Site-specific DNA damage induced by hydrazine in the presence of manganese and copper ions. The role of hydroxyl radical and hydrogen atom.

The mechanism of DNA damage by hydrazine in the presence of metal ions was investigated by DNA sequencing technique and ESR-spin trapping method. Hydrazine caused DNA damage in the presence of Mn(III), Mn(II), Cu(II), Co(II), and Fe(III). The order of inducing effect on hydrazine-dependent DNA damage (Mn(III) greater than Mn(II) approximately Cu(II) much greater than Co(II) approximately Fe(III)) was related to that of the accelerating effect on the O2 consumption rate of hydrazine autoxidation. DNA damage by hydrazine plus Mn(II) or Mn(III) was inhibited by hydroxyl radical scavengers and superoxide dismutase, but not by catalase. On the other hand, bathocuproine and catalase completely inhibited DNA damage by hydrazine plus Cu(II), whereas hydroxyl radical scavengers and superoxide dismutase did not. Hydrazine plus Mn(II) or Mn(III) caused cleavage at every nucleotide with a little weaker cleavage at adenine residues, whereas hydrazine plus Cu(II) induced piperidine-labile sites frequently at thymine residues, especially of the GTC sequence. ESR-spin trapping experiments showed that hydroxyl radical is generated during the Mn(III)-catalyzed autoxidation of hydrazine, whereas hydrogen atom adducts of spin trapping reagents are generated during Cu(II)-catalyzed autoxidation. The results suggest that hydrazine plus Mn(II) or Mn(III) generate hydroxyl free radical not via H2O2 and that this hydroxyl free radical causes DNA damage. A possibility that the hydrogen atom releasing compound participates in hydrazine plus Cu(II)-induced DNA damage is discussed.     

Comparison of the vibration mode of metals in HNO3 by a partial least-squares regression analysis of near-infrared spectra

The near-infrared (NIR) spectra of such metals as Cu(II), Mn(II), Zn(II) and Fe(III) in HNO(3) in the 700-1,860 nm region were subjected to a partial least-squares regression analysis and leave-out cross-validation to develop chemometric models. The models yielded a coefficient of determination in cross validation of 0.9744 [Cu(II)], 0.9631 [Mn(II)], 0.9154 [Zn(II)] and 0.741 [Fe(III)]. The regression coefficients for Cu(II), Mn(II) and Zn(II), but not for Fe(III), showed strong negative peaks at around 1,050-1,200 nm, a zone where spectral bands have been reported to decrease with increasing pH value. A positive peak at around 710-750 nm, which may have been due to water absorption, was observed in regression coefficients of Cu(II), Mn(II) and Zn(II) but not in Fe(III), while a negative peak was observed in that for Fe(III) at around 710-750 nm. These results indicate that the divalent cations [Cu(II), Mn(II) and Zn(II)] showed different absorption in the NIR region from the trivalent cation [Fe(III)], suggesting that the vibration mode of water, which mirrors the interaction between cations and water, may be influenced by valency.     

Interactions of quercetin with iron and copper ions: complexation and autoxidation

Quercetin (3,3',4',5,7-pentahydroxyflavone), one of the most abundant dietary flavonoids, has been investigated for its ability to bind Fe(II), Fe(III), Cu(I) and Cu(II) in acidic to neutral solutions. In particular, analysis by UV-visible spectroscopy allows to determine the rate constants for the formation of the 1:1 complexes. In absence of added metal ion, quercetin undergoes a slow autoxidation in neutral solution with production of low hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) concentrations. Autoxidation is accelerated by addition of the metal ions according to: Cu(I) > Cu(II)>Fe(II) Fe(III). In fact, the iron-quercetin complexes seem less prone to autoxidation than free quercetin in agreement with the observation that EDTA addition, while totally preventing iron-quercetin binding, slightly accelerates quercetin autoxidation. By contrast, the copper-quercetin complexes appear as reactive intermediates in the copper-initiated autoxidation of quercetin. In presence of the iron ions, only low concentrations of H(2)O(2) can be detected. By contrast, in the presence of the copper ions, H(2)O(2) is rapidly accumulated. Whereas Fe(II) is rapidly autoxidized to Fe(III) in the presence or absence of quercetin, Cu(I) bound to quercetin or its oxidation products does not undergo significant autoxidation. In addition, Cu(II) is rapidly reduced by quercetin. By HPLC-MS analysis, the main autoxidation products of quercetin are shown to be the solvent adducts on the p-quinonemethide intermediate formed upon two-electron oxidation of quercetin. Finally, in strongly acidic conditions (pH 1-2), neither autoxidation nor metal complexation is observed but Fe(III) appears to be reactive enough to quickly oxidize quercetin (without dioxygen consumption). Up to ca. 7 Fe(III) ions can be reduced per quercetin molecule, which points to an extensive oxidative degradation.     

