Rupali Datta

Michigan Technological University, Biological Sciences, Faculty Member

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My primary research interest lies in the application of plant biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology and microbiology in solving environmental problems, using phytoremediation, plant-microbe interactions and bioremediation. I study the interactions between plant, soil, microbial and water systems to understand the mechanisms of uptake and detoxification of specific environmental contaminants in biota.Combining field, greenhouse, and laboratory data, I investigates the mechanisms of contaminant bioavailability, availability to plants, the kinetics of contaminant uptake in plants under various conditions and studies the molecular mechanisms of contaminant uptake and detoxification by accumulator and other high biomass plants, including crop plants using "omics" technologies.

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Papers by Rupali Datta

Proteomic profiling of Vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides ) under 2,4,6 Trinitrotoluene (TNT) stress

GeoHealth, 2017

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Differential protein abundance of vetiver grass in response to acid mine drainage

Physiologia Plantarum, 2021

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is an acidic and metalliferous discharge that imposes oxidative stress o... more Acid mine drainage (AMD) is an acidic and metalliferous discharge that imposes oxidative stress on living things through bioaccumulation and physical exposure. The abandoned Tab-Simco mining site of Southern Illinois generates highly acidic AMD with elevated sulfate (SO4 2- ) and various metals. Vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides) is effective for the remediation of Tab-Simco AMD at both mesocosm and microcosm levels over extended periods. In this study, we conducted a proteomic investigation of vetiver shoots under short and long-term exposure to AMD. Our objective was to decipher the physiological responses of vetiver to the combined abiotic stresses of AMD (metal and low pH). Differential regulation was observed for longer-term (56 days) exposure to AMD, which resulted in 17 upregulated and 9 downregulated proteins, whereas shorter-term (7 days) exposure led to 14 upregulated and 14 downregulated proteins. There were significant changes to photosynthesis, including upregulation of electron transport chain proteins for light-dependent reactions after 56 days, whereas differential regulation of enzymes relating to C4 carbon fixation was observed after 7 days. Significant changes in amino acid and nitrogen metabolism, including upregulation of ethylene and flavonoid biosynthesis, along with plant response to nitrogen starvation, were observed. Short-term changes also included upregulation of glutathione reductase and methionine sulfoxide reductase, whereas longer-term changes included changes in protein misfolding and ER-associated protein degradation for stress management and acclimation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Removal of prometryn from hydroponic media using marsh pennywort (Hydrocotyle vulgaris L.)

International Journal of Phytoremediation, 2018

ABSTRACT The aquatic plant Hydrocotyle vulgaris was evaluated for its efficacy in removing promet... more ABSTRACT The aquatic plant Hydrocotyle vulgaris was evaluated for its efficacy in removing prometryn from nutrient solution. Under optimized experimental conditions, up to 94.0% of the initial prometryn was removed from the hydroponic culture medium by H. vulgaris in 30 days. The concentration of prometryn decreased from the initial level of 0.55 ± 0.013 mg/L to 0.036 ± 0.001 mg/L at the end of the experimental period. The removal kinetics followed first-order kinetic equation (Ct = 0.4569e−0.09t). Half-life (t1/2) of prometryn was greatly shortened from 27.16 days (without plant) to 5.58 days (with H. vulgaris). Approximately 22% of the initial prometryn residue was found in H. vulgaris tissue, while 11.7% was degraded by the plant in 30 days. The metabolites of prometryn detected were 2,4-diamino-1,3,5-triazine (in the hydroponic culture medium) and 2,4,6-trihydroxy-1,3,5-triazine (in plant tissue) after 30 days. The results indicate that H. vulgaris can be used for phytoextraction of prometryn and could potentially be effective in removing other s-trazine pesticides from contaminated aquatic ecosystems.

