The Functions of Metallothionein and ZIP and ZnT Transporters: An Overview and Perspective

Around 3000 proteins are thought to bind zinc in vivo, which corresponds to ~10% of the human proteome. Zinc plays a pivotal role as a structural, catalytic, and signaling component that functions in numerous physiological processes. It is more widely used as a structural element in proteins than any other transition metal ion, is a catalytic component of many enzymes, and acts as a cellular signaling mediator. Thus, it is expected that zinc metabolism and homeostasis have sophisticated regulation, and elucidating the underlying molecular basis of this is essential to understanding zinc functions in cellular physiology and pathogenesis. In recent decades, an increasing amount of evidence has uncovered critical roles of a number of proteins in zinc metabolism and homeostasis through influxing, chelating, sequestrating, coordinating, releasing, and effluxing zinc. Metallothioneins (MT) and Zrt- and Irt-like proteins (ZIP) and Zn transporters (ZnT) are the proteins primarily involved in these processes, and their malfunction has been implicated in a number of inherited diseases such as acrodermatitis enteropathica. The present review updates our current understanding of the biological functions of MTs and ZIP and ZnT transporters from several new perspectives.     

Induction of Nickel Accumulation in Response to Zinc Deficiency in Arabidopsis thaliana

Excessive accumulation of nickel (Ni) can be toxic to plants. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the Fe²⁺ transporter, iron (Fe)-regulated transporter1 (IRT1), mediates Fe uptake and also implicates in Ni²⁺ uptake at roots; however, the underlying mechanism of Ni²⁺ uptake and accumulation remains unelucidated. In the present study, we found that zinc (Zn) deficient conditions resulted in increased accumulation of Ni in plants, particularly in roots, in A. thaliana. In order to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of Ni uptake correlating zinc condition, we traced ⁶³Ni isotope in response to Zn and found that (i) Zn deficiency induces short-term Ni²⁺ absorption and (ii) Zn²⁺ inhibits Ni²⁺ uptake, suggesting competitive uptake between Ni and Zn. Furthermore, the Zrt/Irt-like protein 3 (ZIP3)-defective mutant with an elevated Zn-deficient response exhibited higher Ni accumulation than the wild type, further supporting that the response to Zn deficiency induces Ni accumulation. Previously, expression profile study demonstrated that IRT1 expression is not inducible by Zn deficiency. In the present study, we found increased Ni accumulation in IRT1-null mutant under Zn deficiency in agar culture. These suggest that Zn deficiency induces Ni accumulation in an IRT1-independen manner. The present study revealed that Ni accumulation is inducible in response to Zn deficiency, which may be attributable to a Zn uptake transporter induced by Zn deficiency.     

Normal and anomalous codeposition of Zn–Ni alloys from chloride bath

The codeposition of Zn–Ni alloys from chloride bath has been studied by means of potentiostatic electrodeposition in the potential range –700 to –1100mV vs Ag/AgCl, where both normal and anomalous codeposition occurs. Deposition of alloys of different composition, morphology and structure, depending on the cathodic potential, was found. Analysis of the partial current densities showed that the production of nickel rich alloys in the potential range –700 to –900mV is due to the underpotential reduction of zinc, driven by nickel ion discharge. Morphological and microstructural analyses showed that these alloys have the face-centred-cubic structure of nickel ( phase) and that the addition of zinc in the nickel lattice causes internal stresses in the deposits, which are prevalently amorphous. At potentials more negative than –910mV, corresponding to the equilibrium potential of the zinc rich phase deposition, the rate of deposition of the phase decreases and the further increase in deposit zinc content leads to the formation of the phase, with a decrease in internal stress. In this range of potential, zinc and nickel reduction can occur separately, according to their respective exchange current densities.     

Asymmetric Dimethylarginine Plasma Levels and Endothelial Function in Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetic Patients

It is now well established that major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) impact upon endothelial function by decreasing nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous analog of l-arginine, is able to inhibit the activity of endothelial-NO synthase, promoting endothelial dysfunction. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is characterized by a reduced endothelium-dependent vasodilation and increased ADMA levels and ADMA is strongly associated with micro- and macrovascular diabetic complications. However, there are not a lot of data about the role of ADMA on endothelial function in newly diagnosed T2D patients without cardiovascular (CV) complications. For this aim, we have enrolled forty-five newly diagnosed T2D patients, evaluated by a oral glucose tolerance test, and thirty normal subjects. Endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilatation was investigated by intra-arterial infusion of increasing doses of acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside. ADMA was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography and insulin resistance (IR) by HOMA. Newly diagnosed T2D patients showed higher ADMA and l-arginine mean values in comparison with normal subjects and a significantly reduced ACh-stimulated forearm blood flow (FBF). In T2D patients FBF was significantly and inversely correlated with ADMA (r = −0.524, p < 0.0001) and in a multivariate regression analysis, ADMA resulted the stronger predictor of FBF, explaining the 27.5% of variability (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, ADMA was strongly related to endothelial dysfunction also in patients with newly diagnosed T2D, without clinically manifest vascular complications. This field is of great interest for understanding the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of diabetic disease and its CV complications.     