Bridging-type changes facilitate successive oxidation steps at about 1 V in two binuclear manganese complexes--implications for photosynthetic water-oxidation

The redox behavior of two synthetic manganese complexes illustrates a mechanistic aspect of importance for light-driven water oxidation in Photosystem II (PSII) and design of biomimetic systems (artificial photosynthesis). The coupling between changes in oxidation state and structural changes was investigated for two binuclear manganese complexes (1 and 2), which differ in the set of first sphere ligands to Mn (N(3)O(3) in 1, N(2)O(4) in 2). Both complexes were studied by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) in three oxidation states which had been previously prepared either electro- or photochemically. The following bridging-type changes are suggested. In 1: Mn(II)-(mu-OR)(mu-OCO)(2)-Mn(II)<-->Mn(II)-(mu-OR)(mu-OCO)(2)-Mn(III)-->Mn(III)-(mu-OR)(mu-OCO)(mu-O)-Mn(III). In 2: Mn(II)-(mu-OR)(mu-OCO)(2)-Mn(III)<-->Mn(III)-(mu-OR)(mu-OCO)(2)-Mn(III)-->Mn(III)-(mu-OR)(mu-OCO)(mu-O)-Mn(IV). In both complexes, the first one-electron oxidation proceeds without bridging-type change, but involves a redox-potential increase by 0.5-1V. The second one-electron oxidation likely is coupled to mu-oxo-bridge (or mu-OH) formation which seems to counteract a further potential increase. In both complexes, mu-O(H) bridge formation is associated with a redox transition proceeding at approximately 1V, but the mu-O(H) bridge is observed at the Mn(2)(III,III) level in 1 and at the Mn(III,IV) level in 2, demonstrating modulation of the redox behavior by the terminal ligands. It is proposed that also in PSII bridging-type changes facilitate successive oxidation steps at approximately the same potential.     

Characterization of reactions catalyzed by manganese peroxidase from Phanerochaete chrysosporium

Manganese peroxidase (MnP) is one of two extracellular peroxidases believed to be involved in lignin biodegradation by the white-rot basidiomycete Phanerochaete chrysosporium. The enzyme oxidizes Mn(II) to Mn(III), which accumulates in the presence of Mn(III) stabilizing ligands. The Mn(III) complex in turn can oxidize a variety of organic substrates. The stoichiometry of Mn(III) complex formed per hydrogen peroxide consumed approaches 2:1 as enzyme concentration increases at a fixed concentration of peroxide or as peroxide concentration decreases at a fixed enzyme concentration. Reduced stoichiometry below 2:1 is shown to be due to Mn(III) complex decomposition by hydrogen peroxide. Reaction of Mn(III) with peroxide is catalyzed by Cu(II), which explains an apparent inhibition of MnP by Cu(II). The net decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to form molecular oxygen also appears to be the only observable reaction in buffers that do not serve as Mn(III) stabilizing ligands. The nonproductive decomposition of both Mn(III) and peroxide is an important finding with implications for proposed in vitro uses of the enzyme and for its role in lignin degradation. Steady-state kinetics of Mn(III) tartrate and Mn(III) malate formation by the enzyme are also described in this paper, with results largely corroborating earlier findings by others. Based on a comparison of pH effects on the kinetics of enzymatic Mn(III) tartrate and Mn(III) malate formation, it appears that pH effects are not due to ionizations of the Mn(III) complexing ligand.     

