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Transpositional competence and transcription of endogenous Ty elements in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: implications for regulation of transposition.

Transposition of Ty elements in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae occurs through an RNA intermediate. Although Ty RNA accounts for 5 to 10% of the total polyadenylated RNA in a haploid cell, the transposition frequency is only 10(-7) to 10(-8) per gene. To determine whether Ty elements native to the yeast genome are transpositionally competent, two elements were fused to the GAL1 promoter and tested for their ability to transpose. These native elements, Ty1-588 and Ty2-117, transposed at high levels when the GAL1 promoter was induced. Three Ty's identified as spontaneous transpositions in specific target genes were also tested. Of these three, Ty2-917 and the previously characterized element Ty1-H3 were shown to be transpositionally competent. The third element, Ty1-H1, was transposition defective. In addition, we marked the chromosomal copy of Ty1-588 with the NEO gene and demonstrated that Ty1-588NEO was actively transcribed in yeast cells. Ty1-588NEO transcription was regulated by the SPT3 and MAT loci in the same manner as that observed for Ty's collectively. These results indicate that the yeast genome contains functional Ty elements. The presence of a transpositionally competent, actively transcribed element suggests that regulation of Ty transposition occurs at a posttranscriptional level.

DNA Transposable Elements↗

Mass concentration and elemental composition of PM10 in classrooms.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the sources of high concentrations of particles of < 10 microns diameter (PM10) in classrooms, observed in a previous study on childhood exposure to PM10, and to study the correlation between classroom and outdoor concentrations of mass and elements of PM10. METHODS: Measurements of PM10 were conducted in two schools and outdoors in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Averaging time was 24 hours for the outdoor measurements and both 8 hours (school time) and 24 hours for the classroom measurements. Analysis by x ray fluorescence was used to measure the elemental composition of 55 samples from the 11 days when measurements were conducted simultaneously in both classrooms and outdoors. RESULTS: For most elements, classroom concentrations were considerably higher than outdoor concentrations, especially during school hours. The highest classroom/outdoor ratios were found for the elements from soils Si, Ca, and Ti. The only measured elements that were not increased were S, Br, Pb, and Cl, which are dominated by non-crustal sources. For S, Br, and Pb, which are generally associated with particles < 1 micron, significant correlations between classroom and outdoor concentrations and between the two classrooms were found. The other elements generally had low correlations. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that the high PM10 concentrations found in our classrooms are probably due to resuspension of coarse particles or suspension of soil material. Due to these excess coarse particles, the correlation between classroom and outdoor concentrations is lower for elements associated with coarse particles than for elements associated with fine particles. As the general composition of PM10 in classrooms differs from the composition of PM10 in ambient air, the high PM10 mass concentrations in classrooms can probably not be directly compared with ambient air quality guidelines.

Air Pollutants↗

Evolutionarily conserved regions in Caenorhabditis transposable elements deduced by sequence comparison.

In this paper we present the sequence of an intact Caenorhabditis briggsae transposable element, Tcb2. Tcb2 is 1606 base pairs in length and contains 80 base pair imperfect terminal repeats and a single open reading frame. We have identified blocks of T-rich repeats in the regions 150-200 and 1421-1476 of this element which are conserved in the Caenorhabditis elegans element Tc1. The sequence conservation of these regions in elements from different Caenorhabditis species suggests that they are of functional importance. A single open reading frame corresponding to the major open reading frame of Tc1 is conserved among Tc1, Tcb1, and Tcb2. Comparison of the first 550 nucleotides of the sequence among the three elements has allowed the evaluation of a model proposing an extension of the major open reading frame. Our data support the suggestion that Tc1 is capable of producing a 335 amino acid protein. A comparison of the sequence coding for the amino and carboxy termini of the 273 amino acid transposase from Caenorhabditis Tc1-like elements and Drosophila HB1 showed different amounts of divergence for each of these regions, indicating that the two functional domains have undergone different amounts of selection. Our data are not compatible with the proposal that Tc1-related sequences have been acquired via horizontal transmission. The divergence of Tc1 from the two C. briggsae elements, Tcb1 and Tcb2, indicated that all three elements have been diverging from each other for approximately the same amount of time as the genomes of the two species.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Complete analysis of the trace elements of the kidney.

