Catalase Expression Is Modulated by Vancomycin and Ciprofloxacin and Influences the Formation of Free Radicals in Staphylococcus aureus Cultures

Detection of free radicals in biological systems is challenging due to their short half-lives. We have applied electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy combined with spin traps using the probes PBN (N-tert-butyl-α-phenylnitrone) and DMPO (5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide) to assess free radical formation in the human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus treated with a bactericidal antibiotic, vancomycin or ciprofloxacin. While we were unable to detect ESR signals in bacterial cells, hydroxyl radicals were observed in the supernatant of bacterial cell cultures. Surprisingly, the strongest signal was detected in broth medium without bacterial cells present and it was mitigated by iron chelation or by addition of catalase, which catalyzes the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen. This suggests that the signal originates from hydroxyl radicals formed by the Fenton reaction, in which iron is oxidized by hydrogen peroxide. Previously, hydroxyl radicals have been proposed to be generated within bacterial cells in response to bactericidal antibiotics. We found that when S. aureus was exposed to vancomycin or ciprofloxacin, hydroxyl radical formation in the broth was indeed increased compared to the level seen with untreated bacterial cells. However, S. aureus cells express catalase, and the antibiotic-mediated increase in hydroxyl radical formation was correlated with reduced katA expression and catalase activity in the presence of either antibiotic. Therefore, our results show that in S. aureus, bactericidal antibiotics modulate catalase expression, which in turn influences the formation of free radicals in the surrounding broth medium. If similar regulation is found in other bacterial species, it might explain why bactericidal antibiotics are perceived as inducing formation of free radicals.     

Adventitious chemistry at reduced water activities: free radicals and polyhydroxy agents

Free radicals have been associated with loss of viability of lyophilized bacteria exposed to oxygen. Free radical concentration was proportional to the log of the oxygen pressure in the sample. Sugars, such as lactose or sucrose, preserved viability and inhibited free radical production. Lyophilized tissue, particularly liver and spleen, also reacted with oxygen to produce free radicals, which appear to be associated with ascorbic acid in the tissues. Pure ascorbic acid in air does not produce free radicals, but when mixed with protein before lyophilization it reacts with oxygen in air. When a mixture of sodium ascorbate and phenylalanine or tryptophan is lyophilized, free radicals identical to those observed in tissue are obtained. Propyl gallate and di- or trihydroxybenzoates also react with oxygen when lyophilized with phenylalanine, but the g value of the free radical is significantly less than that obtained with ascorbate. A number of amino acids and similar nitrogenous compounds act as catalysts to form propyl gallate free radicals. As with the bacterial or tissue preparations, various sugars or similar carbohydrates inhibited free radical production by either ascorbate or gallate. In the absence of water the free radicals produced by the action of oxygen on lyophilized samples are stable for years. The rate of free radical production is increased by small amounts of moisture (exposure to moist air), but at humidities over 30% rh the radicals are unstable.     

Presence of Hydrogen Peroxide,a Source of Hydroxyl Radicals,in Acid Electrolyzed Water

Background

Acid electrolyzed water (AEW), which is produced through the electrolysis of dilute sodium chloride (NaCl) or potassium chloride solution, is used as a disinfectant in various fields because of its potent antimicrobial activity. The hydroxyl radical, an oxygen radical species, is often suggested as a putative active ingredient for AEW antimicrobial activity.

Methodology/Principal Findings

The aim of the present study is to detect hydroxyl radicals in AEW. The hydroxyl radicals in AEW prepared under different conditions were determined using an electron spin resonance (ESR) technique. A signal from 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO)-OH, an adduct of DMPO and the hydroxyl radical, was detected in AEW prepared by double or triple electrolyses of 1% NaCl but not of 0.1% NaCl solution. Then the presence of hydrogen peroxide as a proposed source of hydroxyl radicals was examined using a combination of ESR and a Fenton reaction. The DMPO-OH signal was clearly detected, even in AEW prepared by single electrolysis of 0.1% NaCl solution, when ferrous sulfate was added to induce a Fenton reaction, indicating the presence of hydrogen peroxide in the AEW. Since sodium formate, a hydroxyl radical scavenger, did not affect the bactericidal activity of AEW, it is concluded that the radical is unlikely to contribute to the antimicrobial activity of AEW, although a small amount of the radical is produced from hydrogen peroxide. Dimethyl sulfoxide, the other hydroxyl radical scavenger used in the present study, canceled the bactericidal activity of AEW, accompanied by complete depletion of free available chlorine, suggesting that hypochlorous acid is probably a major contributor to the antimicrobial activity.

