HOC bioavailability, and total dissolved, as well as sorbed concentrations of PAHs were determined. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all the PAH-ring hydroxylating dioxygenase gene sequences of Gram-negative bacteria (PAH-RHD[GN]) were closely related to nahAc, nagAc, nidA, and uncultured PAH-RHD genes. The PAH-RHD[GN] gene diversity as well as nahAc and nidA gene copy numbers decreased in the following order: deposited sediment>SPS>overlying water. The nahAc and nidA gene abundance was not significantly correlated with environmental parameters but was significantly correlated with the bioavailable existing forms of naphthalene and pyrene in the three phases. The nahAc gene copy numbers in the overlying water and deposited sediment were positively correlated with freely dissolved naphthalene concentrations in the overlying and pore water phases, respectively, and so were nidA gene copy numbers. This study suggests that the distribution and abundance of HOC-degrading bacterial population depend on the HOC bioavailability in aquatic environments. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  15. Development of Naphthalene PLIF for Visualizing Ablation Products From a Space Capsule Heat Shield

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Combs, C. S.; Clemens, N. T.; Danehy, P. M.

    2014-01-01

    The Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) will use an ablative heat shield. To better design this heat shield and others that will undergo planetary entry, an improved understanding of the ablation process would be beneficial. Here, a technique developed at The University of Texas at Austin that uses planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) of a low-temperature sublimating ablator (naphthalene) to enable visualization of the ablation products in a hypersonic flow is applied. Although high-temperature ablation is difficult and expensive to recreate in a laboratory environment, low-temperature sublimation creates a limited physics problem that can be used to explore ablation-product transport in a hypersonic flow-field. In the current work, a subscale capsule reentry vehicle model with a solid naphthalene heat shield has been tested in a Mach 5 wind tunnel. The PLIF technique provides images of the spatial distribution of sublimated naphthalene in the heat-shield boundary layer, separated shear layer, and backshell recirculation region. Visualizations of the capsule shear layer using both naphthalene PLIF and Schlieren imaging compared favorably. PLIF images have shown high concentrations of naphthalene in the capsule separated flow region, intermittent turbulent structures on the heat shield surface, and interesting details of the capsule shear layer structure. It was shown that, in general, the capsule shear layer appears to be more unsteady at lower angels of attack. The PLIF images demonstrated that during a wind tunnel run, as the model heated up, the rate of naphthalene ablation increased, since the PLIF signal increased steadily over the course of a run. Additionally, the shear layer became increasingly unsteady over the course of a wind tunnel run, likely because of increased surface roughness but also possibly because of the increased blowing. Regions with a relatively low concentration of naphthalene were also identified in the capsule backshell

  16. Theoretical Study of the Electronic Spectra of a Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon, Naphthalene, and its Derivatives

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Du, Ping; Salama, Farid; Loew, Gilda H.

    1993-01-01

    In order to preselect possible candidates for the origin of diffuse interstellar bands observed, semiempirical quantum mechanical method INDO/S was applied to the optical spectra of neutral, cationic, and anionic states of naphthalene and its hydrogen abstraction and addition derivatives. Comparison with experiment shows that the spectra of naphthalene and its ions were reliably predicted. The configuration interaction calculations with single-electron excitations provided reasonable excited state wavefunctions compared to ab initio calculations that included higher excitations. The degree of similarity of the predicted spectra of the hydrogen abstraction and derivatives to those of naphthalene and ions depends largely on the similarity of the it electron configurations. For the hydrogen addition derivatives, very little resemblance of the predicted spectra to naphthalene was found because of the disruption of the aromatic conjugation system. The relevance of these calculations to astrophysical issues is discussed within the context of these polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon models. Comparing the calculated electronic energies to the Diffuse Interstellar Bands (DIBs), a list of possible candidates of naphthalene derivatives is established which provides selected candidates for a definitive test through laboratory studies.

  17. Naphthalene emissions from moth repellents or toilet deodorant blocks determined using head-space and small-chamber tests.

    PubMed

    Jo, Wan-Kuen; Lee, Jong-Hyo; Lim, Ho-Jin; Jeong, Woo-Sik

    2008-01-01

    The present study investigated the emissions of naphthalene and other compounds from several different moth repellents (MRs) and one toilet deodorant block (TDB) currently sold in Korea, using a headspace analysis. The emission factors and emission rates of naphthalene were studied using a small-scale environmental chamber. Paper-type products emitted a higher concentration of the total volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (normalized to the weight of test piece) than ball-type products, which in turn emitted higher concentration than a gel-type product. In contrast, naphthalene was either the most or the second highest abundant compound for the four ball products, whereas for paper and gel products it was not detected or was detected at much lower levels. The abundance of naphthalene ranged between 18.4% and 37.3% for ball products. The results showed that the lower the air changes per hour (ACH) level was, the higher the naphthalene concentrations became. In general, a low ACH level suggests a low ventilation rate. The emission factor for naphthalene was nearly 100 times higher for a ball MR than for a gel or a paper MR. For the ball MR, the lower ACH level resulted in higher emission rate.

  18. Pressure-dependent rate constants for PAH growth: formation of indene and its conversion to naphthalene

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Mebel, Alexander M.; Georgievskii, Yuri; Jasper, Ahren W.

    2016-01-01

    Unraveling the mechanisms for growth of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) requires accurate temperature- and pressure-dependent rate coefficients for a great variety of feasible pathways. Even the pathways for the formation of the simplest PAHs, indene and naphthalene, are fairly complex. These pathways provide important prototypes for modeling larger PAH growth. In this work we employ the ab initio RRKM theory-based master equation approach to predict the rate constants involved in the formation of indene and its conversion to naphthalene. The reactions eventually leading to indene involve C9Hx (x = 8–11) potential energy surfaces (PESs) and include C6H5 + C3H4 (allenemore » and propyne), C6H6 + C3H3, benzyl + C2H2, C6H5 + C3H6, C6H6 + C3H5 and C6H5 + C3H5. These predictions allow us to make a number of valuable observations on the role of various mechanisms. For instance, we demonstrate that reactions which can significantly contribute to the formation of indene include phenyl + allene and H-assisted isomerization to indene of its major product, 3-phenylpropyne, benzyl + acetylene, and the reactions of the phenyl radical with propene and the allyl radical, both proceeding via the 3-phenylpropene intermediate. 3-Phenylpropene can be activated to a 1-phenylallyl radical, which in turn rapidly decomposes to indene. Next, indene can be converted to benzofulvene or naphthalene under typical combustion conditions, via its activation by H atom abstraction and methyl substitution on the five-membered ring followed by isomerization and decomposition of the resulting 1-methylindenyl radical, C10H9 → C10H8 + H. Alternatively, the same region of the C10H9 PES can be accessed through the reaction of benzyl with propargyl, C7H7 + C3H3 → C10H10 → C10H9 + H, which therefore can also contribute to the formation of benzofulvene or naphthalene. Benzofulvene easily transforms to naphthalene by H-assisted isomerization. An analysis of the effect of pressure on the

  19. Measurement of Biologically Available Naphthalene in Gas and Aqueous Phases by Use of a Pseudomonas putida Biosensor

    PubMed Central

    Werlen, Christoph; Jaspers, Marco C. M.; van der Meer, Jan Roelof

    2004-01-01

    Genetically constructed microbial biosensors for measuring organic pollutants are mostly applied in aqueous samples. Unfortunately, the detection limit of most biosensors is insufficient to detect pollutants at low but environmentally relevant concentrations. However, organic pollutants with low levels of water solubility often have significant gas-water partitioning coefficients, which in principle makes it possible to measure such compounds in the gas rather than the aqueous phase. Here we describe the first use of a microbial biosensor for measuring organic pollutants directly in the gas phase. For this purpose, we reconstructed a bioluminescent Pseudomonas putida naphthalene biosensor strain to carry the NAH7 plasmid and a chromosomally inserted gene fusion between the sal promoter and the luxAB genes. Specific calibration studies were performed with suspended and filter-immobilized biosensor cells, in aqueous solution and in the gas phase. Gas phase measurements with filter-immobilized biosensor cells in closed flasks, with a naphthalene-contaminated aqueous phase, showed that the biosensor cells can measure naphthalene effectively. The biosensor cells on the filter responded with increasing light output proportional to the naphthalene concentration added to the water phase, even though only a small proportion of the naphthalene was present in the gas phase. In fact, the biosensor cells could concentrate a larger proportion of naphthalene through the gas phase than in the aqueous suspension, probably due to faster transport of naphthalene to the cells in the gas phase. This led to a 10-fold lower detectable aqueous naphthalene concentration (50 nM instead of 0.5 μM). Thus, the use of bacterial biosensors for measuring organic pollutants in the gas phase is a valid method for increasing the sensitivity of these valuable biological devices. PMID:14711624

  20. Adsorption of naphthalene and ozone on atmospheric air/ice interfaces coated with surfactants: a molecular simulation study.

    PubMed

    Liyana-Arachchi, Thilanga P; Valsaraj, Kalliat T; Hung, Francisco R

    2012-03-15

    The adsorption of gas-phase naphthalene and ozone molecules onto air/ice interfaces coated with different surfactant species (1-octanol, 1-hexadecanol, or 1-octanal) was investigated using classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Naphthalene and ozone exhibit a strong preference to be adsorbed at the surfactant-coated air/ice interfaces, as opposed to either being dissolved into the bulk of the quasi-liquid layer (QLL) or being incorporated into the ice crystals. The QLL becomes thinner when the air/ice interface is coated with surfactant molecules. The adsorption of both naphthalene and ozone onto surfactant-coated air/ice interfaces is enhanced when compared to bare air/ice interface. Both naphthalene and ozone tend to stay dissolved in the surfactant layer and close to the QLL, rather than adsorbing on top of the surfactant molecules and close to the air region of our systems. Surfactants prefer to orient at a tilted angle with respect to the air/ice interface; the angular distribution and the most preferred angle vary depending on the hydrophilic end group, the length of the hydrophobic tail, and the surfactant concentration at the air/ice interface. Naphthalene prefers to have a flat orientation on the surfactant coated air/ice interface, except at high concentrations of 1-hexadecanol at the air/ice interface; the angular distribution of naphthalene depends on the specific surfactant and its concentration at the air/ice interface. The dynamics of naphthalene molecules at the surfactant-coated air/ice interface slow down as compared to those observed at bare air/ice interfaces. The presence of surfactants does not seem to affect the self-association of naphthalene molecules at the air/ice interface, at least for the specific surfactants and the range of concentrations considered in this study.

  1. [Characteristics of natural strains of naphthalene-utilizing bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas].

    PubMed

    Levchuk, A A; Vasilenko, S L; Bulyga, I M; Titok, M A; Thomas, K M

    2005-01-01

    Sixty-three strains of bacteria capable of utilizing naphthalene as the sole source of carbon and energy were isolated from 137 samples of soil taken in different sites in Belarus. All isolated bacteria contained extrachromosomal genetic elements of 45 to 150 kb in length. It was found that bacteria of 31 strains contained the IncP-9 incompatibility group plasmids, bacteria of one strain carried a plasmid containing replicons IncP-9 and IncP-7, and bacteria of 31 strains contained unidentified plasmids. Primary identification showed that the hosts of plasmids of naphthalene biodegradation are fluorescent bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas (P. putida and P. aeruginosa; a total of 47 strains) and unidentified nonfluorescent microorganisms (a total of 16 strains). In addition to the ability to utilize naphthalene, some strains exhibited the ability to stimulate the growth and development of the root system of Secale cereale.

  2. The disposition and metabolism of naphthalene in rats.

    PubMed

    Kilanowicz, A; Czerski, B; Sapota, A

    1999-01-01

    The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution, excretion and metabolism of naphthalene-[ring-U-3H] in rats. The experiments were performed on 54 male outbred IMP: Wist rats with body weight of 200-220 g. The compound was administered intraperitoneally in olive oil in a single dose of 20 mg/kg (about 540 kBq per animal). 3H radioactivity was traced in selected organs and tissues, blood, urine and faeces, 1-72 h following the administration. The main metabolites were isolated from urine and identified by the GC-MS method. Urine and faeces proved to be the main route of tritium elimination. Over 88% of the compound was excreted during the first 72 hours. Maximum level of tritium in plasma was observed at the 2nd h after administration following a biphasic decline. Half-lifes for phases I and II were 0.8 and 99 h, respectively. In erythrocytes 3H-decline was monophasic with the half-life of about 9 h. In organs and tissues, the highest concentrations during the first hours after administration were detected in the fat, liver and kidneys. Then, gradual decline of tritium was noticed in all examined tissues. In urine of rats the following substances were identified: (1) naphthalene, (2) 1-naphthol, (3) 2-naphthol, (4) 1,2-naphthalenediol-1,2-dihydro, (5) methylthionaphthalenes (two isomers). In conclusion, naphthalene has a relatively rapid turnover rate in the rat organism and does not form considerable deposits in the tissue. The metabolism encompasses ring hydroxylation, hydration and glutathione conjugation.

  3. Salinity and Conductivity Amendment of Soil Enhanced the Bioelectrochemical Degradation of Petroleum Hydrocarbons

    PubMed Central

    Li, Xiaojing; Wang, Xin; Zhang, Yueyong; Zhao, Qian; Yu, Binbin; Li, Yongtao; Zhou, Qixing

    2016-01-01

    The extreme salinity and high internal resistance of saline-alkali soil contaminated by petroleum hydrocarbons were two key limitations for using the bioelectrochemical remediation. In order to solve two problems, we simply rinsed soil, added carbon fiber to polluted soil. The charge output was enhanced by 110% with increase of the maximum current densities from 81 to 304 mA·m−2 while hydrocarbons degradation rate enhanced by 484%, especially the high molecular weight fractions (C28–C36 of n-alkanes and 4–6 rings of PAHs). These effects were possibly due to the selective enrichment of species belonged to δ-Proteobacteria (Proteobacteria), Flavobacteriia (Bacteroidetes) or Clostridia (Firmicutes), the activities of biological electron transfer and enzymes. As we know, oxygenase gene that directly decided the process of degradation, was surveyed for the first time in soil bioelectrochemical remediation system. The results confirmed that the bio-current stimulated the activities of naphthalene dioxygenase and xylene monooxygenase and thus the hydrocarbons degradation and the electricity generation. Given that electricity generation and the remediation performance are governed by multiple factors, understanding of microbial community and enzyme gene is crucial to promote the power yield and the bioelectrochemical remediation applicability. PMID:27597387

  4. Research Needs Related to Naphthalene Assessment (2005, Workshop)

    EPA Science Inventory

    EPA has announced the release of the final report from the 2005 peer consultation workshop which sought expert opinion on research needs related to the mode of action of the inhalation carcinogenicity of naphthalene. This report is a summary of the main points of presentations an...

  5. Infrared spectroscopy of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon cations. 1: Matrix-isolated naphthalene and perdeuterated naphthalene

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hudgins, D. M.; Sandford, S. A.; Allamandola, Louis J.

    1994-01-01

    Ionized polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are thought to constitute an important component of the interstellar medium. Despite this fact, the infrared spectroscopic properties of ionized PAHs are almost unknown. The results we present here derive from our ongoing spectroscopic study of matrix isolated PAH ions and include the spectra of the naphthalene cation, C10H8(+), and its fully deuterated analog, C10D8(+), between 4000 and 200/cm. Ions are generated by in situ Lyman-alpha photoionization of the neutral precursor. Bands of the C10H8(+) ion are observed at 1525.7, 1518.8, 1400.9, 1218.0, 1216.9, 1214.9, 1023.2, and 758.7/cm. Positions and relative intensities of these bands agree well with those in the available literature. The 758.7/cm band has not previously been reported. C10D8(+) ion bands appear at 1466.2, 1463.8, 1379.4, 1373.8, 1077.3, 1075.4, and 1063.1/cm. Compared to the analogous modes in the neutral molecule, the intensities of the cation's CC modes are enhanced by an order of magnitude, while CH modes are depressed by this same factor. Integrated absorption intensities are calculated for the strongest bands of C10H8 and for the observed bands of C10H8(+). Absolute intensities derived for the naphthalene cation differ from earlier experimental results by a factor of approximately 50, and from theoretical predictions by a factor of approximately 300. Reasons for these discrepancies and from the astronomical implications of PAH cation spectra are discussed.

  6. Rotation and diffusion of naphthalene on Pt(111)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kolsbjerg, E. L.; Goubert, G.; McBreen, P. H.; Hammer, B.

    2018-03-01

    The behavior of naphthalene on Pt(111) surfaces is studied by combining insight from scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and van der Waals enabled density functional theory. Adsorption, diffusion, and rotation are investigated by a series of variable temperature STM experiments revealing naphthalene ability to rotate on-site with ease with a rotational barrier of 0.69 eV. Diffusion to neighbouring sites is found to be more difficult. The experimental results are in good agreement with the theoretical investigations which confirm that the barrier for diffusion is slightly higher than the one for rotation. The theoretical barriers for rotation and translation are found to be 0.75 and 0.78 eV, respectively. An automatic mapping of the possible diffusion pathways reveals very detailed diffusion paths with many small local minima that would have been practically impossible to find manually. This automated procedure provides detailed insight into the preferred diffusion pathways that are important for our understanding of molecule-substrate interactions.

  7. Anaerobic degradation of benzene by marine sulfate-reducing bacteria

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Musat, Florin; Wilkes, Heinz; Musat, Niculina; Kuypers, Marcel; Widdel, Friedrich

    2010-05-01

    Benzene, the archetypal aromatic hydrocarbon is a common constituent of crude oil and oil-refined products. As such, it can enter the biosphere through natural oil seeps or as a consequence of exploitation of fossil fuel reservoirs. Benzene is chemically very stable, due to the stabilizing aromatic electron system and to the lack of functional groups. Although the anaerobic degradation of benzene has been reported under denitrifying, sulfate-reducing and methanogenic conditions, the microorganisms involved and the initial biochemical steps of degradation remain insufficiently understood. Using marine sediment from a Mediterranean lagoon a sulfate-reducing enrichment culture with benzene as the sole organic substrate was obtained. Application of 16S rRNA gene-based methods showed that the enrichment was dominated (more than 85% of total cells) by a distinct phylotype affiliated with a clade of Deltaproteobacteria that include degraders of other aromatic hydrocarbons, such as naphthalene, ethylbenzene and m-xylene. Using benzoate as a soluble substrate in agar dilution series, several pure cultures closely related to Desulfotignum spp. and Desulfosarcina spp. were isolated. None of these strains was able to utilize benzene as a substrate and hybridizations with specific oligonucleotide probes showed that they accounted for as much as 6% of the total cells. Incubations with 13C-labeled benzene followed by Halogen in situ Hybridization - Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (HISH-SIMS) analysis showed that cells of the dominant phylotype were highly enriched in 13C, while the accompanying bacteria had little or no 13C incorporation. These results demonstrate that the dominant phylotype was indeed the apparent benzene degrader. Dense-cell suspensions of the enrichment culture did not show metabolic activity toward added phenol or toluene, suggesting that benzene degradation did not proceed through anaerobic hydroxylation or methylation. Instead, benzoate was identified in

  8. Degradation of organic pollutants by methane grown microbial consortia.

    PubMed

    Hesselsoe, Martin; Boysen, Susanne; Iversen, Niels; Jørgensen, Lars; Murrell, J Colin; McDonald, Ian; Radajewski, Stefan; Thestrup, Helle; Roslev, Peter

    2005-10-01

    Microbial consortia were enriched from various environmental samples with methane as the sole carbon and energy source. Selected consortia that showed a capacity for co-oxidation of naphthalene were screened for their ability to degrade methyl-tert-butyl-ether (MTBE), phthalic acid esters (PAE), benzene, xylene and toluene (BTX). MTBE was not removed within 24 h by any of the consortia examined. One consortium enriched from activated sludge ("AAE-A2"), degraded PAE, including (butyl-benzyl)phthalate (BBP), and di-(butyl)phthalate (DBP). PAE have not previously been described as substrates for methanotrophic consortia. The apparent Km and Vmax for DBP degradation by AAE-A2 at 20 degrees C was 3.1 +/- 1.2 mg l(-1) and 8.7 +/- 1.1 mg DBP (g protein x h)(-1), respectively. AAE-A2 also showed fast degradation of BTX (230 +/- 30 nmol benzene (mg protein x h)(-1) at 20 degrees C). Additionally, AAE-A2 degraded benzene continuously for 2 weeks. In contrast, a pure culture of the methanotroph Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b ceased benzene degradation after only 2 days. Experiments with methane mono-oxygenase inhibitors or competitive substrates suggested that BTX degradation was carried out by methane-oxidizing bacteria in the consortium, whereas the degradation of PAE was carried out by non-methanotrophic bacteria co-existing with methanotrophs. The composition of the consortium (AAE-A2) based on polar lipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles showed dominance of type II methanotrophs (83-92% of biomass). Phylogeny based on a 16S-rRNA gene clone library revealed that the dominating methanotrophs belonged to Methylosinus/Methylocystis spp. and that members of at least 4 different non-methanotrophic genera were present (Pseudomonas, Flavobacterium, Janthinobacterium and Rubivivax).

  9. Emission of Polychlorinated Naphthalenes during Thermal Related Processes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Guorui; Zheng, Minghui; Du, Bing; Liu, Wenbin; Zhang, Bing; Xiao, Ke

    2010-05-01

    Due to the structural similarity of polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) to those of dioxins, PCNs exhibit toxicological properties similar to dioxins (Olivero-Verbel et al., 2004). Based on their high toxicity, persistence, bioaccumulation, and long-distance transmission, PCNs were also selected as a candidate POP for the UN-ECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) POP protocol (Lerche et al., 2002). In addition, some studies suggested that PCNs contributed a greater proportion of the dioxin-like activity than polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) contributed in some locations (Kannan et al., 1998). However, the identification and quantitation for PCN sources are very scarce compared with PCDD/Fs. Understanding the emission levels and developing the emission inventory of PCNs is important for regulatory and source reduction purposes. In this study, several potential sources were preliminarily investigated for PCN release. Coking process (CP), iron ore sintering (IOS), and electric arc furnace steel making units (AF) were selected due to their huge activity level of industrial production in China. Municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) and medical waste incineration (MWI) were also investigated because of the possible high concentration of PCNs in stack gas. Two plants were investigated for each thermal related process, except for MWI with one incinerator was investigated. The stack gas samples were collected by automatic isokinetic sampling system (Isostack Basic, TCR TECORA, Milan Italy). Isotope dilution high resolution gas chromatography coupled with high resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS) technique was used for the identification and quantitation of PCN congeners. The concentrations of PCNs from the selected thermal processes were determined in this study. The average concentrations of total PCNs were 26 ng Nm-3 for CP, 65 ng Nm-3 for IOS, 720 ng Nm-3 for AF, 443 ng Nm-3 for MSWI, and

  10. Low and High Molecular Mass Dithienopyrrole-Naphthalene Bisimide Donor-Acceptor Compounds: Synthesis, Electrochemical and Spectroelectrochemical Behaviour.

    PubMed

    Rybakiewicz, Renata; Glowacki, Eric D; Skorka, Lukasz; Pluczyk, Sandra; Zassowski, Pawel; Apaydin, Dogukan Hazar; Lapkowski, Mieczyslaw; Zagorska, Malgorzata; Pron, Adam

    2017-02-24

    Two low molecular weight electroactive donor-acceptor-donor (DAD)-type molecules are reported, namely naphthalene bisimide (NBI) symmetrically core-functionalized with dithienopyrrole (NBI-(DTP) 2 ) and an asymmetric core-functionalized naphthalene bisimide with dithienopyrrole (DTP) substituent on one side and 2-ethylhexylamine on the other side (NBI-DTP-NHEtHex). Both compounds are characterized by low optical bandgaps (1.52 and 1.65 eV, respectively). NBI-(DTP) 2 undergoes oxidative electropolymerization giving the electroactive polymer of ambipolar character. Its two-step reversible reduction and oxidation is corroborated by complementary EPR and UV/Vis-NIR spectroelectrochemical investigations. The polymer turned out to be electrochemically active not only in aprotic solvents but also in aqueous electrolytes, showing a distinct photocathodic current attributed to proton reduction. Additionally, poly(NBI-(DTP) 2 ) was successfully tested as a photodiode material. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  11. Aromatic hydrocarbon biodegradation activates neutral lipid biosynthesis in oleaginous yeast.

    PubMed

    Deeba, Farha; Pruthi, Vikas; Negi, Yuvraj S

    2018-05-01

    In this study, the biodegradation ability of oleaginous yeast Cryptococcus psychrotolerans IITRFD for aromatic hydrocarbons (AHs) was investigated. It was found to completely degrade range of AHs such as 1 g/L phenol, 0.75 g/L naphthalene, 0.50 g/L anthracene and 0.50 g/L pyrene with lipid productivity (g/L/h) of 0.0444, 0.0441, 0.0394 and 0.0383, respectively. This work demonstrated the ring cleavage pathways of AHs by this yeast which follow ortho route for phenol and naphthalene while meta route for anthracene and pyrene degradation. The end products generated during biodegradation of AHs are feed as precursors for de novo triacylglycerols (TAG) biosynthesis pathway of oleaginous yeast. A high quantity of lipid content (46.54%) was observed on phenol as compared to lipid content on naphthalene (46.38%), anthracene (44.97%) and pyrene (44.16%). The lipid profile revealed by GC-MS analysis shows elevated monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) content with improved biodiesel quality. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  12. Acclimation of aerobic-activated sludge degrading benzene derivatives and co-metabolic degradation activities of trichloroethylene by benzene derivative-grown aerobic sludge.

    PubMed

    Wang, Shizong; Yang, Qi; Bai, Zhiyong; Wang, Shidong; Wang, Yeyao; Nowak, Karolina M

    2015-01-01

    The acclimation of aerobic-activated sludge for degradation of benzene derivatives was investigated in batch experiments. Phenol, benzoic acid, toluene, aniline and chlorobenzene were concurrently added to five different bioreactors which contained the aerobic-activated sludge. After the acclimation process ended, the acclimated phenol-, benzoic acid-, toluene-, aniline- and chlorobenzene-grown aerobic-activated sludge were used to explore the co-metabolic degradation activities of trichloroethylene (TCE). Monod equation was employed to simulate the kinetics of co-metabolic degradation of TCE by benzene derivative-grown sludge. At the end of experiments, the mixed microbial communities grown under different conditions were identified. The results showed that the acclimation periods of microorganisms for different benzene derivatives varied. The maximum degradation rates of TCE for phenol-, benzoic acid-, toluene-, aniline- and chlorobenzene-grown aerobic sludge were 0.020, 0.017, 0.016, 0.0089 and 0.0047 mg g SS(-1) h(-1), respectively. The kinetic of TCE degradation in the absence of benzene derivative followed Monod equation well. Also, eight phyla were observed in the acclimated benzene derivative-grown aerobic sludge. Each of benzene derivative-grown aerobic sludge had different microbial community composition. This study can hopefully add new knowledge to the area of TCE co-metabolic by mixed microbial communities, and further the understanding on the function and applicability of aerobic-activated sludge.

  13. Microbial community structure and biodegradation activity of particle-associated bacteria in a coal tar contaminated creek

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Jennifer M. DeBruyn; Gary S. Sayler

    The Chattanooga Creek Superfund site (Chattanooga, TN) is one of the most polluted waterways in the southeastern U.S. with high polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations in the sediments. PAHs associate with suspended solids in the water column, and may be redeposited onto the floodplain. These suspended particles represent an interesting but understudied environment for PAH-degrading microbial communities. This study tested the hypotheses that particle-associated bacterial (PAB) communities have genotypic potential (PAH-dioxygenase genes) and activity (naphthalene and pyrene mineralization), and can contribute to natural attenuation of PAHs in Chattanooga Creek. Upstream of the Superfund site, mineralization ranged from 0.2 to 2.0%more » of added {sup 14}C-naphthalene and 0 to 0.1% {sup 14}C-pyrene (after 40 h), with first order biodegradation rate constants (k{sub 1}) ranging from 1.09 to 9.18 x 10{sup -5} h{sup -1} and 0 to 1.13 x 10{sup -6} h{sup -1}, respectively. Mineralization was significantly greater in PAB communities within the contaminated zone, with 11.8 to 31.2% {sup 14}C-naphthalene (k{sup 1} 5.34 to 14.2 x 10-4 h{sup -1}) and 1.3 to 6.6% {sup 14}C-pyrene mineralized (k{sub 1} 2.89 to 15.0 x 10{sup -5} h{sup -1}). Abundances of nagAc (naphthalene dioxygenase) and nidA (pyrene dioxygenase) genes indicated that PAB communities harbored populations with genetic potential for both low- and high-molecular weight PAH degradation, and quantification of Mycobacterium 16S rDNA genes indicated that PAH-degrading mycobacteria are also prevalent in this environment. Phylogenetic comparisons (T-RFLPs) between PAB and sediments indicated these microbial communities were taxonomically distinct, but shared some functional similarities, namely PAH catabolic genotypes, mineralization capabilities, and community structuring along a contamination gradient. 38 refs., 4 figs., 2 tabs.« less

  14. Bacterial Chemotaxis to Naphthalene and Nitroarene Compounds

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-07-31

    Qualitative capillary assays showing chemotaxis of succinate-grown 17 (uninduced) and induced (succinate plus salicylate -grown) Acidovorax sp. JS42...succinate plus 2NT- or succinate plus salicylate -grown) wild-type Acidovorax sp. JS42 cells List of Tables Table 1. Summary of chemotaxis...mM salicylate , or naphthalene crystals. Noble agar (1.8%; Difco) was used to solidify MSB medium for plates. For plasmid selection and maintenance

  15. Noncovalent Interactions of DNA Bases with Naphthalene and Graphene.

    PubMed

    Cho, Yeonchoo; Min, Seung Kyu; Yun, Jeonghun; Kim, Woo Youn; Tkatchenko, Alexandre; Kim, Kwang S

    2013-04-09

    The complexes of a DNA base bound to graphitic systems are studied. Considering naphthalene as the simplest graphitic system, DNA base-naphthalene complexes are scrutinized at high levels of ab initio theory including coupled cluster theory with singles, doubles, and perturbative triples excitations [CCSD(T)] at the complete basis set (CBS) limit. The stacked configurations are the most stable, where the CCSD(T)/CBS binding energies of guanine, adenine, thymine, and cytosine are 9.31, 8.48, 8.53, 7.30 kcal/mol, respectively. The energy components are investigated using symmetry-adapted perturbation theory based on density functional theory including the dispersion energy. We compared the CCSD(T)/CBS results with several density functional methods applicable to periodic systems. Considering accuracy and availability, the optB86b nonlocal functional and the Tkatchenko-Scheffler functional are used to study the binding energies of nucleobases on graphene. The predicted values are 18-24 kcal/mol, though many-body effects on screening and energy need to be further considered.

  16. A Semi-Empirical Formula of the Dependence of the Fluorescence Intensity of Naphthalene on Temperature and the Oxygen Concentration

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    An, B.; Wang, Z.-G.; Yang, L.-C.; Li, X.-P.

    2017-09-01

    Two-ring aromatics, such as naphthalene, are important fluorescent components of kerosene in the planar laser-induced fluorescent (PLIF) technique. Quantifying measurements of kerosene vapor concentrations by PLIF require a prior knowledge of the fluorescence intensity of naphthalene over a wide temperature and oxygen concentration range. To promote the application of PLIF, a semi-empirical formula based on the collision theory and experimental data at the laser wavelength of 266 nm and a pressure of 0.1 MPa is established to predict the fluorescence intensity of naphthalene at different temperatures and oxygen concentrations. This formula takes vibrational states, temperature, and oxygen quenching into account. Verified by published experimental data, the formula can predict the fluorescence intensity of naphthalene with an error less than 9%.

  17. Nitration of naphthalene and remarks on the mechanism of electrophilic aromatic nitration.

    PubMed

    Olah, G A; Narang, S C; Olah, J A

    1981-06-01

    Naphthalene was nitrated with a variety of nitrating agents. Comparison of data with Perrin's electrochemical nitration [Perrin, C. L. (1977) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 99, 5516-5518] shows that nitration of naphthalene gives an alpha-nitronaphthalene to beta-nitronaphthalene ratio that varies between 9 and 29 and is thus not constant. Perrin's data, therefore, are considered to be inconclusive evidence for the proposed one-electron transfer mechanism for the nitration of naphthalene and other reactive aromatics. Moodie and Schoefield [Hoggett, J. G., Moodie, R. B., Penton, J. R. & Schoefield, K. (1971) Nitration and Aromatic Reactivity (Cambridge Univ. Press, London)], as well as Perrin, independently concluded that, in the general scheme of nitration of reactive aromatics, there is the necessity to introduce into the classical Ingold mechanism an additional step involving a distinct intermediate preceding the formation of the Wheland intermediate (sigma complexes). This view coincides with our two-step mechanistic picture [Kuhn, S. J. & Olah, G. A. (1961) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 83, 4564-4571] of the nitronium salt nitration of aromatic hydrocarbons (including benzene and toluene), in which low substrate selectivity but high positional selectivity was found, indicating the independence of substrate from positional selectivity.

  18. Nitration of naphthalene and remarks on the mechanism of electrophilic aromatic nitration*

    PubMed Central

    Olah, George A.; Narang, Subhash C.; Olah, Judith A.

    1981-01-01

    Naphthalene was nitrated with a variety of nitrating agents. Comparison of data with Perrin's electrochemical nitration [Perrin, C. L. (1977) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 99, 5516-5518] shows that nitration of naphthalene gives an α-nitronaphthalene to β-nitronaphthalene ratio that varies between 9 and 29 and is thus not constant. Perrin's data, therefore, are considered to be inconclusive evidence for the proposed one-electron transfer mechanism for the nitration of naphthalene and other reactive aromatics. Moodie and Schoefield [Hoggett, J. G., Moodie, R. B., Penton, J. R. & Schoefield, K. (1971) Nitration and Aromatic Reactivity (Cambridge Univ. Press, London)], as well as Perrin, independently concluded that, in the general scheme of nitration of reactive aromatics, there is the necessity to introduce into the classical Ingold mechanism an additional step involving a distinct intermediate preceding the formation of the Wheland intermediate (σ complexes). This view coincides with our two-step mechanistic picture [Kuhn, S. J. & Olah, G. A. (1961) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 83, 4564-4571] of the nitronium salt nitration of aromatic hydrocarbons (including benzene and toluene), in which low substrate selectivity but high positional selectivity was found, indicating the independence of substrate from positional selectivity. PMID:16593026

  19. Urinary and breast milk biomarkers to assess exposure to naphthalene in pregnant women: an investigation of personal and indoor air sources

    PubMed Central

    2014-01-01

    Background Naphthalene exposures for most non-occupationally exposed individuals occur primarily indoors at home. Residential indoor sources include pest control products (specifically moth balls), incomplete combustion such as cigarette smoke, woodstoves and cooking, some consumer and building products, and emissions from gasoline sources found in attached garages. The study aim was to assess naphthalene exposure in pregnant women from Canada, using air measurements and biomarkers of exposure. Methods Pregnant women residing in Ottawa, Ontario completed personal and indoor air sampling, and questionnaires. During pregnancy, pooled urine voids were collected over two 24-hour periods on a weekday and a weekend day. At 2–3 months post-birth, they provided a spot urine sample and a breast milk sample following the 24-hour air monitoring. Urines were analyzed for 1-naphthol and 2-naphthol and breast milk for naphthalene. Simple linear regression models examined associations between known naphthalene sources, air and biomarker samples. Results Study recruitment rate was 11.2% resulting in 80 eligible women being included. Weekday and weekend samples were highly correlated for both personal (r = 0.83, p < 0.0001) and indoor air naphthalene (r = 0.91, p < 0.0001). Urine specific gravity (SG)-adjusted 2-naphthol concentrations collected on weekdays and weekends (r = 0.78, p < 0.001), and between pregnancy and postpartum samples (r = 0.54, p < 0.001) were correlated. Indoor and personal air naphthalene concentrations were significantly higher post-birth than during pregnancy (p < 0.0001 for signed rank tests); concurrent urine samples were not significantly different. Naphthalene in breast milk was associated with urinary 1-naphthol: a 10% increase in 1-naphthol was associated with a 1.6% increase in breast milk naphthalene (95% CI: 0.2%-3.1%). No significant associations were observed between naphthalene sources reported in self

  20. Anaerobic Microbial Degradation of Hydrocarbons: From Enzymatic Reactions to the Environment.

    PubMed

    Rabus, Ralf; Boll, Matthias; Heider, Johann; Meckenstock, Rainer U; Buckel, Wolfgang; Einsle, Oliver; Ermler, Ulrich; Golding, Bernard T; Gunsalus, Robert P; Kroneck, Peter M H; Krüger, Martin; Lueders, Tillmann; Martins, Berta M; Musat, Florin; Richnow, Hans H; Schink, Bernhard; Seifert, Jana; Szaleniec, Maciej; Treude, Tina; Ullmann, G Matthias; Vogt, Carsten; von Bergen, Martin; Wilkes, Heinz

    2016-01-01

    Hydrocarbons are abundant in anoxic environments and pose biochemical challenges to their anaerobic degradation by microorganisms. Within the framework of the Priority Program 1319, investigations funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft on the anaerobic microbial degradation of hydrocarbons ranged from isolation and enrichment of hitherto unknown hydrocarbon-degrading anaerobic microorganisms, discovery of novel reactions, detailed studies of enzyme mechanisms and structures to process-oriented in situ studies. Selected highlights from this program are collected in this synopsis, with more detailed information provided by theme-focused reviews of the special topic issue on 'Anaerobic biodegradation of hydrocarbons' [this issue, pp. 1-244]. The interdisciplinary character of the program, involving microbiologists, biochemists, organic chemists and environmental scientists, is best exemplified by the studies on alkyl-/arylalkylsuccinate synthases. Here, research topics ranged from in-depth mechanistic studies of archetypical toluene-activating benzylsuccinate synthase, substrate-specific phylogenetic clustering of alkyl-/arylalkylsuccinate synthases (toluene plus xylenes, p-cymene, p-cresol, 2-methylnaphthalene, n-alkanes), stereochemical and co-metabolic insights into n-alkane-activating (methylalkyl)succinate synthases to the discovery of bacterial groups previously unknown to possess alkyl-/arylalkylsuccinate synthases by means of functional gene markers and in situ field studies enabled by state-of-the-art stable isotope probing and fractionation approaches. Other topics are Mo-cofactor-dependent dehydrogenases performing O2-independent hydroxylation of hydrocarbons and alkyl side chains (ethylbenzene, p-cymene, cholesterol, n-hexadecane), degradation of p-alkylated benzoates and toluenes, glycyl radical-bearing 4-hydroxyphenylacetate decarboxylase, novel types of carboxylation reactions (for acetophenone, acetone, and potentially also benzene and

  1. Degradation of MDEA in aqueous solution in the thermally activated persulfate system.

    PubMed

    Li, Yong-Tao; Yue, Dong; Wang, Bing; Ren, Hong-Yang

    2017-03-01

    The feasibility of methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) degradation in thermally activated PS system was evaluated. Effects of the PS concentration, pH, activation temperature and reaction time on MDEA degradation were investigated. Simultaneity, the thermodynamic analysis and degradation process were also performed. Several findings were made in this study including the following: the degradation rates of MDEA in thermally activated PS systems were higher than other systems. MDEA could be readily degraded at 40°C with a PS concentration of 25.2 mM, the process of MDEA degradation was accelerated by higher PS dose and reaction temperature, and MDEA degradation and PS consumption followed the pseudo-first-order kinetic model. The thermodynamic analysis showed that the activation process followed an endothermic path of the positive value of [Formula: see text] and spontaneous with the negative value of [Formula: see text], high temperature was favorable to the degradation of MDEA with the apparent activation energy of 87.11 KJ/mol. Combined FT-IR with GC-MS analysis techniques, MDEA could be oxidative degraded after the C-N bond broken to small molecules of organic acids, alcohols or nitro compounds until oxidized to CO 2 and H 2 O. In conclusion, the thermally activated PS process is a promising option for degrading MDEA effluent liquor.

  2. Multisubstrate biodegradation kinetics of naphthalene, phenanthrene, and pyrene mixtures

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Guha, S.; Peters, C.A.; Jaffe, P.R.

    Biodegradation kinetics of naphthalene, phenanthrene and pyrene were studied in sole-substrate systems, and in binary and ternary mixtures to examine substrate interactions. The experiments were conducted in aerobic batch aqueous systems inoculated with a mixed culture that had been isolated from soils contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Monod kinetic parameters and yield coefficients for the individual parameters and yield coefficients for the individual compounds were estimated from substrate depletion and CO{sub 2} evolution rate data in sole-substrate experiments. In all three binary mixture experiments, biodegradation kinetics were comparable to the sole-substrate kinetics. In the ternary mixture, biodegradation of naphthalenemore » was inhibited and the biodegradation rates of phenanthrene and pyrene were enhanced. A multisubstrate form of the Monod kinetic model was found to adequately predict substrate interactions in the binary and ternary mixtures using only the parameters derived from sole-substrate experiments. Numerical simulations of biomass growth kinetics explain the observed range of behaviors in PAH mixtures. In general, the biodegradation rates of the more degradable and abundant compounds are reduced due to competitive inhibition, but enhanced biodegradation of the more recalcitrant PAHs occurs due to simultaneous biomass growth on multiple substrates. In PAH-contaminated environments, substrate interactions may be very large due to additive effects from the large number of compounds present.« less

  3. An Overview of the Toxicity of Naphthalene, EDB and Ethanol

    EPA Science Inventory

    This presentation is a short summary of information on the toxicity and carcinogenicity of naphthalene and 1,2-dibromoethane (EDB) that is available in the EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) and information on the toxicity of ethanol available from the Health, Environm...

  4. IRIS Toxicological Review of Naphthalene (Scoping and Problem Formulation Materials)

    EPA Science Inventory

    In July 2014, EPA released scoping and problem formulation materials for new IRIS assessments of ethylbenzene and naphthalene for public comment and discussion. The scoping information was based on input from EPA's program and regional offices and was provided for informational p...

  5. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon degradation by biosurfactant-producing Pseudomonas sp. IR1.

    PubMed

    Kumara, Manoj; Leon, Vladimir; De Sisto Materano, Angela; Ilzins, Olaf A; Galindo-Castro, Ivan; Fuenmayor, Sergio L

    2006-01-01

    We characterized a newly isolated bacterium, designated as IR1, with respect to its ability to degrade polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and to produce biosurfactants. Isolated IR1 was identified as Pseudomonas putida by analysis of 16S rRNA sequences (99.6% homology). It was capable of utilizing two-, three- and four-ring PAHs but not hexadecane and octadecane as a sole carbon and energy source. PCR and DNA hybridization studies showed that enzymes involved in PAH metabolism were related to the naphthalene dioxygenase pathway. Observation of both tensio-active and emulsifying activities indicated that biosurfactants were produced by IR1 during growth on both water miscible and immiscible substrates. The biosurfactants lowered the surface tension of medium from 54.9 dN cm(-1) to 35.4 dN cm(-1) and formed a stable and compact emulsion with an emulsifying activity of 74% with diesel oil, when grown on dextrose. These findings indicate that this isolate may be useful for bioremediation of sites contaminated with aromatic hydrocarbons.

  6. Interactive effects of naphthalene treatment and the onset of vitellogenesis on energy metabolism in liver and gonad, and plasma steroid hormones of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss.

    PubMed

    Tintos, Adrián; Gesto, Manuel; Alvarez, Rosa; Míguez, Jesús M; Soengas, José L

    2006-10-01

    The purpose of the study was to assess in female fish the possible interaction between treatment with a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) like naphthalene and the onset of vitellogenesis. In a first experiment, female rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) at stages 2-3 (previtellogenesis) or 4 (early vitellogenesis) were intraperitoneally injected (2 microl g(-1)) with vegetable oil alone (control) or containing naphthalene (50 mg kg(-1)) to be sampled 3 h later. A second experiment was similarly designed but using fish intraperitoneally implanted (10 microl g(-1)) with slow-release coconut oil implants alone (control) or containing 50 mg naphthalene kg(-1) body mass that were sampled 3 days after injection. On each sampling time, plasma levels of cortisol and 17beta-estradiol, and several metabolic parameters in plasma, liver and gonad were assessed. In controls, early vitellogenic fish compared with previtellogenic fish displayed changes that in some cases are confirmatory of previous studies whereas in other cases provide new information in plasma (increased amino acid levels), liver (decreased capacity for exporting glucose and reduced amino acid levels) and gonad (decreased amino acid levels). Naphthalene treatment produced in previtellogenic fish decreased 17beta-estradiol levels in plasma, increased plasma glucose or decreased liver gluconeogenic capacity whereas no major effects were noticed on parameters involved in lipid, amino acid and lactate metabolism. Differential effects of naphthalene treatment were noticed in early vitellogenic fish such as decreased 17beta-estradiol and glucose levels in plasma, increased hexokinase and glucokinase and lack of changes in fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase activities in liver, and a lower decrease of amino acid levels in gonad. Those alterations produced by naphthalene treatment resulted in a decreased capacity for covering the energy demand of vitellogenesis in liver and gonad that could contribute to a delay and

  7. Immobilization of fungal laccase onto a nonionic surfactant-modified clay material: application to PAH degradation.

    PubMed

    Chang, Yi-Tang; Lee, Jiunn-Fwu; Liu, Keng-Hua; Liao, Yi-Fen; Yang, Vivian

    2016-03-01

    Nonionic surfactant-modified clay is a useful absorbent material that effectively removes hydrophobic organic compounds from soil/groundwater. We developed a novel material by applying an immobilized fungal laccase onto nonionic surfactant-modified clay. Low-water-solubility polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (naphthalene/phenanthrene) were degraded in the presence of this bioactive material. PAH degradation by free laccase was higher than degradation by immobilized laccase when the surfactant concentration was allowed to form micelles. PAH degradation by immobilized laccase on TX-100-modified clay was higher than on Brij35-modified clay. Strong laccase degradation of PAH can be maintained by adding surfactant monomers or micelles. The physical adsorption of nonionic surfactants onto clay plays an important role in PAH degradation by laccase, which can be explained by the structure and molecular interactions of the surfactant with the clay and enzyme. A system where laccase is immobilized onto TX-100-monomer-modified clay is a good candidate bioactive material for in situ PAHs bioremediation.

  8. A core-substituted naphthalene diimide fluoride sensor.

    PubMed

    Bhosale, Sheshanath V; Bhosale, Sidhanath V; Kalyankar, Mohan B; Langford, Steven J

    2009-12-03

    The synthesis and characterization of a highly fluorescent core-substituted naphthalene diimide sensor (varphi = 0.34) bearing a bis-sulfonamide group is described. The compound shows a unique selectivity and reactivity for the fluoride ion over other anions in CHCl(3) by a two-stage deprotonation process leading to a colorimetric response. In DMSO solution, the sensor is shown to be highly selective for fluoride (K(a) approximately 10(6) M(-1)) over other anions with more pronounced changes in absorption characteristics.

  9. Deposition of naphthalene and tetradecane vapors in models of the human respiratory system.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Zhe; Kleinstreuer, Clement

    2011-01-01

    Jet-propulsion fuel (particularly JP-8) is currently being used worldwide, exposing especially Air Force personnel and people living near airfields to JP-8 vapors and aerosols during aircraft fueling, maintenance operations, and/or cold starts. JP-8 is a complex mixture containing >200, mostly toxic, aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon compounds of which tetradecane and naphthalene were chosen as two representative chemical markers for computer simulations. Thus, transport and deposition of naphthalene and tetradecane vapors have been simulated in models of the human respiratory system. The inspiratory deposition data were analyzed in terms of regional deposition fractions (DFs) and deposition enhancement factors (DEF). The vapor depositions are affected by vapor properties (e.g. diffusivity), airway geometric features, breathing patterns, inspiratory flow rates, as well as airway-wall absorption parameter. Specifically, the respiratory uptake of vapors is greatly influenced by the degree of airway-wall absorption. For example, being an almost insoluble species in the mucus layer, the deposition of tetradecane vapor is nearly zero in the extrathoracic and tracheobronchial (TB) airways, that is, the DF is <1%. The remaining vapors may penetrate further and deposit in the alveolar airways. The DF of tetradecane vapors during inhalation in the alveolar region can range from 7% to 24%, depending on breathing waveform, inhalation rate, and thickness of the mucus layer. In contrast, naphthalene vapor almost completely deposits in the extrathoracic and TB airways and hardly moves downstream and deposits in the respiratory zone. The DFs of naphthalene vapor in the extrathoracic airways from nasal/oral to trachea under normal breathing conditions (Q = 15-60 L/min) are about 12-34%, although they are about 66-87% in the TB airways. In addition, the variation of breathing routes (say, from nasal breathing to oral breathing) may influence the vapor deposition in the

  10. Gas-phase naphthalene concentration data recovery in ambient air and its relevance as a tracer of sources of volatile organic compounds

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Uria-Tellaetxe, Iratxe; Navazo, Marino; de Blas, Maite; Durana, Nieves; Alonso, Lucio; Iza, Jon

    2016-04-01

    Despite the toxicity of naphthalene and the fact that it is a precursor of atmospheric photooxidants and secondary aerosol, studies on ambient gas-phase naphthalene are generally scarce. Moreover, as far as we are concerned, this is the first published one using long-term hourly ambient gas-phase naphthalene concentrations. In this work, it has been also demonstrated the usefulness of ambient gas-phase naphthalene to identify major sources of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in complex scenarios. Initially, in order to identify main benzene emission sources, hourly ambient measurements of 60 VOC were taken during a complete year together with meteorological data in an urban/industrial area. Later, due to the observed co-linearity of some of the emissions, a procedure was developed to recover naphthalene concentration data from recorded chromatograms to use it as a tracer of the combustion and distillation of petroleum products. The characteristic retention time of this compound was determined comparing previous GC-MS and GC-FID simultaneous analysis by means of relative retention times, and its concentration was calculated by using relative response factors. The obtained naphthalene concentrations correlated fairly well with ethene (r = 0.86) and benzene (r = 0.92). Besides, the analysis of daily time series showed that these compounds followed a similar pattern, very different from that of other VOC, with minimum concentrations at day-time. This, together with the results from the assessment of the meteorological dependence pointed out a coke oven as the major naphthalene and benzene emitting sources in the study area.

  11. Characterization of a novel thermostable Mn(II)-dependent 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl 1,2-dioxygenase from a polychlorinated biphenyl- and naphthalene-degrading Bacillus sp. JF8.

    PubMed

    Hatta, Takashi; Mukerjee-Dhar, Gouri; Damborsky, Jiri; Kiyohara, Hohzoh; Kimbara, Kazuhide

    2003-06-13

    A novel thermostable Mn(II)-dependent 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl-1,2-dioxygenase (BphC_JF8) catalyzing the meta-cleavage of the hydroxylated biphenyl ring was purified from the thermophilic biphenyl and naphthalene degrader, Bacillus sp. JF8, and the gene was cloned. The native and recombinant BphC enzyme was purified to homogeneity. The enzyme has a molecular mass of 125 +/- 10 kDa and was composed of four identical subunits (35 kDa). BphC_JF8 has a temperature optimum of 85 degrees C and a pH optimum of 7.5. It exhibited a half-life of 30 min at 80 degrees C and 81 min at 75 degrees C, making it the most thermostable extradiol dioxygenase studied. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analysis confirmed the presence of 4.0-4.8 manganese atoms per enzyme molecule. The EPR spectrum of BphC_JF8 exhibited g = 2.02 and g = 4.06 signals having the 6-fold hyperfine splitting characteristic of Mn(II). The enzyme can oxidize a wide range of substrates, and the substrate preference was in the order 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl > 3-methylcatechol > catechol > 4-methylcatechol > 4-chlorocatechol. The enzyme is resistant to denaturation by various chelators and inhibitors (EDTA, 1,10-phenanthroline, H2O2, 3-chlorocatechol) and did not exhibit substrate inhibition even at 3 mm 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl. A decrease in Km accompanied an increase in temperature, and the Km value of 0.095 microm for 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl (at 60 degrees C) is among the lowest reported. The kinetic properties and thermal stability of the native and recombinant enzyme were identical. The primary structure of BphC_JF8 exhibits less than 25% sequence identity to other 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl 1,2-dioxygenases. The metal ligands and active site residues of extradiol dioxygenases are conserved, although several amino acid residues found exclusively in enzymes that preferentially cleave bicyclic substrates are missing in BphC_JF8. A three-dimensional homology model of BphC_JF8 provided a basis for understanding the

  12. Anaerobic Degradation of Ethylbenzene by a New Type of Marine Sulfate-Reducing Bacterium

    PubMed Central

    Kniemeyer, Olaf; Fischer, Thomas; Wilkes, Heinz; Glöckner, Frank Oliver; Widdel, Friedrich

    2003-01-01

    Anaerobic degradation of the aromatic hydrocarbon ethylbenzene was studied with sulfate as the electron acceptor. Enrichment cultures prepared with marine sediment samples from different locations showed ethylbenzene-dependent reduction of sulfate to sulfide and always contained a characteristic cell type that formed gas vesicles towards the end of growth. A pure culture of this cell type, strain EbS7, was isolated from sediment from Guaymas Basin (Gulf of California). Complete mineralization of ethylbenzene coupled to sulfate reduction was demonstrated in growth experiments with strain EbS7. Sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene revealed a close relationship between strain EbS7 and the previously described marine sulfate-reducing strains NaphS2 and mXyS1 (similarity values, 97.6 and 96.2%, respectively), which grow anaerobically with naphthalene and m-xylene, respectively. However, strain EbS7 did not oxidize naphthalene, m-xylene, or toluene. Other compounds utilized by strain EbS7 were phenylacetate, 3-phenylpropionate, formate, n-hexanoate, lactate, and pyruvate. 1-Phenylethanol and acetophenone, the characteristic intermediates in anaerobic ethylbenzene degradation by denitrifying bacteria, neither served as growth substrates nor were detectable as metabolites by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in ethylbenzene-grown cultures of strain EbS7. Rather, (1-phenylethyl)succinate and 4-phenylpentanoate were detected as specific metabolites in such cultures. Formation of these intermediates can be explained by a reaction sequence involving addition of the benzyl carbon atom of ethylbenzene to fumarate, carbon skeleton rearrangement of the succinate moiety (as a thioester), and loss of one carboxyl group. Such reactions are analogous to those suggested for anaerobic n-alkane degradation and thus differ from the initial reactions in anaerobic ethylbenzene degradation by denitrifying bacteria which employ dehydrogenations. PMID:12570993

  13. Influence of laser wavelength on two-dimensional carbon nanosheet formation from laser-induced exfoliation of naphthalene

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Qian, Min; Niu, Yue Ping; Gong, Shang Qing

    2018-01-01

    Pulsed Nd:YAG (532 nm) and Excimer (248 nm) lasers were employed to produce freestanding, two-dimensional (2D), carbon nanosheets (CNSs) from naphthalene, through laser-induced exfoliation. The polymer-to-carbon transition was investigated in terms of laser wavelengths, fluences, as well as target preparations. Continuous and porous CNSs of several nanometers in thickness and micrometers in size were obtained from 532 and 248 nm pulsed laser exfoliation of spin-coated naphthalene films, respectively. The porous morphology is ascribed to the photon-induced dissociation of chemical bonds dominated in 248 nm laser interaction with ablated naphthalene. With the increase of laser fluences from 1 to 5 J cm-2, amorphous carbon and ultrathin CNS structures were obtained in sequence. This work revealed a general mechanism of producing 2D structured carbon materials from pulsed laser exfoliation.

  14. The effects of ultraviolet light on the degradation of organic compounds: a possible explanation for the absence of organic matter on Mars.

    PubMed

    Oro, J; Holzer, G

    1979-01-01

    The analysis of the top layer of the Martian regolith at the two Viking landing sites did not reveal any indigenous organic compounds. However the existence of such compounds at deeper layers cannot be ruled out. Cosmochemical considerations indicate various potential sources for organic matter on Mars, such as comets and meteorites. Its disappearance from the top layer could be caused by degradation processes on the surface of the planet. Possible destructive agents include ultraviolet light, oxygen and metal oxides. In this study we tested the stability of a sample of the Murchison meteorite and various organic substances which have been detected in carbonaceous chondrites, such as glycine, adenine and naphthalene, to the action of ultraviolet light. The compounds were adsorbed on powdered quartz and on California desert soil and were irradiated in the presence or absence of oxygen. The organic content, before and after irradiation, was measured by carbon elementary analysis, UV-absorption, amino acid analysis or pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. In the absence of oxygen, adenine and glycine appear to be stable over the given period of irradiation. A definite degradation was noticed in the case of naphthalene and the Murchison meteorite. In the presence of oxygen in amounts comparable to those on Mars all compounds were degraded. The degree of degradation was influenced by the irradiation time, temperature and oxygen content.

  15. Transcriptional responses in the rat nasal epithelium following subchronic inhalation of naphthalene vapor

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Clewell, H.J., E-mail: hclewell@thehamner.org; Efremenko, A.; Campbell, J.L.

    Male and female Fischer 344 rats were exposed to naphthalene vapors at 0 (controls), 0.1, 1, 10, and 30 ppm for 6 h/d, 5 d/wk, over a 90-day period. Following exposure, the respiratory epithelium and olfactory epithelium from the nasal cavity were dissected separately, RNA was isolated, and gene expression microarray analysis was conducted. Only a few significant gene expression changes were observed in the olfactory or respiratory epithelium of either gender at the lowest concentration (0.1 ppm). At the 1.0 ppm concentration there was limited evidence of an oxidative stress response in the respiratory epithelium, but not in themore » olfactory epithelium. In contrast, a large number of significantly enriched cellular pathway responses were observed in both tissues at the two highest concentrations (10 and 30 ppm, which correspond to tumorigenic concentrations in the NTP bioassay). The nature of these responses supports a mode of action involving oxidative stress, inflammation and proliferation. These results are consistent with a dose-dependent transition in the mode of action for naphthalene toxicity/carcinogenicity between 1.0 and 10 ppm in the rat. In the female olfactory epithelium (the gender/site with the highest incidences of neuroblastomas in the NTP bioassay), the lowest concentration at which any signaling pathway was significantly affected, as characterized by the median pathway benchmark dose (BMD) or its 95% lower bound (BMDL) was 6.0 or 3.7 ppm, respectively, while the lowest female olfactory BMD values for pathways related to glutathione homeostasis, inflammation, and proliferation were 16.1, 11.1, and 8.4 ppm, respectively. In the male respiratory epithelium (the gender/site with the highest incidences of adenomas in the NTP bioassay), the lowest pathway BMD and BMDL were 0.4 and 0.3 ppm, respectively, and the lowest male respiratory BMD values for pathways related to glutathione homeostasis, inflammation, and proliferation were 0.5, 0.7, and 0

  16. CORRELATION OF POLYCHLORINATED NAPHTHALENES WITH POLYCHLORINATED DIBENZOFURANS FORMED FROM WASTE INCINERATION

    EPA Science Inventory

    Isomer composition of polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) was measured for municipal waste incinerator fly ash samples,and for emission samples produced from soot and copper deposit experiments conducted at EPA. Two types of PCN isomer patterns were identified. One pattern cxonta...

  17. IRIS Toxicological Review of Naphthalene (2014, Scoping and Problem Formulation Materials)

    EPA Science Inventory

    In July 2014, EPA released scoping and problem formulation materials for new IRIS assessments of ethylbenzene and naphthalene for public comment and discussion. The scoping information was based on input from EPA's program and regional offices and was provided for informational p...

  18. Prohibitin is involved in the activated internalization and degradation of protease-activated receptor 1.

    PubMed

    Wang, Yan-Jie; Guo, Xiao-Long; Li, Sheng-An; Zhao, Yu-Qi; Liu, Zi-Chao; Lee, Wen-Hui; Xiang, Yang; Zhang, Yun

    2014-07-01

    The protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1) is a G-protein-coupled receptor that is irreversibly activated by either thrombin or metalloprotease 1. Due this irrevocable activation, activated internalization and degradation are critical for PAR1 signaling termination. Prohibitin (PHB) is an evolutionarily conserved, ubiquitously expressed, pleiotropic protein and belongs to the stomatin/prohibitin/flotillin/HflK/C (SPFH) domain family. In a previous study, we found that PHB localized on the platelet membrane and participated in PAR1-mediated human platelet aggregation, suggesting that PHB likely regulates the signaling of PAR1. Unfortunately, PHB's exact function in PAR1 internalization and degradation is unclear. In the current study, flow cytometry revealed that PHB expressed on the surface of endothelial cells (HUVECs) but not cancer cells (MDA-MB-231). Further confocal microscopy revealed that PHB dynamically associates with PAR1 in a time-dependent manner following induction with PAR1-activated peptide (PAR1-AP), though differently between HUVECs and MDA-MB-231 cells. Depletion of PHB by RNA interference significantly inhibited PAR1 activated internalization and led to sustained Erk1/2 phosphorylation in the HUVECs; however, a similar effect was not observed in MDA-MB-231 cells. For both the endothelial and cancel cells, PHB repressed PAR1 degradation, while knockdown of PHB led to increased PAR1 degradation, and PHB overexpression inhibited PAR1 degradation. These results suggest that persistent PAR1 signaling due to the absence of membrane PHB and decreased PAR1 degradation caused by the upregulation of intracellular PHB in cancer cells (such as MDA-MB-231 cells) may render cells highly invasive. As such, PHB may be a novel target in future anti-cancer therapeutics, or in more refined cancer malignancy diagnostics. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  19. Enhanced biodegradation of mixed PAHs by mutated naphthalene 1,2-dioxygenase encoded by Pseudomonas putida strain KD6 isolated from petroleum refinery waste.

    PubMed

    Dutta, Kunal; Shityakov, Sergey; Das, Prangya P; Ghosh, Chandradipa

    2017-12-01

    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of environmental pollutant that are given top priority to maintain water and soil quality to the most amenable standard. Biodegradation of PAHs by bacteria is the convenient option for decontamination on site or off site. The aim of the present study was to isolate and identify naturally occurring bacteria having mixed PAHs biodegradation ability. The newly isolated Pseudomonas putida strain KD6 was found to efficiently degrade 97.729% of 1500 mg L -1 mixed PAHs within 12 days in carbon-deficient minimal medium (CSM). The half-life ( t 1/2 ) and degradation rate constant ( k ) were estimated to be 3.2 and 0.2165 days, respectively. The first-order kinetic parameters in soil by strain KD6 had shown efficient biodegradation potency with the higher concentration of total PAHs (1500 mg kg -1 soil), t 1/2  = 10.44 days -1 . However, the biodegradation by un-inoculated control soil was found slower ( t 1/2  = 140 days -1 ) than the soil inoculated with P. putida strain KD6. The enzyme kinetic constants are also in agreement with chemical data obtained from the HPLC analysis. In addition, the sequence analysis and molecular docking studies showed that the strain KD6 encodes a mutant version of naphthalene 1,2-dioxygenase which have better Benzpyrene binding energy (-9.90 kcal mol -1 ) than wild type (-8.18 kcal mol -1 ) enzyme (chain A, 1NDO), respectively, with 0.00 and 0.08 RMSD values. The mutated naphthalene 1,2-dioxygenase nah Ac has six altered amino acid residues near to the ligand binding site. The strain KD6 could be a good bioresource for in situ or ex situ biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon.

