Cyanide-resistant respiration of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria]

The transition of the bacterial culture into the stationary growth phase is accompanied by an appearance of cyanide-resistant respiration. Chloramphenicol inhibits the development of cyanide-resistant respiration. The cyanide-resistant oxidase is localized in the bacterial membrane. Its appearance is not due to the quantitative and qualitative changes of flavins, non-heme iron, ubiquinone and cytochromes of the b and c types, but is accompanied by an increase in the copper content of the membrane preparations. Neither cyanide-sensitive, nor cyanide-resistant chains of the bacterial electron transfer contain cytochromes of the a type. The cyanide-resistant oxidase accepts electrons at the ubiquinone--cytochrome b level of the main respiratory chain. The cyanide-resistant respiration is not accompanied by a formation of hydrogen peroxide. Cytochrome o performs the function of cyanide-sensitive oxidase. The nature of cyanide-resistant oxidase still remains obscure.     

Nuclear-magnetic-resonance studies of Pseudomonas aeruginosa cytochrome c-551.

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to study Pseudomonas aeruginosa cytochrome c-551. Assignments of resonances to specific residues have been made. A low-resolution X-ray structure was used to aid assignments. A structural comparison was made between P. aeruginosa cytochrome c-551 and mammalian cytochrome c, based on comparisons of NMR data.     

The effect of temperature on soil respiration

лсследедовались кривые респирации образцов разцов почвы и компоста при температурах от 8 до 48о С. В пределах 8-28х С повышение температуры проявляется только ускорением процессов, характеризуемых коз??ициентом Q₁₀ 1,6 2,0. Начиная с 38с С, проявляются аномалии: можно наблюдать частичное угнетение респирации, а кроме того максимумы, похожие не максимумы после прибавления субстрата. Зти максимумы обьясняют реактивной оксидацией в результате повышения температуры. Прибавление глюкозы к почве С еще ольше повышает зтот максимум. Вообще все аномалии у почвы С проявляются гораздо выразительнее.чем У компоста, который в течение созревания прошел стадией самосгревания.- Далее исследедовалась скорость респирации при переменах температуры во время опыта как в присутствии, так и в отсутсвии субстрата. На респирационной кривой можно после повышения ния температуры с 8 до 28о С наблюдать характерное переходное явление, которое в боих случаях, т. е. как для почры С, так и для компоста, отражается и на зндогенной респирации, и на респирационной кривй оксидации глюкозы (по отчислении зндогенной респирации).- В заключение высказыватмя нзгляд, что зто переходное явление предстанляет не аномалию, а общее явление, сопровождающее перемены температуры. Обсуждается его природа. лзучение влияния температуры на респирационные коивые, а в особенности изучение аномалтй и перходых явлений, может дать ценные ин?ормации об органическом вещестре почвы и о его минерализации.     

The electron-transfer reaction between azurin and the cytochrome c oxidase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

A stopped-flow investigation of the electron-transfer reaction between oxidized azurin and reduced Pseudomonas aeruginosa cytochrome c-551 oxidase and between reduced azurin and oxidized Ps. aeruginosa cytochrome c-551 oxidase was performed. Electrons leave and enter the oxidase molecule via its haem c component, with the oxidation and reduction of the haem d1 occurring by internal electron transfer. The reaction mechanism in both directions is complex. In the direction of oxidase oxidation, two phases assigned on the basis of difference spectra to haem c proceed with rate constants of 3.2 X 10(5)M-1-S-1 and 2.0 X 10(4)M-1-S-1, whereas the haem d1 oxidation occurs at 0.35 +/- 0.1S-1. Addition of CO to the reduced enzyme profoundly modifies the rate of haem c oxidation, with the faster process tending towards a rate limit of 200S-1. Reduction of the oxidase was similarly complex, with a fast haem c phase tending to a rate limit of 120S-1, and a slower phase with a second-order rate of 1.5 X 10(4)M-1-S-1; the internal transfer rate in this direction was o.25 +/- 0.1S-1. These results have been applied to a kinetic model originally developed from temperature-jump studies.     

