Chain Elongation Using Native Soil Inocula:Exceptional n-Caproate Biosynthesis Performance and Microbial Mechanisms

This study demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of utilizing native soils as a resource for inocula to produce n-caproate through the chain elongation(CE)platform,offering new insights into anaerobic soil processes.The results reveal that all five of the tested soil types exhibit CE activity when supplied with high concentrations of ethanol and acetate,highlighting the suitability of soil as an ideal source for n-caproate production.Compared with anaerobic sludge and pit mud,the native soil CE system exhibited higher selectivity(60.53%),specificity(82.32%),carbon distribution(60.00%),electron transfer efficiency(165.00%),and conductivity(0.59 ms∙cm^(-1)).Kinetic analysis further confirmed the superiority of soil in terms of a shorter lag time and higher yield.A microbial community analysis indicated a positive correlation between the relative abundances of Pseudomonas,Azotobacter,and Clostridium and n-caproate production.Moreover,metagenomics analysis revealed a higher abundance of functional genes in key microbial species,providing direct insights into the pathways involved in n-caproate formation,including in situ CO_(2)utilization,ethanol oxidation,fatty acid biosynthesis(FAB),and reverse beta-oxidation(RBO).The numerous functions in FAB and RBO are primarily associated with Pseudomonas,Clostridium,Rhodococcus,Stenotrophomonas,and Geobacter,suggesting that these genera may play roles that are involved or associated with the CE process.Overall,this innovative inoculation strategy offers an efficient microbial source for n-caproate production,underscoring the importance of considering CE activity in anaerobic soil microbial ecology and holding potential for significant economic and environmental benefits through soil consortia exploration.

揭示氨对正己酸生产影响的机制——影响途径、关键酶和微生物

n-Caproate,which is produced via chain elongation(CE)using waste biomass,can supply various fossilderived products,thus advancing the realization of carbon neutrality.Ammonia released from the degradation of nitrogen-rich waste biomass can act as a nutrient or an inhibitor in anaerobic bioprocesses,including CE,with the distinction being primarily dependent on its concentration.Currently,the optimal concentration of ammonia and the threshold of toxicity for open-culture n-caproate production using ethanol as an electron donor,along with the underlying mechanisms,remain unclear.This study revealed that the optimal concentration of ammonia for n-caproate production was 2.0 g∙L^(-1),whereas concentrations exceeding this threshold markedly suppressed the CE performance.Exploration of the mechanism revealed the involvement of two forms of ammonia(i.e.,ammonium ions and free ammonia)in this inhibitory behavior.High ammonia levels(5.0 g∙L^(-1))induced excessive ethanol oxidation and suppressed the reverse β-oxidation(RBO)process,directly leading to the enhanced activities of enzymes(phosphotransacetylase and acetate kinase)responsible for acetate formation and diminished activities of butyryl-coenzyme A(CoA):acetyl-CoA transferase,caproyl-CoA:butyryl-CoA transferase,and caproyl-CoA:acetyl-CoA transferase that are involved in the syntheses of n-butyrate and n-caproate.Furthermore,the composition of the microbial community shifted from Paraclostridium dominance(at 0.1 g∙L^(-1)ammonia)to a co-dominance of Fermentimonas,Clostridium sensu stricto 12,and Clostridium sensu stricto 15 at 2.0 g∙L^(-1)ammonia.However,these CE-functional bacteria were mostly absent in the presence of excessive ammonia(5.0 g∙L^(-1)ammonia).Metagenomic analysis revealed the upregulation of functions such as RBO,fatty acid synthesis,K^(+)efflux,adenosine triphosphatase(ATPase)metabolism,and metal cation export in the presence of 2.0 g∙L^(-1)ammonia,collectively contributing to enhanced n-caproate production.Conversely,the aforementioned functions(excluding metal cation export)and K^(+)influx were suppressed by excessive ammonia,undermining both ammonia detoxification and n-caproate biosynthesis.The comprehensive elucidation of ammonia-driven mechanisms influencing n-caproate production,as provided in this study,is expected to inspire researchers to devise effective strategies to alleviate ammonia-induced inhibition.

