The toxicity and bioavailability of a mixture of 13 sediment-associated chlorinated hydrocarbons were determined for the amphipod Pontoporeia hoyi. The processes were traced with two radiolabeled compounds, '4C-2,2',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (2244TCB) and 3H-benzo(a)pyrene (BaP). The toxicity of the chlorinated hydrocarbon mixture resulted primarily from the lindane and dieldrin components. The ...

Huge amounts of coal fly ash (FA), produced during power generation, has led to several environmental problems associated with metal pollution and the burden of its disposal. Vermicomposting has emerged as a cost-effective technique in suitable management of FA. Two epigeic earthworm species: Eisenia fetida, and Eudrilus eugeniae and one epi-endogeic species: Lumbricus rubellus were selected fo...

Barrier to autointegration factor (BAF) is an essential component of the nuclear lamina that binds lamins, LEM-domain proteins, histones, and DNA. Under normal conditions, BAF protein is highly mobile when assayed by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching and fluorescence loss in photobleaching. We report that Caenorhabditis elegans BAF-1 mobility is regulated by caloric restriction, food d...

N uclear assembly happens every cell division. So it's no surprise that nuclear assembly factors are overworked during embryogenesis, when proliferation is maximal. But there's no rest for one weary factor, called BAF-1, who has many jobs left to do even when embryogenesis is over, report Margalit et al. on page 661. BAF-1 is enriched at the nuclear periphery and is required for the capture of ...

Nickel (Ni) is an essential nutrient for animals and it has important role in many physiological biochemical processes higher plants. At the same time, belongs to group of potentially toxic elements (PTEs). The aim this study determine Ni concentrations soil-plant relationships between main crops agricultural land Central Serbia. A total 71 bulked soil samples are taken from topsoil at depth 0-...

Barrier-to-autointegration factor (BAF) is potentially a DNA-bridging protein, which directly associates with inner nuclear membrane proteins carrying LEM domains. These features point to a key role in regulation of nuclear function and organization, dependent on interactions between the nuclear envelope and chromatin. To understand the functions of BAF in vivo, Drosophila baf null mutants gene...

The present study quantifies and explains the differences between measured organ-specific polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) accumulation and elimination kinetics in seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) comparing these results with calculations using the generic model OMEGA. Specimens of approximately 250 g were selected and fed with food contaminated with PCBs 18, 44, 49, 52, 101, 105, 118, 138, 180 a...

Loss of emerin, a lamin-binding nuclear membrane protein, causes Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy. We analyzed 13 site-directed mutations, and four disease-causing mutations that do not disrupt emerin stability or localization. We show that emerin binds directly to barrier-to-autointegration factor (BAF), a DNA-bridging protein, and that this binding to BAF requires conserved residues in the L...

The vaccinia-related kinases (VRKs) comprise a branch of the casein kinase family whose members are characterized by homology to the vaccinia virus B1 kinase. The VRK orthologues encoded by Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster play an essential role in cell division; however, substrates that mediate this role have yet to be elucidated. VRK1 can complement the temperature sensitivi...

The present work aims to evaluate seasonal metal pollution along Greater Cairo sector of the River Nile, Egypt, using wild Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, as bioindicator and to conduct a risk assessment for human consumers. Greater Cairo is the largest populated area along the whole course of River Nile with a wide range of anthropogenic activities. Effects of metal pollution on fish body...