Growing Biofuel Feedstocks in Copper-Contaminated Soils of a Former Superfund Site

Applied Sciences, 2020

Copper mining in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in the mid-19th century generated millions of to... more Copper mining in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in the mid-19th century generated millions of tons of mining waste, called stamp sand, which was deposited into various offshoots of Lake Superior. The toxic stamp sand converted the area into barren, fallow land. Without a vegetative cover, stamp sand has been eroding into the lakes, adversely affecting aquatic life. Our objective was to perform a greenhouse study, to grow cold-tolerant oilseed crops camelina (Camelina sativa) and field pennycress (Thlaspi arvense) on stamp sand, for the dual purpose of biofuel production and providing a vegetative cover, thereby decreasing erosion. Camelina and field pennycress were grown on stamp sands in columns, using compost to supply nutrients. A greenhouse study in wooden panels was also done to evaluate the effectiveness of camelina in reducing erosion. Results show that camelina significantly reduced erosion and can also be used commercially for generating biodiesel. A 25-fold reduction in C...

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Evaluation of Copper-Contaminated Marginal Land for the Cultivation of Vetiver Grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides) as a Lignocellulosic Feedstock and its Impact on Downstream Bioethanol Production

Applied Sciences, 2019

Metal-contaminated soil could be sustainably used for biofuel feedstock production if the harvest... more Metal-contaminated soil could be sustainably used for biofuel feedstock production if the harvested biomass is amenable to bioethanol production. A 60-day greenhouse experiment was performed to evaluate (1) the potential of vetiver grass to phytostabilize soil contaminated with copper (Cu), and (2) the impact of Cu exposure on its lignocellulosic composition and downstream bioethanol production. Dilute acid pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, and fermentation parameters were optimized sequentially for vetiver grass using response surface methodology (RSM). Results indicate that the lignocellulosic composition of vetiver grown on Cu-rich soil was favorably altered with a significant decrease in lignin and increase in hemicellulose and cellulose content. Hydrolysates produced from Cu exposed biomass achieved a significantly greater ethanol yield and volumetric productivity compared to those of the control biomass. Upon pretreatment, the hemicellulosic hydrolysate showed an increase in...

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Vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides) is capable of removing insensitive high explosives from munition industry wastewater

Chemosphere, 2018

Synthetic organic explosive compounds in the wastewater stream of industrial munition facilities ... more Synthetic organic explosive compounds in the wastewater stream of industrial munition facilities are subject to regulatory permits and require pretreatment prior to discharge. Munition industries are currently focused on developing insensitive high explosives (IHEs) such as dinitroanisole (DNAN), nitroguanidine (NQ), and 1,2,4-triazol-3-one (NTO), to replace conventional munitions such as trinitrotoluene (TNT) and hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX). IHEs are typically more soluble than conventional explosives, and their production generates waste streams with high nitrate (N) concentrations. Several chemical remediation studies have attempted to degrade the explosive compounds within waste streams with limited success. Phytoremediation is a relatively new application for the remediation of munition industry wastewater, which is both environmentally and economically sustainable. Vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides), with its massive and dense root system and ability to ...

Ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (EDDS) enhances phytoextraction of lead by vetiver grass from contaminated residential soils in a panel study in the field

Environmental Pollution, 2017

Phytoextraction is a green remediation technology for cleaning contaminated soils. Application of... more Phytoextraction is a green remediation technology for cleaning contaminated soils. Application of chelating agents increases metal solubility and enhances phytoextraction. Following a successful greenhouse experiment, a panel study under field weather elucidated the efficiency of the chelating agent ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (EDDS) on phytoextraction of lead (Pb) by vetiver grass, a hyperaccumulator of Pb, and a nonaccumulator fescue grass from residential soils contaminated with Pb-based paint from Baltimore, MD and San Antonio, TX. Three soils from each city with Pb content between 1000 and 2400 mg kg(-1) were chosen for the panel study. Sequential extraction revealed that Fe-Mn oxide (60-63%) and carbonate (25-33%) fractions of Pb dominated in Baltimore soils, whereas in San Antonio soils, Pb was primarily bound to the organic fraction (64-70%) because organic content was greater and, secondarily, to the Fe-Mn oxide (15-20%) fraction. Vetiver and fescue grasses were transplanted and grown on wood panels in the field with EDDS applied after 3 months and 13 months. Soil and leachate results indicated that EDDS applications increased Pb solubility in soils. Plant tissues results indicated enhanced the uptake of Pb by vetiver and showed that EDDS application promoted translocation of Pb from root to shoot. Average Pb concentration increased by 53% and 203% in shoots and by 73% and 84% in roots of vetiver after the first and second applications of EDDS, respectively. Concentrations in roots and shoots increased in all tested soils, regardless of soil pH or clay content. After the second application, average Pb concentrations in vetiver were higher than those in fescue by 3.6x in shoots and 8.3x in roots. Visual phytotoxic symptoms from increased bioavailable Pb from EDSS applications were observed in fescue but not in vetiver. This study demonstrated the potential of a chemically-catalyzed phytoremediation system as a cleanup method for lead-contaminated soils.

