The detection of mercury, lead, and methylmercury binding sites on lysozyme by carbon-13 NMR chemical shifts of the carboxylate groups

Immunotoxic effects of lead on birds

The ingestion of lead (Pb) shot pellets is a well-known cause of avian mortality, but exposure of birds to Pb may have other sublethal effects that can affect population sustainability. One of these effects is the alteration of the immunological status. Pb can affect most components of the avian immune system and imbalance the relationship among them. Pb exposure typically alters the ratio between T_h1- and T_h2-type responses mounted by different classes of T-lymphocytes, causing the depression of the T_h1 responses that are associated with cell-mediated immunity. Immunodepressing effects of Pb on birds are observed at blood levels above 50 μg dL^-1, but developing birds show immunodepressing effects at much lower concentrations (> 10 μg dL^-1). Impacts of Pb on the avian immune system also relate to reduced resistance to infection. We review immunotoxic effects of Pb on birds affected by shot ingestion as well as by other sources of exposure to this element.

Highly efficient heavy-metal extraction from water with carboxylated graphene nanoflakes

Heavy metals such a lead or cadmium have a wide range of detrimental and devastating effects on human health. It is therefore of paramount importance to efficiently remove heavy metals from industrial wastewater streams as well as drinking water. Carbon materials, including graphene and graphene oxide (GO), have recently been advocated as efficient sorption materials for heavy metals. We show that highly carboxylated graphene nanoflakes (cx-GNF) outperform nano-graphene oxide (nGO) as well as traditional GO with respect to extracting Fe²⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺, Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺ cations from water. The sorption capacity for Pb²⁺, for example, is more than six times greater for the cx-GNF compared to GO which is attributed to the efficient formation of lead carboxylates as well as strong cation–π interactions. The large numbers of carboxylic acid groups as well as the intact graphenic regions of the cx-GNF are therefore responsible for the strong binding of the heavy metal cations. Remarkably, the performance of the as-made cx-GNF can easily compete with previously reported carbon materials that have undergone additional chemical-functionalisation procedures for the purpose of heavy-metal extraction. Furthermore, the recyclability of the cx-GNF material with respect to Pb²⁺ loading is demonstrated as well as the outstanding performance for Pb²⁺ extraction in the presence of excess Ca²⁺ or Mg²⁺ cations which are often present under environmental conditions. Out of all the graphene materials, the cx-GNF therefore show the greatest potential for future application in heavy-metal extraction processes.

Carboxylated graphene nanoflakes show great potential for heavy-metal extraction from water.

A Metalloproteomics Study on the Association of Mercury With Breast Milk in Samples From Lactating Women in the Amazon Region of Brazil

This study aimed to identify metalloproteins that lose their metal ions in the presence of mercury (Hg) and bind to Hg in breast milk samples collected from the riverine population of the Madeira River, a tributary of the Amazon River. Initially, total Hg was determined from the hair of lactating women to identify individuals who were contaminated followed by a proteomic analysis of breast milk samples through two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis after acetone precipitation. The presence of Hg in the obtained protein spots was determined by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry and cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry. These determinations indicated the presence of Hg in one protein spot, which was then characterized through electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Based on searches in the UniProt database, this protein spot was identified as lysozyme C.

Lead modulation of macrophages causes multiorgan detrimental health effects

The environmental toxicant lead (Pb) has detrimental effects on a number of organ systems, including the immune system. Pb exposure decreases host immune defenses against numerous microorganisms and cancer. Although Pb effects on humoral and cell-mediated immunity as well as on erythrocyte, neural, and renal pathophysiology have been well documented, there are few reports regarding Pb's impact on innate immunity, which can affect multiorgan processes. This review focuses on Pb modulation of a key innate immune cell, the macrophage. The impact of Pb on macrophages in different organs, on immature versus mature macrophages, and on low versus high Pb concentrations is discussed. Pb decreases phagocytosis and chemotaxis of macrophages and affects nitric oxide production and eicosanoid metabolism in mature macrophages. Pretreatment of macrophages with Pb increases TNF-α secretion after in vitro stimulation with lipopolysaccharide; however, Pb exposure decreases in vivo intracellular pathogen killing. More recent evidence from mouse studies indicates that even low, environmentally relevant, blood concentrations of Pb result in increased phagocytosis of erythrocytes and decreased expression of interferon-gamma-inducible GTPases, p65-GBP, and p47-IRG, which are necessary for intracellular pathogen killing. Taking into account the effects of Pb on macrophages, the review describes posited mechanisms to account for Pb-altered health effects; Pb effects on heme levels may play a key role as well as Pb's preferential induction of helper type-2 T (Th2) cells and M2 macrophages, which is related to oxidative stress. The discussion links old findings with new, thereby adding new insight into the effects of Pb on macrophages and the resultant compromised immunity and health.

