Nisin A depletes intracellular ATP and acts in bactericidal manner against Mycobacterium smegmatis

Nisin is a bacteriocin produced by many strains of Lactococcus lactis. This study examined the effect of nisin on Mycobacterium smegmatis, a non-pathogenic species of Mycobacterium. Nisin had a minimum inhibitory concentration of 8.0 micrograms ml-1 and a minimum inhibitory dose of 7.5 micrograms ml-1 against Myco. smegmatis. Treatment with 25.0 micrograms ml-1 nisin caused partial inhibition of Myco smegmatis; the survivors were nisin-sensitive when tested in a separate experiment. Mycobacterium smegmatis cells exposed to 50.0 micrograms ml-1 of nisin, lost their viability. the effect of nisin on the growth of Myco. smegmatis was both time- and concentration-dependent. Nisin (10.0 micrograms ml-1) caused 97.7 +/- 2.0% reduction in internal ATP and leakage of intracellular ATP out of Myco. smegmatis cells after several hours of treatment. These data suggest that nisin inhibits Myco. smegmatis by the same mechanism by which it inhibits other bacteria and warrants further investigation as a possible antitubercular agent.     

Effect of isoniazid on glutathione biosynthesis and degradation inMycobacterium smegmatis

The mechanism of glutathione (GSH) depletion by isoniazid (INH) was studied inM. smegmatis. INH increased the activity of γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) whether added before medium inoculation or to actively growing cells. The activity of GGT in cells grown from the beginning in INH-containing medium increased significantly on growth days 2–6. Three-day oldM. smegmatis cells treated with INH exhibited a 30–65 % increase in the activity of GGT. The activities of γ-glutamyl-cysteine synthase (GGCS) and GSH synthase (GS) were lowered by 50 and 56 % respectively on the second day of growth whenM. smegmatis was grown in a medium supplemented with 1.5 mg INH per L. In 3-day oldM. smegmatis, INH significantly inhibited the activities of GSH biosynthetic enzymes. The results demonstrate that the increased activity of GGT and decreased activities of GSH biosynthetic enzymes are responsible for GSH depletion by INH inM. smegmatis.     

The role of thiols in cellular response to radiation and drugs

Cellular nonprotein thiols (NPSH) consist of glutathione (GSH) and other low molecular weight species such as cysteine, cysteamine, and coenzyme A. GSH is usually less than the total cellular NPSH, and with thiol reactive agents, such as diethyl maleate (DEM), its rate of depletion is in part dependent upon the cellular capacity for its resynthesis. If resynthesis is blocked by buthionine-S,R-sulfoximine(BSO), the NPSH, including GSH, is depleted more rapidly, Cellular thiol depletion by diamide, N-ethylmaleimide, and BSO may render oxygenated cells more sensitive to radiation. These cells may or may not show a reduction in the oxygen enhancement ratio (OER). Human A549 lung carcinoma cells depleted of their NPSH either by prolonged culture or by BSO treatment do not show a reduced OER but do show increased aerobic responses to radiation. Some nitroheterocyclic radiosensitizing drugs also deplete cellular thiols under aerobic conditions. Such reactivity may be the reason that they show anomalous radiation sensitization (i.e., better than predicted on the basis of electron affinity). Other nitrocompounds, such as misonidazole, are activated under hypoxic conditions to radical intermediates. When cellular thiols are depleted peroxide is formed. Under hypoxic conditions thiols are depleted because metabolically reduced intermediates react with GSH instead of oxygen. Thiol depletion, under hypoxic conditions, may be the reason that misonidazole and other nitrocompounds show an extra enhancement ratio with hypoxic cells. Thiol depletion by DEM or BSO alters the radiation response of hypoxic cells to misonidazole. In conclusion, we propose an altered thiol model which includes a mechanism for thiol involvement in the aerobic radiation response of cells. This mechanism involves both thiol-linked hydrogen donation to oxygen radical adducts to produce hydroperoxides followed by a GSH peroxidase-catalyzed reduction of the hydroperoxides to intermediates entering into metabolic pathways to produce the original molecule.     