Conclusions

It is strongly suggested that although hydrogen peroxide is present in AEW as a source of hydroxyl radicals, the antimicrobial activity of AEW does not depend on these radicals.     

Generation and recycling of radicals from phenolic antioxidants

Hindered phenols are widely used food preservatives. Their pharmacological properties are usually attributed to high antioxidant activity due to efficient scavenging of free radicals. Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) also cause tissue damage. Their toxic effects could be due to the production of phenoxyl radicals. If phenoxyl radicals can be recycled by reductants or electron transport, their potentially harmful side reactions would be minimized. A simple and convenient method to follow phenoxyl radical reactions in liposomes and rat liver microsomes based on an enzymatic (lipoxygenase + linolenic acid) oxidation system was used to generate phenoxyl radicals from BHT and its homologues with substitutents in m- and p-positions. Different BHT-homologues display characteristic ESR signals of their radical species. In a few instances the absence of phenoxyl radical ESR signals was found to be due to inhibition of lipoxygenase by BHT-homologues. In liposome or microsome suspensions addition of ascorbyl palmitate resulted in disappearance of the ESR signal of phenoxyl radicals with concomittant appearance of the ascorbyl radical signal. After exhaustion of ascorbate, the phenoxyl radical signal reappears. Comparison of the rates of ascorbyl radical decay in the presence or absence of BHT-homologues showed that temporary elimination of the phenoxyl radical ESR signal was due to their reduction by ascorbate. Similarly, NADPH or NADH caused temporary elimination of ESR signals as a result of reduction of phenoxyl radicals in microsomes. Since ascorbate and NADPH might generate superoxide in the incubation system used, SOD was tested. SOD shortened the period, during which the phenoxyl radicals ESR signal could not be observed. Both ascorbyl palmitate and NADPH exerted sparing effects on the loss of BHT-homologues during oxidation. These effects were partly diminished by SOD. These data indicate that reduction of phenoxyl radicals was partly superoxide-dependent. It is concluded that redox recycling of phenoxyl radicals can occur by intracellular reductants like ascorbate and microsomal electron transport.     

Sterilization effect of atmospheric plasma on Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis endospores

Aims:  Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis spores were treated with an atmospheric plasma mixture created by the ionization of helium and oxygen to investigate the inactivation efficiency of a low-temperature plasma below 70°C.
Methods and results:  An electrical discharge plasma was produced at a radio frequency (RF) of 13·56 MHz, connected to a perforated circular electrode with a discharge spacing of 1–15 mm. The discharge gas was helium with 0–2% oxygen. For the plasma treatment, a dried E. coli cell or B. subtilis endospore suspension on a cover-glass was exposed to oxygen downstream of the plasma from holes in an RF-powered electrode. The sterilization effect of the RF plasma was highest with 0·2% oxygen, corresponding to the maximum production of oxygen radicals.
Conclusions:  Oxygen radicals generated by RF plasma are effective for the destruction of bacterial cells and endospores.
Significance and Impact of the study:  Low-temperature atmospheric plasma can be used for the disinfection of diverse objects, especially for the inactivation of bacterial endospores.     

ESR spin trapping for characterization of radical formation in Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM and Listeria innocua

In this study, radicals in pure cultures of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM and Listeria innocua were detected in a quantitative way by electron spin resonance spectroscopy using spin trapping with 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) or N-tert-butyl-α-phenylnitrone (PBN). No adverse effect of spin trap addition on viability was observed for any of the bacterial strains. L. acidophilus NCFM had a higher production of radicals than L. innocua when incubated in a growth medium. Furthermore, by using DMPO in a buffer system, the radicals produced by L. acidophilus NCFM could be identified as hydroxyl radicals. The presence of polyethylene glycol, impermeable for bacterial cells, decreased the signal intensity of the ESR spectrum of the DMPO–OH adduct in cultures of L. acidophilus NCFM and indicated quenching of hydroxyl radicals outside the bacteria. This suggests that radical production is an extracellular event for L. acidophilus NCFM.     

