• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.194-202
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• 1975

This study was conducted to study the properties of the water-soluble natural chelating agents from garbage compost and activated sewage sludge responsible for Fe chelation, which is closely associated with the effectiveness in correcting iron chlorosis in plant. The water-soluble fraction of these materials was fractionated by menas of Sephadex gel filtration and the fractions of Fe chehates were traced by radioactive $^{59}Fe$. The fractions were examined by ultraviolet and infrared. spectroscopy and stability constants for Fe. The water-soluble fraction from garbage compost was separated by Sephadex G-25 into approximately four fractions. Most of the added $^{59}Fe$ was associated with fraction I, which appeared at the void volume. Further fractionation by Sephadex G-50 indicated that the molecular weight of water-soluble chelating agents is in the approximate range of 5000 to 10,000. The water-soluble fraction from activated sewage sludge gave six fractions by Sephadex G-25. Most of the added $^{59}Fe$ was found in the fraction I,II, and III, The molecular weights of most chelating agents associated with $^{59}Fe$ appeared to be less than 5,000 and those of fraction I that appeared at the void volume was in the range of 5,000 to 1,000. Discrepancy between radio activity count and UV absorption indicated the heterogeneity of the fractions obtained by Sephadex gel filtration. Ultraviolet absorption spectra of all fractions separated by Sephadex G-25 and containing chelating agents showed no differences. Fraction IV and V of sewage extract showed absorption maxima and shifting similar to nucleic acid components suggesting the presence of decomposition products of nucleic acid. Similarity fraction VI contained phenolic type amino acid groups. Fraction I of compost extract contained most of the added $^{59}Fe$ and showed weak but extra definite absorption in the 1230, and $1270cm^{-1}$ region, suggesting that extra oxygen groups in polyphenolic structure were probably involved in Fe chelation. In sewage extract, fraction I,II, and III in which most of the $^{59}Fe$ was found, showed strong definite polypeptide absorption in the region of $1540cm^{-1}$ due to NH deformation and C-N stretching of amide groups in the peptidebond. These extra functional groups in fraction I, II, and III appeared to be associated with Fe chelation. The other fractions, not associated with $^{59}Fe$, still have carboxyl and hydroxyl groups, suggesting that these functional groups in these water extracts may not independently form the Fe chelates. Precipitation of ferric hydroxide precluded measuring the stability constants for Fe-chelates. However, the formation constants for Zn chelates as log K values for compost extract and sewage extract at pH 4.0 from which the strength of chelation with Fe could be presumed, were 8.23, and 9.75, respectively, indicating strong complexation with metals. The chelating capacity of compost extract containing 6.5 g organic matter per liter was 0.82 mM, and that of sewage extract containing 5.3 g per liter was 0. 64 mM.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.27-36
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• 1981

Relatively little has been done on the metabolic changes of the lung produced by the excessive alcohol ingestion to the point of the acute alcohol intoxication. In the present study, an effort was made to clarify the possible changes of the pulmonary surfactant system by the acute alcohol ingestion. The dynamic pulmonary compliance and the levels of protein and inorganic phosphorus (Pi) of both lung lavage and extract were chosen as the parameters of the pulmonary surfactant activities. The albino rats of both sexes were used, and 1.5 ml of 50% ethanol per 100 g body weight was given by oral intubation, and the experiment was performed at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 hours after the alcohol ingestion. The rat was sacrificed by cutting the carotid arteries, and blood sample for the determination of hematocrit(Hct) and the blood alcohol concentration was obtained. Both lungs were completely removed without dammage to the lung tissue, and the pulmonary compliance was measured by the changes of pressure-volume(P-V) curves by inflating or deflating the lung with air. Immediately after the P-V curves were recorded, the lung lavage was obtained by washing the lobes with 15ml of isotonic saline 3 times with a syringe. Next, total lungs were homogenized and filtered to obtain the lung extract. The protein and Pi levels were measured using the lung lavage and extract as the samples, and the lung/body weight ratio(L/B ratio) was also calculated. The results thus obtained were compared with the normal values and summarized as follows. The blood alcohol concentration reached the highest level of $0.71{\pm}0.02\;g\;%$ at 1 hr and gradually decreased until 24 hrs$(0.36{\pm}0.02\;g%)$ after the alcohol ingestion, but all the experimental groups showed significant increase comparing with the normal. The highest Hct value was obtained at 1hr$(64.86{\pm}2.45%)$ and significantly elevated value was continued throughout the experiment. The L/B ratio was significantly lowered from 3hrs until 24hrs after the alcohol ingestion but from 6 th hr on, a generally elevated value was observed with a significant value at 12 hrs and gradual recovery to the normal value at 24 hrs after the alcohol ingestion. The pulmonary compliance at inflation and deflation did not change appreciablly from the normal until 3 hrs after the alcohol ingestion but from 6 th hr on, a generally elevated value was observed with a significant value at 12 hrs and gradual recovery to the normal value at 24 hrs after the alcohol ingestion. The protein level of the lung lavage stowed a significantly increased value of $12.36{\pm}0.35\;mg/gm(3rd hr)$, $12.70{\pm}0.74\;mg/gm(12 th hr)$, and $12.65{\pm}0.88\;mg/gm(24 th hr)$, respectively, comparing with the normal value of $10.65{\pm}0.62\;mg/gm$, and the Pi level also showed a similar tendency of significant increase at 12th hr $(7.65{\pm}0.63\;{\mu}mol/gm)$ and 24 th hr$(6.70{\pm}0.36\;{\mu}mol/gm)$ comparing with the normal value of $5.32{\pm}0.20\;{\mu}mol/gm$. The protein level of the lung extract in the alcohol group was generally similar to the normal value with a slight decrease at 1st and 3 rd hr, tut the Pi level of the lung extract was generally increased in the alcohol group, and a significant increase was observed at 6 th hr$(17.77{\pm}1.54\;{\mu}mol/gm)$, 12 th hr$(13.92{\pm}0.78\;{\mu}mol/gm)$ and 24 th hr$(14.57{\pm}0.53\;{\mu}mol/gm)$ of the alcohol ingestion comparing with the normal value of $10.34{\pm}0.37\;{\mu}mol/gm$. From the above, it may be concluded that the acute alcohol intoxication produces the metabolic changes of the lungs by the increased surfactant activities and elevated pulmonary compliance.