Evidences for adduct formation between intracellular non-protein thiols and nitroazoles possessing an alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl side chain and the effects on radiosensitization of hypoxic cells

Reactivity of a number of nitroazole derivatives bearing an alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl group on the side chain toward non-protein thiols (NPSH) was examined both in the phosphate buffer solution and in the biological system. These alpha,beta-unsaturated compounds reacted with NPSH, such as glutathione (GSH) and L-cysteine (Cys), in the buffer solution to afford the 1,4-addition products. The reaction gave a second-order rate constant. The adducts of methyl 4-(2'-nitroimidazol-1'-yl)crotonate (1) with GSH and Cys were isolated and characterized as two diastereomers (7a,b and 8a,b) in ca. 1:1 ratio, respectively. Similarly, exposure of EMT6/KU cells to 1 at 1.0 mM for 1 h resulted in depletion of the intracellular NPSH by more than 80%. Over 50% of the depleted NPSH was attributed to the formation of the conjugated diastereomeric adducts. On the other hand, incubation of EMT6/KU cells with 1 at 1.0 mM under hypoxic conditions before X-ray irradiation caused concurrently a sharp reduction of the shoulder of the dose-survival curves (reduced the extrapolation number (n) from 8.0 to ca. 1.0) and an increase in the slope (decreased the mean lethal dose (Do) to ca. 50% of the control level). The observed effects of 1 on the dose-survival curves were due to the NPSH depletion through the Michael addition occurred in the cellular system. A fairly linear relationship was obtained between the n value and the reduced intracellular NPSH level. It indicated that the shoulder effect of the dose-survival curves of hypoxic cells should be the result of the NPSH depletion by the alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl group attached to the nitroazoles.     

Iron transport in Mycobacterium smegmatis: occurrence of iron-regulated envelope proteins as potential receptors for iron uptake

Cell-envelope fractions were isolated from the rapidly growing saprophyte Mycobacterium smegmatis following growth in glycerol/asparagine medium under both iron-limited (0.02 microgram Fe ml-1) and iron-sufficient (2.0 to 4.0 micrograms Fe ml-1) conditions. Examination of these preparations by SDS-PAGE demonstrated the production of at least four additional proteins when iron was limiting. These iron-regulated envelope proteins (IREPs) were ascribed apparent molecular masses of 180 kDa (protein I), 84 kDa (protein II), 29 kDa (protein III) and 25 kDa (protein IV). All four proteins were present in both cell-wall and membrane preparations but spheroplast preparations were devoid of the 29 kDa protein. Attempts at labelling the proteins with 55FeCl3 or 55Fe-exochelin, the siderophore for iron uptake, were unsuccessful, though this was attributed to the denatured state of the proteins following electrophoresis. Antibodies were raised to each of the four proteins: the one raised to protein III inhibited exochelin-mediated iron uptake into iron-deficiently grown cells by 70% but was ineffective against iron uptake into iron-sufficiently grown cells. As exochelin is taken up into both types of cells by a similar process, protein III may not be a simple receptor for iron uptake though the results imply some function connected with this process. The role of the other IREPs is less certain.     

Biochemical mechanism of combined effect of ethambutol and sparfloxacin against Mycobacterium smegmatis

M. smegmatis cells grown in the presence of combination of ethambutol (EMB) and sparfloxacin (SPX) had decreased level of total cellular lipids as compared to control as well as cells grown in the presence of sub-inhibitory concentration (MIC50) of individual drugs. Amongst various phospholipids analyzed, maximum decrease was observed in the content of phosphatidylinositolmannosides (PIMs) of the cells grown in combination of EMB and SPX. In contrast, the subcellular distribution of phospholipids revealed a significant increase in PIMs content of both cell wall and cell membrane of the cells grown in the presence of combination of drugs as compared to control as well as individual drugs. Mycolic acids of M. smegmatis cells were found to be main targets as combination of drugs resulted in significant decrease in total cellular as well as cell wall mycolic acids as compared to control and individual drugs. Changed lipid composition of M. smegmatis cells grown in the presence of MIC50 of EMB, SPX and combination resulted in significant surface changes as was evident from decreased limiting fluorescence (Fmax) intensity of 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonate (ANS). Thus, the results of this study suggested that ethambutol and sparfloxacin in combination exerted their antimycobacterial effect principally due to their action on phosphatidylinositolmannosides (PIMs) and mycolic acids, which form the permeability barrier of mycobacteria.     