The distribution of trace elements in kidney cortex and medulla and in their subcellular fractions was studied by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). This technology allows the analysis of almost all the elements of the periodic table, along with their isotopes, in the same experiment. Acid digestion of the tissue (samples) was required before ICP-MS elemental analysis. Mineralization in 8 N nitric acid for 2 min in a Parr microwave acid digestion bomb, inside a regular microwave oven working at medium power, gave good sensitivity and reproducible results. Trace element determinations could be precisely performed, despite the presence of a considerable amount of organic matter. Cortex/plasma and medulla/plasma inorganic ratios were taken as indicators of the inorganic bioaccumulation. The highest enrichment factors of elements found in the cortex were Mn greater than Co greater than Tl greater than Zn greater than Rb greater than Mo greater than Cu and the highest element enrichments of the medulla were Tl greater than Mn greater than Co greater than Rb greater than Zn greater than Bi greater than Mo greater than Ni greater than Cu. Subcellular fragmentation of the kidney cortex and medulla indicated that the majority of the trace elements was located in the cytosolic fraction. The membrane fraction of the medulla contained significant amounts of Hg and Al: 120.7 and 32.0 mg/g protein, respectively. Cu and Zn were the most abundant trace elements found in the brush border membrane from the cortex: 120.7 and 68.2 mg/g protein, respectively. These quantities are largely in excess of what is bound, for example, to alkaline phosphatase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Distribution of transposable elements in arthropods.

Transposable elements of the DNA-mediated and RNA-mediated classes found in arthropods are briefly described and their distribution reviewed. The distribution patterns of DNA-mediated elements are extremely patchy and the principal cause appears to be the horizontal transfer of elements between host lineages. In the best documented case of mariner elements, these hosts can be in different orders of insects, classes of arthropods, and even other phyla of animals. RNA-mediated elements appear to undergo much longer periods of vertical evolution within host lineages, and evidence for their horizontal transfer remains scant. The evolutionary relationships of many of these transposons have recently been illuminated by phylogenetic analyses of the reverse-transcriptase enzymes of the RNA-mediated elements, and the recognition that the transposases of some of the DNA-mediated elements are distantly related to in the integrases of some of the RNA-mediated elements.

Animals↗

Experimental spinal cord injury: spatiotemporal characterization of elemental concentrations and water contents in axons and neuroglia.

To examine the role of axonal ion deregulation in acute spinal cord injury (SCI), white matter strips from guinea pig spinal cord were incubated in vitro and were subjected to graded focal compression injury. At several postinjury times, spinal segments were removed from incubation and rapidly frozen. X-ray microanalysis was used to measure percent water and dry weight elemental concentrations (mmol/kg) of Na, P, Cl, K, Ca, and Mg in selected morphological compartments of myelinated axons and neuroglia from spinal cord cryosections. As an index of axon function, compound action potentials (CAP) were measured before compression and at several times thereafter. Axons and mitochondria in epicenter of severely compressed spinal segments exhibited early (5 min) increases in mean Na and decreases in K and Mg concentrations. These elemental changes were correlated to a significant reduction in CAP amplitude. At later postcompression times (15 and 60 min), elemental changes progressed and were accompanied by alterations in compartmental water content and increases in mean Ca. Swollen axons were evident at all postinjury times and were characterized by marked element and water deregulation. Neuroglia and myelin in severely injured epicenter also exhibited significant disruptions. In shoulder areas (adjacent to epicenter) of severely injured spinal strips, axons and mitochondria exhibited modest increases in mean Na in conjunction with decreases in K, Mg, and water content. Following moderate compression injury to spinal strips, epicenter axons exhibited early (10 min postinjury) element and water deregulation that eventually recovered to near control values (60 min postinjury). Na(+) channel blockade by tetrodotoxin (TTX, 1 microM) perfusion initiated 5 min after severe crush diminished both K loss and the accumulation of Na, Cl, and Ca in epicenter axons and neuroglia, whereas in shoulder regions TTX perfusion completely prevented subcellular elemental deregulation. TTX perfusion also reduced Na entry in swollen axons but did not affect K loss or Ca gain. Thus graded compression injury of spinal cord produced subcellular elemental deregulation in axons and neuroglia that correlated with the onset of impaired electrophysiological function and neuropathological alterations. This suggests that the mechanism of acute SCI-induced structural and functional deficits are mediated by disruption of subcellular ion distribution. The ability of TTX to reduce elemental deregulation in compression-injured axons and neuroglia implicates a significant pathophysiological role for Na(+) influx in SCI and suggests Na(+) channel blockade as a pharmacotherapeutic strategy.

Animals↗

Lipid peroxidation of intravenous lipid emulsions and all-in-one admixtures in total parenteral nutrition bags: the influence of trace elements.

