Superoxide dismutase and O2 lethality in Bacteroides fragilis.

Exposure of midlog Bacteroides fragils (VPI 2393) to 2% O2-98% N2 caused a three- to fivefold increase in superoxide dismutase specific activity within the cells. The increase in specific activity was completed within 90 min after exposure to oxygen and was dependent upon protein synthesis. Cells containing the higher superoxide dismutase level were more resistant to the effects of 5 atm of oxygen tension than were cells containing the lower level of superoxide dismutase but were equally resistant to 5 atm of nitrogen tension. Similar results were observed upon comparing viability experiments with B. fragilis and B. vulgatus. Superoxide dismutase activity in sonic extracts of B. fragilis was rapidly inactivated by exposure to 5 mM H2O2 and was inhibited by 1 mM NaN3 but not 5 mM NaCN. The inhibition pattern is identical to the pattern demonstrated for the purified iron-containing enzyme from Escherichia coli B and suggests that the superoxide dismutase in B. fragilis is an iron enzyme.     

Protection of Methanosarcina barkeri against oxidative stress: identification and characterization of an iron superoxide dismutase

Methanosarcina barkeri is a methanogenic archaeon that can only grow under strictly anoxic conditions but which can survive oxidative stress. We have recently reported that the organism contains a monofunctional catalase. We describe here that it also possesses an active iron superoxide dismutase. The enzyme was purified in three steps over 130-fold in a 14% yield to a specific activity of 1500 U/mg. SDS-PAGE revealed the presence of only one band, at an apparent molecular mass of 25 kDa. The primary structure determined from the cloned and sequenced gene revealed similarity to iron- and manganese superoxide dismutases. The highest similarity was to the iron superoxide dismutase from Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum. The enzyme from M. barkeri was found to contain, per mol, 1 mol iron, but no manganese in agreement with the general observation that anaerobically growing organisms only contain iron superoxide dismutase. The enzyme was not inhibited by cyanide (10 mM), which is a property shared by all iron- and manganese superoxide dismutases. The presence of superoxide dismutase in M. barkeri is noteworthy since a gene encoding superoxide dismutase (sod) has not been found in Archaeoglobus fulgidus, a sulfate-reducing archaeon most closely related to the Methanosarcinaceae.     

Characterization of the O2-induced manganese-containing superoxide dismutase from Bacteroides fragilis

A manganese-containing superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) has been isolated from extracts of O2-induced Bacteroides fragilis. The enzyme, Mr 43,000, was a dimer composed of noncovalently associated subunits of equal size. A preparation whose specific activity was 1760 U/mg had 1.1 g-atoms Mn, 0.3 g-atoms Fe, and 0.2 g-atoms Zn per mol dimer. Exposing the enzyme to 5 M guanidinium chloride, 20 mM 8-hydroxyquinoline abolished enzymatic activity. Dialysis of the denatured apoprotein in buffer containing either Fe (NH4)2(SO4)2 or MnCl2 restored O2-. scavenging activity. The iron-reconstituted enzyme was inhibited 89% by 2 mM NaN3, similar to other Fe-containing superoxide dismutases. The Mn-reconstituted and native MnSOD were inhibited approximately 50% by 20 mM NaN3. Addition of ZnSO4 to dialysis buffer containing either the iron or manganese salt inhibited restoration of enzymatic activity to the denatured apoprotein. MnSOD migrated as a single protein band coincident with a single superoxide dismutase activity band in 7.5 or 10% acrylamide gels. Isoelectric focusing resulted in a major isozymic form with pI 5.3 and a minor form at pI 5.0. Mixtures of the MnSOD and the iron-containing superoxide (FeSOD), isolated from anaerobically maintained B. fragilis [E. M. Gregory and C. H. Dapper (1983) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 220, 293-300], migrated as a single band on acrylamide gels and isoelectrically focused to a major protein band (pI 5.3) and a minor band at pI 5.0. The amino acid composition of MnSOD was virtually identical to that of the FeSOD. The data are consistent with synthesis of a single superoxide dismutase apoprotein capable of accepting either Mn or Fe to form the holoenzyme.     