Glutathione depletion by DL-buthionine-SR-sulfoximine (BSO) potentiates X-ray-induced chromosome lesions after liquid holding recovery

The impact of intracellular glutathione depletion on chromosome damage induced by X irradiation under aerobic conditions was investigated in two different cell lines, Ehrlich ascites tumor cells (EATC) and Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO-K1). Thiol-depleted cell cultures in plateau phase were obtained by prolonged incubation in growth medium containing DL-buthionine-SR-sulfoximine (BSO), a specific inhibitor of gamma-glutamyl-cysteine synthetase. Cells were then assayed using the procedures of G. L. Ellmann (Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 82, 70-77 (1959)), F. Tietze (Anal. Biochem. 27, 502-522 (1969)), and J. Sedlack and R.H. Lindsay (Anal. Biochem. 25, 192-205 (1968)) for non-protein bound SH (NPSH), glutathione (GSH), and total SH (TSH). In both cell lines GSH was reduced to less than 10% of controls at higher BSO concentrations around 1 mM, whereas TSH and NPSH were affected to only 40-60%. In EATC pretreated with up to 1 mM BSO for 72 h, increased levels of spontaneously occurring micronuclei were found. At BSO concentrations above 200 microM, both cell lines showed a potentiation of chromosome lesions scored as micronuclei and induced under aerobic X irradiation when liquid holding recovery in the original nutrient-depleted medium was performed; the extent of chromosome damage eventually reached that which could be obtained by application of beta-arabinofuranosyladenine (beta-araA), known to inhibit DNA repair processes by blocking DNA polymerases. It is therefore suggested that GSH depletion causes impairment of repair of lesions leading to chromosome deletions and subsequently to micronuclei. In contrast to CHO cell cultures, EATC showed a reversion of the potentiation effect as indicated by a decrease in the micronucleus content during prolonged incubation in the presence of BSO in the millimolar range. This effect could not be correlated to the remaining GSH content of less than 10% but may be due to some accumulation of unknown NPSH components. Since addition of L-cysteine to EATC cultures pretreated with BSO decreased the micronucleus content, cysteine/cystine or a related thiol within the NPSH fraction may be involved in the reestablishment of repair. Thus at least in one cell line, a rather complex response to BSO administration indicated that not only GSH but also other thiols may determine the level of chromosome damage after liquid holding recovery.     

Mycobactin and the competition for iron between Mycobacterium neoaurum and M. vaccae

Two closely related species of mycobacteria, Mycobacterium vaccae and M. neoaurum, were grown under conditions of iron-deficiency (0.02-0.05 microgram Fe ml-1) and iron-sufficiency (2-4 micrograms Fe ml-1) in a simple glycerol/asparagine medium. The strain of M. vaccae used was a nonmycobactin producer whereas M. neoaurum synthesized between 6-8% of its cell biomass as the lipid-soluble siderophore when grown under iron-limitation. The role of mycobactin for iron-acquisition was examined using both pure and mixed cultures, with cell viability determined following growth at various iron concentrations. M. neoaurum, the mycobactin producer, outgrew M. vaccae when iron was readily available. When grown under conditions where iron was limiting, M. neoaurum showed a decline in viable cell number compared with its competitor, highlighting its increased requirement for the metal. Some recovery was observed following mycobactin biosynthesis, this being greatly enhanced by the addition of an iron supplement to the growing cells. Mycobactin biosynthesis allowed M. neoaurum to rapidly acquire any additional iron presented to the bacteria when growing under iron-limitation. However, M. vaccae did not synthesize the lipid-soluble siderophore with its iron-requirement satisfied by production of extracellular exochelin.     

Degradation and total mineralization of monohalogenated biphenyls in natural sediment and mixed bacterial culture.

Mixed bacterial cultures obtained from polychlorinated biphenyl-contaminated river sediments are capable of degrading monohalogenated biphenyls under simulated natural conditions. Culture conditions include river water as supportive medium and mixed bacterial cultures obtained from river sediments. Degradation occurs when the substrates are supplied as the sole carbon source or when added together with glucose. The degradation rates of 2-, 3-, and 4-chlorobiphenyl, at 30 micrograms ml-1, were 1.1, 1.6, and 2.0 micrograms ml-1 day-1, respectively. Monobrominated biphenyls, including 2-, 3-, and 4-bromobiphenyl, were degraded at rates of 2.3, 4.2, and 1.4 micrograms ml-1 day-1, respectively. Metabolites, including halogenated benzoates, were detected by high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. By using chlorophenyl ring-labeled monochlorobiphenyls as substrates, total mineralization (defined as CO2 production from the chlorophenyl ring) was observed for 4-chlorobiphenyl but not for 2-chlorobiphenyl. Rates of total mineralization of 4-chlorobiphenyl (at 39 to 385 micrograms ml-1 levels) were dependent on substrate concentration, whereas variation of cell number in the range of 10(5) to 10(7) cells ml-1 had no significant effects. Simulated sunlight enhanced the rate of mineralization by ca. 400%.     

