Rescuing activity of galactoglycerolipids from cellular lesions induced by 5-aminolevulinic acid

An anti-oxygen radical reagent of a bacterial metabolite, M874 monogalactoglycerolipid (di-O-12-methyl-tetradecanoyl-3-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-sn-glycerol ), was tested for its ability to protect two organisms against cellular lesions induced by 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and light. In Corynebacterium flavescens ATCC 10340, extracellular uroporphyrin and coproporphyrin were the main porphyrin products. Although less than 2 mM ALA increased porphyrin synthesis, ALA levels above 3 mM inhibited the synthesis. Depending on the light intensity, the amount of porphyrin decreased and ALA-induced cytotoxicity increased. The lesion was more severe in the case of coproporphyrin than uroporphyrin. The porphyrin lesion produced in low intensity light (300 lx) was considerably reduced by 100 microM M874 glycolipid, although the reduction in intense light (3,000 lx) was restricted to a lower level. Similar results were obtained with radish (Raphanus sativus). The ALA concentration that inhibited porphyrin synthesis and stem growth was similar to that seen with C. flavescens. Although the exogenous addition of M874 glycolipid to the radish did not prevent ALA-induced cellular injury, the co-culture of radish and a glycolipid producing bacterium (Microbacterium sp. M874) resulted in a significant prevention of cellular injury. This was true only under enforced adhesion conditions through the action of a polysaccharide flocculant H12. Some species of monogalactoglycerolipids were found in Corynebacterium and radish that showed prominent oxygen radical-protecting activities similar to that of M874 glycolipid. These monogalactoglycerolipids might function in vivo as agents to prevent ALA-induced cytological lesions, although the concentrations were low in Corynebacterium and radish.