Iron-containing superoxide dismutase from Crithidia fasciculata. Purification, characterization, and similarity to Leishmanial and trypanosomal enzymes

Leishmania tropica, Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi, and Crithidia fasciculata have superoxide dismutases which are insensitive to cyanide and sensitive to peroxide and azide, properties characteristic of iron-containing superoxide dismutase. Studies on the superoxide dismutase of C. fasciculata have revealed that: 1) the enzyme is located in the cytosol; 2) isozymes exist; 3) the major superoxide dismutase isozyme (superoxide dismutase 2) has Mr approximately equal to 43,000 and consists of two equal-sized subunits, each of which contains 1.4 atoms of iron. Comparisons of the amino acid content of this crithidial superoxide dismutase with those of superoxide dismutases from other sources suggests that the crithidial enzyme is closely related to bacterial Fe-containing superoxide dismutases, and only distantly related to human Mn- and Cu,Zn-containing superoxide dismutases and to Euglena Fe-containing superoxide dismutase. Attempts are now underway to develop specific inhibitors of the trypanosomatid superoxide dismutase which may be of use in the treatment of leishmaniasis or trypanosomiasis.     

Isolation and characterization of basic superoxide dismutase consisting of Mr-25,000 subunits in rat liver

1. A basic protein (pI = 9.0) exhibiting superoxide dismutase activity was purified to homogeneity from rat liver by DEAE-cellulose, CM-cellulose and S-hexylglutathione affinity gel chromatography, chromatofocusing and Sephadex G-150 gel filtration. 2. The purified enzyme had specific activity of 4700 units/mg protein. The activity was not affected by 2 mM KCN. Manganese was detected in the enzyme preparation; the content was 0.9 mol/mol subunit. The N-terminal sequence of the first 23 amino acids of the enzyme exhibited a strong homology (except at position 11) with the mature protein of human Mn-superoxide dimutase. It is, therefore, concluded that the purified enzyme is Mn-superoxide dismutase. 3. The N-terminal amino acid sequence showed that about 50% of tyrosine at position 11 was substituted by glutamine, suggesting the existence of microheterogeneity of the superoxide dismutase protein. 4. The superoxide dismutase purified here was found to consist of subunits with an apparent relative molecular mass of 25,000. This larger than the value hitherto reported for rat liver Mn-superoxide dismutase (Mr 2,400); the previous low value is attributed to differences in methods. 5. The enzyme was shown by immuno-blotting to be exclusively localized in the mitochondrial fraction in the liver. The tissue content of Mn-superoxide dismutase is organ-specific, and was the highest in heart. The precursor protein of the Mn-superoxide dismutase was not detectable in the liver cytosolic and mitochondrial fractions as well as in several extrahepatic organs (lung, heart, brain, muscle, kidney and testis), suggesting rapid transport across mitochondrial membranes and processing of the superoxide dismutase protein.     

Leishmanial superoxide dismutase: A possible target for chemotherapy

Leishmania tropica promastigotes stimulate macrophages to produce activated oxygen as measured by luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence. Exogenous superoxide dismutase and catalase inhibit this by 95%, implying that both superoxide and hydrogen peroxide are generated. Whereas leishmania have undetectable levels of catalase, and very little glutathione peroxidase, they have relatively high amcunts of superoxide dismutase (23 units/mg protein). The leishmanial superoxide dismutase is cyanide-insensitive but azide- and peroxide-sensitive, suggesting that the enzyme may be iron-containing. Furthermore, the leishmanial superoxide dismutase is insensitive to diethyldithiocarbamate, which inhibits vertebrate enzymes. Thus, leishmania may contain a superoxide dismutase which is different from its host's enzyme. A specific inhibitor of this enzyme might serve as an antileishmanial agent.     