  20. NAPHTHALENE TOXICITY IN CD-1 MICE: GENERAL TOXICOLOGY AND IMMUNOTOXICOLOGY

    EPA Science Inventory

    The purpose of this study was to evaluate the acute and subchronic toxicity, and effects on immune function, of naphthalene (NAP) in random-bred CD-1 mice. The acute oral LD50 of this compound was 533 and 710 mg/kg in male and female mice, respectively. Fourteen- and ninety-day d...

  1. Effect of Nitrogen Source on Growth and Trichloroethylene Degradation by Methane-Oxidizing Bacteria

    PubMed Central

    Chu, Kung-Hui; Alvarez-Cohen, Lisa

    1998-01-01

    The effect of nitrogen source on methane-oxidizing bacteria with respect to cellular growth and trichloroethylene (TCE) degradation ability were examined. One mixed chemostat culture and two pure type II methane-oxidizing strains, Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b and strain CAC-2, which was isolated from the chemostat culture, were used in this study. All cultures were able to grow with each of three different nitrogen sources: ammonia, nitrate, and molecular nitrogen. Both M. trichosporium OB3b and strain CAC-2 showed slightly lower net cellular growth rates and cell yields but exhibited higher methane uptake rates, levels of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) production, and naphthalene oxidation rates when grown under nitrogen-fixing conditions. The TCE-degrading ability of each culture was measured in terms of initial TCE oxidation rates and TCE transformation capacities (mass of TCE degraded/biomass inactivated), measured both with and without external energy sources. Higher initial TCE oxidation rates and TCE transformation capacities were observed in nitrogen-fixing mixed, M. trichosporium OB3b, and CAC-2 cultures than in nitrate- or ammonia-supplied cells. TCE transformation capacities were found to correlate with cellular PHB content in all three cultures. The results of this study suggest that the nitrogen-fixing capabilities of methane-oxidizing bacteria can be used to select for high-activity TCE degraders for the enhancement of bioremediation in fixed-nitrogen-limited environments. PMID:9726896

  2. Near-IR MCD of the nonheme ferrous active site in naphthalene 1,2-dioxygenase: correlation to crystallography and structural insight into the mechanism of Rieske dioxygenases.

    PubMed

    Ohta, Takehiro; Chakrabarty, Sarmistha; Lipscomb, John D; Solomon, Edward I

    2008-02-06

    Near-IR MCD and variable temperature, variable field (VTVH) MCD have been applied to naphthalene 1,2-dioxygenase (NDO) to describe the coordination geometry and electronic structure of the mononuclear nonheme ferrous catalytic site in the resting and substrate-bound forms with the Rieske 2Fe2S cluster oxidized and reduced. The structural results are correlated with the crystallographic studies of NDO and other related Rieske nonheme iron oxygenases to develop molecular level insights into the structure/function correlation for this class of enzymes. The MCD data for resting NDO with the Rieske center oxidized indicate the presence of a six-coordinate high-spin ferrous site with a weak axial ligand which becomes more tightly coordinated when the Rieske center is reduced. Binding of naphthalene to resting NDO (Rieske oxidized and reduced) converts the six-coordinate sites into five-coordinate (5c) sites with elimination of a water ligand. In the Rieske oxidized form the 5c sites are square pyramidal but transform to a 1:2 mixture of trigonal bipyramial/square pyramidal sites when the Rieske center is reduced. Thus the geometric and electronic structure of the catalytic site in the presence of substrate can be significantly affected by the redox state of the Rieske center. The catalytic ferrous site is primed for the O2 reaction when substrate is bound in the active site in the presence of the reduced Rieske site. These structural changes ensure that two electrons and the substrate are present before the binding and activation of O2, which avoids the uncontrolled formation and release of reactive oxygen species.

  3. Soil degradation effect on biological activity in Mediterranean calcareous soils

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Roca-Pérez, L.; Alcover-Sáez, S.; Mormeneo, S.; Boluda, R.

    2009-04-01

    Soil degradation processes include erosion, organic matter decline, compaction, salinization, landslides, contamination, sealing and biodiversity decline. In the Mediterranean region the climatological and lithological conditions, together with relief on the landscape and anthropological activity are responsible for increasing desertification process. It is therefore considered to be extreme importance to be able to measure soil degradation quantitatively. We studied soil characteristics, microbiological and biochemical parameters in different calcareous soil sequences from Valencia Community (Easter Spain), in an attempt to assess the suitability of the parameters measured to reflect the state of soil degradation and the possibility of using the parameters to assess microbiological decline and soil quality. For this purpose, forest, scrubland and agricultural soil in three soil sequences were sampled in different areas. Several sensors of the soil biochemistry and microbiology related with total organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon, soil respiration, microorganism number and enzyme activities were determined. The results show that, except microorganism number, these parameters are good indicators of a soil biological activity and soil quality. The best enzymatic activities to use like indicators were phosphatases, esterases, amino-peptidases. Thus, the enzymes test can be used as indicators of soil degradation when this degradation is related with organic matter losses. There was a statistically significant difference in cumulative O2 uptake and extracellular enzymes among the soils with different degree of degradation. We would like to thank Spanish government-MICINN for funding and support (MICINN, project CGL2006-09776).

  4. What Is the Structure of the Naphthalene-Benzene Heterodimer Radical Cation? Binding Energy, Charge Delocalization, and Unexpected Charge-Transfer Interaction in Stacked Dimer and Trimer Radical Cations.

    PubMed

    Attah, Isaac K; Platt, Sean P; Meot-Ner Mautner, Michael; El-Shall, M Samy; Peverati, Roberto; Head-Gordon, Martin

    2015-04-02

    The binding energy of the naphthalene(+•)(benzene) heterodimer cation has been determined to be 7.9 ± 1 kcal/mol for C10H8(+•)(C6H6) and 8.1 ± 1 kcal/mol for C10H8(+•)(C6D6) by equilibrium thermochemical measurements using the mass-selected drift cell technique. A second benzene molecule binds to the C10H8(+•)(C6D6) dimer with essentially the same energy (8.4 ± 1 kcal/mol), suggesting that the two benzene molecules are stacked on opposite sides of the naphthalene cation in the (C6D6)C10H8(+•)(C6D6) heterotrimer. The lowest-energy isomers of the C10H8(+•)(C6D6) and (C6D6)C10H8(+•)(C6D6) dimer and trimer calculated using the M11/cc-pVTZ method have parallel stacked structures with enthalpies of binding (-ΔH°) of 8.4 and 9.0 kcal/mol, respectively, in excellent agreement with the experimental values. The stacked face-to-face class of isomers is calculated to have substantial charge-transfer stabilization of about 45% of the total interaction energy despite the large difference between the ionization energies of benzene and naphthalene. Similarly, significant delocalization of the positive charge is found among all three fragments of the (C6D6)C10H8(+•)(C6D6) heterotrimer, thus leaving only 46% of the total charge on the central naphthalene moiety. This unexpectedly high charge-transfer component results in activating two benzene molecules in the naphthalene(+•)(benzene)2 heterotrimer cation to associate with a third benzene molecule at 219 K to form a benzene trimer cation and a neutral naphthalene molecule. The global minimum of the C10H8(+•)(C6H6)2 heterotrimer is found to be the one where the naphthalene cation is sandwiched between two benzene molecules. It is remarkable, and rather unusual, that the binding energy of the second benzene molecule is essentially the same as that of the first. This is attributed to the enhanced charge-transfer interaction in the stacked trimer radical cation.

  5. The photolytic degradation and oxidation of organic compounds under simulated Martian conditions.

    PubMed

    Oró, J; Holzer, G

    1979-12-01

    Cosmochemical considerations suggest various potential sources for the accumulation of organic matter on Mars. However the Viking Molecular Analysis did not indicate any indigenous organic compounds on the surface of Mars. Their disappearance from the top layer is most likely caused by the combined action of the high solar radiation flux and various oxidizing species in the substances and a sample of the Murchison meteorite was tested under simulated Martian conditions. After adsorption on powdered quartz, samples of adenine, glycine and naphthalene were irradiated with UV light at various oxygen concentrations and exposure times. In the absence of oxygen, adenine and glycine appeared stable over the given irradiation period, whereas a definite loss was observed in the case of naphthalene, as well as in the volatilizable and pyrozable content of the Murchison meteroite. The presence of oxygen during UV exposure caused a significant increase in the degradation rate of all samples. It is likely that similar processes have led to the destruction of organic materials on the surface of Mars.

  6. The photolytic degradation and oxidation of organic compounds under simulated Martian conditions

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Oro, J.; Holzer, G.

    1979-01-01

    Cosmochemical considerations suggest various potential sources for the accumulation of organic matter on Mars. However the Viking Molecular Analysis did not indicate any indigenous organic compounds on the surface of Mars. Their disappearance from the top layer is most likely caused by the combined action of the high solar radiation flux and various oxidizing species in the Martian atmosphere and regolith. In this study the stability of several organic substances and a sample of the Murchison meteorite was tested under simulated Martian conditions. After adsorption on powdered quartz, samples of adenine, glycine and naphthalene were irradiated with UV light at various oxygen concentrations and exposure times. In the absence of oxygen, adenine and glycine appeared stable over the given irradiation period, whereas a definite loss was observed in the case of naphthalene, as well as in the volatilizable and pyrolizable content of the Murchison meteorite. The presence of oxygen during UV exposure caused a significant increase in the degradation rate of all samples. It is likely that similar processes have led to the destruction of organic materials on the surface of Mars.

  7. Synthesis of 3-alkyl naphthalenes as novel estrogen receptor ligands

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Fang, Jing; Akwabi-Ameyaw, Adwoa; Britton, Jonathan E.

    2009-06-24

    A series of estrogen receptor ligands based on a 3-alkyl naphthalene scaffold was synthesized using an intramolecular enolate-alkyne cycloaromatization as the key step. Several of these compounds bearing a C6-OH group were shown to be high affinity ligands. All compounds had similar ER{alpha} and ER{beta} binding affinity ranging from micromolar to low nanomolar.

  8. Degradation of diclofenac by UV-activated persulfate process: Kinetic studies, degradation pathways and toxicity assessments.

    PubMed

    Lu, Xian; Shao, Yisheng; Gao, Naiyun; Chen, Juxiang; Zhang, Yansen; Xiang, Huiming; Guo, Youluo

    2017-07-01

    Diclofenac (DCF) is the frequently detected non-steroidal pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment. In this study, the degradation of DCF was evaluated by UV-254nm activated persulfate (UV/PS). The degradation of DCF followed the pseudo first-order kinetics pattern. The degradation rate constant (k obs ) was accelerated by UV/PS compared to UV alone and PS alone. Increasing the initial PS dosage or solution pH significantly enhanced the degradation efficiency. Presence of various natural water constituents had different effects on DCF degradation, with an enhancement or inhibition in the presence of inorganic anions (HCO 3 - or Cl - ) and a significant inhibition in the presence of NOM. In addition, preliminary degradation mechanisms and major products were elucidated using LC-MS/MS. Hydroxylation, decarbonylation, ring-opening and cyclation reaction involving the attack of SO 4 • - or other substances, were the main degradation mechanism. TOC analyzer and Microtox bioassay were employed to evaluate the mineralization and cytotoxicity of solutions treated by UV/PS at different times, respectively. Limited elimination of TOC (32%) was observed during the mineralization of DCF. More toxic degradation products and their related intermediate species were formed, and the UV/PS process was suitable for removing the toxicity. Of note, longer degradation time may be considered for the final toxicity removal. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

  9. Synthesis, crystal growth, structural, thermal and optical properties of naphthalene picrate an organic NLO material.

    PubMed

    Chandramohan, A; Bharathikannan, R; Kandavelu, V; Chandrasekaran, J; Kandhaswamy, M A

    2008-12-01

    Crystalline substance of naphthalene picrate (NP) was synthesized and single crystals were grown using slow evaporation solution growth technique. The solubility of the naphthalene picrate complex was estimated using different solvents such as chloroform and benzene. The material was characterized by elemental analysis, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) techniques. The electronic absorption was studied through UV-vis spectrophotometer. Thermal behavior and stability of the crystal were studied using thermogravimetric (TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) techniques. The second harmonic generation (SHG) of the material was confirmed using Nd:YAG laser.

  10. Selenylation Modification of Degraded Polysaccharide from Enteromorpha prolifera and Its Biological Activities

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lv, Haitao; Duan, Ke; Shan, Hu

    2018-04-01

    Polysaccharide extracted from Enteromorpha prolifera possessed excellent biological activities, but its molecular weight was greatly high which influenced the activity. Organic Se had higher biological activities and was safer than inorganic Se species. In the present study, Enteromorpha polysaccharide was degraded to low molecular weight by free-radical degradation method of H2O2 and ascorbic acid. By single factor and orthogonal experiments, the optimal degradation conditions were reaction time of 2 h, reaction temperature of 50°C, H2O2/ascorbic acid (n/n=1:1) concentration of 15 mmol L-1, and solid-liquid ratio of 1:50 (g mL-1). Then, the degraded polysaccharide was chemically modified to obtain its selenide derivatives by nitric acid-sodium selenite method. The selenium content was 1137.29 μg g-1, while the content of sulfate radical had no change. IR spectra indicated that the selenite ester group was formed. Degraded polysaccharide selenide was characterized and evaluated for antioxidant, antifungal and antibacterial activities. The results showed that degraded polysaccharide selenide had strong capacity of scavenging DPPH and ·OH free radical. It had significant antibacterial properties for Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Salmonella spp., and it also had significant antifungal properties for Apple anthrax. The result ascertained degradation and selenylation modification did not change the main structure of polysaccharides. It was possible that free-radical degradation was an effective way for enhancing antioxidant activity to decrease molecular weight of polysaccharides.

  11. Summary Review of Health Effects Associated with Naphthalene: Health Issue Assessment (1987)

    EPA Science Inventory

    Naphthalene is released into ambient air via industrial gaseous and particulate emissions, tobacco use, and through consumer use. The data base concerning exposure of humans via inhalation and associated health effects is virtually nonexistent. Overexposure often results in acute...

  12. Humidity effects on surface dielectric barrier discharge for gaseous naphthalene decomposition

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Abdelaziz, Ayman A.; Ishijima, Tatsuo; Seto, Takafumi

    2018-04-01

    Experiments are performed using dry and humid air to clarify the effects of water vapour on the characteristics of surface dielectric barrier discharge (SDBD) and investigate its impact on the performance of the SDBD for decomposition of gaseous naphthalene in air stream. The current characteristics, including the discharge and the capacitive currents, are deeply analyzed and the discharge mechanism is explored. The results confirmed that the humidity affected the microdischarge distribution without affecting the discharge mode. Interestingly, it is found that the water vapour had a significant influence on the capacitance of the reactor due to its deposition on the discharge electrode and the dielectric, which, in turn, affects the power loss in the dielectric and the total power consumed in the reactor. Thus, the factor of the humidity effect on the power loss in the dielectric should be considered in addition to its effect on the attachment coefficient. Additionally, there was an optimum level of the humidity for the decomposition of naphthalene in the SDBD, and its value depended on the gas composition, where the maximum naphthalene decomposition efficiency in O2/H2O is achieved at the humidity level ˜10%, which was lower than that obtained in air/H2O (˜28%). The results also revealed that the role of the humidity in the decomposition efficiency was not significant in the humidified O2 at high power level. This was attributed to the significant increase in oxygen-derived species (such as O atoms and O3) at high power, which was enough to overcome the negative effects of the humidity.

  13. Trimethoprim degradation by Fenton and Fe(II)-activated persulfate processes.

    PubMed

    Wang, Shizong; Wang, Jianlong

    2018-01-01

    Trimethoprim is a pollutant ubiquitous in the environment due to its extensive application, and it cannot be effectively removed by conventional wastewater treatment processes. In this study, the Fenton and the Fe(II)-activated persulfate processes were employed to degrade trimethoprim in an aqueous solution. The results showed that the concentration of persulfate, H 2 O 2 and Fe(II) a had significant influence on the degradation of trimethoprim in both processes. De-ionized water spiked with trimethoprim resulted in the complete degradation of trimethoprim (0.05 mM) by the mineralization of 54.9% of Fenton's reagent when the concentrations of H 2 O 2 and Fe(II) were 1 mM and 0.05 mM, respectively. In contrast, 73.4% of trimethoprim was degraded by the mineralization of 40.5% of the Fe(II)-activated persulfate process when the concentration of persulfate and Fe(II) were each 4 mM. Intermediate compounds with different m/z were detected for the Fenton and the Fe(II)-activated persulfate processes, indicating alternative degradation pathways. In the actual wastewater spiked with trimethoprim, the removal efficiency of trimethoprim decreased to 35.8% and 43.6%, respectively, for the Fenton and the Fe(II)-activated persulfate processes. In addition, the decomposition efficiencies for hydrogen peroxide and persulfate were 43.8% and 92.5%, respectively, which was lower than those in the de-ionized water system. These results demonstrated that wastewater components had a negative influence on trimethoprim degradation and the decomposition of the oxidants (persulfate and H 2 O 2 ). In summary, the Fe(II)-activated persulfate process could be used as an alternative technology for treating trimethoprim-containing wastewater. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  14. Stability and molecular properties of the boron-nitrogen alternating analogs of azulene and naphthalene: a computational study.

    PubMed

    Catão, Anderson José Lopes; López-Castillo, Alejandro

    2017-04-01

    In this work, the spectroscopic information, stability and aromaticity of the boron-nitrogen azulene and naphthalene molecules are provided by the use of CC2 (geometry optimization, dipole moment, UV-vis spectrum calculations) and DFT (vibrational spectrum and NMR calculations) methodologies. One isomer of the investigated boron-nitrogen naphthalene (boroazanaphthalene) and two isomers of boron-nitrogen azulene, 1,3,4,6,8-pentaaza-2,3a,5,7,8a-pentaboraazulene (BN-azulene) and 2,3a,5,7,8a-pentaaza-1,3,4,6,8- pentaboraazulene (NB-azulene), are stable systems. However, these molecules have different properties, i.e., different stability, dipole moment, and aromaticity based on the NICS approach. BN-naphthalene has a high dipole moment magnitude showing high polar character, while naphthalene is apolar. BN- and NB-azulene are weakly polar, while ordinary azulene is highly polar in character. Also, substitution of C atoms by B and N atoms decreases the aromaticity. In the case of NB-azulene, the seven-membered ring has anti-aromaticity behavior while both rings of BN-azulene exhibit aromaticity. We expect that the new theoretical data provided in this work will be useful in identifying and characterizing experimentally the compounds investigated, and in helping our understanding of the chemistry of boron-nitrogen molecules. Graphical abstract Boron-nitrogen alternating analogs of azulene. Spectral distinction between isomers.

  15. Carboxylation as an initial reaction in the anaerobic metabolism of naphthalene and phenanthrene by sulfidogenic consortia.

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, X; Young, L Y

    1997-01-01

    The anaerobic biodegradation of naphthalene (NAP) and phenanthrene (PHE) was investigated by using sediment collected from the Arthur Kill in New York/New Jersey harbor. The initial cultures were composed of 10% sediment and 90% mineral medium containing 20 mM sulfate. Complete loss of NAP and PHE (150 to 200 muM) was observed after 150 days of incubation. Upon refeeding, NAP and PHE were utilized within 14 days. The utilization of both compounds was inhibited in the presence of 20 mM molybdate. [14C]NAP and [14C]PHE were mineralized to 14CO2. The activities could be maintained and propagated by subculturing in mineral medium. In the presence of halogenated analogs, 2-naphthoate was detected in NAP-utilizing enrichments. The mass spectrum of the derivatized 2-napththoate from the enrichment supplemented with both [13C]bicarbonate and NAP indicates the incorporation of 13CO2 into NAP. In the PHE-utilizing enrichment, a metabolite was detected by both high-pressure liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses. The molecular ion and fragmentation pattern of its mass spectrum indicate that it was phenanthrenecarboxylic acid. The results obtained with [13C] bicarbonate indicate that 13CO2 was incorporated into PHE. It appears, therefore, that carboxylation is an initial key reaction for the anaerobic metabolism and NAP and PHE. To our knowledge, this is the first report providing evidence for intermediates of PAH degradation under anaerobic conditions. PMID:9471963

  16. N,N′-Dicyclo­hexyl­naphthalene-1,8;4:5-dicarboximide

    PubMed Central

    Shukla, Deepak; Rajeswaran, Manju

    2008-01-01

    The title compound, C26H26N2O4, synthesized by the reaction of naphthalene-1,4,5,8-tetra­carboxylic acid anhydride and cyclo­hexyl­amine, exhibits good n-type semiconducting properties. Accordingly, thin-film transistor devices comprising this compound show n-type behavior with high field-effect electron moblity ca 6 cm2/Vs [Shukla, Nelson, Freeman, Rajeswaran, Ahearn, Meyer & Carey(2008 ▶). Chem. Mater. Submitted]. The asymmetric unit comprises one-quarter of the centrosymmetric mol­ecule in which all but two methyl­ene C atoms of the cyclo­hexane ring lie on a mirror plane; the point-group symmetry is 2/m. The naphthalene­diimide unit is strictly planar, and the cyclo­hexane rings adopt chair conformations with the diimide unit in an equatorial position on each ring. PMID:21201718

  17. Modified naphthalene diimide as a suitable tetraplex DNA ligand: application to cancer diagnosis and anti-cancer drug

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Takenaka, Shigeori

    2017-07-01

    It is known that naphthalene diimide carrying two substituents binds to DNA duplex with threading intercalation. Naphthalene diimide carrying ferrocene moieties, ferrocenylnaphthalene diimide (FND), formed a stable complex with DNA duplex and an electrochemical gene detection was achieved with current signal generated from FND bound to the DNA duplex between target DNA and DNA probe immobilized electrode. FND couldn't bind to the mismatched and its surrounding region of DNA duplex and thus FND was applied to the precision detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using the improved discrimination ability between fully matched and mismatched DNA hybrids and multi-electrode chip. Some of FND derivatives bound to telomere DNA tetraplex stronger than to DNA duplex and was applied to cancer diagnosis as a measure of the elongated telomere DNA with telomerase as a suitable maker of cancer. Furthermore, cyclic naphthalene diimides realized the extremely high preference for DNA tetraplex over DNA duplex. Such molecules will open an effective anti-cancer drug based on telomerase specific inhibitor.

  18. Critical Role of Transient Activity of MT1-MMP for ECM Degradation in Invadopodia

    PubMed Central

    Watanabe, Ayako; Hosino, Daisuke; Koshikawa, Naohiko; Seiki, Motoharu; Suzuki, Takashi; Ichikawa, Kazuhisa

    2013-01-01

    Focal degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) is the first step in the invasion of cancer cells. MT1-MMP is a potent membrane proteinase employed by aggressive cancer cells. In our previous study, we reported that MT1-MMP was preferentially located at membrane protrusions called invadopodia, where MT1-MMP underwent quick turnover. Our computer simulation and experiments showed that this quick turnover was essential for the degradation of ECM at invadopodia (Hoshino, D., et al., (2012) PLoS Comp. Biol., 8: e1002479). Here we report on characterization and analysis of the ECM-degrading activity of MT1-MMP, aiming at elucidating a possible reason for its repetitive insertion in the ECM degradation. First, in our computational model, we found a very narrow transient peak in the activity of MT1-MMP followed by steady state activity. This transient activity was due to the inhibition by TIMP-2, and the steady state activity of MT1-MMP decreased dramatically at higher TIMP-2 concentrations. Second, we evaluated the role of the narrow transient activity in the ECM degradation. When the transient activity was forcibly suppressed in computer simulations, the ECM degradation was heavily suppressed, indicating the essential role of this transient peak in the ECM degradation. Third, we compared continuous and pulsatile turnover of MT1-MMP in the ECM degradation at invadopodia. The pulsatile insertion showed basically consistent results with the continuous insertion in the ECM degradation, and the ECM degrading efficacy depended heavily on the transient activity of MT1-MMP in both models. Unexpectedly, however, low-frequency/high-concentration insertion of MT1-MMP was more effective in ECM degradation than high-frequency/low-concentration pulsatile insertion even if the time-averaged amount of inserted MT1-MMP was the same. The present analysis and characterization of ECM degradation by MT1-MMP together with our previous report indicate a dynamic nature of MT1-MMP at

  19. Activity and adaptation of nitrilotriacetate (NTA)-degrading bacteria: field and laboratory studies

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    McFeters, G. A.; Egli, T.; Wilberg, E.; Alder, A.; Schneider, R.; Suozzi, M.; Giger, W.

    1990-01-01

    Adaptation of bacterial activity for the degradation of nitrilotriacetate (NTA) was studied using natural sediment samples and an NTA-degrading bacterium (strain ATCC 29600). Sediment samples from a river with persistent levels of NTA had much higher NTA-degradative activity than comparable samples from a less contaminated control site. When sediment from the control site was exposed to high levels of NTA a 5 day lag preceded an abrupt increase in NTA degradation while strain 29600 colonized on sand and grown in the absence of NTA became induced within eight hours. The induction of strain 29600 was compared between bacteria in suspension and cells attached to sand. The sand-associated bacteria became induced 4 to 5 h before the planktonic suspension and displayed over threefold greater specific activity. Suspensions of strain 29600 became adapted within 8 h when placed in membrane diffusion chambers that were immersed within a municipal wastewater reactor containing NTA. These findings support the concept that induction is a part of the process of bacterial adaptation to degrade NTA and sand-associated bacteria can adapt more quickly to and have a greater degradative activity for NTA than planktonic cells.

  20. Advanced oxidation processes on doxycycline degradation: monitoring of antimicrobial activity and toxicity.

    PubMed

    Spina-Cruz, Mylena; Maniero, Milena Guedes; Guimarães, José Roberto

    2018-05-08

    Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have been highly efficient in degrading contaminants of emerging concern (CEC). This study investigated the efficiency of photolysis, peroxidation, photoperoxidation, and ozonation at different pH values to degrade doxycycline (DC) in three aqueous matrices: fountain, tap, and ultrapure water. More than 99.6% of DC degradation resulted from the UV/H 2 O 2 and ozonation processes. Also, to evaluate the toxicity of the original solution and throughout the degradation time, antimicrobial activity tests were conducted using Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria, and acute toxicity test using the bioluminescent marine bacterium (Vibrio fischeri). Antimicrobial activity reduced as the drug degradation increased in UV/H 2 O 2 and ozonation processes, wherein the first process only 6 min was required to reduce 100% of both bacteria activity. In ozonation, 27.7 mg L -1 of ozone was responsible for reducing 100% of the antimicrobial activity. When applied the photoperoxidation process, an increase in the toxicity occurred as the high levels of degradation were achieved; it means that toxic intermediates were formed. The ozonated solutions did not present toxicity.

  1. ACTIVATION OF APOPTOSIS BY 1-HYDROXY-5, 7-DIMETHOXY-2-NAPHTHALENE-CARBOXALDEHYDE (HDNC), A NOVEL COMPOUND FROM AEGLE MARMELOS

    PubMed Central

    Subramaniam, Dharmalingam; Giridharan, Periyasamy; Murmu, Nabendu; Shankarnarayanan, N.P.; May, Randal; Houchen, Courtney W.; Ramanujam, Rama P.; Balakrishnan, Arun; Vishwakarma, Ram A.; Anant, Shrikant

    2009-01-01

    We have identified a natural compound that activates apoptosis of epithelial cancer cells through activation of TNF-α, TRADD and caspases. The molecule, 1-hydroxy-5, 7-dimethoxy-2-naphthalene-carboxaldehyde (HDNC, marmelin) was isolated and characterized from ethyl acetate fraction of extracts of Aegle marmelos. HDNC treatment inhibited the growth of HCT-116 colon cancer tumor xenografts in vivo. Immunostaining for CD31 showed that there was a significant reduction in microvessels in the HDNC-treated animals, coupled with decreased cyclooxygenase-2, interleukin-8 and vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA. Using hexoseaminidase assay, we determined that HDNC inhibits proliferation of HCT-116 colon and HEp-2 alveolar epithelial carcinoma cells. Furthermore, the cancer cells showed increased levels of activated caspase-3 and induced G1 cell cycle arrest, which was suppressed by caspase-3 inhibitors. HDNC induced TNF-α, TNFR1, and TRADD mRNA and protein expression. Moreover, caspase-8 and Bid activation, and cytochrome C release was observed suggesting the existence of a crosstalk between death receptor and the mitochondrial pathways. HDNC inhibited AKT and ERK phosphorylation, both in cells in culture and in tumor xenografts. In addition, EMSA and luciferase reporter assays demonstrated that HDNC significantly suppressed TNF-α-mediated activation and translocation of NF-κB. This was further confirmed by western blot analysis of nuclear extracts wherein levels of RelA, the p65 component of NF-κB was significantly less in cells treated with HDNC. Together, the data suggest that the novel compound HDNC (marmelin) is a potent anti-cancer agent that induces apoptosis during G1 phase of cell cycle and could be a potential chemotherapeutic candidate. PMID:18922933

  2. Homology modeling, simulation and molecular docking studies of catechol-2, 3-Dioxygenase from Burkholderia cepacia: Involved in degradation of Petroleum hydrocarbons.

    PubMed

    Ajao, At; Kannan, M; Yakubu, Se; Vj, Umoh; Jb, Ameh

    2012-01-01

    Catechol 2, 3-dioxygenase is present in several types of bacteria and undergoes degradation of environmental pollutants through an important key biochemical pathways. Specifically, this enzyme cleaves aromatic rings of several environmental pollutants such as toluene, xylene, naphthalene and biphenyl derivatives. Hence, the importance of Catechol 2, 3-dioxygenase and its role in the degradation of environmental pollutants made us to predict the three-dimensional structure of Catechol 2, 3-dioxygenase from Burkholderia cepacia. The 10ns molecular dynamics simulation was carried out to check the stability of the modeled Catechol 2, 3- dioxygenase. The results show that the model was energetically stable, and it attains their equilibrium within 2000 ps of production MD run. The docking of various petroleum hydrocarbons into the Catechol 2,3-dioxygenase reveals that the benzene, O-xylene, Toluene, Fluorene, Naphthalene, Carbazol, Pyrene, Dibenzothiophene, Anthracene, Phenanthrene, Biphenyl makes strong hydrogen bond and Van der waals interaction with the active site residues of H150, L152, W198, H206, H220, H252, I254, T255, Y261, E271, L276 and F309. Free energy of binding and estimated inhibition constant of these compounds demonstrates that they are energetically stable in their binding cavity. Chrysene shows positive energy of binding in the active site atom of Fe. Except Pyrene all the substrates made close contact with Fe atom by the distance ranges from 1.67 to 2.43 Å. In addition to that, the above mentioned substrate except pyrene all other made π-π stacking interaction with H252 by the distance ranges from 3.40 to 3.90 Å. All these docking results reveal that, except Chrysene all other substrate has good free energy of binding to hold enough in the active site and makes strong VdW interaction with Catechol-2,3-dioxygenase. These results suggest that, the enzyme is capable of catalyzing the above-mentioned substrate.

  3. Homology modeling, simulation and molecular docking studies of catechol-2, 3-Dioxygenase from Burkholderia cepacia: Involved in degradation of Petroleum hydrocarbons

    PubMed Central

    Ajao, AT; Kannan, M; Yakubu, SE; VJ, Umoh; JB, Ameh

    2012-01-01

    Catechol 2, 3-dioxygenase is present in several types of bacteria and undergoes degradation of environmental pollutants through an important key biochemical pathways. Specifically, this enzyme cleaves aromatic rings of several environmental pollutants such as toluene, xylene, naphthalene and biphenyl derivatives. Hence, the importance of Catechol 2, 3-dioxygenase and its role in the degradation of environmental pollutants made us to predict the three-dimensional structure of Catechol 2, 3-dioxygenase from Burkholderia cepacia. The 10ns molecular dynamics simulation was carried out to check the stability of the modeled Catechol 2, 3- dioxygenase. The results show that the model was energetically stable, and it attains their equilibrium within 2000 ps of production MD run. The docking of various petroleum hydrocarbons into the Catechol 2,3-dioxygenase reveals that the benzene, O-xylene, Toluene, Fluorene, Naphthalene, Carbazol, Pyrene, Dibenzothiophene, Anthracene, Phenanthrene, Biphenyl makes strong hydrogen bond and Van der waals interaction with the active site residues of H150, L152, W198, H206, H220, H252, I254, T255, Y261, E271, L276 and F309. Free energy of binding and estimated inhibition constant of these compounds demonstrates that they are energetically stable in their binding cavity. Chrysene shows positive energy of binding in the active site atom of Fe. Except Pyrene all the substrates made close contact with Fe atom by the distance ranges from 1.67 to 2.43 Å. In addition to that, the above mentioned substrate except pyrene all other made π-π stacking interaction with H252 by the distance ranges from 3.40 to 3.90 Å. All these docking results reveal that, except Chrysene all other substrate has good free energy of binding to hold enough in the active site and makes strong VdW interaction with Catechol-2,3-dioxygenase. These results suggest that, the enzyme is capable of catalyzing the above-mentioned substrate. PMID:23144539

  4. Noncatalytic hydrogenation of naphthalene in nanosized membrane reactors with accumulated hydrogen and controlled adjustment of their reaction zone volumes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Soldatov, A. P.

    2017-05-01

    As part of ongoing studies aimed at designing the next generation of nanosized membrane reactors (NMRs) with accumulated hydrogen, the noncatalytic hydrogenation of naphthalene in pores of ceramic membranes (TRUMEM ultrafiltration membranes with D av = 50 and 90 nm) is performed for the first time, using hydrogen preadsorbed in a hybrid carbon nanostructure: mono- and multilayered oriented carbon nanotubes with graphene walls (OCNTGs) that form on inner pore surfaces. In this technique, the reaction proceeds in the temperature range of 330-390°C at contact times of 10-16 h. The feedstock is an 8% naphthalene solution in decane. The products are analyzed via chromatography on a quartz capillary column coated with polydimethylsiloxane (SE-30). It is established for the first time that in NMRs, the noncatalytic hydrogenation of naphthalene occurs at 370-390°C, forming 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene in amounts of up to 0.61%. The rate constants and activation energy (123.5 kJ/mol) of the noncatalytic hydrogenation reaction are determined for the first time. The possibility of designing an NMR with an adjustable reaction zone volume is explored. Changes in the pore structure of the membranes after their modification with pyrocarbon nanosized crystallites (PNCs) are therefore studied as well. It is shown that lengthening the process time reduces pore size: within 23 h after the deposition of PNCs, the average pore radius ( r av) falls from 25 to 3.1 nm. The proposed approach would allow us to design nanoreactors of molecular size and conduct hydrogenation reactions within certain guidelines to synthesize new chemical compounds.

  5. Degradation activities, drivers, and emissions: US Forest Service LEAF Country Assessments

    Treesearch

    Patricia Manley; Leif Mortenson; James Halperin; Rick Turner

    2013-01-01

    Degradation is emerging as a common outcome of forest activities, and associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have the potential to be significant. Understanding the activities and drivers of degradation is central to the ability to effectively measure, monitor, and mitigate associated emissions. Current inventories of GHG emissions do not effectively account for...

  6. Ice growth from supercooled aqueous solutions of benzene, naphthalene, and phenanthrene.

    PubMed

    Liyana-Arachchi, Thilanga P; Valsaraj, Kalliat T; Hung, Francisco R

    2012-08-23

    Classical molecular dynamics (MD) were performed to investigate the growth of ice from supercooled aqueous solutions of benzene, naphthalene, or phenanthrene. The main objective of this study is to explore the fate of those aromatic molecules after freezing of the supercooled aqueous solutions, i.e., if these molecules become trapped inside the ice lattice or if they are displaced to the QLL or to the interface with air. Ice growth from supercooled aqueous solutions of benzene, naphthalene, or phenanthrene result in the formation of quasi-liquid layers (QLLs) at the air/ice interface that are thicker than those observed when pure supercooled water freezes. Naphthalene and phenanthrene molecules in the supercooled aqueous solutions are displaced to the air/ice interface during the freezing process at both 270 and 260 K; no incorporation of these aromatics into the ice lattice is observed throughout the freezing process. Similar trends were observed during freezing of supercooled aqueous solutions of benzene at 270 K. In contrast, a fraction of the benzene molecules become trapped inside the ice lattice during the freezing process at 260 K, with the rest of the benzene molecules being displaced to the air/ice interface. These results suggest that the size of the aromatic molecule in the supercooled aqueous solution is an important parameter in determining whether these molecules become trapped inside the ice crystals. Finally, we also report potential of mean force (PMF) calculations aimed at studying the adsorption of gas-phase benzene and phenanthrene on atmospheric air/ice interfaces. Our PMF calculations indicate the presence of deep free energy minima for both benzene and phenanthrene at the air/ice interface, with these molecules adopting a flat orientation at the air/ice interface.

  7. Identification and preliminary evaluation of polychlorinated naphthalene emissions from hot dip galvanizing plants.

    PubMed

    Liu, Guorui; Lv, Pu; Jiang, Xiaoxu; Nie, Zhiqiang; Liu, Wenbin; Zheng, Minghui

    2015-01-01

    Hot dip galvanizing (HDG) processes are sources of polychlorinated-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs). Close correlations have been found between the concentration of PCDD/Fs and polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) that are produced and released during industrial thermal processes. We speculated, therefore, that HDG plants are potential PCN sources. In this preliminary study, PCNs were analyzed in solid residues, ash and precipitate from three HDG plants of different sizes. The total PCN concentrations (∑2-8PCNs) in the residue samples ranged from 60.3 to 226pgg(-1). The PCN emission factors for the combined ash and precipitate residues from the HDG plants ranged from 75 to 178ngt(-1) for the dichlorinated and octachlorinated naphthalenes. The preliminary results suggested that the HDG industry might not currently be a significant source of PCN emissions. The trichloronaphthalenes were the dominant homologs followed by the dichloronaphthalenes and the tetrachloronaphthalenes. The PCN congeners CN37/33/34, CN52/60, CN66/67, and CN73 dominated the tetrachlorinated, pentachlorinated, hexachlorinated, and heptachlorinated naphthalene homologs, respectively. The PCNs emitted from the HDG plants had similar homolog distributions and congener profiles to the PCNs emitted from combustion plants and other metallurgical processes. The identification and preliminary evaluation of PCN emissions from HDG plants presented here will help in the prioritization of measures for controlling PCN emissions from industrial sources. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  8. 40 CFR 61.134 - Standard: Naphthalene processing, final coolers, and final-cooler cooling towers.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... POLLUTANTS National Emission Standard for Benzene Emissions from Coke By-Product Recovery Plants § 61.134... are allowed from naphthalene processing, final coolers and final-cooler cooling towers at coke by...

  9. 40 CFR 61.134 - Standard: Naphthalene processing, final coolers, and final-cooler cooling towers.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... POLLUTANTS National Emission Standard for Benzene Emissions from Coke By-Product Recovery Plants § 61.134... are allowed from naphthalene processing, final coolers and final-cooler cooling towers at coke by...

  10. 40 CFR 61.134 - Standard: Naphthalene processing, final coolers, and final-cooler cooling towers.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... POLLUTANTS National Emission Standard for Benzene Emissions from Coke By-Product Recovery Plants § 61.134... are allowed from naphthalene processing, final coolers and final-cooler cooling towers at coke by...

  11. 40 CFR 61.134 - Standard: Naphthalene processing, final coolers, and final-cooler cooling towers.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... POLLUTANTS National Emission Standard for Benzene Emissions from Coke By-Product Recovery Plants § 61.134... are allowed from naphthalene processing, final coolers and final-cooler cooling towers at coke by...

  12. Cellular degradation activity is maintained during aging in long-living queen bees.

    PubMed

    Hsu, Chin-Yuan; Qiu, Jiantai Timothy; Chan, Yu-Pei

    2016-11-01

    Queen honeybees (Apis mellifera) have a much longer lifespan than worker bees. Whether cellular degradation activity is involved in the longevity of queen bees is unknown. In the present study, cellular degradation activity was evaluated in the trophocytes and oenocytes of young and old queen bees. The results indicated that (i) 20S proteasome activity and the size of autophagic vacuoles decreased with aging, and (ii) there were no significant differences between young and old queen bees with regard to 20S proteasome expression or efficiency, polyubiquitin aggregate expression, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-II (LC3-II) expression, 70 kDa heat shock cognate protein (Hsc70) expression, the density of autophagic vacuoles, p62/SQSTM1 expression, the activity or density of lysosomes, or molecular target of rapamycin expression. These results indicate that cellular degradation activity maintains a youthful status in the trophocytes and oenocytes of queen bees during aging and that cellular degradation activity is involved in maintaining the longevity of queen bees.

  13. A Critical Review of Naphthalene Sources and Exposures Relevant to Indoor and Outdoor Air

    PubMed Central

    Jia, Chunrong; Batterman, Stuart

    2010-01-01

    Both the recent classification of naphthalene as a possible human carcinogen and its ubiquitous presence motivate this critical review of naphthalene’s sources and exposures. We evaluate the environmental literature on naphthalene published since 1990, drawing on nearly 150 studies that report emissions and concentrations in indoor, outdoor and personal air. While naphthalene is both a volatile organic compound and a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, concentrations and exposures are poorly characterized relative to many other pollutants. Most airborne emissions result from combustion, and key sources include industry, open burning, tailpipe emissions, and cigarettes. The second largest source is off-gassing, specifically from naphthalene’s use as a deodorizer, repellent and fumigant. In the U.S., naphthalene’s use as a moth repellant has been reduced in favor of para-dichlorobenzene, but extensive use continues in mothballs, which appears responsible for some of the highest indoor exposures, along with off-label uses. Among the studies judged to be representative, average concentrations ranged from 0.18 to 1.7 μg m−3 in non-smoker’s homes, and from 0.02 to 0.31 μg m−3 outdoors in urban areas. Personal exposures have been reported in only three European studies. Indoor sources are the major contributor to (non-occupational) exposure. While its central tendencies fall well below guideline levels relevant to acute health impacts, several studies have reported maximum concentrations exceeding 100 μg m−3, far above guideline levels. Using current but draft estimates of cancer risks, naphthalene is a major environmental risk driver, with typical individual risk levels in the 10−4 range, which is high and notable given that millions of individuals are exposed. Several factors influence indoor and outdoor concentrations, but the literature is inconsistent on their effects. Further investigation is needed to better characterize naphthalene’s sources and

  14. Responses of Tabanidae (Diptera) to canopy traps baited with 4-methylphenol, 3-isopropylphenol, and naphthalene.

    PubMed

    Krcmar, Stjepan

    2007-12-01

    The attraction of female tabanids to unbaited and single-baited canopy traps using 4-methylphenol, 3-isopropylphenol, and naphthalene was studied in three forest localities in eastern Croatia. Tabanids were collected in a significantly higher number in traps baited with these chemicals compared to unbaited control traps. The number of females of Tabanus bromius, Tabanus sudeticus, Tabanus tergestinus, Hybomitra ciureai, Haematopota pluvialis, and Tabanus maculicornis collected from 4-methylphenol baited canopy traps and traps baited with other attractants differed significantly. A total of 89.0% of tabanids collected belonged to these six species. The response of the other species to used chemicals was not analyzed because of small sample sizes. Moreover, the results with 3-isopropylphenol and naphthalene are very similar and not significant for some tabanids. Tabanus bromius was the most abundant species with 48.4% in the sample collected by canopy traps. Finally, the 4-methylphenol baited canopy traps collected 16 times more tabanids than unbaited traps, while 3-isopropylphenol and naphthalene baited traps collected 3.5 and 2 times as many tabanids, respectively, than unbaited traps. Also, 4-methylphenol appeared to be a very effective attractant for Lucilia caesar (Calliphoridae), Sarcophaga carnaria (Sarcophagidae), and Musca domestica (Muscidae).

  15. Adsorptive removal of naphthalene induced by structurally different Gemini surfactants in a soil-water system.

    PubMed

    Wei, Jia; Li, Jun; Huang, Guohe; Wang, Xiujie; Chen, Guanghui; Zhao, Baihang

    2016-09-01

    A new generation of surfactant, Gemini surfactants, have been synthesized and have attracted the attention of various industrial and academic research groups. This study focused on the use of symmetric and dissymmetric quaternary ammonium Gemini surfactants to immobilize naphthalene onto soil particles, and is used as an example of an innovative application to remove HOC in situ using the surfactant-enhanced sorption zone. The sorption capacity of modified soils by Gemini surfactant and natural soils was compared and the naphthalene sorption efficiency, in the absence and presence of Gemini surfactants with different alkyl chain lengths, was investigated in the soil-water system. The results have shown that the increased added Gemini surfactant formed admicelles at the interface of soil/water having superior capability to retard contaminant. Symmetric and dissymmetric Gemini surfactants have opposite effect on the aspect of removing of PAH attributing to their solubilization and sorption behavior in soil-water system. Compared with the natural soil, sorption of naphthalene by Gemini-modified soil is noticeably enhanced following the order of C12-2-16 < C12-2-12 < C12-2-8. However, the symmetric Gemini surfactant C12-2-12 is the optimized one for in situ barrier remediation, which is not only has relative high retention ability but also low dosage.

  16. Structure-activity relationship of the ionic cocrystal: 5-amino-2-naphthalene sulfonate·ammonium ions for pharmaceutical applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sangeetha, M.; Mathammal, R.

    2018-02-01

    The ionic cocrystals of 5-amino-2-naphthalene sulfonate · ammonium ions (ANSA-ṡNH4+) were grown under slow evaporation method and examined in detail for pharmaceutical applications. The crystal structure and intermolecular interactions were studied from the single X-ray diffraction analysis and the Hirshfeld surfaces. The 2D fingerprint plots displayed the inter-contacts possible in the ionic crystal. Computational DFT method was established to determine the structural, physical and chemical properties. The molecular geometries obtained from the X-ray studies were compared with the optimized geometrical parameters calculated using DFT/6-31 + G(d,p) method. The band gap energy calculated from the UV-Visible spectral analysis and the HOMO-LUMO energy gap are compared. The theoretical UV-Visible calculations helped in determining the type of electronic transition taking place in the title molecule. The maximum absorption bands and transitions involved in the molecule represented the drug reaction possible. Non-linear optical properties were characterized from SHG efficiency measurements experimentally and the NLO parameters are also calculated from the optimized structure. The reactive sites within the molecule are detailed from the MEP surface maps. The molecular docking studies evident the structure-activity of the ionic cocrystal for anti-cancer drug property.

  17. 40 CFR 61.134 - Standard: Naphthalene processing, final coolers, and final-cooler cooling towers.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... POLLUTANTS National Emission Standard for Benzene Emissions from Coke By-Product Recovery Plants § 61.134... are allowed from naphthalene processing, final coolers and final-cooler cooling towers at coke by-product recovery plants. ...

  18. Parasite-Mediated Degradation of Synthetic Ozonide Antimalarials Impacts In Vitro Antimalarial Activity.

    PubMed

    Giannangelo, Carlo; Stingelin, Lukas; Yang, Tuo; Tilley, Leann; Charman, Susan A; Creek, Darren J

    2018-03-01

    The peroxide bond of the artemisinins inspired the development of a class of fully synthetic 1,2,4-trioxolane-based antimalarials, collectively known as the ozonides. Similar to the artemisinins, heme-mediated degradation of the ozonides generates highly reactive radical species that are thought to mediate parasite killing by damaging critical parasite biomolecules. We examined the relationship between parasite dependent degradation and antimalarial activity for two ozonides, OZ277 (arterolane) and OZ439 (artefenomel), using a combination of in vitro drug stability and pulsed-exposure activity assays. Our results showed that drug degradation is parasite stage dependent and positively correlates with parasite load. Increasing trophozoite-stage parasitemia leads to substantially higher rates of degradation for both OZ277 and OZ439, and this is associated with a reduction in in vitro antimalarial activity. Under conditions of very high parasitemia (∼90%), OZ277 and OZ439 were rapidly degraded and completely devoid of activity in trophozoite-stage parasite cultures exposed to a 3-h drug pulse. This study highlights the impact of increasing parasite load on ozonide stability and in vitro antimalarial activity and should be considered when investigating the antimalarial mode of action of the ozonide antimalarials under conditions of high parasitemia. Copyright © 2018 American Society for Microbiology.

  19. Ultraviolet Irradiation of Naphthalene in H2O Ice: Implications for Meteorites and Biogenesis

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Bernstein, Max P.; Dworkin, Jason; Sandford, Scott A.; Allamandola, Louis J.; DeVincenzi, Donald L. (Technical Monitor)

    2000-01-01

    The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) naphthalene was exposed to ultraviolet radiation in H2O ice under astrophysical conditions, and the products were analyzed using infrared spectroscopy and high performance liquid chromatography. As we found in our earlier studies on the photoprocessing of coronene in H2O ice, aromatic alcohols and ketones (quinones) were formed. The regiochemistry of the reactions is described and leads to specific predictions of the relative abundances of various oxidized naphthalenes that should exist in meteorites if interstellar ice photochemistry influenced their aromatic inventory. Since oxidized PAHs are present in carbon-rich meteorites and interplanetary dust particles (IDPs), and ubiquitous in and fundamental to biochemistry, the delivery of such extraterrestrial molecules to the early Earth may have played a role in the origin and evolution of life.

  20. Bioremediation of hydrocarbon degradation in a petroleum-contaminated soil and microbial population and activity determination.

    PubMed

    Wu, Manli; Li, Wei; Dick, Warren A; Ye, Xiqiong; Chen, Kaili; Kost, David; Chen, Liming

    2017-02-01

    Bioremediation of hydrocarbon degradation in petroleum-polluted soil is carried out by various microorganisms. However, little information is available for the relationships between hydrocarbon degradation rates in petroleum-contaminated soil and microbial population and activity in laboratory assay. In a microcosm study, degradation rate and efficiency of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), alkanes, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in a petroleum-contaminated soil were determined using an infrared photometer oil content analyzer and a gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Also, the populations of TPH, alkane, and PAH degraders were enumerated by a modified most probable number (MPN) procedure, and the hydrocarbon degrading activities of these degraders were determined by the Biolog (MT2) MicroPlates assay. Results showed linear correlations between the TPH and alkane degradation rates and the population and activity increases of TPH and alkane degraders, but no correlation was observed between the PAH degradation rates and the PAH population and activity increases. Petroleum hydrocarbon degrading microbial population measured by MPN was significantly correlated with metabolic activity in the Biolog assay. The results suggest that the MPN procedure and the Biolog assay are efficient methods for assessing the rates of TPH and alkane, but not PAH, bioremediation in oil-contaminated soil in laboratory. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  1. Synthesized TiO2/ZSM-5 composites used for the photocatalytic degradation of azo dye: Intermediates, reaction pathway, mechanism and bio-toxicity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhou, Kefu; Hu, Xin-Yan; Chen, Bor-Yann; Hsueh, Chung-Chuan; Zhang, Qian; Wang, Jiajie; Lin, Yu-Jung; Chang, Chang-Tang

    2016-10-01

    In this study, a one-step solid dispersion method was used to synthesize titanium dioxide (TiO2)/Zeolite Socony Mobil-5 (ZSM-5) composites with substantially reduced time and energy consumption. A degradation efficiency of more than 95% was achieved within 10 min using 50% PTZ (synthesized TiO2/ZSM-5 composites with TiO2 contents of 50 wt% loaded on ZSM-5) at pH 7 and 25 °C. The possible degradation pathway of azo-dye Reactive Black 5 (RB5) was investigated using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and ion chromatography (IC). The bonds between the N atoms and naphthalene groups are likely attacked first and cleaved by hydroxyl radicals, ultimately resulting in the decolorization and mineralization of the azo dye. A comparative assessment of the characteristics of abiotic and biotic dye decolorization was completed. In addition, the toxicity effects of the degradation intermediates of azo-dye RB5 on cellular respiratory activity were analyzed. The bio-toxicity results showed that the decay rate constants of CO2 production from the azo-dye RB5 samples at different degradation times increased initially and subsequently decreased, indicating that intermediates of higher toxicity could adhere to the catalyst surface and gradually destroyed by further photocatalytic oxidation. Additionally, EDTA (hole scavengers) and t-BuOH (radical scavengers) were used to detect the main active oxidative species in the system. The results showed that the hydroxyl radicals are the main oxidation species in the photocatalytic process.

  2. Nearly Perfect Triplet-Triplet Energy Transfer from Wannier Excitons to Naphthalene in Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Quantum-Well Materials

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ema, K.; Inomata, M.; Kato, Y.; Kunugita, H.; Era, M.

    2008-06-01

    We report the observation of extremely efficient energy transfer (greater than 99%) in an organic-inorganic hybrid quantum-well structure consisting of perovskite-type lead bromide well layers and naphthalene-linked ammonium barrier layers. Time-resolved photoluminescence measurements confirm that the transfer is triplet-triplet Dexter-type energy transfer from Wannier excitons in the inorganic well to the triplet state of naphthalene molecules in the organic barrier. Using measurements in the 10 300 K temperature range, we also investigated the temperature dependence of the energy transfer.

  3. Detection and Characterization of Conjugative Degradative Plasmids in Xenobiotic-Degrading Sphingomonas Strains

    PubMed Central

    Basta, Tamara; Keck, Andreas; Klein, Joachim; Stolz, Andreas

    2004-01-01

    A systematic survey for the presence of plasmids in 17 different xenobiotic-degrading Sphingomonas strains was performed. In almost all analyzed strains, two to five plasmids with sizes of about 50 to 500 kb were detected by using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. A comparison of plasmid preparations untreated or treated with S1 nuclease suggested that, in general, Sphingomonas plasmids are circular. Hybridization experiments with labeled gene probes suggested that large plasmids are involved in the degradation of dibenzo-p-dioxin, dibenzofuran, and naphthalenesulfonates in S. wittichii RW1, Sphingomonas sp. HH69, and S. xenophaga BN6, respectively. The plasmids which are responsible for the degradation of naphthalene, biphenyl, and toluene by S. aromaticivorans F199 (pNL1) and of naphthalenesulfonates by S. xenophaga BN6 (pBN6) were site-specifically labeled with a kanamycin resistance cassette. The conjugative transfer of these labeled plasmids was attempted with various bacterial strains as putative recipient strains. Thus, a conjugative transfer of plasmid pBN6 from S. xenophaga BN6 to a cured mutant of strain BN6 and to Sphingomonas sp. SS3 was observed. The conjugation experiments with plasmid pNL1 suggested a broader host range of this plasmid, because it was transferred without any obvious structural changes to S. yanoikuyae B1, Sphingomonas sp. SS3, and S. herbicidovorans. In contrast, major plasmid rearrangements were observed in the transconjugants after the transfer of plasmid pNL1 to Sphingomonas sp. HH69 and of pBN6 to Sphingomonas sp. SS3. No indications for the transfer of a Sphingomonas plasmid to bacteria outside of the Sphingomonadaceae were obtained. PMID:15175300

  4. [Characteristics of soil microbes and enzyme activities in different degraded alpine meadows].

    PubMed

    Yin, Ya Li; Wang, Yu Qin; Bao, Gen Sheng; Wang, Hong Sheng; Li, Shi Xiong; Song, Mei Ling; Shao, Bao Lian; Wen, Yu Cun

    2017-12-01

    Soil microbial biomass C and N, microbial diversities and enzyme activity in 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm soil layers of different degraded grasslands (non-degradation, ND; light degradation, LD; moderate degradation, MD; sever degradation, SD; and black soil beach, ED) were measured by Biolog and other methods. The results showed that: 1) There were significant diffe-rences between 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm soil layers in soil microbial biomass, diversities and inver-tase activities in all grasslands. 2) The ratio of soil microbial biomass C to N decreased significantly with the grassland degradation. In the 0-10 cm soil layer, microbial biomass C and N in ND and LD were significantly higher than that in MD, SD and ED. Among the latter three kinds of grasslands, there was no difference for microbial biomass C, but microbial biomass N was lower in MD than in the other grasslands. The average color change rate (AWCD) and McIntosh Index (U) also decreased with grassland degradation, but only the reduction from ND to MD was significant. There were no differences among all grasslands for Shannon index (H) and Simpson Index (D). The urease activity was highest in MD and SD, and the activity of phosphatase and invertase was lowest in ED. In the 10-20 cm soil layer, microbial biomass C in ND and LD were significantly higher than that in the other grasslands. Microbial biomass N in LD and ED were significantly higher than that in the other grasslands. Carbon metabolism index in MD was significantly lower than that in LD and SD. AWCD and U index in ND and LD were significantly higher than that in ED. H index and D index showed no difference among different grasslands. The urease activity in ND and MD was significantly higher than that in the other grasslands. The phosphatase activity was highest in MD, and the invertase activity was lowest in MD. 3) The belowground biomass was significantly positively correlated with microbial biomass, carbon metabolic index and phosphatase activity

  5. Selective hydrodesulfurization of 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene in the dominant presence of naphthalene over hybrid CoMo/A{sub 2}O{sub 3} and Ru/Al{sub 2}Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} catalyst

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Isoda, T.; Nagao, S.; Ma, X.

    1995-12-31

    Hydrodesulfurization of 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene (4,6-DMDBT) in decane containing significant amount of naphthalene was examined over a hybrid of CoMo/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} and Ru/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} to design the selective hydrogenation and successive desulfurization of 4,6-DMDBT in aromatic moiety, and its activity was compared to those of CoMo/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, NiMo/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} and Ru/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} in their single use. HDS activity of 4,6-DMDBT over NiMo/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} was inferior to CoMo/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, although that of highest hydrogenation activity for naphthalene. The hybrid showed the highest activity for HDS of 4,6-DMDBT among these catalysts without excess hydrogenation of nahthalene.

  6. Enumeration method for tree-like chemical compounds with benzene rings and naphthalene rings by breadth-first search order.

    PubMed

    Jindalertudomdee, Jira; Hayashida, Morihiro; Zhao, Yang; Akutsu, Tatsuya

    2016-03-01

    Drug discovery and design are important research fields in bioinformatics. Enumeration of chemical compounds is essential not only for the purpose, but also for analysis of chemical space and structure elucidation. In our previous study, we developed enumeration methods BfsSimEnum and BfsMulEnum for tree-like chemical compounds using a tree-structure to represent a chemical compound, which is limited to acyclic chemical compounds only. In this paper, we extend the methods, and develop BfsBenNaphEnum that can enumerate tree-like chemical compounds containing benzene rings and naphthalene rings, which include benzene isomers and naphthalene isomers such as ortho, meta, and para, by treating a benzene ring as an atom with valence six, instead of a ring of six carbon atoms, and treating a naphthalene ring as two benzene rings having a special bond. We compare our method with MOLGEN 5.0, which is a well-known general purpose structure generator, to enumerate chemical structures from a set of chemical formulas in terms of the number of enumerated structures and the computational time. The result suggests that our proposed method can reduce the computational time efficiently. We propose the enumeration method BfsBenNaphEnum for tree-like chemical compounds containing benzene rings and naphthalene rings as cyclic structures. BfsBenNaphEnum was from 50 times to 5,000,000 times faster than MOLGEN 5.0 for instances with 8 to 14 carbon atoms in our experiments.

  7. Calculating in situ degradation rates of hydrocarbon compounds in deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

    PubMed

    Thessen, Anne E; North, Elizabeth W

    2017-09-15

    Biodegradation is an important process for hydrocarbon weathering that influences its fate and transport, yet little is known about in situ biodegradation rates of specific hydrocarbon compounds in the deep ocean. Using data collected in the Gulf of Mexico below 700m during and after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, we calculated first-order degradation rate constants for 49 hydrocarbons and inferred degradation rate constants for an additional 5 data-deficient hydrocarbons. Resulting calculated (not inferred) half-lives of the hydrocarbons ranged from 0.4 to 36.5days. The fastest degrading hydrocarbons were toluene (k=-1.716), methylcyclohexane (k=-1.538), benzene (k=-1.333), and C1-naphthalene (k=-1.305). The slowest degrading hydrocarbons were the large straight-chain alkanes, C-26 through C-33 (k=-0.0494 through k=-0.007). Ratios of C-18 to phytane supported the hypothesis that the primary means of degradation in the subsurface was microbial biodegradation. These degradation rate constants can be used to improve models describing the fate and transport of hydrocarbons in the event of an accidental deep ocean oil spill. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  8. Photocatalytic degradation of sunscreen active ingredients mediated by nanostructured materials

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Soto-Vazquez, Loraine

    Water scarcity and pollution are environmental issues with terrible consequences. In recent years several pharmaceutical and personal care products, such as sunscreen active ingredients, have been detected in different water matrices. Its recalcitrant behavior in the environment has caused controversies and generated countless questions about its safety. During this research, we employed an advanced oxidation process (photocatalysis) to degrade sunscreen active ingredients. For this study, we used a 3x3 system, evaluating three photocatalysts and three different contaminants. From the three catalysts employed, two of them were synthesized. ZnO nanoparticles were obtained using zinc acetate dihydrated as the precursor, and TiO2 nanowires were synthesized from titanium tetrachloride precursor. The third catalyst employed (namely, P25) was obtained commercially. The synthesized photocatalysts were characterized in terms of the morphology, elemental composition, crystalline structure, elemental oxidation states, vibrational modes and surface area, using SEM-EDS, XRD, XPS, Raman spectroscopy and BET measurements, respectively. The photocatalysts were employed during the study of the degradation of p-aminobenzoic acid, phenylbenzimidazole sulfonic acid, and benzophenone-4. In all the cases, at least 50% degradation was achieved. P25 showed degradation efficiencies above 90%, and from the nine systems, 7 of them degraded at least 86%.

  9. The reductive aromatization of naphthalene diimide: a versatile platform for 2,7-diazapyrenes.

    PubMed

    Nakazato, Takumi; Kamatsuka, Takuto; Inoue, Junichi; Sakurai, Tsuneaki; Seki, Shu; Shinokubo, Hiroshi; Miyake, Yoshihiro

    2018-05-17

    The reductive aromatization of naphthalene diimide provides tetrapivaloxy-2,7-diazapyrene, which serves as a versatile platform toward peripherally substituted 2,7-diazapyrenes. Time-resolved microwave conductivity measurements demonstrated that the intrinsic electron mobility of 2,7-diazapyrene is significantly higher than that of the corresponding pyrene.