Degradation and total mineralization of monohalogenated biphenyls in natural sediment and mixed bacterial culture

Mixed bacterial cultures obtained from polychlorinated biphenyl-contaminated river sediments are capable of degrading monohalogenated biphenyls under simulated natural conditions. Culture conditions include river water as supportive medium and mixed bacterial cultures obtained from river sediments. Degradation occurs when the substrates are supplied as the sole carbon source or when added together with glucose. The degradation rates of 2-, 3-, and 4-chlorobiphenyl, at 30 micrograms ml-1, were 1.1, 1.6, and 2.0 micrograms ml-1 day-1, respectively. Monobrominated biphenyls, including 2-, 3-, and 4-bromobiphenyl, were degraded at rates of 2.3, 4.2, and 1.4 micrograms ml-1 day-1, respectively. Metabolites, including halogenated benzoates, were detected by high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. By using chlorophenyl ring-labeled monochlorobiphenyls as substrates, total mineralization (defined as CO2 production from the chlorophenyl ring) was observed for 4-chlorobiphenyl but not for 2-chlorobiphenyl. Rates of total mineralization of 4-chlorobiphenyl (at 39 to 385 micrograms ml-1 levels) were dependent on substrate concentration, whereas variation of cell number in the range of 10(5) to 10(7) cells ml-1 had no significant effects. Simulated sunlight enhanced the rate of mineralization by ca. 400%.     

p-Aminophenol-induced liver toxicity: tentative evidence of a role for acetaminophen

p-Aminophenol (PAP) is a widely used industrial chemical and a metabolite of analgesics, such as acetaminophen (APAP). It was found recently that PAP, a known nephrotoxicant, could cause acute hepatotoxicity in mice but not in rats. The mechanism of hepatotoxicity is not known. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of N-acetylation of PAP to APAP in PAP-induced toxicity. Male C57BL/6 mice injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with various doses of PAP were sacrificed at 12 hours for measurement of serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) levels and determination of the extent of hepatic nonprotein sulfhydryl (NPSH) and glutathione (GSH) depletion. Plasma levels of APAP and its metabolites were measured by HPLC after PAP administration. p-Aminophenol depleted NPSH in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Depletion of NPSH in mouse liver occurred at PAP doses above 400 mg/kg. Buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), an inhibitor of GSH synthesis, potentiated the PAP-induced hepatotoxicity. Ascorbate, a reducing agent, did not affect PAP-induced hepatotoxicity and NPSH depletion. After PAP treatment, APAP and its sulfate and glucuronide conjugates as well as GSH conjugates (APAP-cysteine and APAP-mercapturate) were detected in the plasma. The results suggest the roles of GSH and N-acetylation of PAP to APAP in PAP-induced hepatotoxicity.     

Sulfhydryl groups during the S phase: comparison of cells from G 1 , plateau-phase G 1 , and G 0

The non-protein sulfhydryl (NPSH) content of cells moving into S from G₁, plateau phase G₁, and G₀ was measured. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells accumulated in G₁ by growth into plateau phase contain only one-fourth the NPSH concentration of cycling C₁ cells or G₁ cells accumulated by brief growth in isoleucine-deficient medium. Upon dilution of plateau cultures with fresh medium, cellular NPSH content increases rapidly, reaching the same level as that in cycling cells within four hours. This increase is prevented by cycloheximide but not by actinomycin D or hydroxyurea. Neither CHO cells cycling in vitro nor salivary gland G₀ cells stimulated with isoproterenol in vivo show significant changes in intracellular NPSH concentrations during S phase. This suggests that the concentration of intracellular NPSH (glutathione) remains constant during the cell cycle except when cells are grown to plateau phase in exhausted or deficient medium, in which case normal degradation exceeds synthesis and the gross level falls until fresh medium is provided and synthesis, apparently on preexisting RNA templates, accelerates.     

