scholarly journals Essential (Mg, Fe, Zn and Cu) and Non-Essential (Cd and Pb) Elements in Predatory Insects (Vespa crabro and Vespa velutina): A Molecular Perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 228
Author(s):  
Giulia Andreani ◽  
Enea Ferlizza ◽  
Riccardo Cabbri ◽  
Micaela Fabbri ◽  
Elisa Bellei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Demand ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
Absorption Spectrometry ◽  
Essential Elements ◽  
Size Exclusion ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Vespa Velutina ◽  
Vespa Crabro ◽  
Exclusion Chromatography

The recent introduction of the Asian yellow-legged hornet, Vespa velutina, into Europe has raised concern regarding the threat to honeybees and the competition with the European hornet, Vespa crabro. The aim of this study was to investigated essential (Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu) and non-essential (Cd and Pb) elements in these two species. Element concentrations were determined in the whole body and separately in the head, thorax and abdomen using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The changes in essential element concentration and speciation during metamorphosis were also studied using size exclusion chromatography followed by AAS and proteomic analysis. In both species, the essential elements were more concentrated in the abdomen due to the presence of fat bodies. Magnesium, Fe and Zn concentrations were significantly higher in V. crabro than in V. velutina and could have been related to the higher aerobic energy demand of the former species required to sustain foraging flight. Low concentrations of Cd and Pb were indicative of low environmental exposure. The concentration and speciation of essential elements, particularly Fe, varied among the developmental stages, indicating a modification of ligand preferences during metamorphosis. Overall, the results in the present study provide a better understanding of the hornet metal metabolism and a foundation for additional studies.

LEAD AND ZINC IN FINGER NAILS AND SCALP HAIR OF ADULT MALES IN KENYA

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 95-108
Author(s):  
James Ndiritu ◽  
Ruth Wanjau ◽  
Jane Murungi
Keyword(s):  
Scalp Hair ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
Absorption Spectrometry ◽  
Essential Elements ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Finger Nail ◽  
Lead And Zinc ◽  
Hair Samples ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean

Lead and zinc concentrations were determined in scalp hair and finger nails of exposed and unexposed males by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The mean levels of Pb in the finger nails ranged from 50-480 μg/g, and 50-240 μg/g for exposed and unexposed males respectively. The mean levels of Pb in the scalp hair ranged from 30-410 μg/g, and 30-200 μg/g for exposed and unexposed males respectively. The mean levels of Zn in the finger nails ranged from 40-400 μg/g and 80-450 μg/g for exposed and unexposed males respectively, while in the scalp hair the mean levels of Zn ranged from 30-490 μg/g and 50-440 μg/g for exposed and unexposed males respectively. The study established that there was a negative correlation between Pb and essential element Zn in both scalp hair and finger nail samples of unexposed male respondents. However, Pb was found to have a positive correlation with Zn in the finger nails and scalp hair samples for the exposed males. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) indicated when Pb and Zn mean levels were compared in the combined samples of finger nails and scalp hair. Comparing the mean lead concentration in scalp hair with finger nails a significant difference was indicated in the two tissues (P<0.05). Human hair and finger nails are therefore recording filaments that can reflect metabolic changes over long period of time and hence furnish a print out of post nutritional event of dietary levels of some of the essential elements.

Copper in xylem and phloem saps from rice (Oryza sativa): the effect of moderate copper concentrations in the growth medium on the accumulation of five essential metals and a speciation analysis of copper-containing compounds

2013 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuko Ando ◽  
Shinji Nagata ◽  
Schuichi Yanagisawa ◽  
Tadakatsu Yoneyama
Keyword(s):  
Oryza Sativa ◽  
Membrane Filtration ◽  
Oryza Sativa L ◽  
Xylem Sap ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
Speciation Analysis ◽  
Size Exclusion ◽  
Culture Solution ◽  
Flight Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Exclusion Chromatography

Copper (Cu) is an essential element for cereals, playing important roles as a cofactor of several enzymes. Copper and four other metals (Fe, Mn, Zn and Mo) taken up by roots are efficiently delivered to the shoots via xylem and phloem. Here we investigated the concentrations of Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn and Mo in the xylem and phloem saps as well as in tissues of rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings when they were grown under different Cu levels in culture solution. Although the Cu concentrations in the roots and the Mn concentrations in the mature shoot tissues were increased with the increase of the Cu level in the culture solution, the concentrations of Cu and the other four metals in the xylem and phloem saps and the Cu contents in the shoot tissues were only slightly affected by moderate increases in the Cu medium level. The results of our analyses using membrane filtration, size-exclusion chromatography and electrospray ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry indicate that Cu in the xylem sap is dominantly complexed by 2′-deoxymugineic acid, whereas Cu in the phloem sap is bound to several compounds, i.e. nicotianamine, histidine and other >3-kDa compounds.

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