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Reversal of oxophenylarsine-induced inhibition of glucose uptake in MDCK cells.

It has been shown that oxophenylarsine (PhAsO) inhibits glucose uptake in MDCK cells. In addition to the known impairment of cellular energy metabolism, this inhibition may contribute to the acute toxicity of trivalent organic arsenicals. We have investigated the effect of BAL, DMPS, DMSA, and other sulfur compounds on cellular incorporation of [U-14C]PhAsO and their efficacy to revert PhAsO-induced inhibition of glucose uptake. In the presence of [U-14C]PhAsO (2 microM), the radiolabel was steadily accumulated by the cells over 150 min without any signs of severe cell damage (e.g., altered morphology, increased LDH release). A notable decrease of cellular ATP was only observed at 150 min, whereas within 30 min uptake of D-[6-(14)C]glucose was reduced to 40% of controls. When BAL, DMPS, or DMSA was added after 30 min, the inhibition of glucose uptake was reversed, accompanied by a decrease in cell-associated radiolabel from [U-14C]-PhAsO. Water-soluble DMPS and DMSA required longer times than BAL for comparable effects. 2,3-Bis(acetylthio)propanesulfonamide, a thioester derivative, and dithiothreitol, a 1,4-dithiol, were effective only with the highest concentration tested (200 microM). 2-Mercaptoethanol neither reversed inhibition of glucose uptake nor influenced [U-14C]PhAsO incorporation. Our results show that inhibition of glucose uptake is a very early event in PhAsO cytotoxicity which occurs before any decrease of cellular energy metabolism and/or full cellular loading with arsenic comes into effect. The more rapid onset of action of lipophilic BAL compared to PhAsO action.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Thiobacillus plumbophilus spec. nov., a novel galena and hydrogen oxidizer.

From an uranium mine three strains of rod-shaped, mesophilic, chemolithouautotrophic bacteria were isolated. They grow by oxidation of H2S, galena (PbS) and H2. Angelsite (PbSO4) is formed from galena. No ferrous iron is oxidized by the isolates. They grow between pH 4 and 6.5 at temperatures of about 9 to 41 degrees C (optimum around 27 degrees C). The G + C content of the DNA is around 66 mol %. Based on their ability to oxidize sulfur compounds, the new organisms belong to the genus Thiobacillus. No significant homology with Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and Thiobacillus cuprinus was detected by DNA-DNA hybridization. Therefore the new isolates represent a new species within the genus Thiobacillus. Based on the unusual growth on galena, we name the new species Thiobacillus plumbophilus (type strain Gro7; DSM 6690).

Base Composition↗

Cysteine and S-sulfocysteine biosynthesis in phototrophic bacteria.

Forteen species (17 strains) of phototrophic bacteria as well as one strain of Thiobacillus denitrificans were tested for cysteine synthase and S-sulfocysteine synthase. All strains contain cysteine sythase active with O-acetylserine; only the Chromatiaceae, two species of the Rhodospirillaceae and T. denitrificans contain S-sulfocysteine synthase. In six species repression by different sulfur compounds in the medium was studied. In Chromatium vinosum, cysteine synthase was found to be constitutive, while in the Rhodospirillaceae tested the enzyme is repressed by sulfide. Thiosulfate had a derepressive effect in Rhodopseudomonas globiformis but strongly repressed cysteine synthase in R. sulfidophila and R. palustris. Cysteine had only moderate effects with the species tested.

Cysteine↗

Oxidation of dibenzothiophene catalyzed by heme-containing enzymes encapsulated in sol-gel glass. A new form of biocatalysts.

We have encapsulated several hemoproteins in the sol-gel glass to catalyze the oxidation reaction of dibenzothiophene (model for organic sulfur compounds in coal) with hydrogen peroxide. In addition to cytochrome c and myoglobin, which have previously been encapsulated in sol-gel glasses, two other hemoproteins, horseradish peroxidase and bovine blood hemoglobin, have now been successfully immobilized in sol-gel media with the retention of their spectroscopic properties. All four hemoproteins studied also demonstrate similar catalytic activities toward the oxidation of dibenzothiophene as compared with the results obtained with the proteins in solution. In the case of encapsulated cytochrome c, the more water-soluble S-oxide was obtained with much higher selectivity over the less water-soluble sulfone (S-oxide/sulfone = 7.1) as compared to what was obtained in the aqueous/organic medium (S-oxide/sulfone = 2.3). Because of the advantage of easy separation of the encapsulated proteins from the liquid reaction mixture, it is clear from these studies that the immobilization of active hemoproteins in the solid glass media could serve as more practical biocatalysts.