  10. Biodegradation of Mixed PAHs by PAH-Degrading Endophytic Bacteria.

    PubMed

    Zhu, Xuezhu; Ni, Xue; Waigi, Michael Gatheru; Liu, Juan; Sun, Kai; Gao, Yanzheng

    2016-08-09

    Endophytic bacteria can promote plant growth, induce plant defence mechanisms, and increase plant resistance to organic contaminants. The aims of the present study were to isolate highly PAH-degrading endophytic bacteria from plants growing at PAH-contaminated sites and to evaluate the capabilities of these bacteria to degrade polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in vitro, which will be beneficial for re-colonizing target plants and reducing plant PAH residues through the inoculation of plants with endophytic bacteria. Two endophytic bacterial strains P₁ (Stenotrophomonas sp.) and P₃ (Pseudomonas sp.), which degraded more than 90% of phenanthrene (PHE) within 7 days, were isolated from Conyza canadensis and Trifolium pretense L., respectively. Both strains could use naphthalene (NAP), PHE, fluorene (FLR), pyrene (PYR), and benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) as the sole sources of carbon and energy. Moreover, these bacteria reduced the contamination of mixed PAHs at high levels after inoculation for 7 days; strain P₁ degraded 98.0% NAP, 83.1% FLR, 87.8% PHE, 14.4% PYR, and 1.6% B(a)P, and strain P₃ degraded 95.3% NAP, 87.9% FLR, 90.4% PHE, 6.9% PYR, and negligible B(a)P. Notably, the biodegradation of PAHs could be promoted through additional carbon and nitrogen nutrients; therein, beef extract was suggested as the optimal co-substrate for the degradation of PAHs by these two strains (99.1% PHE was degraded within 7 days). Compared with strain P₁, strain P₃ has more potential for the use in the removal of PAHs from plant tissues. These results provide a novel perspective in the reduction of plant PAH residues in PAH-contaminated sites through inoculating plants with highly PAH-degrading endophytic bacteria.

  11. Azulene-to-naphthalene rearrangement: the Car-Parrinello metadynamics method explores various reaction mechanisms.

    PubMed

    Stirling, András; Iannuzzi, Marcella; Laio, Alessandro; Parrinello, Michele

    2004-10-18

    We studied the thermal intramolecular and radical rearrangement of azulene to naphthalene by employing a novel metadynamics method based on Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics. We demonstrate that relatively short simulations can provide us with several possible reaction mechanisms for the rearrangement. We show that different choices of the collective coordinates can steer the reaction along different pathways, thus offering the possibility of choosing the most probable mechanism. We consider herein three intramolecular mechanisms and two radical pathways. We found the norcaradiene pathway to be the preferable intramolecular mechanism, whereas the spiran mechanism is the favored radical route. We obtained high activation energies for all the intramolecular pathways (81.5-98.6 kcal mol(-1)), whereas the radical routes have activation energies of 24-39 kcal mol(-1). The calculations have also resulted in elementary steps and intermediates not yet considered. A few attractive features of the metadynamics method in studying chemical reactions are pointed out.

  12. Zero-point fluctuations in naphthalene and their effect on charge transport parameters.

    PubMed

    Kwiatkowski, Joe J; Frost, Jarvist M; Kirkpatrick, James; Nelson, Jenny

    2008-09-25

    We calculate the effect of vibronic coupling on the charge transport parameters in crystalline naphthalene, between 0 and 400 K. We find that nuclear fluctuations can cause large changes in both the energy of a charge on a molecule and on the electronic coupling between molecules. As a result, nuclear fluctuations cause wide distributions of both energies and couplings. We show that these distributions have a small temperature dependence and that, even at high temperatures, vibronic coupling is dominated by the effect of zero-point fluctuations. Because of the importance of zero-point fluctuations, we find that the distributions of energies and couplings have substantial width, even at 0 K. Furthermore, vibronic coupling with high energy modes may be significant, even though these modes are never thermally activated. Our results have implications for the temperature dependence of charge mobilities in organic semiconductors.

  13. Micropollutant degradation via extracted native enzymes from activated sludge.

    PubMed

    Krah, Daniel; Ghattas, Ann-Kathrin; Wick, Arne; Bröder, Kathrin; Ternes, Thomas A

    2016-05-15

    A procedure was developed to assess the biodegradation of micropollutants in cell-free lysates produced from activated sludge of a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). This proof-of-principle provides the basis for further investigations of micropollutant biodegradation via native enzymes in a solution of reduced complexity, facilitating downstream protein analysis. Differently produced lysates, containing a variety of native enzymes, showed significant enzymatic activities of acid phosphatase, β-galactosidase and β-glucuronidase in conventional colorimetric enzyme assays, whereas heat-deactivated controls did not. To determine the enzymatic activity towards micropollutants, 20 compounds were spiked to the cell-free lysates under aerobic conditions and were monitored via LC-ESI-MS/MS. The micropollutants were selected to span a wide range of different biodegradabilities in conventional activated sludge treatment via distinct primary degradation reactions. Of the 20 spiked micropollutants, 18 could be degraded by intact sludge under assay conditions, while six showed reproducible degradation in the lysates compared to the heat-deactivated negative controls: acetaminophen, N-acetyl-sulfamethoxazole (acetyl-SMX), atenolol, bezafibrate, erythromycin and 10,11-dihydro-10-hydroxycarbamazepine (10-OH-CBZ). The primary biotransformation of the first four compounds can be attributed to amide hydrolysis. However, the observed biotransformations in the lysates were differently influenced by experimental parameters such as sludge pre-treatment and the addition of ammonium sulfate or peptidase inhibitors, suggesting that different hydrolase enzymes were involved in the primary degradation, among them possibly peptidases. Furthermore, the transformation of 10-OH-CBZ to 9-CA-ADIN was caused by a biologically-mediated oxidation, which indicates that in addition to hydrolases further enzyme classes (probably oxidoreductases) are present in the native lysates. Although the

  14. EFFECT OF PH AND CONCENTRATION ON THE TRANSPORT OF NAPHTHALENE IN SATURATED AQUIFER MEDIA

    EPA Science Inventory

    Sorption is one of the primary mechanisms for retarding the movement of organic contaminants in groundwater. Sorption of hydrophobic compounds such as toluene, naphthalene, and DDT is generally assumed to be linearly proportional to solution phase concentration. In the present re...

  15. PBTK Modeling Demonstrates Contribution of Dermal and Inhalation Exposure Components to End-Exhaled Breath Concentrations of Naphthalene

    PubMed Central

    Kim, David; Andersen, Melvin E.; Chao, Yi-Chun E.; Egeghy, Peter P.; Rappaport, Stephen M.; Nylander-French, Leena A.

    2007-01-01

    Background Dermal and inhalation exposure to jet propulsion fuel 8 (JP-8) have been measured in a few occupational exposure studies. However, a quantitative understanding of the relationship between external exposures and end-exhaled air concentrations has not been described for occupational and environmental exposure scenarios. Objective Our goal was to construct a physiologically based toxicokinetic (PBTK) model that quantitatively describes the relative contribution of dermal and inhalation exposures to the end-exhaled air concentrations of naphthalene among U.S. Air Force personnel. Methods The PBTK model comprised five compartments representing the stratum corneum, viable epidermis, blood, fat, and other tissues. The parameters were optimized using exclusively human exposure and biological monitoring data. Results The optimized values of parameters for naphthalene were a) permeability coefficient for the stratum corneum 6.8 × 10−5 cm/hr, b) permeability coefficient for the viable epidermis 3.0 × 10−3 cm/hr, c) fat:blood partition coefficient 25.6, and d) other tissue:blood partition coefficient 5.2. The skin permeability coefficient was comparable to the values estimated from in vitro studies. Based on simulations of workers’ exposures to JP-8 during aircraft fuel-cell maintenance operations, the median relative contribution of dermal exposure to the end-exhaled breath concentration of naphthalene was 4% (10th percentile 1% and 90th percentile 11%). Conclusions PBTK modeling allowed contributions of the end-exhaled air concentration of naphthalene to be partitioned between dermal and inhalation routes of exposure. Further study of inter- and intraindividual variations in exposure assessment is required to better characterize the toxicokinetic behavior of JP-8 components after occupational and/or environmental exposures. PMID:17589597

  16. PBTK modeling demonstrates contribution of dermal and inhalation exposure components to end-exhaled breath concentrations of naphthalene.

    PubMed

    Kim, David; Andersen, Melvin E; Chao, Yi-Chun E; Egeghy, Peter P; Rappaport, Stephen M; Nylander-French, Leena A

    2007-06-01

    Dermal and inhalation exposure to jet propulsion fuel 8 (JP-8) have been measured in a few occupational exposure studies. However, a quantitative understanding of the relationship between external exposures and end-exhaled air concentrations has not been described for occupational and environmental exposure scenarios. Our goal was to construct a physiologically based toxicokinetic (PBTK) model that quantitatively describes the relative contribution of dermal and inhalation exposures to the end-exhaled air concentrations of naphthalene among U.S. Air Force personnel. The PBTK model comprised five compartments representing the stratum corneum, viable epidermis, blood, fat, and other tissues. The parameters were optimized using exclusively human exposure and biological monitoring data. The optimized values of parameters for naphthalene were a) permeability coefficient for the stratum corneum 6.8 x 10(-5) cm/hr, b) permeability coefficient for the viable epidermis 3.0 x 10(-3) cm/hr, c) fat:blood partition coefficient 25.6, and d) other tissue:blood partition coefficient 5.2. The skin permeability coefficient was comparable to the values estimated from in vitro studies. Based on simulations of workers' exposures to JP-8 during aircraft fuel-cell maintenance operations, the median relative contribution of dermal exposure to the end-exhaled breath concentration of naphthalene was 4% (10th percentile 1% and 90th percentile 11%). PBTK modeling allowed contributions of the end-exhaled air concentration of naphthalene to be partitioned between dermal and inhalation routes of exposure. Further study of inter- and intraindividual variations in exposure assessment is required to better characterize the toxicokinetic behavior of JP-8 components after occupational and/or environmental exposures.

  17. [Properties of maize stalk biochar produced under different pyrolysis temperatures and its sorption capability to naphthalene].

    PubMed

    Huang, Hua; Wang, Ya-Xiong; Tang, Jing-Chun; Tang, Jing-Chun; Zhu, Wen-Ying

    2014-05-01

    Biochar was made from maize stalk under three different temperatures of 300, 500 and 700 degreeC. The elemental composition of biochar was measured by elemental analyzer. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to measure the surface morphology. Sorption of naphthalene to biochar was researched by batch sorption experiments. Results showed that, with the increase of temperature, C content increased from 66. 79% to 76. 30% , H and O contents decreased from 4.92% and 19. 25% to 3. 18% and 9.53%, respectively; H/C, O/C, (O + N)/C, aromaticity and hydrophobicity increased, and polarity decreased. SEM results showed that maize stalk biochar was platy particles, and its roughness of surface increased with increasing temperature. The sorption of naphthalene on biochar followed the Lagergren pseudo-second order dynamic sorption model. Initial sorption rate and equilibrium sorption capacity increased as preparation temperatures increased at the same initial concentration of naphthalene. The isotherm sorption behavior can be described by the Freundlich model, which indicated that, as pyrolysis temperature increased, the sorption capacity of biochar increased, and nonlinearity increased first and then decreased. Biochar derived from maize stalk had distinct features when compared with other feedstocks, and its elemental composition, surface features and sorption behaviors were significantly influenced by pyrolysis temperature.

  18. Development of Methods for Sampling and Analysis of Polychlorinated Naphthalenes in Ambient Air

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Erickson, Mitchell D.; And Others

    1978-01-01

    The procedure and sampler described permits detection of less than 50pg of one polychlorinated naphthalene (PCN) isomer. The method uses gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The PCNs are collected on a glass fiber filter and two polyurethane foam plugs and extracted with toluene at 25 degrees Celsius. (BB)

  19. Quantitative photoabsorption and fluorescence spectroscopy of benzene, naphthalene, and some derivatives at 106-295 nm

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Suto, Masako; Wang, Xiuyan; Shan, Jun; Lee, L. C.

    1992-01-01

    Photoabsorption and fluorescence cross sections of benzene, (o-, m-, p-) xylenes, naphthalene, 1-methylnaphthalene, and 2-ethylnaphthalene in the gas phase are measured at 106-295 nm using synchrotron radiation as a light source. Fluorescences are observed from the photoexcitation of benzene and xylenes at 230-280 nm and from naphthalene and its derivatives at 190-295 nm. The absolute fluorescence cross section is determined by calibration with respect to the emission intensity of the NO(A-X) system, for which the fluorescence quantum yield is equal to 1. To cross-check the current calibration method, the quantum yield of the SO2(C-X) system at 220-230 nm was measured since it is about equal to 1. The current quantum-yield data are compared with previously published values measured by different methods.

  20. Real-time PCR for rapidly detecting aniline-degrading bacteria in activated sludge.

    PubMed

    Kayashima, Takakazu; Suzuki, Hisako; Maeda, Toshinari; Ogawa, Hiroaki I

    2013-05-01

    We developed a detection method that uses quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and the TaqMan system to easily and rapidly assess the population of aniline-degrading bacteria in activated sludge prior to conducting a biodegradability test on a chemical compound. A primer and probe set for qPCR was designed by a multiple alignment of conserved amino acid sequences encoding the large (α) subunit of aniline dioxygenase. PCR amplification tests showed that the designed primer and probe set targeted aniline-degrading strains such as Acidovorax sp., Gordonia sp., Rhodococcus sp., and Pseudomonas putida, thereby suggesting that the developed method can detect a wide variety of aniline-degrading bacteria. There was a strong correlation between the relative copy number of the α-aniline dioxygenase gene in activated sludge obtained with the developed qPCR method and the number of aniline-degrading bacteria measured by the Most Probable Number method, which is the conventional method, and a good correlation with the lag time of the BOD curve for aniline degradation produced by the biodegradability test in activated sludge samples collected from eight different wastewater treatment plants in Japan. The developed method will be valuable for the rapid and accurate evaluation of the activity of inocula prior to conducting a ready biodegradability test. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  1. Degradation of PPCPs in activated sludge from different WWTPs in Denmark.

    PubMed

    Chen, Xijuan; Vollertsen, Jes; Nielsen, Jeppe Lund; Dall, Agnieszka Gieraltowska; Bester, Kai

    2015-12-01

    Pharmaceuticals and Personal care products (PPCPs) are often found in effluents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) due to insufficient removal during wastewater treatment processes. To understand the factors affecting the removal of PPCPs in classical activated sludge WWTPs, the present study was performed to assess the removal of frequently occurring pharmaceuticals (Naproxen, Fenoprofen, Ketoprofen, Dichlofenac, Carbamazepine) and the biocide Triclosan in activated sludge from four different Danish WWTPs. The respective degradation constants were compared to operational parameters previous shown to be of importance for degradation of micropollutants such as biomass concentration, and sludge retention time (SRT). The most rapid degradation, was observed for NSAID pharmaceuticals (55-90% for Fenoprofen, 77-94% for Ketoprofen and 46-90% for Naproxen), followed by Triclosan (61-91%), while Dichlofenac and Carbamazepine were found to be persistent in the systems. Degradation rate constants were calculated as 0.0026-0.0407 for NSAID pharmaceuticals and 0.0022-0.0065 for triclosan. No relationships were observed between degradation rates and biomass concentrations in the diverse sludges. However, for the investigated PPCPs, the optimal SRT was within 14-20 days (for these values degradation of these PPCPs was the most efficient). Though all of these parameters influence the degradation rate, none of them seems to be overall decisive. These observations indicate that the biological composition of the sludge is more important than the design parameters of the respective treatment plant.

  2. Microbial diversity in methanogenic hydrocarbon-degrading enrichment cultures isolated from a water-flooded oil reservoir (Dagang oil field, China)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jiménez, Núria; Cai, Minmin; Straaten, Nontje; Yao, Jun; Richnow, Hans H.; Krüger, Martin

    2015-04-01

    Microbial transformation of oil to methane is one of the main degradation processes taking place in oil reservoirs, and it has important consequences as it negatively affects the quality and economic value of the oil. Nevertheless, methane could constitute a recovery method of carbon from exhausted reservoirs. Previous studies combining geochemical and isotopic analysis with molecular methods showed evidence for in situ methanogenic oil degradation in the Dagang oil field, China (Jiménez et al., 2012). However, the main key microbial players and the underlying mechanisms are still relatively unknown. In order to better characterize these processes and identify the main microorganisms involved, laboratory biodegradation experiments under methanogenic conditions were performed. Microcosms were inoculated with production and injection waters from the reservoir, and oil or 13C-labelled single hydrocarbons (e.g. n-hexadecane or 2-methylnaphthalene) were added as sole substrates. Indigenous microbiota were able to extensively degrade oil within months, depleting most of the n-alkanes in 200 days, and producing methane at a rate of 76 ± 6 µmol day-1 g-1 oil added. They could also produce heavy methane from 13C-labeled 2-methylnaphthalene, suggesting that further methanogenesis may occur from the aromatic and polyaromatic fractions of Dagang reservoir fluids. Microbial communities from oil and 2-methyl-naphthalene enrichment cultures were slightly different. Although, in both cases Deltaproteobacteria, mainly belonging to Syntrophobacterales (e.g. Syntrophobacter, Smithella or Syntrophus) and Clostridia, mostly Clostridiales, were among the most represented taxa, Gammaproteobacteria could be only identified in oil-degrading cultures. The proportion of Chloroflexi, exclusively belonging to Anaerolineales (e.g. Leptolinea, Bellilinea) was considerably higher in 2-methyl-naphthalene degrading cultures. Archaeal communities consisted almost exclusively of representatives of

  3. Synthesis, photophysical, and electrochemical properties of wide band gap tetraphenylsilane-carbazole derivatives: Effect of the substitution position and naphthalene side chain

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ho, Kar Wei; Ariffin, A.

    2016-12-01

    Four tetraphenylsilane-carbazole derivatives with wide bandgaps (3.38-3.55 eV) were synthesized. The effects of the substitution position and of the presence of naphthalene groups on the photophysical, electrochemical and thermal properties were investigated. The derivatives exhibited maximum absorption peaks ranging from 293 to 304 nm and maximum emission peaks ranging from 347 to 386 nm. Changing the carbazole substitution position on the tetraphenylsilane did not significantly change the photophysical and electrochemical properties. However, p-substituted compounds exhibited higher glass transition temperatures than m-substituted compounds. Naphthalene groups with bulky structures had extended the conjugation lengths that red-shifted both the absorption and emission spectra. The LUMO level was decreased, which reduced the optical bandgap and triplet energy level. However, the naphthalene groups significantly improved the thermal stability by increasing the glass transition temperature of the compounds.

  4. Hydrogen Isotope Fractionation As a Tool to Identify Aerobic and Anaerobic PAH Biodegradation.

    PubMed

    Kümmel, Steffen; Starke, Robert; Chen, Gao; Musat, Florin; Richnow, Hans H; Vogt, Carsten

    2016-03-15

    Aerobic and anaerobic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) biodegradation was characterized by compound specific stable isotope analysis (CSIA) of the carbon and hydrogen isotope effects of the enzymatic reactions initiating specific degradation pathways, using naphthalene and 2-methylnaphtalene as model compounds. Aerobic activation of naphthalene and 2-methylnaphthalene by Pseudomonas putida NCIB 9816 and Pseudomonas fluorescens ATCC 17483 containing naphthalene dioxygenases was associated with moderate carbon isotope fractionation (εC = -0.8 ± 0.1‰ to -1.6 ± 0.2‰). In contrast, anaerobic activation of naphthalene by a carboxylation-like mechanism by strain NaphS6 was linked to negligible carbon isotope fractionation (εC = -0.2 ± 0.2‰ to -0.4 ± 0.3‰). Notably, anaerobic activation of naphthalene by strain NaphS6 exhibited a normal hydrogen isotope fractionation (εH = -11 ± 2‰ to -47 ± 4‰), whereas an inverse hydrogen isotope fractionation was observed for the aerobic strains (εH = +15 ± 2‰ to +71 ± 6‰). Additionally, isotope fractionation of NaphS6 was determined in an overlaying hydrophobic carrier phase, resulting in more reliable enrichment factors compared to immobilizing the PAHs on the bottle walls without carrier phase. The observed differences especially in hydrogen fractionation might be used to differentiate between aerobic and anaerobic naphthalene and 2-methylnaphthalene biodegradation pathways at PAH-contaminated field sites.

  5. Biodiversity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria from deep sea sediments of the Middle Atlantic Ridge.

    PubMed

    Cui, Zhisong; Lai, Qiliang; Dong, Chunming; Shao, Zongze

    2008-08-01

    The bacteria involved in the biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in deep sea subsurface environments are largely unknown. In order to reveal their biodiversity, sediments from 2.2 m under the bottom surface at a water depth of 3542 m were sampled on the Middle Atlantic Ridge with a gravity column sampler. The sediments were promptly enriched with either crude oil or a mixture of PAHs (naphthalene, phenanthrene and pyrene) as the sole carbon source, and further enriched with the PAH mixture mentioned above in the lab. The resulting consortia were named C2CO and C2PPN respectively. Their bacterial composition was analysed with plate cultivation, PCR-DGGE and 16S rDNA library analysis. On plates, isolates belonging to Pseudoalteromonas, Halomonas, Marinobacter, Thalassospira and Tistrella dominated the culturable populations. With PCR-DGGE, five major bands closely related to Cycloclasticus, Alteromonas, Thalassospira, Alcanivorax and Rhodospirillaceae were detected in consortium C2CO, while only one major band of Cycloclasticus was detected in consortium C2PPN. In addition, the dynamics of community structure in response to aromatic substrate alterations were examined. As a result, three ribotypes of Cycloclasticus were detected by 16S rDNA library analysis, one which played a key role in phenanthrene degradation; two Alteromonas bacteria dominated the naphthalene reselected consortium. Although bacteria of the two genera grew as the main members of the communities, none of them were isolated, probably owing to their poor cultivability. These results confirm that bacteria of Cycloclasticus are important obligate PAH degraders in marine environments, and coexist with other degrading bacteria that inhabit the deep subsurface sediment of the Atlantic. This supports the view that PAH accumulation and bioattenuation occur in remote areas consistently and continuously.

  6. Biodiversity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria from deep sea sediments of the Middle Atlantic Ridge

    PubMed Central

    Cui, Zhisong; Lai, Qiliang; Dong, Chunming; Shao, Zongze

    2008-01-01

    The bacteria involved in the biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in deep sea subsurface environments are largely unknown. In order to reveal their biodiversity, sediments from 2.2 m under the bottom surface at a water depth of 3542 m were sampled on the Middle Atlantic Ridge with a gravity column sampler. The sediments were promptly enriched with either crude oil or a mixture of PAHs (naphthalene, phenanthrene and pyrene) as the sole carbon source, and further enriched with the PAH mixture mentioned above in the lab. The resulting consortia were named C2CO and C2PPN respectively. Their bacterial composition was analysed with plate cultivation, PCR-DGGE and 16S rDNA library analysis. On plates, isolates belonging to Pseudoalteromonas, Halomonas, Marinobacter, Thalassospira and Tistrella dominated the culturable populations. With PCR-DGGE, five major bands closely related to Cycloclasticus, Alteromonas, Thalassospira, Alcanivorax and Rhodospirillaceae were detected in consortium C2CO, while only one major band of Cycloclasticus was detected in consortium C2PPN. In addition, the dynamics of community structure in response to aromatic substrate alterations were examined. As a result, three ribotypes of Cycloclasticus were detected by 16S rDNA library analysis, one which played a key role in phenanthrene degradation; two Alteromonas bacteria dominated the naphthalene reselected consortium. Although bacteria of the two genera grew as the main members of the communities, none of them were isolated, probably owing to their poor cultivability. These results confirm that bacteria of Cycloclasticus are important obligate PAH degraders in marine environments, and coexist with other degrading bacteria that inhabit the deep subsurface sediment of the Atlantic. This supports the view that PAH accumulation and bioattenuation occur in remote areas consistently and continuously. PMID:18445026

  7. Changes in cellular degradation activity in young and old worker honeybees (Apis mellifera).

    PubMed

    Hsu, Chin-Yuan; Chuang, Yu-Lung; Chan, Yu-Pei

    2014-02-01

    The trophocytes and fat cells of honeybees (Apis mellifera) have been used in cellular senescence studies, but the changes of cellular degradation activity with aging in workers are unknown. In this study, cellular degradation activity was evaluated in the trophocytes and fat cells of young and old workers reared in a field hive. The results showed the following: (1) 20S proteosome activity decreased with aging, whereas its expression increased with aging; (2) the expression of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-II (LC3-II) and the 70 kD heat shock cognate protein (Hsc70) decreased with aging; (3) the size and number of autophagic vacuoles decreased with aging; (4) p62/SQSTM1 and polyubiquitin aggregate expression decreased with aging; (5) lysosomal efficiency decreased with aging; and (6) molecular target of rapamycin (mTOR) expression increased with aging. These results indicate that young workers have higher levels of cellular degradation activity than old workers and that aging results in a decline in the cellular degradation activity in worker honeybees. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  8. Studies of the structure-antioxidant activity relationships and antioxidant activity mechanism of iridoid valepotriates and their degradation products

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Feifei; Zhang, Yumei; Wu, Shouhai; He, Yi; Dai, Zhong; Liu, Bin

    2017-01-01

    Oxidative stress has been associated with diverse diseases, including obesity, cancer and neurodegeneration. In fact, Valeriana jatamansi Jones (valerian) and its extracts possess strong antioxidant activities that extend their application in clinical practice to the treatment of these illnesses, even though the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Iridoid valepotriate, a characteristic iridoid ester in valerian with poor chemical stability, possesses considerable antioxidant components. The original compounds and their degradation products have been found to exhibit strong antioxidant activities. However, the relationship between their structure and antioxidant effects and the mechanism underlying their oxidation resistance remain unclear. A forced degradation study using three iridoid valepotriates (valtrate, acevaltrate and 1-β acevaltrate) was performed in this work, and the structures of their degradation products were estimated by TLC-MS and LC-MS. Comparison of the antioxidant activities of the iridoid valepotriates before and after forced degradation revealed that degradation reduced the activities of the iridoid valepotriates in free radical scavenging and cytotoxic and cell apoptosis tests. The results suggested that the oxirane nucleus is important for defining the antioxidant profile of iridoid valepotriate. We uncovered possible mechanisms that could explain the antioxidant activities, including the generation of two hydroxyl groups through intramolecular transfer of an H• from an oxirane ring and a reduction in ROS levels through interactions with GABAergic signalling pathways. PMID:29232391

  9. Microbial Activity and Silica Degradation in Rice Straw

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kim, Esther Jin-kyung

    Abundantly available agricultural residues like rice straw have the potential to be feedstocks for bioethanol production. Developing optimized conditions for rice straw deconstruction is a key step toward utilizing the biomass to its full potential. One challenge associated with conversion of rice straw to bioenergy is its high silica content as high silica erodes machinery. Another obstacle is the availability of enzymes that hydrolyze polymers in rice straw under industrially relevant conditions. Microbial communities that colonize compost may be a source of enzymes for bioconversion of lignocellulose to products because composting systems operate under thermophilic and high solids conditions that have been shown to be commercially relevant. Compost microbial communities enriched on rice straw could provide insight into a more targeted source of enzymes for the breakdown of rice straw polysaccharides and silica. Because rice straw is low in nitrogen it is important to understand the impact of nitrogen concentrations on the production of enzyme activity by the microbial community. This study aims to address this issue by developing a method to measure microbial silica-degrading activity and measure the effect of nitrogen amendment to rice straw on microbial activity and extracted enzyme activity during a high-solids, thermophilic incubation. An assay was developed to measure silica-degrading enzyme or silicase activity. This process included identifying methods of enzyme extraction from rice straw, identifying a model substrate for the assay, and optimizing measurement techniques. Rice straw incubations were conducted with five different levels of nitrogen added to the biomass. Microbial activity was measured by respiration and enzyme activity. A microbial community analysis was performed to understand the shift in community structure with different treatments. With increased levels of nitrogen, respiration and cellulose and hemicellulose degrading activity

  10. Use of mycelia as paths for the isolation of contaminant‐degrading bacteria from soil

    PubMed Central

    Furuno, Shoko; Remer, Rita; Chatzinotas, Antonis; Harms, Hauke; Wick, Lukas Y.

    2012-01-01

    Summary Mycelia of fungi and soil oomycetes have recently been found to act as effective paths boosting bacterial mobility and bioaccessibility of contaminants in vadose environments. In this study, we demonstrate that mycelia can be used for targeted separation and isolation of contaminant‐degrading bacteria from soil. In a ‘proof of concept’ study we developed a novel approach to isolate bacteria from contaminated soil using mycelia of the soil oomycete Pythium ultimum as translocation networks for bacteria and the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon naphthalene (NAPH) as selective carbon source. NAPH‐degrading bacterial isolates were affiliated with the genera Xanthomonas, Rhodococcus and Pseudomonas. Except for Rhodococcus the NAPH‐degrading isolates exhibited significant motility as observed in standard swarming and swimming motility assays. All steps of the isolation procedures were followed by cultivation‐independent terminal 16S rRNA gene terminal fragment length polymorphism (T‐RFLP) analysis. Interestingly, a high similarity (63%) between both the cultivable NAPH‐degrading migrant and the cultivable parent soil bacterial community profiles was observed. This suggests that mycelial networks generally confer mobility to native, contaminant‐degrading soil bacteria. Targeted, mycelia‐based dispersal hence may have high potential for the isolation of bacteria with biotechnologically useful properties. PMID:22014110

  11. Catabolism of Naphthalenesulfonic Acids by Pseudomonas sp. A3 and Pseudomonas sp. C22

    PubMed Central

    Brilon, C.; Beckmann, W.; Knackmuss, H.-J.

    1981-01-01

    Naphthalene and two naphthalenesulfonic acids were degraded by Pseudomonas sp. A3 and Pseudomonas sp. C22 by the same enzymes. Gentisate is a major metabolite. Catabolic activities for naphthalene, 1-naphthalenesulfonic acid, and 2-naphthalenesulfonic acid are induced by growth with naphthalene, 1-naphthalenesulfonic acid, 2-naphthalenesulfonic acid, methylnaphthalene, or salicylate. Gentisate is also an inducer in strain A3. Inhibition kinetics show that naphthalene and substituted naphthalenes are hydroxylated by the same naphthalene dioxygenase. Substrates with nondissociable substituents such as CH3, OCH3, Cl, or NO2 are hydroxylated in the 7,8-position, and 4-substituted salicylates are accumulated. If CO2H, CH2CO2H, or SO3H are substituents, hydroxylation occurs with high regioselectivity in the 1,2-position. Thus, 1,2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydronaphthalene-2-carboxylic acids are formed quantitatively from the corresponding naphthalenecarboxylic acids. Utilization of naphthalenesulfonic acids proceeds by the same regioselective 1,2-dioxygenation which labilizes the C—SO3− bond and eliminates sulfite. PMID:16345814

  12. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Degradation of Phytoplankton-Associated Arenibacter spp. and Description of Arenibacter algicola sp. nov., an Aromatic Hydrocarbon-Degrading Bacterium

    PubMed Central

    Rhodes, Glenn; Mishamandani, Sara; Berry, David; Whitman, William B.; Nichols, Peter D.; Semple, Kirk T.; Aitken, Michael D.

    2014-01-01

    Pyrosequencing of the bacterial community associated with a cosmopolitan marine diatom during enrichment with crude oil revealed several Arenibacter phylotypes, of which one (OTU-202) had become significantly enriched by the oil. Since members of the genus Arenibacter have not been previously shown to degrade hydrocarbons, we attempted to isolate a representative strain of this genus in order to directly investigate its hydrocarbon-degrading potential. Based on 16S rRNA sequencing, one isolate (designated strain TG409T) exhibited >99% sequence identity to three type strains of this genus. On the basis of phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, strain TG409T represents a novel species in the genus Arenibacter, for which the name Arenibacter algicola sp. nov. is proposed. We reveal for the first time that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) degradation is a shared phenotype among members of this genus, indicating that it could be used as a taxonomic marker for this genus. Kinetic data for PAH mineralization rates showed that naphthalene was preferred to phenanthrene, and its mineralization was significantly enhanced in the presence of glass wool (a surrogate for diatom cell surfaces). During enrichment on hydrocarbons, strain TG409T emulsified n-tetradecane and crude oil, and cells were found to be preferentially attached to oil droplets, indicating an ability by the strain to express cell surface amphiphilic substances (biosurfactants or bioemulsifiers) as a possible strategy to increase the bioavailability of hydrocarbons. This work adds to our growing knowledge on the diversity of bacterial genera in the ocean contributing to the degradation of oil contaminants and of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria found living in association with marine eukaryotic phytoplankton. PMID:24212584

  13. The naphthalene state of the science symposium: objectives, organization, structure, and charge.

    PubMed

    Belzer, Richard B; Bus, James S; Cavalieri, Ercole L; Lewis, Steven C; North, D Warner; Pleus, Richard C

    2008-07-01

    This report provides a summary of the objectives, organization, structure and charge for the naphthalene state of the science symposium (NS(3)), Monterey, CA, October 9-12, 2006. A 1-day preliminary conference was held followed by a 3-day state of the science symposium covering four topics judged by the Planning Committee to be crucial for developing valid and reliable scientific estimates of low-dose human cancer risk from naphthalene. The Planning Committee reviewed the relevant scientific literature to identify singularly knowledgeable researchers and a pool of scientists qualified to serve as expert panelists. In two cases, independent scientists were commissioned to develop comprehensive reviews of the relevant science in a specific area for which no leading researcher could be identified. Researchers and expert panelists alike were screened for conflicts of interest. All policy issues related to risk assessment practices and risk management were scrupulously excluded. NS(3) was novel in several ways and provides an innovative model for the effective use of peer review to identify scientific uncertainties and propose research strategies for reducing or eliminating them prior to the conduct of risk assessment.

  14. Naphthalene Planar Laser-Induced Fluorescence Imaging of Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle Heat Shield Ablation Products

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Combs, Christopher S.; Clemens, Noel T.; Danehy, Paul M.

    2013-11-01

    The Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) calls for an ablative heat shield. In order to better design this heat shield and others that will undergo planetary entry, an improved understanding of the ablation process is required. Given that ablation is a multi-physics process involving heat and mass transfer, codes aiming to predict heat shield ablation are in need of experimental data pertaining to the turbulent transport of ablation products for validation. At The University of Texas at Austin, a technique is being developed that uses planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) of a low-temperature sublimating ablator (naphthalene) to visualize the transport of ablation products in a supersonic flow. Since ablation at reentry temperatures can be difficult to recreate in a laboratory setting it is desirable to create a limited physics problem and simulate the ablation process at relatively low temperature conditions using naphthalene. A scaled Orion MPCV model with a solid naphthalene heat shield has been tested in a Mach 5 wind tunnel at various angles of attack in the current work. PLIF images have shown high concentrations of scalar in the capsule wake region, intermittent turbulent structures on the heat shield surface, and interesting details of the capsule shear layer structure. This work was supported by a NASA Office of the Chief Technologist's Space Technology Research Fellowship (NNX11AN55H).

  15. Fenofibrate activates Nrf2 through p62-dependent Keap1 degradation

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Park, Jeong Su; Yonsei Biomedical Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-752; Kang, Dong Hoon

    Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) activates the β-oxidation of fatty acids in the liver. Fenofibrate is a potent agonist of PPARα and is used in the treatment of hyperlipidemia. Fenofibrate treatment often induces the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to cell death. The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) pathway is an essential component of the defense mechanism against oxidative stress. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the regulation of the Nrf2-Keap1 pathway in fenofibrate-induced cell death is not known. In this study, we demonstrated that fenofibrate induces Keap1 degradation and Nrf2 activation.more » This fenofibrate-mediated Keap1 degradation is partly dependent on autophagy. Furthermore, fenofibrate-induced Keap1 degradation followed by Nrf2 activation is mainly mediated by p62, which functions as an adaptor protein in the autophagic pathway. Consistent with these findings, ablation of p62 increased fenofibrate-mediated apoptotic cell death associated with ROS accumulation. These results strongly suggest that p62 plays a crucial role in preventing fenofibrate-induced cell death. - Highlights: • Fenofibrate induces cell death by increasing ROS production. • The underlying defense mechanism against this effect is unknown. • Fenofibrate induces autophagy-dependent Keap1 degradation and Nrf2 activation. • This process is p62-dependent; lack of p62 enhanced fenofibrate-mediated apoptosis. • p62 plays a crucial role in preventing fenofibrate-induced cell death.« less

  16. Bis(azido) compounds of Pd and Pt with bulky phosphine ligands (dppn=1,8-bis(diphenylphosphino)naphthalene, dppf=1,1‧-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene, 1-dpn=1-diphenylphosphino-naphthalene): Preparation, structures, and reactivity toward isocyanides

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Huh, Hyun Sue; Lee, Yeon Kyoung; Lee, Soon W.

    2006-05-01

    Pd-bis(azido) compounds [Pd(dppn)(N 3) 2] and [Pd(dppf)(N 3) 2], which contain bulky chelating bis(phosphine) ligands (dppn=1,8-bis(diphenylphosphino)naphthalene, dppf=1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene), were prepared from the corresponding chlorides and NaN 3. We also prepared the Pt-bis(azido) compound [Pt(1-dpn)(SMe 2)(N 3) 2] containing a bulky monodentate phosphine (1-dpn=1-diphenylphosphino-naphthalene). All these compounds underwent [2+3] cycloaddition with isocyanides (R-NC, R=cyclohexyl, tert-butyl, 2,6-dimethylphenyl) to convert azido ligands to five-membered, C-coordinated tetrazolate rings. In addition, we observed the [Pd(dppn)Cl 2]-mediated C-C coupling of PhC tbnd6 CH to generate the η 2-PhC tbnd6 C-C tbnd6 CPh ligand. All compounds have been structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction.

  17. Conformationally constrained farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonists: heteroaryl replacements of the naphthalene.

    PubMed

    Bass, Jonathan Y; Caravella, Justin A; Chen, Lihong; Creech, Katrina L; Deaton, David N; Madauss, Kevin P; Marr, Harry B; McFadyen, Robert B; Miller, Aaron B; Mills, Wendy Y; Navas, Frank; Parks, Derek J; Smalley, Terrence L; Spearing, Paul K; Todd, Dan; Williams, Shawn P; Wisely, G Bruce

    2011-02-15

    To improve on the drug properties of GSK8062 1b, a series of heteroaryl bicyclic naphthalene replacements were prepared. The quinoline 1c was an equipotent FXR agonist with improved drug developability parameters relative to 1b. In addition, analog 1c lowered body weight gain and serum glucose in a DIO mouse model of diabetes. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  18. Smurf1 inhibits integrin activation by controlling Kindlin-2 ubiquitination and degradation

    PubMed Central

    Wei, Xiaofan; Wang, Xiang; Zhan, Jun; Chen, Yuhan; Fang, Weigang; Zhang, Lingqiang

    2017-01-01

    Integrin activation is an indispensable step for various integrin-mediated biological functions. Kindlin-2 is known to coactivate integrins with Talin; however, molecules that restrict integrin activation are elusive. Here, we demonstrate that the E3 ubiquitin ligase Smurf1 controls the amount of Kindlin-2 protein in cells and hinders integrin activation. Smurf1 interacts with and promotes Kindlin-2 ubiquitination and degradation. Smurf1 selectively mediates degradation of Kindlin-2 but not Talin, leading to inhibition of αIIbβ3 integrin activation in Chinese hamster ovary cells and β1 integrin activation in fibroblasts. Enhanced activation of β1 integrin was found in Smurf1-knockout mouse embryonic fibroblasts, which correlates with an increase in Kindlin-2 protein levels. Similarly, a reciprocal relationship between Smurf1 and Kindlin-2 protein levels is found in tissues from colon cancer patients, suggesting that Smurf1 mediates Kindlin-2 degradation in vivo. Collectively, we demonstrate that Smurf1 acts as a brake for integrin activation by controlling Kindlin-2 protein levels, a new mechanism that permits precise modulation of integrin-mediated cellular functions. PMID:28408404

  19. Phytate degrading activities of lactic acid bacteria isolated from traditional fermented food

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Damayanti, Ema; Ratisiwi, Febiyani Ndaru; Istiqomah, Lusty; Sembiring, Langkah; Febrisiantosa, Andi

    2017-03-01

    The objective of this study was to determine the potential of LAB with phytate degrading activity from fermented traditional food grain-based and legume-based. Lactic acid bacteria were isolated from different sources of traditional fermented food from Gunungkidul Yogyakarta Indonesia such as gembus tempeh (tofu waste), soybean tempeh, lamtoro tempeh (Leucaena bean) and kara tempeh. Isolation of LAB was performed using Total Plate Count (TPC) on de Man Rogosa Sharpe Agar (MRSA) medium supplemented with CaCO3. They were screened for their ability to degrade myo-inositol hexaphosphate or IP6 by using qualitative streak platemethod with modified de Man Rogosa-MorpholinoPropanesulfonic Acid Sharpe (MRS-MOPS) medium contained sodium salt of phytic acid as substrate and cobalt chloride staining (plate assay) method. The selected isolates were further assayed for phytase activities using quantitative method with spectrophotometer and the two selected isolates growth were optimized. Furthermore, thhe isolates that shown the highest phytase activity was characterized and identified using API 50 CH kitand 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The results showed that there were 18 LAB isolates obtained from samplesand 13 isolates were able to degrade sodium phytate based on qualitative screening. According to quantitative assay, the highest phytate degrading activities were found in TG-2(23.562 U/mL) and TG-1 (19.641 U/mL) isolated from gembus tempeh. The phytate activity of TG-2 was optimum at 37 °C with agitation, while the phytate activity of TG-1 was optimum at 45 °C without agitation. Characterization and identification of TG-2 isolate with the highest phytate degrading activity using API 50 CH and 16S rRNA showed that TG-2had homology with Lactobacillus fermentum. It could be concluded that LAB from from fermented traditional food grain-based and legume-based produced the extracellular phytase. Keywords: lactic acid bacteria, tempeh, phytatedegrading activity

  20. High Temperature Induced Anthocyanin Inhibition and Active Degradation in Malus profusion

    PubMed Central

    Rehman, Rana Naveed Ur; You, Yaohua; Zhang, Lei; Goudia, Bachir Daoura; Khan, Abdul Rehman; Li, Pengmin; Ma, Fangwang

    2017-01-01

    The red fleshed fruits of Malus profusion represent gradual color loss during high temperature in summer, potentially due to active degradation of anthocyanin. The objective of this study was to examine both physiological and molecular evidence of anthocyanin degradation. Malus crabapple fruits were exposed to either room temperature (RT = 18 ± 2°C: 25 ± 2°C) or high temperature (HT = 33 ± 2°C: 25 ± 2°C) regimens (12 h: 12 h) under hypoxic (2%) or normoxic (21%) oxygen levels. The results showed that the concentration of cyanidin 3-galactoside (cy-3-gal) was dramatically reduced following HT treatments due to a significant down-regulation of anthocyanin biosynthetic genes (MpCHS, MpDFR, MpLDOX, MpUFGT, and MpMYB10). Among other repressor MYBs, MpMYB15 expression was high following HT treatment of the fruit. HT led to the generation of a substantial concentration of H2O2 due to enhanced activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), methane dicarboxylic aldehyde (MDA) content and cell sap pH value. Similarly, transcript levels of MpVHA-B1 and MpVHA-B2 were reduced which are involved in the vacuolar transportation of anthocyanin. The enzymatic degradation of anthocyanin was eventually enhanced coupled with the oxidative activities of peroxidase (POD) and H2O2. Conversely, the RT treatments potentially enhanced anthocyanin content by stabilizing physiological attributes (such as MDA, H2O2, and pH, among others) and sustaining sufficient biosynthetic gene expression levels. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis indicated that the transcription of MpPOD1, MpPOD8 and MpPOD9 genes in fruit tissues was up-regulated due to HT treatment and that hypoxic conditions seems more compatible with the responsible POD isoenzymes involved in active anthocyanin degradation. The results of the current study could be useful for understanding as well as elucidating the physiological phenomenon and molecular signaling cascade underlying active anthocyanin degradation in Malus crops. PMID

  1. Spore cells from BPA degrading bacteria Bacillus sp. GZB displaying high laccase activity and stability for BPA degradation.

    PubMed

    Das, Ranjit; Li, Guiying; Mai, Bixian; An, Taicheng

    2018-06-04

    Laccase has been applied extensively as a biocatalyst to remove different organic pollutants. This study characterized a spore-laccase from the bisphenol A (BPA)-degrading strain Bacillus sp. GZB. The spore-laccase was encoded with 513 amino acids, containing spore coat protein A (CotA). It showed optimal activity at 70 °C and pH = 7.2 in presence of 2, 6-dimethoxyphenol. At 60 °C, optimal activity was also seen at pH = 3.0 and pH = 6.8 with 2, 2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) and syringaldazine, respectively. The spore-laccase was stable at high temperature, at acidic to alkaline pH values, and in the presence of different organic solvents. Spore-laccase activity was increased by introducing Cu 2+ , Mg 2+ , and Na + , but was strongly inhibited by Fe 2+ , Ag + , l-cysteine, dithiothreitol, and NaN 3 . The cotA gene was cloned and expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3); the purified protein was estimated as having a molecular weight of ~63 kDa. Different synthetic dyes and BPA were effectively decolorized or degraded both by the spore laccase and recombinant laccase. When BPA oxidation was catalyzed using laccase, there was an initial formation of phenoxy radicals and further oxidation or CC bond cleavage of the radicals produced different organic acids. Detailed reaction pathways were developed based on nine identified intermediates. The acute toxicity decreased gradually during BPA degradation by laccase. This study is the first report about a genus of Bacillus that can produce a highly active and stable laccase to degrade BPA. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  2. Development and characterization of a cell line from Pacific herring, Clupea harengus pallasi, sensitive to both naphthalene cytotoxicity and infection by viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus.

    PubMed

    Ganassin, R C; Sanders, S M; Kennedy, C J; Joyce, E M; Bols, N C

    1999-01-01

    A cell line, PHL, has been successfully established from newly hatched herring larvae. The cells are maintained in growth medium consisting of Leibovitz's L-15 supplemented with 15% fetal bovine serum (FBS), and have been cryopreserved and maintain viability after thawing. These cells retain a diploid karotype after 65 population doublings. PHL are susceptible to infection by the North American strain of viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) virus, and are sensitive to the cytotoxic effects of naphthalene, a common environmental contaminant. Naphthalene is a component of crude and refined oil, and may be found in the marine environment following acute events such as oil spills. In addition, chronic sources of naphthalene contamination include offshore drilling and petroleum contamination from areas such as docks and marinas that have creosote-treated docks and pilings and also receive constant small inputs of petroleum products. This cell line should be useful for investigations of the toxicity of naphthalene and other petroleum components to juvenile herring. In addition, studies of the VHS virus will be facilitated by the availability of a susceptible cell line from an alternative species.

  3. Electron spin resonance of gamma-irradiated poly/ethylene 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylate/.

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Rogowski, R. S.; Pezdirtz, G. F.

    1971-01-01

    The two types of radicals trapped in gamma-irradiated PEN 2,6 are identified by ESR as - O - CH - CH2 - O - (radical I) and a radical located on the naphthalene ring (radical II). The concentrations of the radicals in the gross polyer are 10 to 20% of I and 80 to 90% of II. Similar trapped radicals are established in beta-irradiated PET, a structurally related polymer.

  4. Carboxymethylated degraded polysaccharides from Enteromorpha prolifera: Preparation and in vitro antioxidant activity.

    PubMed

    Shi, Mei-Jia; Wei, Xiaoyi; Xu, Jie; Chen, Bing-Jie; Zhao, De-Yin; Cui, Shuai; Zhou, Tao

    2017-01-15

    In order to improve the bioactivities of the polysaccharide from Enteromorpha prolifera (PE), crude PE (Mw 1400kDa) was degraded to low molecular weight polysaccharide (44kDa) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide/ascorbic acid, followed by carboxymethylation. The reaction conditions for carboxymethylation of degraded polysaccharide (DPE) were optimized by Response Surface Methodology. The carboxymethyled degraded polysaccharide (CDPE) obtained under optimized conditions, with a degree of carboxymethylation of 0.849, was characterized by FT-IR and (13)C NMR. The molecular weight of CDPE was measured to be 53.7kDa. CDPE was evaluated for its antioxidant activity by determining the ability to scavenge 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl and superoxide anion radicals, and by determining the ferric reducing power. The antioxidant activity of CDPE was found to be greatly improved in comparison with degraded polysaccharide (DPE) and crude polysaccharide from Enteromorpha prolifera (PE). Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  5. Context memory formation requires activity-dependent protein degradation in the hippocampus.

    PubMed

    Cullen, Patrick K; Ferrara, Nicole C; Pullins, Shane E; Helmstetter, Fred J

    2017-11-01

    Numerous studies have indicated that the consolidation of contextual fear memories supported by an aversive outcome like footshock requires de novo protein synthesis as well as protein degradation mediated by the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). Context memory formed in the absence of an aversive stimulus by simple exposure to a novel environment requires de novo protein synthesis in both the dorsal (dHPC) and ventral (vHPC) hippocampus. However, the role of UPS-mediated protein degradation in the consolidation of context memory in the absence of a strong aversive stimulus has not been investigated. In the present study, we used the context preexposure facilitation effect (CPFE) procedure, which allows for the dissociation of context learning from context-shock learning, to investigate the role of activity-dependent protein degradation in the dHPC and vHPC during the formation of a context memory. We report that blocking protein degradation with the proteasome inhibitor clasto-lactacystin β-lactone (βLac) or blocking protein synthesis with anisomycin (ANI) immediately after context preexposure significantly impaired context memory formation. Additionally, we examined 20S proteasome activity at different time points following context exposure and saw that the activity of proteasomes in the dHPC increases immediately after stimulus exposure while the vHPC exhibits a biphasic pattern of proteolytic activity. Taken together, these data suggest that the requirement of increased proteolysis during memory consolidation is not driven by processes triggered by the strong aversive outcome (i.e., shock) normally used to support fear conditioning. © 2017 Cullen et al.; Published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.

  6. Degradation of oxcarbazepine by UV-activated persulfate oxidation: kinetics, mechanisms, and pathways.

    PubMed

    Bu, Lingjun; Zhou, Shiqing; Shi, Zhou; Deng, Lin; Li, Guangchao; Yi, Qihang; Gao, Naiyun

    2016-02-01

    The degradation kinetics and mechanism of the antiepileptic drug oxcarbazepine (OXC) by UV-activated persulfate oxidation were investigated in this study. Results showed that UV/persulfate (UV/PS) process appeared to be more effective in degrading OXC than UV or PS alone. The OXC degradation exhibited a pseudo-first order kinetics pattern and the degradation rate constants (k obs) were affected by initial OXC concentration, PS dosage, initial pH, and humic acid concentration to different degrees. It was found that low initial OXC concentration, high persulfate dosage, and initial pH enhanced the OXC degradation. Additionally, the presence of humic acid in the solution could greatly inhibit the degradation of OXC. Moreover, hydroxyl radical (OH•) and sulfate radical (SO4 (-)••) were identified to be responsible for OXC degradation and SO4 (-)• made the predominant contribution in this study. Finally, major intermediate products were identified and a preliminary degradation pathway was proposed. Results demonstrated that UV/PS system is a potential technology to control the water pollution caused by emerging contaminants such as OXC.

  7. Photocatalytic degradation of ofloxacin and evaluation of the residual antimicrobial activity.

    PubMed

    Peres, M S; Maniero, M G; Guimarães, J R

    2015-03-01

    Ofloxacin is an antimicrobial agent frequently found in significant concentrations in wastewater and surface water. Its continuous introduction into the environment is a potential risk to non-target organisms or to human health. In this study, ofloxacin degradation by UV/TiO2 and UV/TiO2/H2O2, antimicrobial activity (E. coli) of samples subjected to these processes, and by-products formed were evaluated. For UV/TiO2, the degradation efficiency was 89.3% in 60 min of reaction when 128 mg L(-1) TiO2 were used. The addition of 1.68 mmol L(-1) hydrogen peroxide increased degradation to 97.8%. For UV/TiO2, increasing the catalyst concentration from 4 to 128 mg L(-1) led to an increase in degradation efficiency. For both processes, the antimicrobial activity was considerably reduced throughout the reaction time. The structures of two by-products are presented: m/z 291 (9-fluoro-3-methyl-10-(methyleneamino)-7-oxo-2,3-dihydro-7H-[1,4]oxazino[2,3,4-ij]quinoline-6-carboxylic acid) and m/z 157 ((Z)-2-formyl-3-((2-oxoethyl)imino)propanoic acid).

  8. Intrinsic immunogenicity of rapidly-degradable polymers evolves during degradation.

    PubMed

    Andorko, James I; Hess, Krystina L; Pineault, Kevin G; Jewell, Christopher M

    2016-03-01

    Recent studies reveal many biomaterial vaccine carriers are able to activate immunostimulatory pathways, even in the absence of other immune signals. How the changing properties of polymers during biodegradation impact this intrinsic immunogenicity is not well studied, yet this information could contribute to rational design of degradable vaccine carriers that help direct immune response. We use degradable poly(beta-amino esters) (PBAEs) to explore intrinsic immunogenicity as a function of the degree of polymer degradation and polymer form (e.g., soluble, particles). PBAE particles condensed by electrostatic interaction to mimic a common vaccine approach strongly activate dendritic cells, drive antigen presentation, and enhance T cell proliferation in the presence of antigen. Polymer molecular weight strongly influences these effects, with maximum stimulation at short degradation times--corresponding to high molecular weight--and waning levels as degradation continues. In contrast, free polymer is immunologically inert. In mice, PBAE particles increase the numbers and activation state of cells in lymph nodes. Mechanistic studies reveal that this evolving immunogenicity occurs as the physicochemical properties and concentration of particles change during polymer degradation. This work confirms the immunological profile of degradable, synthetic polymers can evolve over time and creates an opportunity to leverage this feature in new vaccines. Degradable polymers are increasingly important in vaccination, but how the inherent immunogenicity of polymers changes during degradation is poorly understood. Using common rapidly-degradable vaccine carriers, we show that the activation of immune cells--even in the absence of other adjuvants--depends on polymer form (e.g., free, particulate) and the extent of degradation. These changing characteristics alter the physicochemical properties (e.g., charge, size, molecular weight) of polymer particles, driving changes in

  9. Tracing the evolution of degraders in activated sludge during the sludge’s acclimation to a xenobiotic organic

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chong, N. M.; Fan, C. H.; Yang, Y. C.

    2017-01-01

    The molecular biology method of high-throughput pyrosequencing was employed to examine the change of activated sludge community structures during the process in which activated sludge was acclimated to and degraded a target xenobiotic. The sample xenobiotic organic compound used as the activated sludge acclimation target was the herbicide 2,4-dichlorphenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Indigenous activated sludge microorganisms were acclimated to 2,4-D as the sole carbon source in both the batch and the continuous-flow reaction modes. Sludge masses at multiple time points during the course of acclimation were subjected to pyrosequencing targeting the microorganisms’ 16S rRNA genes. With the bacterial 16S rRNA sequencing results the genera that increased in abundance were checked with degradative pathway databases or literature to confirm that they are commonly seen as potent degraders of 2,4-D. From this systematic examination of degrader changes at time points during activated sludge acclimation and degradation of the target xenobiotic, the trend of degrader evolution in activated sludge over the sludge’s acclimation process to a xenobiotic was traced.

  10. HPLC-MS degradation study of E10 Sunset Yellow FCF in a commercial beverage.

    PubMed

    Gosetti, Fabio; Gianotti, Valentina; Polati, Stefano; Gennaro, Maria Carla

    2005-10-07

    Experimental evidence has shown that a beverage containing Sunset Yellow FCF (labelled as E110 in the European Union), when exposed to natural conditions of summer temperature and sunlight, losses its colour. To possibly identify the degradation pathway and collect information on the potential toxicity of the uncoloured species formed, different degradation conditions, under both oxidising and reducing environments, were simulated in laboratory. Experiments were carried out under the following conditions: (i) thermally induced degradation, (ii) visible photo induced degradation, (iii) UV-photo induced conditions in oxidising environment (addition of hydrogen peroxide, Fenton reaction) and (iv) UV-photo induced conditions in reducing environment (addition of sulphide and ascorbic acid, addition of ascorbic acid in the absence and in the presence of saccharose). Decolourisation process was observed in oxidant conditions when applying the Fenton reaction but the reaction was too quick to be progressively followed. On the other hand, it was also possible to study the degradation reaction observed in reducing conditions in the presence of ascorbic acid. The HPLC-MS results gave evidence for the cleavage of the double bond and the protonation of the azo groups. The loss of colour is therefore not due to a mineralization process but to the formation of a dimeric form of 5-amino-6-hydroxy-2-naphthalene sulfonate and, likely, of p-amino-benzensulfonate.

  11. Induction of bphA, encoding biphenyl dioxygenase, in two polychlorinated biphenyl-degrading bacteria, psychrotolerant Pseudomonas strain Cam-1 and mesophilic Burkholderia strain LB400.

    PubMed

    Master, E R; Mohn, W W

    2001-06-01

    We investigated induction of biphenyl dioxygenase in the psychrotolerant polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) degrader Pseudomonas strain Cam-1 and in the mesophilic PCB degrader Burkholderia strain LB400. Using a counterselectable gene replacement vector, we inserted a lacZ-Gm(r) fusion cassette between chromosomal genes encoding the large subunit (bphA) and small subunit (bphE) of biphenyl dioxygenase in Cam-1 and LB400, generating Cam-10 and LB400-1, respectively. Potential inducers of bphA were added to cell suspensions of Cam-10 and LB400-1 incubated at 30 degrees C, and then beta-galactosidase activity was measured. Biphenyl induced beta-galactosidase activity in Cam-10 to a level approximately six times greater than the basal level in cells incubated with pyruvate. In contrast, the beta-galactosidase activities in LB400-1 incubated with biphenyl and in LB400-1 incubated with pyruvate were indistinguishable. At a concentration of 1 mM, most of the 40 potential inducers tested were inhibitory to induction by biphenyl of beta-galactosidase activity in Cam-10. The exceptions were naphthalene, salicylate, 2-chlorobiphenyl, and 4-chlorobiphenyl, which induced beta-galactosidase activity in Cam-10, although at levels that were no more than 30% of the levels induced by biphenyl. After incubation for 24 h at 7 degrees C, biphenyl induced beta-galactosidase activity in Cam-10 to a level approximately four times greater than the basal level in cells incubated with pyruvate. The constitutive level of beta-galactosidase activity in LB400-1 grown at 15 degrees C was approximately five times less than the level in LB400-1 grown at 30 degrees C. Thus, there are substantial differences in the effects of physical and chemical environmental conditions on genetic regulation of PCB degradation in different bacteria.

  12. Characterization of hydrocarbon-degrading and biosurfactant-producing Pseudomonas sp. P-1 strain as a potential tool for bioremediation of petroleum-contaminated soil.

    PubMed

    Pacwa-Płociniczak, Magdalena; Płaza, Grażyna Anna; Poliwoda, Anna; Piotrowska-Seget, Zofia

    2014-01-01

    The Pseudomonas sp. P-1 strain, isolated from heavily petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated soil, was investigated for its capability to degrade hydrocarbons and produce a biosurfactant. The strain degraded crude oil, fractions A5 and P3 of crude oil, and hexadecane (27, 39, 27 and 13% of hydrocarbons added to culture medium were degraded, respectively) but had no ability to degrade phenanthrene. Additionally, the presence of gene-encoding enzymes responsible for the degradation of alkanes and naphthalene in the genome of the P-1 strain was reported. Positive results of blood agar and methylene blue agar tests, as well as the presence of gene rhl, involved in the biosynthesis of rhamnolipid, confirmed the ability of P-1 for synthesis of glycolipid biosurfactant. 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared spectrum and mass spectrum analyses indicated that the extracted biosurfactant was affiliated with rhamnolipid. The results of this study indicate that the P-1 and/or biosurfactant produced by this strain have the potential to be used in bioremediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated soils.

  13. Perceiving land-degrading activities from the lay perspective in northern China.

    PubMed

    Lee, Harry F; Zhang, David D

    2005-11-01

    Investigation into local peoples' perceptions can produce useful information that could be incorporated into the decision-making process to help resolve environmental problems. Within the arena of land degradation, a number of studies have also been conducted to explore local peoples' views of the problem. However, the perceptions of land-degrading practices of the general public have so far not been actively solicited. This study aimed to contribute to this area of research by adopting the psychometric scaling technique to empirically explore the lay public's ecological risk perceptions of land-degrading activities in Minqin County in Gansu Province, northern China. The primary data were collected via a questionnaire survey (n=1,138) administered between 14 and 31 December 2002. The major findings of the survey were: (1) Respondents perceived the ecological risks posed by different land-degrading activities to be different. (2) There was a considerable incongruence in the way in which mining of groundwater was conceived by experts and laymen, respectively. (3) Respondents were pretty unsure of expert knowledge. (4) Respondents' ecological risk perceptions were significantly affected by their personal attributes. As far as the policy implications of these findings are concerned, this study accentuates that we must be aware of, and involved in, the environmental perceptions of the lay public in order to succeed in guiding any human-environment tensions along more sustainable trajectories and navigating the transition to sustainability.

  14. Actions of a versatile fluorene-degrading bacterial isolate on polycyclic aromatic compounds.

    PubMed Central

    Grifoll, M; Selifonov, S A; Gatlin, C V; Chapman, P J

    1995-01-01

    Pseudomonas cepacia F297 grew with fluorene as a sole source of carbon and energy; its growth yield corresponded to an assimilation of about 40% of fluorene carbon. The accumulation of a ring meta-cleavage product during growth and the identification of 1-indanone in growth media and washed-cell suspensions suggest that strain F297 metabolizes fluorene by mechanisms analogous to those of naphthalene degradation. In addition to fluorene, strain F297 utilized for growth a wide variety of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs), including naphthalene, 2,3-dimethylnaphthalene, phenanthrene, anthracene, and dibenzothiophene. Fluorene-induced cells of the strain also transformed 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene, biphenyl, dibenzofuran, acenaphthene, and acenaphthylene. The identification of products formed from those substrates (by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) in washed-cell suspensions indicates that P. cepacia F297 carries out the following reactions: (i) aromatic ring oxidation and cleavage, apparently using the pyruvate released for growth, (ii) methyl group oxidations, (iii) methylenic oxidations, and (iv) S oxidations of aromatic sulfur heterocycles. Strain F297 grew with a creosote-PAC mixture, producing an almost complete removal of all aromatic compounds containing 2 to 3 rings in 14 days, as demonstrated by gas chromatography analysis of the remaining PACs recovered from cultures. The identification of key chemicals confirmed that not only are certain compounds depleted but also the anticipated reaction products are found. PMID:7487007

  15. Actions of a versatile fluorene-degrading bacterial isolate on polycyclic aromatic compounds.

    PubMed

    Grifoll, M; Selifonov, S A; Gatlin, C V; Chapman, P J

    1995-10-01

    Pseudomonas cepacia F297 grew with fluorene as a sole source of carbon and energy; its growth yield corresponded to an assimilation of about 40% of fluorene carbon. The accumulation of a ring meta-cleavage product during growth and the identification of 1-indanone in growth media and washed-cell suspensions suggest that strain F297 metabolizes fluorene by mechanisms analogous to those of naphthalene degradation. In addition to fluorene, strain F297 utilized for growth a wide variety of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs), including naphthalene, 2,3-dimethylnaphthalene, phenanthrene, anthracene, and dibenzothiophene. Fluorene-induced cells of the strain also transformed 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene, biphenyl, dibenzofuran, acenaphthene, and acenaphthylene. The identification of products formed from those substrates (by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) in washed-cell suspensions indicates that P. cepacia F297 carries out the following reactions: (i) aromatic ring oxidation and cleavage, apparently using the pyruvate released for growth, (ii) methyl group oxidations, (iii) methylenic oxidations, and (iv) S oxidations of aromatic sulfur heterocycles. Strain F297 grew with a creosote-PAC mixture, producing an almost complete removal of all aromatic compounds containing 2 to 3 rings in 14 days, as demonstrated by gas chromatography analysis of the remaining PACs recovered from cultures. The identification of key chemicals confirmed that not only are certain compounds depleted but also the anticipated reaction products are found.