沙格列汀的合成

以金刚烷乙酸为起始原料,经溴代、混酸氧化、氨解、氨基Boc保护以及(1R,2S)-2-氨基-1,2-二苯基乙醇拆分得到(S)-N-叔丁氧羰基-3-羟基-1-金刚烷甘氨酸,之后再与(1S,3S,5S)-2-氮杂二环[3.1.0]己烷-3-甲酰胺对甲苯磺酸盐在HATU条件下缩合得到N-[(1S)-2-[(1S,3S,5S)-3-氨甲酰基-2-氮杂双环[3.1.0]己烷-2-基]-1-(3-羟基-1-金刚烷)-2-氧代乙基]氨基甲酸叔丁酯,最后经酰胺脱水、氨基脱保护反应得到沙格列汀,总收率为16.1%,纯度为99.8%,e.e.99.9%。     

代镍节镍工艺评述

随着镍价格的上涨,各种代镍节镍工艺应运而生。对生产中使用的各种代镍、节镍工艺包括钢铁件浸镀铜,无氰碱铜,电镀铜锡合金、镍铁合金,纳米镀镍,薄层亮镍和用锌或锌合金打底镀装饰铬等进行了评述。介绍了一些镀薄镍后封闭的方法。     

Combined electrochemical and biological treatment of industrial wastewater using porous electrodes

Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺ and propylene glycol methyl ether were simultaneously removed from simulated wastewater in a column consisting of an aerated packed bed and an electrochemical cell with a porous aluminium foam cathode and a porous stainless steel anode. After 48 h of sole electrochemical treatment at a liquid rate of 0.00183 m³ m^?2 s^?1, Zn²⁺ and Ni²⁺ were reduced by 95 and 80% respectively. In the turbulent flow regime with liquid rates varied from 0.0137 to 0.0366 m³ m^?2 s^?1, both Zn²⁺ and Ni²⁺ removal decreased by about 15% rather than increased as expected for a mass transfer‐controlled process. This can be attributed to bubble formation at the cathode surface under turbulent flow, which led to a lower active surface area for the electrodeposition of metal ions. Porous electrodes enhanced the metal removal by 17 and 60% for Zn²⁺ and Ni²⁺ respectively as compared with flat plate electrodes. Using combined biological and electrochemical treatment at a water rate of 0.00183 m³ m^?2 s^?1 and an air rate of 0.0518 m³ m^?2 s^?1, 99% of Zn²⁺ and 95% of Ni²⁺ were removed. In addition, the 5 day biological oxygen demand (BOD₅) was reduced by 58% concurrently over 72 h of treatment. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

电镀锌-镍合金工艺探讨

为实现轿车国产化,对轿车部分耐蚀零件提出了电镀锌－镍合金的要求。使用弱酸性锌－镍合金镀液后,能获得外观光亮、结合力良好、耐蚀性高的含镍量在１３％左右的锌－镍合金镀层,并对锌－镍合金镀液性能和镀层进行了测试,满足了第一汽车集团公司－大众公司锌－镍合金技术标准的要求。     

黑镍镀液中镍(Ⅱ)、锌(Ⅱ)及硫氰酸钾的快速分析

介绍了一种黑镍镀液中氯化镍、氯化锌和硫氰酸钾含量的快速分析方法:用分光光度法测定氯化镍和硫氰酸钾的含量;用标准EDTA溶液滴定法测定镍锌总量;氯化锌的含量则由镍锌总量扣除镍的含量后获得.该方法的回收率高(NiCl295.0%,KSCN 96.8%,ZnCl292.9%),操作简便,快速、准确.     

动态血糖监测系统在2型糖尿病患者中的应用

目的探讨不同治疗方式后血糖波动的特点。方法根据糖化血红蛋白(HbA1c)及病程,将抽样对象分为格列美脲(A)组、胰岛素皮下注射(B)组及胰岛素泵(C)组,3组患者血糖控制至目标值即开始进行72h动态血糖监测,根据监测结果调整治疗及饮食。结果 A组的病程、HbA1c及空腹C肽水平明显高于其他2组,其余各项基线资料3组均具有较好的可比性。各组平均血糖值几乎相等;A组低血糖的发生率最低,接近零;B组低血糖的发生率明显高于C组,回归分析显示,B组血糖的波动与晚餐后2h血糖成线性回归关系。结论根据动态血糖监测及双C治疗方案调整降糖药物及饮食规律,可更高效率、更安全地强化血糖控制。     

酸性锌镍合金电镀工艺参数对镀层镍含量的影响

研究了采用弱酸性氯化物体系电镀锌镍合金时镀液的镍锌比、温度、氯化铵含量,以及阴极电流密度、电镀方式等工艺参数对镀层镍含量的影响.结果表明,镀液镍锌比、温度、阴极电流密度对镀层镍含量影响较明显,氯化铵含量及磁力搅拌对镀层镍含量几乎无影响,采用脉冲电镀可以显著提高镀层镍含量.     

Salivary proteins associated with periodontitis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

The objective of this study was to investigate the salivary proteins that are associated with periodontitis in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Volunteers for the study were patients from the Diabetic Unit, University of Malaya Medical Centre, whose periodontal status was determined. The diabetic volunteers were divided into two groups, i.e., patients with periodontitis and those who were periodontally healthy. Saliva samples were collected and treated with 10% TCA/acetone/20 mM DTT to precipitate the proteins, which were then separated using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Gel images were scanned using the GS-800(TM) Calibrated Densitometer. The protein spots were analyzed and expressed in percentage volumes. The percentage volume of each protein spot was subjected to Mann-Whitney statistical analysis using SPSS software and false discovery rate correction. When the expression of the salivary proteins was compared between the T2DM patients with periodontitis with those who were periodontally healthy, seven proteins, including polymeric immunoglobulin receptor, plastin-2, actin related protein 3, leukocyte elastase inhibitor, carbonic anhydrases 6, immunoglobulin J and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, were found to be differentially expressed (p < 0.01304). This implies that the proteins may have the potential to be used as biomarkers for the prediction of T2DM patients who may be prone to periodontitis.