Light-induced multistep oxidation of dinuclear manganese complexes for artificial photosynthesis

Two dinuclear manganese complexes, [Mn(2)BPMP(mu-OAc)(2)].ClO(4) (1, where BPMP is the anion of 2,6-bis([N,N-di(2-pyridinemethyl)amino]methyl)-4-methylphenol) and [Mn(2)L(mu-OAc)(2)].ClO(4) (2, where L is the trianion of 2,6-bis([N-(2-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butylbenzyl)-N-(2-pyridinemethyl)amino]methyl)-4-methylphenol), undergo several oxidations by laser flash photolysis, using ruthenium(II)-tris-bipyridine (tris(2,2-bipyridyl)dichloro-ruthenium(II) hexahydrate) as photo-sensitizer and penta-amminechlorocobalt(III) chloride as external electron acceptor. In both complexes stepwise electron transfer was observed. In 1, four Mn-valence states from the initial Mn(2)(II,II) to the Mn(2)(III,IV) state are available. In 2, three oxidation steps are possible from the initial Mn(2)(III,III)state. The last step is accomplished in the Mn(2)(IV,IV) state, which results in a phenolate radical. For the first time we provide firm spectral evidence for formation of the first intermediate state, Mn(2)(II,III), in 1 during the stepwise light-induced oxidation. Observation of Mn(2)(II,III) is dependent on conditions that sustain the mu-acetato bridges in the complex, i.e., by forming Mn(2)(II,III) in dry acetonitrile, or by addition of high concentrations of acetate in aqueous solutions. We maintain that the presence of water is necessary for the transition to higher oxidation states, e.g., Mn(2)(III,III) and Mn(2)(III,IV) in 1, due to a bridging ligand exchange reaction which takes place in the Mn(2)(II,III) state in water solution. Water is also found to be necessary for reaching the Mn(2)(IV,IV) state in 2, which explains why this state was not reached by electrolysis in our earlier work (Eur. J. Inorg. Chem (2002) 2965). In 2, the extra coordinating oxygen atoms facilitate the stabilization of higher Mn valence states than in 1, resulting in formation of a stable Mn(2)(IV,IV) without disintegration of 2. In addition, further oxidation of 2, led to the formation of a phenolate radical (g = 2.0046) due to ligand oxidation. Its spectral width (8 mT) and very fast relaxation at 15 K indicates that this radical is magnetically coupled to the Mn(2)(IV,IV) center.     

Studies on human lactoferrin by electron paramagnetic resonance, fluorescence, and resonance Raman spectroscopy

Investigations of metal-substituted human lactoferrins by fluorescence, resonance Raman, and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy confirm the close similarity between lactoferrin and serum transferrin. As in the case of Fe(III)- and Cu(II)-transferrin, a significant quenching of apolactoferrin's intrinsic fluorescence is caused by the interaction of Fe(III), Cu(II), Cr(III), Mn(III), and Co(III) with specific metal binding sites. Laser excitation of these same metal-lactoferrins produces resonance Raman spectral features at ca. 1605, 1505, 1275, and 1175 cm-1. These bands are characteristic of tyrosinate coordination to the metal ions as has been observed previously for serum transferins and permit the principal absorption band (lambda max between 400 and 465 nm) in each of the metal-lactoferrins to be assigned to charge transfer between the metal ion and tyrosinate ligands. Furthermore, as in serum transferrin the two metal binding sites in lactoferrin can be distinguished by EPR spectroscopy, particularly with the Cr(III)-substituted protein. Only one of the two sites in lactoferrin allows displacement of Cr(III) by Fe(III). Lactoferrin is known to differ from serum transferrin in its enhanced affinity for iron. This is supported by kinetic studies which show that the rate of uptake of Fe(III) from Fe(III)--citrate is 10 times faster for apolactoferrin than for apotransferrin. Furthermore, the more pronounced conformational change which occurs upon metal binding to lactoferrin is corroborated by the production of additional EPR-detectable Cu(II) binding sites in Mn(III)-lactoferrin. The lower pH required for iron removal from lactoferrin causes some permanent change in the protein as judged by altered rates of Fe(III) uptake and altered EPR spectra in the presence of Cu(II). Thus, the common method of producing apolactoferrin by extensive dialysis against citric acid (pH 2) appears to have an adverse effect on the protein.     