Lethality of hydrogen peroxide in wild type and superoxide dismutase mutants of Escherichia coli. (A hypothesis on the mechanism of H2O2-induced inactivation of Escherichia coli)

The toxicity of H₂O₂ in Escherichia coli wild type and superoxide dismutase mutants was investigated under different experimental conditions. Cells were either grown aerobically, and then treated in M9 salts or K medium, or grown anoxically, and then treated in K medium. Results have demonstrated that the wild type and superoxide dismutase mutants display a markedly different sensitivity to both modes of lethality produced by H₂O₂ (i.e. mode one killing, which is produced by concentrations of H₂O₂ lower than 5 mM, and mode two killing which results from the insult generated by concentrations of H₂O₂ higher than 10 mM). Although the data obtained do not clarify the molecular basis of H₂O₂ toxicity and/or do not explain the specific function of superoxide ions in H₂O₂-induced bacterial inactivation, they certainly demonstrate that the latter species plays a key role in both modes of H₂O₂ lethality. A mechanism of H₂O₂ toxicity in E. coli is proposed, involving the action of a hypothetical enzyme which should work as an O₂^-• generating system. This enzyme should be active at low concentrations of H₂O₂ (<5 mM) and high concentrations of the oxidant (>5 mM) should inactivate the same enzyme. Superoxide ions would then be produced and result in mode one lethality. The resistance at intermediate H₂O₂ concentrations may be dependent on the inactivation of such enzyme with no superoxide ions being produced at levels of H₂O₂ in the range 5–10 mM. Mode two killing could be produced by the hydroxyl radical in concert with superoxide ions, chemically produced via the reaction of high concentrations of H₂O₂ (>10 mM) with hydroxyl radicals. The rate of hydroxyl radical production may be increased by the higher availability of Fe²⁺ since superoxide ions may also reduce trivalent iron to the divalent form.     

Polarographic assay and intracellular distribution of superoxide dismutase in rat liver.

1. A polarographic assay of superoxide (O2--) dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1) activity is described, in which the ability of the enzyme to inhibit O2---dependent sulphite oxidation, initiated by xanthine oxidase activity, is measured. The assay was used in a study of the intracellular distribution of superoxide dismutase in rat liver. Both cyanide-sensitive cupro-zinc dismutase (92% of the total activity) and cyanide-insensitive mangano-dismutase (8%) were measured. 2. Rat liver homogenates contained both particulate (16%y and soluble (84%) dismutase activity. The particulate activity contained both types of dismutase, whereas nearly all the soluble dismutase was a cupro-zinc enzymes. The distribution pattern of mangano-dismutase was similar to that of cytochrome oxidase and glutamate dehydrogenase, indicating that the enzyme was probably present exclusively in the mitochondria. 3. Superoxide dismutase activity in the heavy-mitochondrial (M) fraction was latent and was activated severalfold and largely solubilized by sonication. Treatment of the M fraction with digitonin or a hypo-osmotic suspending medium indicated that most of the cupro-zinc dismutase was located in the mitochondrial intermembrane space, whereas the mangano-enzyme was located in the inner-membrane and matrix space. 4. A small amount of dismutase activity appeared to be present in the nuclei and microsomal fraction, but little or no activity in the lysosomes or peroxisomes. 5. The results are discussed in relation to the intracellular location of known O2---generating enzymes, the possible role of superoxide dismutase activity in intracellular H2O2 formation, and to current views on the physiological function of the enzyme.     

Biosynthesis and Cellular Distribution of the Two Superoxide Dismutases of Dactylium dendroides

The synthesis and subcellular localization of the two superoxide dismutases of Dactylium dendroides were studied in relation to changes in copper and manganese availability. Cultures grew normally at all medium copper concentrations used (10 nM to 1 mM). In the presence of high (10 μM) copper, manganese was poorly absorbed in comparison to the other metals in the medium. However, cells grown at 10 nM copper exhibited a 3.5-fold increase in manganese content, while the concentration of the other metals remained constant. Cultures grown at 10 nM copper or more had 80% Cu/Zn enzyme and 20% mangani enzyme; the former was entirely in the cytosol, and the latter was mitochondrial. Removal of copper from the medium resulted in decreased Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase synthesis with a concomitant increase in the mangani enzyme such that total cellular superoxide dismutase activity remained constant. The mangani enzyme in excess of the 20% was present in the non-mitochondrial fraction. The mitochondria, therefore, show no variability with respect to superoxide dismutase content, whereas the soluble fraction varies from 100 to 13% Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase. Copper-starved cells that were synthesizing predominantly mangani superoxide dismutase could be switched over to mostly Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase synthesis by supplementing the medium with copper during growth. Immunoprecipitation experiments suggest that the decrease in Cu/Zn activity at low copper concentration is a result of decreased synthesis of that protein rather than the production of an inactive apoprotein.     