Catalysis↗

A transporter of Escherichia coli specific for L- and D-methionine is the prototype for a new family within the ABC superfamily.

An ABC-type transporter in Escherichia coli that transports both L- and D-methionine, but not other natural amino acids, was identified. This system is the first functionally characterized member of a novel family of bacterial permeases within the ABC superfamily. This family was designated the methionine uptake transporter (MUT) family (TC #3.A.1.23). The proteins that comprise the transporters of this family were analyzed phylogenetically, revealing the probable existence of several sequence-divergent primordial paralogues, no more than two of which have been transmitted to any currently sequenced organism. In addition, MetJ, the pleiotropic methionine repressor protein, was shown to negatively control expression of the operon encoding the ABC-type methionine uptake system. The identification of MetJ binding sites (in gram-negative bacteria) or S-boxes (in gram-positive bacteria) in the promoter regions of several MUT transporter-encoding operons suggests that many MUT family members transport organic sulfur compounds.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗

A novel system for heterologous expression of flavocytochrome c in phototrophic bacteria using the Allochromatium vinosum rbcA promoter.

Flavocytochrome c-sulfide dehydrogenase (FCSD), an enzyme that catalyzes the reversible conversion of sulfide to elemental sulfur in vitro, is common to bacteria that utilize reduced sulfur compounds as electron donors in the process of carbon dioxide fixation. FCSD is a heterodimer containing two different cofactors, a flavin (FAD) and one or two heme c groups, located on the separate protein subunits. Efforts to produce the holoproteins of the soluble Allochromatium vinosum FCSD and the membrane-bound Ectothiorhodospira vacuolata protein in Escherichia coli using several expression systems were unsuccessful. Although all systems used were able to export the recombinant FCSDs to the periplasm, the proteins did not incorporate heme. In order to develop a new expression system involving photosynthetic hosts (Rhodobacter capsulatus, Rhodobacter sphaeroides and Ect. vacuolata), plasmid mobilisation from E. coli donors was studied. In the search for efficient promoters for such hosts, a system was developed combining the broad-host-range plasmid pGV910 and the promoter of the A. vinosum RuBisCo gene, rbcA. Conjugation was used to enable transfer from the expression plasmid of E. coli into Rba. capsulatus, Rba. sphaeroides strains and into Ect. vacuolata. Both Rhodobacter hosts were able to transcribe the genes coding for FCSD from the rbcA promoter and to produce detectable amounts of recombinant FCSD holoprotein. Western blots showed that the best production was obtained from cells grown photosynthetically on malate or acetate with sulfide. This system may prove to be of general use for the production of recombinant c-type cytochromes in homologous or related host systems.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Measurement of water by oven evaporation using a novel oven design. 2. Water in motor oils and motor oil additives.

The measurement of water in lubricating oils is important because water accelerates the corrosion of metal parts and bearings in motors. Some of the additives added to lubricating oils to improve their performance react with the Karl Fischer reagent (KFR) causing a positive bias in the water measurement. A new oven evaporation technique for measuring water in oils has been developed that is automated, requires less sample handling, is easily calibrated, and is capable of measuring relatively small mass fractions of water (> or =50 mg/kg sample). A series of motor oils was analyzed with the standard KFR, a reagent that detects interfering substances that reduce iodine, and the aldehyde-ketone reagent that does not detect substances that react with methanol and form water. The oil samples were heated to 107 degrees C and then reheated to 160 degrees C. At both temperatures, material was measured by both KFRs, but only zinc dithiophosphate released sulfur compounds that would react with the reagent that detects interfering substances. Mass fractions of between 20 and 70% of the volatile material released at either temperature were measured with the standard KFR but not with the aldehyde-ketone reagent. These results demonstrate that there are a number of sources of positive bias in the measurement of water in motor oils and that the standard KFR cannot be used to measure water in motor oils and motor oil additives. These results also indicate that some of the material reacts with methanol to form water. Finally, these results suggest that some of the material that is volatile at 160 degrees C and not at 107 degrees C may be water that is physically occluded or may be substances that react with diethyleneglycol monomethylether to produce water.

Hot Temperature↗

Molecular characterization of an oil-degrading cyanobacterial consortium.