  16. Strategy of Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes C70 for effective degradation of phenol and salicylate

    PubMed Central

    Heinaru, Eeva; Naanuri, Eve; Mehike, Maris; Leito, Ivo; Heinaru, Ain

    2017-01-01

    Phenol- and naphthalene-degrading indigenous Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes strain C70 has great potential for the bioremediation of polluted areas. It harbours two chromosomally located catechol meta pathways, one of which is structurally and phylogenetically very similar to the Pseudomonas sp. CF600 dmp operon and the other to the P. stutzeri AN10 nah lower operon. The key enzymes of the catechol meta pathway, catechol 2,3-dioxygenase (C23O) from strain C70, PheB and NahH, have an amino acid identity of 85%. The metabolic and regulatory phenotypes of the wild-type and the mutant strain C70ΔpheB lacking pheB were evaluated. qRT-PCR data showed that in C70, the expression of pheB- and nahH-encoded C23O was induced by phenol and salicylate, respectively. We demonstrate that strain C70 is more effective in the degradation of phenol and salicylate, especially at higher substrate concentrations, when these compounds are present as a mixture; i.e., when both pathways are expressed. Moreover, NahH is able to substitute for the deleted PheB in phenol degradation when salicylate is also present in the growth medium. The appearance of a yellow intermediate 2-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde was followed by the accumulation of catechol in salicylate-containing growth medium, and lower expression levels and specific activities of the C23O of the sal operon were detected. However, the excretion of the toxic intermediate catechol to the growth medium was avoided when the growth medium was supplemented with phenol, seemingly due to the contribution of the second meta pathway encoded by the phe genes. PMID:28257519

  17. Activated persulfate for organic chemical degradation: A review.

    PubMed

    Matzek, Laura W; Carter, Kimberly E

    2016-05-01

    Activated persulfate reactions have widespread application for groundwater and environmental remediation, as many of these reactions involve destruction of environmental contaminants. Within the last five years, knowledge of activated persulfate degradation reactions has grown to include novel means of activating persulfate for enhanced removal of organic species. These current studies cover a long list of organic analytes, including pharmaceuticals, pesticides, halogenated compounds and dyes. An extensive review of recently published experimental parameters and results for the destruction of organic compounds via activated persulfate is presented. Focus is placed on emerging methodologies and manipulation of traditional activation techniques. Knowledge gaps are identified and discussed, as despite the number of publications on this subject, more broad-reaching guidelines are needed for optimizing applications of activated persulfate in water treatment. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  18. Side Chain Degradable Cationic-Amphiphilic Polymers with Tunable Hydrophobicity Show in Vivo Activity.

    PubMed

    Uppu, Divakara S S M; Samaddar, Sandip; Hoque, Jiaul; Konai, Mohini M; Krishnamoorthy, Paramanandham; Shome, Bibek R; Haldar, Jayanta

    2016-09-12

    Cationic-amphiphilic antibacterial polymers with optimal amphiphilicity generally target the bacterial membranes instead of mammalian membranes. To date, this balance has been achieved by varying the cationic charge or side chain hydrophobicity in a variety of cationic-amphiphilic polymers. Optimal hydrophobicity of cationic-amphiphilic polymers has been considered as the governing factor for potent antibacterial activity yet minimal mammalian cell toxicity. However, the concomitant role of hydrogen bonding and hydrophobicity with constant cationic charge in the interactions of antibacterial polymers with bacterial membranes is not understood. Also, degradable polymers that result in nontoxic degradation byproducts offer promise as safe antibacterial agents. Here we show that amide- and ester (degradable)-bearing cationic-amphiphilic polymers with tunable side chain hydrophobicity can modulate antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity. Our results suggest that an amide polymer can be a potent antibacterial agent with lower hydrophobicity whereas the corresponding ester polymer needs a relatively higher hydrophobicity to be as effective as its amide counterpart. Our studies reveal that at higher hydrophobicities both amide and ester polymers have similar profiles of membrane-active antibacterial activity and mammalian cell toxicity. On the contrary, at lower hydrophobicities, amide and ester polymers are less cytotoxic, but the former have potent antibacterial and membrane activity compared to the latter. Incorporation of amide and ester moieties made these polymers side chain degradable, with amide polymers being more stable than the ester polymers. Further, the polymers are less toxic, and their degradation byproducts are nontoxic to mice. More importantly, the optimized amide polymer reduces the bacterial burden of burn wound infections in mice models. Our design introduces a new strategy of interplay between the hydrophobic and hydrogen bonding interactions

  19. Easily degradable carbon - an indicator of microbial hotspots and soil degradation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wolińska, Agnieszka; Banach, Artur; Szafranek-Nakonieczna, Anna; Stępniewska, Zofia; Błaszczyk, Mieczysław

    2018-01-01

    The effect of arable soil was quantified against non-cultivated soil on easily degradable carbon and other selected microbiological factors, i.e. soil microbial biomass, respiration activity, and dehydrogenase activity. The intent was to ascertain whether easily degradable carbo can be useful as a sensitive indicator of both soil biological degradation and microbial hot-spots indication. As a result, it was found that soil respiration activity was significantly higher (p <0.0001) in all controls, ranging between 30-60 vs. 11.5-23.7 μmol CO2 kg d.m.-1 h-1 for the arable soils. Dehydrogenase activity was significantly lower in the arable soil (down to 35-40% of the control values, p <0.001) varying depending on the soil type. The microbial biomass was also significantly higher at the non-cultivated soil (512-2807 vs. 416-1429 µg g-1 d.m., p <0.001), while easily degradable carbon ranged between 620-1209 mg kg-1 non-cultivated soil and 497-877 mg kg-1 arable soil (p <0.0001). It was demonstrated that agricultural practices affected soil properties by significantly reducing the levels of the studied parameters in relation to the control soils. The significant correlations of easily degradable carbon-respiration activity (ρ = 0.77*), easily degradable carbon-dehydrogenase activity (ρ = 0.42*), and easily degradable carbon-microbial biomass (ρ = 0.53*) reveal that easily degradable carbon is a novel, suitable factor indicative of soil biological degradation. It, therefore, could be used for evaluating the degree of soil degradation and for choosing a proper management procedure.

  20. Experimental strategy to discover microbes with gluten-degrading enzyme activities

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Helmerhorst, Eva J.; Wei, Guoxian

    2014-06-01

    Gluten proteins contained in the cereals barley, rye and wheat cause an inflammatory disorder called celiac disease in genetically predisposed individuals. Certain immunogenic gluten domains are resistant to degradation by mammalian digestive enzymes. Enzymes with the ability to target such domains are potentially of clinical use. Of particular interest are gluten-degrading enzymes that would be naturally present in the human body, e.g. associated with resident microbial species. This manuscript describes a selective gluten agar approach and four enzyme activity assays, including a gliadin zymogram assay, designed for the selection and discovery of novel gluten-degrading microorganisms from human biological samples. Resident and harmless bacteria and/or their derived enzymes could potentially find novel applications in the treatment of celiac disease, in the form of a probiotic agent or as a dietary enzyme supplement.

  1. Experimental Strategy to Discover Microbes with Gluten-degrading Enzyme Activities.

    PubMed

    Helmerhorst, Eva J; Wei, Guoxian

    2014-05-05

    Gluten proteins contained in the cereals barley, rye and wheat cause an inflammatory disorder called celiac disease in genetically predisposed individuals. Certain immunogenic gluten domains are resistant to degradation by mammalian digestive enzymes. Enzymes with the ability to target such domains are potentially of clinical use. Of particular interest are gluten-degrading enzymes that would be naturally present in the human body, e.g. associated with resident microbial species. This manuscript describes a selective gluten agar approach and four enzyme activity assays, including a gliadin zymogram assay, designed for the selection and discovery of novel gluten-degrading microorganisms from human biological samples. Resident and harmless bacteria and/or their derived enzymes could potentially find novel applications in the treatment of celiac disease, in the form of a probiotic agent or as a dietary enzyme supplement.

  2. 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate as a protein conformational tightening agent.

    PubMed

    Matulis, D; Baumann, C G; Bloomfield, V A; Lovrien, R E

    1999-05-01

    1-Anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate (ANS) anion is conventionally considered to bind to preexisting hydrophobic (nonpolar) surfaces of proteins, primarily through its nonpolar anilino-naphthalene group. Such binding is followed by an increase in ANS fluorescence intensity, similar to that occurring when ANS is dissolved in organic solvents. It is generally assumed that neither the negative sulfonate charge on the ANS, nor charges on the protein, participate significantly in ANS-protein interaction. However, titration calorimetry has demonstrated that most ANS binding to a number of proteins occurs through electrostatic forces, in which ion pairs are formed between ANS sulfonate groups and cationic groups on the proteins (D. Matulis and R. E. Lovrien, Biophys. J., 1998, Vol. 74, pp. 1-8). Here we show by viscometry and diffusion coefficient measurements that bovine serum albumin and gamma-globulin, starting from their acid-expanded, most hydrated conformations, undergo extensive molecular compaction upon ANS binding. As the cationic protein binds negatively charged ANS anion it also takes up positively charged protons from water to compensate the effect of the negative charge, and leaves the free hydroxide anions in solution thus shifting pH upward (the Scatchard-Black effect). These results indicate that ANS is not always a definitive reporter of protein molecular conformation that existed before ANS binding. Instead, ANS reports on a conformationally tightened state produced by the interplay of ionic and hydrophobic characters of both protein and ligand.

  3. Biodegradation Ability and Catabolic Genes of Petroleum-Degrading Sphingomonas koreensis Strain ASU-06 Isolated from Egyptian Oily Soil

    PubMed Central

    Mostafa, Yasser M.; Shoreit, Ahmed

    2014-01-01

    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are serious pollutants and health hazards. In this study, 15 PAHs-degrading bacteria were isolated from Egyptian oily soil. Among them, one Gram-negative strain (ASU-06) was selected and biodegradation ability and initial catabolic genes of petroleum compounds were investigated. Comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain ASU-06 to published sequences in GenBank database as well as phylogenetic analysis identified ASU-06 as Sphingomonas koreensis. Strain ASU-06 degraded 100, 99, 98, and 92.7% of 100 mg/L naphthalene, phenanthrene, anthracene, and pyrene within 15 days, respectively. When these PAHs present in a mixed form, the enhancement phenomenon appeared, particularly in the degradation of pyrene, whereas the degradation rate was 98.6% within the period. This is the first report showing the degradation of different PAHs by this species. PCR experiments with specific primers for catabolic genes alkB, alkB1, nahAc, C12O, and C23O suggested that ASU-06 might possess genes for aliphatic and PAHs degradation, while PAH-RHDαGP gene was not detected. Production of biosurfactants and increasing cell-surface hydrophobicity were investigated. GC/MS analysis of intermediate metabolites of studied PAHs concluded that this strain utilized these compounds via two main pathways, and phthalate was the major constant product that appeared in each day of the degradation period. PMID:25177681

  4. Enhanced activation of periodate by iodine-doped granular activated carbon for organic contaminant degradation.

    PubMed

    Li, Xiaowan; Liu, Xitao; Lin, Chunye; Qi, Chengdu; Zhang, Huijuan; Ma, Jun

    2017-08-01

    In this study, iodine-doped granular activated carbon (I-GAC) was prepared and subsequently applied to activate periodate (IO 4 - ) to degrade organic contaminants at ambient temperature. The physicochemical properties of GAC and I-GAC were examined using scanning electron microscopy, N 2 adsorption/desorption, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. No significant difference was observed between the two except for the existence of triiodide (I 3 - ) and pentaiodide (I 5 - ) on I-GAC. The catalytic activity of I-GAC towards IO 4 - was evaluated by the degradation of acid orange 7 (AO7), and superior catalytic performance was achieved compared with GAC. The effects of some influential parameters (preparation conditions, initial solution pH, and coexisting anions) on the catalytic ability were also investigated. Based on radical scavenging experiments, it appeared that IO 3 was the predominant reactive species in the I-GAC/IO 4 - system. The mechanism underlying the enhanced catalytic performance of I-GAC could be explained by the introduction of negatively charged I 3 - and I 5 - into I-GAC, which induced positive charge density on the surface of I-GAC. This accelerated the interaction between I-GAC and IO 4 - , and subsequently mediated the increasing generation of iodyl radicals (IO 3 ). Furthermore, a possible degradation pathway of AO7 was proposed according to the intermediate products identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  5. Diversity of metabolic capacities among strains degrading polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Bouchez, M.; Besnaienou, B.; Blanchet, D.

    1995-12-31

    Strains of Pseudomonas and Rhodococcus genera were isolated for their capacity to use, as a sole carbon and energy source, one of the following polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs): naphthalene (NAP), fluorene (FLU), phenanthrene (PHE), anthracene (ANT), fluoranthene (FLT), and pyrene (PYR). The range of PAHs supporting growth of these pure strains was usually restricted, but several other hydrocarbons were used by Rhodococcus sp. All strains could grow on simple organic acids. Maximal specific growth rates ({mu}{sub max}) of all strains on their PAH growth substrates were determined by respirometry. No clear relationships between {mu}{sub max} values and the molecular weightmore » or water solubility of PAHs were apparent, but Pseudomonas sp. exhibited the highest {mu}{sub max} values. Carbon balances for PAH biodegradation were established. Differences between strains were observed, but high mineralization rates and low production of soluble metabolites were obtained for all PAHs. Bacterial biomass represented 16% to 35% of the carbon consumed. Strain diversity was also apparent in the interactions observed in the degradation of a mixture of two PAHs by individual strains, which often involved inhibition of PAH substrate degradation, with or without cometabolization of the second PAH.« less

  6. Grassland degradation caused by tourism activities in Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia, China

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Le, C.; Ikazaki, K.; Siriguleng; Kadono, A.; Kosaki, T.

    2014-02-01

    The recent increase in the number of tourists has raised serious concerns about grassland degradation by tourism activities in Inner Mongolia. Thus, we evaluated the effects of tourism activities on the vegetation and soil in Hulunbuir grassland. We identified all the plant species, measured the number and height of plant and plant coverage rate, and calculated species diversity, estimated above-ground biomass in use plot and non-use plot. We also measured soil hardness, and collected soil samples for physical and chemical analysis in both plots. The obtained results were as follows: a) the height of the dominant plants, plant coverage rate, species diversity, and above-ground biomass were significantly lower in use plot than in non-use plot, b) Carex duriuscula C.A.Mey., indicator plant for soil degradation, was dominant in use plot, c) soil hardness was significantly higher in use plot than in non-use plot, and spatial dependence of soil hardness was only found in the use plot, d) CEC, TC, TN and pH in the topsoil were significantly lower in use plot than non-use plot. On the basis of the results, we concluded that the tourism activities can be another major cause of the grassland degradation in Inner Mongolia.

  7. Heterologous Expression of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Ring-Hydroxylating Dioxygenase Genes from a Novel Pyrene-Degrading Betaproteobacterium

    PubMed Central

    Hu, Jing; Aitken, Michael D.

    2012-01-01

    A betaproteobacterium within the family Rhodocyclaceae previously identified as a pyrene degrader via stable-isotope probing (SIP) of contaminated soil (designated pyrene group 1 or PG1) was cultivated as the dominant member of a mixed bacterial culture. A metagenomic library was constructed, and the largest contigs were analyzed for genes associated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) metabolism. Eight pairs of genes with similarity to the α- and β-subunits of ring-hydroxylating dioxygenases (RHDs) associated with aerobic bacterial PAH degradation were identified and linked to PG1 through PCR analyses of a simplified enrichment culture. In tandem with a ferredoxin and reductase found in close proximity to one pair of RHD genes, six of the RHDs were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. Each cloned RHD was tested for activity against nine PAHs ranging in size from two to five rings. Despite differences in their predicted protein sequences, each of the six RHDs was capable of transforming phenanthrene and pyrene. Three RHDs could additionally transform naphthalene and fluorene, and these genotypes were also associated with the ability of the E. coli constructs to convert indole to indigo. Only one of the six cloned RHDs was capable of transforming anthracene and benz[a]anthracene. None of the tested RHDs were capable of significantly transforming fluoranthene, chrysene, or benzo[a]pyrene. PMID:22427500

  8. Human health risk constrained naphthalene-contaminated groundwater remediation management through an improved credibility method.

    PubMed

    Li, Jing; Lu, Hongwei; Fan, Xing; Chen, Yizhong

    2017-07-01

    In this study, a human health risk constrained groundwater remediation management program based on the improved credibility is developed for naphthalene contamination. The program integrates simulation, multivariate regression analysis, health risk assessment, uncertainty analysis, and nonlinear optimization into a general framework. The improved credibility-based optimization model for groundwater remediation management with consideration of human health risk (ICOM-HHR) is capable of not only effectively addressing parameter uncertainties and risk-exceeding possibility in human health risk but also providing a credibility level that indicates the satisfaction of the optimal groundwater remediation strategies with multiple contributions of possibility and necessity. The capabilities and effectiveness of ICOM-HHR are illustrated through a real-world case study in Anhui Province, China. Results indicate that the ICOM-HHR would generate double remediation cost yet reduce approximately 10 times of the naphthalene concentrations at monitoring wells, i.e., mostly less than 1 μg/L, which implies that the ICOM-HHR usually results in better environmental and health risk benefits. And it is acceptable to obtain a better environmental quality and a lower health risk level with sacrificing a certain economic benefit.

  9. Targeted polypeptide degradation

    DOEpatents

    Church, George M [Brookline, MA; Janse, Daniel M [Brookline, MA

    2008-05-13

    This invention pertains to compositions, methods, cells and organisms useful for selectively localizing polypeptides to the proteasome for degradation. Therapeutic methods and pharmaceutical compositions for treating disorders associated with the expression and/or activity of a polypeptide by targeting these polypeptides for degradation, as well as methods for targeting therapeutic polypeptides for degradation and/or activating therapeutic polypeptides by degradation are provided. The invention provides methods for identifying compounds that mediate proteasome localization and/or polypeptide degradation. The invention also provides research tools for the study of protein function.

  10. Rate of antioxidant degradation and color variations in dehydrated apples as related to water activity.

    PubMed

    Lavelli, Vera; Vantaggi, Claudia

    2009-06-10

    Dehydrated apples were studied to evaluate the effects of water activity on the stability of their antioxidants and color. Apples were freeze-dried, ground, then equilibrated, and stored at eight water activity levels, ranging from 0.058 to 0.747, at 40 degrees C. Their contents of hydroxycinnamic acids, dihydrochalcones, catechin, epicatechin, polymeric flavan-3-ols, and hydroxymethylfurfural, their antioxidant activity values, and their Hunter colorimetric parameters were analyzed at different storage times. Antioxidant degradation followed pseudo-first-order kinetics and was accelerated by increasing the water activity. The order of antioxidant stability in the products at water activity levels below 0.316 was catechin, epicatechin, and ascorbic acid < total procyanidins < dihydrochalcones and p-coumaric acid < chlorogenic acid; however, in the products at water activity levels above 0.316, the degradation of all antioxidants was very fast. The hydroxymethylfurfural formation rate increased exponentially during storage, especially at high water activity levels. The antioxidant activity of the dehydrated apples decreased during storage, consistent with antioxidant loss. The variations of the colorimetric parameters, namely, lightness (L*), redness (a*), and yellowness (b*), followed pseudo-zero-order kinetics and were accelerated by increasing water activity. All analytical indices indicated that the dehydrated apples were stable at water activity levels below 0.316, with the degradation rate accelerating upon exposure to higher relative humidities. Above 0.316, a small increase in water activity of the product would sharply increase the degradation rate constants for both antioxidant and color variations.

  11. Does partial titin degradation affect sarcomere length non-uniformities and force in active and passive myofibrils?

    PubMed

    Joumaa, Venus; Bertrand, Fanny; Liu, Shuyue; Poscente, Sophia; Herzog, Walter

    2018-05-16

    The aim of this study was to determine the role of titin in preventing the development of sarcomere length non-uniformities following activation and after active and passive stretch, by determining the effect of partial titin degradation on sarcomere length non-uniformities and force in passive and active myofibrils. Selective partial titin degradation was performed using a low dose of trypsin. Myofibrils were set at a sarcomere length of 2.4 µm and then passively stretched to sarcomere lengths of 3.4 µm and 4.4 µm. In the active condition, myofibrils were set at a sarcomere length of 2.8µm, activated and actively stretched by 1 µm/sarcomere. The extent of sarcomere length non-uniformities was calculated for each sarcomere as the absolute difference between sarcomere length and the mean sarcomere length of the myofibril. Our main finding is that partial titin degradation does not increase sarcomere length non-uniformities after passive stretch and activation compared to when titin is intact, but increases the extent of sarcomere length non-uniformities after active stretch. Furthermore, when titin was partially degraded, active and passive stresses were substantially reduced. These results suggest that titin plays a crucial role in actively stretched myofibrils and is likely involved in active and passive force production.

  12. Plasma-Induced Degradation of Quercetin Associated with the Enhancement of Biological Activities.

    PubMed

    Kim, Tae Hoon; Lee, Jaemin; Kim, Hyun-Joo; Jo, Cheorun

    2017-08-16

    Nonthermal plasma is a promising technology to improve the safety and to extend the shelf-life of various minimally processed foods. However, research on plasma-induced systemic degradation related to changes in chemical structure and biological activity is still very limited. In this study, the enhancement of biological activity and the mechanism of degradation of the most common type of flavonol, quercetin, induced by a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma were investigated. Quercetin is dissolved in methanol and exposed to nonthermal DBD plasma for 5, 10, 20, and 30 min. The quercetin treated with the plasma for 20 min showed rapidly increased α-glucosidase inhibitory and radical scavenging activities compared to those of parent quercetin. The structures of the degradation products 1-3 from the quercetin treated with the plasma for 20 min were isolated and characterized by interpretation of their spectroscopic data. Among the generated products, (±)-alphitonin (1) exhibited significantly improved antidiabetic and antioxidant properties compared to those of the parent quercetin. The antidiabetic and antioxidant properties were measured by α-glucosidase inhibition and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assays. These results suggested that structural changes in quercetin induced by DBD plasma might be attributable to improving the biological activity.

  13. [Mechanism of catalytic ozonation for the degradation of paracetamol by activated carbon].

    PubMed

    Wang, Jia-Yu; Dai, Qi-Zhou; Yu, Jie; Yan, Yi-Zhou; Chen, Jian-Meng

    2013-04-01

    The degradation of paracetamol (APAP) in aqueous solution was studied with ozonation integrated with activated carbon (AC). The synergistic effect of ozonation/AC process was explored by comparing the degradation efficiency of APAP in three processes (ozonation alone, activated carbon alone and ozonation integrated with activated carbon). The operational parameters that affected the reaction rate were carefully optimized. Based on the intermediates detected, the possible pathway for catalytic degradation was discussed and the reaction mechanism was also investigated. The results showed that the TOC removal reached 55.11% at 60 min in the AC/O3 system, and was significantly better than the sum of ozonation alone (20.22%) and activated carbon alone (27.39%), showing the great synergistic effect. And the BOD5/COD ratio increased from 0.086 (before reaction) to 0.543 (after reaction), indicating that the biodegradability was also greatly improved. The effects of the initial concentration of APAP, pH value, ozone dosage and AC dosage on the variation of reaction rate were carefully discussed. The catalytic reaction mechanism was different at different pH values: the organic pollutions were removed by adsorption and direct ozone oxidation at acidic pH, and mainly by catalytic ozonation at alkaline pH.

  14. Final Report from the External Peer Review of the IRIS Reassessment of the Inhalation Carcinogenicity of Naphthalene

    EPA Science Inventory

    This document is the final report for the 2004 external peer review for the EPA IRIS Reassessment of the Inhalation Carcinogenicity of Naphthalene, prepared by the Office of Research and Development's National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA), for the Integrated ...

  15. Mechanical and kinetic study on gas-phase formation of dinitro-naphthalene from 1- and 2-nitronaphthalene.

    PubMed

    Huang, Zixiao; Zhang, Qingzhu; Wang, Wenxing

    2016-08-01

    Nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons have received an increasing number of considerations because of their higher mutagens than parent PAHs. In this paper, the formation of dinitro-naphthalene was investigated mechanistically using 1- and 2-nitronaphthalene as precursors with the aid of high-accuracy quantum chemistry calculation. The geometrical parameters, as well as vibrational frequencies, were calculated at the BB1K/6-31+G(d,p) level. Water molecule plays an important role in the formation of dinitro-naphthalene. The rate constants were deduced by canonical variational transition-state theory with small curvature tunneling contribution over the temperature range of 273-333 K. Meanwhile, the Arrhenius formulas were fitted for the OH addition of both 1- and 2-nitronaphthalene. The calculated overall rate constants for 1-nitronaphthalene and 2-nitronaphthalene at 298 K and 1 atm are 7.43 × 10(-13) and 7.48 × 10(-13) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), respectively. The rate constants of NO3 addition to 1-nitronaphthalene and 2-nitronaphthalene by RRKM method at 298 K and 1 atm are 3.55 × 10(-15) and 3.47 × 10(-15) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), respectively. This study provides a comprehensive investigation of the formation process of dinitro-naphthalenes, initiated by OH and NO3 radicals and should facilitate to illuminate its atmospheric source. Oxygen may probably be competitive with the second NO2 addition step when the concentration of NO2 is at low level. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

  16. Degradation of trichloroethylene in aqueous solution by calcium peroxide activated with ferrous ion.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Xiang; Gu, Xiaogang; Lu, Shuguang; Miao, Zhouwei; Xu, Minhui; Fu, Xiaori; Qiu, Zhaofu; Sui, Qian

    2015-03-02

    The application of calcium peroxide (CaO2) activated with ferrous ion to stimulate the degradation of trichloroethylene (TCE) was investigated. The experimental results showed that TCE could be completely degraded in 5 min at a CaO2/Fe(II)/TCE molar ratio of 4/8/1. Probe compound tests demonstrated the presence of reactive oxygen species HO· and O2(-·) in CaO2/Fe(II) system, while scavenging tests indicated that HO· was the dominant active species responsible for TCE removal, and O2(-·) could promote TCE degradation in CaO2/Fe(II) system. In addition, the influences of initial solution pH and solution matrix were evaluated. It suggested that the elevation of initial solution pH suppressed TCE degradation. Cl(-) had significant scavenging effect on TCE removal, whereas HCO3(-) of high concentration showed favorable function. The influences of NO3(-) and SO4(2-) could be negligible, while natural organic matter (NOM) had a negative effect on TCE removal at a relatively high concentration. The results demonstrated that the technique of CaO2 activated with ferrous ion is a highly promising technique in in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) remediation in TCE contaminated sites. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  17. Degrading and non-degrading sex in popular music: a content analysis.

    PubMed

    Primack, Brian A; Gold, Melanie A; Schwarz, Eleanor B; Dalton, Madeline A

    2008-01-01

    Those exposed to more degrading sexual references in popular music are more likely to initiate intercourse at a younger age. The purpose of this study was to perform a content analysis of contemporary popular music with particular attention paid to the prevalence of degrading and non-degrading sexual references. We also aimed to determine if sexual references of each subtype were associated with other song characteristics and/or content. We used Billboard magazine to identify the top popular songs in 2005. Two independent coders each analyzed all of these songs (n = 279) for degrading and non-degrading sexual references. As measured with Cohen's kappa scores, inter-rater agreement on degrading vs. non-degrading sex was substantial. Mentions of substance use, violence, and weapon carrying were also coded. Of the 279 songs identified, 103 (36.9%) contained references to sexual activity. Songs with references to degrading sex were more common than songs with references to non-degrading sex (67 [65.0%] vs. 36 [35.0%], p < 0.001). Songs with degrading sex were most commonly Rap (64.2%), whereas songs with non-degrading sex were most likely Country (44.5%) or Rhythm & Blues/Hip-Hop (27.8%). Compared with songs that had no mention of sexual activity, songs with degrading sex were more likely to contain references to substance use, violence, and weapon carrying. Songs with non-degrading sex were no more likely to mention these other risk behaviors. References to sexual activity are common in popular music, and degrading sexual references are more prevalent than non-degrading references. References to degrading sex also frequently appear with references to other risky behaviors.

  18. Spectral Dissimilarities Between AZULENE(C10H_8) and NAPHTHALENE(C10H_8)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Baba, Masaaki

    2010-06-01

    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are of great interest in the molecular structure and excited-state dynamics, and there have been extensive spectroscopic and theoretical studies. Azulene and naphthalene are bicyclic aromatic hydrocarbons composed of odd- and even-membered rings, respectively. First, they were discriminated by a theory of mutual polarizability. Naphthalene is an alternant hydrocarbon, but azulene is not. In contrast, spectral resemblances were found by John Platt et al., and were explained by their simple model of molecular orbital. However, the absorption and emission feature of the S_1 and S_2 states is completely different each other. We have investigated each rotational and vibrational structures, and radiative and nonradiative processes by means of high-resolution spectroscopy and ab initio calculation. The equilibrium structures in the S_0, S_1, and S_2 states are similar. This small structural change upon electronic excitation is common to PAH molecules composed of six-membered rings. The fluorescence quantum yield is high because radiationless transitions such as intersystem crossing (ISC) to the triplet state and internal conversion (IC) to the S_0 state are very slow in the S_1 state. In contrast, the S_1 state of azulene is nonfluorescent and the S_1 ← S_0 excitation energy is abnormally small. We consider that the potential energy curve of a b_2 vibration is shallower in the S_1 state, and therefore the vibronic coupling with the S_0 state is strong to enhance the IC process remarkably. This situation is, of course, due to its peculiar characteristics of odd-membered rings and molecular symmetry, which are completely different from the naphthalene molecule. C. A. Coulson and H. C. Longuet-Higgins, Proc. Roy. Soc. A, 191, 39 (1947) D. E. Mann, J. R. Platt, and H. B. Klevens, J. Chem. Phys., 17, 481 (1949) Y. Semba, M. Baba, et al., J. Chem. Phys., 131, 024303 (2009) K. Yoshida, M. Baba, et al., J. Chem. Phys., 130, 194304 (2009)

  19. [The structure and antimicrobial activity of the partial degradation products of the antibiotic eremomycin].

    PubMed

    Berdnikova, T F; Lomakina, N N; Olsuf'eva, E N; Aleksandrova, L G; Potapova, N P; Rozynov, B V; Malkova, I V; Orlova, G I

    1991-06-01

    Antimicrobial activity of partial degradation products of eremomycin, a new glycopeptide antibiotic, was studied. The products formed by eremomycin deglycosylation (deseremosaminyl eremomycin, eremosaminyl aglycone and aglycone) and elimination of the chlorine atom from the molecule aglycone moiety (dechloroeremomycin). The spectral data in favour of the compounds structure are presented. It was found that partial degradation led to a decrease in the antimicrobial activity of the antibiotic. Dechloreremomycin had the highest activity among the products. Its MIC for the methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus was only twice as low as that of the initial antibiotic.

  20. Application of calcium peroxide activated with Fe(II)-EDDS complex in trichloroethylene degradation.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Xiang; Gu, Xiaogang; Lu, Shuguang; Miao, Zhouwei; Xu, Minhui; Fu, Xiaori; Qiu, Zhaofu; Sui, Qian

    2016-10-01

    This study was conducted to assess the application of calcium peroxide (CP) activated with Fe(II) chelated by (S,S)-ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid (EDDS) to enhance trichloroethylene (TCE) degradation in aqueous solution. It was indicated that EDDS prevented soluble iron from precipitation, and the optimum molar ratio of Fe(II)/EDDS to accelerate TCE degradation was 1/1. The influences of initial TCE, CP and Fe(II)-EDDS concentration were also investigated. The combination of CP and Fe(II)-EDDS complex rendered the efficient degradation of TCE at near neutral pH range. Chemical probe and scavenger tests identified that TCE degradation mainly owed to the oxidation of HO while O2(-) promoted HO generation. Cl(-), HCO3(-) and humic acid were found to inhibit CP/Fe(II)-EDDS performance on different levels. In conclusion, the application of CP activated with Fe(II)-EDDS complex is a promising technology in chemical remediation of groundwater, while further research in practical implementation is needed. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  1. Urinary naphthalene and phenanthrene as biomarkers of occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

    PubMed Central

    Sobus, Jon R.; Waidyanatha, Suramya; McClean, Michael D.; Herrick, Robert F.; Smith, Thomas J.; Garshick, Eric; Laden, Francine; Hart, Jaime E.; Zheng, Yuxin; Rappaport, Stephen M.

    2009-01-01

    Objectives We investigated the utility of unmetabolized naphthalene (Nap) and phenanthrene (Phe) in urine as surrogates for exposures to mixtures of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Methods Our study included workers exposed to diesel exhausts (low PAH exposure level, n = 39) as well as those exposed to emissions from asphalt (medium PAH exposure level, n = 26) and coke ovens (high PAH exposure level, n = 28). Levels of Nap and Phe were measured in urine from each subject using head space-solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Published levels of airborne Nap, Phe, and other PAHs in the coke-producing and aluminum industries were also investigated. Results In post-shift urine, the highest estimated geometric mean concentrations of Nap and Phe were observed in coke-oven workers (Nap: 2,490 ng/l; Phe: 975 ng/l), followed by asphalt workers (Nap: 71.5 ng/l; Phe: 54.3 ng/l), and by diesel-exposed workers (Nap: 17.7 ng/l; Phe: 3.60 ng/l). After subtracting logged background levels of Nap and Phe from the logged post-shift levels of these PAHs in urine, the resulting values [referred to as ln(adjNap) and ln(adjPhe), respectively] were significantly correlated in each group of workers (0.71 ≤ Pearson r ≤ 0.89), suggesting a common exposure source in each case. Surprisingly, multiple linear regression analysis of ln(adjNap) on ln(adjPhe) showed no significant effect of the source of exposure (coke ovens, asphalt, and diesel exhaust) and further suggested that the ratio of urinary Nap/Phe (in natural scale) decreased with increasing exposure levels. These results were corroborated with published data for airborne Nap and Phe in the coke-producing and aluminum industries. The published air measurements also indicated that Nap and Phe levels were proportional to the levels of all combined PAHs in those industries. Conclusion Levels of Nap and Phe in urine reflect airborne exposures to these compounds and are promising surrogates for

  2. Degradation of Active Brilliant Red X-3B by a microwave discharge electrodeless lamp in the presence of activated carbon.

    PubMed

    Fu, Jie; Wen, Teng; Wang, Qing; Zhang, Xue-Wei; Zeng, Qing-Fu; An, Shu-Qing; Zhu, Hai-Liang

    2010-06-01

    Degradation of Active Brilliant Red X-3B (X-3B) in aqueous solution by a microwave discharge electrodeless lamp (MDEL) in the presence of activated carbon was investigated. The preliminary results proved this method could effectively degrade X-3B in aqueous solution. The removal percentages of colour and chemical oxygen demand were up to approximately 99% and 66%, respectively, at the conditions of 0.8 g/L dye concentration, 20 g/L activated carbon, pH 7.0 and 8 min microwave irradiation time. The degradation basically belonged to first-order reaction kinetics and its rate constant was 0.42 min(-1). No aromatic organics were detected in the final treated solution, indicating that the mineralization was relatively complete. By studying the change in solution properties, it could be concluded that MDEL-assisted oxidation was the dominant reaction mechanism. In addition, the influence of operational parameters and reuse of activated carbon were also discussed.

  3. Doping effect of nano-Ho{sub 2}O{sub 3} and naphthalene in MgB{sub 2} superconductor prepared by powder-in-sealed-tube method

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Hansdah, J. S.; Sarun, P. M., E-mail: sarun.res@gmail.com

    2015-03-21

    The effect on crystal structure, critical temperature (T{sub C}), and critical current density (J{sub C}) of bulk MgB{sub 2} doped with nano-Ho{sub 2}O{sub 3} and naphthalene was studied. Among all the samples studied, the sample doped with 2.5 wt. % nano-Ho{sub 2}O{sub 3} have shown the best field dependent critical current density [J{sub C}(H)], i.e., 0.77 × 10{sup 5 }A/cm{sup 2} at 2 T and 10 K. While naphthalene doped MgB{sub 2} sample has shown the least J{sub C}(H) characteristics. The improved J{sub C}(H) characteristics in the nano-Ho{sub 2}O{sub 3} doped MgB{sub 2} samples are attributed to improved flux pinning properties due to the formation ofmore » HoB{sub 4} and in naphthalene doped MgB{sub 2} samples. The slight lower T{sub C} value (37.01 K) in naphthalene doped samples is attributed to the occurrence of lattice defect by the substitution of carbon at boron site of MgB{sub 2} superconductor. Lower ΔT{sub C} value implies the lesser anisotropy in all the synthesized samples. The flux pinning force density (F{sub P}/F{sub Pmax}) curves are theoretically analyzed using Dew-Hughes model. The result revealed that point pinning is the dominant pinning mechanism for nano-Ho{sub 2}O{sub 3} doped MgB{sub 2} samples, while, surface and grain boundary pinning become dominant with increasing naphthalene addition in nano-Ho{sub 2}O{sub 3} doped MgB{sub 2} samples.« less

  4. Water quality degradation effects on freshwater availability: Impacts to human activities

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Peters, N.E.; Meybeck, Michel

    2000-01-01

    The quality of freshwater at any point on the landscape reflects the combined effects of many processes along water pathways. Human activities on all spatial scales affect both water quality and quantity. Alteration of the landscape and associated vegetation has not only changed the water balance, but typically has altered processes that control water quality. Effects of human activities on a small scale are relevant to an entire drainage basin. Furthermore, local, regional, and global differences in climate and water flow are considerable, causing varying effects of human activities on land and water quality and quantity, depending on location within a watershed, geology, biology, physiographic characteristics, and climate. These natural characteristics also greatly control human activities, which will, in turn, modify (or affect) the natural composition of water. One of the most important issues for effective resource management is recognition of cyclical and cascading effects of human activities on the water quality and quantity along hydrologic pathways. The degradation of water quality in one part of a watershed can have negative effects on users downstream. Everyone lives downstream of the effects of some human activity. An extremely important factor is that substances added to the atmosphere, land, and water generally have relatively long time scales for removal or clean up. The nature of the substance, including its affinity for adhering to soil and its ability to be transformed, affects the mobility and the time scale for removal of the substance. Policy alone will not solve many of the degradation issues, but a combination of policy, education, scientific knowledge, planning, and enforcement of applicable laws can provide mechanisms for slowing the rate of degradation and provide human and environmental protection. Such an integrated approach is needed to effectively manage land and water resources.

  5. Differential heat stability of amphenicols characterized by structural degradation, mass spectrometry and antimicrobial activity.

    PubMed

    Franje, Catherine A; Chang, Shao-Kuang; Shyu, Ching-Lin; Davis, Jennifer L; Lee, Yan-Wen; Lee, Ren-Jye; Chang, Chao-Chin; Chou, Chi-Chung

    2010-12-01

    Heat stability of amphenicols and the relationship between structural degradation and antimicrobial activity after heating has not been well investigated. Florfenicol (FF), thiamphenicol (TAP), and chloramphenicol (CAP) were heated at 100 degrees C in water, salt water, soybean sauce and chicken meat for up to 2h. Degradation and antimicrobial activity of the compounds was evaluated using capillary electrophoresis (CE) with UV-DAD spectrometry, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay, and gas chromatography with electron impact ionization mass spectrometry (GC-EI-MS). Heat stability of amphenicols in matrices was ranked as water> or =salt water>soybean sauce>meat, suggesting that heat degradation of amphenicols was accelerated in soybean sauce and was not protected in meat. Heat stability by drug and matrices was ranked as FF>TAP=CAP in water, FF=TAP>CAP in salt water, TAP> or =FF=CAP in soybean sauce, and TAP> or =FF=CAP in meat, indicating differential heat stability of amphenicols among the 3 drugs and in different matrices. In accordance with the less than 20% degradation, the MIC against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus did not change after 2h heating in water. A 5-min heating of amphenicols in water by microwave oven generated comparable percentage degradation to boiling in water bath for 30 min to 1h. Both CE and GC-MS analysis showed that heating of FF produced TAP but not FF amine as one of its breakdown products. In conclusion, despite close similarity in structure; amphenicols exhibited differential behavior toward heating degradation in solutions and protein matrices. Although higher degradations of amphenicols were observed in soybean sauce and meat, heating treatment may generate product with antimicrobial activity (FF to TAP), therefore, heating of amphenicol residues in food cannot always be assumed safe. Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  6. Investigating the 3.3 micron infrared fluorescence from naphthalene following ultraviolet excitation

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Williams, Richard M.; Leone, Stephen R.

    1994-01-01

    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) type molecules are proposed as the carriers of the unidentified infrared (UIR) bands. Detailed studies of the 3.3 micrometer infrared emission features from naphthalene, the simplest PAH, following ultraviolet laser excitation are used in the interpretation of the 3.29 micrometer (3040 cm(sup -1)) UIR band. A time-resolved Fourier transform spectrometer is used to record the infrared emission spectrum of gas-phase naphthalene subsequent to ultraviolet excitation facilitated by an excimer laser operated at either 193 nm or 248 nm. The emission spectra differ significantly from the absorption spectrum in the same spectral region. Following 193 nm excitation the maximum in the emission profile is red-shifted 45 cm(sup -1) relative to the absorption maximum; a 25 cm(sup -1) red-shift is observed after 248 nm excitation. The red-shifting of the emission spectrum is reduced as collisional and radiative relaxation removes energy from the highly vibrationally excited molecules. Coupling between the various vibrational modes is thought to account for the differences between absorption and emission spectra. Strong visible emission is also observed following ultraviolet excitation. Visible emission may play an important role in the rate of radiative relaxation, which according to the interstellar PAH hypothesis occurs only by the slow emission of infrared photons. Studying the visible emission properties of PAH type molecules may be useful in the interpretation of the DIB's observed in absorption.

  7. 1,4-Bis(5-(naphthalen-1-yl)thiophen-2-yl)naphthalene, a small molecule, functions as a novel anti-HIV-1 inhibitor targeting the interaction between integrase and cellular Lens epithelium-derived growth factor.

    PubMed

    Gu, Wan-gang; Ip, Denis Tsz-Ming; Liu, Si-jie; Chan, Joseph H; Wang, Yan; Zhang, Xuan; Zheng, Yong-tang; Wan, David Chi-Cheong

    2014-04-25

    Translocation of viral integrase (IN) into the nucleus is a critical precondition of integration during the life cycle of HIV, a causative agent of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndromes (AIDS). As the first discovered cellular factor to interact with IN, Lens epithelium-derived growth factor (LEDGF/p75) plays an important role in the process of integration. Disruption of the LEDGF/p75-IN interaction has provided a great interest for anti-HIV agent discovery. In this work, we reported that one small molecular compound, 1,4-bis(5-(naphthalen-1-yl)thiophen-2-yl)naphthalene(Compound 15), potently inhibit the IN-LEDGF/p75 interaction and affect the HIV-1 IN nuclear distribution at 1 μM. The putative binding mode of Compound 15 was constructed by a molecular docking simulation to provide structural insights into the ligand-binding mechanism. Compound 15 suppressed viral replication by measuring p24 antigen production in HIV-1IIIB acute infected C8166 cells with EC50 value of 11.19 μM. Compound 15 might supply useful structural information for further anti-HIV agent discovery. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

  8. Methods for visualising active microbial benzene degraders in in situ microcosms.

    PubMed

    Schurig, Christian; Mueller, Carsten W; Höschen, Carmen; Prager, Andrea; Kothe, Erika; Beck, Henrike; Miltner, Anja; Kästner, Matthias

    2015-01-01

    Natural attenuation maybe a cost-efficient option for bioremediation of contaminated sites but requires knowledge about the activity of degrading microbes under in situ conditions. In order to link microbial activity to the spatial distribution of contaminant degraders, we combined the recently improved in situ microcosm approach, so-called 'direct-push bacterial trap' (DP-BACTRAP), with nano-scale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) analysis on samples from contaminated constructed wetlands. This approach is based on initially sterile microcosms amended with (13)C-labelled benzene as a source of carbon and energy for microorganisms. The microcosms were introduced directly in the constructed wetland, where they were colonised by indigenous microorganisms from the sediment. After incubation in the field, the samples were analysed by NanoSIMS, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and fluorescence microscopy in order to visualise (13)C-labelled microbial biomass on undisturbed samples from the microcosms. With the approach developed, we successfully visualised benzene-degrading microbes on solid materials with high surface area by means of NanoSIMS. Moreover, we could demonstrate the feasibility of NanoSIMS analysis of unembedded porous media with a highly complex topography, which was frequently reasoned to not lead to sufficient results.

  9. Phylogenetic and functional diversity of metagenomic libraries of phenol degrading sludge from petroleum refinery wastewater treatment system.

    PubMed

    Silva, Cynthia C; Hayden, Helen; Sawbridge, Tim; Mele, Pauline; Kruger, Ricardo H; Rodrigues, Marili Vn; Costa, Gustavo Gl; Vidal, Ramon O; Sousa, Maíra P; Torres, Ana Paula R; Santiago, Vânia Mj; Oliveira, Valéria M

    2012-03-27

    In petrochemical refinery wastewater treatment plants (WWTP), different concentrations of pollutant compounds are received daily in the influent stream, including significant amounts of phenolic compounds, creating propitious conditions for the development of particular microorganisms that can rapidly adapt to such environment. In the present work, the microbial sludge from a refinery WWTP was enriched for phenol, cloned into fosmid vectors and pyrosequenced. The fosmid libraries yielded 13,200 clones and a comprehensive bioinformatic analysis of the sequence data set revealed a complex and diverse bacterial community in the phenol degrading sludge. The phylogenetic analyses using MEGAN in combination with RDP classifier showed a massive predominance of Proteobacteria, represented mostly by the genera Diaphorobacter, Pseudomonas, Thauera and Comamonas. The functional classification of phenol degrading sludge sequence data set generated by MG-RAST showed the wide metabolic diversity of the microbial sludge, with a high percentage of genes involved in the aerobic and anaerobic degradation of phenol and derivatives. In addition, genes related to the metabolism of many other organic and xenobiotic compounds, such as toluene, biphenyl, naphthalene and benzoate, were found. Results gathered herein demonstrated that the phenol degrading sludge has complex phylogenetic and functional diversities, showing the potential of such community to degrade several pollutant compounds. This microbiota is likely to represent a rich resource of versatile and unknown enzymes which may be exploited for biotechnological processes such as bioremediation.

  10. Mechanism of 1,4,5,8-naphthalene tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride hydrolysis and formation in aqueous solution.

    PubMed

    Barros, T C; Cuccovia, I M; Farah, J P S; Masini, J C; Chaimovich, H; Politi, M J

    2006-01-07

    The study of highly conjugated, carbonyl-containing molecules such as 1,4,5,8-naphthalene tetracarboxylic dianhydride, III, is of interest since reactivity differences and transmission of electronic effects through the conjugated framework can be evidenced. The kinetics of hydrolysis of III in aqueous solution were determined from 5 M acid to pH 10. In basic solution hydrolysis of III yields, sequentially, 1,4,5,8-naphthalene diacid monoanhydride, II, and 1,4,5,8-naphthalene tetracarboxylic acid, I. The second order rate constant for alkaline hydrolysis is 200 fold higher for the first ring opening. The water-catalyzed hydrolysis of III yields a pH-dependent mixture of ionic forms of I and II. The rate constant for water-catalyzed hydrolysis of III is 25 fold higher than that for II. In concentrated acid the rates for reaching equilibrium (I, II and III) increase and III is the major product. The pK(a)s of I (3.24, 5.13 and 6.25) and II (3.05, 5.90) were determined by potentiometric, fluorescence and UV spectroscopy titrations and by quantitative fit of the kinetic and equilibrium data. The apparent, pH-dependent, equilibrium constants, K(EqII), for anhydride formation between I and II were obtained from the UV spectra. The quantitative fit of kinetic and equilibrium data are consistent with the assumption that anhydride formation only proceeds with the fully protonated species for both I and II and permitted the estimation of the equilibrium constants for anhydride formation, K(EqII). The value of K(EqII) (I <==> II) between pH 1 and 6 was ca. 5. Geometry optimization calculations in the gas phase of the reactions of III in alkaline, neutral and acid conditions, at the DFT level of theory, gave electronic distributions that were qualitatively consistent with the experimental results.

  11. Active Site Flexibility as a Hallmark for Efficient PET Degradation by I. sakaiensis PETase.

    PubMed

    Fecker, Tobias; Galaz-Davison, Pablo; Engelberger, Felipe; Narui, Yoshie; Sotomayor, Marcos; Parra, Loreto P; Ramírez-Sarmiento, César A

    2018-03-27

    Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is one of the most-consumed synthetic polymers, with an annual production of 50 million tons. Unfortunately, PET accumulates as waste and is highly resistant to biodegradation. Recently, fungal and bacterial thermophilic hydrolases were found to catalyze PET hydrolysis with optimal activities at high temperatures. Strikingly, an enzyme from Ideonella sakaiensis, termed PETase, was described to efficiently degrade PET at room temperature, but the molecular basis of its activity is not currently understood. Here, a crystal structure of PETase was determined at 2.02 Å resolution and employed in molecular dynamics simulations showing that the active site of PETase has higher flexibility at room temperature than its thermophilic counterparts. This flexibility is controlled by a novel disulfide bond in its active site, with its removal leading to destabilization of the catalytic triad and reduction of the hydrolase activity. Molecular docking of a model substrate predicts that PET binds to PETase in a unique and energetically favorable conformation facilitated by several residue substitutions within its active site when compared to other enzymes. These computational predictions are in excellent agreement with recent mutagenesis and PET film degradation analyses. Finally, we rationalize the increased catalytic activity of PETase at room temperature through molecular dynamics simulations of enzyme-ligand complexes for PETase and other thermophilic PET-degrading enzymes at 298, 323, and 353 K. Our results reveal that both the binding pose and residue substitutions within PETase favor proximity between the catalytic residues and the labile carbonyl of the substrate at room temperature, suggesting a more favorable hydrolytic reaction. These results are valuable for enabling detailed evolutionary analysis of PET-degrading enzymes and for rational design endeavors aiming at increasing the efficiency of PETase and similar enzymes toward plastic

  12. Chemical dispersants can suppress the activity of natural oil-degrading microorganisms

    PubMed Central

    Kleindienst, Sara; Seidel, Michael; Ziervogel, Kai; Grim, Sharon; Loftis, Kathy; Harrison, Sarah; Malkin, Sairah Y.; Perkins, Matthew J.; Field, Jennifer; Sogin, Mitchell L.; Dittmar, Thorsten; Passow, Uta; Medeiros, Patricia M.; Joye, Samantha B.

    2015-01-01

    During the Deepwater Horizon oil well blowout in the Gulf of Mexico, the application of 7 million liters of chemical dispersants aimed to stimulate microbial crude oil degradation by increasing the bioavailability of oil compounds. However, the effects of dispersants on oil biodegradation rates are debated. In laboratory experiments, we simulated environmental conditions comparable to the hydrocarbon-rich, 1,100 m deep plume that formed during the Deepwater Horizon discharge. The presence of dispersant significantly altered the microbial community composition through selection for potential dispersant-degrading Colwellia, which also bloomed in situ in Gulf deep waters during the discharge. In contrast, oil addition to deepwater samples in the absence of dispersant stimulated growth of natural hydrocarbon-degrading Marinobacter. In these deepwater microcosm experiments, dispersants did not enhance heterotrophic microbial activity or hydrocarbon oxidation rates. An experiment with surface seawater from an anthropogenically derived oil slick corroborated the deepwater microcosm results as inhibition of hydrocarbon turnover was observed in the presence of dispersants, suggesting that the microcosm findings are broadly applicable across marine habitats. Extrapolating this comprehensive dataset to real world scenarios questions whether dispersants stimulate microbial oil degradation in deep ocean waters and instead highlights that dispersants can exert a negative effect on microbial hydrocarbon degradation rates. PMID:26553985

  13. New Findings on Aromatic Compounds' Degradation and Their Metabolic Pathways, the Biosurfactant Production and Motility of the Halophilic Bacterium Halomonas sp. KHS3.

    PubMed

    Corti Monzón, Georgina; Nisenbaum, Melina; Herrera Seitz, M Karina; Murialdo, Silvia E

    2018-04-24

    The study of the aromatic compounds' degrading ability by halophilic bacteria became an interesting research topic, because of the increasing use of halophiles in bioremediation of saline habitats and effluents. In this work, we focused on the study of aromatic compounds' degradation potential of Halomonas sp. KHS3, a moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from hydrocarbon-contaminated seawater of the Mar del Plata harbour. We demonstrated that H. sp. KHS3 is able to grow using different monoaromatic (salicylic acid, benzoic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, phthalate) and polyaromatic (naphthalene, fluorene, and phenanthrene) substrates. The ability to degrade benzoic acid and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid was analytically corroborated, and Monod kinetic parameters and yield coefficients for degradation were estimated. Strategies that may enhance substrate bioavailability such as surfactant production and chemotactic responses toward aromatic compounds were confirmed. Genomic sequence analysis of this strain allowed us to identify several genes putatively related to the metabolism of aromatic compounds, being the catechol and protocatechuate branches of β-ketoadipate pathway completely represented. These features suggest that the broad-spectrum xenobiotic degrader H. sp. KHS3 could be employed as a useful biotechnological tool for the cleanup of aromatic compounds-polluted saline habitats or effluents.

  14. Preparation of TiO2-ZnO and its activity test in sonophotocatalytic degradation of phenol

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fatimah, Is; Novitasari

    2016-02-01

    Synthesis of TiO2-ZnO and its activity test in Sono photocatalysis degradation of phenol has been conducted. The synthesis was performed by the sol-gel mechanism by using titanium isopropoxide and zinc acetate as precursors with the Ti: Zn ratio of 5:1. Characterization of material were conducted by x-ray diffraction analysis, surface area analysis and also diffuse reflectance UV-Visible spectrophotometry. The material obtained from the synthesis was tested in photocatalysis, Sono catalysis and Sono photocatalysis degradation of phenol solution. Results showed that material exhibited the activity of varied mechanism o- phenol degradation. In advance, the Sono photocatalysis degradation produced the synergy index of 1.169 compared to both photocatalysis and Sono catalysis.

  15. Azo dye degradation pathway and bacterial community structure in biofilm electrode reactors.

    PubMed

    Cao, Xian; Wang, Hui; Zhang, Shuai; Nishimura, Osamu; Li, Xianning

    2018-05-31

    In this study, the degradation pathway of the azo dye X-3B was explored in biofilm electrode reactors (BERs). The X-3B and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiencies were evaluated under different voltages, salinities, and temperatures. The removal efficiencies increased with increasing voltage. Additionally, the BER achieved maximum X-3B removal efficiencies of 66.26% and 75.27% at a NaCl concentration of 0.33 g L -1 and temperature of 32 °C, respectively; it achieved a COD removal efficiency of 75.64% at a NaCl concentration of 0.330 g L -1 . Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis indicated that the X-3B biodegradation process first involved the interruption of the conjugated double-bond, resulting in aniline, benzodiazepine substance, triazine, and naphthalene ring formation. These compounds were further degraded into lower-molecular-weight products. From this, the degradation pathway of the azo dye X-3B was proposed in BERs. The relative abundances of the microbial community at the phylum and genus levels were affected by temperature, the presence of electrons, and an anaerobic environment in the BERs. To achieve better removal efficiencies, further studies on the functions of the microorganisms are needed. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

  16. Three-way spectrofluorimetric-assisted multivariate determination of nonylphenol ethoxylate and 2-naphtalene sulfonate in wastewater samples and optimization approach for their photocatalytic degradation by CoTiO3 nanostructure.

    PubMed

    Mohsenikia, Atefeh; Gholami, Ali; Masoum, Saeed; Abbasi, Saleheh

    2017-09-01

    This study presents a new strategy for the simultaneous quantification of two industrial contaminants. The excitation-emission fluorescence data matrix combined with a three-way chemometric method, such as parallel factor analysis, was used for the determination of nonylphenol ethoxylate (NPE-9) as a nonionic surfactant and 2-naphthalene sulfonate (2-NS) in waste water samples. It is noticeable that this method can resolve overlapping signal into spectral and relative concentration profiles. By spiking the known concentrations of these compounds in the wastewater samples, the accuracy of the proposed methods was validated and recoveries of the spiked values were calculated. High recoveries (i.e. 90-110%) obtained for the waste water samples indicate the present method can be used successfully to determine the analytes concentration in the environmental contaminations. The photocatalytic degradation of NPE-9 and 2-NS in aqueous solution was studied using the CoTiO 3 nanoparticles catalyst. It was synthesized by the sol-gel technique. The catalytic activity of the prepared nanoparticles was measured in a batch photoreactor containing appropriate solutions of these compounds with UV irradiation. The photodegradation process of these compounds was optimized by using the central composite design. The CoTiO 3 showed high activity for UV-photocatalytic degradation of NPE-9 and 2-NS.

  17. Poly(naphthalene diimide) vinylene: solid state red emission and semiconducting properties for transistors

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Liang, Xianfeng; Tan, Luxi; Liu, Zitong

    Here in this work, a conjugated polymer PNV is developed, linking naphthalene diimide with a vinyl linkage. Owing to the C-H ∙∙∙O hydrogen bond between the carbonyl and the vinyl, PNV exhibits a high red emission with a quantum yield of 33.4% in the solid state while it shows n-type properties with an electron mobility up to 1.5 x 10 -3 cm 2 V -1 s -1 in organic field effect transistors, simultaneously.

  18. Poly(naphthalene diimide) vinylene: solid state red emission and semiconducting properties for transistors

    DOE PAGES

    Liang, Xianfeng; Tan, Luxi; Liu, Zitong; ...

    2017-04-06

    Here in this work, a conjugated polymer PNV is developed, linking naphthalene diimide with a vinyl linkage. Owing to the C-H ∙∙∙O hydrogen bond between the carbonyl and the vinyl, PNV exhibits a high red emission with a quantum yield of 33.4% in the solid state while it shows n-type properties with an electron mobility up to 1.5 x 10 -3 cm 2 V -1 s -1 in organic field effect transistors, simultaneously.

  19. Synthesis, Spectral Characterization, In-vitro Antibacterial and Antifungal Activities of Novel (2e)-Ethyl-2-(2-(2, 4-Dinitrophenyl) Hydrazono)-4-(Naphthalen-2-yl)-6-Arylcyclohex-3-Enecarboxylates

    PubMed Central

    Kanagarajan, V; Thanusu, J; Gopalakrishnan, M

    2011-01-01

    In a search for new leads towards potent antimicrobial agents, an array of novel (2E)-ethyl-2-(2-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)hydrazono)-4-(naphthalen-2-yl)-6-arylcyclohex-3-ene carboxylates 17-24 were synthesized and characterized through their melting point, elemental analysis, MS, FT-IR, one-dimensional NMR (1H, D2O exchanged 1H and 13C), two dimensional HOMOCOR and HSQC spectroscopic data. In-vitro microbiological evaluations were carried out for all the newly synthesized compounds 17-24 against clinically isolated bacterial strains namely Salmonella typhii, Klebsiellapneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, β-Hemolytic streptococcus and Micrococcus luteusand also fungal strains namely Aspergillusflavus, Aspergillusniger, Mucor, Rhizopus and Microsporumgypseumand finally, the results of their structure activity relationship were discussed. The obtained results can be used as the key step for the building of novel chemical compounds with interesting antimicrobial profiles comparable to that of the standard drugs. PMID:24250406

  20. Synthesis, Spectral Characterization, In-vitro Antibacterial and Antifungal Activities of Novel (2e)-Ethyl-2-(2-(2, 4-Dinitrophenyl) Hydrazono)-4-(Naphthalen-2-yl)-6-Arylcyclohex-3-Enecarboxylates.

    PubMed

    Kanagarajan, V; Thanusu, J; Gopalakrishnan, M

    2011-01-01

    In a search for new leads towards potent antimicrobial agents, an array of novel (2E)-ethyl-2-(2-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)hydrazono)-4-(naphthalen-2-yl)-6-arylcyclohex-3-ene carboxylates 17-24 were synthesized and characterized through their melting point, elemental analysis, MS, FT-IR, one-dimensional NMR ((1)H, D2O exchanged (1)H and (13)C), two dimensional HOMOCOR and HSQC spectroscopic data. In-vitro microbiological evaluations were carried out for all the newly synthesized compounds 17-24 against clinically isolated bacterial strains namely Salmonella typhii, Klebsiellapneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, β-Hemolytic streptococcus and Micrococcus luteusand also fungal strains namely Aspergillusflavus, Aspergillusniger, Mucor, Rhizopus and Microsporumgypseumand finally, the results of their structure activity relationship were discussed. The obtained results can be used as the key step for the building of novel chemical compounds with interesting antimicrobial profiles comparable to that of the standard drugs.

  1. Pectin methylesterase activity in vivo differs from activity in vitro and enhances polygalacturonase-mediated pectin degradation in tabasco pepper.

    PubMed

    Arancibia, Ramón A; Motsenbocker, Carl E

    2006-03-01

    Polygalacturonase (PG) and pectin methylesterase (PME) activities were analyzed in ripening fruits of two tabasco pepper (Capsicum frutescens) lines that differ in the extent of pectin degradation (depolymerization and dissolution). Ripe 'Easy Pick' fruit is characterized by pectin ultra-degradation and easy fruit detachment from the calyx (deciduous trait), while pectin depolymerization and dissolution in ripe 'Hard Pick' fruit is limited. PG activity in protein extracts increased similarly in both lines during fruit ripening. PME activity in vivo assessed by methanol production, however, was detected only in fruit of the 'Easy Pick' line and was associated with decreased pectin methyl-esterification. In contrast, methanol production in vivo was not detected in fruits of the 'Hard Pick' line and the degree of pectin esterification remained the same throughout ripening. Consequently, a ripening specific PME that is active in vivo appears to enhance PG-mediated pectin ultra-degradation resulting in cell wall dissolution and the deciduous fruit trait. PME activity in vitro, however, was detected in protein extracts from both lines at all ripening stages. This indicates that some PME isozymes are apparently inactive in vivo, particularly in green fruit and throughout ripening in the 'Hard Pick' line, limiting PG-mediated pectin depolymerization which results in moderately difficult fruit separation from the calyx.

  2. Degradation of polyurethane by bacterium isolated from soil and assessment of polyurethanolytic activity of a Pseudomonas putida strain.

