Oxidation of ferrous iron during peroxidation of lipid substrates

Oxidation of Fe2+ in solution was dependent upon medium composition and the presence of lipid. The complete oxidation of Fe2+ in 0.9% saline was markedly accelerated in the presence of phosphate or EDTA and the ferrous oxidation product formed was readily recoverable as Fe2+ by ascorbate reduction. In contrast, in the presence of either brain synaptosomal membranes, phospholipid liposomes, fatty acid micelles or H2O2, less than 50% of the Fe2+ oxidized during an incubation could be recovered as Fe2+ via reduction with ascorbate. In the presence of unsaturated lipid, oxidation of Fe2+ was associated with peroxidation of lipid, as assessed by the uptake of O2 and formation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive products during incubations. Although relatively little Fe2+ oxidation or lipid peroxidation occurred in saline with synaptosomes or linoleic acid micelles during an incubation with Fe2+ alone, significant Fe2+ oxidation and lipid peroxidation occurred in incubations containing a 1:1 ratio of Fe2+ and Fe3+. Extensive Fe2+ oxidation and lipid peroxidation also occurred with Fe2+ alone in saline incubations with either linolenic or arachidonic acid acid micelles or liposomes prepared from dilinoleoylphosphatidylcholine. While a 1:1 ratio of Fe2+ and Fe3+ enhanced thiobarbituric acid-reactive product formation in incubations containing linolenic or arachidonic micelles, it reduced the rate of O2 consumption as compared with Fe2+ alone. The results demonstrate that oxidation of Fe2+ in incubations containing lipid substrates is linked to and accelerated by peroxidation of those substrates. Furthermore, the results suggest that oxidation of Fe2+ in the presence of lipid or H2O2 creates forms of iron which differ from those formed during simple Fe2+ autoxidation.     

Differential regulation of cadmium-inducible expression of iron-deficiency-responsive genes in tobacco and barley

The expression of four representative iron-deficiency-responsive genes from tobacco ( NtIRT1 and NtYSL1 ) and barley ( HvIDS2 and HvYS1 ) plants were evaluated in each host plant in response to iron deficiency (ΔFe), cadmium exposure (+Cd) or both (ΔFe + Cd). These conditions significantly enhanced NtIRT1 and HvIDS2 expression in roots, whereas NtYSL1 and HvYS1 expression was similar in shoots and roots. NtIRT1 expression under +Cd and ΔFe + Cd was lower than that under ΔFe, whereas the expression of NtYSL1 , HvIDS2 and HvYS1 in roots under +Cd and ΔFe + Cd was similar or higher than that under ΔFe. A time-course experiment showed that NtIRT1 expression under +Cd and ΔFe was regulated similarly throughout the experiment [expressed between 3 and 21 days after treatment (DAT)]. NtYSL1 expression under +Cd and ΔFe began at 1 DAT; expression soon disappeared under ΔFe, whereas it continued to 21 DAT under +Cd. The timing of HvIDS2 and HvYS1 expression under +Cd (between 1 and 5 DAT) was earlier than that under ΔFe (between 5 and 21 DAT). Notably, no Fe deficit occurred in any parts of these plants when grown under +Cd, except for tobacco shoots, even when the genes were highly expressed. Thus, some expression under +Cd differed from that under ΔFe. It is possible that both the genuine Fe-deficiency-responsive mechanism and an unidentified mechanism, which can be directly regulated by Cd, contribute to gene expression to maintain metal homeostasis within the plant.     

Possible contribution of oxyhemoglobin to the iron-induced hemolysis simultaneous effect of iron and hemoglobin on lipid peroxidation

The mechanism of iron toxicity in iron overloaded patients is not well established. A hypothesis was put forward that free radical processes are involved. Our earlier study indicates that iron-induced hemolysis is preceded by peroxidation of the membrane lipids. In the present work the simultaneous effect of iron and hemoglobin on lipid peroxidation was studied. It was found that in hemoglobin-containing liposome suspensions Fe2+ in concentrations above 10(-5) M inhibits the peroxidation, while Fe3+ drastically potentiates it, with concomitant transformation of oxyhemoglobin to methemoglobin. The experiments with scavengers of activated oxygen indicate superoxide anion radical (O-.2), hydroxyl radical (OH.) and singlet oxygen (1O2) participation. The possible mechanism of the phenomenon is discussed. A conclusion is drawn that the toxic effect of Fe3+ may be associated not only with iron--membrane interaction, but also with increased methemoglobin formation and O-.2 release.     