Biosynthesis and utilization of aromatic compounds by Mycobacterium smegmatis with particular reference to the origin of salicylic acid

1. Although Mycobacterium smegmatis could utilize a number of aromatic compounds as sole sources of carbon for growth, it did not appear to be able to use salicylic acid for growth or to metabolize it to any great extent. 2. When M. smegmatis was grown on shikimic acid as sole source of carbon, salicylic acid, anthranilic acid and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid were released into the medium. When it was grown on quinic acid these compounds, together with p-hydroxybenzoic acid, p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid and a number of unidentified compounds, were formed. When it was grown on glucose only small amounts of salicylic acid could be detected. 3. When a washed suspension of cells with a normal iron content was incubated with shikimic acid, only small amounts of aromatic compounds were formed in the medium. When the cells were iron-deficient, substantial amounts of salicylic acid, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid and catechol were formed, together with several other compounds not definitely identified. 4. When washed suspensions of cells, whether iron-sufficient or iron-deficient, were incubated with tryptophan no evidence of formation of salicylic acid, anthranilic acid or phenolic compounds was obtained. Washed suspensions did not convert anthranilic acid into salicylic acid. 5. When cell-free extracts of M. smegmatis were incubated with shikimic acid, or shikimic acid 5-phosphate, traces of anthranilic acid were formed under certain conditions. No formation of salicylic acid or other phenolic compound was observed even when a number of combinations of cofactors and coenzymes were tried.     

Gametocytogenesis induction by ammonium compounds in cultured Plasmodium falciparum

Asexual parasites of a strain that seldom or never produce gametocytes in in vitro culture began gametocytogenesis after 24 h treatment with RPMI 1640 medium containing concanavalin A (final concentration, 10 micrograms ml-1) and ammonium carbonate (final concentration, 15 mM ml-1) or ammonium bicarbonate (final concentration, 15 mM ml-1). Gametocytogenesis was consistently observed from the 3rd day after the treatment. Concanavalin A enhanced gametocytogenesis induction by ammonium carbonate or ammonium bicarbonate, although concanavalin A does not itself have gametocytogenesis induction activity. Whereas no gametocytogenesis was observed after addition of concanavalin A and ammonium acetate (final concentration, 5-25 mM ml-1) or ammonium chloride (final concentration, 5-15 mM-1). Addition of ammonium compounds resulted in decrease of parasitemia, regardless of gametocytogenesis.     

The influence of oxygen on the induction of radiation damage in DNA in mammalian cells after sensitization by intracellular glutathione depletion

Treatment of mammalian cells with buthionine sulphoximine (BSO) or diethyl maleate (DEM) results in a decrease in the intracellular GSH (glutathione) and non-protein-bound SH (NPSH) levels. The effect of depletion of GSH and NPSH on radiosensitivity was studied in relation to the concentration of oxygen during irradiation. Single- and double-strand breaks (ssb and dsb) and cell killing were used as criteria for radiation damage. Under aerobic conditions, BSO and DEM treatment gave a small sensitization of 10-20 per cent for the three types of radiation damage. Also under severely hypoxic conditions (0.01 microM oxygen in the medium) the sensitizing effect of both compounds on the induction of ssb and dsb and on cell killing was small (0-30 per cent). At somewhat higher concentrations of oxygen (0.5-10 microM) however, the sensitization amounted to about 90 per cent for the induction of ssb and dsb and about 50 per cent for cell killing. These results strengthen the widely accepted idea that intracellular SH-compounds compete with oxygen and other electron-affinic radiosensitizers with respect to reaction with radiation-induced damage, thus preventing the fixation of DNA damages by oxygen. These results imply that the extent to which SH-compounds affect the radiosensitivity of cells in vivo depends strongly on the local concentration of oxygen.     

High production of polysialic acid [Neu5Ac alpha(2-8)-Neu5Ac alpha(2-9)]n by Escherichia coli K92 grown in a chemically defined medium. Regulation of temperature

The capsular polysaccharide of Escherichia coli K92 consists of a linear polymer of Neu5Ac with alternating alpha(2-8) and alpha(2-9) linkages. It accumulates when the bacterium is grown at 37 degrees C in a defined medium containing D-xylose and L-asparagine as carbon and nitrogen sources. Release of the capsular polymer into the medium was maximal (450 micrograms x ml-1) in the stationary phase of growth (76 h). This medium could be useful for obtaining sufficient polymer to develop effective vaccines. The enzyme, CMP-Neu5Ac synthetase, was not detected in cells grown at 20 degrees C. The lack of this enzyme explains the absence of polymer biosynthesis when the bacterium was grown at 20 degrees C.     

Heme oxygenase-1 induction by endogenous nitric oxide: influence of intracellular glutathione

To investigate the influence of glutathione (GSH) on cellular effects of nitric oxide (NO) formation, human colon adenocarcinoma cells were transfected with a vector allowing controlled expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Protein levels of oxidative stress-sensitive heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were analyzed in the presence or absence of GSH depletion using L-buthionine-[S,R]-sulfoximine and iNOS induction. While no effect was observed in the presence of iNOS activity alone, a synergistic effect on HO-1 expression was observed in the presence of iNOS expression and GSH depletion. This effect was prevented by addition of N-methyl-L-arginine. Therefore, targeting of endogenous NO may be modulated by intracellular GSH.     