Diethyldithiocarbamate inhibits the catalytic activity of xanthine oxidase

We sought to determine the effects of the superoxide dismutase (SOD) inhibitor diethyldithiocarbamate (DETC) on vascular superoxide production. Rat aortic rings treated with DETC (10 mM) showed no change of superoxide generation (5 microM lucigenin). Likewise, DETC did not change the expression and activity of vascular soluble guanylyl cyclase, an enzyme known to be extremely sensitive to superoxide. In striking contrast, DETC completely inhibited the superoxide production induced by 6-anilino-5,8-quinolinedione (LY83583) and abolished the catalytic activity of xanthine oxidase (XO). Thus, DETC inhibits vascular superoxide production by blocking oxidoreductase enzymes such as XO and those reducing LY83583 in rat aorta.     

Studies on the NADPH oxidation by subcellular particles from phagocytosing polymorphonuclear leucocytes: evidence for the involvement of three mechanisms

1. The NADPH-oxidizing activity of a 100 000 X g particulate fraction of the postnuclear supernatant obtained frm guinea-pig phagocytosing poymorphonuclear leucocytes has been assayed by simultaneous determination of oxygen consumption, NADPH oxidation and O2- generation at pH 5.5 and 7.0 and with 0.15 mM and 1 mM NADPH. 2. The measurements of oxygen consumption and NADPH oxidation gave comparable results. The stoichiometry between the oxygen consumed and the NADPH oxidized was 1:1. 3. A markedly lower enzymatic activity was observed, under all the experimental conditions used, when the O2- generation assay was employed as compared to the assays of oxygen uptake and NADPH oxidation. 4. The explanation of this difference came from the analysis of the effect of superoxide dismutase and of cytochrome c which removes O2- formed during the oxidation of NADPH. 5. Both superoxide dismutase and cytochrome c inhibited the NADPH-oxidizing reactin at pH 5.5. The inhibition was higher with 1 mM NADPH than with 0.15 mM NADPH. 6. Both superoxide dismutase and cytochrome c inhibited the NADPH-oxidizing reaction at pH 7.0 with 1 mM NADPH but less than at pH 5.5 with 1 mM NADPH. 7. The effect of superoxide dismutase at pH 7.0 with 0.15 mM NADPH was negligible. 8. In all instances the inhibitory effect of cytochrome c was greater than that of superoxide dismutase. 9. It was concluded that the NADPH-oxidizing reaction studied here is made up of three components: an enzymatic univalent reduction of O2; an enzymatic, apparently non-univalent, O2 reduction and a non-enzymatic chain reaction. 10. These three components are variably and independently affected by the experimental conditions used. For example, the chain reaction is freely operative at pH 5.5 with 1 mM NADPH but is almost absent at pH 7.0 with 0.15 mM NADPH, whereas the univalent reduction of O2 is optimal at pH 7.0 with 1 mM NADPH.     

Effect of free-radical scavengers on enumeration of thermally stressed cells of Staphylococcus aureus MF-31.

Exposure of crude cell lysates of Staphylococcus aureus MF-31 to 5 or 10 mM hydrogen peroxide resulted in a linear decrease in superoxide dismutase activity. Approximately 13% of the superoxide dismutase activity was lost after 16 min. Thermally stressed and nonstressed cells were exposed to a photochemically generated exogenous flux of superoxide radicals (O2.-). The death of thermally stressed cells was linear with time. Addition of superoxide dismutase or catalase to the O2.- generating system resulted in protection of thermally stressed and nonstressed cells, with the protective effect being greater for thermally stressed cells. Incorporation of O2-, hydroxyl radical, or singlet oxygen scavengers or antioxidants to tryptic soy agar containing 7.5% NaCl did not increase the enumeration of thermally stressed cells.     