    PubMed

    Peng, Yu-Huei; Shih, Yang-hsin; Lai, Yen-Chun; Liu, Yuan-Zan; Liu, Ying-Tong; Lin, Nai-Chun

    2014-01-01

    The increasing usage and the persistence of polyester polyurethane (PU) generate significant sources of environmental pollution. The effective and environmental friendly bioremediation techniques for this refractory waste are in high demand. In this study, three novel PU degrading bacteria were isolated from farm soils and activated sludge. Based upon 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence blast, their identities were determined. Particularly robust activity was observed in Pseudomonas putida; it spent 4 days to degrade 92% of Impranil DLN(TM) for supporting its growth. The optimum temperature and pH for DLN removal by P. putida were 25 °C and 8.4, respectively. The degradation and transformation of DLN investigated by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy show the decrease in ester functional group and the emergence of amide group. The polyurethanolytic activities were both presented in the extracellular fraction and in the cytosol. Esterase activity was detected in the cell lysate. A 45-kDa protein bearing polyurethanolytic activity was also detected in the extracellular medium. This study presented high PU degrading activity of P. putida and demonstrated its responsible enzymes during the PU degradation process, which could be applied in the bioremediation and management of plastic wastes.

  3. One-step prepared cobalt-based nanosheet as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for activating peroxymonosulfate to degrade caffeine in water.

    PubMed

    Lin, Kun-Yi Andrew; Lai, Hong-Kai; Tong, Shaoping

    2018-03-15

    Two-dimensional (2D) planar cobalt-containing materials are promising catalysts for activating peroxymonosulfate (PMS) to degrade contaminants because 2D sheet-like morphology provides large reactive surfaces. However, preparation of these sheet-supported cobaltic materials typically involves multiple steps and complex reagents, making them less practical for PMS activation. In this study, a cobalt-based nanosheet (CoNS) is particularly developed using a one-step hydrothermal process with a single reagent in water. The resulting CoNS can exhibit a thickness as thin as a few nanometers and 2-D morphology. CoNS is also primarily comprised of cobalt species in a coordinated form of Prussian Blue analogue, which consists of both Co 3+ and Co 2+ . These features make CoNS promising for activating PMS in aqueous systems. As degradation of an emerging contaminant, caffeine, is selected as a representative reaction, CoNS not only successfully activates PMS to fully degrade caffeine in 20 min but also exhibits a much higher catalytic activity than the most common PMS activator, Co 3 O 4 . Via studying inhibitive effects of radical scavengers, caffeine degradation by CoNS-activated PMS is primarily attributed to sulfate radicals and hydroxyl radicals to a lesser extent. The degradation products of caffeine by CoNS-activated PMS are also identified and a potential degradation pathway is proposed. Moreover, CoNS could be also re-used to activate PMS for caffeine degradation without activity loss. These results indicate that CoNS is a conveniently prepared and highly effective and stable 2-D catalyst for aqueous chemical oxidation reactions. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

  4. Cultivation of a bacterial consortium with the potential to degrade total petroleum hydrocarbon using waste activated sludge.

    PubMed

    Sivakumar, S; Song, Y C; Kim, S H; Jang, S H

    2015-11-01

    Waste activated sludge was aerobically treated to demonstrate multiple uses such as cultivating an oil degrading bacterial consortium; studying the influence of a bulking agent (peat moss) and total petroleum hydrocarbon concentration on bacterial growth and producing a soil conditioner using waste activated sludge. After 30 days of incubation, the concentration of oil-degrading bacteria was 4.3 x 10(8) CFU g(-1) and 4.5 x 10(8) CFU g(-1) for 5 and 10 g of total petroleum hydrocarbon, respectively, in a mixture of waste activated sludge (1 kg) and peat moss (0.1 kg). This accounts for approximately 88.4 and 91.1%, respectively, of the total heterotrophic bacteria (total-HB). The addition of bulking agent enhanced total-HB population and total petroleum hydrocarbon-degrading bacterial population. Over 90% of total petroleum hydrocarbon degradation was achieved by the mixture of waste activated sludge, bulking agent and total petroleum hydrocarbon. The results of physico-chemical parameters of the compost (waste activated sludge with and without added peat moss compost) and a substantial reduction in E. coli showed that the use of this final product did not exhibit risk when used as soil conditioner. Finally, the present study demonstrated that cultivation of total petroleum hydrocarbon-degrading bacterial consortium and production of compost from waste activated sludge by aerobic treatment was feasible.

  5. Biodegradation of naphthalene-2-sulfonic acid present in tannery wastewater by bacterial isolates Arthrobacter sp. 2AC and Comamonas sp. 4BC.

    PubMed

    Song, Zhi; Edwards, Suzanne R; Burns, Richard G

    2005-06-01

    Two bacterial strains, 2AC and 4BC, both capable of utilizing naphthalene-2-sulfonic acid (2-NSA) as a sole source of carbon, were isolated from activated sludges previously exposed to tannery wastewater. Enrichments were carried out in mineral salt medium (MSM) with 2-NSA as the sole carbon source. 16S rDNA sequencing analysis indicated that 2AC is an Arthrobacter sp. and 4BC is a Comamonas sp. Within 33 h, both isolates degraded 100% of 2-NSA in MSM and also 2-NSA in non-sterile tannery wastewater. The yield coefficient was 0.33 g biomass dry weight per gram of 2-NSA. A conceptual model, which describes the aerobic transformation of organic matter, was used for interpreting the biodegradation kinetics of 2-NSA. The half-lives for 2-NSA, at initial concentrations of 100 and 500 mg/l in MSM, ranged from 20 h (2AC) to 26 h (4BC) with lag-phases of 8 h (2AC) and 12 h (4BC). The carbon balance indicates that 75-90% of the initial TOC (total organic carbon) was mineralized, 5-20% remained as DOC (dissolved organic carbon) and 3-10% was biomass carbon. The principal metabolite of 2-NSA biodegradation (in both MSM and tannery wastewater) produced by Comamonas sp. 4BC had a MW of 174 and accounted for the residual DOC (7.0-19.0% of the initial TOC and 66% of the remaining TOC). Three to ten percent of the initial TOC (33% of the remaining TOC) was associated with biomass. The metabolite was not detected when Arthrobacter sp. 2AC was used, and a lower residual DOC and biomass carbon were recorded. This suggests that the two strains may use different catabolic pathways for 2-NSA degradation. The rapid biodegradation of 2-NSA (100 mg/l) added to non-sterile tannery wastewater (total 2-NSA, 105 mg/l) when inoculated with either Arthrobacter 2AC or Comamonas 4BC showed that both strains were able to compete with the indigenous microorganisms and degrade 2-NSA even in the presence of alternate carbon sources (DOC in tannery wastewater = 91 mg/l). The results provide information

  6. A novel crosstalk between two major protein degradation systems: regulation of proteasomal activity by autophagy.

    PubMed

    Wang, Xiao J; Yu, Jun; Wong, Sunny H; Cheng, Alfred S L; Chan, Francis K L; Ng, Simon S M; Cho, Chi H; Sung, Joseph J Y; Wu, William K K

    2013-10-01

    Eukaryotes have two major intracellular protein degradation pathways, namely the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and autophagy. Inhibition of proteasomal activities has been previously shown to induce autophagy, indicating a coordinated and complementary relationship between these two systems. However, little is known about the regulation of the UPS by autophagy. In this study, we showed for the first time that proteasomes were activated in response to pharmacological inhibition of autophagy as well as disruption of autophagy-related genes by RNA interference under nutrient-deficient conditions in cultured human colon cancer cells. The induction was evidenced by the increased proteasomal activities and the upregulation of proteasomal subunits, including the proteasome β5 subunit, PSMB5. Co-inhibition of the proteasome and autophagy also synergistically increased the accumulation of polyubiquitinated proteins. Collectively, our findings suggest that proteasomes are activated in a compensatory manner for protein degradation upon autophagy inhibition. Our studies unveiled a novel regulatory mechanism between the two protein degradation pathways.

  7. An active recombinant cocoonase from the silkworm Bombyx mori: bleaching, degumming and sericin degrading activities.

    PubMed

    Unajak, Sasimanas; Aroonluke, Suradet; Promboon, Amornrat

    2015-04-01

    Cocoonase is a serine protease produced by silk moths and used for softening the cocoons so that they can escape. Degumming is one of the important steps in silk processing. This research aimed to produce an active recombinant Bombyx mori cocoonase (BmCoc) for the silk degumming process. A recombinant BmCoc was successfully expressed in a Pichia pastoris system. The purified enzyme showed specific activity of 227 U mg(-1) protein, 2.4-fold purification, 95% yield and a molecular weight of 26 kDa. The enzyme exhibited optimal temperature at 40 °C and optimal pH at 8, and showed thermal stability at 25-45 °C and pH stability at 5-9. The recombinant enzyme exhibited sericin degumming ability and color bleaching characteristics, and did not affect the fibroin fiber. The enzyme also degraded sericin substrate with a product size about 30-70 kDa. In this study, we successfully produced the active recombinant BmCoc in P. pastoris with promising functions for the Thai silk degumming process, which includes degumming, sericin degrading and color bleaching activities. Our data clearly indicated that the recombinant enzyme had proteolytic activity on sericin but not on fibroin proteins. The recombinant BmCoc has proven to be suitable for numerous applications in the silk industry. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry.

  8. Oxidative degradation of atenolol by heat-activated persulfate: Kinetics, degradation pathways and distribution of transformation intermediates.

    PubMed

    Miao, Dong; Peng, Jianbiao; Zhou, Xiaohuan; Qian, Li; Wang, Mengjie; Zhai, Li; Gao, Shixiang

    2018-05-17

    Atenolol (ATL) has been widely detected in wastewater and aquatic environment. Although satisfactory removal of ATL from wastewater could be achieved, the mineralization ratio is usually low, which may result in the accumulation of its transformation products in the effluent and cause additional ecological risk to the environment. The aim of this study is to explore the effectiveness of heat activated persulfate (PS) in the removal of ATL from wastewater. Influencing factors including temperature, PS dosage, solution pH, existence of NO 3 - , Cl - , HCO 3 - and Suwannee river fulvic acid (SRFA) were examined. Complete removal of ATL was achieved within 40 min at pH 7.0 and 70 °C by using 0.5 mM PS. Inhibitive effects of HCO 3 - and FA had been observed on ATL oxidation, which was increased with the increase of their concentration. Sulfate radical (SO 4 - ) was determined as the main reactive species by quenching experiment. Eight intermediates produced in ATL degradation were identified, and four degradation pathways were proposed based on the analysis of mass spectrum and frontier electron densities. The distribution of major intermediates was influenced by reaction temperature. Hydroxylation intermediates and deamidation intermediate were the most prominent at 50 °C and 60 °C, respectively. All intermediates were completely degraded in 40 min except P134 at 70 °C. Effective removal of TOC (74.12%) was achieved with 0.5 mM PS, pH 7.0 and 70 °C after 240 min. The results proved that heat activation of PS is a promising method to remove organic pollutants in wastewater. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  9. Atrial natriuretic peptide degradation by CPA47 cells: evidence for a divalent cation-independent cell-surface proteolytic activity.

    PubMed

    Frost, S J; Chen, Y M; Whitson, P A

    1992-11-23

    Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is rapidly cleared and degraded in vivo. Nonguanylate-cyclase receptors (C-ANPR) and a metalloproteinase, neutral endopeptidase (EC 3.4.24.11) (NEP 24.11), are thought to be responsible for its metabolism. We investigated the mechanisms of ANP degradation by an endothelial-derived cell line, CPA47. CPA47 cells degraded 88% of 125I-ANP after 1 h at 37 degrees C as determined by HPLC. Medium preconditioned by these cells degraded 41% of the 125I-ANP, and this activity was inhibited by a divalent cation chelator, EDTA. Furthermore, a cell-surface proteolytic activity degraded 125I-ANP in the presence of EDTA when receptor-mediated endocytosis was inhibited either by low temperature (4 degrees C) or by hyperosmolarity at 37 degrees C. The metalloproteinase, NEP 24.11, is unlikely to be the cell-surface peptidase because 125I-ANP is degraded by CPA47 cells at 4 degrees C in the presence of 5 mM EDTA. These data indicate that CPA47 cells can degrade ANP by a novel divalent cation-independent cell-surface proteolytic activity.

  10. Atrial natriuretic peptide degradation by CPA47 cells - Evidence for a divalent cation-independent cell-surface proteolytic activity

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Frost, S. J.; Chen, Y. M.; Whitson, P. A.

    1992-01-01

    Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is rapidly cleared and degraded in vivo. Nonguanylate-cyclase receptors (C-ANPR) and a metalloproteinase, neutral endopeptidase (EC 3.4.24.11) (NEP 24.11), are thought to be responsible for its metabolism. We investigated the mechanisms of ANP degradation by an endothelial-derived cell line, CPA47. CPA47 cells degraded 88 percent of 125I-ANP after 1 h at 37 degrees C as determined by HPLC. Medium preconditioned by these cells degraded 41 percent of the 125I-ANP, and this activity was inhibited by a divalent cation chelator, EDTA. Furthermore, a cell-surface proteolytic activity degraded 125I-ANP in the presence of EDTA when receptor-mediated endocytosis was inhibited either by low temperature (4 degrees C) or by hyperosmolarity at 37 degrees C. The metalloproteinase, NEP 24.11, is unlikely to be the cell-surface peptidase because 125I-ANP is degraded by CPA47 cells at 4 degrees C in the presence of 5 mM EDTA. These data indicate that CPA47 cells can degrade ANP by a novel divalent cation-independent cell-surface proteolytic activity.

  11. Trichloroethylene degradation by persulphate with magnetite as a heterogeneous activator in aqueous solution.

    PubMed

    Ruan, Xiaoxin; Gu, Xiaogang; Lu, Shuguang; Qiu, Zhaofu; Sui, Qian

    2015-01-01

    Iron oxide-magnetite (Fe3O4) as a heterogeneous activator to activate persulphate anions (S2O8(2-)) for trichloroethylene (TCE) degradation was investigated in this study. The experimental results showed that TCE could be completely oxidized within 5 h by using 5 g L(-1) magnetite and 63 mM S2O8(2-), indicating the effectiveness of the process for TCE removal. Various factors of the process, including. (S2O8(2-) and magnetite dosages, and initial solution pH, were evaluated, and TCE degradation fitted well to the pseudo-first-order kinetic model. The calculated kinetic rate constant was increased with increasing S2O8(2-) and magnetite dosages, but it was independent of solution pH. In addition, the changes of magnetite morphology examined by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray powder diffraction, respectively, confirmed the slight corrosion with α-Fe2O3 coated on the magnetite surface. The probe compounds tests clearly identified the generation of the reactive oxygen species in the system. While the free radical quenching studies further demonstrated that •SO4- and •OH were the major radicals responsible for TCE degradation, whereas •O2- contributed less in the system, and therefore the roles of reactive oxygen species on TCE degradation mechanisms were proposed accordingly. To our best knowledge, this is the first time the performance and mechanism of magnetite-activated persulphate oxidation for TCE degradation are reported. The findings of this study provided a new insight into the heterogeneous catalysis mechanism and showed a great potential for the practical application of this technique in in situ TCE-contaminated groundwater remediation.

  12. Impact of transverse and longitudinal dispersion on first-order degradation rate constant estimation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Stenback, Greg A.; Ong, Say Kee; Rogers, Shane W.; Kjartanson, Bruce H.

    2004-09-01

    A two-dimensional analytical model is employed for estimating the first-order degradation rate constant of hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) in contaminated groundwater under steady-state conditions. The model may utilize all aqueous concentration data collected downgradient of a source area, but does not require that any data be collected along the plume centerline. Using a least squares fit of the model to aqueous concentrations measured in monitoring wells, degradation rate constants were estimated at a former manufactured gas plant (FMGP) site in the Midwest U.S. The estimated degradation rate constants are 0.0014, 0.0034, 0.0031, 0.0019, and 0.0053 day -1 for acenaphthene, naphthalene, benzene, ethylbenzene, and toluene, respectively. These estimated rate constants were as low as one-half those estimated with the one-dimensional (centerline) approach of Buscheck and Alcantar [Buscheck, T.E., Alcantar, C.M., 1995. Regression techniques and analytical solutions to demonstrate intrinsic bioremediation. In: Hinchee, R.E., Wilson, J.T., Downey, D.C. (Eds.), Intrinsic Bioremediation, Battelle Press, Columbus, OH, pp. 109-116] which does not account for transverse dispersivity. Varying the transverse and longitudinal dispersivity values over one order of magnitude for toluene data obtained from the FMGP site resulted in nearly a threefold variation in the estimated degradation rate constant—highlighting the importance of reliable estimates of the dispersion coefficients for obtaining reasonable estimates of the degradation rate constants. These results have significant implications for decision making and site management where overestimation of a degradation rate may result in remediation times and bioconversion factors that exceed expectations. For a complex source area or non-steady-state plume, a superposition of analytical models that incorporate longitudinal and transverse dispersion and time may be used at sites where the centerline method would not be

  13. Insights into the mechanism of persulfate activated by rice straw biochar for the degradation of aniline.

    PubMed

    Wu, Yao; Guo, Jing; Han, Yijie; Zhu, Junyi; Zhou, Lixiang; Lan, Yeqing

    2018-06-01

    This study investigated the degradation of aniline by persulfate (PS) activated with rice straw biochar (RSBC). The results demonstrate that aniline could be rapidly decomposed by a combination of PS and RSBC. The degradation efficiency of aniline was up to 94.1% within 80 min, and meanwhile 52% of the total organic carbon was removed. In the initial pH range of 3-9, aniline could be efficiently removed. Reactive species resulting in the rapid degradation of aniline were investigated via radical and hole quenching experiments with various scavengers (e.g., methanol, tert-butyl alcohol and EDTA) and electron paramagnetic resonance technique. Based on the analysis and observation made here, it is speculated that the predominant reactive species responsible for the degradation of aniline may be holes instead of SO 4 - and OH radicals. It is concluded that RSBC could be used as an effective catalyst to activate PS for the degradation of aniline. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  14. Effect of high surface area activated carbon on thermal degradation of jet fuel

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Gergova, K.; Eser, S.; Arumugam, R.

    1995-05-01

    Different solid carbons added to jet fuel during thermal stressing cause substantial changes in pyrolytic degradation reactions. Activated carbons, especially high surface area activated carbons were found to be very effective in suppressing solid deposition on metal reactor walls during stressing at high temperatures (425 and 450{degrees}C). The high surface area activated carbon PX-21 prevented solid deposition on reactor walls even after 5h at 450{degrees}C. The differences seen in the liquid product composition when activated carbon is added indicated that the carbon surfaces affect the degradation reactions. Thermal stressing experiments were carried out on commercial petroleum-derived JPTS jet fuel. Wemore » also used n-octane and n-dodecane as model compounds in order to simplify the study of the chemical changes which take place upon activated carbon addition. In separate experiments, the presence of a hydrogen donor, decalin, together with PX-21 was also studied.« less

  15. Three closely related 1-(naphthalen-2-yl)prop-2-en-1-ones: pseudosymmetry, disorder and supramoleular assembly mediated by C-H...π and C-Br...π interactions.

    PubMed

    Girisha, Marisiddaiah; Sagar, Belakavadi K; Yathirajan, Hemmige S; Rathore, Ravindranath S; Glidewell, Christopher

    2017-02-01

    It has been observed that when electron-rich naphthyl rings are present in chalcones they can participate in π-π stacking interactions, and this can play an important role in orientating inhibitors within the active sites of enzymes, while chalcones containing heterocyclic substituents additionally exhibit fungistatic and fungicidal properties. With these considerations in mind, three new chalcones containing 2-naphthyl substituents were prepared. 3-(4-Fluorophenyl)-1-(naphthalen-2-yl)prop-2-en-1-one, C 19 H 13 FO, (I), crystallizes with Z' = 2 in the space group P-1 and the four molecules in the unit cell adopt an arrangement which resembles that in the space group P2 1 /a. Although 3-(4-bromophenyl)-1-(naphthalen-2-yl)prop-2-en-1-one, C 19 H 13 BrO, (II), with Z' = 1, is not isostructural with (I), the molecules of (I) and (II) adopt very similar conformations. In 1-(naphthalen-2-yl)-3-(thiophen-2-yl)prop-2-en-1-one, C 17 H 12 OS, (III), the thiophene unit is disordered over two sets of atomic sites, with occupancies of 0.780 (3) and 0.220 (3), which are related by a near 180° rotation of the thiophene unit about its exocyclic C-C bond. The molecules of compound (I) are linked by three independent C-H...π(arene) hydrogen bonds to form centrosymmetric octamolecular aggregates, whereas the molecules of compound (II) are linked into molecular ladders by a combination of C-H...π(arene) and C-Br...π(arene) interactions, and those of compound (III) are linked into centrosymmetric dimers by C-H...π(thiophene) interactions.

  16. Electrospun magnetic cobalt-embedded carbon nanofiber as a heterogeneous catalyst for activation of oxone for degradation of Amaranth dye.

    PubMed

    Lin, Kun-Yi Andrew; Lin, Jyun-Ting; Lu, Xiao-Yu; Hung, Ching; Lin, Yi-Feng

    2017-11-01

    A cobalt-embedded carbon nanofiber (CoCNF) is developed in this study by electrospinning techniques. Through one-step carbonization, the electrospun Co-polyacrylonitrile nanofiber is converted to CoCNF. The resulting CoCNF consists of cobalt nanoparticles quite evenly distributed over CNF and also exhibits magnetically controllability, making it a suitable heterogeneous catalyst for activating Oxone (OX) to degrade organic contaminants. As degradation of Acid Red 27 (AR) is employed as a model reaction, CoCNF is validated to activate OX for generating sulfate radicals and then degrading AR. While a higher dosage of CoCNF and OX enhances AR degradation, CoCNF plays a more influential role in CoCNF-OX. AR degradation by CoCNF-OX is much enhanced at elevated temperature, and also favorable under the neutral condition. CoCNF-OX still remains quite effective for AR degradation even in the presence of salts and surfactants. The mechanism of AR degradation is elucidated by evaluating the effects of radical scavengers and the degradation is attributed to sulfate and derivative hydroxyl radicals. CoCNF is shown to activate OX for multiple times to degrade AR even without regeneration treatments. These results and findings validate that CoCNF can be a promising and advantageous heterogeneous for activating OX in advanced oxidation processes. The preparation method shown here can be also employed for fabricating other functional metal-embedded CNF for various applications. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

  17. Enhanced degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid by pre-magnetization Fe-C activated persulfate: Influential factors, mechanism and degradation pathway.

    PubMed

    Li, Xiang; Zhou, Minghua; Pan, Yuwei

    2018-07-05

    2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) is one of the most applicable herbicides in the world, its residue in aquatic environment threatens the human health and ecosystems. In this study, for the first time, inexpensive Fe-C after pre-magnetization (Pre-Fe-C) was used as the heterogeneous catalyst to activate persulfate (PS) for 2,4-D degradation, proving that Pre-Fe-C could significantly improve the degradation and dechlorination. The results indicated the stability and reusability of Pre-Fe-C were much better than pre-magnetization Fe 0 (Pre-Fe 0 ), while the leaching iron ion was lower, indicating that using Pre-Fe-C not only reduced the post-treatment cost, but also enhanced the removal and dechlorination efficiency of 2,4-D. Several important parameters including initial pH, Fe-C dosage, PS concentration affecting 2,4-D degradation and dechlorination by Pre-Fe-C/PS were investigated and compared with that of Fe-C/PS, observing a 1.2-2.7 fold enhancement in the degradation rate of 2,4-D. The Fe-C and Pre-Fe-C were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and SEM-EDX-mapping, suggesting that the content of Fe and O changed more obviously after magnetization. The degradation intermediates, such as chloroquinol, 2-chlorophenol, were identified by a gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and an ion chromatography (IC), and a possible degradation pathway was proposed. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  18. Phylogenetic and functional diversity of metagenomic libraries of phenol degrading sludge from petroleum refinery wastewater treatment system

    PubMed Central

    2012-01-01

    In petrochemical refinery wastewater treatment plants (WWTP), different concentrations of pollutant compounds are received daily in the influent stream, including significant amounts of phenolic compounds, creating propitious conditions for the development of particular microorganisms that can rapidly adapt to such environment. In the present work, the microbial sludge from a refinery WWTP was enriched for phenol, cloned into fosmid vectors and pyrosequenced. The fosmid libraries yielded 13,200 clones and a comprehensive bioinformatic analysis of the sequence data set revealed a complex and diverse bacterial community in the phenol degrading sludge. The phylogenetic analyses using MEGAN in combination with RDP classifier showed a massive predominance of Proteobacteria, represented mostly by the genera Diaphorobacter, Pseudomonas, Thauera and Comamonas. The functional classification of phenol degrading sludge sequence data set generated by MG-RAST showed the wide metabolic diversity of the microbial sludge, with a high percentage of genes involved in the aerobic and anaerobic degradation of phenol and derivatives. In addition, genes related to the metabolism of many other organic and xenobiotic compounds, such as toluene, biphenyl, naphthalene and benzoate, were found. Results gathered herein demonstrated that the phenol degrading sludge has complex phylogenetic and functional diversities, showing the potential of such community to degrade several pollutant compounds. This microbiota is likely to represent a rich resource of versatile and unknown enzymes which may be exploited for biotechnological processes such as bioremediation. PMID:22452812

  19. Light-activated photocurrent degradation and self-healing in perovskite solar cells

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Nie, Wanyi; Blancon, Jean-Christophe; Neukirch, Amanda J.

    Solution-processed organometallic perovskite solar cells have emerged as one of the most promising thin-film photovoltaic technology. But, a key challenge is their lack of stability over prolonged solar irradiation. Few studies have investigated the effect of light soaking on hybrid perovskites and have attributed the degradation in the optoelectronic properties to photochemical or field-assisted ion migration. We show that the slow photocurrent degradation in thin-film photovoltaic devices is due to the formation of light-activated meta-stable deep-level trap states. However, the devices can self-heal completely by resting them in the dark for <1 min or the degradation can be completely preventedmore » by operating the devices at 0 °C. Here, we investigate several physical mechanisms to explain the microscopic origin for the formation of these trap states, among which the creation of small polaronic states involving localized cooperative lattice strain and molecular orientations emerges as a credible microscopic mechanism requiring further detailed studies.« less

  20. Light-activated photocurrent degradation and self-healing in perovskite solar cells

    DOE PAGES

    Nie, Wanyi; Blancon, Jean-Christophe; Neukirch, Amanda J.; ...

    2016-05-16

    Solution-processed organometallic perovskite solar cells have emerged as one of the most promising thin-film photovoltaic technology. But, a key challenge is their lack of stability over prolonged solar irradiation. Few studies have investigated the effect of light soaking on hybrid perovskites and have attributed the degradation in the optoelectronic properties to photochemical or field-assisted ion migration. We show that the slow photocurrent degradation in thin-film photovoltaic devices is due to the formation of light-activated meta-stable deep-level trap states. However, the devices can self-heal completely by resting them in the dark for <1 min or the degradation can be completely preventedmore » by operating the devices at 0 °C. Here, we investigate several physical mechanisms to explain the microscopic origin for the formation of these trap states, among which the creation of small polaronic states involving localized cooperative lattice strain and molecular orientations emerges as a credible microscopic mechanism requiring further detailed studies.« less

  1. The development of a MIP-optosensor for the detection of monoamine naphthalenes in drinking water.

    PubMed

    Valero-Navarro, Angel; Salinas-Castillo, Alfonso; Fernández-Sánchez, Jorge F; Segura-Carretero, Antonio; Mallavia, Ricardo; Fernández-Gutiérrez, Alberto

    2009-03-15

    To enhance the advantages of fluorescent flow-through sensing for drinking water we have designed a novel sensing matrix based on molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). The synergic combination of a tailor-made MIP recognition with a selective room temperature fluorescence detection is a novel concept for optosensing devices and is assessed here for the simple and selective determination of pollutants in water. We describe a simple approach to preparing synthetic receptors for monoamine naphthalene compounds (MA-NCs) using non-covalent molecular imprinting techniques and naphthalene as template. We examine in detail the binding characteristics of the imprinted polymer and describe the flow-through sensor of MA-NCs by solid-surface fluorescence. Its detection limits for recognizing 1-naphthylamine (1-NA) and 2-naphthylamine (2-NA) separately are 26 ngmL(-1) and 50 ngmL(-1), respectively, and it also determines 1-NA and 2-NA simultaneously with a detection limit of 45 ngmL(-1). All the instrumental, chemical and flow variables were carefully optimized and an interference study was carried out to demonstrate its applicability and selectivity. Finally, we applied it to the analysis of 1-NA and 2-NA in tap and mineral waters, obtaining a 98% average recovery rate.

  2. Sono- and photocatalytic activities of SnO2 nanoparticles for degradation of cationic and anionic dyes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Paramarta, Valentinus; Taufik, Ardiansyah; Munisa, Lusitra; Saleh, Rosari

    2017-01-01

    The current research work focuses on the catalytic activity of SnO2 nanoparticles (NPs) against degradation of both cationic dye (methylene blue) and anionic dye (Congo-red). SnO2 NPs were synthesized under the sol-gel method and were characterized by performing X-ray diffraction, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) surface area analysis and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The results demonstrate that SnO2 NPs has well crystalline structure with the crystallite size of 44 nm. The degradation of dyes was studied under ambient temperature using ultrasonicator and UV light, respectively. The sono- and photocatalytic activities of SnO2 NPs on dyes were analyzed by measuring the change in absorbance of dyes under UV-spectrophotometer. The degradation of the organic dyes has been calculated by monitoring the degradation in the concentration of the dyes before and after irradiation of ultrasonic and light, respectively. The influence of other parameters such as catalyst dosage, pH and scavenger have also been investigated. The catalytic activity is enhanced in the presence of ultrasonic irradiation. The degradation of both dyes follows pseudo-first order kinetics. The reusability tests have also been done to ensure the stability of the used catalysts. A reasonable mechanism of sono- and photocatalysis with SnO2 NPs has been proposed by correlating the active radical species involved with the physical properties of the as-synthesized samples.

  3. Response of microbial activities and diversity to PAHs contamination at coal tar contaminated land

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhao, Xiaohui; Sun, Yujiao; Ding, Aizhong; Zhang, Dan; Zhang, Dayi

    2015-04-01

    Coal tar is one of the most hazardous and concerned organic pollutants and the main hazards are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The indigenous microorganisms in soils are capable to degrade PAHs, with essential roles in biochemical process for PAHs natural attenuation. This study investigated 48 soil samples (from 8 depths of 6 boreholes) in Beijing coking and chemistry plant (China) and revealed the correlation between PAHs contamination, soil enzyme activities and microbial community structure, by 16S rRNA denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). At the site, the key contaminants were identified as naphthalene, acenaphthylene, acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene and anthracene, and the total PAHs concentration ranged from 0.1 to 923.9 mg/kg dry soil. The total PAHs contamination level was positively correlated (p<0.05) with the bacteria count (0.9×107-14.2×107 CFU/mL), catalase activities (0.554-6.230 mL 0.02 M KMnO4/g•h) and dehydrogenase activities (1.9-30.4 TF μg/g•h soil), showing the significant response of microbial population and degrading functions to the organic contamination in soils. The PAHs contamination stimulated the PAHs degrading microbes and promoted their biochemical roles in situ. The positive relationship between bacteria count and dehydrogenase activities (p<0.05) suggested the dominancy of PAHs degrading bacteria in the microbial community. More interestingly, the microbial community deterioration was uncovered via the decline of microbial biodiversity (richness from 16S rRNA DGGE) against total PAHs concentration (p<0.05). Our research described the spatial profiles of PAHs contamination and soil microbial functions at the PAHs heavily contaminated sites, offering deeper understanding on the roles of indigenous microbial community in natural attenuation process.

  4. Predicting the degradability of waste activated sludge.

    PubMed

    Jones, Richard; Parker, Wayne; Zhu, Henry; Houweling, Dwight; Murthy, Sudhir

    2009-08-01

    The objective of this study was to identify methods for estimating anaerobic digestibility of waste activated sludge (WAS). The WAS streams were generated in three sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) treating municipal wastewater. The wastewater and WAS properties were initially determined through simulation of SBR operation with BioWin (EnviroSim Associates Ltd., Flamborough, Ontario, Canada). Samples of WAS from the SBRs were subsequently characterized through respirometry and batch anaerobic digestion. Respirometry was an effective tool for characterizing the active fraction of WAS and could be a suitable technique for determining sludge composition for input to anaerobic models. Anaerobic digestion of the WAS revealed decreasing methane production and lower chemical oxygen demand removals as the SRT of the sludge increased. BioWin was capable of accurately describing the digestion of the WAS samples for typical digester SRTs. For extended digestion times (i.e., greater than 30 days), some degradation of the endogenous decay products was assumed to achieve accurate simulations for all sludge SRTs.

  5. Safety evaluation of probiotic bifidobacteria by analysis of mucin degradation activity and translocation ability.

    PubMed

    Abe, Fumiaki; Muto, Masamichi; Yaeshima, Tomoko; Iwatsuki, Keiji; Aihara, Hiroaki; Ohashi, Yuji; Fujisawa, Tomohiko

    2010-04-01

    Although probiotic-containing nutrient formulas for infants and toddlers have become very popular, some adverse effects related to translocation of probiotic strains have been reported. We assessed the safety of probiotic bifidobacteria that have been used in clinical investigations and proven to have beneficial effects, by analyzing mucin degradation activity and translocation ability. Mucin degradation activities of three probiotic bifidobacteria strains; Bifidobacterium longum BB536, Bifidobacterium breve M-16V and Bifidobacterium infantis M-63, were evaluated by three in vitro tests comprising growth in liquid medium, SDS-PAGE analysis of degraded mucin residues, and degradation assay in Petri dish. All test strains and control type strains failed to grow in the liquid medium containing mucin as the only carbon source, although good growth was obtained from fecal sample. In the SDS-PAGE analyses of mucin residues and observation of mucinolytic zone in agar plate, the three test strains also showed no mucin degradation activity as the type strains, although fecal sample yielded positive results. In another study, a high dose of B. longum BB536 was administered orally to conventional mice to examine the translocation ability. No translocation into blood, liver, spleen, kidney and mesenteric lymph nodes was observed and no disturbance of epithelial cells and mucosal layer in the ileum, cecum and colon was detected, indicating that the test strain had no translocation ability and induced no damage to intestinal surface. These results resolve the concern about bacterial translocation when using bifidobacteria strains as probiotics, which have been tested in various clinical trials, supporting the continuous use of these probiotic strains without anxiety. Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  6. Abundance of Dioxygenase Genes Similar to Ralstonia sp. Strain U2 nagAc Is Correlated with Naphthalene Concentrations in Coal Tar-Contaminated Freshwater Sediments

    PubMed Central

    Dionisi, Hebe M.; Chewning, Christopher S.; Morgan, Katherine H.; Menn, Fu-Min; Easter, James P.; Sayler, Gary S.

    2004-01-01

    We designed a real-time PCR assay able to recognize dioxygenase large-subunit gene sequences with more than 90% similarity to the Ralstonia sp. strain U2 nagAc gene (nagAc-like gene sequences) in order to study the importance of organisms carrying these genes in the biodegradation of naphthalene. Sequencing of PCR products indicated that this real-time PCR assay was specific and able to detect a variety of nagAc-like gene sequences. One to 100 ng of contaminated-sediment total DNA in 25-μl reaction mixtures produced an amplification efficiency of 0.97 without evident PCR inhibition. The assay was applied to surficial freshwater sediment samples obtained in or in close proximity to a coal tar-contaminated Superfund site. Naphthalene concentrations in the analyzed samples varied between 0.18 and 106 mg/kg of dry weight sediment. The assay for nagAc-like sequences indicated the presence of (4.1 ± 0.7) × 103 to (2.9 ± 0.3) × 105 copies of nagAc-like dioxygenase genes per μg of DNA extracted from sediment samples. These values corresponded to (1.2 ± 0.6) × 105 to (5.4 ± 0.4) × 107 copies of this target per g of dry weight sediment when losses of DNA during extraction were taken into account. There was a positive correlation between naphthalene concentrations and nagAc-like gene copies per microgram of DNA (r = 0.89) and per gram of dry weight sediment (r = 0.77). These results provide evidence of the ecological significance of organisms carrying nagAc-like genes in the biodegradation of naphthalene. PMID:15240274

  7. Activating Intrinsic Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes of the Smut Fungus Ustilago maydis for the Degradation of Plant Cell Wall Components

    PubMed Central

    Geiser, Elena; Reindl, Michèle; Blank, Lars M.; Feldbrügge, Michael

    2016-01-01

    ABSTRACT The microbial conversion of plant biomass to valuable products in a consolidated bioprocess could greatly increase the ecologic and economic impact of a biorefinery. Current strategies for hydrolyzing plant material mostly rely on the external application of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes). Alternatively, production organisms can be engineered to secrete CAZymes to reduce the reliance on externally added enzymes. Plant-pathogenic fungi have a vast repertoire of hydrolytic enzymes to sustain their lifestyle, but expression of the corresponding genes is usually highly regulated and restricted to the pathogenic phase. Here, we present a new strategy in using the biotrophic smut fungus Ustilago maydis for the degradation of plant cell wall components by activating its intrinsic enzyme potential during axenic growth. This fungal model organism is fully equipped with hydrolytic enzymes, and moreover, it naturally produces value-added substances, such as organic acids and biosurfactants. To achieve the deregulated expression of hydrolytic enzymes during the industrially relevant yeast-like growth in axenic culture, the native promoters of the respective genes were replaced by constitutively active synthetic promoters. This led to an enhanced conversion of xylan, cellobiose, and carboxymethyl cellulose to fermentable sugars. Moreover, a combination of strains with activated endoglucanase and β-glucanase increased the release of glucose from carboxymethyl cellulose and regenerated amorphous cellulose, suggesting that mixed cultivations could be a means for degrading more complex substrates in the future. In summary, this proof of principle demonstrates the potential applicability of activating the expression of native CAZymes from phytopathogens in a biocatalytic process. IMPORTANCE This study describes basic experiments that aim at the degradation of plant cell wall components by the smut fungus Ustilago maydis. As a plant pathogen, this fungus contains a

  8. Inhibition of Insulin Degrading Enzyme and Insulin Degradation by UV-Killed Lactobacillus acidophilus.

    PubMed

    Neyazi, Nadia; Motevaseli, Elahe; Khorramizadeh, Mohammad Reza; Mohammadi Farsani, Taiebeh; Nouri, Zahra; Nasli Esfahani, Ensieh; Ghahremani, Mohammad Hossein

    2018-05-11

    Probiotics have beneficial effects on management of type 2 diabetes (T2D). The major hallmarks of T2D are insulin deficiency and insulin resistance which emphasize insulin therapy in onset of disease. Lactobacilli such as Lactobacillus acidophilus ( L. acidophilus ) have well known properties on prevention of T2D and insulin resistance but not on insulin degradation. Insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) degrades insulin in the human body. We studied the effects of cell-free supernatant (CFS) and ultraviolet (UV)-killed L. acidophilus (ATCC 314) on IDE activity and insulin degradation in vitro. Cell growth inhibition by CFS and UV-killed L. acidophilus (ATCC 314) was studied and Western blotting and a fluoregenic assay was performed to determine IDE expression and its activity, respectively. Insulin degradation was evaluated by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). IDE expression and activity was reduced by CFS and UV-killed L. acidophilus (ATCC 314). Although, decreased enzyme expression and activity was not significant for CFS in contrast to MRL (MRS with same pH as CFS). Also, reduction in IDE activity was not statistically considerable when compared to IDE expression. Insulin degradation was increased by CFS but decreased by UV-killed L. acidophilus (ATCC 314).

  9. Tumor suppressor activity of the ERK/MAPK pathway by promoting selective protein degradation

    PubMed Central

    Deschênes-Simard, Xavier; Gaumont-Leclerc, Marie-France; Bourdeau, Véronique; Lessard, Frédéric; Moiseeva, Olga; Forest, Valérie; Igelmann, Sebastian; Mallette, Frédérick A.; Saba-El-Leil, Marc K.; Meloche, Sylvain; Saad, Fred; Mes-Masson, Anne-Marie; Ferbeyre, Gerardo

    2013-01-01

    Constitutive activation of growth factor signaling pathways paradoxically triggers a cell cycle arrest known as cellular senescence. In primary cells expressing oncogenic ras, this mechanism effectively prevents cell transformation. Surprisingly, attenuation of ERK/MAP kinase signaling by genetic inactivation of Erk2, RNAi-mediated knockdown of ERK1 or ERK2, or MEK inhibitors prevented the activation of the senescence mechanism, allowing oncogenic ras to transform primary cells. Mechanistically, ERK-mediated senescence involved the proteasome-dependent degradation of proteins required for cell cycle progression, mitochondrial functions, cell migration, RNA metabolism, and cell signaling. This senescence-associated protein degradation (SAPD) was observed not only in cells expressing ectopic ras, but also in cells that senesced due to short telomeres. Individual RNAi-mediated inactivation of SAPD targets was sufficient to restore senescence in cells transformed by oncogenic ras or trigger senescence in normal cells. Conversely, the anti-senescence viral oncoproteins E1A, E6, and E7 prevented SAPD. In human prostate neoplasms, high levels of phosphorylated ERK were found in benign lesions, correlating with other senescence markers and low levels of STAT3, one of the SAPD targets. We thus identified a mechanism that links aberrant activation of growth signaling pathways and short telomeres to protein degradation and cellular senescence. PMID:23599344

  10. A conformational change within the WAVE2 complex regulates its degradation following cellular activation

    PubMed Central

    Joseph, Noah; Biber, Guy; Fried, Sophia; Reicher, Barak; Levy, Omer; Sabag, Batel; Noy, Elad; Barda-Saad, Mira

    2017-01-01

    WASp family Verprolin-homologous protein-2 (WAVE2), a member of the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASp) family of actin nucleation promoting factors, is a central regulator of actin cytoskeleton polymerization and dynamics. Multiple signaling pathways operate via WAVE2 to promote the actin-nucleating activity of the actin-related protein 2/3 (Arp2/3) complex. WAVE2 exists as a part of a pentameric protein complex known as the WAVE regulatory complex (WRC), which is unstable in the absence of its individual proteins. While the involvement of WAVE2 in actin polymerization has been well documented, its negative regulation mechanism is poorly characterized to date. Here, we demonstrate that WAVE2 undergoes ubiquitylation in a T-cell activation dependent manner, followed by proteasomal degradation. The WAVE2 ubiquitylation site was mapped to lysine 45, located at the N-terminus where WAVE2 binds to the WRC. Using Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), we reveal that the autoinhibitory conformation of the WRC maintains the stability of WAVE2 in resting cells; the release of autoinhibition following T-cell activation facilitates the exposure of WAVE2 to ubiquitylation, leading to its degradation. The dynamic conformational structures of WAVE2 during cellular activation dictate its degradation. PMID:28332566

  11. A conformational change within the WAVE2 complex regulates its degradation following cellular activation.

    PubMed

    Joseph, Noah; Biber, Guy; Fried, Sophia; Reicher, Barak; Levy, Omer; Sabag, Batel; Noy, Elad; Barda-Saad, Mira

    2017-03-23

    WASp family Verprolin-homologous protein-2 (WAVE2), a member of the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASp) family of actin nucleation promoting factors, is a central regulator of actin cytoskeleton polymerization and dynamics. Multiple signaling pathways operate via WAVE2 to promote the actin-nucleating activity of the actin-related protein 2/3 (Arp2/3) complex. WAVE2 exists as a part of a pentameric protein complex known as the WAVE regulatory complex (WRC), which is unstable in the absence of its individual proteins. While the involvement of WAVE2 in actin polymerization has been well documented, its negative regulation mechanism is poorly characterized to date. Here, we demonstrate that WAVE2 undergoes ubiquitylation in a T-cell activation dependent manner, followed by proteasomal degradation. The WAVE2 ubiquitylation site was mapped to lysine 45, located at the N-terminus where WAVE2 binds to the WRC. Using Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), we reveal that the autoinhibitory conformation of the WRC maintains the stability of WAVE2 in resting cells; the release of autoinhibition following T-cell activation facilitates the exposure of WAVE2 to ubiquitylation, leading to its degradation. The dynamic conformational structures of WAVE2 during cellular activation dictate its degradation.

  12. Photocatalytic activity enhancement of anatase-graphene nanocomposite for methylene removal: Degradation and kinetics.

    PubMed

    Rezaei, Mostafa; Salem, Shiva

    2016-10-05

    In the present research, the TiO2-graphene nanocomposite was synthesized by an eco-friendly method. The blackberry juice was introduced to graphene oxide (GO) as a reducing agent to produce the graphene nano-sheets. The nanocomposite of anatase-graphene was developed as a photocatalyst for the degradation of methylene blue, owing to the larger specific surface area and synergistic effect of reduced graphene oxide (RGO). The UV spectroscopy measurements showed that the prepared nanocomposite exhibited an excellent photocatalytic activity toward the methylene blue degradation. The rate of electron transfer of redox sheets is much higher than that observed on GO, indicating the applicability of proposed method for the production of anatase-RGO nanocomposite for treatment of water contaminated by cationic dye. The prepared materials were characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area measurement, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. A facile and rapid route was applied for the uniform deposition of anatase nanoparticles on the sheets. The resulting nanocomposite contained nanoparticles with a mean diameter of 10nm. A mechanism for the photocatalytic activity of nanocomposite was suggested and the degradation reaction obeyed the second-order kinetics. It was concluded that the degradation kinetics is changed due to the reduction of GO in the presence of blackberry juice. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  13. Photocatalytic activity enhancement of anatase-graphene nanocomposite for methylene removal: Degradation and kinetics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rezaei, Mostafa; Salem, Shiva

    2016-10-01

    In the present research, the TiO2-graphene nanocomposite was synthesized by an eco-friendly method. The blackberry juice was introduced to graphene oxide (GO) as a reducing agent to produce the graphene nano-sheets. The nanocomposite of anatase-graphene was developed as a photocatalyst for the degradation of methylene blue, owing to the larger specific surface area and synergistic effect of reduced graphene oxide (RGO). The UV spectroscopy measurements showed that the prepared nanocomposite exhibited an excellent photocatalytic activity toward the methylene blue degradation. The rate of electron transfer of redox sheets is much higher than that observed on GO, indicating the applicability of proposed method for the production of anatase-RGO nanocomposite for treatment of water contaminated by cationic dye. The prepared materials were characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area measurement, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. A facile and rapid route was applied for the uniform deposition of anatase nanoparticles on the sheets. The resulting nanocomposite contained nanoparticles with a mean diameter of 10 nm. A mechanism for the photocatalytic activity of nanocomposite was suggested and the degradation reaction obeyed the second-order kinetics. It was concluded that the degradation kinetics is changed due to the reduction of GO in the presence of blackberry juice.

  14. The effect of polychlorinated naphthalenes and tributyltin on the occurrence of aberrant nuclei in erythroid cells of medaka

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Talykina, Melaniya G.; Papoulias, Diana M.; Allert, J. Alan; Izyuov, Y.U.; Villalobos, Sergio A.; Giesy, John P.; Tillitt, Donald E.

    2003-01-01

    The micronucleus test using erythrocytes of the peripheral blood of fish is often conducted to evaluate the genotoxic effects of pollutants under experimental and natural conditions. This report presents information on the production of micronuclei and other nuclear anomalies in erythrocytes of medaka (Oryzias latipes) exposed to three polychlorinated naphthalene (PCN) formulations (Halowaxes 1014, 1031 and 1051) or tributyltin (TBT). Three types of deviation in the morphology of interphase nuclei were observed in medaka erythrocytes: micronuclei, nuclei fragmented into two equal or unequal parts, and nuclei at different stages of invagination. The number of erythrocytes with nuclear anomalies typically increased after chemical exposure. However, differential dose-response patterns were observed with exposures to PCNs or TBT. Polychlorinated naphthalenes caused genotoxicity, while TBT caused an amitotic effect. Gender did not influence the frequency of nuclear anomalies. This is the first report on the application of the piscine micronuclear test with medaka and is the first study that investigated the potential for detecting micronuclei in erythrocytes from adult medaka exposed in ovo to mutagens.

  15. Enhanced degradation of trichloroethene by calcium peroxide activated with Fe(III) in the presence of citric acid

    PubMed Central

    ZHANG, Xiang; GU, Xiaogang; LU, Shuguang; MIAO, Zhouwei; XU, Minhui; FU, Xiaori; DANISH, Muhammad; Brusseau, Mark L.; QIU, Zhaofu; SUI, Qian

    2017-01-01

    Trichloroethene (TCE) degradation by Fe(III)-activated calcium peroxide (CP) in the presence of citric acid (CA) in aqueous solution was investigated. The results demonstrated that the presence of CA enhanced TCE degradation significantly by increasing the concentration of soluble Fe(III) and promoting H2O2 generation. The generation of HO• and O2−• in both the CP/Fe(III) and CP/Fe(III)/CA systems was confirmed with chemical probes. The results of radical scavenging tests showed that TCE degradation was due predominantly o direct oxidation by HO•, while O2−• strengthened the generation of HO• by promoting Fe(III) transformation in the CP/Fe(III)/CA system. Acidic pH conditions were favorable for TCE degradation, and the TCE degradation rate decreased with increasing pH. The presence of Cl−, HCO3−, and humic acid (HA) inhibited TCE degradation to different extents for the CP/Fe(III)/CA system. Analysis of Cl− production suggested that TCE degradation in the CP/Fe(III)/CA system occurred through a dechlorination process. In summary, this study provided detailed information for the application of CA-enhanced Fe(III)-activated calcium peroxide for treating TCE contaminated groundwater. PMID:28959499

  16. Development of novel assays for lignin degradation: comparative analysis of bacterial and fungal lignin degraders.

    PubMed

    Ahmad, Mark; Taylor, Charles R; Pink, David; Burton, Kerry; Eastwood, Daniel; Bending, Gary D; Bugg, Timothy D H

    2010-05-01

    Two spectrophotometric assays have been developed to monitor breakdown of the lignin component of plant lignocellulose: a continuous fluorescent assay involving fluorescently modified lignin, and a UV-vis assay involving chemically nitrated lignin. These assays have been used to analyse lignin degradation activity in bacterial and fungal lignin degraders, and to identify additional soil bacteria that show activity for lignin degradation. Two soil bacteria known to act as aromatic degraders, Pseudomonas putida and Rhodococcus sp. RHA1, consistently showed activity in these assays, and these strains were shown in a small scale experiment to breakdown lignocellulose, producing a number of monocyclic phenolic products. Using milled wood lignin prepared from wheat straw, pine, and miscanthus, some bacterial lignin degraders were found to show specificity for lignin type. These assays could be used to identify novel lignin degraders for breakdown of plant lignocellulose.

  17. Finding Biomass Degrading Enzymes Through an Activity-Correlated Quantitative Proteomics Platform (ACPP).

    PubMed

    Ma, Hongyan; Delafield, Daniel G; Wang, Zhe; You, Jianlan; Wu, Si

    2017-04-01

    The microbial secretome, known as a pool of biomass (i.e., plant-based materials) degrading enzymes, can be utilized to discover industrial enzyme candidates for biofuel production. Proteomics approaches have been applied to discover novel enzyme candidates through comparing protein expression profiles with enzyme activity of the whole secretome under different growth conditions. However, the activity measurement of each enzyme candidate is needed for confident "active" enzyme assignments, which remains to be elucidated. To address this challenge, we have developed an Activity-Correlated Quantitative Proteomics Platform (ACPP) that systematically correlates protein-level enzymatic activity patterns and protein elution profiles using a label-free quantitative proteomics approach. The ACPP optimized a high performance anion exchange separation for efficiently fractionating complex protein samples while preserving enzymatic activities. The detected enzymatic activity patterns in sequential fractions using microplate-based assays were cross-correlated with protein elution profiles using a customized pattern-matching algorithm with a correlation R-score. The ACPP has been successfully applied to the identification of two types of "active" biomass-degrading enzymes (i.e., starch hydrolysis enzymes and cellulose hydrolysis enzymes) from Aspergillus niger secretome in a multiplexed fashion. By determining protein elution profiles of 156 proteins in A. niger secretome, we confidently identified the 1,4-α-glucosidase as the major "active" starch hydrolysis enzyme (R = 0.96) and the endoglucanase as the major "active" cellulose hydrolysis enzyme (R = 0.97). The results demonstrated that the ACPP facilitated the discovery of bioactive enzymes from complex protein samples in a high-throughput, multiplexing, and untargeted fashion. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.

  18. Finding Biomass Degrading Enzymes Through an Activity-Correlated Quantitative Proteomics Platform (ACPP)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ma, Hongyan; Delafield, Daniel G.; Wang, Zhe; You, Jianlan; Wu, Si

    2017-04-01

    The microbial secretome, known as a pool of biomass (i.e., plant-based materials) degrading enzymes, can be utilized to discover industrial enzyme candidates for biofuel production. Proteomics approaches have been applied to discover novel enzyme candidates through comparing protein expression profiles with enzyme activity of the whole secretome under different growth conditions. However, the activity measurement of each enzyme candidate is needed for confident "active" enzyme assignments, which remains to be elucidated. To address this challenge, we have developed an Activity-Correlated Quantitative Proteomics Platform (ACPP) that systematically correlates protein-level enzymatic activity patterns and protein elution profiles using a label-free quantitative proteomics approach. The ACPP optimized a high performance anion exchange separation for efficiently fractionating complex protein samples while preserving enzymatic activities. The detected enzymatic activity patterns in sequential fractions using microplate-based assays were cross-correlated with protein elution profiles using a customized pattern-matching algorithm with a correlation R-score. The ACPP has been successfully applied to the identification of two types of "active" biomass-degrading enzymes (i.e., starch hydrolysis enzymes and cellulose hydrolysis enzymes) from Aspergillus niger secretome in a multiplexed fashion. By determining protein elution profiles of 156 proteins in A. niger secretome, we confidently identified the 1,4-α-glucosidase as the major "active" starch hydrolysis enzyme (R = 0.96) and the endoglucanase as the major "active" cellulose hydrolysis enzyme (R = 0.97). The results demonstrated that the ACPP facilitated the discovery of bioactive enzymes from complex protein samples in a high-throughput, multiplexing, and untargeted fashion.

  19. Characterization of atrial natriuretic peptide degradation by cell-surface peptidase activity on endothelial cells

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Frost, S. J.; Whitson, P. A.

    1993-01-01

    Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is a fluid-regulating peptide hormone that promotes vasorelaxation, natriuresis, and diuresis. The mechanisms for the release of ANP and for its clearance from the circulation play important roles in modulating its biological effects. Recently, we have reported that the cell surface of an endothelial cell line, CPA47, could degrade 125I-ANP in the presence of EDTA. In this study, we have characterized this degradation of 125I-ANP. The kinetics of ANP degradation by the surface of CPA47 cells were first order, with a Km of 320 +/- 60 nM and Vmax of 35 +/- 14 pmol of ANP degraded/10 min/10(5) cells at pH 7.4. ANP is degraded by the surface of CPA47 cells over a broad pH range from 7.0-8.5. Potato carboxypeptidase inhibitor and bestatin inhibited 125I-ANP degradation, suggesting that this degradative activity on the surface of CPA47 cells has exopeptidase characteristics. The selectivity of CPA47 cell-surface degradation of ANP was demonstrated when 125I-ANP degradation was inhibited in the presence of neuropeptide Y and angiotensin I and II but not bradykinin, bombesin, endothelin-1, or substance P. The C-terminal amino acids phe26 and tyr28 were deduced to be important for ANP interaction with the cell-surface peptidase(s) based on comparison of the IC50 of various ANP analogues and other natriuretic peptides for the inhibition of ANP degradation. These data suggest that a newly characterized divalent cation-independent exopeptidase(s) that selectively recognizes ANP and some other vasoactive peptides exists on the surface of endothelial cells.

  20. Time-resolved spectroscopy of solid poly/1-vinyl naphthalene/ following electron beam pulse radiolysis - Pulse radiolytic studies on polymers

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Coulter, D. R.; Liang, R. H.; Di Stefano, S.; Moacanin, J.; Gupta, A.

    1982-01-01

    Transient emission studies following pulse radiolysis of solid poly(1-vinyl naphthalene) show existence of excited monomers and two excimers. Quenching experiments indicate that excimers are not formed directly by recombination of ions but probably by trapping of migrating monomeric excitation in preformed traps whose density is approximately one in 1000.

  1. Concentration-dependent antagonistic persuasion of SDS and naphthalene derivatives on the fibrillation of stem bromelain.

    PubMed

    Qadeer, Atiyatul; Ahmad, Ejaz; Zaman, Masihuz; Khan, Mohd Wasif; Khan, Javed Masood; Rabbani, Gulam; Tarique, Khaja Faisal; Sharma, Gaurav; Gourinath, Samudrala; Nadeem, Sajid; Badr, Gamal; Khan, Rizwan Hasan

    2013-12-01

    Sodium dodecyl sulfate, a biological membrane mimetic, can be used to study the conversion of globular proteins into amyloid fibrils in vitro. Using multiple approaches, the effect of SDS was examined on stem bromelain (SB), a widely recognized therapeutic protein. SB is known to exist as a partially folded intermediate at pH 2.0, situation also encountered in the gastrointestinal tract (its site of absorption). In the presence of sub-micellar SDS concentration (500-1000 μM), this intermediate was found to exhibit great propensity to form large-sized β-sheeted aggregates with fibrillar morphology, the hall marks of amyloid structure. We also observed inhibition of fibrillation by two naphthalene-based compounds, ANS and bis-ANS. While bis-ANS significantly inhibited fibril formation at 50 μM, ANS did so at relatively higher concentration (400 μM). Alcohols, but not salts, were found to weaken the inhibitory action of these compounds suggesting the possible involvement of hydrophobic interactions in their binding to protein. Besides, isothermal titration calorimetry and molecular docking studies suggested that inhibition of fibrillation by these naphthalene derivatives is mediated not just through hydrophobic forces, but also by disruption of π-π interactions between the aromatic residues together with the inter-polypeptide chain repulsion among negatively charged ANS/bis-ANS bound SB. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  2. Cooked blueberries: anthocyanin and anthocyanidin degradation and their radical-scavenging activity.

    PubMed

    Oliveira, Carla; Amaro, L Filipe; Pinho, Olivia; Ferreira, Isabel M P L V O

    2010-08-25

    This study examined anthocyanin and anthocyanidin composition and radical-scavenging activity of three cultivars of blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L., cv. Bluecrop, Bluetravel, and Ozarkblue) before and after cooking. A total of 13 anthocyanins were separated and monitored in methanolic extracts of raw fruits by high-performance liquid chromatography/diode array detector (HPLC/DAD). Principal component analysis using the anthocyanin profile as variables revealed differences according to cultivar origin. Of the six common anthocyanidins, four were identified and quantified in the hydrolysates, namely, malvidin, the most abundant, followed by cyanidin, petunidin, and delphynidin. A systematic evaluation of the degradation of anthocyanins and anthocyanidins of blueberries cooked in stuffed fish was performed. The percentage of anthocyanin degradation in cooked blueberries (by progressive heating from 12 to 99 °C for 60 min) ranged between 16 and 30% for Bluecrop, 30-42% for Bluetravel, and 12-41% for Ozarkblue. However, cooked blueberries maintained or increased radical-scavenging activity when evaluated by the 1,1'-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. Overall, results show that cooked blueberries can serve as a good source of bioactive phytochemicals.

  3. MDM2 restrains estrogen-mediated AKT activation by promoting TBK1-dependent HPIP degradation

    PubMed Central

    Shostak, K; Patrascu, F; Göktuna, S I; Close, P; Borgs, L; Nguyen, L; Olivier, F; Rammal, A; Brinkhaus, H; Bentires-Alj, M; Marine, J-C; Chariot, A

    2014-01-01

    Restoration of p53 tumor suppressor function through inhibition of its interaction and/or enzymatic activity of its E3 ligase, MDM2, is a promising therapeutic approach to treat cancer. However, because the MDM2 targetome extends beyond p53, MDM2 inhibition may also cause unwanted activation of oncogenic pathways. Accordingly, we identified the microtubule-associated HPIP, a positive regulator of oncogenic AKT signaling, as a novel MDM2 substrate. MDM2-dependent HPIP degradation occurs in breast cancer cells on its phosphorylation by the estrogen-activated kinase TBK1. Importantly, decreasing Mdm2 gene dosage in mouse mammary epithelial cells potentiates estrogen-dependent AKT activation owing to HPIP stabilization. In addition, we identified HPIP as a novel p53 transcriptional target, and pharmacological inhibition of MDM2 causes p53-dependent increase in HPIP transcription and also prevents HPIP degradation by turning off TBK1 activity. Our data indicate that p53 reactivation through MDM2 inhibition may result in ectopic AKT oncogenic activity by maintaining HPIP protein levels. PMID:24488098

  4. Collagen degradation and preservation of MMP-8 activity in human dentine matrix after demineralization.

    PubMed

    Hedenbjörk-Lager, Anders; Hamberg, Kristina; Pääkkönen, Virve; Tjäderhane, Leo; Ericson, Dan

    2016-08-01

    Dental caries is a process driven by acids produced by oral microorganisms followed by degradation of the dentine collagen matrix by proteolytic enzymes. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been suggested to contribute to caries by degrading collagen. The aim of this study was to develop a method for generating demineralized dentine matrix substrate (DDM) maintaining MMP-8 bioactivity and no interference with later assays. Such a substrate would allow study of the effects of various treatments on MMP-8 activity and collagen degradation in demineralized dentine. Human dentine was powderized in a tissue grinder and frozen (-80°C). The powder was demineralized in dialysis tubes, using EDTA or acetic acid. The demineralized dentine matrix (DDM) was harvested and analyzed for collagen content using SDS-PAGE. The DDM was subsequently suspended in PBS or TESCA buffer. Protein, MMP-8 (ELISA) and collagen (HYP) was analyzed directly or after 1 wk. EDTA or acid demineralization of dentine using dialysis yielded a substrate rich in collagen coupled with preserved MMP-8 activity. Collagen degraded in room temperature, assessed by higher HYP amounts in the soluble fraction of DDM after one wk, indicating that the methods used preserved active DDM-components after the demineralization process. The presented demineralization methods both provided insoluble DDM substrates suitable for further intervention studies. However, it was found that the substrates differed depending on the demineralization method and buffers used. This needs further study to find an optimal technique for generating DDM with retained proteins as well as enzymatic bioactivity. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  5. Magnetic carbon-supported cobalt derived from a Prussian blue analogue as a heterogeneous catalyst to activate peroxymonosulfate for efficient degradation of caffeine in water.