Role of Chloroplastic α-Amylase in Drought Tolerance:Changing the Microclimate of Deserts (Proceedings of the International Conference on DESERT TECHNOLOGY 5)

沙漠研究, Mar 1, 2000

Identification of Biochemical Pathways Associated with Lead Tolerance and Detoxification in Chrysopogon zizanioides L. Nash (Vetiver) by Metabolic Profiling

Environmental science & technology, 2016

Lead (Pb) is a major urban pollutant, due to deteriorating lead-based paint in houses built befor... more Lead (Pb) is a major urban pollutant, due to deteriorating lead-based paint in houses built before 1978. Phytoremediation is an inexpensive and effective technique for remediation of Pb-contaminated homes. Vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides), a noninvasive, fast-growing grass with high biomass, can tolerate and accumulate large quantities of Pb in its tissues. Lead is known to induce phytochelatins and antioxidative enzymes in vetiver; however, the overall impact of Pb stress on metabolic pathways of vetiver is unknown. In the current study, vetiver plants were treated with different concentrations of Pb in a hydroponic setup. Metabolites were extracted and analyzed using LC/MS/MS. Multivariate analysis of metabolites in both root and shoot tissue showed tremendous induction in key metabolic pathways including sugar metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and an increase in production of osmoprotectants, such as betaine and polyols, and metal-chelating organic acids. The data obtained prov...

Effects of biosolids and compost amendment on chemistry of soils contaminated with copper from mining activities

Environmental monitoring and assessment, 2016

Several million metric tons of mining wastes, called stamp sands, were generated in the Upper Pen... more Several million metric tons of mining wastes, called stamp sands, were generated in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan during extensive copper (Cu) mining activities in the past. These materials, containing large amounts of Cu, were discharged into various offshoots of Lake Superior. Due to evidences of Cu toxicity on aquatic organisms, in due course, the materials were dredged and dumped on lake shores, thus converting these areas into vast, fallow lands. Erosion of these Cu-contaminated stamp sands back to the lakes is severely affecting aquatic life. A lack of uniform vegetation cover on stamp sands is facilitating this erosion. Understanding the fact that unless the stamp sands are fertilized to the point of sustaining vegetation growth, the problem with erosion and water quality degradation will continue, amending the stamp sands with locally available biosolids and composts, was considered. The purpose of the reported study was to assess potential effects of such organic fertiliz...

Chaotropic effects on 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene uptake by wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Plant and Soil, 2007

Abstract Previous research in our laboratory investigated the effectiveness of a common agrochemi... more

Comparative Transcriptome and Proteome Analysis of Ha-ras and B-raf Mutated Mouse Liver Tumors

Journal of Proteome Research, 2009

Mouse liver tumors frequently harbor activating mutations in the Ha-ras protooncogene. In additio... more Mouse liver tumors frequently harbor activating mutations in the Ha-ras protooncogene. In addition, mutations are also found in the B-raf gene leading to constitutive activation of the B-Raf kinase. In two previous studies, we have investigated by microarray analysis the effect of the mutations on the mRNA expression patterns of the respective tumors. In the present study, we analyzed proteome changes in Ha-ras and B-raf mutated liver tumors by 2-D gel-electrophoretic separation of proteins followed by their identification by mass spectrometry. In total, 104 significantly altered protein spots were identified in Ha-ras mutated tumors and 111 in B-raf mutated tumors when compared to the corresponding normal liver tissue. The changes in protein expression patterns were highly correlated between Ha-ras and B-raf mutated tumors, and in the majority of the cases, both tumor types showed the respective alteration. Most of the tumor-specific changes in protein expression were reflected by similar changes in their mRNAs except for some up-regulated proteins without accompanying changes in mRNA levels. Interestingly, Ha-ras but not B-raf mutated tumors showed high levels of the phosphorylated (activated) form of the Ras/Raf/MEK effector kinase ERK which was, however, not associated with any detectable difference in the transcriptome or protein setup of the tumors.