Protection against photooxidative damage provided by enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant system in sorghum seedlings

Effect of photoinhibition of sorghum leaves and isolated chloroplasts on chlorophyll fluorescence, peroxidation of thylakoid lipids and activity of antioxidant enzymes were studied. Photoinhibition of intact leaves and isolated chloroplasts decreased Fv/Fm ratio and qP, while qN increased. Photoinhibitory damage was more at 5 degrees C than at 30 degrees or 50 degrees C. Peroxidation of thylakoid lipids was 5 times greater when photoinhibited at 50 degrees C compared to control. Photoinhibition of chloroplasts under low oxygen condition or when supplemented with anti-oxidants (beta-carotene, ascorbate and GSH) resulted in significantly less damage to photosynthesis (Fv/Fm ratio) and peroxidation level. Photoinhibition also resulted in many fold increase in the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and decrease in catalase. Data presented here suggest that photoinhibition resulted in production of oxygen radicals and photoinhibition of chloroplasts in the presence of low oxygen level or when supplemented with antioxidants decreased the damage to Fv/Fm ratio and peroxidation level to a great extent since former prevented the formation of oxygen radicals and later could scavenge the oxygen radicals thus the protection. Increase activity of SOD and APX may also be to metabolise the oxygen radicals produced during photoinhibition treatment, thereby, protecting the seedlings against photooxidative damage.     

Factors Related to the Oxygen Tolerance of Anaerobic Bacteria

The effect of atmospheric oxygen on the viability of 13 strains of anaerobic bacteria, two strains of facultative bacteria, and one aerobic organism was examined. There were great variations in oxygen tolerance among the bacteria. All facultative bacteria survived more than 72 h of exposure to atmospheric oxygen. The survival time for anaerobes ranged from less than 45 min for Peptostreptococcus anaerobius to more than 72 h for two Clostridium perfringens strains. An effort was made to relate the degree of oxygen tolerance to the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidases in cell-free extracts of the bacteria. All facultative bacteria and a number of anaerobic bacteria possessed superoxide dismutase. There was a correlation between superoxide dismutase activity and oxygen tolerance, but there were notable exceptions. Polyacrylamide gel electropherograms stained for superoxide dismutase indicated that many of the anaerobic bacteria contained at least two electrophoretically distinct enzymes with superoxide dismutase activity. All facultative bacteria contained peroxidase, whereas none of the anaerobic bacteria possessed measurable amounts of this enzyme. Catalase activity was variable among the bacteria and showed no relationship to oxygen tolerance. The ability of the bacteria to reduce oxygen was also examined and related to enzyme content and oxygen tolerance. In general, organisms that survived for relatively long periods of time in the presence of oxygen but demonstrated little superoxide dismutase activity reduced little oxygen. The effects of medium composition and conditions of growth were examined for their influence on the level of the three enzymes. Bacteria grown on the surface of an enriched blood agar medium generally had more enzyme activity than bacteria grown in a liquid medium. The data indicate that superoxide dismutase activity and oxygen reduction rates are important determinants related to the tolerance of anaerobic bacteria to oxygen.     

Ascorbyl free radical as a reliable indicator of free-radical-mediated myocardial ischemic and post-ischemic injury. A real-time continuous-flow ESR study

The real-time kinetics of the release of ascorbyl free radicals in the coronary perfusate from isolated rat hearts submitted to an ischemia/reperfusion sequence has been achieved by continuous-flow ESR using high-speed acquisition techniques. Enhanced ESR detection of ascorbyl free radicals was obtained by addition of dimethyl sulfoxide (Me2SO), a strong cation chelator and oxidizing agent. A continuous-flow device allowed a direct monitoring of the ascorbyl free radical and/or ascorbate leakage in coronary perfusate by observation of the ascorbyl radical doublet (aH = 0.188 mT and g = 2.0054). 1. The results showed that ascorbyl free radical release occurred mainly during sequences of low-flow ischemia (90 min) coupled or not with 30 min of zero-flow ischemia followed by reperfusion (60 min). The kinetic profiles of ascorbyl-free-radical detection confirm in quantitative terms the expected correlation between the duration of the ischemic insult and the magnitude of ascorbate extracellular release upon reperfusion. There is indication that ascorbyl free radical depletion could be secondary to oxygen-derived-free-radical-induced cellular damage. 2. The amount of residual ascorbic acid was quantitated on myocardial tissue at the end of reperfusion using Me2SO as extracting solvent. Intense oxidation of ascorbate and chemical stabilization of the resulting free radical species provided by Me2SO allowed ESR measurement of a marked tissue ascorbate depletion related to the duration of ischemia. 3. Perfusion of superoxide dismutase during low-flow ischemia and the first 10 min of reperfusion greatly inhibited both extracellular release and endogenous ascorbate depletion. These results suggest that the ascorbate redox system constitutes a major protective mechanism against free-radical-induced myocardial injury. 4. The proposed direct ESR detection of ascorbyl free radicals in the coronary perfusates or in tissue extracts does not require extensive chemical preparation and conditioning of effluent or tissue samples. It provides an interesting straightforward alternative to the evaluation of detrimental free radical processes affecting the myocardium during ischemia and reperfusion.     

