The Role of Reactive Oxygen Species in Mitochondrial Permeability Transition

We have provided evidence that mitochondrial membrane permeability transition induced by inorganic phosphate, uncouplers or prooxidants such as t-butyl hydroperoxide and diamide is caused by a Ca²⁺-stimulated production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by the respiratory chain, at the level of the coenzyme Q. The ROS attack to membrane protein thiols produces cross-linkage reactions, that may open membrane pores upon Ca²⁺ binding. Studies with submitochondrial particles have demonstrated that the binding of Ca²⁺ to these particles (possibly to cardiolipin) induces lipid lateral phase separation detected by electron paramagnetic resonance experiments exploying stearic acids spin labels. This condition leads to a disorganization of respiratory chain components, favoring ROS production and consequent protein and lipid oxidation.     

硫胺素通过提高线粒体氧化状态促进植物快速响应外界胁迫的研究

硫胺素在植物应对环境胁迫刺激及植物免疫方面发挥的作用越来越受到人们的关注。本文主要研究了硫胺素对线粒体氧化还原状态的调节作用。研究发现硫胺素可以提高线粒体的氧化状态,这一效应具有浓度依赖性,当硫胺素浓度高于1mmol／L时较为明显。此外,硫胺素还可增强植物细胞线粒体丙酮酸脱氢酶（PDH）的活性。并且在应对铝、镉胁迫时,硫胺素预处理组能较快促进活性氧的进发。线粒体氧化状态的提高对细胞应对胁迫因子刺激,较快释放活性氧从而激活下游信号具有重要意义。     

The Contribution of Mitochondrial Respiratory Complexes to the Production of Reactive Oxygen Species

This work was focused on distinguishing the contribution of mitochondrial redox complexesto the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during cellular respiration. We were ableto accurately measure, for the first time, the basal production of ROS under uncoupled conditionsby using a very sensitive method, based on the fluorescent probe dichlorodihydrofluoresceindiacetate. The method also enabled the detection of the ROS generated by the oxidation ofthe endogenous substrates in the mitochondrial preparations and could be applied to bothmitochondria and live cells. Contrary to the commonly accepted view that complex III(ubiquinol:cytochrome c reductase) is the major contributor to mitochondrial ROS production, wefound that complex I (NADH-ubiquinone reductase) and complex II (succinate-ubiquinonereductase) are the predominant generators of ROS during prolonged respiration under uncoupledconditions. Complex II, in particular, appears to contribute to the basal production of ROSin cells.     

气孔运动中的活性氧信号

大量研究证明活性氧(ROS)在气孔运动中起信号分子的作用。保卫细胞中ROS的产生依赖于特定的酶,其中NADPH氧化酶组分RBOH已得到深入研究,并已证实其参与生物与非生物胁迫反应。植物激素包括脱落酸(ABA)、水杨酸(SA)、乙烯、生长素及细胞分裂素等,它们均通过ROS的介导来调控气孔运动。生物胁迫(如毒性细菌和真菌)也会调控气孔运动。ROS参与这些调控过程。保卫细胞中存在多层次对ROS产生及其作用的调节,抗氧化活性物质和ROS敏感蛋白(如蛋白激酶和磷酸酶)均可传递ROS信号并调节气孔运动。ROS对离子通道调节的证据也越来越多。保卫细胞由于可通过ROS整合复杂的信号途径,已成为研究植物ROS信号转导过程的良好模式系统。     

Role of Reactive Oxygen Species and Antioxidant Enzymes in Systemic Virus Infections of Plants

Oxidative stress in compatible virus-host plant interactions was studied in cucumber mosaic virus and zucchini yellow mosaic virus-infected Cucumis sativus and Cucurbita pepo plants. Both cucumber mosaic virus- and zucchini yellow mosaic virus-infected plants showed an enhanced peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids indicating an advanced disintegration of membranes. Radical intermediates formed during lipid peroxidation co-oxidize pigment molecules and might thus account for virus-induced yellowing symptoms. Furthermore in infected plants an induction of superoxide dismutases, catalases, total peroxidases and ascorbate peroxidases was observed. All the peroxidase isoforms detected in Cucumis sativus and Cucurbita pepo , however, not only functioned as radical scavengers but also catalysed the formation of H₂O₂. Thus it can be presumed that the enhancement of peroxidases contributes to the oxidative stress in systemic plant-virus interactions. By way of oxidation of indole-3-acetic acid upregulated peroxidases might also be responsible for growth reductions and malformations in virus-infected plants.     