Steady-state and time-resolved studies of the photocleavage of lysozyme by Co(III) complexes

Steady-state and time-resolved studies of site-selective photocleavage of lysozyme by cobalt(III) complexes [Co(NH(3))(5)Br](2+) and ([Co(NH(3))(4)CO(3)](+) are reported. Photocleavage resulted in two fragments of molecular masses approximately 10.5 kDa and approximately 3.5 kDa, and the yield increased (8-33%) with irradiation time (0.16-0.8 h) as well as with the metal complex concentration (0.1-5 mM). The reaction proceeded to a significant extent even when nearly stoichiometric amounts of the reagents were used. Photocleavage was effective at wavelengths ranging from 310 to 390 nm, and cleavage was inhibited by the addition of selected metal ions such as Gd(III) at moderate concentrations (2 mM). Gd(III) is known to bind at Asp52/Glu35 residues on lysozyme, and these residues are located at the enzyme active site. Current and previous studies suggest that Co(III) metal complexes bind at this site on lysozyme. Consistent with this hypothesis, [Co(NH(3))(4)CO(3)](+) (8 mM) inhibited lysozyme activity by 67%. Laser flash photolysis studies show that excitation of the metal complexes [Co(NH(3))(5)Br](2+) and ([Co(NH(3))(4)CO(3)](+) (308 nm, 20 ns pulse width) resulted in the corresponding ligand-derived radical intermediates. For example, photoexcitation of an aqueous solution of [Co(NH(3))(5)Br](2+) at 308 nm resulted in the formation of Br(2)(-*). When the excitation was carried out in the presence of lysozyme, Br(2)(-*) was quenched with a bimolecular rate constant of 1.4 x 10(9) M(-1) s(-1). Quenching resulted in protein-derived radicals (Trp(+*) and Tyr(+*)), as identified by their characteristic known transient absorption bands. Steady-state studies correlated with the time-resolved data, and taken together, these illustrated the reactivities of Co(III) metal complexes to direct protein photocleavage with high selectivity.

Structural and functional implications of the hexokinase-nickel interaction

The interaction between nickel and yeast hexokinase was studied. The binding of nickel showed a positive cooperativity, and saturation was not reached. The nickel binding induced modifications in the secondary structure of the protein; thus, a lost of alpha helix and beta turns, as well as an increase of the random structure and beta sheet was observed. The monomer/dimmer equilibrium of the protein was modified in the presence of nickel, and the monomer state was mainly obtained at the highest nickel concentrations studied. These changes on the protein structure caused a decrease in the enzyme activity. According to kinetic studies, nickel caused a non-competitive inhibition when glucose was the variable substrate and a linear competitive inhibition when ATP was the variable substrate.

Photocleavage of lysozyme by cobalt(III) complexes

Photochemical reagents that cleave proteins at specific sites (photoproteases) are useful for studying protein structure and protein-ligand interactions. PolyammineCo(III) complexes are tested here as photochemical probes to cleave proteins. Irradiation of a mixture of lysozyme, a model protein, and polyammineCo(III) complexes resulted in the facile cleavage of the peptide backbone. Photocleavage yielded two fragments of molecular weights 10.6 and 3.7 kDa, and these masses sum to the molecular mass of lysozyme (14.3 kDa). No cleavage was detected in the absence of the metal complex, in the dark, or upon irradiation at wavelengths of >420 nm. The photocleavage yield increased with irradiation time and with the concentrations of the metal complex and the protein. N-terminal sequencing of the 10.6 kDa fragment indicated residues that are identical to the N-terminus of lysozyme, and sequencing of the 3.7 kDa fragment indicated Val-Ala-Trp-Arg, an internal sequence of lysozyme. From the known primary sequence of lysozyme and the sequencing data, the cleavage site was assigned to Trp108-Val109. Molecular modeling indicates that the observed cleavage site is within few angstroms from the proposed metal binding site at Glu35-Asp52. This is the first report of the successful photocleavage of proteins, with high selectivity, by transition metal complexes. This novel observation can facilitate the rational design of transition metal complexes for the photochemical footprinting of metal binding sites on proteins.

Effect of cadmium acetate on the conformation of lysozyme: functional implications

Structural variations of lysozyme as a consequence of its interaction with CdAc2, as well as the implications on the protein functionality have been studied. Variations in the conformation of the macromolecule are seen, however these changes are not reflected on the secondary structure. The interaction of the salt with the polypeptide chain is weak and thermodynamically unfavourable. Molecular aggregates (dimer forms) are observed at the highest salt concentrations. This interaction causes an inhibitory effect on lysozyme, the activity loss being 50% at the highest salt concentration studied. The inhibition is of mixed type with an uncompetitive component. Thus cadmium does not bind to the active site of the enzyme which is in accordance with the not very large activity loss observed. The substrate inhibition of lysozyme is favoured in the presence of the salt, so interaction with the macromolecule is at low affinity sites.