Characterization of tissue tolerance to iron by molecular markers in different lines of rice

Ferrous iron (Fe2+) toxicity is a major disorder in rice prod uction on acid, flooded soils. Rice ( Oryza sativa L.) genotypes differ widely in tolerance to Fe2+ toxicity, which makes it possible to bre ed more tolerant rice varieties. Tissue tolerance to higher iron concentrations in plants has been considered to be important to Fe2+ tolerance in ri ce. Segregation for leaf bronzing and growth reduction due to Fe2+ to xicity was observed in a doubled haploid (DH) population with 135 lines derived from a Fe2+ tolerant japonica variety, Azucena, and a sensitive indic a variety, IR64 in a solution culture with Fe2+ stress condition at a Fe2+concentration of 250 mg L-1 at pH 4.5. To better understand the mechanism of tissue tolerance, Leaf Bronzing Index (LBI), total iron concentration in shoot tissue and the enzymes of ascorbate peroxidase (AP), dehydroascorbate reductase (DR) and glutathione reductase (GR), and concentrations of ascorbate (AS) and dehydroascorbate (DHA), which are involved in the ascorbate-specific H2O2-scavenging system, were determined for the population under Fe2+ stress. A non-normal distribution of LBI was found. About 38 lines showed no bronzing, while the lines with non-zero LBI values ranged from 0.05 to 0.85 and showed a normal distribution. The other parameters measured showed normal distribution. The total iron concentrations in the 38 tolerant lines ranged from 1.76 mg Fe g-1 to 4.12 mg Fe g-1 and was in a similar range as in the non-tolerant genotype (2.04 – 4.55 mg Fe g-1). No significant differences in the activities of the enzymes were found between the parents under normal culture, but remarkably higher Fe2+ induced enzyme activities were observed in the tolerant parent. AS was similar between the parents under both normal and Fe2+ stress, but its concentration was sharply decreased under Fe2+ stress. DHA was much lower in the tolerant parent than in the sensitive parent under Fe2+ stress. Single locus analysis and interval mapping analysis based on 175 molecular markers revealed that the interval flanked by RG345 and RZ19 on chromosome one was an important location of gene(s) for Fe2+ tolerance. The ascorbate-specific system for scavenging Fe2+-mediated oxygen free radicals may be an important mechanism for tissue Fe2+ tolerance. A gene locus with relative small effect on root ability to exclude Fe2+ was also detected.     

Antioxidant properties of S-adenosyl-L-methionine in Fe(2+)-initiated oxidations

S-Adenosylmethionine (SAM) is protective against a variety of toxic agents that promote oxidative stress. One mechanism for this protective effect of SAM is increased synthesis of glutathione. We evaluated whether SAM is protective via possible antioxidant-like activities. Aerobic Hepes-buffered solutions of Fe2+ spontaneously oxidize and consume O2 with concomitant production of reactive oxygen species and oxidation of substrates to radical products, e.g., ethanol to hydroxyethyl radical. SAM inhibited this oxidation of ethanol and inhibited aerobic Fe2+ oxidation and consumption of O2. SAM did not regenerate Fe2+ from Fe3+ and was not consumed after incubation with Fe2+. SAM less effectively inhibited aerobic Fe2+ oxidation in the presence of competing chelating agents such as EDTA, citrate, and ADP. The effects of SAM were mimicked by S-adenosylhomocysteine, but not by methionine or methylthioadenosine. SAM did not inhibit Fe2+ oxidation by H2O2 and was a relatively poor inhibitor of the Fenton reaction. Lipid peroxidation initiated by Fe2+ in liposomes was associated with Fe2+ oxidation; these two processes were inhibited by SAM. However, SAM did not show significant peroxyl radical scavenging activity. SAM also inhibited the nonenzymatic lipid peroxidation initiated by Fe2+ + ascorbate in rat liver microsomes. These results suggest that SAM inhibits alcohol and lipid oxidation mainly by Fe2+ chelation and inhibition of Fe2+ autoxidation. This could represent an important mechanism by which SAM exerts cellular protective actions and reduces oxidative stress in biological systems.     