Contribution of Oxidative Stress to the Development of Cold-Induced Damage to Leaves of Chilling-Sensitive Plants: 1. Reactive Oxygen Species Formation during Plant Chilling

Changes in the levels of superoxide anion radical and total peroxides were studied immediately after the chilling of 7–11-day-old seedlings of maize (Zea mays L.), cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), millet (Panicum miliaceum L.), and etiolated potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) shoots at 2°C for 1–24 h and one day after 24-h chilling. A short-term (1 h) chilling of chilling-sensitive plants resulted in the 2.4–7.5-fold acceleration of the O^– ₂ generation. A longer chilling period reduced somewhat the rate of O^– ₂ generation, but this rate did not achieve the control level. The highest level of H₂O₂ was observed after 2-h chilling with its subsequent lowering. In the cold-tolerant potato, the levels of O^– ₂ and peroxides reduced after chilling. The rate of lipid peroxidation (an index characterizing cold-induced membrane damage) increased gradually with the lengthening of the chilling period. Reactive oxygen species are supposed to be involved in the induction of the oxidative stress during chilling of chilling-sensitive plants and in the triggering of cold-induced damage.     

碱胁迫对黑麦草幼苗根系活性氧代谢和渗透溶质积累的影响

为了探讨牧草对碱胁迫的耐受程度,采用营养液砂培方法,研究了不同浓度NaHCO3（0、50、100、150和200 mmol·L^-1）胁迫对黑麦草幼苗根系生长、活性氧代谢和渗透溶质积累的影响。结果表明：NaHCO3胁迫显著抑制黑麦草幼苗根系的生长,其抑制程度随胁迫浓度提高而增强,黑麦草可耐受的最高NaHCO₃浓度约为150 mmol·L^-1。随着NaHCO₃胁迫浓度的增加,黑麦草根中超氧阴离子(O^-·₂)、过氧化氢(H₂O₂)和丙二醛(MDA)含量明显上升,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性和谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量显著下降,过氧化氢酶(CAT)、过氧化物酶(POD)和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性及抗坏血酸(ASA)含量先升后降。黑麦草根中Na⁺含量随NaHCO₃浓度增大而增加,K⁺含量和K⁺/Na⁺比降低,可溶性糖含量先升后降,脯氨酸含量则先降后升,游离氨基酸含量呈先升后降再升高变化。表明碱胁迫导致的活性氧代谢失调和Na⁺、K⁺失衡及积累有机溶质进行渗透调节时更多能量的消耗可能是黑麦草根系生长受抑的重要因素。     

Antioxidants, Oxidative Damage and Oxygen Deprivation Stress: a Review

Oxidative stress is induced by a wide range of environmentalfactors including UV stress, pathogen invasion (hypersensitivereaction), herbicide action and oxygen shortage. Oxygen deprivationstress in plant cells is distinguished by three physiologicallydifferent states: transient hypoxia, anoxia and reoxygenation.Generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is characteristicfor hypoxia and especially for reoxygenation. Of the ROS, hydrogenperoxide (H₂O₂) and superoxide (O₂^·–) are bothproduced in a number of cellular reactions, including the iron-catalysedFenton reaction, and by various enzymes such as lipoxygenases,peroxidases, NADPH oxidase and xanthine oxidase. The main cellularcomponents susceptible to damage by free radicals are lipids(peroxidation of unsaturated fatty acids in membranes), proteins(denaturation), carbohydrates and nucleic acids. Consequencesof hypoxia-induced oxidative stress depend on tissue and/orspecies (i.e. their tolerance to anoxia), on membrane properties,on endogenous antioxidant content and on the ability to inducethe response in the antioxidant system. Effective utilizationof energy resources (starch, sugars) and the switch to anaerobicmetabolism and the preservation of the redox status of the cellare vital for survival. The formation of ROS is prevented byan antioxidant system: low molecular mass antioxidants (ascorbicacid, glutathione, tocopherols), enzymes regenerating the reducedforms of antioxidants, and ROS-interacting enzymes such as SOD,peroxidases and catalases. In plant tissues many phenolic compounds(in addition to tocopherols) are potential antioxidants: flavonoids,tannins and lignin precursors may work as ROS-scavenging compounds.Antioxidants act as a cooperative network, employing a seriesof redox reactions. Interactions between ascorbic acid and glutathione,and ascorbic acid and phenolic compounds are well known. Underoxygen deprivation stress some contradictory results on theantioxidant status have been obtained. Experiments on overexpressionof antioxidant production do not always result in the enhancementof the antioxidative defence, and hence increased antioxidativecapacity does not always correlate positively with the degreeof protection. Here we present a consideration of factors whichpossibly affect the effectiveness of antioxidant protectionunder oxygen deprivation as well as under other environmentalstresses. Such aspects as compartmentalization of ROS formationand antioxidant localization, synthesis and transport of antioxidants,the ability to induce the antioxidant defense and cooperation(and/or compensation) between different antioxidant systemsare the determinants of the competence of the antioxidant system.     