    PubMed

    Lin, Kun-Yi Andrew; Chen, Bo-Jau

    2017-01-15

    Extensive usage of caffeine (CAF) as a medicine and additives in beverages has led to increasing presence of CAF in wastewater and even drinking water. To remove CAF, peroxymonosulfate (PMS), is adopted to generate sulfate radical to degrade CAF in water. To facilitate PMS activation, a magnetic carbon-supported cobalt (MC/Co) hybrid material is prepared via carbonization of a cobalt-containing Prussian blue analogue framework (Co 3 [Co(CN) 6 ] 2 ). The resultant MC/Co contains Co and Co 3 O 4 nanoparticles supported on a carbon matrix, making it an attractive magnetic catalyst to activate PMS for degrading CAF. MC/Co-activated PMS was shown to degrade CAF much more effectively than PMS and Co 3 O 4 -activated PMS. Parameters affecting CAF degradation by MC/Co-activated PMS were also examined, including MC/Co and PMS concentrations, temperature, pH, and salt. Effects of radical quenchers were also examined to provide insights into the CAF degradation mechanism. MC/Co-activated PMS was much more favorable at higher temperatures than ambient temperature, and under neutral conditions. Nevertheless, the presence of concentrated NaCl noticeably hindered CAF degradation. Through examining effects of radical quenchers, the mechanism of CAF degradation by MC/Co-activated PMS was attributed primarily to sulfate radicals and hydroxyl radicals to a lesser extent. The degradation products of CAF by MC/Co-activated PMS were also identified and a possible degradation pathway is proposed. MC/Co can activate PMS over multiple cycles without loss of catalytic activity. These findings demonstrate that MC/Co, simply prepared from simple carbonization of Co 3 [Co(CN) 6 ] 2 can be a promising heterogeneous catalyst for activating PMS to degrade CAF. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  6. Considerations of the Effects of Naphthalene Moieties on the Design of Proton-Conductive Poly(arylene ether ketone) Membranes for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells.

    PubMed

    Wang, Baolong; Hong, Lihua; Li, Yunfeng; Zhao, Liang; Wei, Yuxue; Zhao, Chengji; Na, Hui

    2016-09-14

    Novel sulfonated poly(arylene ether ketones) (SDN-PAEK-x), consisting of dual naphthalene and flexible sulfoalkyl groups, were prepared via polycondensation, demethylation, and sulfobutylation grafting reaction. Among them, SDN-PAEK-1.94 membrane with the highest ion exchange capacity (IEC = 2.46 mequiv·g(-1)) exhibited the highest proton conductivity, which was 0.147 S· cm(-1) at 25 °C and 0.271 S·cm(-1) at 80 °C, respectively. The introduction of dual naphthalene moieties is expected to achieve much enhanced properties compared to those of sulfonated poly(arylene ether ketones) (SNPAEK-x), consisting of single naphthalene and flexible sulfoalkyl groups. Compared with SNPAEK-1.60 with a similar IEC, SDN-PAEK-1.74 membrane showed higher proton conductivity, higher IEC normalized conductivity, and higher effective proton mobility, although it had lower analytical acid concentration. The SDN-PAEK-x membranes with IECs higher than 1.96 mequiv·g(-1) also exhibited higher proton conductivity than that of recast Nafion membrane. Furthermore, SDN-PAEK-1.94 displayed a better single cell performance with a maximum power density of 60 mW·cm(-2) at 80 °C. Considering its high proton conductivity, excellent single cell performance, good mechanical stabilities, low membrane swelling, and methanol permeability, SDN-PAEK-x membranes are promising candidates as alternative polymer electrolyte membranes to Nafion for direct methanol fuel cell applications.

  7. Effect of phytoremediation on concentrations of benzene, toluene, naphthalene, and dissolved oxygen in groundwater at a former manufactured gas plant site, Charleston, South Carolina, USA, 1998–2014

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Landmeyer, James E.; Effinger, Thomas N.

    2016-01-01

    Concentrations of benzene, toluene, naphthalene, and dissolved oxygen in groundwater at a former manufactured gas plant site near Charleston, South Carolina, USA, have been monitored since the installation of a phytoremediation system of hybrid poplar trees in 1998. Between 2000 and 2014, the concentrations of benzene, toluene, and naphthalene (BT&N) in groundwater in the planted area have decreased. For example, in the monitoring well containing the highest concentrations of BT&N, benzene concentrations decreased from 10,200 µg/L to less than 4000 µg/L, toluene concentrations decreased from 2420 µg/L to less than 20 µg/L, and naphthalene concentrations decreased from 6840 µg/L to less than 3000 µg/L. Concentrations of BT&N in groundwater in all wells were observed to be lower during the summer months relative to the winter months of a particular year during the first few years after installing the phytoremediation system, most likely due to increased transpiration and contaminant uptake by the hybrid poplar trees during the warm summer months; this pathway of uptake by trees was confirmed by the detection of benzene, toluene, and naphthalene in trees during sampling events in 2002, and later in the study in 2012. These data suggest that the phytoremediation system affects the groundwater contaminants on a seasonal basis and, over multiple years, has resulted in a cumulative decrease in dissolved-phase contaminant concentrations in groundwater. The removal of dissolved organic contaminants from the aquifer has resulted in a lower demand on dissolved oxygen supplied by recharge and, as a result, the redox status of the groundwater has changed from anoxic to oxic conditions. This study provides much needed information for water managers and other scientists on the viability of the long-term effectiveness of phytoremediation in decreasing groundwater contaminants and increasing dissolved oxygen at sites contaminated by benzene, toluene, and naphthalene.

  8. Effect of ultrasonic degradation of hyaluronic acid extracted from rooster comb on antioxidant and antiglycation activities.

    PubMed

    Hafsa, Jawhar; Chaouch, Mohamed Aymen; Charfeddine, Bassem; Rihouey, Christophe; Limem, Khalifa; Le Cerf, Didier; Rouatbi, Sonia; Majdoub, Hatem

    2017-12-01

    Recently, low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid (LMWHA) has been reported to have novel features, such as free radical scavenging activities, antioxidant activities and dietary supplements. In this study, hyaluronic acid (HA) was extracted from rooster comb and LMWHA was obtained by ultrasonic degradation in order to assess their antioxidant and antiglycation activities. Molecular weight (Mw) and the content of glucuronic acid (GlcA) were used as the index for comparison of the effect of ultrasonic treatment. The effects on the structure were determined by ultraviolet (UV) spectra and Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR). The antioxidant activity was determined by three analytical assays (DPPH, NO and TBARS), and the inhibitory effect against glycated-BSA was also assessed. The GlcA content of HA and LMWHA was estimated at about 48.6% and 47.3%, respectively. The results demonstrate that ultrasonic irradiation decreases the Mw (1090-181 kDa) and intrinsic viscosity (1550-473 mL/g), which indicate the cleavage of the glycosidic bonds. The FTIR and UV spectra did not significantly change before and after degradation. The IC 50 value of HA and LWMHA was 1.43, 0.76 and 0.36 mg/mL and 1.20, 0.89 and 0.17 mg/mL toward DPPH, NO and TBARS, respectively. Likewise LMWHA exhibited significant inhibitory effects on the AGEs formation than HA. The results demonstrated that the ultrasonic irradiation did not damage and change the chemical structure of HA after degradation; furthermore, decreasing Mw and viscosity of LMWHA after degradation may enhance the antioxidant and antiglycation activity.

  9. Uncertainties in monitoring of SVOCs in air caused by within-sampler degradation during active and passive air sampling

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Melymuk, Lisa; Bohlin-Nizzetto, Pernilla; Prokeš, Roman; Kukučka, Petr; Přibylová, Petra; Vojta, Šimon; Kohoutek, Jiří; Lammel, Gerhard; Klánová, Jana

    2017-10-01

    Degradation of semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) occurs naturally in ambient air due to reactions with reactive trace gases (e.g., ozone, NOx). During air sampling there is also the possibility for degradation of SVOCs within the air sampler, leading to underestimates of ambient air concentrations. We investigated the possibility of this sampling artifact in commonly used active and passive air samplers for seven classes of SVOCs, including persistent organic pollutants (POPs) typically covered by air monitoring programs, as well as SVOCs of emerging concern. Two active air samplers were used, one equipped with an ozone denuder and one without, to compare relative differences in mass of collected compounds. Two sets of passive samplers were also deployed to determine the influence of degradation during longer deployment times in passive sampling. In active air samplers, comparison of the two sampling configurations suggested degradation of particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), with concentrations up to 2× higher in the denuder-equipped sampler, while halogenated POPs did not have clear evidence of degradation. In contrast, more polar, reactive compounds (e.g., organophosphate esters and current use pesticides) had evidence of losses in the sampler with denuder. This may be caused by the denuder itself, suggesting sampling bias for these compounds can be created when typical air sampling apparatuses are adapted to limit degradation. Passive air samplers recorded up to 4× higher concentrations when deployed for shorter consecutive sampling periods, suggesting that within-sampler degradation may also be relevant in passive air monitoring programs.

  10. Thermal stability, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activity of curcumin and its degradation product 4-vinyl guaiacol.

    PubMed

    Esatbeyoglu, Tuba; Ulbrich, Katrin; Rehberg, Clemens; Rohn, Sascha; Rimbach, Gerald

    2015-03-01

    Curcumin is a secondary plant metabolite present in Curcuma longa L. Since curcumin is widely used as a food colorant in thermally processed food it may undergo substantial chemical changes which in turn could affect its biological activity. In the current study, curcumin was roasted at 180 °C up to 70 minutes and its kinetic of degradation was analyzed by means of HPLC-PDA and LC-MS, respectively. Roasting of curcumin resulted in the formation of the degradation products vanillin, ferulic acid, and 4-vinyl guaiacol. In cultured hepatocytes roasted curcumin as well as 4-vinyl guaiacol enhanced the transactivation of the redox-regulated transcription factor Nrf2, known to be centrally involved in cellular stress response and antioxidant defense mechanisms. The antioxidant enzyme paraoxonase 1 was induced by roasted curcumin and 4-vinyl guaiacol. Furthermore, roasted curcumin and 4-vinyl guaiacol decreased interleukin-6 gene expression in lipopolysaccharide stimulated murine macrophages. Current data suggest that curcumin undergoes degradation due to roasting and its degradation product exhibit significant biological activity in cultured cells.

  11. [Effect of dopamine on the activity of matrix metalloproteinases and degradation of dentin collagen].

    PubMed

    Xu, Qiangjian; Li, Quanli; Chen, Jialong; Zhang, Weibo; Wu, Xiaoting; Cao, Ying

    2015-03-01

    To investigate the inhibition effect of dopamine on the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and the effect of dopamine on degradation of dentin collagen for its potential use in caries treatment and dentin adhesive. In the experiment of MMP activity test, 2.0 g/L dopamine + 1.0 g/L highly purified collagenase type VIII from Clostridium histolyticum served as the experimental group, and deionized water + 1.0 g/L highly purified collagenase type VIII from Clostridium histolyticum served as the negative control group, and 2% chlorhexidine + 1.0 g/L highly purified collagenase type VIII from Clostridium histolyticum served as the positive control group, and the mixture volume ratio of the two ingredients in every group was 1:9. After 15 minutes, the enzyme activity of each sample was tested by MMP activity colerimetric quantitative detection kits, and the test was repeated 5 times in each group. In the experiment of collagen degradation, the dentin slices were demineralized with 37% phosphoric acid for 1 min. In sequence, 2 dentin slices were used to observe the morphology, and the remaining 30 dentine slices were randomly divided into three groups (n = 10) according to random number table: the negative control ones were stored in 100 µl deionized water and 900 µl collagenase (7 days, 37 °C), the positive control ones were stored in 100 µl chlorhexidine and 900 µl collagenase (7 days, 37 °C) and the experimental specimens were stored in 100 µl dopamine and 900 µl collagenase (7 days, 37 °C). The degraded collagen was investigated by assaying hydroxyproline. The framework of collagen was evaluated with field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). The statistical results of completely random design ANOVA showed that the MMP activity and the amount of degraded collagen of the negative control group [(0.089 ± 0.011) µmol · min⁻¹ · mg⁻¹ and (2 837 ± 201) µg/cm²] were significantly higher than those of the positive control group [(0

  12. Degradation reaction of Diazo reactive black 5 dye with copper (II) sulfate catalyst in thermolysis treatment.

    PubMed

    Lau, Yen-Yie; Wong, Yee-Shian; Ang, Tze-Zhang; Ong, Soon-An; Lutpi, Nabilah Aminah; Ho, Li-Ngee

    2018-03-01

    The theme of present research demonstrates performance of copper (II) sulfate (CuSO 4 ) as catalyst in thermolysis process to treat reactive black 5 (RB 5) dye. During thermolysis without presence of catalyst, heat was converted to thermal energy to break the enthalpy of chemical structure bonding and only 31.62% of color removal. With CuSO 4 support as auxiliary agent, the thermally cleaved molecular structure was further destabilized and reacted with CuSO 4 . Copper ions functioned to delocalize the coordination of π of the lone paired electron in azo bond, C=C bond of the sp 2 carbon to form C-C of the sp 3 amorphous carbon in benzene and naphthalene. Further, the radicals of unpaired electrons were stabilized and RB 5 was thermally decomposed to methyl group. Zeta potential measurement was carried out to analyze the mechanism of RB 5 degradation and measurement at 0 mV verified the critical chemical concentration (CCC) (0.7 g/L copper (II) sulfate), as the maximum 92.30% color removal. The presence of copper (II) sulfate catalyst has remarkably increase the RB 5 dye degradation as the degradation rate constant without catalyst, k 1 is 6.5224 whereas the degradation rate constant with catalyst, k 2 is 25.6810. This revealed the correlation of conversion of thermal energy from heat to break the chemical bond strength, subsequent fragmentation of RB 5 dye molecular mediated by copper (II) sulfate catalyst. The novel framework on thermolysis degradation of molecular structure of RB 5 with respect to the bond enthalpy and interfacial intermediates decomposition with catalyst reaction were determined.

  13. Effect of Naphthalene Acetic Acid on Adventitious Root Development and Associated Physiological Changes in Stem Cutting of Hemarthria compressa

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, Xin-Quan; Yang, Wen-Yu; Wan, Yan; Ma, Ying-Mei; Zhu, Yong-Qun; Peng, Yan; Huang, Lin-Kai

    2014-01-01

    In order to find a way to induce rooting on cuttings of Hemarthria compressa cv. Ya’an under controlled conditions, a project was carried out to study the effect of naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) on rooting in stem cuttings and related physiological changes during the rooting process of Hemarthria compressa. The cuttings were treated with five concentrations of NAA (0, 100, 200 300, 400 mg/l) at three soaking durations (10, 20, 30 minutes), and cuttings without treatment were considered as control. Samples were planted immediately into pots after treatment. IAA-oxidase (IAAO) activity, peroxidase (POD) activity and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity were determined after planting. Results showed that NAA had positive effect on rooting at the concentration of 200 mg/l compared to other concentrations at 30 days after planting (DAP). Among the three soaking durations, 20 minutes (min) of 200 mg/l NAA resulted in higher percentages of rooting, larger numbers of adventitious roots and heavier root dry weight per cutting. The lowest IAAO activity was obtained when soaked at 200 mg/l NAA for 20 min soaking duration. This was consistent with the best rooting ability, indicating that the lower IAAO activity, the higher POD activity and PPO activity could be used as an indicator of better rooting ability for whip grass cuttings and might serve as a good marker for rooting ability in cuttings. PMID:24595064

  14. Re-activation of degraded nickel cermet anodes - Nano-particle formation via reverse current pulses

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hauch, A.; Marchese, M.; Lanzini, A.; Graves, C.

    2018-02-01

    The Ni/yttria-stabilized-zirconia (YSZ) cermet is the most commonly applied fuel electrode for solid oxide cells (SOCs). Loss of Ni/YSZ electrode activity is a key life-time limiting factor of the SOC. Developing means to mitigate this loss of performance or re-activate a fuel electrode is therefore important. In this work, we report a series of five tests on state-of-the-art Ni/YSZ-YSZ-CGObarrier-LSC/CGO cells. All cells were deliberately degraded via gas stream impurities in CO2/CO or harsh steam electrolysis operation. The cells were re-activated via a variety of reverse current treatments (RCTs). Via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, we found that the Ni/YSZ electrode performance could be recovered via RCT, but not via constant fuel cell operation. For optimized RCT, we obtained a lower Ni/YSZ electrode resistance than the initial resistance. E.g. at 700 °C we measured fuel electrode resistance of 180 mΩ cm2, 390 mΩ cm2, and 159 mΩ cm2 before degradation, after degradation and after re-activation via RCT, respectively. Post-test SEM revealed that the RCT led to formation of nano-particles in the fuel electrode. Besides the remarkable improvement, the results also showed that RCTs can weaken Ni/YSZ interfaces and the electrode/electrolyte interface. This indicates that finding an optimum RCT profile is crucial for achieving maximum benefit.

  15. Penetration of naphthalene, n-hexadecane, and 2,4-dinitrotoluene into southern yellow pine under conditions modeling spills and floods

    Treesearch

    I.E. Popova; M.K. Beklemishev; C.R. Frihart; W.S. Seames; T.J. Sundstrom; E.I. Kozliak

    2006-01-01

    This paper investigates the penetration of three common contaminants into building grade southern yellow pine wood samples under the conditions experienced during chemical spills. Contaminants (n-hexadecane, naphthalene, and 2,4-dinitrotoluene) were applied in their 14C-labeled forms to 5-to 9-cm-long pieces of southern yellow pine at ambient conditions. The impact of...

  16. The effects of ultraviolet light on the degradation of organic compounds - A possible explanation for the absence of organic matter on Mars

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Oro, J.; Holzer, G.

    1979-01-01

    The analysis of the top layer of the Martian regolith at the two Viking landing sites did not reveal any indigenous organic compounds. However, the existence of such compounds at deeper layers cannot be ruled out. Cosmochemical considerations indicate various potential sources for organic matter on Mars, such as comets and meteorites. The study tested the stability of a sample of the Murchison meteorite and various organic substances which have been detected in carbonaceous chondrites, such as glycine, adenine and naphthalene, to the action of ultraviolet light. The compounds were adsorbed on powdered quartz and on California desert soil and were irradiated in the presence or absence of oxygen. The organic content, before and after irradiation, was measured by carbon elementary analysis, UV-absorption, amino acid analysis or pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. In the absence of oxygen, adenine and glycine appear to be stable over the given part of irradiation. A definite degradation was noticed in the case of naphtalene and the Murchison meteorite. In the presence of oxygen in amounts comparable to those on Mars all compounds were degraded. The degree of degradation was influenced by the irradiation time, temperature and oxygen content.

  17. Removal Capacities of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) by a Newly Isolated Strain from Oilfield Produced Water

    PubMed Central

    Qi, Yi-Bin; Wang, Chen-Yu; Lv, Cheng-Yuan; Lun, Zeng-Min; Zheng, Cheng-Gang

    2017-01-01

    The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-degrading strain Q8 was isolated from oilfield produced water. According to the analysis of a biochemical test, 16S rRNA gene, house-keeping genes and DNA–DNA hybridization, strain Q8 was assigned to a novel species of the genus Gordonia. The strain could not only grow in mineral salt medium (MM) and utilize naphthalene and pyrene as its sole carbon source, but also degraded mixed naphthalene, phenanthrene, anthracene and pyrene. The degradation ratio of these four PAHs reached 100%, 95.4%, 73.8% and 53.4% respectively after being degraded by Q8 for seven days. A comparative experiment found that the PAHs degradation efficiency of Q8 is higher than that of Gordonia alkaliphila and Gordonia paraffinivorans, which have the capacities to remove PAHs. Fourier transform infrared spectra, saturate, aromatic, resin and asphaltene (SARA) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis of crude oil degraded by Q8 were also studied. The results showed that Q8 could utilize n-alkanes and PAHs in crude oil. The relative proportions of the naphthalene series, phenanthrene series, thiophene series, fluorene series, chrysene series, C21-triaromatic steroid, pyrene, and benz(a)pyrene were reduced after being degraded by Q8. Gordonia sp. nov. Q8 had the capacity to remediate water and soil environments contaminated by PAHs or crude oil, and provided a feasible way for the bioremediation of PAHs and oil pollution. PMID:28241412

  18. PEGylated single-walled carbon nanotubes activate neutrophils to increase production of hypochlorous acid, the oxidant capable of degrading nanotubes

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Vlasova, Irina I., E-mail: irina.vlasova@yahoo.com; Vakhrusheva, Tatyana V.; Sokolov, Alexey V.

    Perspectives for the use of carbon nanotubes in biomedical applications depend largely on their ability to degrade in the body into products that can be easily cleared out. Carboxylated single-walled carbon nanotubes (c-SWCNTs) were shown to be degraded by oxidants generated by peroxidases in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. In the present study we demonstrated that conjugation of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) to c-SWCNTs does not interfere with their degradation by peroxidase/H{sub 2}O{sub 2} system or by hypochlorite. Comparison of different heme-containing proteins for their ability to degrade PEG-SWCNTs has led us to conclude that the myeloperoxidase (MPO) product hypochlorous acidmore » (HOCl) is the major oxidant that may be responsible for biodegradation of PEG-SWCNTs in vivo. MPO is secreted mainly by neutrophils upon activation. We hypothesize that SWCNTs may enhance neutrophil activation and therefore stimulate their own biodegradation due to MPO-generated HOCl. PEG-SWCNTs at concentrations similar to those commonly used in in vivo studies were found to activate isolated human neutrophils to produce HOCl. Both PEG-SWCNTs and c-SWCNTs enhanced HOCl generation from isolated neutrophils upon serum-opsonized zymosan stimulation. Both types of nanotubes were also found to activate neutrophils in whole blood samples. Intraperitoneal injection of a low dose of PEG-SWCNTs into mice induced an increase in percentage of circulating neutrophils and activation of neutrophils and macrophages in the peritoneal cavity, suggesting the evolution of an inflammatory response. Activated neutrophils can produce high local concentrations of HOCl, thereby creating the conditions favorable for degradation of the nanotubes. -- Highlights: ► Myeloperoxidase (MPO) product hypochlorous acid is able to degrade CNTs. ► PEGylated SWCNTs stimulate isolated neutrophils to produce hypochlorous acid. ► SWCNTs are capable of activating neutrophils in blood samples. ► Activation of

  19. Reduction of benzene and naphthalene mass transfer from crude oils by aging-induced interfacial films.

    PubMed

    Ghoshal, Subhasis; Pasion, Catherine; Alshafie, Mohammed

    2004-04-01

    Semi-rigid films or skins form at the interface of crude oil and water as a result of the accumulation of asphaltene and resin fractions when the water-immiscible crude oil is contacted with water for a period of time or "aged". The time varying patterns of area-independent mass transfer coefficients of two compounds, benzene and naphthalene, for dissolution from crude oil and gasoline were determined. Aqueous concentrations of the compounds were measured in the eluent from flow-through reactors, where a nondispersed oil phase and constant oil-water interfacial area were maintained. For Brent Blend crude oil and for gasoline amended with asphaltenes and resins, a rapid decrease in both benzene and naphthalene mass transfer coefficients over the first few days of aging was observed. The mass transfer coefficients of the two target solutes were reduced by up to 80% over 35 d although the equilibrium partition coefficients were unchanged. Aging of gasoline, which has negligible amounts of asphaltene and resin, did not result in a change in the solute mass transfer coefficients. The study demonstrates that formation of crude oil-water interfacial films comprised of asphaltenes and resins contribute to time-dependent decreases in rates of release of environmentally relevant solutes from crude oils and may contribute to the persistence of such solutes at crude oil-contaminated sites. It is estimated that the interfacial film has an extremely low film mass transfer coefficient in the range of 10(-6) cm/min.

  20. Gas-particle distributions, sources and health effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) in Venice aerosols.

    PubMed

    Gregoris, Elena; Argiriadis, Elena; Vecchiato, Marco; Zambon, Stefano; De Pieri, Silvia; Donateo, Antonio; Contini, Daniele; Piazza, Rossano; Barbante, Carlo; Gambaro, Andrea

    2014-04-01

    Air samples were collected in Venice during summer 2009 and 2012 to measure gas and particulate concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs). PCB-11, considered a marker for non-Aroclor contamination of the environment, was found for the first time in the Venetian lagoon and in Europe. An investigation on sources has been conducted, evidencing traffic as the major source of PAHs, whereas PCBs have a similar composition to Aroclor 1248 and 1254; in 2009 a release of PCN-42 has been hypothesized. Toxicological evaluation by TCA and TEQ methods, conducted for the first time in Venice air samples, identified BaP, PCB-126 and PCB-169 as the most important contributors to the total carcinogenic activity of PAHs and the total dioxin-like activity of PCBs and PCNs. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  1. Electronic absorption spectra of hydrogenated protonated naphthalene and proflavine

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bonaca, A.; Bilalbegović, G.

    2011-09-01

    We study hydrogenated cations of two polycyclic hydrocarbon molecules as models of hydrogenated organic species that form in the interstellar medium. Optical spectra of the hydrogenated naphthalene cation Hn-C10H+8 for n= 1, 2 and 10, as well as the astrobiologically interesting hydrogenated proflavine cation Hn-C13H11N+3 for n= 1 and 14, are calculated. The pseudopotential time-dependent density functional theory is used. It is found that the fully hydrogenated proflavine cation H14-C13H11N+3 shows a broad spectrum in which the positions of individual lines are almost lost. The positions, shapes and intensities of lines change in hydronaphthalene and hydroproflavine cations, showing that hydrogen additions induce substantially different optical spectra in comparison with base polycyclic hydrocarbon cations. One calculated line in the visible spectrum of H10-C10H+8 and one in the visible spectrum of H-C13H11N+3 are close to the measured diffuse interstellar bands. We also present the positions of near-ultraviolet lines.

  2. Metabolite secretion, Fe(3+)-reducing activity and wood degradation by the white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor ATCC 20869.

    PubMed

    Aguiar, André; Gavioli, Daniela; Ferraz, André

    2014-11-01

    Trametes versicolor is a promising white-rot fungus for the biological pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass. In the present work, T. versicolor ATCC 20869 was grown on Pinus taeda wood chips under solid-state fermentation conditions to examine the wood-degrading mechanisms employed by this fungus. Samples that were subjected to fungal pretreatment for one-, two- and four-week periods were investigated. The average mass loss ranged from 5 % to 8 % (m m(-)(1)). The polysaccharides were preferentially degraded: hemicellulose and glucan losses reached 13.4 % and 6.9 % (m m(-)(1)) after four weeks of cultivation, respectively. Crude enzyme extracts were obtained and assayed using specific substrates and their enzymatic activities were measured. Xylanases were the predominant enzymes, while cellobiohydrolase activities were marginally detected. Endoglucanase activity, β-glucosidase activity, and wood glucan losses increased up to the second week of biodegradation and remained constant after that time. Although no lignin-degrading enzyme activity was detected, the lignin loss reached 7.5 % (m m(-)(1)). Soluble oxalic acid was detected in trace quantities. After the first week of biodegradation, the Fe(3+)-reducing activity steadily increased with time, but the activity levels were always lower than those observed in the undecayed wood. The progressive wood polymer degradation appeared related to the secretion of hydrolytic enzymes, as well as to Fe(3+)-reducing activity, which was restored in the cultures after the first week of biodegradation. Copyright © 2014 The British Mycological Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  3. Reduced biodegradability of desorption-resistant fractions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil and aquifer solids

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    White, J.C.; Alexander, M.

    1996-11-01

    Less of the desorption-resistant fractions of phenanthrene and naphthalene than freshly added phenanthrene and naphthalene was mineralized in columns of aquifer solids, loam, or muck. Slurrying columns of hydrocarbon-amended aquifer solids, loam, or muck enhanced the rate and extent of mineralization of desorption-resistant phenanthrene and naphthalene, but degradation was still less than in slurries amended with fresh compound. A substantial portion of the desorption-resistant compound remained undergraded in the slurry. A surfactant and methanol increased the mineralization of resistant phenanthrene in slurries of loam. A mixed culture of microorganisms enriched on desorption-resistant phenanthrene degraded twice as much of this fractionmore » of compound as a pseudomonad. The authors suggest that predictions of the environment fate of toxic chemicals require information on the biodegradability of the fraction of a compound that is resistant to desorption.« less

  4. Screening of SDS-degrading bacteria from car wash wastewater and study of the alkylsulfatase enzyme activity

    PubMed Central

    Shahbazi, Razieh; Kasra-Kermanshahi, Roha; Gharavi, Sara; Moosavi-Nejad, Zahra; Borzooee, Faezeh

    2013-01-01

    Background and Objectives Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) is one of the main surfactant components in detergents and cosmetics, used in high amounts as a detergent in products such as shampoos, car wash soap and toothpaste. Therefore, its bioremediation by suitable microorganisms is important. Alkylsulfatase is an enzyme that hydrolyses sulfate -ester bonds to give inorganic sulfate and alcohol. The purpose of this study was to isolate SDS–degrading bacteria from Tehran city car wash wastewater, study bacterial alkylsulfatase enzyme activity and identify the alkylsulfatase enzyme coding gene. Materials and Methods Screening of SDS-degrading bacteria was carried out on basal salt medium containing SDS as the sole source of carbon. Amount of SDS degraded was assayed by methylene blue active substance (MBAS). Results and Conclusion Identification of the sdsA gene was carried by PCR and subsequent sequencing of the 16S rDNA gene and biochemical tests identified Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This bacterium is able to degrade 84% of SDS after four days incubation. Bacteria isolated from car wash wastewater were shown to carry the sdsA gene (670bp) and the alkylsulfatase enzyme specific activity expressed from this gene was determined to be 24.3 unit/mg. The results presented in this research indicate that Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a suitable candidate for SDS biodegradation. PMID:23825734

  5. Bioavailable Carbon and the Relative Degradation State of Organic Matter in Active Layer and Permafrost Soils

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jastrow, J. D.; Burke, V. J.; Vugteveen, T. W.; Fan, Z.; Hofmann, S. M.; Lederhouse, J. S.; Matamala, R.; Michaelson, G. J.; Mishra, U.; Ping, C. L.

    2015-12-01

    The decomposability of soil organic carbon (SOC) in permafrost regions is a key uncertainty in efforts to predict carbon release from thawing permafrost and its impacts. The cold and often wet environment is the dominant factor limiting decomposer activity, and soil organic matter is often preserved in a relatively undecomposed and uncomplexed state. Thus, the impacts of soil warming and permafrost thaw are likely to depend at least initially on the genesis and past history of organic matter degradation before its stabilization in permafrost. We compared the bioavailability and relative degradation state of SOC in active layer and permafrost soils from Arctic tundra in Alaska. To assess readily bioavailable SOC, we quantified salt (0.5 M K2SO4) extractable organic matter (SEOM), which correlates well with carbon mineralization rates in short-term soil incubations. To assess the relative degradation state of SOC, we used particle size fractionation to isolate fibric (coarse) from more degraded (fine) particulate organic matter (POM) and separated mineral-associated organic matter into silt- and clay-sized fractions. On average, bulk SOC concentrations in permafrost were lower than in comparable active layer horizons. Although SEOM represented a very small proportion of the bulk SOC, this proportion was greater in permafrost than in comparable active layer soils. A large proportion of bulk SOC was found in POM for all horizons. Even for mineral soils, about 40% of bulk SOC was in POM pools, indicating that organic matter in both active layer and permafrost mineral soils was relatively undecomposed compared to typical temperate soils. Not surprisingly, organic soils had a greater proportion of POM and mineral soils had greater silt- and clay-sized carbon pools, while cryoturbated soils were intermediate. For organic horizons, permafrost organic matter was generally more degraded than in comparable active layer horizons. However, in mineral and cryoturbated horizons

  6. The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon degradation potential of Gulf of Mexico native coastal microbial communities after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill

    PubMed Central

    Kappell, Anthony D.; Wei, Yin; Newton, Ryan J.; Van Nostrand, Joy D.; Zhou, Jizhong; McLellan, Sandra L.; Hristova, Krassimira R.

    2014-01-01

    The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) blowout resulted in oil transport, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to the Gulf of Mexico shoreline. The microbial communities of these shorelines are thought to be responsible for the intrinsic degradation of PAHs. To investigate the Gulf Coast beach microbial community response to hydrocarbon exposure, we examined the functional gene diversity, bacterial community composition, and PAH degradation capacity of a heavily oiled and non-oiled beach following the oil exposure. With a non-expression functional gene microarray targeting 539 gene families, we detected 28,748 coding sequences. Of these sequences, 10% were uniquely associated with the severely oil-contaminated beach and 6.0% with the non-oiled beach. There was little variation in the functional genes detected between the two beaches; however the relative abundance of functional genes involved in oil degradation pathways, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), were greater in the oiled beach. The microbial PAH degradation potentials of both beaches, were tested in mesocosms. Mesocosms were constructed in glass columns using sands with native microbial communities, circulated with artificial sea water and challenged with a mixture of PAHs. The low-molecular weight PAHs, fluorene and naphthalene, showed rapid depletion in all mesocosms while the high-molecular weight benzo[α]pyrene was not degraded by either microbial community. Both the heavily oiled and the non-impacted coastal communities showed little variation in their biodegradation ability for low molecular weight PAHs. Massively-parallel sequencing of 16S rRNA genes from mesocosm DNA showed that known PAH degraders and genera frequently associated with oil hydrocarbon degradation represented a major portion of the bacterial community. The observed similar response by microbial communities from beaches with a different recent history of oil exposure suggests that Gulf Coast beach communities are

  7. Efficient degradation of trichloroethylene in water using persulfate activated by reduced graphene oxide-iron nanocomposite.

    PubMed

    Ahmad, Ayyaz; Gu, Xiaogang; Li, Li; Lv, Shuguang; Xu, Yisheng; Guo, Xuhong

    2015-11-01

    Graphene oxide (GO) and nano-sized zero-valent iron-reduced graphene oxide (nZVI-rGO) composite were prepared. The GO and nZVI-rGO composite were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and Raman spectroscopy. The size of nZVI was about 6 nm as observed by TEM. The system of nZVI-rGO and persulfate (PS) was used for the degradation of trichloroethylene (TCE) in water, and showed 26.5% more efficiency as compared to nZVI/PS system. The different parameters were studied to determine the efficiency of nZVI-rGO to activate the PS system for the TCE degradation. By increasing the PS amount, TCE removal was also improved while no obvious effect was observed by varying the catalyst loading. Degradation was decreased as the TCE initial concentration was increased from 20 to 100 mg/L. Moreover, when initial solution pH was increased, efficiency deteriorated to 80%. Bicarbonate showed more negative effect on TCE removal among the solution matrix. To better understand the effects of radical species in the system, the scavenger tests were performed. The •SO4(-) and •O2(-) were predominant species responsible for TCE removal. The nZVI-rGO-activated PS process shows potential applications in remediation of highly toxic organic contaminants such as TCE present in the groundwater. Graphical abstract Persulfate activated by reduced graphene oxide and nano-sized zero-valent iron composite can be used for efficient degradation of trichloroethylene (TCE) in water.

  8. Influence of the Reaction Temperature on the Nature of the Active and Deactivating Species During Methanol-to-Olefins Conversion over H-SAPO-34

    PubMed Central

    2017-01-01

    The selectivity toward lower olefins during the methanol-to-olefins conversion over H-SAPO-34 at reaction temperatures between 573 and 773 K has been studied with a combination of operando UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and online gas chromatography. It was found that the selectivity toward propylene increases in the temperature range of 573–623 K, while it decreases in the temperature range of 623–773 K. The high degree of incorporation of olefins, mainly propylene, into the hydrocarbon pool affects the product selectivity at lower reaction temperatures. The nature and dynamics of the active and deactivating hydrocarbon species with increasing reaction temperature were revealed by a non-negative matrix factorization of the time-resolved operando UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra. The active hydrocarbon pool species consist of mainly highly methylated benzene carbocations at temperatures between 573 and 598 K, of both highly methylated benzene carbocations and methylated naphthalene carbocations at 623 K, and of only methylated naphthalene carbocations at temperatures between 673 and 773 K. The operando spectroscopy results suggest that the nature of the active species also influences the olefin selectivity. In fact, monoenylic and highly methylated benzene carbocations are more selective to the formation of propylene, whereas the formation of the group of low methylated benzene carbocations and methylated naphthalene carbocations at higher reaction temperatures (i.e., 673 and 773 K) favors the formation of ethylene. At reaction temperatures between 573 and 623 K, catalyst deactivation is caused by the gradual filling of the micropores with methylated naphthalene carbocations, while between 623 and 773 K the formation of neutral poly aromatics and phenanthrene/anthracene carbocations are mainly responsible for catalyst deactivation, their respective contribution increasing with increasing reaction temperature. Methanol pulse experiments at

  9. Comparing aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis) presence and distribution between degraded and non-degraded forest within Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.

    PubMed

    Farris, Zach J; Morelli, Toni Lyn; Sefczek, Timothy; Wright, Patricia C

    2011-01-01

    The aye-aye is considered the most widely distributed lemur in Madagascar; however, the effect of forest quality on aye-aye abundance is unknown. We compared aye-aye presence across degraded and non-degraded forest at Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar. We used secondary signs (feeding sites, high activity sites) as indirect cues of aye-aye presence and Canarium trees as an indicator of resource availability. All 3 measured variables indicated higher aye-aye abundance within non-degraded forest; however, the differences across forest type were not significant. Both degraded and non-degraded forests showed a positive correlation between feeding sites and high activity sites. We found that Canarium, an important aye-aye food source, was rare and had limited dispersal, particularly across degraded forest. This preliminary study provides baseline data for aye-aye activity and resource utilization across degraded and non-degraded forests. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  10. The influence of ZnO-SnO2 nanoparticles and activated carbon on the photocatalytic degradation of toluene using continuous flow mode.

    PubMed

    Rangkooy, Hossein Ali; Tanha, Fatemeh; Jaafarzadeh, Neamat; Mohammadbeigi, Abolfazl

    2017-01-01

    The present study examined the gas-phase photocatalytic degradation of toluene using ZnO-SnO 2 nanocomposite supported on activated carbon in a photocatalytic reactor. Toluene was selected as a model pollutant from volatile organic compounds to determine the pathway of photocatalytic degradation and the factors influencing this degradation. The ZnO-SnO 2 nanocomposite was synthesized through co-precipitation method in a ratio of 2:1 and then supported on activated carbon. The immobilization of ZnO-SnO 2 nanocomposite on activated carbon was determined by the surface area and scanning electron micrograph technique proposed by Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller. The laboratory findings showed that the highest efficiency was 40% for photocatalytic degradation of toluene. The results also indicated that ZnO-SnO 2 nano-oxides immobilization on activated carbon had a synergic effect on photocatalytic degradation of toluene. Use of a hybrid photocatalytic system (ZnO/SnO 2 nano coupled oxide) and application of absorbent (activated carbon) may be efficient and effective technique for refinement of toluene from air flow.

  11. The influence of ZnO-SnO2 nanoparticles and activated carbon on the photocatalytic degradation of toluene using continuous flow mode

    PubMed Central

    Rangkooy, Hossein Ali; Tanha, Fatemeh; Jaafarzadeh, Neamat; Mohammadbeigi, Abolfazl

    2017-01-01

    The present study examined the gas-phase photocatalytic degradation of toluene using ZnO-SnO2 nanocomposite supported on activated carbon in a photocatalytic reactor. Toluene was selected as a model pollutant from volatile organic compounds to determine the pathway of photocatalytic degradation and the factors influencing this degradation. The ZnO-SnO2 nanocomposite was synthesized through co-precipitation method in a ratio of 2:1 and then supported on activated carbon. The immobilization of ZnO-SnO2 nanocomposite on activated carbon was determined by the surface area and scanning electron micrograph technique proposed by Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller. The laboratory findings showed that the highest efficiency was 40% for photocatalytic degradation of toluene. The results also indicated that ZnO-SnO2 nano-oxides immobilization on activated carbon had a synergic effect on photocatalytic degradation of toluene. Use of a hybrid photocatalytic system (ZnO/SnO2 nano coupled oxide) and application of absorbent (activated carbon) may be efficient and effective technique for refinement of toluene from air flow. PMID:29497487

  12. The quantity and quality of dissolved organic matter as supplementary carbon source impacts the pesticide-degrading activity of a triple-species bacterial biofilm.

    PubMed

    Horemans, Benjamin; Vandermaesen, Johanna; Breugelmans, Philip; Hofkens, Johan; Smolders, Erik; Springael, Dirk

    2014-01-01

    Effects of environmental dissolved organic matter (eDOM) that consists of various low concentration carbonic compounds on pollutant biodegradation by bacteria are poorly understood, especially when it concerns synergistic xenobiotic-degrading consortia where degradation depends on interspecies metabolic interactions. This study examines the impact of the quality and quantity of eDOM, supplied as secondary C-source, on the structure, composition and pesticide-degrading activity of a triple-species bacterial consortium in which the members synergistically degrade the phenylurea herbicide linuron, when grown as biofilms. Biofilms developing on 10 mg L⁻¹ linuron showed a steady-state linuron degradation efficiency of approximately 85 %. The three bacterial strains co-localized in the biofilms indicating syntrophic interactions. Subsequent feeding with eDOM or citrate in addition to linuron resulted into changes in linuron-degrading activity. A decrease in linuron-degrading activity was especially recorded in case of co-feeding with citrate and eDOM of high quality and was always associated with accumulation of the primary metabolite 3,4-dichloroaniline. Improvement of linuron degradation was especially observed with more recalcitrant eDOM. Addition of eDOM/citrate formulations altered biofilm architecture and species composition but without loss of any of the strains and of co-localization. Compositional shifts correlated with linuron degradation efficiencies. When the feed was restored to only linuron, the linuron-degrading activity rapidly changed to the level before the mixed-substrate feed. Meanwhile only minor changes in biofilm composition and structure were recorded, indicating that observed eDOM/citrate effects had been primarily due to repression/stimulation of linuron catabolic activity rather than to biofilm characteristics.

  13. Attaching naphthalene derivatives onto BODIPY for generating excited triplet state and singlet oxygen: Tuning PET-based photosensitizer by electron donors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Xian-Fu; Feng, Nan

    2018-01-01

    meso-Naphthalene substituted BODIPY compounds were prepared in a facile one pot reaction. The naphthalene functionalization of BODIPY leads up to a 5-fold increase in the formation efficiency of excited triplet state and singlet oxygen in polar solvents. Steady state and time resolved fluorescence, laser flash photolysis, and quantum chemistry methods were used to reveal the mechanism. All measured data and quantum chemical results suggest that these systems can be viewed as electron donor-acceptor (D-A) pair (BODIPY acts as the acceptor), photoinduced charge transfer (PCT) or photoinduced electron transfer (PET) occurs upon photo excitation (D-A + hν → Dδ +-Aδ -, 0 < δ ≤ 1), and the charge recombination induced the formation of triplet state (Dδ +-Aδ - → D-A (T1). These novel PCT- or PET-based photosensitizers (PSs) show different features from traditional PSs, such as the strong tunability by facile structural modification and good selectivity upon medium polarity. The new character for this type of PSs can lead to important applications in organic oxygenation reactions and photodynamic therapy of tumors.

  14. Naproxen degradation test to monitor Trametes versicolor activity in solid-state bioremediation processes.

    PubMed

    Rodríguez-Rodríguez, Carlos E; Marco-Urrea, Ernest; Caminal, Gloria

    2010-07-15

    The white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor has been studied as a potential agent for the removal of environmental pollutants. For long-time solid-phase bioremediation systems a test is required to monitor the metabolic status of T. versicolor and its degradation capability at different stages. A biodegradation test based on the percentage of degradation of a spiked model pharmaceutical (anti-inflammatory naproxen) in 24 h (ND24) is proposed to monitor the removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in sewage sludge. ND24 is intended to act as a test complementary to ergosterol quantification as specific fungal biomarker, and laccase activity as extracellular oxidative capacity of T. versicolor. For samples collected over 45 d, ND24 values did not necessarily correlate with ergosterol or laccase amounts but in most cases, they were over 30% degradation, indicating that T. versicolor may be suitable for bioremediation of sewage sludge in the studied period. 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  15. Comparative Proteomics Analysis Reveals L-Arginine Activates Ethanol Degradation Pathways in HepG2 Cells.

    PubMed

    Yan, Guokai; Lestari, Retno; Long, Baisheng; Fan, Qiwen; Wang, Zhichang; Guo, Xiaozhen; Yu, Jie; Hu, Jun; Yang, Xingya; Chen, Changqing; Liu, Lu; Li, Xiuzhi; Purnomoadi, Agung; Achmadi, Joelal; Yan, Xianghua

    2016-03-17

    L-Arginine (Arg) is a versatile amino acid that plays crucial roles in a wide range of physiological and pathological processes. In this study, to investigate the alteration induced by Arg supplementation in proteome scale, isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) based proteomic approach was employed to comparatively characterize the differentially expressed proteins between Arg deprivation (Ctrl) and Arg supplementation (+Arg) treated human liver hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells. A total of 21 proteins were identified as differentially expressed proteins and these 21 proteins were all up-regulated by Arg supplementation. Six amino acid metabolism-related proteins, mostly metabolic enzymes, showed differential expressions. Intriguingly, Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) based pathway analysis suggested that the three ethanol degradation pathways were significantly altered between Ctrl and +Arg. Western blotting and enzymatic activity assays validated that the key enzymes ADH1C, ALDH1A1, and ALDH2, which are mainly involved in ethanol degradation pathways, were highly differentially expressed, and activated between Ctrl and +Arg in HepG2 cells. Furthermore, 10 mM Arg significantly attenuated the cytotoxicity induced by 100 mM ethanol treatment (P < 0.0001). This study is the first time to reveal that Arg activates ethanol degradation pathways in HepG2 cells.

  16. Chemical dispersants enhance the activity of oil- and gas condensate-degrading marine bacteria.

    PubMed

    Tremblay, Julien; Yergeau, Etienne; Fortin, Nathalie; Cobanli, Susan; Elias, Miria; King, Thomas L; Lee, Kenneth; Greer, Charles W

    2017-12-01

    Application of chemical dispersants to oil spills in the marine environment is a common practice to disperse oil into the water column and stimulate oil biodegradation by increasing its bioavailability to indigenous bacteria capable of naturally metabolizing hydrocarbons. In the context of a spill event, the biodegradation of crude oil and gas condensate off eastern Canada is an essential component of a response strategy. In laboratory experiments, we simulated conditions similar to an oil spill with and without the addition of chemical dispersant under both winter and summer conditions and evaluated the natural attenuation potential for hydrocarbons in near-surface sea water from the vicinity of crude oil and natural gas production facilities off eastern Canada. Chemical analyses were performed to determine hydrocarbon degradation rates, and metagenome binning combined with metatranscriptomics was used to reconstruct abundant bacterial genomes and estimate their oil degradation gene abundance and activity. Our results show important and rapid structural shifts in microbial populations in all three different oil production sites examined following exposure to oil, oil with dispersant and dispersant alone. We found that the addition of dispersant to crude oil enhanced oil degradation rates and favored the abundance and expression of oil-degrading genes from a Thalassolituus sp. (that is, metagenome bin) that harbors multiple alkane hydroxylase (alkB) gene copies. We propose that this member of the Oceanospirillales group would be an important oil degrader when oil spills are treated with dispersant.

  17. A high-throughput cellular assay to quantify the p53-degradation activity of E6 from different human papillomavirus types.

    PubMed

    Gagnon, David; Archambault, Jacques

    2015-01-01

    A subset of human papillomaviruses (HPVs), known as the high-risk types, are the causative agents of cervical cancer and other malignancies of the anogenital region and oral mucosa. The capacity of these viruses to induce cancer and to immortalize cells in culture relies in part on a critical function of their E6 oncoprotein, that of promoting the poly-ubiquitination of the cellular tumor suppressor protein p53 and its subsequent degradation by the proteasome. Here, we describe a cellular assay to measure the p53-degradation activity of E6 from different HPV types. This assay is based on a translational fusion of p53 to Renilla luciferase (Rluc-p53) that remains sensitive to degradation by high-risk E6 and whose steady-state levels can be accurately measured in standard luciferase assays. The p53-degradation activity of any E6 protein can be tested and quantified in transiently transfected cells by determining the amount of E6-expression vector required to reduce by half the levels of RLuc-p53 luciferase activity (50 % effective concentration [EC50]). The high-throughput and quantitative nature of this assay makes it particularly useful to compare the p53-degradation activities of E6 from several HPV types in parallel.

  18. Calpain activation by ROS mediates human ether-a-go-go-related gene protein degradation by intermittent hypoxia.

    PubMed

    Wang, N; Kang, H S; Ahmmed, G; Khan, S A; Makarenko, V V; Prabhakar, N R; Nanduri, J

    2016-03-01

    Human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG) channels conduct delayed rectifier K(+) current. However, little information is available on physiological situations affecting hERG channel protein and function. In the present study we examined the effects of intermittent hypoxia (IH), which is a hallmark manifestation of sleep apnea, on hERG channel protein and function. Experiments were performed on SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, which express hERG protein. Cells were exposed to IH consisting of alternating cycles of 30 s of hypoxia (1.5% O2) and 5 min of 20% O2. IH decreased hERG protein expression in a stimulus-dependent manner. A similar reduction in hERG protein was also seen in adrenal medullary chromaffin cells from IH-exposed neonatal rats. The decreased hERG protein was associated with attenuated hERG K(+) current. IH-evoked hERG protein degradation was not due to reduced transcription or increased proteosome/lysomal degradation. Rather it was mediated by calcium-activated calpain proteases. Both COOH- and NH2-terminal sequences of the hERG protein were the targets of calpain-dependent degradation. IH increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)]i), calpain enzyme activity, and hERG protein degradation, and all these effects were prevented by manganese-(111)-tetrakis-(1-methyl-4-pyridyl)-porphyrin pentachloride, a membrane-permeable ROS scavenger. These results demonstrate that activation of calpains by ROS-dependent elevation of [Ca(2+)]i mediates hERG protein degradation by IH. Copyright © 2016 the American Physiological Society.

  19. Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator Controls Lung Proteasomal Degradation and Nuclear Factor-κB Activity in Conditions of Oxidative Stress

    PubMed Central

    Boncoeur, Emilie; Roque, Telma; Bonvin, Elise; Saint-Criq, Vinciane; Bonora, Monique; Clement, Annick; Tabary, Olivier; Henrion-Caude, Alexandra; Jacquot, Jacky

    2008-01-01

    Cystic fibrosis is a lethal inherited disorder caused by mutations in a single gene encoding the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein, resulting in progressive oxidative lung damage. In this study, we evaluated the role of CFTR in the control of ubiquitin-proteasome activity and nuclear factor (NF)-κB/IκB-α signaling after lung oxidative stress. After a 64-hour exposure to hyperoxia-mediated oxidative stress, CFTR-deficient (cftr−/−) mice exhibited significantly elevated lung proteasomal activity compared with wild-type (cftr+/+) animals. This was accompanied by reduced lung caspase-3 activity and defective degradation of NF-κB inhibitor IκB-α. In vitro, human CFTR-deficient lung cells exposed to oxidative stress exhibited increased proteasomal activity and decreased NF-κB-dependent transcriptional activity compared with CFTR-sufficient lung cells. Inhibition of the CFTR Cl− channel by CFTRinh-172 in the normal bronchial immortalized cell line 16HBE14o− increased proteasomal degradation after exposure to oxidative stress. Caspase-3 inhibition by Z-DQMD in CFTR-sufficient lung cells mimicked the response profile of increased proteasomal degradation and reduced NF-κB activity observed in CFTR-deficient lung cells exposed to oxidative stress. Taken together, these results suggest that functional CFTR Cl− channel activity is crucial for regulation of lung proteasomal degradation and NF-κB activity in conditions of oxidative stress. PMID:18372427

  20. Arctigenin promotes degradation of inducible nitric oxide synthase through CHIP-associated proteasome pathway and suppresses its enzyme activity.

    PubMed

    Yao, Xiangyang; Li, Guilan; Lü, Chaotian; Xu, Hui; Yin, Zhimin

    2012-10-01

    Arctigenin, a natural dibenzylbutyrolactone lignan compound, has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory properties. Previous works showed that arctigenin decreased lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced iNOS at transcription level. However, whether arctigenin could regulate iNOS at the post-translational level is still unclear. In the present study, we demonstrated that arctigenin promoted the degradation of iNOS which is expressed under LPS stimulation in murine macrophage-like RAW 264.7 cells. Such degradation of iNOS protein is due to CHIP-associated ubiquitination and proteasome-dependency. Furthermore, arctigenin decreased iNOS phosphorylation through inhibiting ERK and Src activation, subsequently suppressed iNOS enzyme activity. In conclusion, our research displays a new finding that arctigenin can promote the ubiqitination and degradation of iNOS after LPS stimulation. iNOS activity regulated by arctigenin is likely to involve a multitude of crosstalking mechanisms. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  1. Isolation of isoprene degrading bacteria from soils, development of isoA gene probes and identification of the active isoprene-degrading soil community using DNA-stable isotope probing.

    PubMed

    El Khawand, Myriam; Crombie, Andrew T; Johnston, Antonia; Vavlline, Dmitrii V; McAuliffe, Joseph C; Latone, Jacob A; Primak, Yuliya A; Lee, Sang-Kyu; Whited, Gregg M; McGenity, Terry J; Murrell, J Colin

    2016-09-01

    Emissions of biogenic volatile organic compounds (bVOCs), are an important element in the global carbon cycle, accounting for a significant proportion of fixed carbon. They contribute directly and indirectly to global warming and climate change and have a major effect on atmospheric chemistry. Plants emit isoprene to the atmosphere in similar quantities to emissions of methane from all sources and each accounts for approximately one third of total VOCs. Although methanotrophs, capable of growth on methane, have been intensively studied, we know little of isoprene biodegradation. Here, we report the isolation of two isoprene-degrading strains from the terrestrial environment and describe the design and testing of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers targeting isoA, the gene encoding the active-site component of the conserved isoprene monooxygenase, which are capable of retrieving isoA sequences from isoprene-enriched environmental samples. Stable isotope probing experiments, using biosynthesized (13) C-labelled isoprene, identified the active isoprene-degrading bacteria in soil. This study identifies novel isoprene-degrading strains using both culture-dependent and, for the first time, culture-independent methods and provides the tools and foundations for continued investigation of the biogeography and molecular ecology of isoprene-degrading bacteria. © 2016 The Authors. Environmental Microbiology published by Society for Applied Microbiology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  2. An extremely thermostable amylopullulanase from Staphylothermus marinus displays both pullulan- and cyclodextrin-degrading activities.

    PubMed

    Li, Xiaolei; Li, Dan; Park, Kwan-Hwa

    2013-06-01

    A gene encoding an amylopullulanase of the glycosyl hydrolase (GH) family 57 from Staphylothermus marinus (SMApu) was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli. SMApu consisted of 639 amino acids with a molecular mass of 75.3 kDa. It only showed maximal amino acid identity of 17.1 % with that of Pyrococcus furiosus amylopullulanase in all identified amylases. Not like previously reported amylopullulanases, SMApu has no signal peptide but contains a continuous GH57N_Apu domain. It had the highest catalytic efficiency toward pullulan (k cat/K m , 342.34 s(-1) mL mg(-1)) and was extremely thermostable with maximal pullulan-degrading activity (42.1 U/mg) at 105 °C and pH 5.0 and a half-life of 50 min at 100 °C. Its activity increased to 116 % in the presence of 5 mM CaCl2. SMApu could also degrade cyclodextrins, which are resistant to the other amylopullulanases. The initial hydrolytic products from pullulan, γ-CD, and 6-O-maltooligosyl-β-CD were [6)-α-D-Glcp-(1 → 4)-α-D-Glcp-(1 → 4)-α-D-Glcp-(1→]n, maltooctaose, and single maltooligosaccharide plus β-CD, respectively. The final hydrolytic products from above-mentioned substrates were maltose and glucose. These results confirm that SMApu is a novel amylopullulanase of the family GH57 possessing the cyclodextrin-degrading activity of cyclomaltodextrinase.

  3. Structures and Binding Energies of the Naphthalene Dimer in Its Ground and Excited States.

    PubMed

    Dubinets, N O; Safonov, A A; Bagaturyants, A A

    2016-05-05

    Possible structures of the naphthalene dimer corresponding to local energy minima in the ground and excited (excimer) electronic states are comprehensively investigated using DFT-D and TDDFT-D methods with a special accent on the excimer structures. The corresponding binding and electronic transition energies are calculated, and the nature of the electronic states in different structures is analyzed. Several parallel (stacked) and T-shaped structures were found in both the ground and excited (excimer) states in a rather narrow energy range. The T-shaped structure with the lowest energy in the excited state exhibits a marked charge transfer from the upright molecule to the base one.

  4. Anti-diabetic activity of insulin-degrading enzyme inhibitors mediated by multiple hormones

    PubMed Central

    Maianti, Juan Pablo; McFedries, Amanda; Foda, Zachariah H.; Kleiner, Ralph E.; Du, Xiu Quan; Leissring, Malcolm A.; Tang, Wei-Jen; Charron, Maureen J.; Seeliger, Markus A.; Saghatelian, Alan; Liu, David R.

    2014-01-01

    Despite decades of speculation that inhibiting endogenous insulin degradation might treat type-2 diabetes1, 2, and the identification of IDE (insulin-degrading enzyme) as a diabetes susceptibility gene3, 4, the relationship between the activity of the zinc metalloprotein IDE and glucose homeostasis remains unclear. Although Ide−/− mice have elevated insulin levels, they exhibit impaired, rather than improved, glucose tolerance that may arise from compensatory insulin signalling dysfunction5, 6. IDE inhibitors that are active in vivo are therefore needed to elucidate IDE’s physiological roles and to determine its potential to serve as a target for the treatment of diabetes. Here we report the discovery of a physiologically active IDE inhibitor identified from a DNA-templated macrocycle library. An X-ray structure of the macrocycle bound to IDE reveals that it engages a binding pocket away from the catalytic site, which explains its remarkable selectivity. Treatment of lean and obese mice with this inhibitor shows that IDE regulates the abundance and signalling of glucagon and amylin, in addition to that of insulin. Under physiological conditions that augment insulin and amylin levels, such as oral glucose administration, acute IDE inhibition leads to substantially improved glucose tolerance and slower gastric emptying. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of modulating IDE activity as a new therapeutic strategy to treat type-2 diabetes and expand our understanding of the roles of IDE in glucose and hormone regulation. PMID:24847884

  5. Synthesis of Degradable Poly(vinyl alcohol) by Radical Ring-Opening Copolymerization and Ice Recrystallization Inhibition Activity.

    PubMed

    Hedir, Guillaume; Stubbs, Christopher; Aston, Phillip; Dove, Andrew P; Gibson, Matthew I

    2017-12-19

    Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) is the most active synthetic mimic of antifreeze proteins and has extremely high ice recrystallization inhibition (IRI) activity. Addition of PVA to cellular cryopreservation solutions increases the number of recovered viable cells due to its potent IRI, but it is intrinsically nondegradable in vivo . Here we report the synthesis, characterization, and IRI activity of PVA containing degradable ester linkages. Vinyl chloroacetate (VClAc) was copolymerized with 2-methylene-1,3-dioxepane (MDO) which undergoes radical ring-opening polymerization to install main-chain ester units. The use of the chloroacetate monomer enabled selective deacetylation with retention of esters within the polymer backbone. Quantitative IRI assays revealed that the MDO content had to be finely tuned to retain IRI activity, with higher loadings (24 mol %) resulting in complete loss of IRI activity. These degradable materials will help translate PVA, which is nontoxic and biocompatible, into a range of biomedical applications.

  6. Assessment of the anaerobic degradation of six active pharmaceutical ingredients.

    PubMed

    Musson, Stephen E; Campo, Pablo; Tolaymat, Thabet; Suidan, Makram; Townsend, Timothy G

    2010-04-01

    Research examined the anaerobic degradation of 17 alpha-ethynylestradiol, acetaminophen, acetylsalicylic acid, ibuprofen, metoprolol tartrate, and progesterone by methanogenic bacteria. Using direct sample analysis and respirometric testing, anaerobic degradation was examined with (a) each compound as the sole organic carbon source and (b) each compound at a lower concentration (250 microg/L) and cellulose serving as the primary organic carbon source. The change in pharmaceutical concentration was determined following 7, 28, 56, and 112 days of anaerobic incubation at 37 degrees C. Only acetylsalicylic acid demonstrated significant degradation; the remaining compounds showed a mixture of degradation and abiotic removal mechanisms. Experimental results were compared with BIOWIN, an anaerobic degradation prediction model of the US Environmental Protection Agency. The BIOWIN model predicted anaerobic biodegradability of the compounds in the order: acetylsalicylic acid > metoprolol tartrate > ibuprofen > acetaminophen > 17 alpha-ethinylestradiol >progesterone. This corresponded well with the experimental findings which found degradability in the order: acetylsalicylic acid > metoprolol tartrate > acetaminophen > ibuprofen. (c) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  7. Uncoupling RARA transcriptional activation and degradation clarifies the bases for APL response to therapies

    PubMed Central

    Ablain, Julien; Leiva, Magdalena; Peres, Laurent; Fonsart, Julien; Anthony, Elodie

    2013-01-01

    In PML/RARA-driven acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), retinoic acid (RA) induces leukemia cell differentiation and transiently clears the disease. Molecularly, RA activates PML/RARA-dependent transcription and also initiates its proteasome-mediated degradation. In contrast, arsenic, the other potent anti-APL therapy, only induces PML/RARA degradation by specifically targeting its PML moiety. The respective contributions of RA-triggered transcriptional activation and proteolysis to clinical response remain disputed. Here, we identify synthetic retinoids that potently activate RARA- or PML/RARA-dependent transcription, but fail to down-regulate RARA or PML/RARA protein levels. Similar to RA, these uncoupled retinoids elicit terminal differentiation, but unexpectedly fail to impair leukemia-initiating activity of PML/RARA-transformed cells ex vivo or in vivo. Accordingly, the survival benefit conferred by uncoupled retinoids in APL mice is dramatically lower than the one provided by RA. Differentiated APL blasts sorted from uncoupled retinoid–treated mice retain PML/RARA expression and reinitiate APL in secondary transplants. Thus, differentiation is insufficient for APL eradication, whereas PML/RARA loss is essential. These observations unify the modes of action of RA and arsenic and shed light on the potency of their combination in mice or patients. PMID:23509325

  8. Uncoupling RARA transcriptional activation and degradation clarifies the bases for APL response to therapies.

    PubMed

    Ablain, Julien; Leiva, Magdalena; Peres, Laurent; Fonsart, Julien; Anthony, Elodie; de Thé, Hugues

    2013-04-08

    In PML/RARA-driven acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), retinoic acid (RA) induces leukemia cell differentiation and transiently clears the disease. Molecularly, RA activates PML/RARA-dependent transcription and also initiates its proteasome-mediated degradation. In contrast, arsenic, the other potent anti-APL therapy, only induces PML/RARA degradation by specifically targeting its PML moiety. The respective contributions of RA-triggered transcriptional activation and proteolysis to clinical response remain disputed. Here, we identify synthetic retinoids that potently activate RARA- or PML/RARA-dependent transcription, but fail to down-regulate RARA or PML/RARA protein levels. Similar to RA, these uncoupled retinoids elicit terminal differentiation, but unexpectedly fail to impair leukemia-initiating activity of PML/RARA-transformed cells ex vivo or in vivo. Accordingly, the survival benefit conferred by uncoupled retinoids in APL mice is dramatically lower than the one provided by RA. Differentiated APL blasts sorted from uncoupled retinoid-treated mice retain PML/RARA expression and reinitiate APL in secondary transplants. Thus, differentiation is insufficient for APL eradication, whereas PML/RARA loss is essential. These observations unify the modes of action of RA and arsenic and shed light on the potency of their combination in mice or patients.