Mechanisms for survival of bacteria in oxidative stress and iron ions deficiency

The influence of culture medium Fe2+ content on the resistance of Escherichia coli to hydroxyl radicals formed in the presence of Fe2+ and hydrogen peroxide in Fenton reaction was investigated. It was founded that a lack of Fe2+ in a culture medium increased resistance of bacteria to hydroxyl radicals but not to hydrogen peroxide. The suggestion was made that the lack of Fe2+ starts up synthesis of metabolites which inactivate hydroxyl radical or block Fe2+ ions participating in Fenton reaction. The phenomenon under study is considered to be a possible mechanism for survival of bacteria in oxidative stress and iron ions deficiency.     

Metabolic depletion inhibits the uptake of nontransferrin-bound iron by K562 cells

The effect of metabolic inhibitors on nontransferrin bound iron transport by K562 cells was investigated. Incubation with 1 microM rotenone, 10 microM antimycin, or 0.5 mM 2,4-dinitrophenol effectively reduced ATP levels by approximately 50%. Both the rate and extent of Fe+3 uptake were impaired in ATP-depleted cells, which display a reduced Vmax for uptake. K562 cell ferrireductase activity was also lowered by metabolic inhibitors, suggesting that the apparent energy requirements for transport reside in the reduction of Fe+3 to Fe+2. However, ATP depletion was found to inhibit the rate and extent of Fe+2 uptake as well. Thus, the transbilayer passage of Fe+2 and/or Fe+3 appears to be an energy-requiring process. These features possibly reflect properties of the transport mechanism associated with a recently identified K562 cell transport protein, called SFT for "Stimulator of Fe Transport," since exogenous expression of its activity is also affected by ATP depletion.     

Effects of hydrogen peroxide upon nicotinamide nucleotide metabolism in Escherichia coli: changes in enzyme levels and nicotinamide nucleotide pools and studies of the oxidation of NAD(P)H by Fe(III)

DNA is damaged in vivo by the Fenton reaction mediated by Fe2+ and cellular reductants such as NADH, which reduce Fe3+ to Fe2+ and allow the recycling of iron. To study the response of Escherichia coli to such cycling, the activities of several enzymes involved in nicotinamide nucleotide metabolism were measured following an H2O2 challenge. NADPH-dependent peroxidase, NADH/NADP+ transhydrogenase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were most strongly induced, increasing 2.5-3-fold. In addition, the cellular ratios of NADPH to NADH increased 6- or 92-fold 15 min after exposure to 0.5 or 5 mm H2O2, respectively. In vitro, NADH was oxidized by Fe3+ up to 16-fold faster than NADPH, despite their identical reduction potentials. To understand this rate difference, the interactions of Fe3+ and Ga3+ with NAD(P)H were examined by 1H, 13C, and 31P NMR spectroscopy. Association with NADH occurred primarily with adenine at N7 and the amino group, but for NADPH, strong metal interactions also occurred at the 2'-phosphate group. Interaction of M3+ (Fe3+ or Ga3+) with the adenine ring would bring it into close proximity to the redox-active nicotinamide ring in the folded form of NAD(P)H, but interaction of M3+ with the 2'-phosphate group would avoid this close contact. In addition, as determined by absorbance spectroscopy, the energy of the charge-transfer species was significantly higher for the Fe3+.NADPH complex than for the Fe3+.NADH complex. We therefore suggest that upon exposure to H2O2 the NADH pool is depleted, and NADPH, which is less reactive with Fe3+, functions as the major nicotinamide nucleotide reductant.     

NADPH- and adriamycin-dependent microsomal release of iron and lipid peroxidation