Reactive Oxygen Species Scavenging Enzymes and Down-Adjustment of Metabolism Level in Mitochondria Associated with Desiccation-Tolerance Acquisition of Maize Embryo

It is a well-known fact that a mature seed can survive losing most of its water, yet how seeds acquire desiccation- tolerance is not well understood. Through sampling maize embryos of different developmental stages and comparatively studying the integrity, oxygen consumption rate and activities of antioxidant enzymes in the mitochondria, the main origin site of reactive oxygen species （ROS） production in seed cells, we found that before an embryo achieves desiccation-tolerance, its mitochondria shows a more active metabolism, and might produce more ROS and therefore need a more effective ROS scavenging system. However, embryo dehydration in this developmental stage declined the activities of most main antioxidant enzymes and accumulated thiobarbituric acid-reactive products in mitochondria, and then destroyed the structure and functional integrity of mitochondria. In physiologically-matured embryos （dehydration- tolerant）, mitochondria showed lower metabolism levels, and no decline in ROS scavenging enzyme activities and less accumulation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive products after embryo dehydration. These data indicate that seed desiccation- tolerance acquisition might be associated with down-adjustment of the metabolism level in the late development stage, resulting in less ROS production, and ROS scavenging enzymes becoming desiccation-tolerant and then ensuring the structure and functional integrity of mitochondria.     

Determination of Mitochondrial Membrane Potential and Reactive Oxygen Species in Live Rat Cortical Neurons

Mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) is critical for maintaining the physiological function of the respiratory chain to generate ATP. A significant loss of ΔΨm renders cells depleted of energy with subsequent death. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are important signaling molecules, but their accumulation in pathological conditions leads to oxidative stress. The two major sources of ROS in cells are environmental toxins and the process of oxidative phosphorylation. Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress have been implicated in the pathophysiology of many diseases; therefore, the ability to determine ΔΨm and ROS can provide important clues about the physiological status of the cell and the function of the mitochondria. Several fluorescent probes (Rhodamine 123, TMRM, TMRE, JC-1) can be used to determine Δψm in a variety of cell types, and many fluorescence indicators (Dihydroethidium, Dihydrorhodamine 123, H₂DCF-DA) can be used to determine ROS. Nearly all of the available fluorescence probes used to assess ΔΨm or ROS are single-wavelength indicators, which increase or decrease their fluorescence intensity proportional to a stimulus that increases or decreases the levels of ΔΨm or ROS. Thus, it is imperative to measure the fluorescence intensity of these probes at the baseline level and after the application of a specific stimulus. This allows one to determine the percentage of change in fluorescence intensity between the baseline level and a stimulus. This change in fluorescence intensity reflects the change in relative levels of ΔΨm or ROS. In this video, we demonstrate how to apply the fluorescence indicator, TMRM, in rat cortical neurons to determine the percentage change in TMRM fluorescence intensity between the baseline level and after applying FCCP, a mitochondrial uncoupler. The lower levels of TMRM fluorescence resulting from FCCP treatment reflect the depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential. We also show how to apply the fluorescence probe H₂DCF-DA to assess the level of ROS in cortical neurons, first at baseline and then after application of H₂O₂. This protocol (with minor modifications) can be also used to determine changes in ∆Ψm and ROS in different cell types and in neurons isolated from other brain regions.     