Carbon quantity and quality drives variation in cave microbial communities and regulates Mn(II) oxidation

Cave ecosystems are carbon limited and thus are particularly susceptible to anthropogenic pollution. Yet, how carbon quality and quantity that can modulate the pathways and amount of Mn cycling in caves remains largely unknown. To explore Mn cycling, baseline bacterial, archaeal, and fungal communities associated with Mn(III/IV) oxide deposits were assessed in both relatively ‘pristine’ and anthropogenically impacted caves in the Appalachian Mountains (USA). Cave sites were then amended with various carbon sources that are commonly associated with anthropogenic input to determine whether they stimulate biotic Mn(II) oxidation in situ. Results revealed patterns between sites that had long-term exogenous carbon loading compared to sites that were relatively ‘pristine,’ particularly among Bacteria and Archaea. Carbon treatments that stimulated Mn(II) oxidation at several sites resulted in significant changes to the microbial communities, indicating that anthropogenic input can not only enhance biotic Mn(II) oxidation, but also shape community structure and diversity. Additional carbon sources amended with copper were incubated at various cave sites to test the role that Cu(II) plays in in situ biotic Mn(II) oxidation. Media supplemented with 100 µM Cu(II) inhibited bacterial Mn(II) oxidation but stimulated fungal Mn(II) oxidation, implicating fungal use of multicopper oxidase (MCO) enzymes but bacterial use of superoxide to oxidize Mn(II). In sites with low C:N ratios, the activity of the Mn(II) oxidizing enzyme manganese peroxidase (MnP) appears to be limited (particularly by MnP-utilizing Basidiomycetes and/or Zygomycetes).     

Inactivation and reactivation of manganese catalase: oxidation-state assignments using X-ray absorption spectroscopy.

The oxidation states of the Mn atoms in three derivatives of Mn catalase have been characterized using a combination of X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) and EPR spectroscopies. The as-isolated enzyme has an average oxidation state of Mn(III) and contains a Mn(III) form, together with a reduced Mn(II) form and a variable amount (10-25%) of a Mn(III)/Mn(IV) mixed-valence derivative. Treatment with NH2OH rapidly reduces the majority of the enzyme to a Mn(II) derivative with no loss of activity. Inactivation by treatment with NH2OH + H2O2 converts all of the enzyme to a mixed-valence Mn(III)/Mn(IV) form. The inactive, mixed-valence derivative can be completely reactivated by long-term (greater than 1 h) anaerobic incubation with NH2OH, giving a reduced Mn(II)/Mn(II) derivative. These data suggest a catalytic model in which the enzyme cycles between a reduced Mn(II)/Mn(II) state and an oxidized Mn(III)/Mn(III) state.     

Cr(III) Oxidation and Cr Toxicity in Cultures of the Manganese(II)-Oxidizing Pseudomonas putida Strain GB-1

Abstract

Mn oxides have long been considered the primary environmental oxidant of Cr(III), however, since most of the reactive Mn oxides in the environment are believed to be of biological origin, microorganisms may indirectly mediate Cr(III) oxidation and accelerate the rate over that seen in purely abiotic systems. In this study, we examined the ability of the Mn(II)-oxidizing bacterium, Pseudomonas putida strain GB-1, to oxidize Cr(III). Our results show that GB-1 cannot oxidize Cr(III) directly, but that in the presence of Mn(II), Cr(III) can be rapidly and completely oxidized. Growth studies suggest that in growth medium with few organics the resulting Cr(VI) may be less toxic to P. putida GB-1 than Cr(III), which is generally considered less hazardous. In addition, Cr(III) present during the growth of P. putida GB-1 appeared to cause iron stress as determined by the production of the fluorescent siderophore pyoverdine. When stressed by Fe limitation or Cr(III) toxicity, Mn(II) oxidation by GB-1 is inhibited.     

Comparison of the Vibration Mode of Metals in HNO3 by a Partial Least-Squares Regression Analysis of Near-Infrared Spectra

The near-infrared (NIR) spectra of such metals as Cu(II), Mn(II), Zn(II) and Fe(III) in HNO₃ in the 700–1860 nm region were subjected to a partial least-squares regression analysis and leave-out cross-validation to develop chemometric models. The models yielded a coefficient of determination in cross validation of 0.9744 [Cu(II)], 0.9631 [Mn(II)], 0.9154 [Zn(II)] and 0.741 [Fe(III)]. The regression coefficients for Cu(II), Mn(II) and Zn(II), but not for Fe(III), showed strong negative peaks at around 1050–1200 nm, a zone where spectral bands have been reported to decrease with increasing pH value. A positive peak at around 710–750 nm, which may have been due to water absorption, was observed in regression coefficients of Cu(II), Mn(II) and Zn(II) but not in Fe(III), while a negative peak was observed in that for Fe(III) at around 710–750 nm. These results indicate that the divalent cations [Cu(II), Mn(II) and Zn(II)] showed different absorption in the NIR region from the trivalent cation [Fe(III)], suggesting that the vibration mode of water, which mirrors the interaction between cations and water, may be influenced by valency.     

