The research work investigates the metal uptake of the plantsLycopersicon esculentum(tomato),Rumex acetosa(sorrel), andSolanum melongena(garden egg) collected from experimental sites and a control area in Zaria, Nigeria. The concentrations of Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, Mn, and Zn in different parts of each of the plant species grown on the experimental and control soils were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The experimental levels of the metals were higher than those at the control site and the limits recommended by Food and Agricultural Organisation/World Health Organisation (FAO/WHO).Solanum melongenashowed bioaccumulation factor (BF) and transfer factor (TF) greater than 1 for Cd, Pb, and Mn;Rumex acetosashowed BF and TF greater than 1 for Mn and Zn, and TF was greater than 1 for Cu and Fe;Lycopersicon esculentumhad only the TF for Fe, Pb, Mn, and Zn greater than 1. This results implies thatSolanum melongenaandRumex acetosaplants can be effectively used for phytoremediation of Cd, Pb, Mn, and Zn from the dumpsite. Pearson’s correlation coefficient values(r)were greater than 0.75 for all the metals studied which indicated that the high metal level in the experimental soil was a result of the metal-scrap.
Cytochrome P450s (P450ome) constitute an extended superfamily group of heme-thiolate enzymes identified in all biological domains. P450omes play a critical role in the oxidation of steroids and fatty acids, xenobiotic degradation of hydrophobic compounds, biosynthesis of hormones, and primary and secondary metabolism in organisms. Aspergillus species are among the most economically important fungal organisms in human medicine, industry, and agriculture worldwide. Exploring insight on the genome-wide annotations of cytochrome P450s in Aspergillus species is necessary for their biosynthetic applications. In this present study, we report the identification of 306 cytochrome P450s and their robust profiling in eight notable Aspergillus species (A. carbonarius, A. clavatus, A. flavus, A. fumigatus, A. nidulans, A. niger, A. oryzae, and A. terreus). Based on the evolutionary relationship, the Aspergillus P450s families clustered into 15 clades, with clades V, I, and XIII recording higher percentages (17.3%, 15.00%, and 14.71%, respectively) of Cyp families. Cyps were classified into 120 families 64 clans, and their putative functions were also elucidated. P450s were predicted to be located in 13 subcellular components, but the endoplasm reticulum was the dominant location across the eight Aspergillus species. Cyps genes of Aspergillus species were associated with seven secondary metabolism-related gene clusters. Elucidating the genome-wide annotations of P450s enzymes in Aspergillus species will form vital potential biotechnological tools that could be harnessed for industrial, pharmaceutical, and agricultural use.
Cytochrome P450s are a group of monooxygenase enzymes involved in primary, secondary and xenobiotic metabolisms. They have a wide application in the agriculture sector where they could serve as a target for herbicides or fungicides, while they could function in the pharmaceutical industry as drugs or drugs structures or for bioconversions. Alternaria species are among the most commonly encountered fungal genera, with most of them living as saprophytes in different habitats, while others are parasites of plants and animals. This study was conducted to elucidate the diversity and abundance, evolutionary relationships and cellular localization of 372 cytochrome P450 in 13 Alternaria species. The 372 CYP proteins were phylogenetically clustered into ten clades. Forty (40) clans and seventy-one (71) cyp families were identified, of which eleven (11) families were found to appear in one species each. The majority of the CYP proteins were located in the endomembrane system. Polyketide synthase (PKS) gene cluster was the predominant secondary metabolic-related gene cluster in all the Alternaria species studied, except in A. porriof, where non-ribosomal peptide synthetase genes were dominant. This study reveals the expansion of cyps in these fungal genera, evident in the family and clan expansions, which is usually associated with the evolution of fungal characteristics, especially their lifestyle either as parasites or saprophytes, with the ability to metabolize a wide spectrum of substrates. This study can be used to understand the biology, physiology and toxigenic potentials of P450 in these fungal genera.
known as bushmint (due to their aromatic nature of their leaves), they are widespread in tropical North and South America, as well as parts of West Africa. 4 However, studies have shown that the genus of this plant contain some major bioactive compounds among which are saponin glycosides, alkaloids and flavonoids. 5 Also, the antibacterial activity of the essential oil of Hyptis suoevulens was reported on S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, E. coli and P. multocida. 6 Crops are naturally infested with fungi during drying, processing, transportation and subsequent storage and it may be difficult to completely prevent mycotoxins formation in contaminated commodities, particularly those that are produced in tropical and subtropical climates, in countries where high temperature and humidity promote the growth and proliferation of fungi. 7 Thus, they are often colonized by fungi, including species from the genus Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium, which cause significant reductions in crop yield, quality and safety due to their ability to produce mycotoxins. 8 Chemical control of most of fungal diseases of plants may be available and could extensively reduce the impact of plant diseases, but field application of synthetic fungicides may not always be desirable. During the last decades, there has been a global awareness that excessive and improper use of chemical fungicides is hazardous to the health of humans and animals. Therefore, an extensive research for environmentally safe and easily biodegradable bio-fungicides is being carried out. Furthermore, these compounds are natural in origin, have minimum adverse effects on the physiological processes of plants and are easily converted into common eco-friendly organic materials. 9 Plant extracts, essential oils, gums, resins, etc. have been shown to exert biological activity against plant fungal pathogens in vitro and in
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