scholarly journals Disruption of metal ion homeostasis in soils is associated with nitrogen deposition-induced species loss in an Inner Mongolia steppe

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 1689-1719
Author(s):  
Q.-Y. Tian ◽  
N.-N. Liu ◽  
W.-M. Bai ◽  
L.-H. Li ◽  
W.-H. Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Inner Mongolia ◽  
Metal Ion ◽  
Ion Homeostasis ◽  
Base Cations ◽  
N Deposition ◽  
Species Loss ◽  
N Addition ◽  
Metal Ion Homeostasis ◽  
Addition Rate

Abstract. Enhanced deposition of atmospheric nitrogen (N) resulting from anthropogenic activities has negative impacts on plant diversity in grassland ecosystems globally. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the species loss. Ion toxicity due to N deposition-induced soil acidification has been suggested to be responsible for species loss in acidic grasslands, while few studies have evaluated the role of soil-mediated homeostasis of ions in species loss under elevated N deposition in alkaline grasslands. To determine whether soil-mediated processes are involved in changes in species composition by N deposition, the effects of 9 yr N addition on soil properties, aboveground biomass (AGB) and species composition were investigated in an Inner Mongolia steppe. Low to moderate N addition rate (2, 4, 8 g N m−2 yr−1) significantly enhanced AGB of grasses, while high N addition rate (> 16 g N m−2 yr−1) reduced AGB of forbs, leading to an overall increase in AGB of the community under low to moderate N addition rates. Forb richness was significantly reduced by N addition at rates greater than 8 g N m−2 yr−1, while no effect of N addition on grass richness was observed, resulting in decline in total species richness. N addition depleted base cations (Ca2+, Mg2+ and K+) in soils, reduced soil pH and mobilized Mn2+, Fe3+ and Cu2+ ions in soils. Soil inorganic-N concentration was negatively correlated with forb richness, explaining 27.2% variation of forb richness. The concentrations of base cations (Ca2+ and Mg2+) and metal ions (Mn2+ and Cu2+) showed positively and negatively linear correlation with forb richness, accounting for 25.9 and 41.4% variation of forb richness, respectively. These results reveal that disruption of metal ion homeostasis in soils by N addition, particularly enhanced release of soil Mn2+ and Cu2+ may be associated with reduction in forb richness in temperate steppe of Inner Mongolia.

scholarly journals Disruption of metal ion homeostasis in soils is associated with nitrogen deposition-induced species loss in an Inner Mongolia steppe

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 3499-3512 ◽  
Author(s):  
Q.-Y. Tian ◽  
N.-N. Liu ◽  
W.-M. Bai ◽  
L.-H. Li ◽  
W.-H. Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Inner Mongolia ◽  
Metal Ion ◽  
Ion Homeostasis ◽  
Base Cations ◽  
N Deposition ◽  
Species Loss ◽  
N Addition ◽  
Metal Ion Homeostasis ◽  
Addition Rate

Abstract. Enhanced deposition of atmospheric nitrogen (N) resulting from anthropogenic activities has negative impacts on plant diversity in ecosystems. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the species loss. Ion toxicity due to N deposition-induced soil acidification has been suggested to be responsible for species loss in acidic grasslands, while few studies have evaluated the role of soil-mediated homeostasis of ions in species loss under elevated N deposition in grasslands with neutral or alkaline soils. To determine whether soil-mediated processes are involved in changes in biodiversity induced by N deposition, the effects of 9-year N addition on soil properties, aboveground biomass (AGB) and species richness were investigated in an Inner Mongolia steppe. Low to moderate N addition rate (2, 4, 8 g N m−2 yr−1) significantly enhanced AGB of graminoids, while high N addition rate (≥ 16 g N m−2 yr−1) reduced AGB of forbs, leading to an overall increase in AGB of the community under low to moderate N addition rates. Forb richness was significantly reduced by N addition at rates greater than 8 g N m−2 yr−1, while no effect of N addition on graminoid richness was observed, resulting in decline in total species richness. N addition reduced soil pH, depleted base cations (Ca2+, Mg2+ and K+) and mobilized Mn2+, Fe3+, Cu2+ and Al3+ ions in soils. Soil inorganic-N concentration was negatively correlated with forb richness and biomass, explaining 23.59% variation of forb biomass. The concentrations of base cations (Ca2+ and Mg2+) and metal ions (Mn2+, Cu2+ and, Fe3+) showed positively and negatively linear correlation with forb richness, respectively. Changes in the metal ion concentrations accounted for 42.77% variation of forb richness, while reduction of base cations was not associated with the reduction in forb richness. These results reveal that patterns of plant biodiversity in the temperate steppe of Inner Mongolia are primarily driven by increases in metal ion availability, particularly enhanced release of soil Mn2+.