What Are the Oxidation States of Manganese Required To Catalyze Photosynthetic Water Oxidation?

Photosynthetic O(2) production from water is catalyzed by a cluster of four manganese ions and a tyrosine residue that comprise the redox-active components of the water-oxidizing complex (WOC) of photosystem II (PSII) in all known oxygenic phototrophs. Knowledge of the oxidation states is indispensable for understanding the fundamental principles of catalysis by PSII and the catalytic mechanism of the WOC. Previous spectroscopic studies and redox titrations predicted the net oxidation state of the S(0) state to be (Mn(III))(3)Mn(IV). We have refined a previously developed photoassembly procedure that directly determines the number of oxidizing equivalents needed to assemble the Mn(4)Ca core of WOC during photoassembly, starting from free Mn(II) and the Mn-depleted apo-WOC complex. This experiment entails counting the number of light flashes required to produce the first O(2) molecules during photoassembly. Unlike spectroscopic methods, this process does not require reference to synthetic model complexes. We find the number of photoassembly intermediates required to reach the lowest oxidation state of the WOC, S(0), to be three, indicating a net oxidation state three equivalents above four Mn(II), formally (Mn(III))(3)Mn(II), whereas the O(2) releasing state, S(4), corresponds formally to (Mn(IV))(3)Mn(III). The results from this study have major implications for proposed mechanisms of photosynthetic water oxidation.     

Photo-induced oxidation of a dinuclear Mn(2)(II,II) complex to the Mn(2)(III,IV) state by inter- and intramolecular electron transfer to Ru(III)tris-bipyridine

To model the structural and functional parts of the water oxidizing complex in Photosystem II, a dimeric manganese(II,II) complex (1) was linked to a ruthenium(II)tris-bipyridine (Ru(II)(bpy)(3)) complex via a substituted L-tyrosine, to form the trinuclear complex 2 [J. Inorg. Biochem. 78 (2000) 15]. Flash photolysis of 1 and Ru(II)(bpy)(3) in aqueous solution, in the presence of an electron acceptor, resulted in the stepwise extraction of three electrons by Ru(III)(bpy)(3) from the Mn(2)(II,II) dimer, which then attained the Mn(2)(III,IV) oxidation state. In a similar experiment with compound 2, the dinuclear Mn complex reduced the photo-oxidized Ru moiety via intramolecular electron transfer on each photochemical event. From EPR it was seen that 2 also reached the Mn(2)(III,IV) state. Our data indicate that oxidation from the Mn(2)(II,II) state proceeds stepwise via intermediate formation of Mn(2)(II,III) and Mn(2)(III,III). In the presence of water, cyclic voltammetry showed an additional anodic peak beyond Mn(2)(II,III/III,III) oxidation which was significantly lower than in neat acetonitrile. Assuming that this peak is due to oxidation to Mn(2)(III,IV), this suggests that water is essential for the formation of the Mn(2)(III,IV) oxidation state. Compound 2 is a structural mimic of the water oxidizing complex, in that it links a Mn complex via a tyrosine to a highly oxidizing photosensitizer. Complex 2 also mimics mechanistic aspects of Photosystem II, in that the electron transfer to the photosensitizer is fast and results in several electron extractions from the Mn moiety.     

Comparative evaluation of manganese peroxidase- and Mn(III)-initiated peroxidation of C18 unsaturated fatty acids by different methods