Health Risk from Toxic Metals in Wild Rice Grown in Copper Mining-Impacted Sediments

Applied Sciences, 2022

Northern wild rice is of great dietary and cultural importance to the Native American population ... more Northern wild rice is of great dietary and cultural importance to the Native American population in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Millions of tons of mine tailings were discharged into Lake Superior and other inland lakes during the copper mining boom in the early 20th century in this area. This includes L’Anse Bay, located within the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) reservation. Since wild rice restoration is being encouraged by the KBIC, we investigated the distribution of toxic metals in sediments, water, and wild rice and their potential impact on human health from two locations. Sand Point sloughs on L’Anse Bay and a nearby inland lake, Lake Plumbago, were sampled for sediment, water, and wild rice, and the potential human health risk from dietary exposure to toxic metals in wild rice was assessed. Arsenic stood out as the element that had the highest bioaccumulation at both locations. Risk calculations showed that the hazard index (HI) value for wild rice seeds from bot...

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Mycorrhiza and PGPB modulate maize biomass, nutrient uptake and metabolic pathways in maize grown in mining-impacted soil

Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 2015

Abiotic stress factors including poor nutrient content and heavy metal contamination in soil, can... more Abiotic stress factors including poor nutrient content and heavy metal contamination in soil, can limit plant growth and productivity. The main goal of our study was to evaluate element uptake, biomass and metabolic responses in maize roots growing in mining-impacted soil with the combination of arbuscular mycorrhiza (My) and plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB/B). Maize plants subjected to PGPB, My and combined treatments showed a significant increase in biomass and uptake of some elements in shoot and root. Metabolite analysis identified 110 compounds that were affected ≥2-fold compared to control, with 69 metabolites upregulated in the My group, 53 metabolites in the My+B group and 47 metabolites in B group. Pathway analysis showed that impact on glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism was common between My and My+B groups, whereas PGPB group showed a unique effect on fatty acid biosynthesis with significant increase in palmitic acid and stearic acid. Differential regulation of some metabolites by mycorrhizal treatment correlated with root biomass while PGPB regulated metabolites correlated with biomass increase in shoot. Overall, the combination of rhizospheric microorganisms used in our study significantly increased maize nutrient uptake and growth relative to control. The changes in metabolic pathways identified during the symbiotic interaction will improve our understanding of mechanisms involved in rhizospheric interactions that are responsible for increased growth and nutrient uptake in crop plants.

An Integrated Approach to Environmental Management

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Correlation Between An In-vitro Method And An In-vivo Method In Assessing Bioavailable Arsenic In Two Pesticide-Amended Soils

Agu Spring Meeting Abstracts, May 1, 2006

Health risk assessment of Arsenic (As) enriched soil requires the estimation of bioavailable frac... more Health risk assessment of Arsenic (As) enriched soil requires the estimation of bioavailable fraction of total metal. Research has been conducted to gain a better understanding of the relationship between metal availability and risk assessment. Some baseline risk assessments developed for contaminated sites have used the conservative assumption that all (i.e. 100%) of the As present in soils and wastes is bioavailable, due to tremendous cost associated with in-vivo bioavailability studies. This potentially overestimates the actual health risk, elevating the expenses associated with site cleanup. Health risk from direct exposure to soil-As via the hand-to-mouth exposure route is restricted only to those fractions of As in the soil that are available to the human gastrointestinal system. A reasonable approach is to develop in-vitro methods that simulate the complex and dynamic human gastrointestinal system and correlate well with the results of in-vivo method. Thus this study aims in addressing the potential of one such in-vitro method developed by our research group in assessing the bioavailability of soil-As. Two soils with drastically different chemical characteristics in regards to As reactivity (Immokalee-low As retention capacity; Millhopper-high As retention capacity) spiked with a pesticide (sodium arsenate) were used. Soils were amended at two rates representing concentrations typically found at Superfund sites: 675 and 1500 mg/kg of As. In-vitro bioavailability experiments were performed in order to obtain an estimate of the amount of As likely to be available in the human gastrointestinal system as well as the fraction potentially absorbed onto the intestinal linings. Following the in-vitro study selective in-vivo bioavailability studies using As-contaminated soils were conducted on male and female mice to validate the in-vitro results via comparison with the in-vivo data. Soils were administered orally to the BALB/c mice immediately after spiking. Treatments comprised of a soil group (As in soil), a positive control group (only As) and a negative control group (no soil, no As). Blood samples were collected at different time periods to determine As concentrations. Correlation between the in-vitro and in-vivo data was determined. Information obtained from this study will serve as the first step towards the future development of a semi-quantitative model for predicting bioavailable As. This in turn will result in designing appropriate, cost-effective remedial strategies for As contaminated sites. Keywords: Bioavailability, In-vitro, In-vivo, Arsenic, Soil, Risk Assessment