An iodometric titration was used to assess the influence of a daily portion of trace elements on lipid peroxidation of pure lipid emulsions and lipid-containing all-in-one (AIO) admixtures by measuring the peroxide value (PV; mmol peroxides/L). A pure lipid emulsion (Intralipid 20%; Pharmacia & Upjohn, Dubendorf, Switzerland) was stored in ethylvinylacetate bags under light protection (LP) at 40 degrees C with and without trace elements. In absence of trace elements the PV of Intralipid 20% was significantly lower (day 14: 2.77 vs 18.04; p < .001). After the same time period with the same storage conditions the drop in pH was two times higher in presence of trace elements (1.54 vs 0.77). In an AIO admixture with LP stored at 2 degrees C to 8 degrees C, trace elements increased the PV from 0.04 to 0.19 mmol/L (day 29; p < .01). The drop in pH was 0.01 and 0.02 units, respectively. When stored at 20 degrees C to 30 degrees C and exposed to daylight, the PV of the AIO admixture containing trace elements reached 1.92 compared with 0.52 in their absence (day 19; p < .001) with a pH drop of 0.03 and 0.11, respectively (day 29). Although trace elements led to a much higher drop in pH in pure lipid emulsions, no obvious influence on the pH of AIO admixtures was demonstrated. To minimize lipid peroxidation, AIO admixtures should be stored light-protected and refrigerated without trace elements. The latter should be added immediately before administration or should be given separately.

Fat Emulsions, Intravenous↗

Scanning sequences after Gibbs sampling to find multiple occurrences of functional elements.

BACKGROUND: Many DNA regulatory elements occur as multiple instances within a target promoter. Gibbs sampling programs for finding DNA regulatory elements de novo can be prohibitively slow in locating all instances of such an element in a sequence set. RESULTS: We describe an improvement to the A-GLAM computer program, which predicts regulatory elements within DNA sequences with Gibbs sampling. The improvement adds an optional "scanning step" after Gibbs sampling. Gibbs sampling produces a position specific scoring matrix (PSSM). The new scanning step resembles an iterative PSI-BLAST search based on the PSSM. First, it assigns an "individual score" to each subsequence of appropriate length within the input sequences using the initial PSSM. Second, it computes an E-value from each individual score, to assess the agreement between the corresponding subsequence and the PSSM. Third, it permits subsequences with E-values falling below a threshold to contribute to the underlying PSSM, which is then updated using the Bayesian calculus. A-GLAM iterates its scanning step to convergence, at which point no new subsequences contribute to the PSSM. After convergence, A-GLAM reports predicted regulatory elements within each sequence in order of increasing E-values, so users have a statistical evaluation of the predicted elements in a convenient presentation. Thus, although the Gibbs sampling step in A-GLAM finds at most one regulatory element per input sequence, the scanning step can now rapidly locate further instances of the element in each sequence. CONCLUSION: Datasets from experiments determining the binding sites of transcription factors were used to evaluate the improvement to A-GLAM. Typically, the datasets included several sequences containing multiple instances of a regulatory motif. The improvements to A-GLAM permitted it to predict the multiple instances.

Animals↗

E-box and cyclic adenosine monophosphate response elements are both required for follicle-stimulating hormone-induced transferrin promoter activation in Sertoli cells.

Sertoli cells are the epithelial cells responsible for the onset of pubertal development and maintenance of spermatogenesis in the adult. Transferrin is one of the major secretory products expressed by differentiated Sertoli cells. Investigation of the transcriptional control of transferrin gene expression provides insight into the regulation of Sertoli cell differentiation. Analysis of the mouse transferrin (mTf) promoter reveals the presence of a number of conserved response elements that have previously been shown to regulate cell specific expression of the human transferrin (hTf) promoter. One of these elements is the human PRII region, which is a cAMP response element (CRE)-like element that is more than 80% conserved in the mTf promoter. The activation of the hTf promoter by FSH and cAMP in rat Sertoli cells has been shown to be mediated in part through the CRE-like PRII region and binding of the CRE binding protein (CREB). The present study investigates the role of PRII in the activation of mTf promoter by FSH and cAMP in rat Sertoli cells. Mutations in the PRII of the mTf promoter reduced FSH activation by only 50% and cAMP activation by more than 90%. In contrast, the mutant PRII mTf promoter construct was fully activated by a partially purified testicular paracrine activity PModS(S300). Gel shift experiments demonstrated that proteins that can bind a consensus CRE oligonucleotide also bind the PRII region of the mTf promoter. An immunoblot confirmed that CREB binds the PRII and promotes the gel shift observed. The hypothesis developed was that another cis-acting element in addition to the CRE-like PRII is also involved in FSH actions. A conserved response element in both the mTf and hTf promoters is the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) responsive E-box sequence. Both FSH and PModS (S300) activity were found to promote a mTf E-box gel shift that contained the E2A gene product the bHLH protein E47. Interestingly, mutations in the E-box of the mTf promoter completely abolished the PModS(S300) activation and partially (52%) inhibited the activation by FSH. In contrast, the mutant E-box mTf promoter construct was fully activated by cAMP. Finally a double mutation of both the PRII and the E-box completely abolished FSH activation of the mTf promoter. These results suggest that optimal activation of the mouse transferrin promoter by FSH requires both CREB binding to the CRE-like PRII region and bHLH binding to the E-box. Information is provided that indicates a number of Sertoli cell promoters contain a close association of E-box and CRE-like elements. Observations are discussed in regards to the potential interactions of the CRE and E-box response elements in mediating FSH actions in Sertoli cells.