In a previous study (Minotti, G., 1989, Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 268, 398-403) NADPH-supplemented microsomes were found to reduce adriamycin (ADR) to semiquinone free radical (ADR-.), which in turn autoxidized at the expense of oxygen to regenerate ADR and form O2-. Redox cycling of ADR was paralleled by reductive release of membrane-bound nonheme iron, as evidenced by mobilization of bathophenanthroline-chelatable Fe2+. In the present study, iron release was found to increase with concentration of ADR in a superoxide dismutase- and catalase-insensitive manner. This suggested that membrane-bound iron was reduced by ADR-. with negligible contribution by O2-. or interference by its dismutation product H2O2. Following release from microsomes, Fe2+ was reconverted to Fe3+ via two distinct mechanisms: (i) catalase-inhibitable oxidation by H2O2 and (ii) catalase-insensitive autoxidation at the expense of oxygen, which occurred upon chelation by ADR and increased with the ADR:Fe2+ molar ratio. Malondialdehyde formation, indicative of membrane lipid peroxidation, was observed when approximately 50% of Fe2+ was converted to Fe3+. This occurred in presence of catalase and low concentrations of ADR, which prevented Fe2+ oxidation and favored only partial Fe2+ autoxidation, respectively. Lipid peroxidation was inhibited by superoxide dismutase via increased formation of H2O2 from O2-. and excessive Fe2+ oxidation. Lipid peroxidation was also inhibited by high concentrations of ADR, which favored maximum Fe2+ release but also caused excessive Fe2+ autoxidation via formation of very high ADR:Fe2+ molar ratios. These results highlighted multiple and diverging effects of ADR, O2-., and H2O2 on iron release, iron (auto-)oxidation and lipid peroxidation. Stimulation of malondialdehyde formation by catalase suggested that lipid peroxidation was not promoted by reaction of Fe2+ with H2O2 and formation of hydroxyl radical. The requirement for both Fe2+ and Fe3+ was indicative of initiation by some type of Fe2+/Fe3+ complex.     

Inhibition of prolyl 4-hydroxylase by hydroxyanthraquinones.

Prolyl 4-hydroxylase (EC 1.14.11.2) is an essential enzyme in the post-translational modification of collagen. Inhibitors of this enzyme are of potential interest for the treatment of diseases involving excessive deposition of collagen. We have found that anthraquinones with at least two hydroxy groups ortho to each other are potent inhibitors of this enzyme. Kinetic studies revealed that 2,7,8-trihydroxyanthraquinone (THA) competitively inhibited the co-substrate, 2-oxoglutarate, but was non-competitive with regard to ascorbate and was tentatively considered to be uncompetitive with regard to protocollagen. The inhibition by THA was greatly enhanced in the absence of added Fe2+ and was partially reversed by the addition of concentrations of Fe2+ in excess of the optimum for the enzymic reaction. Binding studies indicated that THA is an effective chelating agent for Fe2+. Several non-quinoidal compounds bearing the catechol moiety also inhibited the enzyme. The results suggest that THA inhibited prolyl 4-hydroxylase by binding to the enzyme at the site for 2-oxoglutarate possibly involving the Fe2+ atom, rather than by complexing with Fe2+ in free solution. The inhibition of prolyl 4-hydroxylase by THA exhibited strong positive co-operativity and may involve three distinct but non-independent binding sites.     

Essential role of ferrous iron in cyanide-resistant respiration in Hansenula anomala

Antimycin A-dependent induction of cyanide-resistant respiration in Hansenula anomala was completely blocked by o-phenanthroline, alpha,alpha'-dipyridyl, or 8-hydroxyquinoline. Pulse-labeling of the cells with [35S]methionine in the presence of both antimycin A and o-phenanthroline indicated that the 36-kDa protein previously reported to be involved in cyanide-resistant respiration [(1989) J. Biochem. 105, 864-866] was formed in mitochondria even under these conditions. The addition of Fe2+, but not Fe3+, ions to these cells in the presence of cycloheximide resulted in the rapid expression of cyanide-resistant respiration activity. These results suggest that in the presence of both antimycin A and o-phenanthroline an inactive form of the 36-kDa protein was formed and Fe2+ ions converted it to the active form. It is also likely that Fe2+ ions are involved in the reaction mechanism of cyanide-resistant respiration.     

微生物协同Fe0氧化的环境修复作用研究进展

零价铁(Fe0)具有高效还原转化多种污染物的能力,但不能实现污染物的矿化作用。微生物与Fe0的协同作用过程,以微生物为主导,Fe0起促进作用,可有效提高多种污染物的降解效率,实现污染物的彻底脱毒与无害化,因此利用微生物协同Fe0氧化进行环境修复具有广阔的应用前景。本文从微生物协同Fe0氧化的作用机理、菌种多样性及其在环境修复中的应用等研究进展进行综述,提出微生物协同Fe0氧化的环境修复研究中存在的主要问题和重点研究方向,以期在更全面、深入地认识这一过程的基础上,充分发挥其在环境修复中的作用。     