The reaction of Pseudomonas aeruginosa cytochrome c oxidase with carbon monoxide.

The binding of CO to ascorbate-reduced Pseudomonas cytochrome oxidase was investigated by static-titration, stopped-flow and flash-photolytic techniques. Static-titration data indicated that the binding process was non-stoicheiometric, with a Hill number of 1.44. Stopped-flow kinetics obtained on the binding of CO to reduced Pseudomonas cytochrome oxidase were biphasic in form; the faster rate exhibited a linear dependence on CO concentration with a second-order rate constant of 2 X 10(4) M-1-s-1, whereas the slower reaction rapidly reached a pseudo-first-order rate limit at approx. 1s-1. The relative proportions of the two phases observed in stopped-flow experiments also showed a dependency on CO concentration, the slower phase increasing as the CO concentration decreased. The kinetics of CO recombination after flash-photolytic dissociation of the reduced Pseudomonas cytochrome oxidase-CO complex were also biphasic in character, both phases showing a linear pseudo-first-order rate dependence on CO concentration. The second-order rate constants were determined as 3.6 X 10(4)M-1-s-1 and 1.6 X 10(4)M-1-s-1 respectively. Again the relative proportions of the two phases varied with CO concentration, the slower phase predominating at low CO concentrations. CO dissociation from the enzyme-CO complex measured in the presence of O2 and NO indicated the presence of two rates, of the order of 0.03s-1 and 0.15s-1. When sodium dithionite was used as a reducing agent for the Pseudomonas cytochrome oxidase, the CO-combination kinetics observed by both stopped flow and flash photolysis were extremely complex and not able to be simply analysed.     

The reaction of Pseudomonas aeruginosa cytochrome c-551 oxidase with oxygen.

The reaction of ascorbate-reduced Pseudomonas cytochrome oxidase with oxygen was studied by using stopped-flow techniques at pH 7.0 and 25 degrees C. The observed time courses were complex, the reaction consisting of three phases. Of these, only the fastest process, with a second-order rate constant of 3.3 X 10(4) M-1.S-1, was dependent on oxygen concentration. The two slower processes were first-order reactions with rates of 1.0 +/- 0.4s-1 and 0.1 +/- 0.03s-1. A kinetic titration experiment revealed that the enzyme had a relatively low affinity constant for oxygen, approx. 10(4)M-1. Kinetic difference spectra were determined for all three reaction phases, showing each to have different characteristics. The fast-phase difference spectrum showed that changes occurred at both the haem c and haem d1 components of the enzyme during this process. These changes were consistent with the haem c becoming oxidized, but with the haem d1 assuming a form that did not correspond to the normal oxidized state, a situation that was not restored even after the second kinetic phase, which reflected further changes in the haem d1 component. The results are discussed in terms of a kinetic scheme.     

Effect of sulfur, copper, and iron deficiency on the development of cyanide resistant respiration and the cytochrome composition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The effect of deficiency in sulfur, copper and iron in the growth medium on cyanide resistant respiration and cytochrome composition was studied in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida lipolytica. It has been shown that: cyanide resistant respiration was observed at the stationary growth phase when the two microorganisms were cultivated in a complete medium; this respiration was detected already at the phase of decelerated growth in the case of copper deficiency; iron deficiency inhibited cyanide resistant respiration in the bacterium but stimulated its appearance in the yeast; sulfur deficiency inhibited the manifestation of cyanide resistant respiration in the both microorganisms; limitation of the bacterial growth with iron resulted in the accumulation of an iron complex (identical to pyoverdin in its spectral characteristics) in the cultural broth; the deficiency of sulfur, copper and iron inhibited the synthesis of all cytochromes in the bacterium; copper deficiency inhibited only the synthesis of a + a3 in the yeast; iron deficiency inhibited the synthesis of all cytochromes in the yeast; sulfur deficiency had virtually no effect on the content of cytochromes in the yeast. A possible nature of cyanide resistant oxidases in these microorganisms is discussed.     