Characterizing cavities in model inclusion molecules: a comparative study

We have selected fullerene-60 and -70 cavities as model systems in order to test several methods for characterizing inclusion molecules. The methods are based on different technical foundations such as a square and triangular tessellation of the molecule taken as a unitary sphere, spherical tessellation of the molecular surface, numerical integration of the atomic volumes and surfaces, triangular tessellation of the molecular surface, and a cubic lattice approach to a molecular space. Accurate measures of the molecular volume and surface area have been performed with the pseudo-random Monte Carlo (MCVS) and uniform Monte Carlo (UMCVS) methods. These calculations serve as a reference for the rest of the methods. The SURMO2 and MS methods have not recognized the cavities and may not be convenient for intercalation compounds. The programs that have detected the cavities never exceed 5% deviation relative to the reference values for molecular volume and surface area. The GEPOL algorithm, alone or combined with TOPO, shows results in good agreement with those of the UMCVS reference. The uniform random number generator provides the fastest convergence for UMCVS and a correct estimate of the standard deviations. The effect of the internal cavity on the accessible surfaces has been calculated.

Preferential interactions in the H2O/lysozyme/AlCl3 system

The preferential interactions of lysozyme with solvent components is studied in aqueous solutions of AlCl3. The interaction parameter is negative at large salt concentrations, indicating that the interaction process of both salt and protein is thermodynamically favorable. The transfer free-energy parameter and the solubility data show that aluminum chloride is a salting-in agent for lysozyme. Moreover, these preferential interactions also are correlated with both protein solubility in the solvent medium and the influence of salt on the lysozyme structure. Viscometric and refractometric studies show that lysozyme can undergo a conformational change at 1 mM of salt, and spectrophotometric studies indicate a protein activity of approximately 75% at 10 mM of salt. Therefore, neither the interaction of AlCl3 with the lysozyme nor the conformational change undergone directly affect the catalytic amino acid residues of the active site.

Measurements of environmental lead contamination and human exposure

The importance of accurate measurements of environmental lead exposure and toxicity is substantiated by analyses documenting the global contamination of the biosphere with industrial lead and the pervasiveness of measurable lead toxicity in human populations. Those data demonstrating environmental lead contamination and toxicity have, in part, led to regulations that limit the amount of lead in some products (e.g., paint, solder, and gasolines) in many industrialized countries. These regulations have resulted in a substantial reduction in some lead discharges to the environment. In spite of these reductions, current environmental lead levels are still often more than 10-fold, and sometimes more than 10,000-fold, higher than natural levels. Further, environmental lead concentrations are expected to remain elevated for a protracted period due to continued emissions of relatively large amounts of industrial lead to the environment and the persistence of contaminant lead in the environment. Discharges of contaminant lead have resulted in increases in organism and human lead levels comparable to increases documented in environmental matrices, as indicated by a recent estimate of the natural level of lead in blood of preindustrial humans (0.016 microgram/dL or 0.8 nM). This estimate is 175-fold lower than average blood lead levels in the United States (2.8 micrograms/dL or 140 nM) and 600-fold lower than the recently (1991) revised Centers for Disease Control (CDC) action level of concern for early toxic effects in children (10 micrograms/dL or 480 nM). The significance of these comparisons to public health is corroborated by numerous studies suggesting that there may be no lower threshold for sublethal toxicity in contemporary (i.e., lead-contaminated) humans. Those data also indicate that environmental lead concentrations that were previously considered innocuous may be deleterious to human health. It is apparent that the extent of sublethal lead toxicity in humans may be best addressed by studies that consider control populations possessing natural (i.e., preindustrial) lead burdens, as well as state-of-the-art, trace-metal-clean techniques and advanced instrumentation. Trace-metal-clean techniques are required to prevent the inadvertent lead contamination of samples, which has plagued many previous analyses of environmental and human lead levels. Advanced instrumentation is required to provide the sensitivity, accuracy, and precision that are needed to quantify the sublethal effects of lead concentrations at environmental levels of exposure. Fortunately, methodologies utilizing these advancements are now capable of addressing many of the important issues (e.g., lead biomolecular speciation, low exposure effects) in environmental and human lead toxicology.

An algorithm to find channels and cavities within protein crystals

We have written a package called CHANNEL for determining and analyzing the channels and cavities within protein crystals. By using CHANNEL, the intermolecular space within a crystal lattice can be divided into closed cavities and channels. This package is certainly useful in determining the channel topological structure and quantitative characteristics. The package allows also the volume, and maximal and minimal areas of channels along a required direction to be calculated.