Distinctive iron requirement of tryptophan 5-monooxygenase: TPH1 requires dissociable ferrous iron

A peripheral type of tryptophan 5-monooxygenase (EC 1.14.16.4), TPH1, is very unstable in vitro, but the inactivation was reversible and full reactivation occurs upon anaerobic incubation with a high concentration of dithiothreitol (DTT, 15 mM). In this study, distinctive iron requirement of TPH1 was revealed through analysis of the enzyme's inactivation and activation by DTT. For this purpose, all the glasswares, plastics, Sephadex G-25 gels, and reagents including protein solutions had been treated with metal chelators, and apo-TPH was prepared by treatment with EDTA. Apo-TPH thus prepared exclusively required free Fe2+ for its catalytic activity; 10(-8) M was enough under the strict absence of Fe3+ but 10(-12) M was too low. No other metal ions including Fe3+ were effective. It appeared that Fe3+ bound to the enzyme with a higher affinity than Fe2+, resulting in the inactivation. Ascorbate, a non-thiol reducing agent, did not substitute DTT in the activation of TPH1, but enhanced the Fe2+-dependent activity of apo-TPH as effectively as DTT. Thus, the DTT-activation was essentially substituted by preparation of apo-TPH by the EDTA treatment and the assay of apo-TPH in the presence of Fe2+ and ascorbate. The activation of TPH1 by incubation with DTT was accompanied by exposure of 9 sulfhydryls out of the total 10 cysteine residues, but the cleavage of disulfide bonds seemed not to be crucial, even if it occurred. The effect of DTT was substituted by some other sulfhydryls whose structure was analogous to that of commonly used metal chelators. Based on these observations, the following dual roles of DTT are proposed: (1) in the activation of TPH, DTT removes inappropriate bound iron (Fe3+) as a chelator, keeping Fe3+ away from the enzyme's binding site which needs to bind Fe2+ for the catalytic activity, and (2) in both the activation and reaction processes, DTT prevents oxidation of Fe2+ to Fe3+ as a reducing agent.     

Factors that influence the deoxyribose oxidation assay for Fenton reaction products.

The mechanism of oxidation of deoxyribose to thiobarbituric acid-reactive products by Fenton systems consisting of H2O2 and either Fe2+ or Fe2+ (EDTA) has been studied. With Fe2+ (EDTA), dependences of product yield on reactant concentrations are consistent with a reaction involving OH.. With Fe2+ in 5-50 mM phosphate buffer, yields of oxidation products were much higher and increased with increasing deoxyribose concentration up to 30 mM. The product yield varied with H2O2 and Fe2+ concentrations in a way to suggest competition between deoxyribose and both reactants. Deoxyribose oxidation by Fe2+ and H2O2 was enhanced 1.5-fold by adding superoxide dismutase, even though superoxide generated by xanthine oxidase increased deoxyribose oxidation. These results are not as expected for a reaction involving free OH. or site localized OH. product on the deoxyribose. They can be accommodated by a mechanism of deoxyribose oxidation involving an iron(IV) species formed from H2O2 and Fe2+, but the overall conclusion is that the system is too complex for definitive identification of the Fenton oxidant.     

Membrane potential dependence of Fe(III) uptake by mouse duodenum

Intestinal iron uptake by mouse duodenal fragments is inhibited in the absence of oxygen and glucose from the incubation medium and by a variety of metabolic inhibitors. The mechanism of energy coupling to iron uptake is, however, unclear. In vitro experiments using duodenal fragments showed Fe3+ uptake to be markedly inhibited, in a reversible fashion, by the replacement of incubation medium Na+ by K+. Addition of phloridzin to the medium failed to affect iron uptake, suggesting that the above effect was not a consequence of reduced glucose uptake. Substitution of Na+ by Rb+ also potently reduced duodenal iron uptake. Replacement of medium NaCl by either mannitol or choline chloride had no significant effect on Fe3+ uptake, thus excluding the possibility of the Fe3+ uptake process being Na+-dependent. Similar observations were made with duodenal fragments from animals with enhanced Fe3+ absorption, due to chronic hypoxia. Valinomycin (1-5 microM) increased the uptake of both glucose and Fe3+. Higher concentrations (22.5 microM) of the ionophore were inhibitory. In vivo studies (tied-off segments) using Rb+-containing medium confirmed the inhibitory effects of univalent cations on Fe3+ absorption. Enhanced absorption of Fe3+ was also demonstrable in vivo, with low concentrations of valinomycin and nigericin added to the luminal medium. These observations suggest that the Fe3+ uptake process may be dependent on the brush-border membrane potential.     

