scholarly journals Getting to the Root of Selenium Hyperaccumulation—Localization and Speciation of Root Selenium and Its Effects on Nematodes

Soil Systems ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine N. Prins ◽  
Laura J. Hantzis ◽  
Jose R. Valdez-Barillas ◽  
Jennifer J. Cappa ◽  
Sirine C. Fakra ◽  
...  

Elemental hyperaccumulation protects plants from many aboveground herbivores. Little is known about effects of hyperaccumulation on belowground herbivores or their ecological interactions. To examine effects of plant selenium (Se) hyperaccumulation on nematode root herbivory, we investigated spatial distribution and speciation of Se in hyperaccumulator roots using X-ray microprobe analysis, and effects of root Se concentration on root-associated nematode communities. Perennial hyperaccumulators Stanleya pinnata and Astragalus bisulcatus, collected from a natural seleniferous grassland contained 100–1500 mg Se kg−1 root dry weight (DW). Selenium was concentrated in the cortex and epidermis of hyperaccumulator roots, with lower levels in the stele. The accumulated Se consisted of organic (C-Se-C) compounds, indistinguishable from methyl-selenocysteine. The field-collected roots yielded 5–400 nematodes g−1 DW in Baermann funnel extraction, with no correlation between root Se concentration and nematode densities. Even roots containing > 1000 mg Se kg−1 DW yielded herbivorous nematodes. However, greenhouse-grown S. pinnata plants treated with Se had fewer total nematodes than those without Se. Thus, while root Se hyperaccumulation may protect plants from non-specialist herbivorous nematodes, Se-resistant nematode taxa appear to associate with hyperaccumulators in seleniferous habitats, and may utilize high-Se hyperaccumulator roots as food source. These findings give new insight into the ecological implications of plant Se (hyper)accumulation.

1988 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
pp. 1279-1291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terry Aselage ◽  
Keith Keefer

The liquidus relations in the system YO1.5–BaO–CuOx in air in the compositional region near the superconducting oxide YBa2Cu3Ox were studied by differential thermal analysis, x-ray diffraction, electron microprobe analysis, and visual observation. The temperatures of 11 invariant points and the corresponding reactions were determined. YBa2Cu3Ox was found to melt incogruently at 1015 °C to Y2BaCuO5, which in turn melts incongruently to Y2O3 at 1270 °C. These reactions mean that preparing the superconducting phase by melting and rapid cooling will result in the presence of these two phases as well. The peritectic reaction YBa2Cu3Ox + CuO⇉Y2BaCuO5 + liquid at 940 °C accounts for the observation of partial melting, improved synthesis purity, and grain growth at temperatures of 950 °C. The determination of these invariant temperatures and reactions provide insight into optimal processing conditions.


Author(s):  
J. M. Paque ◽  
R. Browning ◽  
P. L. King ◽  
P. Pianetta

Geological samples typically contain many minerals (phases) with multiple element compositions. A complete analytical description should give the number of phases present, the volume occupied by each phase in the bulk sample, the average and range of composition of each phase, and the bulk composition of the sample. A practical approach to providing such a complete description is from quantitative analysis of multi-elemental x-ray images.With the advances in recent years in the speed and storage capabilities of laboratory computers, large quantities of data can be efficiently manipulated. Commercial software and hardware presently available allow simultaneous collection of multiple x-ray images from a sample (up to 16 for the Kevex Delta system). Thus, high resolution x-ray images of the majority of the detectable elements in a sample can be collected. The use of statistical techniques, including principal component analysis (PCA), can provide insight into mineral phase composition and the distribution of minerals within a sample.


Author(s):  
S.J.B. Reed

Characteristic fluorescenceThe theory of characteristic fluorescence corrections was first developed by Castaing. The same approach, with an improved expression for the relative primary x-ray intensities of the exciting and excited elements, was used by Reed, who also introduced some simplifications, which may be summarized as follows (with reference to K-K fluorescence, i.e. K radiation of element ‘B’ exciting K radiation of ‘A’):1.The exciting radiation is assumed to be monochromatic, consisting of the Kα line only (neglecting the Kβ line).2.Various parameters are lumped together in a single tabulated function J(A), which is assumed to be independent of B.3.For calculating the absorption of the emerging fluorescent radiation, the depth distribution of the primary radiation B is represented by a simple exponential.These approximations may no longer be justifiable given the much greater computing power now available. For example, the contribution of the Kβ line can easily be calculated separately.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nobutaka Fujieda ◽  
Sachiko Yanagisawa ◽  
Minoru Kubo ◽  
Genji Kurisu ◽  
Shinobu Itoh

To unveil the activation of dioxygen on the copper centre (Cu<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>core) of tyrosinase, we performed X-ray crystallograpy with active-form tyrosinase at near atomic resolution. This study provided a novel insight into the catalytic mechanism of the tyrosinase, including the rearrangement of copper-oxygen species as well as the intramolecular migration of copper ion induced by substrate-binding.<br>