Recent studies have shown that the cyanobacterium Microcoleus chthonoplastes forms a consortium with heterotrophic bacteria present within the cyanobacterial sheath. These studies also show that this consortium is able to grow in the presence of crude oil, degrading aliphatic heterocyclic organo-sulfur compounds as well as alkylated monocyclic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. In this work, we characterize this oil-degrading consortium through the analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences. We performed the study in cultures of Microcoleus grown in mineral medium and in cultures of the cyanobacterium grown in mineral medium supplemented with crude oil. The results indicate that most of the clones found in the polluted culture correspond to well-known oil-degrading and nitrogen-fixing microorganisms, and belong to different phylogenetic groups, such as the Alpha, Beta, and Gamma subclasses of Proteobacteria, and the Cytophaga/Flavobacteria/Bacteroides group. The control is dominated by one predominant organism (88% of the clones) closely affiliated to Pseudoxanthomonas mexicana (similarity of 99.8%). The presence of organisms closely related to well-known nitrogen fixers such as Rhizobium and Agrobacterium suggests that at least some of the cyanobacteria-associated heterotrophic bacteria are responsible for nitrogen fixation and degradation of hydrocarbon compounds inside the polysaccharidic sheath, whereas Microcoleus provides a habitat and a source of oxygen and organic matter.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗

Dual influence of the carbon source and L-methionine on the synthesis of sulphur compounds in the cheese-ripening yeast Geotrichum candidum.

The effect of the carbon source and l-methionine on the ability of Geotrichum candidum to produce volatile sulphur compounds (VSC) was studied. This yeast was cultivated in a synthetic medium supplemented with various carbon sources and l-methionine at different concentrations. Both glycerol and glucose significantly increased VSC production by G. candidum. Unlike the effect on the l-methionine- and 4-methylthio-2-oxobutyric acid-demethiolating activities, the supply of a carbon source had a dramatic effect on the activity of aminotransferase, a key enzyme in l-methionine catabolism. An increase in the initial concentration of l-methionine resulted in a rise in the production of sulphur compounds (VSC, 4-methylthio-2-oxobutyric acid) but had limited effect on l-methionine-catabolising enzyme activities. Evidence for the existence of a dual effect of the carbon source and l-methionine on VSC biosynthesis was obtained in this study.

Butyrates↗

Isolation of a carbon disulfide utilizing Thiomonas sp. and its application in a biotrickling filter.

The carbon disulfide (CS2)-oxidizing bacterium Thiomonas sp. WZW was enriched and isolated using activated sewage sludge as inoculum. Growth of Thiomonas sp. WZW was observed on CS2, thiosulfate, dimethylsulfide (DMS), dimethyldisulfide (DMDS), and H2S. No growth occurred on dimethylsulfoxide, methanol, acetate, and on complex media with glucose, yeast extract, or tryptone. DMDS-grown cells respired CS2, DMS, and DMDS, while thiosulfate-grown cells did not respire CS2. Chemostat cultures growing on thiosulfate could be rapidly adapted to growth on CS2. Growth was observed between pH 6 and 8. The Ks values for CS2, thiosulfate, and sulfide of CS2-grown cells were between 5 and 10 microM. CS2 was inhibitory above 0.3 mM. A lab-scale biotrickling filter with lava stone as carrier material for treatment of CS2-polluted air was inoculated with Thiomonas sp. WZW. A rapid start up (95% removal in 1 week) was obtained at an inlet CS2 concentration of 2 cmol l(-1) and an initial space velocity (SV) of 54 h(-1). Subsequent thiosulfate addition for a week during start up increased the removal to 99%. The step-wise increase of SV to 130 h(-1) and a CS2 concentration to 3 micromol l(-1) resulted in a stable performance with a removal efficiency of 95%. Feeding mixtures of volatile sulfur compounds showed simultaneous conversion of H2S, CS2, dimethyldisulfide (DMDS), and DMS, with a preference in this order.

Betaproteobacteria↗

The chafer pheromone buibuilactone and ant pyrazines are also produced by marine bacteria.

Headspace extracts obtained from agar plate cultures of two marine bacteria from the North Sea (Germany), Loktanella strain BIO-204 and Dinoroseobacter shibae strain DFL-27, were analyzed by GC-MS. Several gamma-lactones and one delta-lactone were identified, besides pyrazines and some sulfur compounds. The absolute configuration of the major lactone (R,Z)-dodec-5-en-4-olide, known as buibuilactone, a pheromone of several scarab beetles, was determined by a new catalytic enantioselective synthesis and GC on a chiral stationary phase. Unsaturated lactones in the extracts included (E)-dodec-5-en-4-olide and the regioisomer (Z)-dodec-6-en-4-olide, previously identified as a component of black-tailed deer urine. The pyrazines 2-butyl-3,6-dimethylpyrazine and 2-isopentyl-3,6-dimethylpyrazine were identified by comparison with synthesized material. The latter compound is a known ant pheromone, as is another identified pyrazine, 2-ethyl-3,6-dimethylpyrazine. The striking similarity between insect pheromones and these bacterial volatiles is discussed, suggesting the possibility of more widespread occurrence of symbiosis between microorganisms and insects than previously thought.

