Impact of humic/fulvic acid on the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions using nanomaterials: a review

Nowadays nanomaterials have been widely used to remove heavy metals from water/wastewater due to their large surface area and high reactivity. Humic acid (HA) and fulvic acid (FA) exist ubiquitously in aquatic environments and have a variety of functional groups which allow them to complex with metal ions and interact with nanomaterials. These interactions can not only alter the environmental behavior of nanomaterials, but also influence the removal and transportation of heavy metals by nanomaterials. Thus, the interactions and the underlying mechanisms involved warrant specific investigations. This review outlined the effects of HA/FA on the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions by various nanomaterials, mainly including carbon-based nanomaterials, iron-based nanomaterials and photocatalytic nanomaterials. Moreover, mechanisms involved in the interactions were discussed and potential environmental implications of HA/FA to nanomaterials and heavy metals were evaluated.

Molecular basis for the targeted binding of RGD-containing peptide to integrin αVβ3

Integrin αVβ3-targeting peptides with an exposed arginine-glycine-aspartate (RGD) sequence play a crucial role in targeted anticancer drug delivery. The effects of RGD-containing peptide structure and quantity on mechanism of targeted binding of RGD-containing peptide to integrin αVβ3 were studied intensively at the molecular level via molecular dynamic simulations. Targeted recognization was mainly driven by the electrostatic interactions between the residues in RGD and the metal ions in integrin αVβ3, and cyclic arginine-glycine-aspartate-phenylalanine-valine (RGDFV) peptide appeared to be a better vector than the linear RGD-containing peptides. In addition, the optimal molar concentration ratio of RGD peptides to integrin αVβ3 appeared to be 2:1. These results will help improve the current understanding on the mechanism of interactions between RGD and integrin αVβ3, and promote the application prospects of RGD-based vectors in tumor imaging, diagnosis, and cancer therapy.

Interactive effect of oxytetracycline and lead on soil enzymatic activity and microbial biomass

Interactive effect of oxytetracyline (OTC) and lead on soil enzymatic activity and population of microbes was studied in the paper. The results showed effect of pollutants on bacteria, actinomycetes and enzymatic activity increased in the order: (OTC+Pb)>Pb>OTC, (OTC+Pb)>Pb>OTC and (OTC+Pb)>OTC>Pb, respectively. However, impact of pollutants on fungi decreased in the order: (OTC+Pb)<Pb<OTC. The analysis of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed that binding energy and atomic percentage of Al, Fe, C, O, N, Si, Mg and Ca altered after the amended with OTC or Pb. The decrease of oxygen atom density and increase of binding energy can be associated to the charge transfer, resulting from oxygen and carbon atoms coordinated with metal ions, other chemicals or partial decomposition. Thus, the findings of this study can provide a better insight into the interaction of both pollutants and their impacts on soil quality.

Potent in vitro interference of fleroxacin in DNA-binding, unwinding and ATPase activities of Bloom helicase

OBJECTIVE

To study the effect of fleroxacin (FLRX) on biological properties of Bloom (BLM) helicase catalytic core (BLM642-1290 helicase) in vitro and the molecular mechanism of interaction between the two molecules.

METHODS

DNA-binding and unwinding activities of BLM642-1290 helicase were assayed by fluorescence polarization and gel retardation assay under conditions that the helicase was subjected to different concentrations of FLRX. Effect of FLRX on helicase ATPase activity was analyzed by phosphorus-free assay based on a colorimetric estimation of ATP hydrolysis-produced inorganic phosphate. Molecular mechanism of interaction between the two molecules was assayed by ultraviolet and fluorescence spectra.

RESULTS

The DNA unwinding and ATPase activities of BLM642-1290 helicase were inhibited whereas the DNA-binding activity was promoted in vitro. A BLM-FLRX complex was formed through one binding site, electrostatic and hydrophobic interaction force. Moreover, the intrinsic fluorescence of the helicase was quenched by FLRX as a result of non-radioactive energy transfer. The biological activity of helicase was affected by FLRX, which may be through an allosteric mechanism and stabilization of enzyme conformation in low helicase activity state, disruption of the coupling of ATP hydrolysis to unwinding, and blocking helicase translocation on DNA strands.

CONCLUSION

FLRX may affect the biological activities and conformation of BLM642-1290 helicase, and DNA helicase may be used as a promising drug target for some diseases.