活性氮、活性氧及植物激素在种子休眠解除中的作用及相互关系研究进展

休眠是植物种子对环境变化的适应机制,其机理至今未完全清楚阐明。前期对种子休眠机制的研究主要集中在激素调节上,近期的研究结果表明,一氧化氮（nitric oxide,NO）参与打破种子的休眠,并与其所引起的种子中活性氧的变化有关。本文简要综述活性氮（reactive nitrogen species,RNS）、活性氧（reactive oxygen species,R0s）和植物激素在种子休眠解除中的作用及相互关系研究进展。     

氯化胆碱对盐胁迫黄瓜幼苗渗透调节物质及活性氧代谢系统的影响

以盐敏感型黄瓜品种津春4号为材料,采用水培方法研究了叶面喷施不同浓度(0.5、1.0和1.5 mmol·L-1)氯化胆碱(CC)对NaCl胁迫(75 mmol·L-1)下黄瓜幼苗鲜重、叶片叶绿素、渗透调节物质含量及活性氧代谢系统的影响.结果表明:(1)单独CC处理可提高黄瓜叶片的叶绿素、可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白含量以及过氧化氢酶(CAT)与过氧化物酶(POD)活性,降低O2·-产生速率,但对植株鲜重及超氧化物岐化酶(SOD)活性影响不大;(2)NaCl胁迫处理增加了黄瓜幼苗叶片中可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白含量,增强了SOD、POD和CAT活性,提高了O2·-产生速率及丙二醛(MDA)的含量,但同时降低了叶绿素含量与植株鲜重;(3)盐胁迫前CC预处理可缓解黄瓜幼苗叶绿素含量和植株鲜重的下降、以及MDA含量和O2·-产生速率的上升趋势,且进一步提高了盐胁迫下黄瓜叶片中SOD、POD和CAT活性.因此,适宜浓度的氯化胆碱可显著提高盐胁迫下黄瓜叶片的抗氧化酶活性,提高清除活性氧的能力,缓解盐胁迫对黄瓜幼苗细胞膜的伤害,增强黄瓜幼苗的耐盐性.     

Antioxidant Combination Inhibits Reactive Oxygen Species Mediated Damage

We examined the preventive activity of naturally occurring antioxidants against three reactive oxygen species using a protein degradation assay. The hydroxyl, hypochlorite, and peroxynitrite radicals are typical reactive oxygen species generated in human body. Previously, we found that hydrophobic botanical antioxidants exhibited specific antioxidant activity against hydroxyl radicals, whereas anserine and carnosine mixture, purified from chicken extract and vitamin C, exhibited antioxidant activities against hypochlorite and peroxynitrite radicals respectively. Since ethanol, used as a solvent in the experiments, also showed an antioxidant action against the hydroxyl radical, we re-assessed antioxidant activities using aqueous solutions of botanical antioxidants. Among the seven hydrophobic antioxidants examined, ferulic acid exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity against the hydroxyl radical. An antioxidant preparation of anserine-carnosine mixture, vitamin C, and ferulic acid prevented oxidative stress by reactive oxygen species. Loss of deformability in human erythrocytes and protein degradation caused by reactive oxygen species were completely inhibited.     

渗透胁迫对黑麦幼苗活性氧和抗氧化酶活性的影响

用20%聚乙二醇（PEG 6000）研究了渗透胁迫对黑麦（Secale cereale L.）幼苗活性氧（reactive oxygen species,ROS）和主要抗氧化酶——超氧化物歧化酶（superoxide dismutase,SOD）、过氧化氢酶（catalase,CAT）、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶（ascorbate peroxidase,APX）和谷胱甘肽还原酶（glutathione reductase,GR）活性的影响。结果表明,与对照相比,PEG处理明显提高了叶子和根中丙二醛（malondialdehyde,MDA）的含量、ROS的水平和以上4种抗氧化酶的活性。渗透胁迫下,叶子和根中MDA和ROS水平变化的规律基本相似,但抗氧化酶活性在2种器官中表现不完全相同,叶子中CAT的活性在对照和处理中无显著差异,但在根中差异明显,表明叶子中SOD、APX和GR在植物应答渗透胁迫中起重要作用,而根中这4种抗氧化酶都参与植物对胁迫的反应。GR活性随PEG处理变化幅度显著高于其它抗氧化酶,表明GR在黑麦应答渗透胁迫中所起作用可能强于其它抗氧化酶。     

Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species from Hinokitiol under Near-UV Irradiation

Near-UV irradiation caused the decomposition of hinokitiol in an aqueous solution. During the photochemical reaction, the distinct electron spin resonance signal characteristic of the adduct of 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) with the hydroxyl radical was accompanied by small signals corresponding to the adduct of DMPO with the superoxide anion radical. More than 95% of Escherichia coli cells were killed by the incubation with hinokitiol under near-UV irradiation by BLB fluorescent lamps. These results indicated the generation of reactive oxygen species during photochemical reaction of hinokitiol under near-UV irradiation.     