  9. Enzymatic activity, osmotic stress and degradation of pesticide mixtures in soil extract liquid broth inoculated with Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Trametes versicolor.

    PubMed

    Fragoeiro, Silvia; Magan, Naresh

    2005-03-01

    In this study we examined the extracellular enzymatic activity of two white rot fungi (Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Trametes versicolor) in a soil extract broth in relation to differential degradation of a mixture of different concentrations (0-30 p.p.m.) of simazine, dieldrin and trifluralin under different osmotic stress (-0.7 and -2.8 MPa) and quantified enzyme production, relevant to P and N release (phosphomonoesterase, protease), carbon cycling (beta-glucosidase, cellulase) and laccase activity, involved in lignin degradation. Our results suggest that T. versicolor and P. chrysosporium have the ability to degrade different groups of pesticides, supported by the capacity for expression of a range of extracellular enzymes at both -0.7 and -2.8 MPa water potential. Phanerochaete chrysosporium was able to degrade this mixture of pesticides independently of laccase activity. In soil extract, T. versicolor was able to produce the same range of enzymes as P. chrysoporium plus laccase, even in the presence of 30 p.p.m. of the pesticide mixture. Complete degradation of dieldrin and trifluralin was observed, while about 80% of the simazine was degraded regardless of osmotic stress treatment in a nutritionally poor soil extract broth. The capacity of tolerance and degradation of high concentrations of mixtures of pesticides and production of a range of enzymes, even under osmotic stress, suggest potential bioremediation applications.

  10. Self-degradable Cementitious Sealing Materials

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Sugama, T.; Butcher, T., Lance Brothers, Bour, D.

    2010-10-01

    A self-degradable alkali-activated cementitious material consisting of a sodium silicate activator, slag, Class C fly ash, and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) additive was formulated as one dry mix component, and we evaluated its potential in laboratory for use as a temporary sealing material for Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) wells. The self-degradation of alkali-activated cementitious material (AACM) occurred, when AACM heated at temperatures of {ge}200 C came in contact with water. We interpreted the mechanism of this water-initiated self-degradation as resulting from the in-situ exothermic reactions between the reactants yielded from the dissolution of the non-reacted or partially reacted sodium silicatemore » activator and the thermal degradation of the CMC. The magnitude of self-degradation depended on the CMC content; its effective content in promoting degradation was {ge}0.7%. In contrast, no self-degradation was observed from CMC-modified Class G well cement. For 200 C-autoclaved AACMs without CMC, followed by heating at temperatures up to 300 C, they had a compressive strength ranging from 5982 to 4945 psi, which is {approx}3.5-fold higher than that of the commercial Class G well cement; the initial- and final-setting times of this AACM slurry at 85 C were {approx}60 and {approx}90 min. Two well-formed crystalline hydration phases, 1.1 nm tobermorite and calcium silicate hydrate (I), were responsible for developing this excellent high compressive strength. Although CMC is an attractive, as a degradation-promoting additive, its addition to both the AACM and the Class G well cement altered some properties of original cementitious materials; among those were an extending their setting times, an increasing their porosity, and lowering their compressive strength. Nevertheless, a 0.7% CMC-modified AACM as self-degradable cementitious material displayed the following properties before its breakdown by water; {approx}120 min initial- and {approx}180 min

  11. Effect of fast pH decline during the early postmortem period on calpain activity and cytoskeletal protein degradation of broiler M. pectoralis major.

    PubMed

    Huang, J C; Yang, J; Huang, F; Huang, M; Chen, K J; Xu, X L; Zhou, G H

    2016-10-01

    The objective of this study was to determine the effects of fast pH decline during the early postmortem period on calpain activity and the degradation of cytoskeletal proteins in broilers. Eighty broilers were randomly categorized into two groups: physical restraint (PR) and free struggle (FS). M. pectoralis major (PM) was used for determination of calpain activity, shear value, ultrastructure of myofibrils, and the degradation of desmin, titin, nebulin, and troponin-T. The pH (6.05) of FS group is significantly low than PR group (6.38) at 0.3 h postmortem. Fast pH decline during the early postmortem period led to a decrease of μ/m-calpain activities at 0.3 and 3 h postmortem (P < 0.05), but did not affect the ultimate μ/m-calpain activity. An initial fast decrease in pH increased the degradation of desmin, titin, nebulin, and increased the 30 kDa degradation fragments of troponin-T. Therefore, the fast pH decline during the early postmortem period decreased the μ/m-calpain activity and increased the degradation of cytoskeletal proteins in broiler muscle. It is possible that the fast pH decline experienced an earlier activation of calpains that resulted in earlier protein degradation and ultimately lower shear force. © 2016 Poultry Science Association Inc.

  12. Degradation of refractory dibutyl phthalate by peroxymonosulfate activated with novel catalysts cobalt metal-organic frameworks: Mechanism, performance, and stability.

    PubMed

    Li, Huanxuan; Wan, Jinquan; Ma, Yongwen; Wang, Yan; Chen, Xi; Guan, Zeyu

    2016-11-15

    In this work, a new effective and relatively stable heterogeneous catalyst of Metal-Organic Framework Co3(BTC)2·12H2O (Co-BTC) has been synthesized and tested to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for removal of refractory dibutyl phthalate (DBP). Co-BTC(A) and Co-BTC(B) were synthesized by different methods, which resulted in different activity towards PMS. The results indicated that Co-BTC(A) showed better performance on DBP degradation. The highest degradation rate of 100% was obtained within 30min. The initial pH showed respective level on DBP degradation with a rank of 5.0>2.75>9.0>7.0>11.0 in PMS/Co-BTC(A) system. No remarkable reduction of DBP was observed in the catalytic activity of Co-BTC(A) at 2nd run as demonstrated by recycling. However, the DBP degradation efficiency decreased by 8.26%, 10.9% and 25.6% in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th runs, respectively. The loss of active catalytic sites of Co(II) from Co-BTC(A) is responsible for the activity decay. Sulfate radicals (SO4(-)) and hydroxyl radicals (OH) were found at pH 2.75. Here, we propose the possible mechanism for activation of PMS by Co-BTC(A), which is involved in homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions in the solutions and the surface of Co-BTC(A), respectively. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  13. Degradation of Jatropha curcas phorbol esters derived from Jatropha oil cake and their tumor-promoting activity.

    PubMed

    Nakao, Motoyuki; Hasegawa, Go; Yasuhara, Tadashi; Ishihara, Yoko

    2015-04-01

    Large amount of oil cake is generated during biodiesel production from Jatropha seeds. Although Jatropha oil cake is rich in plant nutrients, presence of toxic phorbol esters restricts the usage of oil cake as a fertilizer. The objective of this study is to evaluate the components and tumor promoting activity of phorbol esters in Jatropha oil cake-supplemented soil and plants grown in the treated soil. Contents and their biological activity of Jatropha phorbol esters in soil and plants were sequentially analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and in vitro cell transformation assay, respectively. Disappearance of Jatropha phorbol-ester-specific peaks were followed with HPLC during incubation of Jatropha oil cake with soil for five weeks. Along with the degradation of Jatropha phorbol ester in soil, tumor-promoting activity in the sample was also attenuated and ultimately disappeared. Jatropha phorbol esters and tumor promoting activity were not detected from mustard spinach grown in the Jatropha oil cake-supplemented soil. In addition, the esterase KM109 degrades DHPB (see definition below; Jatropha phorbol ester) and reduced its tumor-promoting activity. From these data, we conclude: (1) components and tumor promoting activity of Jatropha phorbol esters in the oil cake disappeared completely by incubation with soil for five-week, (2) Jatropha phorbol esters did not transfer into plants grown in the Jatropha oil cake-supplemented soil, and (3) DHPB can be degraded by esterase from soil bacterium. These observations are useful for utilization of Jatropha oil cake as a fertilizer. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  14. Algicidal activity of a dibenzofuran-degrader Rhodococcus sp.

    PubMed

    Wang, Meng-Hui; Peng, Peng; Liu, Yu-Mei; Jia, Rui-Bao; Li, Li

    2013-02-01

    Rhodococcus sp. strain p52, a previously isolated dibenzofuran degrader, could effectively inhibit the growth of cyanobacteria, including species of Microcystis, Anabaena, and Nodularia. When strain p52 was inoculated at the concentration of 7.7×10(7) CFU/ml, 93.5% of exponentially growing Microcystis aeruginosa (7.3×10(6) cells/ml initially) was inhibited after 4 day. The threshold concentration for its algicidal activity against M. aeruginosa was 7.7×10(6) CFU/ml. Strain p52 exerted algicidal effect by synthesizing extracellular substances, which were identified as trans-3-indoleacrylic acid, DL-pipecolic acid, and L-pyroglutamic acid. The effective concentrations of trans-3-indoleacrylic acid and DL-pipecolic acid against M. aeruginosa were tested to be 0.5 mg/l and 5 mg/l, respectively.

  15. Linear and Non-Linear Thermal Lens Signal of the Fifth C-H Vibrational Overtone of Naphthalene in Liquid Solutions of Hexane

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Manzanares, Carlos; Diaz, Marlon; Barton, Ann; Nyaupane, Parashu R.

    2017-06-01

    The thermal lens technique is applied to vibrational overtone spectroscopy of solutions of naphthalene in n-hexane. The pump and probe thermal lens technique is found to be very sensitive for detecting samples of low composition (ppm) in transparent solvents. In this experiment two different probe lasers: one at 488 nm and another 568 nm were used. The C-H fifth vibrational overtone spectrum of benzene is detected at room temperature for different concentrations. A plot of normalized integrated intensity as a function of concentration of naphthalene in solution reveals a non-linear behavior at low concentrations when using the 488 nm probe and a linear behavior over the entire range of concentrations when using the 568 nm probe. The non-linearity cannot be explained assuming solvent enhancement at low concentrations. A two color absorption model that includes the simultaneous absorption of the pump and probe lasers could explain the enhanced magnitude and the non-linear behavior of the thermal lens signal. Other possible mechanisms will also be discussed.

  16. Characterization of Insulin Degrading Enzyme and other Aβ Degrading Proteases in Human Serum: a Role in Alzheimer’s disease?

    PubMed Central

    Liu, Zhiheng; Zhu, Haihao; Fang, Guang Guang; Walsh, Kathryn; Mwamburi, Maya; Wolozin, Benjamin; Abdul-Hay, Same O.; Ikezu, Tsuneya; Lessring, Malcolm A.; Qiu, Wei Qiao

    2013-01-01

    Sporadic Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients have low amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) clearance in the central nervous system (CNS). The peripheral Aβ clearance may also be important but its role in AD remains unclear. We aimed to study the Aβ degrading proteases including insulin degrading enzyme (IDE), angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and others in blood. Using the fluorogenic substrate V—a substrate of IDE and other metalloproteases, we showed that human serum degraded the substrate V, and the activity was inhibited by adding increasing dose of Aβ. The existence of IDE activity was demonstrated by the inhibition of insulin, amylin or EDTA, and further confirmed by immunocapture of IDE using monoclonal antibodies. The involvement of ACE was indicated by the ability of the ACE inhibitor, lisinopril, to inhibit the substrate V degradation. To test the variations of substrate V degradation in humans, we used serum samples from a homebound elderly population with cognitive diagnoses. Compared with the elderly who had normal cognition, those with probable AD and amnestic mild cognitive impairment (amnestic MCI) had lower peptidase activities. Probable AD or amnestic MCI as an outcome remained negatively associated with serum substrate V degradation activity after adjusting for the confounders. The elderly with probable AD had lower serum substrate V degradation activity compared with those who had vascular dementia. The blood proteases mediating Aβ degradation may be important for the AD pathogenesis. More studies are needed to specify each Aβ degrading protease in blood as a useful biomarker and a possible treatment target for AD. PMID:22232014

  17. Photocatalytic Activity of W-Doped TiO2 Nanofibers for Methylene Blue Dye Degradation.

    PubMed

    Song, Yo-Seung; Cho, Nam-Ihn; Lee, Myung-Hyun; Kim, Bae-Yeon; Lee, Deuk Yong

    2016-02-01

    Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) in water was examined using W-doped TiO2 nanofibers prepared by a sol-gel derived electrospinning and subsequent calcination for 4 h at 550 degrees C. Different concentrations of W dopant in the range of 0 to 8 mol% were synthesized to evaluate the effect of W concentration on the photocatalytic activity of TiO2. XRD results indicated that the undoped TiO2 is composed of anatase and rutile phases. The rutile phase was transformed to anatase phase completely with the W doping. Among W-TiO2 catalysts, the 2 mol% W-TiO2 catalyst showed the highest MB degradation rate. The degradation kinetic constant increased from 1.04 x 10(-3) min(-1) to 3.54 x 10(-3) min(-1) with the increase of W doping from 0 to 2 mol%, but decreased down to 1.77 x 10(-3) min(-1) when the W content was 8 mol%. It can be concluded that the degradation of MB under UV radiation was more efficient with W-TiO2 catalysts than with pure TiO2-

  18. Degradation of fluoroquinolone antibiotics during ionizing radiation treatment and assessment of antibacterial activity, toxicity and biodegradability of the products

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tegze, Anna; Sági, Gyuri; Kovács, Krisztina; Homlok, Renáta; Tóth, Tünde; Mohácsi-Farkas, Csilla; Wojnárovits, László; Takács, Erzsébet

    2018-06-01

    This work aimed at investigating the ionizing radiation induced degradation of two fluoroquinolone antibiotics: norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin. At 0.1 mmol dm-3 concentration a low dose, 2 kGy was sufficient to degrade the initial molecules. However, despite of the high removal efficiency the degrees of both the mineralization and the oxidation were low, ∼10% and ∼25%, respectively. (The difference between the results obtained in norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin solutions was not statistically significant.) Broth microdilution tests carried out on Staphylococcus aureus evidenced removal of antibacterial activity in samples irradiated with 2 kGy. Acute toxicity determined on Vibrio fischeri bacteria showed increased toxicity at low doses indicating that the early degradation products were more toxic than the initial molecules. The results of biodegradation experiments performed in activated sludge have shown that the degradation products have become available to the metabolic processes of the microorganisms.

  19. Degradation kinetics and mechanism of trace nitrobenzene by granular activated carbon enhanced microwave/hydrogen peroxide system.

    PubMed

    Tan, Dina; Zeng, Honghu; Liu, Jie; Yu, Xiaozhang; Liang, Yanpeng; Lu, Lanjing

    2013-07-01

    The kinetics of the degradation of trace nitrobenzene (NB) by a granular activated carbon (GAC) enhanced microwave (MW)/hydrogen peroxide (H202) system was studied. Effects of pH, NB initial concentration and tert-butyl alcohol on the removal efficiency were examined. It was found that the reaction rate fits well to first-order reaction kinetics in the MW/GAC/H202 process. Moreover, GAC greatly enhanced the degradation rate of NB in water. Under a given condition (MW power 300 W, H202 dosage 10 mg/L, pH 6.85 and temperature (60 +/- 5)degrees C), the degradation rate of NB was 0.05214 min-1when 4 g/L GAC was added. In general, alkaline pH was better for NB degradation; however, the optimum pH was 8.0 in the tested pH value range of 4.0-12.0. At H202 dosage of 10 mg/L and GAC dosage of 4 g/L, the removal of NB was decreased with increasing initial concentrations of NB, indicating that a low initial concentration was beneficial for the degradation of NB. These results indicated that the MW/GAC/H202 process was effective for trace NB degradation in water. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis indicated that a hydroxyl radical addition reaction and dehydrogenation reaction enhanced NB degradation.

  20. Near-saturated red emitters: four-coordinate copper(i) halide complexes containing 8-(diphenylphosphino)quinoline and 1-(diphenylphosphino)naphthalene ligands.

    PubMed

    Liu, Li-Ping; Li, Qian; Xiang, Song-Po; Liu, Li; Zhong, Xin-Xin; Liang, Chen; Li, Guang Hua; Hayat, Tasawar; Alharbi, Njud S; Li, Fa-Bao; Zhu, Nian-Yong; Wong, Wai-Yeung; Qin, Hai-Mei; Wang, Lei

    2018-06-07

    Recently, highly emissive neutral copper halide complexes have received much attention. Here, a series of four-coordinate mononuclear Cu(i) halide complexes, [CuX(dpqu)(dpna)] (dpqu = 8-(diphenylphosphino)quinoline, dpna = 1-(diphenylphosphino)naphthalene, X = I (1), Br (2) and Cl (3)), were synthesized, and their molecular structures and photophysical properties were investigated. These complexes exhibit near-saturated red emission in the solid state at room temperature and have peak emission wavelengths at 669-691 nm with microsecond lifetimes (τ = 0.46-1.80 μs). Small S1-T1 energy gaps in the solid state indicate that the emission occurs from a thermally activated excited singlet state at ambient temperature. The emission of the complexes 1-3 mainly originates from MLCT transition. The solution-processed devices of complex 1 exhibit stable red emission with a CIE(x, y) of (0.62, 0.38) for a doped device and (0.63, 0.37) for a non-doped device.

  1. Ligand-controlled assembly of Cd(II) coordination polymers based on mixed ligands of naphthalene-dicarboxylate and dipyrido[3,2-d:2',3'-f]quinoxaline: From 0D+1D cocrystal, 2D rectangular network (4,4), to 3D PtS-type architecture

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Liu Guocheng; Chen Yongqiang; Wang Xiuli

    Three novel Cd(II) coordination polymers, namely, [Cd(Dpq)(1,8-NDC)(H{sub 2}O){sub 2}][Cd(Dpq)(1,8-NDC)].2H{sub 2}O (1), [Cd(Dpq)(1,4-NDC)(H{sub 2}O)] (2), and [Cd(Dpq)(2,6-NDC)] (3) have been obtained from hydrothermal reactions of cadmium(II) nitrate with the mixed ligands dipyrido [3,2-d:2',3'-f]quinoxaline (Dpq) and three structurally related naphthalene-dicarboxylate ligands [1,8-naphthalene-dicarboxylic acid (1,8-H{sub 2}NDC), 1,4-naphthalene-dicarboxylic acid (1,4-H{sub 2}NDC), and 2,6-naphthalene-dicarboxylic acid (2,6-H{sub 2}NDC)]. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that the three polymers exhibit novel structures due to different naphthalene-dicarboxylic acid. Compound 1 is a novel cocrystal of left- and right-handed helical chains and binuclear complexes and ultimately packed into a 3D supramolecular structure through hydrogen bonds and {pi}-{pi} stacking interactions. Compoundmore » 2 shows a 2D rectangular network (4,4) bridged by 1,4-NDC with two kinds of coordination modes and ultimately packed into a 3D supramolecular structure through inter-layer {pi}-{pi} stacking interactions. Compound 3 is a new 3D coordination polymer with distorted PtS-type network. In addition, the title compounds exhibit blue/green emission in solid state at room temperature. - Graphical abstract: Three novel Cd(II) compounds have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions exhibiting a systematic variation of architecture by the employment of three structurally related naphthalene-dicarboxylate ligands.« less

  2. Sequential anaerobic-aerobic degradation of munitions waste.

    PubMed

    Ibeanusi, Victor; Jeilani, Yassin; Houston, Samantha; Doss, Danielle; Coley, Bianca

    2009-01-01

    A sequential anaerobic-aerobic biodegradation of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) was studied. The results demonstrated that: (i) a complete degradation of RDX was achieved within 20 days using a consortium of bacteria from a wastewater activated sludge, (ii) RDX degradation did not occur under aerobic conditions alone, (iii) RDX-degrading bacterial strain that was isolated from the activated sludge completely degraded RDX within 2 days, and (iv) RDX- induced protein expressions were observed in the RDX-degrading bacterial strain. Based on fatty acid composition and a confirmation with a 16S rRNA analysis, the RDX-degrading bacterial strain was identified as a Bacillus pumilus-GC subgroup B.

  3. Screening of high concentration phenol degrading strain and optimization of its phenol degradation performance

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Yue-Hua; Li, Jing; Wang, Xue; Xue, Chun-Mei

    2018-03-01

    As phenol as the sole carbon source, the activated sludge was screened and acclimated to obtain the superior phenol-degrading bacteria capable of degrading high phenol concentration. The mixed bacteria completely degraded 1700mg/L phenol in 15h, to 102.9mg/L; the degradation rate reached 96.9%. After isolation and purification, four different single strains were obtained, and the genus of each strain was preliminarily identified. At the same time, the effects of initial phenol concentration, bacteria dosage, temperature and pH on the degradation of COD and phenol by phenol-degrading bacteria were also investigated. The mixed bacteria de-phenol effect is better than the four isolates were isolated.

  4. Terbinafine Resistance Mediated by Salicylate 1-Monooxygenase in Aspergillus nidulans

    PubMed Central

    Graminha, Marcia A. S.; Rocha, Eleusa M. F.; Prade, Rolf A.; Martinez-Rossi, Nilce M.

    2004-01-01

    Resistance to antifungal agents is a recurring and growing problem among patients with systemic fungal infections. UV-induced Aspergillus nidulans mutants resistant to terbinafine have been identified, and we report here the characterization of one such gene. A sib-selected, 6.6-kb genomic DNA fragment encodes a salicylate 1-monooxygenase (salA), and a fatty acid synthase subunit (fasC) confers terbinafine resistance upon transformation of a sensitive strain. Subfragments carrying salA but not fasC confer terbinafine resistance. salA is present as a single-copy gene on chromosome VI and encodes a protein of 473 amino acids that is homologous to salicylate 1-monooxygenase, a well-characterized naphthalene-degrading enzyme in bacteria. salA transcript accumulation analysis showed terbinafine-dependent induction in the wild type and the UV-induced mutant Terb7, as well as overexpression in a strain containing the salA subgenomic DNA fragment, probably due to the multicopy effect caused by the transformation event. Additional naphthalene degradation enzyme-coding genes are present in fungal genomes, suggesting that resistance could follow degradation of the naphthalene ring contained in terbinafine. PMID:15328121

  5. Effect of elevated CO2 on degradation of azoxystrobin and soil microbial activity in rice soil.

    PubMed

    Manna, Suman; Singh, Neera; Singh, V P

    2013-04-01

    An experiment was conducted in open-top chambers (OTC) to study the effect of elevated CO2 (580 ± 20 μmol mol(-1)) on azoxystrobin degradation and soil microbial activities. Results indicated that elevated CO2 did not have any significant effect on the persistence of azoxystrobin in rice-planted soil. The half-life values for the azoxystrobin in rice soils were 20.3 days in control (rice grown at ambient CO2 outdoors), 19.3 days in rice grown under ambient CO2 atmosphere in OTC, and 17.5 days in rice grown under elevated CO2 atmosphere in OTC. Azoxystrobin acid was recovered as the only metabolite of azoxystrobin, but it did not accumulate in the soil/water and was further metabolized. Elevated CO2 enhanced soil microbial biomass (MBC) and alkaline phosphatase activity of soil. Compared with rice grown at ambient CO2 (both outdoors and in OTC), the soil MBC at elevated CO2 increased by twofold. Elevated CO2 did not affect dehydrogenase, fluorescein diacetate, and acid phosphatase activity. Azoxystrobin application to soils, both ambient and elevated CO2, inhibited alkaline phosphates activity, while no effect was observed on other enzymes. Slight increase (1.8-2 °C) in temperature inside OTC did not affect microbial parameters, as similar activities were recorded in rice grown outdoors and in OTC at ambient CO2. Higher MBC in soil at elevated CO2 could be attributed to increased carbon availability in the rhizosphere via plant metabolism and root secretion; however, it did not significantly increase azoxystrobin degradation, suggesting that pesticide degradation was not the result of soil MBC alone. Study suggested that increased CO2 levels following global warming might not adversely affect azoxystrobin degradation. However, global warming is a continuous and cumulative process, therefore, long-term studies are necessary to get more realistic assessment of global warming on fate of pesticide.

  6. Surface disturbance of cryptobiotic soil crusts: nitrogenase activity, chlorophyll content, and chlorophyll degradation

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Belnap, Jayne; Harper, Kimball T.; Warren, Steven D.

    1994-01-01

    Cryptobiotic soil crusts are an important component of semiarid and arid ecosystems. An important role of these crusts is the contribution of fixed nitrogen to cold‐desert ecosystems. This study examines the residual effects of various intensities and combinations of different surface disturbances (raking, scalping, and tracked vehicles) on nitrogenase activity, chlorophyll content, and chlorophyll degradation in these soil crusts. Nine months after disturbance chlorophyll content of disturbed soils was not statistically different from undisturbed controls, except in the scalped treatments, indicating recovery of this characteristic is fairly quick unless surface material is removed. Differences in chlorophyll degradation among treatments were not statistically significant. However, nitrogenase activity in all treatments showed tremendous reductions, ranging from 77–97%, when compared to the control, indicating this characteristic is slow to recover. Consequently, assessment of crustal recovery from disturbance must include not only visual and biomass characteristics but other physiological measurements as well. Areas dominated by these crusts should be managed conservatively until the implications of crustal disturbance is better understood.

  7. Effects of methoxy and formyl substituents on the energetics and reactivity of α-naphthalenes: a calorimetric and computational study.

    PubMed

    Silva, Ana L R; Freitas, Vera L S; Ribeiro da Silva, Maria D M C

    2014-07-01

    A combined experimental and computational study was developed to evaluate and understand the energetics and reactivity of formyl and methoxy α-naphthalene derivatives. Static bomb combustion calorimetry and the Calvet microcalorimetry were the experimental techniques used to determine the standard (p(o)=0.1 MPa) molar enthalpies of formation, in the liquid phase, ΔfHm(o)(l), and of vaporization, Δl(g)Hm(o), at T=298.15K, respectively, of the two liquid naphthalene derivatives. Those experimental values were used to derive the values of the experimental standard molar enthalpies of formation, in the gaseous phase, ΔfHm(o)(g), of 1-methoxynaphthalene, (-3.0 ± 3.1)kJmol(-1), and of 1-formylnaphthalene, (36.3 ± 4.1)kJ mol(-1). High-level quantum chemical calculations at the composite G3(MP2)//B3LYP level were performed to estimate the values of the ΔfHm(o)(g) of the two compounds studied resulting in values in very good agreement with experimental ones. Natural bond orbital (NBO) calculations were also performed to determine more about the structure and reactivity of this class of compounds. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  8. Degradation of sinigrin by Lactobacillus agilis strain R16.

    PubMed

    Llanos Palop, M; Smiths, J P; Brink, B T

    1995-07-01

    Forty-two lactobacilli were screened for their potential to degrade glucosinolate sinigrin. One of them, strain R16, demonstrated a high level of sinigrin degradation; it was identified as Lactobacillus agilis. The sinigrin degrading activity of L. agilis R16 could only be demonstrated when intact cells were used. The products of sinigrin degradation are allyl-isothiocyanate (AITC) and glucose (which is further fermented to DL-lactic acid), suggesting that myrosinase activity is involved. The activity was induced by the presence of sinigrin. Glucose inhibited the myrosinase activity, even in induced cells. Lactobacillus agilis R16 was able to grow on an extract of brown mustard seed and caused glucosinolate degradation.

  9. Identification and catabolic activity of well-derived gasoline-degrading bacteria from a contaminated aquifer.

    PubMed Central

    Ridgway, H F; Safarik, J; Phipps, D; Carl, P; Clark, D

    1990-01-01

    Approximately 300 gasoline-degrading bacteria were isolated from well water and core material from a shallow coastal aquifer contaminated with unleaded gasoline. Identification of 244 isolates revealed four genera: Pseudomonas, Alcaligenes, Nocardia, and Micrococcus, with pseudomonads making up 86.9% of bacteria identified. A total of 297 isolates was sorted into 111 catabolic groups on the basis of aerobic growth responses on 15 gasoline hydrocarbons. Each test hydrocarbon was degraded by at least one isolate. Toluene, p-xylene, ethylbenzene, and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene were most frequently utilized as growth substrates, whereas cyclic and branched alkanes were least utilized. Most isolates were able to grow on 2 or 3 different hydrocarbons, and nearly 75% utilized toluene as a sole source of carbon and energy. Isolates were remarkably specific for hydrocarbon usage, often catabolizing only one of several closely related compounds. A subset of 220 isolates was sorted into 51 groups by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was partitioned into 16 protein-banding groups (i.e., subspecies) whose catabolic activities were largely restricted to substituted aromatics. Different members of subspecies groups defined by protein-banding pattern analysis often exhibited different growth responses on the same hydrocarbon, implying marked strain diversity. The catabolic activities of well-derived, gasoline-degrading bacteria associated with this contaminated aquifer are consonant with in situ adaptation at the site. PMID:2268163

  10. Identification and catabolic activity of well-derived gasoline-degrading bacteria from a contaminated aquifer

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ridgway, H.F.; Safarik, J.; Phipps, D.

    1990-11-01

    Approximately 300 gasoline-degrading bacteria were isolated from well water and core material from a shallow coastal aquifer contaminated with unleaded gasoline. Identification of 244 isolates revealed four genera: Pseudomonas, Alcaligenes, Nocardia, and Micrococcus, with pseudomonads making up 86.9% of bacteria identified. A total of 297 isolates was sorted into 111 catabolic groups on the basis of aerobic growth responses on 15 gasoline hydrocarbons. Each test hydrocarbon was degraded by at least one isolate. Toluene, p-xylene, ethylbenzene, and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene were most frequently utilized as growth substrates, whereas cyclic and branched alkanes were least utilized. Most isolates were able to grow onmore » 2 or 3 different hydrocarbons, and nearly 75% utilized toluene as a sole source of carbon and energy. Isolates were remarkably specific for hydrocarbon usage, often catabolizing only one of several closely related compounds. A subset of 220 isolates was sorted into 51 groups by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was partitioned into 16 protein-banding groups (i.e., subspecies) whose catabolic activities were largely restricted to substituted aromatics. Different members of subspecies groups defined by protein-banding pattern analysis often exhibited different growth responses on the same hydrocarbon, implying marked strain diversity. The catabolic activities of well-derived, gasoline-degrading bacteria associated with this contaminated aquifer are consonant with in situ adaptation at the site.« less

  11. Characterization of an activity from the strict anaerobe Roseburia cecicola that degrades DNA when exposed to air.

    PubMed Central

    O'Connor, L T; Savage, D C

    1993-01-01

    Roseburia cecicola is an obligately anaerobic bacterium that is extremely sensitive to oxygen. Genomic DNA isolated from cells exposed to air for even a brief period (< 5 min) is partially degraded, while DNA extracted from cells maintained in an anaerobic environment remains intact. Cells exposed to air for longer and longer periods yield DNA which is progressively degraded into fragments with decreasing sizes. Oxygen toxicity for this anaerobe appears to result, at least in part, from degradation of its genomic DNA. Cell lysates of the organism exhibited a similar ability to degrade exogenous sources of DNA when assayed in vitro under aerobic conditions. A substance that degrades both DNA and RNA when incubated aerobically was partially purified from such lysates. It has an approximate molecular weight of 2,800 and is unlikely to be a protein. It requires a reducing agent for activity and can be inhibited by catalase and peroxidase but not superoxide dismutase. The rate at which it degrades DNA in vitro can be enhanced by temperatures above 37 degrees C or by oxygen at partial pressures above atmospheric pressure. These results suggest that this substance degrades nucleic acids by a mechanism involving oxygen radicals. Images PMID:8335626

  12. Ultrasound effects on the degradation kinetics, structure, and antioxidant activity of sea cucumber fucoidan.

    PubMed

    Guo, Xin; Ye, Xingqian; Sun, Yujing; Wu, Dan; Wu, Nian; Hu, Yaqin; Chen, Shiguo

    2014-02-05

    The effects of ultrasound on the molecular weight, structure, and antioxidant potential of a fucoidan found in Isostichopus badionotus were investigated. The results showed the molecular weight (Mw) of fucoidan decreased obviously after ultrasound treatment. Higher ultrasonic intensity, lower temperature, and lower fucoidan concentrations led to a more effective sonochemical effect. The kinetic model for fucoidan degradation fitted to 1/M(wt)-1/M(w0) = kt at the tested temperature. The optimized degradation conditions by response surface methodology (RSM) were temperature, 12 °C, and intensity, 508 W/cm². Structural analysis by FTIR and NMR indicated the fucoidan kept the linear tetrasaccharide repeating units as the original polysaccharides after the ultrasound treatment, with only slight destruction of the middle nonsulfated fucose units. Antioxidant activity assay showed the antioxidant activity was slightly improved by the ultrasound treatment. The results suggested that ultrasound treatment is an effective approach to decrease the M(w) of fucoidan with only minor structural destruction.

  13. Thermogravimetric study of thermal decontamination of soils polluted by hexachlorobenzene, 4-chlorobiphenyl, naphthalene, or n-decane.

    PubMed

    Risoul, V; Pichon, C; Trouvé, G; Peters, W A; Gilot, P; Prado, G

    1999-02-15

    To determine decontamination behavior as affected by temperature, shallow beds of a clay-rich, a calcerous, and a sedimentary soil, artificially polluted with hexachlorobenzene, 4-chlorobiphenyl, naphthalene, or n-decane, were separately heated at 5 degrees C min-1 in a thermogravimetric analyzer. Temperatures for deep cleaning of the calcerous and the sedimentary soil increased with increasing boiling point (bp) of the aromatic contaminants, but removal efficiencies still approached 100% well below the bp. Decontamination rates were therefore modelled according to a pollutant evaporation-diffusion transport model. For the calcerous and sedimentary soils, this model reasonably correlated removal of roughly the first 2/3 of the naphthalene, but gave only fair predictions for hexachlorobenzene and 4-chlorobiphenyl. It was necessary to heat the clay soil above the aromatics bp to achieve high decontamination efficiencies. Weight loss data imply that for temperatures from near ambient to as much as 150 degrees C, interactions of each aromatic with the clay soil, or its decomposition products, result in lower net volatilization of the contaminated vs. neat clay. A similar effect was observed in heating calcerous soil polluted with hexachlorobenzene from near ambient to about 140 degrees C. Decontamination mechanisms remain to be established, although the higher temperatures needed to remove aromatics from the clay may reflect a more prominent role for surface desorption than evaporation. This would be consistent with our estimates that the clay can accommodate all of the initial pollutant loadings within a single surface monolayer, whereas the calcerous and sedimentary soils cannot.

  14. The formation of SOA and chemical tracer compounds from the photooxidation of naphthalene and its methyl analogs in the presence and absence of nitrogen oxides

    EPA Science Inventory

    Laboratory smog chamber experiments have been carried out to investigate secondary organic aerosol (SOA)formation from the photooxidation of naphthalene and its methyl analogs, 1- and 2-methylnaphthalene (1-MN and 2- MN, respectively). Laboratory smog chamber irradiations were co...

  15. Abeta-degrading enzymes in Alzheimer's disease.

    PubMed

    Miners, James Scott; Baig, Shabnam; Palmer, Jennifer; Palmer, Laura E; Kehoe, Patrick G; Love, Seth

    2008-04-01

    In Alzheimer's disease (AD) Abeta accumulates because of imbalance between the production of Abeta and its removal from the brain. There is increasing evidence that in most sporadic forms of AD, the accumulation of Abeta is partly, if not in some cases solely, because of defects in its removal--mediated through a combination of diffusion along perivascular extracellular matrix, transport across vessel walls into the blood stream and enzymatic degradation. Multiple enzymes within the central nervous system (CNS) are capable of degrading Abeta. Most are produced by neurons or glia, but some are expressed in the cerebral vasculature, where reduced Abeta-degrading activity may contribute to the development of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). Neprilysin and insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE), which have been most extensively studied, are expressed both neuronally and within the vasculature. The levels of both of these enzymes are reduced in AD although the correlation with enzyme activity is still not entirely clear. Other enzymes shown capable of degrading Abetain vitro or in animal studies include plasmin; endothelin-converting enzymes ECE-1 and -2; matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2, -3 and -9; and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). The levels of plasmin and plasminogen activators (uPA and tPA) and ECE-2 are reported to be reduced in AD. Reductions in neprilysin, IDE and plasmin in AD have been associated with possession of APOEepsilon4. We found no change in the level or activity of MMP-2, -3 or -9 in AD. The level and activity of ACE are increased, the level being directly related to Abeta plaque load. Up-regulation of some Abeta-degrading enzymes may initially compensate for declining activity of others, but as age, genetic factors and diseases such as hypertension and diabetes diminish the effectiveness of other Abeta-clearance pathways, reductions in the activity of particular Abeta-degrading enzymes may become critical, leading to the development of AD and CAA.

  16. The proteolytic profile of human cancer procoagulant suggests that it promotes cancer metastasis at the level of activation rather than degradation.

    PubMed

    Kee, Nalise Low Ah; Krause, Jason; Blatch, Gregory L; Muramoto, Koji; Sakka, Kazuo; Sakka, Makiko; Naudé, Ryno J; Wagner, Leona; Wolf, Raik; Rahfeld, Jens-Ulrich; Demuth, Hans-Ulrich; Mielicki, Wojciech P; Frost, Carminita L

    2015-10-01

    Proteases are essential for tumour progression and many are over-expressed during this time. The main focus of research was the role of these proteases in degradation of the basement membrane and extracellular matrix (ECM), thereby enabling metastasis to occur. Cancer procoagulant (CP), a protease present in malignant tumours, but not normal tissue, is a known activator of coagulation factor X (FX). The present study investigated the function of CP in cancer progression by focussing on its enzymatic specificity. FX cleavage was confirmed using SDS-PAGE and MALDI-TOF MS and compared to the proteolytic action of CP on ECM proteins, including collagen type IV, laminin and fibronectin. Contrary to previous reports, CP cleaved FX at the conventional activation site (between Arg-52 and Ile-53). Additionally, degradation of FX by CP occurred at a much slower rate than degradation by conventional activators. Complete degradation of the heavy chain of FX was only visible after 24 h, while degradation by RVV was complete after 30 min, supporting postulations that the procoagulant function of CP may be of secondary importance to its role in cancer progression. Of the ECM proteins tested, only fibronectin was cleaved. The substrate specificity of CP was further investigated by screening synthetic peptide substrates using a novel direct CP assay. The results indicate that CP is not essential for either cancer-associated blood coagulation or the degradation of ECM proteins. Rather, they suggest that this protease may be required for the proteolytic activation of membrane receptors.

  17. Lignocellulose-Degrading Microbial Communities in Landfill Sites Represent a Repository of Unexplored Biomass-Degrading Diversity.

    PubMed

    Ransom-Jones, Emma; McCarthy, Alan J; Haldenby, Sam; Doonan, James; McDonald, James E

    2017-01-01

    The microbial conversion of lignocellulosic biomass for biofuel production represents a renewable alternative to fossil fuels. However, the discovery of new microbial enzymes with high activity is critical for improving biomass conversion processes. While attempts to identify superior lignocellulose-degrading enzymes have focused predominantly on the animal gut, biomass-degrading communities in landfill sites represent an unexplored resource of hydrolytic enzymes for biomass conversion. Here, to address the paucity of information on biomass-degrading microbial diversity beyond the gastrointestinal tract, cellulose (cotton) "baits" were incubated in landfill leachate microcosms to enrich the landfill cellulolytic microbial community for taxonomic and functional characterization. Metagenome and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing demonstrated the dominance of Firmicutes , Bacteroidetes , Spirochaetes , and Fibrobacteres in the landfill cellulolytic community. Functional metagenome analysis revealed 8,371 carbohydrate active enzymes (CAZymes) belonging to 244 CAZyme families. In addition to observing biomass-degrading enzymes of anaerobic bacterial "cellulosome" systems of members of the Firmicutes , we report the first detection of the Fibrobacter cellulase system and the Bacteroidetes polysaccharide utilization locus (PUL) in landfill sites. These data provide evidence for the presence of multiple mechanisms of biomass degradation in the landfill microbiome and highlight the extraordinary functional diversity of landfill microorganisms as a rich source of biomass-degrading enzymes of potential biotechnological significance. IMPORTANCE The microbial conversion of lignocellulosic biomass for biofuel production represents a renewable alternative to fossil fuels. However, the discovery of new microbial enzymes with high activity is critical for improving biomass conversion processes. While attempts to identify superior lignocellulose-degrading enzymes have focused

  18. Lignocellulose-Degrading Microbial Communities in Landfill Sites Represent a Repository of Unexplored Biomass-Degrading Diversity

    PubMed Central

    Ransom-Jones, Emma; McCarthy, Alan J.; Haldenby, Sam; Doonan, James

    2017-01-01

    ABSTRACT The microbial conversion of lignocellulosic biomass for biofuel production represents a renewable alternative to fossil fuels. However, the discovery of new microbial enzymes with high activity is critical for improving biomass conversion processes. While attempts to identify superior lignocellulose-degrading enzymes have focused predominantly on the animal gut, biomass-degrading communities in landfill sites represent an unexplored resource of hydrolytic enzymes for biomass conversion. Here, to address the paucity of information on biomass-degrading microbial diversity beyond the gastrointestinal tract, cellulose (cotton) “baits” were incubated in landfill leachate microcosms to enrich the landfill cellulolytic microbial community for taxonomic and functional characterization. Metagenome and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing demonstrated the dominance of Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Spirochaetes, and Fibrobacteres in the landfill cellulolytic community. Functional metagenome analysis revealed 8,371 carbohydrate active enzymes (CAZymes) belonging to 244 CAZyme families. In addition to observing biomass-degrading enzymes of anaerobic bacterial “cellulosome” systems of members of the Firmicutes, we report the first detection of the Fibrobacter cellulase system and the Bacteroidetes polysaccharide utilization locus (PUL) in landfill sites. These data provide evidence for the presence of multiple mechanisms of biomass degradation in the landfill microbiome and highlight the extraordinary functional diversity of landfill microorganisms as a rich source of biomass-degrading enzymes of potential biotechnological significance. IMPORTANCE The microbial conversion of lignocellulosic biomass for biofuel production represents a renewable alternative to fossil fuels. However, the discovery of new microbial enzymes with high activity is critical for improving biomass conversion processes. While attempts to identify superior lignocellulose-degrading enzymes have

  19. Thermolysin damages animal life through degradation of plasma proteins enhanced by rapid cleavage of serpins and activation of proteases.

    PubMed

    Kong, Lulu; Lu, Anrui; Guan, Jingmin; Yang, Bing; Li, Muwang; Hillyer, Julián F; Ramarao, Nalini; Söderhäll, Kenneth; Liu, Chaoliang; Ling, Erjun

    2015-01-01

    Thermolysin, a metallopeptidase secreted by pathogenic microbes, is concluded as an important virulence factor due to cleaving purified host proteins in vitro. Using the silkworm Bombyx mori as a model system, we found that thermolysin injection into larvae induces the destruction of the coagulation response and the activation of hemolymph melanization, which results in larval death. Thermolysin triggers the rapid degradation of insect and mammalian plasma proteins at a level that is considerably greater than expected in vitro and/or in vivo. To more specifically explore the mechanism, thermolysin-induced changes to key proteins belonging to the insect melanization pathway were assessed as a window for observing plasma protein cleavage. The application of thermolysin induced the rapid cleavage of the melanization negative regulator serpin-3, but did not directly activate the melanization rate-limiting enzyme prophenoloxidase (PPO) or the terminal serine proteases responsible for PPO activation. Terminal serine proteases of melanization are activated indirectly after thermolysin exposure. We hypothesize that thermolysin induces the rapid degradation of serpins and the activation of proteases directly or indirectly, boosting uncontrolled plasma protein degradation in insects and mammalians. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  20. Bioaugmentation of activated sludge towards 3-chloroaniline removal with a mixed bacterial population carrying a degradative plasmid.

    PubMed

    Bathe, Stephan; Schwarzenbeck, Norbert; Hausner, Martina

    2009-06-01

    A bioaugmentation approach combining several strategies was applied to achieve degradation of 3-chloroaniline (3CA) in semicontinuous activated sludge reactors. In a first step, a 3CA-degrading Comamonas testosteroni strain carrying the degradative plasmid pNB2 was added to a biofilm reactor, and complete 3CA degradation together with spread of the plasmid within the indigenous biofilm population was achieved. A second set of reactors was then bioaugmented with either a suspension of biofilm cells removed from the carrier material or with biofilm-containing carrier material. 3CA degradation was established rapidly in all bioaugmented reactors, followed by a slow adaptation of the non-bioaugmented control reactors. In response to variations in 3CA concentration, all reactors exhibited temporary performance breakdowns. Whereas duplicates of the control reactors deviated in their behaviour, the bioaugmented reactors appeared more reproducible in their performance and population dynamics. Finally, the carrier-bioaugmented reactors showed an improved performance in the presence of high 3CA influent concentrations over the suspension-bioaugmented reactors. In contrast, degradation in one control reactor failed completely, but was rapidly established in the remaining control reactor.

  1. Whole Genome Sequence Analysis of an Alachlor and Endosulfan Degrading Micrococcus sp. strain 2385 Isolated from Ochlockonee River, Florida

    PubMed Central

    Pathak, Ashish; Chauhan, Ashvini; Ewida, Ayman Y.I.; Stothard, Paul

    2016-01-01

    We recently isolated Micrococcus sp. strain 2385 from Ochlockonee River, Florida and demonstrated potent biodegradative activity against two commonly used pesticides- alachlor [(2-chloro-2`,6`-diethylphenyl-N (methoxymethyl)acetanilide)] and endosulfan [(6,7,8,9,10,10-hexachloro-1,5,5a,6,9,9a-hexahydro-6,9methano-2,3,4-benzo(e)di-oxathiepin-3-oxide], respectively. To further identify the repertoire of metabolic functions possessed by strain 2385, a draft genome sequence was obtained, assembled, annotated and analyzed. The genome sequence of Micrococcus sp. strain 2385 consisted of 1,460,461,440 bases which assembled into 175 contigs with an N50 contig length of 50,109 bases and a coverage of 600x. The genome size of this strain was estimated at 2,431,226 base pairs with a G+C content of 72.8 and a total number of 2,268 putative genes. RAST annotated a total of 340 subsystems in the genome of strain 2385 along with the presence of 2,177 coding sequences. A genome wide survey indicated that that strain 2385 harbors a plethora of genes to degrade other pollutants including caprolactam, PAHs (such as naphthalene), styrene, toluene and several chloroaromatic compounds. PMID:27672405

  2. Whole Genome Sequence Analysis of an Alachlor and Endosulfan Degrading Micrococcus sp. strain 2385 Isolated from Ochlockonee River, Florida.

    PubMed

    Pathak, Ashish; Chauhan, Ashvini; Ewida, Ayman Y I; Stothard, Paul

    2016-01-01

    We recently isolated Micrococcus sp. strain 2385 from Ochlockonee River, Florida and demonstrated potent biodegradative activity against two commonly used pesticides- alachlor [(2-chloro-2`,6`-diethylphenyl-N (methoxymethyl)acetanilide)] and endosulfan [(6,7,8,9,10,10-hexachloro-1,5,5a,6,9,9a-hexahydro-6,9methano-2,3,4-benzo(e)di-oxathiepin-3-oxide], respectively. To further identify the repertoire of metabolic functions possessed by strain 2385, a draft genome sequence was obtained, assembled, annotated and analyzed. The genome sequence of Micrococcus sp. strain 2385 consisted of 1,460,461,440 bases which assembled into 175 contigs with an N50 contig length of 50,109 bases and a coverage of 600x. The genome size of this strain was estimated at 2,431,226 base pairs with a G+C content of 72.8 and a total number of 2,268 putative genes. RAST annotated a total of 340 subsystems in the genome of strain 2385 along with the presence of 2,177 coding sequences. A genome wide survey indicated that that strain 2385 harbors a plethora of genes to degrade other pollutants including caprolactam, PAHs (such as naphthalene), styrene, toluene and several chloroaromatic compounds.

  3. Molecular Ecology of Bacterial Populations in Environmental Hazardous Chemical Control

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1991-11-30

    Reactor Figure 1. A schematic drawing of the bioreactor system for on-line studies of naphthalene degradation and light production by bioluminescent...the bioluminescent monitoring section. The reactor system consisted of a L. H. Fermentation Series 500 continuous flow bioreactor with a 1 L glass... studied the expression of the upper pathway operon of NAH7. Light induction in response to naphthalene in the strain HK44 was comparable in both

  4. Divalent Naphthalene Diimide Ligands Display High Selectivity for the Human Telomeric G‐quadruplex in K+ Buffer

    PubMed Central

    Street, Steven T. G.; Chin, Donovan N.; Hollingworth, Gregory J.; Berry, Monica

    2017-01-01

    Abstract Selective G‐quadruplex ligands offer great promise for the development of anti‐cancer therapies. A novel series of divalent cationic naphthalene diimide ligands that selectively bind to the hybrid form of the human telomeric G‐quadruplex in K+ buffer are described herein. We demonstrate that an imidazolium‐bearing mannoside‐conjugate is the most selective ligand to date for this quadruplex against several other quadruplex and duplex structures. We also show that a similarly selective methylpiperazine‐bearing ligand was more toxic to HeLa cancer cells than doxorubicin, whilst exhibiting three times less toxicity towards fetal lung fibroblasts WI‐38. PMID:28257554

  5. Characterization of Active Anthocyanin Degradation in the Petals of Rosa chinensis and Brunfelsia calycina Reveals the Effect of Gallated Catechins on Pigment Maintenance

    PubMed Central

    Luo, Honghui; Deng, Shuangfan; Fu, Wei; Zhang, Xin; Zhang, Xuelian; Zhang, Zhaoqi; Pang, Xuequn

    2017-01-01

    Anthocyanin degradation decreases ornamental or nutritional values of horticultural products. To investigate factors that may influence colour change in flower development, anthocyanin degradation was compared between the flowers of Brunfelsia calycina and Rosa chinensis, which show rapid and slow degradation, respectively. In-gel activity assays, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of tannins, enzyme kinetics measurement and immune-detection of anthocyanin degradation related-perioxidases (PODs) were carried out for the comparison. Rose petals possessed significantly lower anthocyanin degradation-related POD activities than Brunfelsia petals, which may be related to the high tannin contents. Epicatechin gallate (ECG) and gallocatechin gallate (GCG) were detected in rose as 161.3 ± 12.34 and 273.56 ± 41.23 μg/g FW (Fresh Weight) respectively, while not detected in Brunfelsia. ECG and GCG inhibited the activities of the Brunfelsia POD with half maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) as 21.5 and 29.7 μM respectively, and increased the colour intensities of the anthocyanins. Catechin and epicatechin did not inhibit the POD activity, while serving as POD substrates, with Km (the Michaelis constant) as 0.48 and 1.23 mM. Similar protein levels of the anthocyanin degradation-related 40-kDa PODs were detected in Brunfelsia and rose. In summary, high amount of tannins, particularly ECG and GCG, in red rose petals may inhibit the degradation-related enzymes, leading to the maintenance of anthocyanins in vivo. PMID:28346355

  6. Characterization of Active Anthocyanin Degradation in the Petals of Rosa chinensis and Brunfelsia calycina Reveals the Effect of Gallated Catechins on Pigment Maintenance.

    PubMed

    Luo, Honghui; Deng, Shuangfan; Fu, Wei; Zhang, Xin; Zhang, Xuelian; Zhang, Zhaoqi; Pang, Xuequn

    2017-03-25

    Anthocyanin degradation decreases ornamental or nutritional values of horticultural products. To investigate factors that may influence colour change in flower development, anthocyanin degradation was compared between the flowers of Brunfelsia calycina and Rosa chinensis , which show rapid and slow degradation, respectively. In-gel activity assays, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of tannins, enzyme kinetics measurement and immune-detection of anthocyanin degradation related-perioxidases (PODs) were carried out for the comparison. Rose petals possessed significantly lower anthocyanin degradation-related POD activities than Brunfelsia petals, which may be related to the high tannin contents. Epicatechin gallate (ECG) and gallocatechin gallate (GCG) were detected in rose as 161.3 ± 12.34 and 273.56 ± 41.23 μg/g FW (Fresh Weight) respectively, while not detected in Brunfelsia . ECG and GCG inhibited the activities of the Brunfelsia POD with half maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) as 21.5 and 29.7 μM respectively, and increased the colour intensities of the anthocyanins. Catechin and epicatechin did not inhibit the POD activity, while serving as POD substrates, with K m (the Michaelis constant) as 0.48 and 1.23 mM. Similar protein levels of the anthocyanin degradation-related 40-kDa PODs were detected in Brunfelsia and rose. In summary, high amount of tannins, particularly ECG and GCG, in red rose petals may inhibit the degradation-related enzymes, leading to the maintenance of anthocyanins in vivo.

  7. Carbon-Degrading Enzyme Activities Stimulated by Increased Nutrient Availability in Arctic Tundra Soils

    PubMed Central

    Koyama, Akihiro; Wallenstein, Matthew D.; Simpson, Rodney T.; Moore, John C.

    2013-01-01

    Climate-induced warming of the Arctic tundra is expected to increase nutrient availability to soil microbes, which in turn may accelerate soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition. We increased nutrient availability via fertilization to investigate the microbial response via soil enzyme activities. Specifically, we measured potential activities of seven enzymes at four temperatures in three soil profiles (organic, organic/mineral interface, and mineral) from untreated native soils and from soils which had been fertilized with nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) since 1989 (23 years) and 2006 (six years). Fertilized plots within the 1989 site received annual additions of 10 g N⋅m-2⋅year-1 and 5 g P⋅m-2⋅year-1. Within the 2006 site, two fertilizer regimes were established – one in which plots received 5 g N⋅m-2⋅year-1 and 2.5 g P⋅m-2⋅year-1 and one in which plots received 10 g N⋅m-2⋅year-1 and 5 g P⋅m-2⋅year-1. The fertilization treatments increased activities of enzymes hydrolyzing carbon (C)-rich compounds but decreased phosphatase activities, especially in the organic soils. Activities of two enzymes that degrade N-rich compounds were not affected by the fertilization treatments. The fertilization treatments increased ratios of enzyme activities degrading C-rich compounds to those for N-rich compounds or phosphate, which could lead to changes in SOM chemistry over the long term and to losses of soil C. Accelerated SOM decomposition caused by increased nutrient availability could significantly offset predicted increased C fixation via stimulated net primary productivity in Arctic tundra ecosystems. PMID:24204773

  8. Mode-of-Action Uncertainty for Dual-Mode Carcinogens:Lower Bounds for Naphthalene-Induced Nasal Tumors in Rats Implied byPBPK and 2-Stage Stochastic Cancer Risk Models

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Bogen, K T

    2007-01-30

    As reflected in the 2005 USEPA Guidelines for Cancer Risk Assessment, some chemical carcinogens may have a site-specific mode of action (MOA) that is dual, involving mutation in addition to cell-killing induced hyperplasia. Although genotoxicity may contribute to increased risk at all doses, the Guidelines imply that for dual MOA (DMOA) carcinogens, judgment be used to compare and assess results obtained using separate ''linear'' (genotoxic) vs. ''nonlinear'' (nongenotoxic) approaches to low-level risk extrapolation. However, the Guidelines allow the latter approach to be used only when evidence is sufficient to parameterize a biologically based model that reliably extrapolates risk to lowmore » levels of concern. The Guidelines thus effectively prevent MOA uncertainty from being characterized and addressed when data are insufficient to parameterize such a model, but otherwise clearly support a DMOA. A bounding factor approach--similar to that used in reference dose procedures for classic toxicity endpoints--can address MOA uncertainty in a way that avoids explicit modeling of low-dose risk as a function of administered or internal dose. Even when a ''nonlinear'' toxicokinetic model cannot be fully validated, implications of DMOA uncertainty on low-dose risk may be bounded with reasonable confidence when target tumor types happen to be extremely rare. This concept was illustrated for the rodent carcinogen naphthalene. Bioassay data, supplemental toxicokinetic data, and related physiologically based pharmacokinetic and 2-stage stochastic carcinogenesis modeling results all clearly indicate that naphthalene is a DMOA carcinogen. Plausibility bounds on rat-tumor-type specific DMOA-related uncertainty were obtained using a 2-stage model adapted to reflect the empirical link between genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of the most potent identified genotoxic naphthalene metabolites, 1,2- and 1,4-naphthoquinone. Resulting bounds each provided the basis for a corresponding

  9. Degradation of phenolic contaminants in ground water by anaerobic bacteria: St. Louis Park, Minnesota

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Ehrlich, G.G.; Goerlitz, D.F.; Godsy, E.M.; Hult, M.F.

    1982-01-01

    Coal-tar derivatives from a coal-tar distillation and wood-treating plant that operated from 1918 to 1972 at St. Louis Park, Minnesota contaminated the near-surface ground water. Solutions of phenolic compounds and a water-immiscible mixture of polynuclear aromatic compounds accumulated in wetlands near the plant site and entered the aquifer. The concentration of phenolic compounds in the aqueous phase under the wetlands is about 30 mg/1 but decreases to less than 0.2 mg/1 at a distance of 430 m immediately downgradient from the source. Concentrations of naphthalene (the predominant polynuclear compound in the ground water) and sodium (selected as a conservative tracer) range from about 20 mg/1 and 430 mg/1 in the aqueous phase at the source to about 2 mg/1 and 120 mg/1 at 430 m downgradient, respectively. Phenolic compounds and naphthalene are disappearing faster than expected if only dilution were occurring. Sorption of phenolic compounds on aquifer sediments is negligible but naphthalene is slightly sorbed. Anaerobic biodegradation of phenolic compounds is primarily responsible for the observed attenuation. Methane was found only in water samples from the contaminated zone (2-20 mg/1). Methane-producing bacteria were found only in water from the contaminated zone. Methane was produced in laboratory cultures of contaminated water inoculated with bacteria from the contaminated zone. Evidence for anaerobic biodegradation of naphthalene under either field or laboratory conditions was not obtained.

  10. Bi2WO6 nanoflowers: An efficient visible light photocatalytic activity for ceftriaxone sodium degradation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhao, Yanyan; Wang, Yongbo; Liu, Enzhou; Fan, Jun; Hu, Xiaoyun

    2018-04-01

    The morphology-controlled synthesis of nano-structure photocatalyst have leaded a new possibility to improve their physical and chemical properties. Herein, Bi2WO6 nanocrystals (BWO) with nano-flower, nano plates, knot shape, rod like and irregular morphologies have been successfully synthesized through a highly facile hydrothermal process by simply adjusting pH values, reactive solvents and temperature. Photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared samples were evaluated by degradation of Ceftriaxone sodium under visible light irradiation (λ > 420 nm), the results indicated that all the BWO samples exhibit morphology-associated photocatalytic activity, and the 3D flowerlike-structure of BWO composed of well-ordered nano plates (BWO-D-5) displayed the outstanding photocatalytic activity. Through getting insight into the mechanism, h+ and rad O2- play major roles compared with rad OH in photocatalytic degradation process. The possible pathway of Ceftriaxone sodium and the intermediates were proposed to better understand the reaction process. Moreover, this work not only provides an example of morphology-dependent photocatalytic activity of BWO but also provides an illustrative example for removing organic pollutant molecules according to practical requirements.

  11. Enhanced photocatalytic activity of Fe-doped TiO2 coated on N-doped activated carbon composites for photocatalytic degradation of dyeing wastewater

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhou, Jie; Zhu, Beibei; Wang, Lu; Li, Ya; Qiao, Qichen

    2017-10-01

    Fe-doped TiO2 coated on N-doped activated carbon (Fe-TiO2/N-AC, FTNA) composites were synthesized simply by a straightforward two-step procedure. The obtained materials were characterized by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), N2 adsorption-desorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and FT-IR spectroscopies. Through the degradation of dyeing wastewater, the photocatalytic activity of FTNA was investigated under ultraviolet light irradiation. The results showed that containing N functional groups were successfully introduced onto the surface of the activated carbon. Compared with Fe-TiO2/AC (FTA), FTNA with average particle size of TiO2 13.6 nm and surface area 1007.89 m2/g showed a higher photoactivity. Additionally, for the photocatalytic degradation of dyeing wastewater, the optimum N content and catalyst content were 0.8% and 5g/L, respectively. Moreover, the photoactivity and photo stability of the catalyst after many runs was also evaluated.

  12. Theoretical Mechanistic and Kinetic Studies on Homogeneous Gas-Phase Formation of Polychlorinated Naphthalene from 2-Chlorophenol as Forerunner

    PubMed Central

    Xu, Fei; Zhang, Ruiming; Li, Yunfeng; Zhang, Qingzhu; Wang, Wenxing

    2015-01-01

    Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) are dioxins-like compounds and are formed along with polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in thermal and combustion procedures. Chlorophenols (CPs) are the most important forerunners of PCNs. A comprehensive comprehension of PCN formation procedure from CPs is a precondition for reducing the discharge of PCNs. Experiments on the formation of PCNs from CPs have been hindered by PCN toxicity and short of precise detection methods for active intermediate radicals. In this work, PCN formation mechanism in gas-phase condition from 2-chlorophenol (2-CP) as forerunner was studied by quantum chemistry calculations. Numbers of energetically advantaged formation routes were proposed. The rate constants of key elementary steps were calculated over 600–1200 K using canonical variational transition-state theory (CVT) with small curvature tunneling contribution (SCT) method. This study illustrates formation of PCNs with one chlorine atom loss from 2-CP is preferred over that without chlorine atom loss. In comparison with formation of PCDFs from 2-CP, PCN products are less chlorinated and have lower formation potential. PMID:26516839

  13. Theoretical Mechanistic and Kinetic Studies on Homogeneous Gas-Phase Formation of Polychlorinated Naphthalene from 2-Chlorophenol as Forerunner.

    PubMed

    Xu, Fei; Zhang, Ruiming; Li, Yunfeng; Zhang, Qingzhu; Wang, Wenxing

    2015-10-26

    Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) are dioxins-like compounds and are formed along with polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in thermal and combustion procedures. Chlorophenols (CPs) are the most important forerunners of PCNs. A comprehensive comprehension of PCN formation procedure from CPs is a precondition for reducing the discharge of PCNs. Experiments on the formation of PCNs from CPs have been hindered by PCN toxicity and short of precise detection methods for active intermediate radicals. In this work, PCN formation mechanism in gas-phase condition from 2-chlorophenol (2-CP) as forerunner was studied by quantum chemistry calculations. Numbers of energetically advantaged formation routes were proposed. The rate constants of key elementary steps were calculated over 600-1200 K using canonical variational transition-state theory (CVT) with small curvature tunneling contribution (SCT) method. This study illustrates formation of PCNs with one chlorine atom loss from 2-CP is preferred over that without chlorine atom loss. In comparison with formation of PCDFs from 2-CP, PCN products are less chlorinated and have lower formation potential.

  14. An integrated (electro- and bio-oxidation) approach for remediation of industrial wastewater containing azo-dyes: Understanding the degradation mechanism and toxicity assessment.