Animals↗

New androgen response elements in the murine pem promoter mediate selective transactivation.

The Pem homeobox transcription factor is expressed under androgen control in the testis and epididymis. It is also transcribed in the ovary, muscle, and placenta. The mouse Pem gene promoter was cloned and sequenced. It was analyzed in transactivation tests using CV-1 and PC-3 cells expressing the AR and found to be strongly stimulated by androgens. EMSAs and mutational analysis of the Pem promoter allowed the identification of two functional androgen response elements named ARE-1 and ARE-2. They both differed from the consensus semipalindromic steroid response element and exhibited characteristics of direct repeats of the TGTTCT half-site. Unlike the steroid response element, both Pem androgen response elements were selectively responsive to androgen stimulation. Specific mutations in the left half-site of Pem ARE-1 and ARE-2, but not of the steroid response element, were still compatible with AR binding in the EMSA. In addition, Pem ARE-1, but not ARE-2 or the steroid response element, showed some flexibility with regard to spacing between half-sites. These results strongly suggest that the AR interacts differently with direct repeats than with inverted repeats, potentially leading to cis element-driven selective properties. Thus, the existence of several classes of DNA response elements might be an essential feature of differential androgen regulation.

Androgens↗

Genomic structure of the NtPDR1 gene, harboring the two miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements, NtToya1 and NtStowaway101.

Here we report the genomic structure including the promoter sequence and coding region of NtPDR1 (Nicotiana tabacum Pleiotropic Drug Resistance 1), which is an elicitor-responsive gene encoding an ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporter that might be involved in the defense response in tobacco, as we reported recently. The NtPDR1 gene consists of 20 exons and 19 introns. Among the introns, the first and fifth are much larger than the others and harbor typical miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements (MITEs). One of the MITE elements in the first intron, termed NtToya1, belongs to the Toya family that was recently described in rice, while the other element in the fifth intron, termed NtStowaway101, shows high homology with the Stowaway elements of the IS630-Tc1-mariner family. Many of the genes we found to harbor Toya and Stowaway elements in Nicotiana species by BLAST search are also involved in stress responses or plant-pathogen interactions. The existence of putative cis-elements (a GCC box, three W boxes, and several JA-responsive elements) in the promoter region supports our previous finding that this gene is strongly inducible by elicitation and methyljasmonate, and that this ABC transporter might be essential for plant defense responses. Furthermore, Southern blot analysis and PCR amplification of the introns harboring the MITE-like elements from genomic DNA of three Nicotiana species suggests that NtPDR1 originated from N. sylvestris.

Base Sequence↗

Excision of one of two defective P elements as the cause of alternate mutational events (sn+ and sne) of the singed bristle allele snw in Drosophila melanogaster.

The X-linked singed locus is concerned with the bristle phenotype and female sterility, and is known as a hot spot of P element insertion. A moderate allele of singed, singed-weak (snw) (Engels, 1979; 1984) is inserted with P elements. It is used as an index of P element activity, since it mutates at a high frequency to either a more extreme allele, singed-extreme (sne), or to a phenotype that is equivalent to the wild type (sn+) when an autonomous P element exists. We show here that snw is inserted with two defective P elements in reverse orientation, and the two alternate mutational events (sn+ and sne) are caused by the excision of one or the other of the P elements present in the singed gene. It is interesting that sn+ and sne are inserted with a single P element in the same position, but show very different phenotypes. The insertional sites of P elements in the singed locus possibly contain an unidentified repetitive sequence, which is repeated dozens of times per haploid genome of the wild-type strain Canton-S.