Immobilization of tetracyclines in manure and manure-amended soils using aluminum-based drinking water treatment residuals

Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2015

Veterinary antibiotics (VAs) are emerging contaminants of concern in the environment, mainly due ... more Veterinary antibiotics (VAs) are emerging contaminants of concern in the environment, mainly due to the potential for development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and effect on microbiota that could interfere with crucial ecosystem functions such as nutrient cycling and decomposition. High levels of VAs such as tetracyclines (TCs) have been reported in agricultural soils amended with manure, which also has the potential to cause surface and groundwater contamination. Several recent studies have focused on developing methods to immobilize VAs such as composting with straw, hardwood chips, commercial biochar, aeration, mixing, heat treatment, etc. The major shortcomings of these methods include high cost and limited effectiveness. In the current study, we assessed the effectiveness of aluminum-based drinking water treatment residuals (Al-WTR) as a &amp;amp;quot;green&amp;amp;quot; sorbent to immobilize TCs in manure and manure-applied soils with varying physicochemical properties by laboratory incubation study. Results show that Al-WTR is very effective in immobilizing tetracycline (TTC) and oxytetracycline (OTC). The presence of phosphate resulted in significant (p &amp;amp;lt; 0.01) decrease in TTC/OTC sorption by Al-WTR, but the presence of sulfate did not. attenuated total reflection (ATR)-FTIR spectroscopy indicate that TTC and OTC likely forming surface complexes via inner-sphere-type bonds in soils, manure, and manure-applied soils amended with Al-WTR.

An Integrated Approach to Environmental Management

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Effect of EDTA On Leaching of Lead From Paint Contaminated Residential Soils During Hurricane Sandy

Application of chelating agents to contaminated soils increases solubility of metals, and thus en... more Application of chelating agents to contaminated soils increases solubility of metals, and thus enhances their phytoextraction. Three lead (Pb) contaminated soils with Pb content between 1268-1880 mg/kg were collected from residential properties in Baltimore, MD. A field study is currently in progress at Stockton, NJ in custom wooden platforms for phytoextraction of Pb by vetiver grass; with fescue grass used as control. The platforms were loaded with 5 inch of play sand and 5 inch Pb of contaminated soil, then vetiver and fescue grasses were planted. Periodic treatments with a mild biodegradable chelating agent, EDDS is being performed to enhance Pb mobilization. In order to compare the mobilization of lead by EDTA to that of EDDS, EDTA was applied to the Pb-contaminated soils to enhance the solubility of Pb and uptake by vetiver. Three days after the EDTA application, hurricane Sandy hit the experimental site and produced heavy rain and winds. After the hurricane, surface runoff an...

Effect Of Soil Properties On The Geochemical Speciation Of Arsenic In Contaminated Soils: A Greenhouse Study

Land-applied arsenical pesticides have contributed elevated soil arsenic (As) levels. Many baseli... more Land-applied arsenical pesticides have contributed elevated soil arsenic (As) levels. Many baseline risk assessments As-contaminated sites assume that all As present in the soil is bioavailable, thereby potentially overestimating the actual health risk. However, risk from As exposure is associated only with those forms of As that are potentially extractable by the human gastrointestinal juices. It has been demonstrated that As may exist in several geochemical forms depending on soil chemical properties, which may or may not be bioavailable. The current study aims at addressing the issue of soil variability on As bioavailability as a function of soil physico-chemical properties in a greenhouse setting involving dynamic interactions between soil, water and plants. Four different soils were chosen based on their potential differences with respect to As reactivity: Immokalee, an acid sand with low extractable Fe/Al, having minimal arsenic retention capacity; Millhopper, an acid sandy lo...