    PubMed

    Aravind, Priyadharshini; Selvaraj, Hosimin; Ferro, Sergio; Sundaram, Maruthamuthu

    2016-11-15

    A hybrid approach for the remediation of recalcitrant dye wastewater is proposed. The chlorine-mediated electrochemical oxidation of real textile effluents and synthetic samples (using Ti/IrO2-RuO2-TiO2 anodes), lead to discoloration by 92% and 89%, respectively, in 100min, without significant mineralization. The remediation was obtained through biodegradation, after removing the residual bio-toxic active chlorine species via sunlight exposition. Results show that the electrochemical discoloration enhances the effluent biodegradability with about 90% COD removal employing acclimatized naphthalene-degrading bacterial consortia, within 144h. Based on results obtained through FT-IR and GC-MS, it is likely that azo group stripping and oxidative cleavage of dyes occur due to the nucleophilic attack of active chlorine species during electro-oxidation. This leads to generation of aromatic intermediates which are further desulfonated, deaminated or oxidized only at their functional groups. These aromatic intermediates were mineralized into simpler organic acids and aldehydes by bacterial consortia. Phyto-toxicity trials on Vigna radiata confirmed the toxic nature of the untreated dye solutions. An increase in root and shoot development was observed with the electrochemically treated solutions, the same was higher in case of bio-treated solutions. Overall, obtained results confirm the capability of the proposed hybrid oxidation scheme for the remediation of textile wastewater. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  15. Temperature-dependent sorption of naphthalene, phenanthrene, and pyrene to low organic carbon aquifer sediments

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Piatt, Joseph J.; Backhus, Debera A.; Capel, Paul D.; Eisenreich, Steven J.

    1996-01-01

    Sorption experiments were conducted with naphthalene, phenanthrene, and pyrene on low organic carbon sediments at 4 and 26 °C using batch and column techniques. Experimental controls ensured the absence of biologic and photolytic activity and colloid-free solution supernatants. Equilibrium distribution coefficients (Kd) increased 1.1−1.6 times with a decrease in temperature of 22 °C. Fraction instantaneous sorption (F) values did not change significantly with a decrease in temperature of 22 °C. Desorption rate constants (k2) decreased 1.2−2.6 times with a decrease in temperature of 22 °C. Times to equilibrium were at least 40 h. The magnitude of observed Kd and k2 values and the effect of temperature on Kd (e.g., low enthalpy of sorption) are consistent with sorbate partitioning between the aqueous phase and small amounts of organic matter (foc = 0.02%) on the sediments. The temperature dependence of Kd and k2 may be small as compared to the effects of heterogeneities in field-scale aquifer systems. Thus, thermal gradients may not be of major importance in most saturated subsurface regimes when predicting solute transport. However, aquifer remediation pump-and-treat times could be decreased because increased temperature decreases both retardation and tailing.

  16. INFRARED STUDY OF UV/EUV IRRADIATION OF NAPHTHALENE IN H2O+NH3 ICE

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Y.-J.; Nuevo, M.; Yeh, F.-C.; Yih, T.-S.; Sun, W.-H.; Ip, W.-H.; Fung, H.-S.; Lee, Y.-Y.; Wu, C.-Y. R.

    We have carried out photon irradiation study of naphthalene (C10H8), the smallest polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) in water and ammonia ice mixtures. Photons provided by a synchrotron radiation light source in two broad-band energy ranges in the ultraviolet/near extreme ultraviolet (4-20 eV) and the extreme ultraviolet (13-45 eV) ranges were used for the irradiation of H2O+NH3+C10H8 = 1:1:1 ice mixtures at 15K. We could identify several photo-products, namely CH4, C2H6, C3H8, CO, CO2, HNCO, OCN-, and probably quinoline (C9H7N) and phenanthridine (C13H9N). We found that the light hydrocarbons are preferably produced for the ice mixture subjected to 4-20 eV photons. However, the production yields of CO, CO2, and OCN- species seem to be higher for the mixture subjected to EUV photons (13-45 eV). Therefore, naphthalene and its photo-products appear to be more efficiently destroyed when high energy photons (E > 20 eV) are used. This has important consequences on the photochemical evolution of PAHs in astrophysical environments.

  17. Photocatalytic Degradation of 4-Nitrophenol by C, N-TiO2: Degradation Efficiency vs. Embryonic Toxicity of the Resulting Compounds

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Osin, Oluwatomiwa A.; Yu, Tianyu; Cai, Xiaoming; Jiang, Yue; Peng, Guotao; Cheng, Xiaomei; Li, Ruibin; Qin, Yao; Lin, Sijie

    2018-06-01

    The photocatalytic activity of TiO2 based photocatalysts can be improved by structural modification and elemental doping. In this study, through rational design, one type of carbon and nitrogen co-doped TiO2 (C, N-TiO2) photocatalyst with mesoporous structure was synthesized with improved photocatalytic activity in degrading 4-nitrophenol under simulated sunlight irradiation. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency of the C, N-TiO2 was much higher than the anatase TiO2 (A-TiO2) based on absorbance and HPLC analyses. Moreover, using zebrafish embryos, we showed that the intermediate degradation compounds generated by photocatalytic degradation of 4-nitrophenol had higher toxicity than the parent compound. A repeated degradation process was necessary to render complete degradation and non-toxicity to the zebrafish embryos. Our results demonstrated the importance of evaluating the photocatalytic degradation efficiency in conjunction with the toxicity assessment of the degradation compounds.

  18. Photocatalytic Degradation of 4-Nitrophenol by C, N-TiO2: Degradation Efficiency vs. Embryonic Toxicity of the Resulting Compounds.

    PubMed

    Osin, Oluwatomiwa A; Yu, Tianyu; Cai, Xiaoming; Jiang, Yue; Peng, Guotao; Cheng, Xiaomei; Li, Ruibin; Qin, Yao; Lin, Sijie

    2018-01-01

    The photocatalytic activity of TiO 2 based photocatalysts can be improved by structural modification and elemental doping. In this study, through rational design, one type of carbon and nitrogen co-doped TiO 2 (C, N-TiO 2 ) photocatalyst with mesoporous structure was synthesized with improved photocatalytic activity in degrading 4-nitrophenol under simulated sunlight irradiation. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency of the C, N-TiO 2 was much higher than the anatase TiO 2 (A-TiO 2 ) based on absorbance and HPLC analyses. Moreover, using zebrafish embryos, we showed that the intermediate degradation compounds generated by photocatalytic degradation of 4-nitrophenol had higher toxicity than the parent compound. A repeated degradation process was necessary to render complete degradation and non-toxicity to the zebrafish embryos. Our results demonstrated the importance of evaluating the photocatalytic degradation efficiency in conjunction with the toxicity assessment of the degradation compounds.

  19. Ligand-controlled assembly of Cd(II) coordination polymers based on mixed ligands of naphthalene-dicarboxylate and dipyrido[3,2-d:2‧,3‧-f]quinoxaline: From 0D+1D cocrystal, 2D rectangular network (4,4), to 3D PtS-type architecture

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Guocheng; Chen, Yongqiang; Wang, Xiuli; Chen, Baokuan; Lin, Hongyan

    2009-03-01

    Three novel Cd(II) coordination polymers, namely, [Cd(Dpq)(1,8-NDC)(H 2O) 2][Cd(Dpq)(1,8-NDC)]·2H 2O ( 1), [Cd(Dpq)(1,4-NDC)(H 2O)] ( 2), and [Cd(Dpq)(2,6-NDC)] ( 3) have been obtained from hydrothermal reactions of cadmium(II) nitrate with the mixed ligands dipyrido [3,2-d:2',3'-f]quinoxaline (Dpq) and three structurally related naphthalene-dicarboxylate ligands [1,8-naphthalene-dicarboxylic acid (1,8-H 2NDC), 1,4-naphthalene-dicarboxylic acid (1,4-H 2NDC), and 2,6-naphthalene-dicarboxylic acid (2,6-H 2NDC)]. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that the three polymers exhibit novel structures due to different naphthalene-dicarboxylic acid. Compound 1 is a novel cocrystal of left- and right-handed helical chains and binuclear complexes and ultimately packed into a 3D supramolecular structure through hydrogen bonds and π- π stacking interactions. Compound 2 shows a 2D rectangular network (4,4) bridged by 1,4-NDC with two kinds of coordination modes and ultimately packed into a 3D supramolecular structure through inter-layer π- π stacking interactions. Compound 3 is a new 3D coordination polymer with distorted PtS-type network. In addition, the title compounds exhibit blue/green emission in solid state at room temperature.

  20. Unique photoluminescence degradation/recovery phenomena in trivalent ion-activated phosphors

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Sawada, Kenji; Adachi, Sadao, E-mail: adachi@el.gunma-u.ac.jp

    Photo-induced luminescence intensity degradation in red-emitting Tb{sub 3}Ga{sub 5}O{sub 12}:Eu{sup 3+} (TGG:Eu{sup 3+}) phosphor is observed and studied using x-ray diffraction measurement, photoluminescence (PL) analysis, PL excitation spectroscopy, and PL decay analysis. The red-emitting TGG:Eu{sup 3+} phosphor exhibits remarkable degradation in the PL intensity under weak UV light (λ < 350 nm) exposure in the seconds time scale. The PL degradation characteristics can be well expressed by the exponential formulation with respect to exposure time. Interestingly, the PL intensity recovers after a few minutes when the phosphor is stored in a dark room or exposed to the long-wavelength (λ > 350 nm) light. The luminescence decaymore » dynamics measured by excitation at λ{sub ex} = 355 and 266 nm suggest that the present degradation/recovery processes are caused by the electron traps formed in the TGG:Eu{sup 3+} phosphor. The Tb{sup 3+} emission in TGG shows the essentially same degradation characteristics as those observed in the TGG:Eu{sup 3+} phosphor. The present luminescence degradation/recovery phenomena of the trivalent ions (4f → 4f transitions) may universally occur in various oxide phosphors such as TGG (Tb{sup 3+} emission) and CaTiO{sub 3}:Eu{sup 3+}.« less

  1. Differential Regulation of Angiogenesis using Degradable VEGF-Binding Microspheres

    PubMed Central

    Belair, David G.; Miller, Michael J.; Wang, Shoujian; Darjatmokon, Soesiawati R.; Binder, Bernard Y.K.; Sheibani, Nader; Murphy, William L.

    2016-01-01

    Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) spatial and temporal activity must be tightly controlled during angiogenesis to form perfusable vasculature in a healing wound. The native extracellular matrix (ECM) regulates growth factor activity locally via sequestering, and researchers have used ECM-mimicking approaches to regulate the activity of VEGF in cell culture and in vivo. However, the impact of dynamic, affinity-mediated growth factor sequestering has not been explored in detail with biomaterials. Here, we sought to modulate VEGF activity dynamically over time using poly(ethylene glycol) microspheres containing VEGF-binding peptides (VBPs) and exhibiting varying degradation rates. The degradation rate of VBP microspheres conferred a differential ability to up- or down-regulate VEGF activity in culture with primary human endothelial cells. VBP microspheres with fast-degrading crosslinks reduced VEGF activity and signaling, while VBP microspheres with no inherent degradability sequestered and promoted VEGF activity in culture with endothelial cells. VBP microspheres with degradable crosslinks significantly reduced neovascularization in vivo, but neither non-degradable VBP microspheres nor bolus delivery of soluble VBP reduced neovascularization. The covalent incorporation of VBP to degradable microspheres was required to reduce neovascularization in a mouse model of choroidal neovascularization in vivo, which demonstrates a potential clinical application of degradable VBP microspheres to reduce pathological angiogenesis. The results herein highlight the ability to modulate the activity of a sequestered growth factor by changing the crosslinker identity within PEG hydrogel microspheres. The insights gained here may instruct the design and translation of affinity-based growth factor sequestering biomaterials for regenerative medicine applications. PMID:27061268

  2. Photocatalytic degradation of clofibric acid, carbamazepine and iomeprol using conglomerated TiO2 and activated carbon in aqueous suspension.

    PubMed

    Ziegmann, Markus; Frimmel, Fritz H

    2010-01-01

    The combination of powdered activated carbon (PAC) and TiO(2) has been tested for synergistic/antagonistic effects in the photocatalytic degradation of carbamazepine, clofibric acid and iomeprol. Synergistic effects are thought to be caused by rapid adsorption on the PAC surface followed by diffusion to the TiO(2) surface and photocatalytic degradation. The Freundlich constant K(F) was used for comparing the sorption properties of the three substances and it was found that K(F) for clofibric acid was 3 times lower than for carbamazepine and iomeprol, regardless of the kind of PAC used. A PAC with a distinct tendency to form conglomerates was selected so that a high percentage of the PAC surface was in direct proximity to the TiO(2) surface. The photocatalytic degradation of the pharmaceutically active compounds studied followed pseudo-first order kinetics. Synergistic effects only occurred for clofibric acid (factor 1.5) and an inverse relationship between adsorption affinity and synergistic effects was found. High affinity of the target substances to the PAC surface seemed to be counterproductive for the photocatalytic degradation.

  3. Activation of peroxydisulfate by gas-liquid pulsed discharge plasma to enhance the degradation of p-nitrophenol

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shang, Kefeng; Wang, Hao; Li, Jie; Lu, Na; Jiang, Nan; Wu, Yan

    2017-06-01

    Pulsed discharge in water and over water surfaces generates ultraviolet radiation, local high temperature, shock waves, and chemical reactive species, including hydroxyl radicals, hydrogen peroxide, and ozone. Pulsed discharge plasma (PDP) can oxidize and mineralize pollutants very efficiently, but high energy consumption restricts its application for industrial wastewater treatment. A novel method for improving the energy efficiency of wastewater treatment by PDP was proposed, in which peroxydisulfate (PDS) was added to wastewater and PDS was activated by PDP to produce more strong oxidizing radicals, including sulfate radicals and hydroxyl radicals, leading to a higher oxidation capacity for the PDP system. The experimental results show that the increase in solution conductivity slightly decreased the discharge power of the pulse discharge over the water surface. An increase in the discharge intensity improved the activation of PDS and therefore the degradation efficiency and energy efficiency of p-nitrophenol (PNP). An increase in the addition dosage of PDS greatly facilitated the degradation of PNP at a molar ratio of PDS to PNP of lower than 80:1, but the performance enhancement was no longer obvious at a dosage of more than 80:1. Under an applied voltage of 20 kV and a gas discharge gap of 2 mm, the degradation efficiency and energy efficiency of the PNP reached 90.7% and 45.0 mg kWh-1 for the plasma/PDS system, respectively, which was 34% and 18.0 mg kWh-1 higher than for the discharge plasma treatment alone. Analysis of the physical and chemical effects indicated that ozone and hydrogen peroxide were important for PNP degradation and UV irradiation and heat from the discharge plasma might be the main physical effects for the activation of PDS.

  4. Characterization of the Polyurethanolytic Activity of Two Alicycliphilus sp. Strains Able To Degrade Polyurethane and N-Methylpyrrolidone▿

    PubMed Central

    Oceguera-Cervantes, Alejandro; Carrillo-García, Agustín; López, Néstor; Bolaños-Nuñez, Sandra; Cruz-Gómez, M. Javier; Wacher, Carmen; Loza-Tavera, Herminia

    2007-01-01

    Two bacterial strains (BQ1 and BQ8) were isolated from decomposed soft foam. These were selected for their capacity to grow in a minimal medium (MM) supplemented with a commercial surface-coating polyurethane (PU) (Hydroform) as the carbon source (MM-PUh). Both bacterial strains were identified as Alicycliphilus sp. by comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Growth in MM-PUh showed hyperbolic behavior, with BQ1 producing higher maximum growth (17.8 ± 0.6 mg·ml−1) than BQ8 (14.0 ± 0.6 mg·ml−1) after 100 h of culture. Nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses of Hydroform showed that it was a polyester PU type which also contained N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) as an additive. Alicycliphilus sp. utilizes NMP during the first stage of growth and was able to use it as the sole carbon and nitrogen source, with calculated Ks values of about 8 mg·ml−1. Enzymatic activities related to PU degradation (esterase, protease, and urease activities) were tested by using differential media and activity assays in cell-free supernatants of bacterial cultures in MM-PUh. Induction of esterase activity in inoculated MM-PUh, but not that of protease or urease activities, was observed at 12 h of culture. Esterase activity reached its maximum at 18 h and was maintained at 50% of its maximal activity until the end of the analysis (120 h). The capacity of Alicycliphilus sp. to degrade PU was demonstrated by changes in the PU IR spectrum and by the numerous holes produced in solid PU observed by scanning electron microscopy after bacterial culture. Changes in the PU IR spectra indicate that an esterase activity is involved in PU degradation. PMID:17693569

  5. Degradation of Three Aromatic Dyes by White Rot Fungi and the Production of Ligninolytic Enzymes

    PubMed Central

    Jayasinghe, Chandana; Imtiaj, Ahmed; Lee, Geon Woo; Im, Kyung Hoan; Hur, Hyun; Lee, Min Woong; Yang, Hee-Sun

    2008-01-01

    This study was conducted to evaluate the degradation of aromatic dyes and the production of ligninolytic enzymes by 10 white rot fungi. The results of this study revealed that Pycnoporus cinnabarinus, Pleurotus pulmonarius, Ganoderma lucidum, Trametes suaveolens, Stereum ostrea and Fomes fomentarius have the ability to efficiently degrade congo red on solid media. However, malachite green inhibited the mycelial growth of these organisms. Therefore, they did not effectively decolorize malachite green on solid media. However, P. cinnabarinus and P. pulmonarius were able to effectively decolorize malachite green on solid media. T. suaveolens and F. rosea decolorized methylene blue more effectively than any of the other fungi evaluated in this study. In liquid culture, G. lucidum, P. cinnabarinus, Naematoloma fasciculare and Pycnoporus coccineus were found to have a greater ability to decolorize congo red. In addition, P. cinnabarinus, G. lucidum and T. suaveolens decolorized methylene blue in liquid media more effectively than any of the other organisms evaluated in this study. Only F. fomentarius was able to decolorize malachite green in liquid media, and its ability to do so was limited. To investigate the production of ligninolytic enzymes in media containing aromatic compounds, fungi were cultured in naphthalene supplemented liquid media. P. coccineus, Coriolus versicolor and P. cinnabarinus were found to produce a large amount of laccase when grown in medium that contained napthalene. PMID:23990745

  6. Efficient peroxydisulfate activation process not relying on sulfate radical generation for water pollutant degradation.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Tao; Chen, Yin; Wang, Yuru; Le Roux, Julien; Yang, Yang; Croué, Jean-Philippe

    2014-05-20

    Peroxydisulfate (PDS) is an appealing oxidant for contaminated groundwater and toxic industrial wastewaters. Activation of PDS is necessary for application because of its low reactivity. Present activation processes always generate sulfate radicals as actual oxidants which unselectively oxidize organics and halide anions reducing oxidation capacity of PDS and producing toxic halogenated products. Here we report that copper oxide (CuO) can efficiently activate PDS under mild conditions without producing sulfate radicals. The PDS/CuO coupled process is most efficient at neutral pH for decomposing a model compound, 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP). In a continuous-flow reaction with an empty-bed contact time of 0.55 min, over 90% of 2,4-DCP (initially 20 μM) and 90% of adsorbable organic chlorine (AOCl) can be removed at the PDS/2,4-DCP molar ratio of 1 and 4, respectively. Based on kinetic study and surface characterization, PDS is proposed to be first activated by CuO through outer-sphere interaction, the rate-limiting step, followed by a rapid reaction with 2,4-DCP present in the solution. In the presence of ubiquitous chloride ions in groundwater/industrial wastewater, the PDS/CuO oxidation shows significant advantages over sulfate radical oxidation by achieving much higher 2,4-DCP degradation capacity and avoiding the formation of highly chlorinated degradation products. This work provides a new way of PDS activation for contaminant removal.

  7. Effects of p-(Trifluoromethoxy)benzyl and p-(Trifluoromethoxy)phenyl Molecular Architecture on the Performance of Naphthalene Tetracarboxylic Diimide-Based Air-Stable n-Type Semiconductors.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Dongwei; Zhao, Liang; Zhu, Yanan; Li, Aiyuan; He, Chao; Yu, Hongtao; He, Yaowu; Yan, Chaoyi; Goto, Osamu; Meng, Hong

    2016-07-20

    N,N'-Bis(4-trifluoromethoxyphenyl) naphthalene-1,4,5,8-tetracarboxylic acid diimide (NDI-POCF3) and N,N'-bis(4-trifluoromethoxybenzyl) naphthalene-1,4,5,8-tetracarboxylic acid diimide (NDI-BOCF3) have similar optical and electrochemical properties with a deep LUMO level of approximately 4.2 eV, but exhibit significant differences in electron mobility and molecular packing. NDI-POCF3 exhibits nondetectable charge mobility. Interestingly, NDI-BOCF3 shows air-stable electron transfer performance with enhanced mobility by increasing the deposition temperature onto the octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS)-modified SiO2/Si substrates and achieves electron mobility as high as 0.7 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) in air. The different mobilities of those two materials can be explained by several factors including thin-film morphology and crystallinity. In contrast to the poor thin-film morphology and crystallinity of NDI-POCF3, NDI-BOCF3 exhibits larger grain sizes and improved crystallinities due to the higher deposition temperature. In addition, the theoretical calculated transfer integrals of the intermolecular lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of the two materials further show that a large intermolecular orbital overlap of NDI-BOCF3 can transfer electron more efficiently than NDI-POCF3 in thin-film transistors. On the basis of fact that the theoretical calculations are consistent with the experimental results, it can be concluded that the p-(trifluoromethoxy) benzyl (BOCF3) molecular architecture on the former position of the naphthalene tetracarboxylic diimides (NDI) core provides a more effective way to enhance the intermolecular electron transfer property than the p-(trifluoromethoxy) phenyl (POCF3) group for the future design of NDI-related air-stable n-channel semiconductor.

  8. Electronic absorption spectroscopy of matrix-isolated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon cations. I - The naphthalene cation (C10H8/+/)

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Salama, F.; Allamandola, L. J.

    1991-01-01

    The ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared absorption spectra of naphthalene (C10H8) and its radical ion (C10H8/+/), formed by vacuum ultraviolet irradiation, were measured in argon and neon matrices at 4.2 K. The associated vibronic band systems and their spectroscopic assignments are discussed together with the physical and chemical conditions governing ion production in the solid phase. The absorption coefficients were calculated for the ion and found lower than previous values, presumably due to the low polarizability of the neon matrix.

  9. Stereospecific oxidation of (R)- and (S)-1-indanol by naphthalene dioxygenase from Pseudomonas sp. strain NCIB 9816-4.

    PubMed Central

    Lee, K; Resnick, S M; Gibson, D T

    1997-01-01

    A recombinant Escherichia coli strain which expresses naphthalene dioxygenase (NDO) from Pseudomonas sp. strain NCIB 9816-4 oxidized (S)-1-indanol to trans-(1S,3S)-indan-1,3-diol (95.5%) and (R)-3-hydroxy-1-indanone (4.5%). The same cells oxidized (R)-1-indanol to cis-1,3-indandiol (71%), (R)-3-hydroxy-1-indanone (18.2%), and cis-1,2,3-indantriol (10.8%). Purified NDO oxidized (S)-1-indenol to both syn- and anti-2,3-dihydroxy-1-indanol. PMID:9143136

  10. Stereospecific oxidation of (R)- and (S)-1-indanol by naphthalene dioxygenase from Pseudomonas sp. strain NCIB 9816-4.

    PubMed

    Lee, K; Resnick, S M; Gibson, D T

    1997-05-01

    A recombinant Escherichia coli strain which expresses naphthalene dioxygenase (NDO) from Pseudomonas sp. strain NCIB 9816-4 oxidized (S)-1-indanol to trans-(1S,3S)-indan-1,3-diol (95.5%) and (R)-3-hydroxy-1-indanone (4.5%). The same cells oxidized (R)-1-indanol to cis-1,3-indandiol (71%), (R)-3-hydroxy-1-indanone (18.2%), and cis-1,2,3-indantriol (10.8%). Purified NDO oxidized (S)-1-indenol to both syn- and anti-2,3-dihydroxy-1-indanol.

  11. A highly sensitive peptide substrate for detecting two Aß-degrading enzymes: neprilysin and insulin-degrading enzyme.

    PubMed

    Chen, Po-Ting; Liao, Tai-Yan; Hu, Chaur-Jong; Wu, Shu-Ting; Wang, Steven S-S; Chen, Rita P-Y

    2010-06-30

    Neprilysin has been singled out as the most promising candidate for use in the degradation of Abeta as a therapy for Alzheimer's disease. In this study, a quenched fluorogenic peptide substrate containing the first seven residues of the Abeta peptide plus a C-terminal Cysteine residue was synthesized to detect neprilysin activity. A fluorophore was attached to the C-terminal Cysteine and its fluorescence was quenched by a quencher linked to the N-terminus of the peptide. When this peptide substrate was degraded by an endopeptidase, fluorescence was produced and proved to be a sensitive detection system for endopeptidase activity. Our results showed that this assay system was extremely sensitive to neprilysin and insulin-degrading enzyme, but insensitive, or much less sensitive, to other Abeta-degrading enzymes. As low as 0.1 nM of neprilysin and 0.2 nM of insulin-degrading enzyme can be detected. Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  12. Acute and chronic liver toxicity resulting from exposure to chlorinated naphthalenes at a cable manufacturing plant during World War II.

    PubMed

    Ward, E M; Ruder, A M; Suruda, A; Smith, A B; Fessler-Flesch, C A; Zahm, S H

    1996-08-01

    Historical records were used to reconstruct an outbreak of chlorance and acute liver toxicity due to chlorinated naphthalene exposure at a New York State plant which manufactured "Navy cables" during World War II. A cohort mortality study was conducted of the population (n = 9,028) employed at the plant from 1940 to 1944. Vital status was followed through December 31, 1985. The study found an excess of deaths from cirrhosis of the liver [observed (OBS) = 150; standardized mortality ratio (SMR) = 1.84; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.56-2.16]; cirrhosis deaths were elevated to a similar degree in the 460 individuals who had chlorance (OBS = 8; SMR = 1.51; CI = 0.65-2.98). The SMR for "non-alcoholic cirrhosis" (OBS = 83; SMR = 1.67; CI = 1.33-2.07) was similar to the SMR for "alcoholic cirrhosis" (OBS = 59; SMR = 1.96; CI = 1.49-2.53). There was no evidence for increased alcoholism in the overall cohort based on mortality from alcohol-related causes of death other than cirrhosis (SMR for esophageal cancer = 1.01 and for deaths from alcoholism = 0.99). We conclude that the excess mortality from cirrhosis of the liver observed in this cohort is due to the chronic effect of chlorinated naphthalene exposure.

  13. Microbial degradation of chloroethenes: a review.

    PubMed

    Dolinová, Iva; Štrojsová, Martina; Černík, Miroslav; Němeček, Jan; Macháčková, Jiřina; Ševců, Alena

    2017-05-01

    Contamination by chloroethenes has a severe negative effect on both the environment and human health. This has prompted intensive remediation activity in recent years, along with research into the efficacy of natural microbial communities for degrading toxic chloroethenes into less harmful compounds. Microbial degradation of chloroethenes can take place either through anaerobic organohalide respiration, where chloroethenes serve as electron acceptors; anaerobic and aerobic metabolic degradation, where chloroethenes are used as electron donors; or anaerobic and aerobic co-metabolic degradation, with chloroethene degradation occurring as a by-product during microbial metabolism of other growth substrates, without energy or carbon benefit. Recent research has focused on optimising these natural processes to serve as effective bioremediation technologies, with particular emphasis on (a) the diversity and role of bacterial groups involved in dechlorination microbial processes, and (b) detection of bacterial enzymes and genes connected with dehalogenation activity. In this review, we summarise the different mechanisms of chloroethene bacterial degradation suitable for bioremediation and provide a list of dechlorinating bacteria. We also provide an up-to-date summary of primers available for detecting functional genes in anaerobic and aerobic bacteria degrading chloroethenes metabolically or co-metabolically.

  14. Influence of subsurface environment on oxidant activation and 1,4-dioxane degradation by in-situ chemical oxidation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yan, N.; Brusseau, M. L. L.; Liu, F.

    2017-12-01

    The influence of groundwater and soil constituents on oxidant activation and 1,4-dioxane (dioxane) degradation by hydrogen peroxide coupled with persulfate was investigated through a series of batch experiments. The degradation of dioxane was considerably slower in groundwater compared to the tests conducted with ultrapure water. Additional tests were conducted to examine potential inhibitory effects of selected ions in isolation. The inhibition effect of anions on dioxane degradation, from strongest inhibition to weakest, was bicarbonate (HCO3-) > sulfate (SO42-) > chloride (Cl-). The inhibition effect of cations on dioxane degradation, from strongest inhibition to weakest, was calcium (Ca2+) > potassium (K+) > magnesium (Mg2+). Bicarbonate and calcium ions, which are the most abundant ions in the groundwater used herein, resulted in the greatest decrease in dioxane degradation rate compared to the other constituents. The impact of soil constituents was investigated by comparing dioxane degradation for bulk soil (soil without treatment), soil treated to remove organic matter (mineral fraction), and soil treated to remove organic matter and manganese oxides (iron fraction). Radical generation was measured by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The results of this study reveal potential inhibitory and synergistic effects caused by groundwater and soil constituents during the application of in-situ chemical oxidation.

  15. Highly sensitive detection of naphthalene in solvent vapor using a functionalized PBG refractive index sensor.

    PubMed

    Girschikofsky, Maiko; Rosenberger, Manuel; Belle, Stefan; Brutschy, Malte; Waldvogel, Siegfried R; Hellmann, Ralf

    2012-01-01

    We report an optical refractive index sensor system based on a planar Bragg grating which is functionalized by substituted γ-cyclodextrin to determine low concentrations of naphthalene in solvent vapor. The sensor system exhibits a quasi-instantaneous shift of the Bragg wavelength and is therefore capable for online detection. The overall shift of the Bragg wavelength reveals a linear relationship to the analyte concentration with a gradient of 12.5 ± 1.5 pm/ppm. Due to the spectral resolution and repeatability of the interrogation system, this corresponds to acquisition steps of 80 ppb. Taking into account the experimentally detected signal noise a minimum detection limit of 0.48 ± 0.05 ppm is deduced.

  16. Fabrication of TiO2/MoS2@zeolite photocatalyst and its photocatalytic activity for degradation of methyl orange under visible light

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Weiping; Xiao, Xinyan; Zheng, Lili; Wan, Caixia

    2015-12-01

    TiO2/MoS2@zeolite composite photocatalysts with visible-light activity were fabricated via a simple ultrasonic-hydrothermal synthesis method, using TiCl4 as Ti source, MoS2 as a direct sensitizer, glycerol water solution with certain dispersion agent as hydrolytic agent, and zeolite as carrier. The structure, morphology, composition, optical properties, and specific surface area of the as-prepared photocatalysts were characterized by using XRD, FTIR, SEM-EDS, TEM, XPS, UV-vis, PL and BET analyzer, respectively. And the photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange (MO) in aqueous suspension has been employed to evaluate the photocatalytic activity and degradation kinetics of as-prepared photocatalysts with xenon lamp as irradiation source. The results indicate that: (1) TiO2/MoS2@zeolite composite photocatalysts exhibit enhanced photocatalytic activities for methyl orange (MO) degradation compared to Degussa P25; (2) photocatalytic degradation of MO obeys Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetic model (pseudo-first order reaction), and its degradation rate constant (kapp) (2.304 h-1) is higher than that of Degussa P25 (0.768 h-1); (3) the heterostructure consisted of zeolite, MoS2 and TiO2 nanostructure could provide synergistic effect for degradation of MO due to the efficient electron transfer process and better absorption property of TiO2/MoS2@zeolite composite photocatalyst.

  17. Restoration of degraded lands in the interior Columbia River basin: passive vs. active approaches.

    Treesearch

    James McIver; Lynn Starr

    2001-01-01

    Evidence for success of passive and active restoration is presented for interior conifer forest, sagebrush steppe, and riparian ecosystems, with a focus on the Columbia River basin. Passive restoration, defined as removal of the stresses that cause degradation, may be most appropriate for higher elevation forests, low-order riparian ecosystems, and for sagebrush steppe...

  18. Plasmon-resonance-enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity of Ag quantum dots/TiO2 microspheres for methyl orange degradation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yu, Xin; Shang, Liwei; Wang, Dongjun; An, Li; Li, Zhonghua; Liu, Jiawen; Shen, Jun

    2018-06-01

    We successfully prepared Ag quantum dots modified TiO2 microspheres by facile solvothermal and calcination method. The as-prepared Ag quantum dots/TiO2 microspheres were characterized by scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The Ag quantum dots/TiO2 photocatalyst showed excellent visible light absorption and efficient photocatalytic activity for methyl orange degradation. And the sample with the molar ratio of 0.05 (Ag to Ti) showed the best visible light photocatalytic activity for methyl orange degradation, mainly because of the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effects of Ag quantum dots to generate electron and hole pairs for enhanced visible light photocatalysis. Finally, possible visible light photocatalytic mechanism of Ag quantum dots/TiO2 microspheres for methyl orange degradation was proposed in detail.

  19. Key role of persistent free radicals in hydrogen peroxide activation by biochar: implications to organic contaminant degradation.

    PubMed

    Fang, Guodong; Gao, Juan; Liu, Cun; Dionysiou, Dionysios D; Wang, Yu; Zhou, Dongmei

    2014-01-01

    We investigated the activation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) by biochars (produced from pine needles, wheat, and maize straw) for 2-chlorobiphenyl (2-CB) degradation in the present study. It was found that H2O2 can be effectively activated by biochar, which produces hydroxyl radical ((•)OH) to degrade 2-CB. Furthermore, the activation mechanism was elucidated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and salicylic acid (SA) trapping techniques. The results showed that biochar contains persistent free radicals (PFRs), typically ∼ 10(18) unpaired spins/gram. Higher trapped [(•)OH] concentrations were observed with larger decreases in PFRs concentration, when H2O2 was added to biochar, indicating that PFRs were the main contributor to the formation of (•)OH. This hypothesis was supported by the linear correlations between PFRs concentration and trapped [(•)OH], as well as kobs of 2-CB degradation. The correlation coefficients (R(2)) were 0.723 and 0.668 for PFRs concentration vs trapped [(•)OH], and PFRs concentration vs kobs, respectively, when all biochars pyrolyzed at different temperatures were included. For the same biochar washed by different organic solvents (methanol, hexane, dichloromethane, and toluene), the correlation coefficients markedly increased to 0.818-0.907. Single-electron transfer from PFRs to H2O2 was a possible mechanism for H2O2 activation by biochars, which was supported by free radical quenching studies. The findings of this study provide a new pathway for biochar implication and insight into the mechanism of H2O2 activation by carbonaceous materials (e.g., activated carbon and graphite).

  20. Two three-dimensional coordination polymers of lead(II) with iminodiacetate and naphthalene-dicarboxylate anions: Synthesis, characterization and luminescence behavior

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Hazari, Debdoot; Jana, Swapan Kumar; Fleck, Michel

    2014-11-15

    Two lead(II) compounds [Pb{sub 3}(idiac){sub 3}(phen){sub 2}(H{sub 2}O)]·2(H{sub 2}O) (1) and [Pb(ndc)]{sub n} (2), where H{sub 2}idiac=iminodiacetic acid, phen=1,10-phenanthroline and H{sub 2}ndc=naphthalene-2,6-dicarboxylic acid, have been synthesized and structurally characterized. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis showed that compound 1 is a discrete trinuclear complex (of two-fold symmetry) which evolves to a supramolecular 3D network via π–π interactions, while in compound 2 the naphthalene dicarboxylate anion act as a linker to form a three dimensional architecture, where the anion adopts a bis-(bidentate bridging) coordination mode connecting four Pb(II) centers. The photoluminescence property of the two complexes has been studied. - graphical abstract:more » Two new topologically different 1D coordination polymers formed by Pb{sub 4} clusters have been synthesized and characterized by x-ray analysis. The luminescence and thermal properties have been studied. - Highlights: • 1 is a trinuclear complex of Pb(II) growing to 3D network via weak interactions. • In 1, layers of (4,4) rhomboidal topology are identified. • In 2, the ndc anion adopts interesting bis-(bidentate bridging) coordination. • In 2, network is reinforced by C–H…π-ring interactions between the ndc rings.« less

  1. Probiotic activity of lignocellulosic enzyme as bioactivator for rice husk degradation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lamid, Mirni; Al-Arif, Anam; Warsito, Sunaryo Hadi

    2017-02-01

    The utilization of lignocellulosic enzyme will increase nutritional value of rice husk. Cellulase consists of C1 (β-1, 4-glucan cellobiohydrolase or exo-β-1,4glucanase), Cc (endo-β-1,4-glucanase) and component and cellobiose (β-glucocidase). Hemicellulase enzyme consists of endo-β-1,4-xilanase, β-xilosidase, α-L arabinofuranosidase, α-D-glukuronidaseand asetil xilan esterase. This research aimed to study the activity of lignocellulosic enzyme, produced by cows in their rumen, which can be used as a bioactivator in rice husk degradation. This research resulted G6 and G7 bacteria, producing xylanase and cellulase with the activity of 0.004 U mL-1 and 0.021 U mL-1; 0.003 ( U mL-1) and 0.026 (U mL-1) respectively.

  2. Assessment of bile fluorescence patterns in a tropical fish, Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) exposed to naphthalene, phenanthrene, pyrene and chrysene using fixed wavelength fluorescence and synchronous fluorescence spectrometry.

    PubMed

    Pathiratne, A; Hemachandra, C K; Pathiratne, K A S

    2010-05-01

    Bile fluorescence patterns in Nile tilapia, a potential fish for biomonitoring tropical water pollution were assessed following exposure to selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs): naphthalene, phenanthrene, pyrene and chrysene. Non-normalized fixed wavelength fluorescence signals in the fish exposed to these PAHs reflected dose and/or time response relationships of their metabolism. Normalizing signals to biliverdin introduced deviations to these response patterns. The optimal wavelength pairs (excitation/emission) for synchronous fluorescence scanning measurements of bile metabolites of naphthalene, phenanthrene, pyrene and chrysene were identified as 284/326, 252/357, 340/382 and 273/382 respectively. This study supports the use of bile fluorescence in Nile tilapia by fixed wavelength fluorescence and synchronous fluorescence spectrometry with non-normalized data as a simple method for screening bioavailability of these PAHs.

  3. Degradation of caffeic acid in subcritical water and online HPLC-DPPH assay of degradation products.

    PubMed

    Khuwijitjaru, Pramote; Suaylam, Boonyanuch; Adachi, Shuji

    2014-02-26

    Caffeic acid was subjected to degradation under subcritical water conditions within 160-240 °C and at a constant pressure of 5 MPa in a continuous tubular reactor. Caffeic acid degraded quickly at these temperatures; the main products identified by liquid chromatography-diode array detection/mass spectrometry were hydroxytyrosol, protocatechuic aldehyde, and 4-vinylcatechol. The reaction rates for the degradation of caffeic acid and the formation of products were evaluated. Online high-performance liquid chromatography/2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl assay was used to determine the antioxidant activity of each product in the solution. It was found that the overall antioxidant activity of the treated solution did not change during the degradation process. This study showed a potential of formation of antioxidants from natural phenolic compounds under these subcritical water conditions, and this may lead to a discovering of novel antioxidants compounds during the extraction by this technique.

  4. Distribution of apparent activation energy counterparts during thermo - And thermo-oxidative degradation of Aronia melanocarpa (black chokeberry).

    PubMed

    Janković, Bojan; Marinović-Cincović, Milena; Janković, Marija

    2017-09-01

    Kinetics of degradation for Aronia melanocarpa fresh fruits in argon and air atmospheres were investigated. The investigation was based on probability distributions of apparent activation energy of counterparts (ε a ). Isoconversional analysis results indicated that the degradation process in an inert atmosphere was governed by decomposition reactions of esterified compounds. Also, based on same kinetics approach, it was assumed that in an air atmosphere, the primary compound in degradation pathways could be anthocyanins, which undergo rapid chemical reactions. A new model of reactivity demonstrated that, under inert atmospheres, expectation values for ε a occured at levels of statistical probability. These values corresponded to decomposition processes in which polyphenolic compounds might be involved. ε a values obeyed laws of binomial distribution. It was established that, for thermo-oxidative degradation, Poisson distribution represented a very successful approximation for ε a values where there was additional mechanistic complexity and the binomial distribution was no longer valid. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  5. Kinetic and mechanistic investigations of the degradation of sulfamethazine in heat-activated persulfate oxidation process.

    PubMed

    Fan, Yan; Ji, Yuefei; Kong, Deyang; Lu, Junhe; Zhou, Quansuo

    2015-12-30

    Sulfamethazine (SMZ) is widely used in livestock feeding and aquaculture as an antibiotic agent and growth promoter. Widespread occurrence of SMZ in surface water, groundwater, soil and sediment has been reported. In this study, degradation of SMZ by heat-activated persulfate (PS) oxidation was investigated in aqueous solution. Experimental results demonstrated that SMZ degradation followed pseudo-first-order reaction kinetics. The pseudo-first-order rate constant (kobs) was increased markedly with increasing concentration of PS and temperature. Radical scavenging tests revealed that the predominant oxidizing species was SO4·(-) with HO playing a less important role. Aniline moiety in SMZ molecule was confirmed to be the reactive site for SO4·(-) attack by comparison with substructural analogs. Nontarget natural water constituents affected SMZ removal significantly, e.g., Cl(-) and HCO3(-) improved the degradation while fulvic acid reduced it. Reaction products were enriched by solid phase extraction (SPE) and analyzed by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). 6 products derived from sulfonamide S--N bond cleavage, aniline moiety oxidation and Smiles-type rearrangement were identified, and transformation pathways of SMZ oxidation were proposed. Results reveal that heat-activated PS oxidation could be an efficient approach for remediation of water contaminated by SMZ and related sulfonamides. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  6. ZEAXANTHIN EPOXIDASE Activity Potentiates Carotenoid Degradation in Maturing Seed1[OPEN

    PubMed Central

    Magallanes-Lundback, Maria; Lipka, Alexander E.; Angelovici, Ruthie; DellaPenna, Dean

    2016-01-01

    Elucidation of the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway has enabled altering the composition and content of carotenoids in various plants, but to achieve desired nutritional impacts, the genetic components regulating carotenoid homeostasis in seed, the plant organ consumed in greatest abundance, must be elucidated. We used a combination of linkage mapping, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and pathway-level analysis to identify nine loci that impact the natural variation of seed carotenoids in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). ZEAXANTHIN EPOXIDASE (ZEP) was the major contributor to carotenoid composition, with mutants lacking ZEP activity showing a remarkable 6-fold increase in total seed carotenoids relative to the wild type. Natural variation in ZEP gene expression during seed development was identified as the underlying mechanism for fine-tuning carotenoid composition, stability, and ultimately content in Arabidopsis seed. We previously showed that two CAROTENOID CLEAVAGE DIOXYGENASE enzymes, CCD1 and CCD4, are the primary mediators of seed carotenoid degradation, and here we demonstrate that ZEP acts as an upstream control point of carotenoid homeostasis, with ZEP-mediated epoxidation targeting carotenoids for degradation by CCD enzymes. Finally, four of the nine loci/enzymatic activities identified as underlying natural variation in Arabidopsis seed carotenoids also were identified in a recent GWAS of maize (Zea mays) kernel carotenoid variation. This first comparison of the natural variation in seed carotenoids in monocots and dicots suggests a surprising overlap in the genetic architecture of these traits between the two lineages and provides a list of likely candidates to target for selecting seed carotenoid variation in other species. PMID:27208224

  7. The fluorescently responsive 3-(naphthalen-1-ylethynyl)-3-deaza-2'-deoxyguanosine discriminates cytidine via the DNA minor groove.

    PubMed

    Suzuki, Azusa; Yanagi, Masaki; Takeda, Takuya; Hudson, Robert H E; Saito, Yoshio

    2017-09-26

    A new environmentally responsive fluorescent nucleoside, 3-(naphthalen-1-ylethynyl)-3-deaza-2'-deoxyguanosine ( 3nz G), has been synthesized. The nucleoside, 3nz G, exhibited solvatochromic properties and when introduced into ODN probes it was able to recognize 2'-deoxycytidine in target strands by a distinct change in its emission wavelength through probing microenvironmental changes in the DNA minor groove. Thus, 3nz G has the potential for use as a fluorescent probe molecule for micro-structural studies of nucleic acids including the detection of single-base alterations in target DNA sequences.

  8. Physiological consequences of starvation in Pseudomonas putida: degradation of intracellular protein and loss of activity of the inducible enzymes of L-arginine catabolism.

    PubMed

    Fan, C L; Rodwell, V W

    1975-12-01

    We investigated the degradation of radioisotopically labeled intracellular protein in starved, intact cells of Pseudomonas putida P2 (ATCC 25571) and the regulation of this process. Intracellular protein isotopically labeled with L-[4,5-3H]leucine during log-phase growth at 30 C is degraded at rates of 1 to 2%/h in log-phase cells and 7 to 9%/h in starved cells. Rifampin, chloramphenicol, and tosyllysine chloromethylketone lower the rate of protein degradation by starved cells. Addition to starved cells of a nutrient upon which the culture is induced for growth rapidly lowers the rate of protein degradation from 7 to 9%/h to less than 1.5%/h. A nutrient that is oxidized but that cannot immediately support growth also lowers the rate of starvation-induced protein degradation. Proteolytic activity of cell extracts requires a divalent metal ion and may be inhibited up to 60% by tosyllysine chloromethylketone or p-toluenesulfonyl fluoride. Rifampin and chloramphenicol have no effect. In contrast to intact cells, extracts of growing or starving cells degrade protein at equivalent rates. We also investigated the stabilities of the inducible transport system and of four inducible intracellular enzymes of L-arginine catabolism. These include: the membrane-associated, L-arginine-specific transport system; L-arginine oxidase (oxidase); alpha-ketoarginine decarboxylase (decarboxylase); gamma-guanidinobutyraldehyde dehydrogenase ( dehydrogenase); and gamma-guanidinobutyrate amidinohydrolase (hydrolase). In starved cells, the rates of loss of activities were: transport and dehydrogenase activities, stable; oxidase and decarboxylase activities, 20 to 30%/h; hydrolase activity, 5 to 8%/h. Chloramphenicol decreases the rate of loss of oxidase, decarboxylase, and hydrolase activity, whereas p-toluenesulfonyl fluoride lowers the rate of loss of decarboxylase but not of oxidase or hydrolase activity. Addition to starved cells of a nutrient for which they are already induced for

  9. The VCP/p97 and YOD1 Proteins Have Different Substrate-dependent Activities in Endoplasmic Reticulum-associated Degradation (ERAD).

    PubMed

    Sasset, Linda; Petris, Gianluca; Cesaratto, Francesca; Burrone, Oscar R

    2015-11-20

    Endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD) is an essential quality control mechanism of the folding state of proteins in the secretory pathway that targets unfolded/misfolded polypeptides for proteasomal degradation. The cytosolic p97/valosin-containing protein is an essential ATPase for degradation of ERAD substrates. It has been considered necessary during retro-translocation to extract proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum that are otherwise supposed to accumulate in the endoplasmic reticulum lumen. The activity of the p97-associated deubiquitinylase YOD1 is also required for substrate disposal. We used the in vivo biotinylation retro-translocation assay in mammalian cells under conditions of impaired p97 or YOD1 activity to directly discriminate their requirements and diverse functions in ERAD. Using different ERAD substrates, we found that both proteins participate in two distinct retro-translocation steps. For CD4 and MHC-Iα, which are induced to degradation by the HIV-1 protein Vpu and by the CMV immunoevasins US2 and US11, respectively, p97 and YOD1 have a retro-translocation-triggering role. In contrast, for three other spontaneous ERAD model substrates (NS1, NHK-α1AT, and BST-2/Tetherin), p97 and YOD1 are required in the downstream events of substrate deglycosylation and proteasomal degradation. © 2015 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

  10. Benzene degradation in a denitrifying biofilm reactor: activity and microbial community composition.

    PubMed

    van der Waals, Marcelle J; Atashgahi, Siavash; da Rocha, Ulisses Nunes; van der Zaan, Bas M; Smidt, Hauke; Gerritse, Jan

    2017-06-01

    Benzene is an aromatic compound and harmful for the environment. Biodegradation of benzene can reduce the toxicological risk after accidental or controlled release of this chemical in the environment. In this study, we further characterized an anaerobic continuous biofilm culture grown for more than 14 years on benzene with nitrate as electron acceptor. We determined steady state degradation rates, microbial community composition dynamics in the biofilm, and the initial anaerobic benzene degradation reactions. Benzene was degraded at a rate of 0.15 μmol/mg protein/day and a first-order rate constant of 3.04/day which was fourfold higher than rates reported previously. Bacteria belonging to the Peptococcaceae were found to play an important role in this anaerobic benzene-degrading biofilm culture, but also members of the Anaerolineaceae were predicted to be involved in benzene degradation or benzene metabolite degradation based on Illumina MiSeq analysis of 16S ribosomal RNA genes. Biomass retention in the reactor using a filtration finger resulted in reduction of benzene degradation capacity. Detection of the benzene carboxylase encoding gene, abcA, and benzoic acid in the culture vessel indicated that benzene degradation proceeds through an initial carboxylation step.

  11. A fluorescent 3,7-bis-(naphthalen-1-ylethynylated)-2'-deoxyadenosine analogue reports thymidine in complementary DNA by a large emission Stokes shift.

    PubMed

    Yanagi, Masaki; Suzuki, Azusa; Hudson, Robert H E; Saito, Yoshio

    2018-02-28

    The new environmentally responsive fluorescent nucleosides, 3,7-bis-(naphthalen-1-ylethynyl)-8-aza-3,7-dideaza-2'-deoxyadenosine (3n7nzA, 1) and 7-(naphthalen-1-ylethynyl)-8-aza-3,7-dideaza-2'-deoxyadenosine (37nzA, 2), have been synthesized. Both 3n7nzA (1) and 37nzA (2) possess large π-conjugated systems which extend into both the minor and major grooves or the major groove alone, respectively. The nucleosides exhibited large solvatochromic shifts (3n7nzA: Δλ = 45 nm, 37nzA: Δλ = 78 nm) and were examined for their ability to fluorimetrically report hybridization events. When incorporated into ODN probes, the bis-substituted 3n7nzA (1) selectively recognized thymidine on target strands which was reported by a distinct change in its emission wavelength in the long wavelength region, whereas 37nzA (2) showed a preference for pairing to cytidine and a smaller wavelength shift. Thus, 3n7nzA (1) has the potential for use as a fluorescent probe for structural studies of DNAs/RNAs including the detection of single-base alterations in target DNA sequences.

  12. Sesuvium portulacastrum (L.) L.: a potential halophyte for the degradation of toxic textile dye, Green HE4B.

    PubMed

    Patil, Asmita V; Lokhande, Vinayak H; Suprasanna, Penna; Bapat, Vishwas A; Jadhav, Jyoti P

    2012-05-01

    Sesuvium portulacastrum is a common halophyte growing well in adverse surroundings and is exploited mainly for the environmental protection including phytoremediation, desalination and stabilization of contaminated soil. In the present investigation, attempts have been made on the decolorization of a toxic textile dye Green HE4B (GHE4B) using in vitro grown Sesuvium plantlets. The plantlets exhibited significant (70%) decolorization of GHE4B (50 mg l(-1)) that sustain 200 mM sodium chloride (NaCl) within 5 days of incubation. The enzymatic analysis performed on the root and shoot tissues of the in vitro plantlets subjected to GHE4B decolorization in the presence of 200 mM NaCl showed a noteworthy induction of tyrosinase, lignin peroxidase and NADH-DCIP reductase activities, indicating the involvement of these enzymes in the metabolism of the dye GHE4B. The UV-visible spectrophotometer, HPLC and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses of the samples before and after decolorization of the dye confirmed the efficient phytotransformation of GHE4B in the presence of 200 mM NaCl. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis of the products revealed the formation of three metabolites such as p -amino benzene, p -amino toluene and 1, 2, 7-amino naphthalene after phytotransformation of GHE4B. Based on the FTIR and GC-MS results, the possible pathway for the biodegradation of GHE4B in the presence of 200 mM NaCl has been proposed. The phytotoxicity experiments confirmed the non-toxicity of the degraded products. The present study demonstrates for the first time the potential of Sesuvium for the efficient degradation of textile dyes and its efficacy on saline soils contaminated with toxic compounds.

  13. Impact of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Degradation Products on Oxygen Reduction Reaction Activity for Platinum Electrocatalysts

    DOE PAGES

    Christ, J. M.; Neyerlin, K. C.; Wang, H.; ...

    2014-10-30

    The impact of model membrane degradation compounds on the relevant electrochemical parameters for the oxygen reduction reaction (i.e. electrochemical surface area and catalytic activity), was studied for both polycrystalline Pt and carbon supported Pt electrocatalysts. Model compounds, representing previously published, experimentally determined polymer electrolyte membrane degradation products, were in the form of perfluorinated organic acids that contained combinations of carboxylic and/or sulfonic acid functionality. Perfluorinated carboxylic acids of carbon chain length C1 – C6 were found to have an impact on electrochemical surface area (ECA). The longest chain length acid also hindered the observed oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance, resultingmore » in a 17% loss in kinetic current (determined at 0.9 V). Model compounds containing sulfonic acid functional groups alone did not show an effect on Pt ECA or ORR activity. Lastly, greater than a 44% loss in ORR activity at 0.9V was observed for diacid model compounds DA-Naf (perfluoro(2-methyl-3-oxa-5-sulfonic pentanoic) acid) and DA-3M (perfluoro(4-sulfonic butanoic) acid), which contained both sulfonic and carboxylic acid functionalities.« less

  14. Catalytic Sorption of (Chloro)Benzene and Napthalene in Aqueous Solutions by Granular Activated Carbon Supported Bimetallic Iron and Palladium Nanoparticles

    EPA Science Inventory

    Adsorption of benzene, chlorobenzene, and naphthalene on commercially available granular activated carbon (GAC) and bimetallic nanoparticle (Fe/Pd) loaded GAC was investigated for the potential use in active capping of contaminated sediments. Freundlich and Langmuir linearizatio...

  15. Lysosomal degradation of membrane lipids.

    PubMed

    Kolter, Thomas; Sandhoff, Konrad

    2010-05-03

    The constitutive degradation of membrane components takes place in the acidic compartments of a cell, the endosomes and lysosomes. Sites of lipid degradation are intralysosomal membranes that are formed in endosomes, where the lipid composition is adjusted for degradation. Cholesterol is sorted out of the inner membranes, their content in bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate increases, and, most likely, sphingomyelin is degraded to ceramide. Together with endosomal and lysosomal lipid-binding proteins, the Niemann-Pick disease, type C2-protein, the GM2-activator, and the saposins sap-A, -B, -C, and -D, a suitable membrane lipid composition is required for degradation of complex lipids by hydrolytic enzymes. Copyright 2009 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  16. Nitroaryl-1,4-dihydropyridines as antioxidants against rat liver microsomes oxidation induced by iron/ascorbate, nitrofurantoin and naphthalene.

    PubMed

    Letelier, María Eugenia; Entrala, Paz; López-Alarcón, Camilo; González-Lira, Víctor; Molina-Berríos, Alfredo; Cortés-Troncoso, Juan; Jara-Sandoval, José; Santander, Paola; Núñez-Vergara, Luis

    2007-12-01

    1,4-Dihydropyridines (DHPs) used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, are calcium channel antagonists and also antioxidant agents. These drugs are metabolized through cytochrome P(450) oxidative system, majority localized in the hepatic endoplasmic reticulum. Several lipophilic drugs generate oxidative stress to be metabolized by this cellular system. Thus, DHP antioxidant properties may prevent the oxidative stress associated with hepatic biotransformation of drugs. In this work, we tested the antioxidant capacity of several synthetic nitro-phenyl-DHPs. These compounds (I-IV) inhibited the microsomal lipid peroxidation, UDPGT oxidative activation and microsomal thiols oxidation; all phenomena induced by Fe(3+)/ascorbate, a generator system of oxygen free radicals. As the same manner, these compounds inhibited the oxygen consumption induced by Cu(2+)/ascorbate in the absence of microsomes. Furthermore, compound III (2,6-dimethyl-4-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,4-dihydropyridin-3,5-ethyl-dicarboxylate) and compound V (N-ethyl-2,6-dimethyl-4-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,4-dihydropyridin-3,5-methyl-dicarboxylate) inhibited the microsomal lipid peroxidation induced by Nitrofurantoin and naphthalene in the presence of NADPH. Oxidative stress induced on endoplasmic reticulum may alter the biotransformation of drugs, so, modifying their plasmatic concentrations and therapeutic effects. When drugs which are activated by biotransformation are administered together with antioxidant drugs, such as DHPs, oxidative stress induced in situ may be prevented.

  17. Synthesis of Hydroxide-TiO2 Compounds with Photocatalytic Activity for Degradation of Phenol

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Contreras-Ruiz, J. C.; Martínez-Gallegos, S.; Ordoñez, E.; González-Juárez, J. C.; García-Rivas, J. L.

    2017-03-01

    Photocatalytic degradation of phenol using titanium dioxide (TiO2), either alone or in combination with other materials, has been tested. Mg/Al hydrotalcites prepared by two methods using inorganic (HC) or organic (HS) chemical reagents, along with mixed oxides produced by calcination of these products (HCC and HSC), were mixed with titanium isopropoxide to obtain hydroxide-TiO2 compounds (HCC-TiO2 and HSC-TiO2) and their photocatalytic activity tested in solutions of 10 mg/L phenol at 120 min under illumination at λ UV = 254 nm with power of 4 W or 8 W. The obtained materials were characterized by various techniques, revealing that TiO2 was incorporated into the mixed oxides of the calcined hydrotalcite to form the above-mentioned compounds. The photocatalytic test results indicate that the activity of HCC-TiO2 can be attributed to increased phenol adsorption by hydrotalcite for transfer to the active photocatalytic phase of the impregnated TiO2 particles, while the better results obtained for HSC-TiO2 are due to greater catalyst impregnation on the surface of the calcined hydrotalcite, reducing the screening phenomenon and achieving HSC-TiO2 degradation of up to 21.0% at 8 W. Reuse of both compounds indicated tight combination of HCC or HSC with TiO2, since in four successive separation cycles there was little reduction of activity, being associated primarily with material loss during recovery.

  18. Eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid increase the degradation of amyloid-β by affecting insulin-degrading enzyme.

    PubMed

    Grimm, Marcus O W; Mett, Janine; Stahlmann, Christoph P; Haupenthal, Viola J; Blümel, Tamara; Stötzel, Hannah; Grimm, Heike S; Hartmann, Tobias

    2016-12-01

    Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been proposed to be highly beneficial in Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD pathology is closely linked to an overproduction and accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides as extracellular senile plaques in the brain. Total Aβ levels are not only dependent on its production by proteolytic processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP), but also on Aβ-clearance mechanisms, including Aβ-degrading enzymes. Here we show that the omega-3 PUFAs eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) increase Aβ-degradation by affecting insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE), the major Aβ-degrading enzyme secreted into the extracellular space of neuronal and microglial cells. The identification of the molecular mechanisms revealed that EPA directly increases IDE enzyme activity and elevates gene expression of IDE. DHA also directly stimulates IDE enzyme activity and affects IDE sorting by increasing exosome release of IDE, resulting in enhanced Aβ-degradation in the extracellular milieu. Apart from the known positive effect of DHA in reducing Aβ production, EPA and DHA might ameliorate AD pathology by increasing Aβ turnover.

  19. A direct thrombin inhibitor suppresses protein C activation and factor Va degradation in human plasma: Possible mechanisms of paradoxical enhancement of thrombin generation.

    PubMed

    Kamisato, Chikako; Furugohri, Taketoshi; Morishima, Yoshiyuki

    2016-05-01

    We have demonstrated that antithrombin (AT)-independent thrombin inhibitors paradoxically increase thrombin generation (TG) in human plasma in a thrombomodulin (TM)- and protein C (PC)-dependent manner. We determined the effects of AT-independent thrombin inhibitors on the negative-feedback system, activation of PC and production and degradation of factor Va (FVa), as possible mechanisms underlying the paradoxical enhancement of TG. TG in human plasma containing 10nM TM was assayed by means of the calibrated automated thrombography. As an index of PC activation, plasma concentration of activated PC-PC inhibitor complex (aPC-PCI) was measured. The amounts of FVa heavy chain and its degradation product (FVa(307-506)) were examined by western blotting. AT-independent thrombin inhibitors, melagatran and dabigatran (both at 25-600nM) and 3-30μg/ml active site-blocked thrombin (IIai), increased peak levels of TG. Melagatran, dabigatran and IIai significantly decreased plasma concentration of aPC-PCI complex at 25nM or more, 75nM or more, and 10 and 30μg/ml, respectively. Melagatran (300nM) significantly increased FVa and decreased FVa(307-506). In contrast, a direct factor Xa inhibitor edoxaban preferentially inhibited thrombin generation (≥25nM), and higher concentrations were required to inhibit PC activation (≥150nM) and FVa degradation (300nM). The present study suggests that the inhibitions of protein C activation and subsequent degradation of FVa and increase in FVa by antithrombin-independent thrombin inhibitors may contribute to the paradoxical TG enhancement, and edoxaban may inhibit PC activation and FVa degradation as a result of TG suppression. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  20. Degradation of atenolol via heterogeneous activation of persulfate by using BiOCl@Fe3O4 catalyst under simulated solar light irradiation.

    PubMed

    Shi, Yahong; Chen, Hongche; Wu, Yanlin; Dong, Wenbo

    2018-01-01

    Efficient oxidative degradation of pharmaceutical pollutants in aquatic environments is of great importance. This study used magnetic BiOCl@Fe 3 O 4 catalyst to activate persulfate (PS) under simulated solar light irradiation. This degradation system was evaluated using atenolol (ATL) as target pollutant. Four reactive species were identified in the sunlight/BiOCl@Fe 3 O 4 /PS system. The decreasing order of the contribution of each reactive species on ATL degradation was as follows: h +  ≈ HO ·  > O 2 ·-  > SO 4 ·- . pH significantly influenced ATL degradation, and an acidic condition favored the reaction. High degradation efficiencies were obtained at pH 2.3-5.5. ATL degradation rate increased with increased catalyst and PS contents. Moreover, ATL mineralization was higher in the sunlight/BiOCl@Fe 3 O 4 /PS system than in the sunlight/BiOCl@Fe 3 O 4 or sunlight/PS system. Nine possible intermediate products were identified through LC-MS analysis, and a degradation pathway for ATL was proposed. The BiOCl@Fe 3 O 4 nanomagnetic composite catalyst was synthesized in this work. This catalyst was easily separated and recovered from a treated solution by using a magnet, and it demonstrated a high catalytic activity. Increased amount of the BiOCl@Fe 3 O 4 catalyst obviously accelerated the efficiency of ATL degradation, and the reusability of the catalyst allowed the addition of a large dosage of BiOCl@Fe 3 O 4 to improve the degradation efficiency.