Alleles↗

Analysis of trace elements in the central nerve tissues with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry.

To investigate the roles of various elements in neurological disorders, multi-element analysis of limited quantities of samples in the central nervous system is required. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis suits this requirement, but spectral and non-spectral interferences are inevitable. We studied correction methods for the non-spectral interferences by analyzing signals of 21 elements in various concentrations of HNO3 as well as 5 major elements (Na, K, P, Ca, and Cl). Using internal standards, the interferences caused by the major elements were corrected, but the interferences caused by HNO3 were impossible to correct for the elements with high ionization potentials. Thus, we decided to use a standard addition method to correct these interferences. The spectral interferences on Mn and Fe rising from HNO3 or major elements were compared with the signals of samples. Although the interferences on Mn were negligible, those on Fe were considerable and careful blank subtraction were needed. We measured concentrations of elements in the spinal cord of 4 controls and a patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) using the standard addition method. The concentrations of Mn, Se, Fe, and Zn in the controls were nearly the same as previously reported values, whereas Mn concentrations in the ALS patient were higher.

Adult↗

Trace element chemistry in residual-treated soil: key concepts and metal bioavailability.

Trace element solubility and availability in land-applied residuals is governed by fundamental chemical reactions between metal constituents, soil, and residual components. Iron, aluminum, and manganese oxides; organic matter; and phosphates, carbonates, and sulfides are important sinks for trace elements in soil-residual systems. The pH of the soil-residual system is often the most important chemical property governing trace element sorption, precipitation, solubility, and availability. Trace element phytoavailability in residual-treated soils is often estimated using soil extraction methods. However, spectroscopic studies show that sequential extraction methods may not be accurate in perturbed soil-residual systems. Plant bioassay is the best method to measure the effect of residuals on phytoavailability. Key concepts used to describe phytoavailability are (i) the salt effect, (ii) the plateau effect, and (iii) the soil-plant barrier. Metal availability in soil from metal-salt addition is greater than availability in soil from addition of metal-containing residuals. Plant metal content displays plateaus at high residual loadings corresponding to the residual's metal concentration and sorption capacity. The soil-plant barrier limits transmission of many trace elements through the food chain, although Cd (an important human health concern) can bypass the soil-plant barrier. Results from many studies that support these key concepts provide a basis of our understanding of the relationship between trace element chemistry and phytoavailability in residual-treated soils. Research is needed to (i) determine mechanisms for trace element retention of soil-residual systems, (ii) determine the effect of residuals on ecological receptors and the ability of residuals to reduce ecotoxicity in metal-contaminated soil, and (iii) predict the long-term bioavailability of trace elements in soil-residual systems.

Biological Availability↗

Trace elements in nutrition.

Advances in trace element research over the last decade have done much to elucidate the function of these nutrients at the biochemical level. Five new trace elements have been identified and the general relevance of microelements in human nutrition has undergone reassessment. Deficiencies of iodine, iron and fluorine remain important problems and necessitate supplementation. Suboptimal nutrition in chromium, copper, selenium, zinc and possibly vanadium has been suggested, and these elements are generally acknowledged to be of concern in human nutrition. Genetic factors and other "conditioning" agents have been implicated in the aetiology of a number of trace element deficiencies in apparently well nourished communities. Tissues under anabolic stress have been recognized to be especially sensitive to trace element deficits, and the particular vulnerability of the fetus has been demonstrated on a number of occasions. In practical dietary terms, the loss of microelements during the refining and processing of food has been widely illustrated. Also, the generally lower levels of trace elements in plant material and the lower availability of minerals from these food sources has been well established. Of the newer trace element deficiencies, zinc impoverishment appears to be especially important, as a state of physiological zinc deficiency rapidly follows dietary insufficiency, and the consequences on all growing tissues are particularly serious. In general, recent developments suggest that marginal deficiencies of microelements are more widespread in human nutrition than was previously appreciated. Greater attention to trace element status seems to be indicated in circumstances in which physical condition and vigour are unaccountably poor and especially in situations accompanied by active anabolism.

Animals↗

Functional characterization of transcriptional regulatory elements in the upstream region of the yeast GLK1 gene.