Adaptive cellular response to hyperthermia: 31P-NMR studies

Dynamic intracellular ATP and Pi levels were measured non-invasively for Chinese hamster V79 cells by 31P-NMR under conditions of thermotolerance and heat-shock protein induction. High densities of cells were embedded in agarose strands, placed within a standard NMR sample tube, and perfused with medium maintained either at 37 or 43 degrees C at pH 7.35. Cell survival and heat-shock protein synthesis were assessed either from parallel monolayer cultures or cells dislodged from the agarose strands post-treatment. Thermotolerance (heat resistance) and heat-shock protein synthesis was induced by a 1 h exposure to 43 degrees C followed by incubation for 5 h at 37 degrees C. After the 5 h incubation at 37 degrees C, marked thermal resistance was observed in regard to survival with concomitant synthesis of two major heat-shock proteins at 70 and 103 kDa. Studies were also conducted where tolerance and heat-shock protein synthesis were partially inhibited by depletion of cellular glutathione (GSH) prior to and during heat treatment. Dynamic measurement of intracellular ATP of cells heated with or without GSH depletion revealed no change in steady-state levels immediately after heating or during the 5 h post-heating incubation at 37 degrees C where thermotolerance and heat-shock proteins develop. These data are consistent with other reported data for mammalian cells and indicate that the steady-state ATP levels in mammalian cells remain unchanged during and after the acquisition of the thermotolerant state.     

Glutathione and glutathione disulfide affect adventitious root formation and growth in tomato seedling cuttings

To study the relationship between glutathione and rooting, tomato seedling cuttings, grown on basal- or on auxin-supplemented media, were treated with the reduced (GSH) or oxidized (GSSG) form of this antioxidant. In turn, the consequences of the depletion of GSH pool on rooting were tested using l-buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), a specific inhibitor of GSH biosynthesis. Effects of the aforementioned treatments on rooting response were assessed. GSH treatment promoted root formation on cuttings grown on both basal- and auxin-supplemented media. Whereas GSSG did not affect the number of roots formed by cuttings grown on basal medium, it strongly enhanced the rooting stimulatory effect of auxin treatment. GSH depletion resulting from BSO application did not change the number of roots formed. All the tested compounds, namely GSH, GSSG, BSO and auxin, had a strong inhibitory effect on the elongation of regenerated roots. Supplementing the rooting medium with glutathione efficiently increased the GSH level in the rooting zones, while addition of BSO led to a strong decrease in endogenous GSH level. Neither of the treatments affected the level of GSSG. Exogenous auxin affect neither GSH nor GSSG levels in rooting zones; however, in the regenerated roots, GSH level was significantly higher when the organs were formed on auxin-supplemented medium. Patterns of GSH distribution in the roots regenerated on basal- and auxin-enriched media were studied using the GSH-specific dye monochlorobimane and confocal laser scanning microscopy. GSH was found in the root apical meristem and in the elongation zone. Auxin did not change the GSH distribution; however, the number of fluorescent cells was higher when roots were regenerated on auxin-supplemented medium.     

Nitrogen depletion causes up-regulation of glutathione content and γ-glutamyltranspeptidase in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

This work aims to elucidate the relationship between nitrogen depletion and Glutathione (GSH) level in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The total GSH level was much higher in the Pap1-positive KP1 cells than in the Pap1-negative TP108-3C cells, suggesting that synthesis of GSH is dependent on Pap1. When the Pap1-positive KP1 cells were transferred to the nitrogen-depleted medium, total GSH level significantly increased up to 6 h and then slightly declined after 9 h. Elevation of the total GSH level was observed to be much less with the Pap1-negative cells. However, glucose deprivation was not able to enhance the GSH level in the KP1 cells. Activity of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (gamma-GT), an enzyme in the first step of GSH catabolism, also increased during nitrogen depletion. The total GSH level was more significantly enhanced in the KP1 cells overexpressing gamma-GT2 than gamma-GT1 during nitrogen starvation. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were not changed during nitrogen starvation in both Pap1-positive and Pap1-negative cells. Collectively, nitrogen depletion causes up-regulation of GSH synthesis and gamma-GT in a Pap1-dependent manner.