Electron-microscope study of the effect of chlorhexidine on Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Electron micrographs of cytological damage to log phase Pseudomonas aeruginosa caused by low consentrations of chlorhexidine indicate an action primarily on the cytoplasmic membrane at concentration of 2.0--3.0 micrograms/ml chlorhexidine, and on the cytoplasmic membrane plus layers external to it at concentrations greater than 3.0 micrograms/ml. Evidence of two types of resistance to chlorhexidine is presented.     

The evolutionary stability of cytochrome c-551 in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas fluorescens biotype C

Cytochrome c-551 was prepared from nine different strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and six of Pseudomonas fluorescens biotype C, and their amino acid sequences were compared with the sequences previously determined for the cytochromes of type strains of each species. The standard of sequence examination was such that all single amino acid substitutions, delections or insertions ought to have been detected. Balanced double changes in sites in the same part of the sequence might have escaped detection. The standard of some of the quantitative amino acid analyses was not as high as would be required for the investigation of completely unknown sequences. Eight of the Ps. aeruginosa sequences could not be distinguished from the type sequence, whereas the ninth had a single amino acid substitution. The sequences from Ps. fluorescens biotype C were more varied, differing in from zero to four substitutions from the type sequence, with the most diverse sequences differing in seven positions. The results for Ps. aeruginosa are interpreted as evidence that neutral mutations are not responsible for much molecular evolution. The superficially paradoxical differences in the results for the two species are discussed.     

The effect of streptomycin and hypotonicity on survival of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Summary P.aeruginosa proliferates well in a water environment; however, when subjected to high doses of streptomycin or gentamicin, the residual viable bacteria are killed by moderate water dilution of their media. These results lead to the suggestion that the mechanism of lethal action of aminoglycosides may operate through interference with the water balance system of the P.aeruginosa.     

The effect of inorganic phosphate on cyanogenesis by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The biosynthesis of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) by a strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is found to be significantly influenced by inorganic phosphate. Optimum HCN production occurs when the phosphate concentration is between 1 and 10 mM. Above and below this concentration the amount of HCN produced decreases sharply and at 0.1 and 100 mM phosphate low HCN production occurs. If a culture growing at 0.1 mM phosphate and producing low HCN is shifted to 10 mM phosphate, HCN biosynthesis resumes. Experiments with chloramphenicol indicate that de novo-protein synthesis is required for the process.     

Positive FNR-like control of anaerobic arginine degradation and nitrate respiration in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

A mutant of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was characterized which could not grow anaerobically with nitrate as the terminal electron acceptor or with arginine as the sole energy source. In this anr mutant, nitrate reductase and arginine deiminase were not induced by oxygen limitation. The anr mutation was mapped in the 60-min region of the P. aeruginosa chromosome. A 1.3-kb chromosomal fragment from P. aeruginosa complemented the anr mutation and also restored anaerobic growth of an Escherichia coli fnr deletion mutant on nitrate medium, indicating that the 1.3-kb fragment specifies an FNR-like regulatory protein. The arcDABC operon, which encodes the arginine deiminase pathway enzymes of P. aeruginosa, was rendered virtually noninducible by a deletion or an insertion in the -40 region of the arc promoter. This -40 sequence (TTGAC....ATCAG) strongly resembled the consensus FNR-binding site (TTGAT....ATCAA) of E. coli. The cloned arc operon was expressed at low levels in E. coli; nevertheless, some FNR-dependent anaerobic induction could be observed. An FNR-dependent E. coli promoter containing the consensus FNR-binding site was expressed well in P. aeruginosa and was regulated by oxygen limitation. These findings suggest that P. aeruginosa and E. coli have similar mechanisms of anaerobic control.     

The effect of R-plasmids on the reproduction of Pseudomonas aeruginosa phage SM

The inheritance of plasmids Rms163 and R74 by Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO hs been shown to effect the reproduction of a temperature bacteriophage SM. The decrease in plating efficiency of bacteriophage on Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO (rms163) lawn is explained by the high degree of cell lysogenization by bacteriophage. Plasmid R74 inhibits bacteriophage SM propagation ultimately, evidently due to interruption of definite stages in vegetative development of bacteriophage by the products of plasmid specific genes.     