Microbiome ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon A. Huws ◽  
Joan E. Edwards ◽  
Wanchang Lin ◽  
Francesco Rubino ◽  
Mark Alston ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Gut microbiomes, such as the rumen, greatly influence host nutrition due to their feed energy-harvesting capacity. We investigated temporal ecological interactions facilitating energy harvesting at the fresh perennial ryegrass (PRG)-biofilm interface in the rumen using an in sacco approach and prokaryotic metatranscriptomic profiling. Results Network analysis identified two distinct sub-microbiomes primarily representing primary (≤ 4 h) and secondary (≥ 4 h) colonisation phases and the most transcriptionally active bacterial families (i.e Fibrobacteriaceae, Selemondaceae and Methanobacteriaceae) did not interact with either sub-microbiome, indicating non-cooperative behaviour. Conversely, Prevotellaceae had most transcriptional activity within the primary sub-microbiome (focussed on protein metabolism) and Lachnospiraceae within the secondary sub-microbiome (focussed on carbohydrate degradation). Putative keystone taxa, with low transcriptional activity, were identified within both sub-microbiomes, highlighting the important synergistic role of minor bacterial families; however, we hypothesise that they may be ‘cheating’ in order to capitalise on the energy-harvesting capacity of other microbes. In terms of chemical cues underlying transition from primary to secondary colonisation phases, we suggest that AI-2-based quorum sensing plays a role, based on LuxS gene expression data, coupled with changes in PRG chemistry. Conclusions In summary, we show that fresh PRG-attached prokaryotes are resilient and adapt quickly to changing niches. This study provides the first major insight into the complex temporal ecological interactions occurring at the plant-biofilm interface within the rumen. The study also provides valuable insights into potential plant breeding strategies for development of the utopian plant, allowing optimal sustainable production of ruminants.


2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (8) ◽  
pp. 753-765 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali F. El Mehdawi ◽  
Stormy D. Lindblom ◽  
Jennifer J. Cappa ◽  
Sirine C. Fakra ◽  
Elizabeth A. H. Pilon-Smits

2008 ◽  
Vol 72 (5) ◽  
pp. 1083-1101 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. H. Paar ◽  
Y. Moëlo ◽  
N. N. Mozgova ◽  
N. I. Organova ◽  
C. J. Stanley ◽  
...  

AbstractCoiraite, ideally (Pb,Sn2+)12.5As3Fe2+Sn4+S28, occurs as an economically important tin ore in the large Ag-Sn-Zn polymetallic Pirquitas deposit, Jujuy Province, NW-Argentina. The new mineral species is the As derivative of franckeite and belongs to the cylindrite group of complex Pb sulphosalts with incommensurate composite-layered structures. It is a primary mineral, frequently found in colloform textures, and formed from hydrothermal solutions at low temperature. Associated minerals are franckeite, cylindrite, pyrite-marcasite, as well as minor amounts of hocartite, Ag-rich rhodostannite. arsenopyrite and galena. Laminae of coiraite consist of extremely thin bent platy crystals up to 50 urn long. Electron microprobe analysis (n = 31) gave an empirical formula Pb11.21As2.99Ag0.13Fe1.10Sn6.13S28.0 close to the ideal formula (Pb11.3Sn2+1.2)Σ=12.5As3Fe2+Sn4+S28. Coiraite has two monoclinic sub-cells, Q (pseudotetragonal) and H (pseudohexagonal). Q: a 5.84(1) Å, b 5.86(1) Å, c 17.32(1) Å, β 94.14(1)°, F 590.05(3) Å3, Z = 4, a:b:c = 0.997:1:2.955; H (orthogonal setting): a 6.28(1) Å, b 3.66(1) Å, c 17.33(1) Å, β 91.46(1)°, V398.01(6) Å3, Z = 2, a∶b∶c = 1.716∶1∶4.735. The strongest Debye-Scherrer camera X-ray powder-diffraction lines [d in Å, (I), (hkl)] are: 5.78, (20), (Q and H 003); 4.34, (40), (Q 004); 3.46, (30), (Q and H 005); 3.339, (20), (Q 104); 2.876, (100), (Q and H 006); 2.068, (60), (Q 220).


2000 ◽  
Vol 53 (8) ◽  
pp. 627 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piotr Storoniak ◽  
Karol Krzyminski ◽  
Pawel Dokurno ◽  
Antoni Konitz ◽  
Jerzy Blazejowski

The crystal structures of 10-methylacridinium chloride monohydrate, bromide monohydrate and iodide were determined by X-ray analysis. The compounds crystallize in the triclinic space group, P¯1, with 2 molecules in the unit cell. The molecular arrangement in the crystals revealed that hydrogen bonds (in hydrates) and van der Waals contacts play a significant part in intermolecular interactions. To discover their nature, contributions to the crystal lattice energy arising from electrostatic (the most important since the compounds form ionic crystals), dispersive and repulsive interactions were calculated. Enthalpies of formation of the salts, their stability and susceptibility to decomposition could be predicted from a combination of crystal lattice energies with values of other thermochemical characteristics obtained theoretically or taken from the literature. The role of water in the stabilization of the crystal lattice of the hydrates is also explained. The information gathered has given an insight into the features and behaviour of compounds which can be regarded as models of a large group of aromatic quaternary nitrogen salts.


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