Set of Enzymatic Bioassays for Assessment of Soil Contamination.

A concept of the comprehensive assessment of soil contamination is proposed. According to it, the conclusion regarding the presence of toxic substances in the analyzed sample is based on the inhibition of enzymatic reactions responsible for various functions of a living organism, such as luminescence, respiration, etc. These functions are taken as test functions in classical bioassays with the use of living objects (luminous bacteria, daphnia, algae, and others). The regularities of the impact of different classes of toxicants on the activity of particular enzymes or coupled oligo-enzyme chains have been established. These enzyme reactions are selected as potential test objects: markers of contamination. Three enzyme systems with the maximal sensitivity to different classes of toxicants have been chosen for the set of enzymatic bioassays: butyrylcholinesterase, NAD(P)H:FMN-oxidoreductase + luciferase, and lactate dehydrogenase + NAD(P)H:FMN-oxidoreductase + luciferase. The possibility to use enzymes instead of living organisms in the bioassay of natural complex systems has been shown.

[Effect of cobalt and copper complexes with o-phenanthroline on the respiratory activity of mitochondria]. / Vliianie o-fenantrolinovykh kompleksov kobal'ta i medi na okislitel'nuiu aktivnost' mitokhondrii.

The effects of cobalt and copper complexes with o-phenantroline on the respiratory activity of mitochondria from pea sprouts and submitochondrial particles from bovine heart and on the oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria were studied. The catalytic activity of the complexes in several components of the respiratory chain autooxidation reactions was investigated. It was shown that the bis (o-phenantroline) cobalt (II) chloride complex is more active in exidation of NADH. The tris (o-phenantroline) cobolt (III) perchlorate complex stimulates the respiratory activity of mitochondria and submitochondrial particles. Possible localization of the effect of this complex was postulated. The (o-phenantroline) copper chloride complex completely inhibits the succinate-dependent respiration of submitochondrial particles and causes disturbances in oxidative phosphorylation of mitochondria.

[Role of planar cobalt chelate complexes as shunting agents in the electron transport chain of mitochondria]. / Ploskie khelatnye kompleksy kobal'ta kak shuntiruiushchie agenty v elektrontransportnoi tsepi mitokhondrii.

It was shown that planar cobalt chelate complexes catalyze oxidation of NADH and hexahydroubiquinole Q4H2 by air oxygen. The most active agent--perchlorate of the cobalt complex 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19-decamethyloctadehydrocorrin--is capable of shunting the electron transfer chain of rat liver mitochondria and beef heart submitochondrial particles, catalyzing electron transfer from CoQ directly to the oxygen.