Circular-dichroic properties and secondary structure of Pseudomonas aeruginosa soluble cytochrome c oxidase.

The c.d. spectra of Pseudomonas aeruginosa cytochrome c oxidase in the oxidized state and the reduced state are reported in the visible- and u.v. absorption regions. In the visible region the comparison between the spectra of reduced cytochrome c oxidase and ferrocytochrome c-551 allows the identification of the c.d. bands mainly due to the d1 haem chromophore in cytochrome c oxidase. In the near-u.v. region the assignment of some of the observed peaks to the haem groups and to the aromatic amino acid residues is proposed. A careful analysis of the data in the far-u.v. region leads to the determination of the relative amounts of alpha-helix and beta-sheet in the enzyme, giving for the first time a picture of its secondary structure. A significant difference in this respect between the reduced and the oxidized species is observed and discussed in the light of similar conclusions reported by other workers.     

The effect of oxygen on denitrification in Paracoccus denitrificans and Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Denitrification by Paracoccus denitrificans and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was studied using quadrupole membrane-inlet mass spectrometry to measure simultaneously and continuously dissolved gases. Evidence was provided for aerobic denitrification by both species: in the presence of O2, N2O production increased in Pa. denitrificans, while that of N2 decreased; with Ps. aeruginosa, the concentrations of both N2 and N2O increased on introducing O2 into the gas phase. Disappearance of NO-3 was monitored in anaerobically and aerobically grown cells which were maintained either anaerobically or aerobically: the rate and extent of NO-3 utilization by both species depended on growth and maintenance conditions. The initial rate of disappearance was most rapid under completely anaerobic conditions, and lowest rates occurred when cells were grown anaerobically and maintained aerobically. In nitrogen balance experiments both species converted over 87% of the added NO-3 to N2 and N2O under both anaerobic and aerobic maintenance conditions.     

High temperature induced antibiotic sensitivity changes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which was resistant to a wide variety of antibiotics, became sensitive to several of these antibiotics when grown and tested at 46 degrees C. Cell wall antibiotics such as penicillin G and ampicillin were only effective when added to cells growing at 46 degrees C prior to a temperature shift to 37 degrees C. Antibiotics which penetrate the cytoplasmic membrane to express their inhibiting action present a pattern different from those which are active against the outer cell wall. In order that these compounds be effective, the permeability of the cytoplasmic membrane must be further altered with agents such as EDTA which allow the penetration of actinomycin D. Inhibitors of protein synthesis, such as streptomycin and chloramphenicol, have increased access to their sites of action in cells grown at 46 degrees C. Cells grown at 46 degrees C have 40% less lipopolysaccharide (LPS) than cells grown at 37 degrees C and the LPS aggregates were of large molecular size in cells grown at 46 degrees C. Growth at 46 degrees C affects the permeability properties of the outer cell wall more than the permeability properties of the cytoplasmic membrane and this was due, in part, to the selective release of LPS of LPS-protein complexes at elevated growth temperatures.     

The effect of culture conditions on hydrophobic properties of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) plays an important role in a adhesion of bacteria on solid surfaces. CSH of 62 Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from humans and different animals was assessed using the ammonium sulfate salt aggregation test. Bacteria were grown for 24 h and 48 h at a room temperature (22 degrees C) and 37 degrees C on enrichment broth and agar (Biomed) and tryptic soy agar (Difco). The hydrophobic properties of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains were depended on the temperature, time of the culture of bacteria and the kind of media. CSH properties were most frequently expressed when the analyzed strains were cultured in enrichment broth. In a such conditions Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains were more hydrophobic when grown at 22 degrees C (94% after 24 h and 87% after 48%) than those at 37 degrees C (72% after 24 h and 71% after 48 h). Among strains cultured in tryptic soy agar at 37 degrees C, 48% after 24 h and 75% after 48 h were autoaggregating, representing very strong hydrophobic properties.