scholarly journals Testing mechanisms of N-enrichment-induced species loss in a semiarid Inner Mongolia grassland: critical thresholds and implications for long-term ecosystem responses

2012 ◽  
Vol 367 (1606) ◽  
pp. 3125-3134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhichun Lan ◽  
Yongfei Bai
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Rare Species ◽  
Inner Mongolia ◽  
Global Environmental Change ◽  
N Deposition ◽  
Critical Threshold ◽  
Species Loss ◽  
N Addition ◽  
Precipitation Regimes ◽  
N Enrichment

The increase in nutrient availability as a consequence of elevated nitrogen (N) deposition is an important component of global environmental change. This is likely to substantially affect the functioning and provisioning of ecosystem services by drylands, where water and N are often limited. We tested mechanisms of chronic N-enrichment-induced plant species loss in a 10-year field experiment with six levels of N addition rate. Our findings on a semi-arid grassland in Inner Mongolia demonstrated that: (i) species richness (SR) declined by 16 per cent even at low levels of additional N (1.75 g N m –2 yr −1 ), and 50–70% species were excluded from plots which received high N input (10.5–28 g N m −2 yr −1 ); (ii) the responses of SR and above-ground biomass (AGB) to N were greater in wet years than dry years; (iii) N addition increased the inter-annual variations in AGB, reduced the drought resistance of production and hence diminished ecosystem stability; (iv) the critical threshold for chronic N-enrichment-induced reduction in SR differed between common and rare species, and increased over the time of the experiment owing to the loss of the more sensitive species. These results clearly indicate that both abundance and functional trait-based mechanisms operate simultaneously on N-induced species loss. The low initial abundance and low above-ground competitive ability may be attributable to the loss of rare species. However, shift from below-ground competition to above-ground competition and recruitment limitation are likely to be the key mechanisms for the loss of abundant species, with soil acidification being less important. Our results have important implications for understanding the impacts of N deposition and global climatic change (e.g. change in precipitation regimes) on biodiversity and ecosystem services of the Inner Mongolian grassland and beyond.

scholarly journals Zinc limitation in Klebsiella pneumoniae profiled by quantitative proteomics influences transcriptional regulation and cation transporter-associated capsule production

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Sukumaran ◽  
S. Pladwig ◽  
J. Geddes-McAlister
Keyword(s):  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
Metal Ion ◽  
Ion Homeostasis ◽  
Cellular Protein ◽  
Pcr Analysis ◽  
Phenotypic Analysis ◽  
Metal Ion Homeostasis ◽  
Capsule Production ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Microbial organisms encounter a variety of environmental conditions, including changes to metal ion availability. Metal ions play an important role in many biological processes for growth and survival. As such, microbes alter their cellular protein levels and secretion patterns in adaptation to a changing environment. This study focuses on Klebsiella pneumoniae, an opportunistic bacterium responsible for nosocomial infections. By using K. pneumoniae, we aim to determine how a nutrient-limited environment (e.g., zinc depletion) modulates the cellular proteome and secretome of the bacterium. By testing virulence in vitro, we provide novel insight into bacterial responses to limited environments in the presence of the host. Results Analysis of intra- and extracellular changes identified 2380 proteins from the total cellular proteome (cell pellet) and 246 secreted proteins (supernatant). Specifically, HutC, a repressor of the histidine utilization operon, showed significantly increased abundance under zinc-replete conditions, which coincided with an expected reduction in expression of genes within the hut operon from our validating qRT-PCR analysis. Additionally, we characterized a putative cation transport regulator, ChaB that showed significantly higher abundance under zinc-replete vs. -limited conditions, suggesting a role in metal ion homeostasis. Phenotypic analysis of a chaB deletion strain demonstrated a reduction in capsule production, zinc-dependent growth and ion utilization, and reduced virulence when compared to the wild-type strain. Conclusions This is first study to comprehensively profile the impact of zinc availability on the proteome and secretome of K. pneumoniae and uncover a novel connection between zinc transport and capsule production in the bacterial system.

scholarly journals Metallothionein: A Multifunctional Protein from Toxicity to Cancer

2003 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 162-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.E. Theocharis ◽  
A.P. Margeli ◽  
A. Koutselinis
Keyword(s):  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Metal Ion ◽  
Defense Mechanisms ◽  
Ion Homeostasis ◽  
Low Molecular Weight ◽  
Multifunctional Protein ◽  
Metal Ion Homeostasis ◽  
Potential Marker ◽  
Proliferation And Apoptosis ◽  
Carcinogenic Process