Redox and metabolic regulation of epigenetic modifications:an emerging toxic action mechanism

Epigenetic modifications modulate conformational structure of chromatin and consequently gene expression by enzyme-mediated chemical modifications of DNA and histones.The activities of epigenetic modifying enzymes depend on many co-substrates and cofactors,such as 2-oxoglutarate(2-OG),iron,S-adenosylmethionine(SAM),nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide(NAD+),flavin adenine dinucleotide(FAD),and acetyl-CoA.These factors are inter-connecting molecules that integrate cellular nutrient metabolism and redox homeostasis,two key regulators of cell proliferation,cell survival,and cell functions.Dysregulation of such delicate regulatory network has been implicated in many pathological conditions and also been increasingly recognized as an emerging mechanism responsible for environmental pollutant-induced adverse effects.In this review,we first summarize DNA and histone modifying enzymes and their essential factors,then discuss the metabolic sources and the redox regulatory roles of these enzymatic factors,and finally elaborate the mechanisms of how targeting such factors by environmental pollutants influences epigenetic regulation and perturbs cellular functions.

Optimization of Photo-Hydrogen Production by Immobilized Rhodopseudomonas Faecalis RLD-53

In this work, the optimization of hydrogen production by photo-fermentation bacteria immobilized on agar gel granule was systematic investigated in batch culture. Experiment focus on the effect of some important affecting factors on photo-hydrogen production. Results indicated that immobilized Rhodopseudomonas faecalis RLD-53 exhibited the highest hydrogen yield of 3.15 mol H2/mol acetate under follow optimal condition: agar granule diameter of 2.5 mm, inoculum age of 24 h, agar concentration of 2%, biomass of 4 mg/ml in agar and light intensity of 9000 lux. More importantly, immobilized photo-fermentation bacteria not only can enhance hydrogen production but can increase acids-tolerance capacity, even at pH 5.0 hydrogen also was produced, and thus hopefully immobilized photo-fermentation bacteria can be applied in the combination of dark and photo-fermentation for hydrogen production with high yield.

Carbon quantum dots-based semiconductor preparation methods,applications and mechanisms in environmental contamination

Photocatalyst is the most widespread method in advanced oxidation technologies,but due to the photoinduced electron combine easily with hole and the wavele ngth of adsorption is limited which will affect some practical applications.Carbon quantum dots(CQDs)is non-toxic and harmless green materials,it has the ability to improve the photocatalytic effect which is attributed to its good electrical and optical properties.Their up-conversion effect,photosensitization and electrical conductivity are assistants which help promote the photocatalytic effect in environmental applications.The key mechanisms of CQDs to improve photocatalysis can be roughly divided into three categories:1)Up-conversion effect conve rts the incident light into the emitted light with high ene rgy to solve the problem which is the light absorption range;2)CQDs act as a photosensitizer instead of valence band to provide electrons to the conduction band of semiconductor;3)CQD s can be used as the internal or external electronic conductor in materials to alleviate the trend of electron and hole separation.However,CQDs and CQDs-based photocatalysts have different views to solve environmental problems,so it is necessary to integrate different views.Therefore,this review is mainly aimed at the recent researches about the preparation processes of CQD,CQD s-based photocatalysts,and their ability to remove environmental pollutants,with a special emphasis on the mechanism for depredating pollutants.Furthermore,this paper analyzes and discusses the prospects and challenges of CQDs in the environmental field.

Compared effects of “solid-based” hydrogen peroxide pretreatment on disintegration and properties of waste activated sludge

The effects of two solid-based hydrogen peroxides sodium percarbonate(SPC) and calcium peroxide(CP)on waste activated sludge(WAS) disintegration were investigated. Both oxidants achieved efficient WAS disintegration for the synergistic effect of alkaline and oxidation. The strong alkaline condition led to the leakage of ammonia and the existence of abundant calcium ions accelerated the fixation of phosphorus via precipitation in CP WAS disintegration process. However, the spongy-like layer and low p H condition retarded the release of gaseous ammonia in SPC group. Hydroxyl radical was the main oxygen reactive species in SPC approaches which were more intense than CP by electron spin resonance(ESR) analysis.CP treated WAS contented more small particle size matter and total suspended solids(TSS) increased dramatically. In conclusion, CP pretreated sludge was more suitable for fertilization, while SPC was in favor of anaerobic digestion. This study clarified the differences between these two oxidants and their intermediates on nutrients release in sludge disintegration.