The peroxidation of C18 unsaturated fatty acids by fungal manganese peroxidase (MnP)/Mn(II) and by chelated Mn(III) was studied with application of three different methods: by monitoring oxygen consumption, by measuring conjugated dienes and by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) formation. All tested polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were oxidized by MnP in the presence of Mn(II) ions but the rate of their oxidation was not directly related to degree of their unsaturation. As it has been shown by monitoring oxygen consumption and conjugated dienes formation the linoleic acid was the most easily oxidizable fatty acid for MnP/Mn(II) and chelated Mn(III). However, when the lipid peroxidation (LPO) activity was monitored by TBARS formation the linolenic acid gave the highest results. High accumulation of TBARS was also recorded during peroxidation of linoleic acid initiated by MnP/Mn(II). Action of Mn(III)-tartrate on the PUFAs mimics action of MnP in the presence of Mn(II) indicating that Mn(III) ions are involved in LPO initiation. Although in our experiments Mn(III) tartrate gave faster than MnP/Mn(II) initial oxidation of the unsaturated fatty acids with consumption of O₂ and formation of conjugated dienes the process was not productive and did not support further development of LPO. The higher effectiveness of MnP/Mn(II)-initiated LPO system depends on the turnover of manganese provided by MnP. It is proposed that the oxygen consumption assay is the best express method for evaluation of MnP- and Mn(III)-initiated peroxidation of C18 unsaturated fatty acids.     

A carboxylic residue at the high-affinity, Mn-binding site participates in the binding of iron cations that block the site

The role of carboxylic residues at the high-affinity, Mn-binding site in the ligation of iron cations blocking the site [Biochemistry 41 (2000) 5854] was studied, using a method developed to extract the iron cations blocking the site. We found that specifically bound Fe(III) cations can be extracted with citrate buffer at pH 3.0. Furthermore, citrate can also prevent the photooxidation of Fe(II) cations by YZ. Participation of a COOH group(s) in the ligation of Fe(III) at the high-affinity site was investigated using 1-ethyl-3-[(3-dimethylamino)propyl] carbodiimide (EDC), a chemical modifier of carboxylic amino acid residues. Modification of the COOH groups inhibits the light-induced oxidation of exogenous Mn(II) cations by Mn-depleted photosystem II (PSII[-Mn]) membranes. The rate of Mn(II) oxidation saturates at > or = 10 microM in PSII(-Mn) membranes and > or = 500 microM in EDC-treated PSII (-Mn) samples. Intact PSII(-Mn) membranes have only one site for Mn(II) oxidation via YZ (dissociation constant, Kd = 0.64 microM), while EDC-treated PSII(-Mn) samples have two sites (Kd = 1.52 and 22 microM; the latter is the low-affinity site). When PSII(-Mn) membranes were incubated with Fe(II) before modifier treatment (to block the high-affinity site) and the blocking iron cations were extracted with citrate (pH 3.0) after modification, the membranes contained only one site (Kd = 2.3 microM) for exogenous Mn(II) oxidation by Y(Z)() radical. In this case, the rate of electron donation via YZ saturated at a Mn(II) concentration > or = 15 microM. These results indicate that the carboxylic residue participating in Mn(II) coordination and the binding of oxidized manganese cations at the HAZ site is protected from the action of the modifier by the iron cations blocking the HAZ site. We concluded that the carboxylic residue (D1 Asp-170) participating in the coordination of the manganese cation at the HAZ site (Mn4 in the tetranuclear manganese cluster [Science 303 (2004) 1831]) is also involved in the ligation of the Fe cation(s) blocking the high-affinity Mn-binding site.     

Initiation of transcription by T7 RNA polymerase as its natural promoters.

A kinetic assay has been developed to measure the strength of natural T7 promoters. By determining the rate of appearance of initiation products in the presence of constant concentrations of T7 RNA polymerase, an incomplete mixture of ribonucleoside triphosphates, and increasing promoter concentrations, a maximum rate of product formation (Vmax) and a promoter concentration giving half of the maximal activity ([P]Vmax/2) can be determined for any cloned T7 promoter. On supercoiled plasmids, it was found that the [P]Vmax/2 measured for the six promoters phi 1.1B, phi 1.3, phi 3.8, phi 6.5, phi 10, and phi 13 ranged from 3.4 +/- 1.1 to 12.0 +/- 2.4 nM while the Vmax values showed no significant trends. On plasmids that had been linearized by cleavage at a single site with a restriction endonuclease, the cloned T7 promoters assayed fell into two broad classes that appear to be characterized by the T7 class II and III promoters. Generally, the class II promoters required higher promoter concentrations to produce half of the maximum rates of initiation ([P]Vmax/2 values) than the class III promoters. The [P]Vmax/2 values for the class II promoters ranged from 20 +/- 2.7 to 23 +/- 3.6 nM, while the [P]Vmax/2 values for the class III promoters phi 10 and phi 13 were 13 +/- 1.6 nM and 7.8 +/- 1.4 nM. The one exception is the class III promoter phi 6.5 whose [P] Vmax/2 (17 +/- 5 nM) falls between the [P]Vmax/2 values of the class II promoters and the strong class III promoters. The Vmax values measured on linear templates are variable, but it appears that phi 10 is more active than the other five promoters.     