Sustained Photoproduction of Ammonia from Nitrate by Anacystis nidulans

Exposure of crude cell lysates of Staphylococcus aureus MF-31 to 5 or 10 mM hydrogen peroxide resulted in a linear decrease in superoxide dismutase activity. Approximately 13% of the superoxide dismutase activity was lost after 16 min. Thermally stressed and nonstressed cells were exposed to a photochemically generated exogenous flux of superoxide radicals (O2.-). The death of thermally stressed cells was linear with time. Addition of superoxide dismutase or catalase to the O2.- generating system resulted in protection of thermally stressed and nonstressed cells, with the protective effect being greater for thermally stressed cells. Incorporation of O2-, hydroxyl radical, or singlet oxygen scavengers or antioxidants to tryptic soy agar containing 7.5% NaCl did not increase the enumeration of thermally stressed cells.     

Phosphate inhibition of the copper- and zinc-containing superoxide dismutase: a reexamination

Phosphate was reported to be an inhibitor of copper- and zinc-containing superoxide dismutase (SOD) [de Freitas, D.M., & Valentine, J.S. (1984) Biochemistry 23, 2079-2082]. Thus SOD activity, in 50 mM 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) (pH 7.4), was decreased by approximately 50% when the assay was made 10 mM in phosphate, and the ionic strength was adjusted with sodium fluoride. The inhibitory effect of phosphate was attributed to the neutralization of the positive charge on the guanidino residue of Arg-141. We have reexamined the effects of phosphate inhibition of SOD and found that the enzyme has identical activity in phosphate or HEPES buffer when the ionic strength is adjusted with NaBr. The putative inhibitory effect of phosphate appears to have been due to fluoride inhibition of the superoxide generating system of xanthine/xanthine oxidase. We have confirmed this result by using a photochemical generation of O2- in addition to the enzymatic generation of O2-. Chemical modification of the lysine residues to homoarginines does not affect the activity of the enzyme and does not impart a phosphate sensitivity. Chemical modification with phenylglyoxal caused approximately 80% inactivation of the native enzyme and 90% inactivation of the O-methylisourea-modified enzyme. Our results suggest that phosphate does not inhibit the copper- and zinc-containing superoxide dismutase (Cu,Zn-SOD) beyond the expectations of its effect on ionic strength.     

Detection of oxygen radicals during reperfusion of intestinal cells in vitro

The nitroxide OXANO. (2-Ethyl-2,5,5-trimethyl-3-oxazolidinoxyl) which in its reduced form, OXANOH (2-Ethyl-1-hydroxy-2,5,5-trimethyl-3-oxazolidine), is capable of reacting with short-lived radicals, forming a secondary stable radical, was used for ESR-detection of radical production in isolated cells. The properties of OXANO. and OXANOH in terms of stability in cellular and subcellular systems, membrane permeability and effects on cellular viability were evaluated. Ischemia and reperfusion was simulated in vitro in a preparation of cells from rat intestinal mucosa by incubation at high density (4 X 10(8) cells/ml) under an atmosphere of nitrogen for 25 min and resuspended with fresh oxygenated buffer containing 5 mM OXANOH. A significant increase in radical formation during the 15 min reperfusion period studied was obtained in cells exposed to ischemia compared to control cells incubated at normal density under an atmosphere of oxygen. The addition of 5 microM of the scavenging enzyme superoxide dismutase reduced the radical formation by 50%. The time sequence of the superoxide formation was calculated as the difference in radical production in the presence and absence of superoxide dismutase.     

Superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and oxygen toxicity in two free-living nematode species

Two species of free-living nematodes, Turbatrix aceti and Caenorhabditis elegans, exhibited a marked sensitivity to 3 atm of 100% O2. Environmental changes in pH and temperature, which altered nematode respiration, resulted in alterations in the survival of these organisms under high pO2. Levels of defensive enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and dianisidine peroxidase were measured in the two species. No changes in the level of superoxide dismutase or catalase activity were induced by exposure of the nematodes to high pO2. Manipulation of these two enzymes was however achieved using the inhibitors 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole and diethyldithiocarbamate. 3-Amino-1,2,4-triazole (20 mM) eliminated greater than or equal to 80% of the catalase activity in vivo and diethyldithiocarbamate (5 mM) decreased the level of CuZn superoxide dismutase by greater than or equal to 70%. Both of these compounds increased the sensitivity of C. elegans to high pO2 toxicity. Compounds capable of intracellular redox-cycling with O2- -production, such as plumbagin, increased CN- -resistant respiration in the nematodes and imposed an O2-dependent toxicity. These experiments demonstrate the toxicity of intracellular O2- and H2O2 in nematodes and the importance of superoxide dismutase and catalase in providing a defense against these toxic molecules in vivo.     

Overproduction of superoxide dismutase does not protect Escherichia coli from stringency-induced growth inhibition by 1mM paraquat

Two plasmid-containing Escherichia coli strains which overproduce manganese superoxide dismutase by 4- to 5-fold and iron superoxide dismutase by about 7-fold were not more resistant than parent strains to 1 mM paraquat (a known generator of superoxide) as measured by effects on growth, survival and induction of stringency. These results indicate that overproduction of superoxide dismutase does not mitigate the growth-inhibitory effects of 1 mM paraquat, including those which are expressed through induction of the stringency mechanism.     

Effect of Some Environmental Pollutants on the Superoxide Dismutase Activity in Lemna

Exposure of Lemma sp. to SO₂ resulted in an increased activity of superoxide dismutase. About 3 to 4 fold increase in the activity was observed within 30 minutes after the plants were fumigated with 10 ml/l of SO₂. Paraquat, a well known superoxide generator, doubled the enzyme activity after 1 hour of treatment with 0.1 mM paraquat. Superoxide dismutase activity was also enhanced by cadmium treatment but the response was not immediate. Optimum increase in the activity of enzyme was observed after 4 days of treatment with 40 mg/l of cadmium in the medium. Treatment with H₂O₂ very clearly inhibited the activity of superoxide dismutase in Lemna.     

Effects of culture conditions an hyperoxia on antioxidant enzymes in pig pulmonary artery and aortic endothelium

Because hyperoxia induces early injury to lung endothelial cells and since tolerance to hyperoxia is correlated with increased lung antioxidant enzyme activity, we measured superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in both fresh isolates and primary cultures of endothelial cells from pig pulmonary artery and aorta. Cultured endothelial cells were studied at confluency and up to 5 days thereafter under control or hyperoxic conditions. In both types of confluent cell, total and cyanide-insensitive superoxide dismutase increased when compared to fresh cells. The most conspicuous postconfluency change in both types of endothelial cell was a marked decrease in gluthathione peroxidase, which could be prevented by the addition of selenomethionine to culture media. A 5-day exposure to hyperoxia resulted in a 2-fold increase in cyanide-insensitive superoxide dismutase in both aortic and pulmonary artery endothelial cells. In view of a similar decrease in DNA in both types of cells despite some differences in enzyme levels, oxygen cytotoxicity could not be related to a particular antioxidant enzyme profile.     

Multiple actions of superoxide dismutase: why can it both inhibit and stimulate reduction of oxygen by hydroquinones?

Superoxide dismutase can either inhibit or stimulate autoxidation of different hydroquinones, suggesting multiple roles for O2.-. Inhibitory actions of superoxide dismutase include termination of O2.(-)-propagated reaction chains and metal chelation by the apoprotein. Together, chelation of metals and termination of O2.(-)-propagated chains can effectively prevent reduction of oxygen. Chain termination by superoxide dismutase can thus account for negligible accumulation of H2O2 without invoking a superoxide:semiquinone oxidoreductase activity for this enzyme. One stimulatory action of superoxide dismutase is to decrease thermodynamic limitations to reduction of oxygen. Whether superoxide dismutase inhibits or accelerates an autoxidation depends on the reduction potentials of the quinone and the availability of metal coordination for inner sphere electron transfers.