4-Butyrolactone↗

Chemistry of the lichen Hypogymnia physodes transplanted to an industrial region.

Lichens produce a great number of secondary metabolites that participate in ecological interactions and respond to environmental changes. We examined the influence of heavy metal accumulations on lichen secondary metabolism. Thalli of Hypogymnia physodes were transplanted for 6 months to the Cracow-Silesia industrial region. Based on heavy metal accumulations in lichen, two of the investigated sites were classified as highly polluted. The highest concentrations of Cd, Pb, and Zn were found in lichens transplanted in the vicinity of a Zn-Pb smelter. Significant accumulations of Cr and Ni were detected in Hypogymnia transplanted near a chemical industry. Physodic, physodalic, hydroxyphysodic acids, and atranorin were identified and analyzed in extracts obtained from specimen samples. The most detrimental changes were observed in lichen transplanted into the vicinity of a chemical industry producing chromium, phosphor, and sulfur compounds that contained 340-fold higher Cr levels than control thalli. Decreases in the levels of physodic acid, hydroxyphysodic acid, and atranorin were detected, and one additional polar compound (probably product of degradation of lichen acids) appeared in the extract. The content of physodalic acid increased in every thalli sample transplanted, suggesting a possible role of this compound in defense against stress caused by accumulated pollutants. The levels of physodic acid decreased in thalli from both of the most polluted sites compared to those of the controls--but were not changed in thalli transplanted to less polluted sites. Our results illustrate that lichen compounds are sensitive to heavy metal accumulation and could be used as biomarkers in environmental studies.

Environmental Monitoring↗

Hepatocyte toxicity of mechlorethamine and other alkylating anticancer drugs. Role of lipid peroxidation.

The alkylating anticancer drugs, mechlorethamine (HN2), chlorambucil, cyclophosphamide, carmustine and lomustine readily induced cytotoxicity in isolated rat hepatocytes. Hepatocyte glutathione (GSH) was depleted rapidly following addition of the drugs. Lipid peroxidation ensued following GSH depletion and before cytotoxicity occurred. Furthermore, cytotoxicity was delayed by the antioxidants butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and alpha-tocopherol, the ferric iron chelator desferoxamine or the radical trap 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl (TEMPO) even when added 10 min later. HN2 was much less toxic to hepatocytes under nitrogen and caused much less lipid peroxidation than under aerobic conditions. Cytotoxicity induced by HN2 was also prevented by choline, suggesting that a choline carrier is responsible for HN2 uptake in the hepatocytes. Various sulfur compounds acted as antidotes for HN2 cytotoxicity. Thiosulfate was still effective when added 30 min after HN2. Depletion of GSH in the hepatocytes markedly increased their susceptibility to HN2. However, BHA, desferoxamine or TEMPO protected these hepatocytes from HN2. This suggests that antioxidants could prove useful in preventing the increased risk of hepatotoxicity if GSH-depleting agents are used to overcome tumor resistance to nitrogen mustards.

Alkylating Agents↗

Prevention of singlet oxygen-induced DNA damage by lipoate.

Among the several biologically and pharmacologically active sulfur compounds examined, only lipoic acid and dihydrolipoic acid provided protection to plasmid DNA against singlet molecular oxygen (1O2). 1O2 was generated in phosphate buffer by the thermal dissociation of the endoperoxide of 3,3'-(1,4-naphthylidene) dipropionate (NDPO2). The protecting effect of lipoic acid was time- and pH-dependent and significant protection was seen even at 50 microM. The antioxidant effect was adversely affected by temperatures above 45 degrees C. Superoxide dismutase and catalase marginally enhanced this effect. Metal chelation with EDTA decreased the protection by lipoate, indicating that metal ions may be involved. The protective effect was diminished when the disulfide was added after single-strand breaks were induced by 1O2. The formation of 8-oxoguanosine from guanosine upon exposure to NDPO2 was not altered by lipoate.

Catalase↗

Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans: a new lineage of bacterial evolution?

The nucleotide sequence of 5 S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) of type strain Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans VKM B-1269 was determined. This organism represents a group of moderately thermophilic acidophilic chemolithotrophic bacteria, able to use ferrous and sulfur compounds as the sole energy source. 5 S rRNA of this bacterium is drastically different from all other known bacterial 5 S rRNA sequences. It is suggested that S. thermosulfidooxidans represents a new lineage of bacterial evolution, that diverged from other bacteria at an early step of their evolution.

Base Sequence↗