Effect of Ni on aspartataminotransferase activity in Glechoma hederacea leaves subject to digging function by mammals

Abstract

Using simple and highly sensitive methods of biochemical analysis (determination of total enzyme activity of the class transferase and content of water-soluble protein fraction in Glechoma hederacea L. leaves, as response mechanisms of organisms to environmental change) we have detected an environment forming role played by Talpa europaea L. (european mole), through its digging function, studied against the background of anthropogenic Ni pollution with concentrations of 0.2, 1.0 and 2.0 g/m2, which was equivalent to the presence of Ni at 1, 5, 10 times the dose of maximum permissible concentration (MPC). Thus, we discovered the fact of the reduction in total activity of aspartat­aminotransferase (AST) in G. hederacea leaves by 12–65% and concentrations of water-soluble protein fraction by 30–60% relative to control (the area without pollution of Ni and digging activity of mammals). The combined effect of the digging activity of T. europaea and Ni at doses of 5, 10 MAC contributed to the increased activity of the enzyme from 2.3 to 3.0 times (compared with the control in the corresponding concentration Ni). The concentration of water soluble protein fraction under the combined effect of the digging activity and Ni at maximum concentration in G. hederacea leaves was reduced by 2 times (compared with the control in the corresponding concentration Ni), because it was difficult for the system to operate the mechanisms of recovery and normalization function, while at low and medium metal concentration the processes of protein metabolism increased by 11–150%. Вesides, the іnfluence of the digging activity of mammals (Apodemus sylvaticus L., A. flavicollis Melchior, Clethrionomys glareoles Schreber) as our examples under the condition of artificial Ni soil pollution of the Ni polluted soil in the natural humid forest was assessed. Pollutants drastically influence the proteolityc activity of the soil that reflects microorganism’s metabolism. The digging activity of mammals is shown to boost restoration biological activity of the soil, following the impact of pollutants and plays an essential creative role in the homeostasics mechanism in soil ecosystems. At the burrows dug by mammals proteolityc activity (at a depth of 0–30 cm) increases by 1.99 times at a pollution level of 1 MPC Ni concentration, by 1.92 times – at a level of 5 MPC, by 1.90 times – at 10 MPC compared to areas untouched by mammals.

Keywords

• водорозчинна фракція білка
• гранично допустима концентрація
• аспартатамінотрансфераза