The metallothionein (MT) family is a class of low molecular weight, intracellular and cysteine-rich proteins presenting high affinity for metal ions. Although the members of this family were discovered nearly 40 years ago, their functional significance remains obscure. Four major MT isoforms, MT-1, MT-2, MT-3 and MT-4, have been identified in mammals. MTs are involved in many pathophysiological processes such as metal ion homeostasis and detoxification, protection against oxidative damage, cell proliferation and apoptosis, chemoresistance and radiotherapy resistance. MT isoforms have been shown to be involved in several aspects of the carcinogenic process, cancer development and progression. MT expression has been implicated as a transient response to any form of stress or injury providing cytoprotective action. Although MT participates in the carcinogenic process, its use as a potential marker of tumor differentiation or cell proliferation, or as a predictor of poor prognosis remains unclear. In the present review the involvement of MT in defense mechanisms to toxicity and in carcinogenicity is discussed.

scholarly journals The novel ECF56 SigG1-RsfG system modulates morphological differentiation and metal-ion homeostasis in Streptomyces tsukubaensis

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rute Oliveira ◽  
Matthew J. Bush ◽  
Sílvia Pires ◽  
Govind Chandra ◽  
Delia Casas-Pastor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Metal Ion ◽  
Ion Homeostasis ◽  
Morphological Differentiation ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Copper Trafficking ◽  
Streptomyces Tsukubaensis ◽  
Metal Ion Homeostasis ◽  
Σ Factor ◽  
Domain Organisation

AbstractExtracytoplasmic function (ECF) sigma factors are key transcriptional regulators that prokaryotes have evolved to respond to environmental challenges. Streptomyces tsukubaensis harbours 42 ECFs to reprogram stress-responsive gene expression. Among them, SigG1 features a minimal conserved ECF σ2–σ4 architecture and an additional C-terminal extension that encodes a SnoaL_2 domain, which is characteristic for ECF σ factors of group ECF56. Although proteins with such domain organisation are widely found among Actinobacteria, the functional role of ECFs with a fused SnoaL_2 domain remains unknown. Our results show that in addition to predicted self-regulatory intramolecular amino acid interactions between the SnoaL_2 domain and the ECF core, SigG1 activity is controlled by the cognate anti-sigma protein RsfG, encoded by a co-transcribed sigG1-neighbouring gene. Characterisation of ∆sigG1 and ∆rsfG strains combined with RNA-seq and ChIP-seq experiments, suggests the involvement of SigG1 in the morphological differentiation programme of S. tsukubaensis. SigG1 regulates the expression of alanine dehydrogenase, ald and the WhiB-like regulator, wblC required for differentiation, in addition to iron and copper trafficking systems. Overall, our work establishes a model in which the activity of a σ factor of group ECF56, regulates morphogenesis and metal-ions homeostasis during development to ensure the timely progression of multicellular differentiation.

scholarly journals The Balance between Life and Death of Cells: Roles of Metallothioneins

2006 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 117727190600100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allan Evald Nielsen ◽  
Adam Bohr ◽  
Milena Penkowa
Keyword(s):  
Metal Ion ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Energy Levels ◽  
Ion Homeostasis ◽  
Cellular Survival ◽  
Life And Death ◽  
Cellular Energy ◽  
Metal Ion Homeostasis ◽  
Pathological Conditions ◽  
Cysteine Rich Protein

Metallothionein (MT) is a highly conserved, low-molecular-weight, cysteine-rich protein that occurs in 4 isoforms (MT-I to MT-IV), of which MT-I+II are the major and best characterized proteins. This review will focus on mammalian MT-I+II and their functional impact upon cellular survival and death, as seen in two rather contrasting pathological conditions: Neurodegeneration and neoplasms. MT-I+II have analogous functions including: 1) Antioxidant scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS); 2) Cytoprotection against degeneration and apoptosis; 3) Stimulation of cell growth and repair including angiogenesis/revascularization, activation of stem/progenitor cells, and neuroregeneration. Thereby, MT-I+II mediate neuroprotection, CNS restoration and clinical recovery during neurodegenerative disorders. Due to the promotion of cell survival, increased MT-I+II levels have been associated with poor tumor prognosis, although the data are less clear and direct causative roles of MT-I+II in oncogenesis remain to be identified. The MT-I+II molecular mechanisms of actions are not fully elucidated. However, their role in metal ion homeostasis might be fundamental in controlling Zn-dependent transcription factors, protein synthesis, cellular energy levels/metabolism and cell redox state. Here, the neuroprotective and regenerative functions of MT-I+II are reviewed, and the presumed link to oncogenesis is critically perused.

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