Inhibition of DNA-ethidium bromide intercalation due to free radical attack upon DNA

The fluorescent intercalation complex of ethidium bromide with DNA was used as a probe to demonstrate damage in the base-pair region of DNA, due to the action of superoxide radicals. The O.2- radical itself, generated by gamma-radiolysis of oxygenated aqueous Na-formate solutions, is rather ineffective with respect to impairment of DNA. Copper(II) ions, known to interact with DNA by coordinate binding at purines, enhance the damaging effect of O.2-. Addition of H2O2 to the DNA/Cu(II) system gives rise to further enhancement, so that DNA impairment by O.2- becomes comparable to that initiated by .OH radicals. These results suggest that the modified, Cu(II)-catalysed, Haber-Weiss process transforms O.2- into .OH radicals directly at the target molecule, DNA-Cu2+ + O.2-----DNA-Cu+ + O2 DNA-Cu+ + H2O2----DNA...OH + Cu2+ + OH- in a "site-specific" mechanism as proposed for other systems (Samuni et al. 1981; Aronovitch et al. 1984). Slow DNA decomposition also occurs without gamma-irradiation by autocatalysis of DNA/Cu(II)/H2O2 systems. In this context we observed that Cu(II) in the DNA-Cu2+ complex (unlike free Cu2+) is capable of oxidizing Fe(II) to Fe(III), thus the redox potential of the Cu2+/Cu+ couple appears to be higher than that of the Fe3+/Fe2+ couple when the ions are complexed with DNA. Metal-catalysed DNA damage by O.2- also occurs with Fe(III), but not with Ag(I) or Cd(II) ions. It was also observed that Cu(II) ions (but neither Ag(I) nor Cd(II] efficiently quench the fluorescence of the intercalation complex of ethidium bromide with DNA.     

Ascorbic acid, metal ions and the superoxide radical.

1. No evidence could be found for production of the superoxide radical, O2-, during autoxidation of ascorbic acid at alkaline pH values. Indeed, ascorbate may be important in protection against O2- genat-d in vivo. 2. Oxidation of ascorbate at pH 10.2 was stimulated by metal ions. Stimulation by Fe2+ was abolished by superoxide dismutase, probably because of generation of O2-- during reduction of O2 by Fe2+, followed by reaction of O2-- with ascorbate. EDTA changed the mechanism of Fe2+-stimulated ascorbate oxidation. 3. Stimulation of ascorbate oxidation by Cu2+ was also decreased by superoxide dismutase, but this appears to be an artifact, since apoenzyme or bovine serum albumin showed similar effects.     

Attachment of Pseudomonas fluorescens to glass and influence of electrolytes on bacterium-substratum separation distance.

The influence of Na+, Ca2+, La3+, and Fe3+ on the adhesion of Pseudomonas fluorescens H2 and H2S was investigated with interference reflection microscopy (IRM). IRM is a light microscopy technique which allows (i) visualization of the adhesive sites of living bacteria as they attach to a glass cover slip surface and (ii) evaluation of the bacterium-glass surface separation distance within a range of 0 to ca. 100 nm. The addition of each cation caused changes in IRM images consistent with a decrease in the separation distance, and minimum effective concentrations were as follows: Na+, 1 mM; Ca2+, 1 mM; La3+, 50 microM; and Fe3+, 50 microM. With strain H2, the effects of Na+, Ca2+, and La3+ were fully reversible in that the separation distance increased again when the electrolyte was replaced with distilled water. However, with strain H2S, a spontaneous mutant of H2 with increased attachment ability, only the effect of Na+ was fully reversible, and the effects of Ca2+ and La3+ were only partially reversible or irreversible. The effect of Fe3+ was irreversible with both strains, but this may be related not only to the electrolytic nature of Fe3+ but also to the decrease in solution pH to 3.5 caused by its addition. It is proposed that the electrolytes caused a decrease in separation distance by neutralizing negative charges on bacterial surface polymers and that the different effects obtained with the two strains are related to their different adhesion abilities.