Involvement of <Emphasis Type="Italic">soxRS</Emphasis> Regulon in Response of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> to Oxidative Stress Induced by Hydrogen Peroxide

The effect of hydrogen peroxide on the activity of soxRS and oxyR regulon enzymes in different strains of Escherichia coli has been studied. Treatment of bacteria with 20 μM H₂O₂ caused an increase in catalase and peroxidase activities (oxyR regulon) in all strains investigated. It is shown for the first time that oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide causes in some E. coli strains a small increase in activity of superoxide dismutase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (soxRS regulon). This effect is cancelled by chloramphenicol, an inhibitor of protein synthesis in prokaryotes. The increase in soxRS regulon enzyme activities was not found in the strain lacking the soxR gene. These results provide evidence for the involvement of the soxRS regulon in the adaptive response of E. coli to oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide. __________ Translated from Biokhimiya, Vol. 70, No. 11, 2005, pp. 1506–1513. Original Russian Text Copyright ? 2005 by Semchyshyn, Bagnyukova, Lushchak.     

Induction of the soxRS regulon of Escherichia coli by glycolaldehyde

The ability of short-chain sugars to cause oxidative stress has been examined using glycolaldehyde as the simplest sugar. Short-chain sugars autoxidize in air, producing superoxide and alpha,beta-dicarbonyls. In Escherichia coli the soxRS regulon mediates an oxidative stress response, which protects the cell against both superoxide-generating agents and nitric oxide. In superoxide dismutase-deficient E. coli mutants, glycolaldehyde induces fumarase C and nitroreductase A, which are regulated as members of the soxRS regulon. A mutational defect in soxRS eliminates that induction. This establishes that glycolaldehyde can cause induction of this defensive regulon. This effect of glycolaldehyde was oxygen-dependent, was not shown by glyoxal, and was not seen in the superoxide dismutase-replete parental strain, and it was abolished by a cell-permeable SOD mimetic. All of these suggest that superoxide radicals produced by the oxidation of glycolaldehyde played a key role in the induction.     

Differential expression of over 60 chromosomal genes in Escherichia coli by constitutive expression of MarA

In Escherichia coli, the MarA protein controls expression of multiple chromosomal genes affecting resistance to antibiotics and other environmental hazards. For a more-complete characterization of the mar regulon, duplicate macroarrays containing 4,290 open reading frames of the E. coli genome were hybridized to radiolabeled cDNA populations derived from mar-deleted and mar-expressing E. coli. Strains constitutively expressing MarA showed altered expression of more than 60 chromosomal genes: 76% showed increased expression and 24% showed decreased expression. Although some of the genes were already known to be MarA regulated, the majority were newly determined and belonged to a variety of functional groups. Some of the genes identified have been associated with iron transport and metabolism; other genes were previously known to be part of the soxRS regulon. Northern blot analysis of selected genes confirmed the results obtained with the macroarrays. The findings reveal that the mar locus mediates a global stress response involving one of the largest networks of genes described.     

Effect of alloxan on survival and antioxidant defense of Escherichia coli

The effect of alloxan has been studied on survival and activity of antioxidant and associated enzymes of E. coli wild strains and ones lacked of OxyR and SoxR proteins--regulators of antioxidant defense in E. coli. Bacteria treatment by 500 microM alloxan for 30 min caused an increase of catalase and peroxidase activity in wild and deltasoxRS strains. Catalase activity was not changed in response to alloxan exposure of oxyR deficient strain. It was proposed that under used condition the effect of alloxan on E. coli could be related to the growth of steadystate concentration of hydrogen peroxide. This supposition is also in agreement with the increase of soxRS regulon enzymes activities, because in our previous work it has been shown that H2O2-induced stress increases the activity of some soxRS regulon enzymes.     

Flavodoxin mutants of Escherichia coli K-12

The flavodoxins are flavin mononucleotide-containing electron transferases. Flavodoxin I has been presumed to be the only flavodoxin of Escherichia coli, and its gene, fldA, is known to belong to the soxRS (superoxide response) oxidative stress regulon. An insertion mutation of fldA was constructed and was lethal under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions; only cells that also had an intact (fldA(+)) allele could carry it. A second flavodoxin, flavodoxin II, was postulated, based on the sequence of its gene, fldB. Unlike the fldA mutant, an fldB insertion mutant is a viable prototroph in the presence or absence of oxygen. A high-copy-number fldB(+) plasmid did not complement the fldA mutation. Therefore, there must be a vital function for which FldB cannot substitute for flavodoxin I. An fldB-lacZ fusion was not induced by H(2)O(2) and is therefore not a member of the oxyR regulon. However, it displayed a soxS-dependent induction by paraquat (methyl viologen), and the fldB gene is preceded by two overlapping regions that resemble known soxS binding sites. The fldB insertion mutant did not have an increased sensitivity to the effects of paraquat on either cellular viability or the expression of a soxS-lacZ fusion. Therefore, fldB is a new member of the soxRS (superoxide response) regulon, a group of genes that is induced primarily by univalent oxidants and redox cycling compounds. However, the reactions in which flavodoxin II participates and its role during oxidative stress are unknown.     