钙抑制剂对机械损伤胁迫下合作杨叶片活性氧代谢的影响

以1年生合作杨扦插苗为材料,研究了叶面喷施Ca2+通道阻断剂氯化镧(LaCl3)和Ca2+螯合剂EGTA预处理对机械损伤胁迫下合作杨叶片抗氧化酶活性、过氧化氢(H2O2)和丙二醛(MDA)含量以及氧自由基(O2?-)产生速率的影响.结果显示,与对照相比,机械损伤胁迫下合作杨叶片超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)等抗氧化酶活性均显著升高,活性氧水平和MDA含量显著增加;外源喷施EGTA和LaCl3降低了机械损伤胁迫下叶片SOD、POD、CAT和APX活性,减缓了O2?-产生速率,H2O2含量和MDA含量显著下降;且EGTA的抑制作用比LaCl3更强.研究表明,机械损伤胁迫诱导的活性氧代谢需要Ca2+的参与,Ca2+和活性氧在植物防御信号传递过程中密切相关;伤害诱导胞外Ca2+内流是胞内Ca2+浓度增加的重要来源.     

Inorganic Polyphosphates Regulate Hexokinase Activity and Reactive Oxygen Species Generation in Mitochondria of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus Embryo

The physiological roles of polyphosphates (poly P) recently found in arthropod mitochondria remain obscure. Here, the possible involvement of poly P with reactive oxygen species generation in mitochondria of Rhipicephalus microplus embryos was investigated. Mitochondrial hexokinase and scavenger antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione reductase were assayed during embryogenesis of R. microplus. The influence of poly P₃ and poly P₁₅ were analyzed during the period of higher enzymatic activity during embryogenesis. Both poly Ps inhibited hexokinase activity by up to 90% and, interestingly, the mitochondrial membrane exopolyphosphatase activity was stimulated by the hexokinase reaction product, glucose-6-phosphate. Poly P increased hydrogen peroxide generation in mitochondria in a situation where mitochondrial hexokinase is also active. The superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione reductase activities were higher during embryo cellularization, at the end of embryogenesis and during embryo segmentation, respectively. All of the enzymes were stimulated by poly P₃. However, superoxide dismutase was not affected by poly P₁₅, catalase activity was stimulated only at high concentrations and glutathione reductase was the only enzyme that was stimulated in the same way by both poly Ps. Altogether, our results indicate that inorganic polyphosphate and mitochondrial membrane exopolyphosphatase regulation can be correlated with the generation of reactive oxygen species in the mitochondria of R. microplus embryos.     

白藜芦醇对高糖条件下大鼠晶状体上皮细胞线粒体活性氧产生及内质网的影响

目的：探讨白藜芦醇（resveratrol,Res）对高糖条件下大鼠晶状体上皮细胞（LECs）凋亡、线粒体活性氧产生以及内质网表达的影响。方法：用含30 mmol·L-1葡萄糖浓度的培养基体外培养LECs,随后加入25 mg·L-1Res共培养48 h。流式细胞术检测LECs细胞凋亡情况和线粒体膜电位的变化。激光共聚焦显微镜观察线粒体活性氧变化情况,并用免疫组化法检测内质网表达。结果：在高糖培养条件下,与对照组相比,LECs死亡率明显增高,线粒体膜电位降低,活性氧增多。内质网阳性率明显下降。经Rev干预后,细胞凋亡率显著降低,线粒体膜电位和内质网阳性率均升高,活性氧产生明显减少（P〈0.05）。结论：白藜芦醇能在一定程度上减轻糖尿病性白内障大鼠晶状体凋亡的发生并维持正常细胞器功能,从而延缓白内障的发生和发展。