The glucokinase gene GLK1 of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is transcriptionally regulated in response to the carbon source of the growth medium. Northern-blot analysis shows that the GLK1 gene is expressed at a basal level in the presence of glucose, de-repressed more than 6-fold under conditions of sugar limitation and more than 25-fold under conditions of ethanol induction. lacZ fusions of the GLK1 gene promoter were constructed and a deletion analysis was performed in order to identify the cis-acting regulatory elements of the promoter that controls GLK1 gene expression. First, the expression seemed to be mediated mainly by one GCR1 and three stress-responsive element (STRE) activating elements. Secondly, an ethanol repression autoregulation (ERA)/twelve-fold TA repeat (TAB) repressor element was identified within the promoter region of the GLK1 gene. A specific and differential protein binding to the STRE was observed with extracts from de-repressed and repressed cells. No differential binding to the GCR1 or ERA/TAB elements was observed with extracts from de-repressed and repressed cells, but, in both cases, the binding was competed for by an excess of the unlabelled GLK1(GCR1) and GLK1(ERA) sequence. The transcription factors Msn2 and Msn4, which bind to the GLK1 upstream region through the STRE, contribute to inductive activation. The transcription factor Gcr1, which binds through the GCR1 element, contributes to constitutive activation. In order to achieve the severe glucose repression of GLK1, constitutive repressor factors acting through the ERA/TAB element must counteract constitutive activation generated by Gcr1 binding to the GCR1 element. Full expression of the GLK1 gene is produced by inductive activation of three STRE when Msn2 and Msn4 proteins are translocated to the nucleus by covalent modification. The combinatorial effect of the entire region leads to the regulated transcription of GLK1, i.e., silent in media with glucose and other preferred carbon sources, such as fructose or mannose, and increased levels of expression upon glucose depletion.

Base Sequence↗

[Dietary intake of trace elements in the general population, estimated from a regional nutritional survey, and comparison with recommended dietary allowances and tolerable upper intake levels].

OBJECTIVES: Dietary intake by the general population of trace elements related to human health is not well known. Therefore, values for zinc, copper, manganese, chromium, selenium, molybdenum, cobalt and aluminum were estimated from food intake data from the 1993 Tottori Prefecture Nutritional Survey. For each element, consumption by the individual person was compared to the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) and the tolerable upper intake level (UL). METHODS: Daily intake of trace elements by individuals was calculated from food intake data of 1993 Tottori Prefecture Nutrition Survey by computer program written by visual C++ using the trace element food table published by Suzuki (1993) and compared with RDA and UL values. RESULTS: 1. The percentage of people whose intake of zinc was lower than the RDA was 72.0%. Those for copper and manganese were 69.8% and 39.2%, respectively. Persons aged over 60 years consumed less of those trace elements. 2. Few people had a chromium intake lower than the RDA. The same was the case for molybdenum and selenium. However, 9.2% of people had on intake of chromium in excess of the UL, and for manganese, molybdenum and selenium the figures were 0.7%, 81.6% and 9.6%, respectively. 3. The major sources of the trace elements were cereals, fish, meats, vegetables and beans. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to investigate the reason for the low intake of zinc, copper and manganese. It is also to be recommended that food tables for trace elements be produced to feel compliance with the RDA and UL for trace elements.

Adolescent↗

Certified reference material for analytical quality assurance of minor and trace elements in food and related matrixes based on a typical Japanese diet: interlaboratory study.

A Certified Reference Material (CRM) was prepared at the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), Japan, in collaboration with the National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS), Japan, for the analytical quality assurance of minor and trace elements in food and related matrixes. The starting material for the CRM was all food served in 29 households in Japan over two 3-day periods in 1997-1998, and thus the CRM represented a typical Japanese diet. All foods (meals, snacks, and beverages) were homogenized, freeze-dried, pulverized, blended, dispensed into 1,100 bottles, and sterilized. The within- and between-bottle homogeneity of the prepared CRM was satisfactory for most of the elements. The concentrations of 14 elements (Na, Mg, K, Ca, Mn, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Sr, Cd, Sn, Ba, and U) were certified based on a collaborative analysis involving NIES, NIRS, and 20 other laboratories. Reference values were given for the concentrations of 12 additional elements (P, Cl, Fe, Co, Ni, Br, Rb, Mo, I, Cs, Pb, and Th). The elements certified and those given reference values include minerals, essential trace elements, contaminant elements, and long-lived radionuclides. Thus, this CRM is of practical value in the quality assurance of element analysis of foods and diets in nutritional, environmental, and radiological research.

Diet↗