Synthesis, spectroscopic, and antitumor activity of metal chelates of S-methyl-N-(l-isoquinolyl)-methylendithiocarbazate

Complexes of Mn(III), Fe(III), Fe(II), Co(III), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), and Pt(II) with S-methyl-N-(l-isoquinolyl) methylendithiocarbazate (N-N-SH) were isolated and characterized by elemental analysis, conductance measurement, magnetic susceptibilities, and spectroscopic studies. On the basis of these studies, a highly distorted, high-spin, chloro-bridged, polymeric octahedral structure for [Mn(N-N-S)Cl2]; a distorted, low-spin, monomeric octahedral structure for [Fe(N-N-S)2]; a distorted, high-spin, octahedral structure for [Ni(N-N-S)2]; and a square-planar structure for [M(N-N-S)X] (M = Ni, Cu, Pt or Zn and X = Cl- or -OAc) are suggested. With Fe(III), the complex [Fe(N-N-S)2][FeCl4] was isolated while the Co(II) was oxidized to yield the Co(III) ion as [Co(N-N-S)2]2[CoCl4]. All these complexes were screened for their antitumor activity against P 388 lymphocytic leukemia test system in mice. Except for Mn(III), Fe(III), and Co(III) complexes, all were found to possess significant activity; the Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes showed a T/C% value of 160 and 195, respectively, at their optimum dosages.     

The first spectroscopic model for the S1 state multiline signal of the OEC

The parallel-mode electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum of the S(1) state of the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) shows a multiline signal centered around g=12, indicating an integer spin system. The series of [Mn(2)(2-OHsalpn)(2)] complexes were structurally characterized in four oxidation levels (Mn(II)(2), Mn(II)Mn(III), Mn(III)(2), and Mn(III)Mn(IV)). By using bulk electrolysis, the [Mn(III)Mn(IV)(2-OHsalpn)(2)(OH)] is oxidized to a species that contains Mn(IV) oxidation state as detected by X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES) and that can be formulated as Mn(IV)(4) tetramer. The parallel-mode EPR spectrum of this multinuclear Mn(IV)(4) complex shows 18 well-resolved hyperfine lines center around g=11 with an average hyperfine splitting of 36 G. This EPR spectrum is very similar to that found in the S(1) state of the OEC. This is the first synthetic manganese model complex that shows an S(1)-like multiline spectrum in parallel-mode EPR.     

Arsenite Oxidation Using Biogenic Manganese Oxides Produced by a Deep-Sea Manganese-Oxidizing Bacterium,Marinobacter sp. MnI7-9

Marinobacter sp. MnI7-9, a deep-sea manganese [Mn(II)]-oxidizing bacterium isolated from the Indian Ocean, showed a high resistance to Mn(II) and other metals or metalloids and high Mn(II) oxidation/removal abilities. This strain was able to grow well when the Mn(II) concentration reached up to 10 mM, and at that concentration, 76.4% of the added Mn(II) was oxidized and 23.4% of the Mn(II) was adsorbed by the generated biogenic Mn oxides (total 99.9% Mn removal). Scanning electron microscope observation and X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the biogenic Mn oxides were in stick shapes, adhered to the cell surface, and contained two typical crystal structures of γ-MnOOH and δ-MnO₂. In addition, the biogenic Mn oxides generated by strain MnI7-9 showed abilities to oxidize the highly toxic As(III) to the less toxic As(V), in both co-culture and after-collection systems. In the co-culture system containing 10 mM Mn(II) and 55 μM As(III), the maximum percentage of As(III) oxidation was 83.5%. In the after-collection system using the generated biogenic Mn oxides, 90% of the As(III) was oxidized into As(V), and the concentration of As(III) decreased from 55.02 to 5.55 μM. This study demonstrates the effective bioremediation by a deep-sea Mn(II)-oxidizing bacterium for the treatment of As-containing water and increases the knowledge of deep-sea bacterial Mn(II) oxidation mechanisms. Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Geomicrobiology Journal to view the supplemental file.