The flavoenzyme ferredoxin (flavodoxin)-NADP(H) reductase modulates NADP(H) homeostasis during the soxRS response of Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli cells from strain fpr, deficient in the soxRS-induced ferredoxin (flavodoxin)-NADP(H) reductase (FPR), display abnormal sensitivity to the bactericidal effects of the superoxide-generating reagent methyl viologen (MV). Neither bacteriostatic effects nor inactivation of oxidant-sensitive hydrolyases could be detected in fpr cells exposed to MV. FPR inactivation did not affect the MV-driven soxRS response, whereas FPR overexpression led to enhanced stimulation of the regulon, with concomitant oxidation of the NADPH pool. Accumulation of a site-directed FPR mutant that uses NAD(H) instead of NADP(H) had no effect on soxRS induction and failed to protect fpr cells from MV toxicity, suggesting that FPR contributes to NADP(H) homeostasis in stressed bacteria.     

Biochemical and molecular basis for impairment of photosynthetic potential

Ozone induces reductions in net photosynthesis in a large number of plant species. A primary mechanism by which photosynthesis is reduced is through impact on carbon dioxide fixation. Ozone induces loss in Rubisco activity associated with loss in concentration of the protein. Evidence is presented that ozone may induce oxidative modification of Rubisco leading to subsequent proteolysis. In addition, plants exposed to ozone sustain reduction in rbcS, the mRNA for the small subunit of Rubisco. This loss in rbcS mRNA may lead to a reduced potential for synthesis of the protein. The regulation of O₃-induced loss of Rubisco, and implications of the decline in this protein in relation to accelerated senescence are discussed.     

细菌抗氧化系统-oxyR调节子研究进展

细菌抗氧化系统是细菌抵抗呼吸作用及环境因素导致的氧化损伤的一套防卫系统.oxyR调节子是最早发现的具有抗氧化作用的系统之一,由OxyR调节蛋白的编码基因oxyR及其调控的基因和操纵子所构成.oxyR调节子参与了细菌的抗氧化作用、抑制自发突变、致病性、铁代谢及外膜蛋白相变等多种生理代谢作用,这些发现促进了该调节子在细菌耐药性以及致突变物质筛查等方面的研究应用.作者主要从细菌oxyR调节子的结构组成、参与的生理代谢作用、OxyR调控转录的分子机制及影响因素等方面结合最新研究成果展开了介绍,以期对开展细菌抗药性研究及致突变物质的筛查等提供参考.     

臭氧胁迫对植物主要生理功能的影响

近年来,由于光化学反应的臭氧前体增加,全球植物受对流层臭氧(O3)胁迫的程度越来越严重。臭氧污染被认为是造成东欧、西欧和整个美国的大片森林衰退和枯死的主要原因。臭氧胁迫严重影响植物叶片对光能的利用,通过气孔限制和非气孔限制,导致其光合速率的降低,影响光合产物的产量。臭氧对植物的影响与植物体内代谢物质的积聚量紧密联系。臭氧胁迫引发植物的各种防御保护机制,刺激抗氧化系统,影响膜系统,改变其体内碳和矿质养分的吸收并引起它们的重新分配,诱导其基因表达的深层变化。为了适应臭氧胁迫环境,植物通过生理生化机制的调节来保证其生命活动。如细胞通过调节渗透物质的含量来保持渗透势的平衡;细胞内各种抗氧化酶活性增加,以清除自由基,避免或者减轻细胞受到伤害;改变代谢途径以保持能量储备和降低代谢速率。可见,生态环境对生物进化具有重要影响。这个观点将在臭氧胁迫对植物生理的影响中得到证实,也是生物进化论的另一种证据。综述了臭氧对光合生理、呼吸代谢、抗氧化系统、膜系统、矿质养分的吸收和分配与分子生理等主要生理功能的影响,并提出臭氧胁迫对植物生理影响的今后研究方向与未来研究热点是:(1)加强在植物个体和群落水平上臭氧胁迫对植物生理影响的研究;(2)臭氧影响下植物的基因调控和相关信号传递网络系统的机理;(3)通过分子标记、基因图谱、基因组学和转基因技术等方法研究选育适应臭氧胁迫环境的植物;(4)尽可能在接近自然条件的环境中开展研究;(5)臭氧胁迫对亚热带和热带森林及其树种主要生理功能影响的研究;(6)建立模型评估臭氧对植物的影响。     

Isolation and characterization of Escherichia coli strains containing new gene fusions (soi::lacZ) inducible by superoxide radicals.

Gene fusions in Escherichia coli that showed increased beta-galactosidase expression in response to treatment with a superoxide radical (O2-) generator, methyl viologen (MV), were obtained. These fusions were constructed by using a Mud(Ap lac) phage to insert the lactose structural genes randomly into the E. coli chromosome. Ampicillin-resistant colonies were screened for increased expression of beta-galactosidase on X-Gal (5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside) plates containing MV at 1.25 micrograms/ml. Other O2- generators, menadione and plumbagin, also induced beta-galactosidase activity in these fusion strains. The induction by these drugs occurred only under aerobic conditions. Hyperoxygenation also elicited an induction of the fusions. On the other hand, no significant induction was observed with hydrogen peroxide and cumene hydroperoxide. The induction of these fusions by MV was not dependent on the peroxide stress control mediated by the oxyR gene or on the recA-dependent SOS system. These fusions were named soi (superoxide inducible)::lacZ. The induction of beta-galactosidase was significantly reduced by introducing a soxS::Tn10 locus into the fusion strains, indicating that the soi genes are members of the soxRS regulon. Five of the fusions were located in 6 to 26 min of the E. coli genetic map, while three fusions were located in 26 to 36 min, indicating that these fusions are not related to genes already known to be inducible by O2- under the control of soxRS. At least five mutants containing the soi::lacZ fusion were more sensitive to MV and menadione than the wild-type strain, suggesting that the products of these soi genes play an important role in protection against oxidative stress.