Ascorbate-dependent recycling of the vitamin E homologue Trolox by dihydrolipoate and glutathione in murine skin homogenates

In the redox antioxidant network, dihydrolipoate can synergistically enhance the ascorbate-dependent recycling of vitamin E. Since the major endogenous thiol antioxidant in biological systems is glutathione (GSH) it was of interest to compare the effects of dihydrolipoate with GSH on ascorbate-dependent recycling of the water-soluble homologue of vitamin E, Trolox, by electron spin resonance (ESR). Trolox phenoxyl radicals were generated by a horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) oxidation system. In the presence of dihydrolipoate, Trolox radicals were suppressed until both dihydrolipoate and endogenous levels of ascorbate in skin homogenates were consumed. Similar experiments made in the presence of GSH revealed that Trolox radicals reappeared immediately after ascorbate was depleted and that GSH was not able to drive the ascorbate-dependent Trolox recycling reaction. However, at higher concentrations GSH was able to increase ascorbate-mediated Trolox regeneration from the Trolox radical. ESR and spectrophotometric measurements demonstrated the ability of dihydrolipoate or GSH to react with dehydroascorbate, the two-electron oxidation product of ascorbate in this system. Dihydrolipoate regenerated greater amounts of ascorbate at a much faster rate than equivalent concentrations of GSH. Thus the marked difference between the rate and efficiency of ascorbate generation by dihydrolipoate as compared with GSH appears to account for the different kinetics by which these thiol antioxidants influence ascorbate-dependent Trolox recycling.     

Role of Bacteria in the Oxidation of Myoglobin

The addition to steaks of cell suspensions of a number of aerobic bacteria and of Saccharomyces cerevisiae greatly increased the rate of discoloration. Low inocula resulted in the more rapid appearance of the brown color of metmyoglobin, whereas high cell populations quickly produced the purple color of myoglobin. Sonically treated suspensions of Pseudomonas geniculata produced similar changes in surface color but less rapidly. No such effect was observed with Lactobacillus plantarum.

The visible changes in color were found to be associated with the oxygen demand of the surface tissue including, of course, the demand of any contaminating microorganisms. Inhibitors of respiratory activity inhibited the rate of discoloration under normal atmospheric conditions. However, when the oxygen level in the atmosphere was reduced, the inhibitors had no significant effect. In an oxygen-free atmosphere, the steak surfaces were the purple color of myoglobin; at 10 mm oxygen pressure, the pigment was oxidized to metmyoglobin and the surface was brown in color. No bacterial activity was necessary for pigment oxidation under low oxygen pressures.

Addition of dilute solutions of glucose oxidase resulted in rapid oxidation of the meat pigment to metmyoglobin both in extracts and on steak surfaces. More concentrated solutions resulted in further oxidation as evidenced by the appearance of a green color. Horseradish extract with a high peroxidase activity added with H₂O₂ resulted in rapid oxidation of the pigment but neither were very effective alone, although H₂O₂ did result in a browning reaction in aged steaks.

It is concluded that the primary role of the bacteria in meat discoloration is in the reduction of the oxygen tension in the surface tissue. The implications of the data are discussed and a possible mechanism of myoglobin oxidation is proposed.

     

Three histidine residues of amyloid-beta peptide control the redox activity of copper and iron

Zinc, iron and copper are concentrated in senile plaques of Alzheimer disease. Copper and iron catalyze the Fenton-Haber-Weiss reaction, which likely contributes to oxidative stress in neuronal cells. In this study, we found that ascorbate oxidase activity and the intensity of ascorbate radicals measured using ESR spectroscopy, generated by free Cu(II), was decreased in the presence of amyloid-beta (Abeta), the major component of senile plaques. Specifically, the ascorbate oxidase activity was strongly inhibited (85% decrease) in the presence of Abeta1-16 or Abeta1-42, whereas it was only slightly inhibited in the presence of Abeta1-12 or Abeta25-35 (<20% inhibition). Ascorbate-dependent hydroxyl radical generation by free Cu(II) decreased in the presence of Abeta in the identical order of Abeta1-42, Abeta1-16 > Abeta1-12 and was abolished in the presence of 2-fold molar excess glycylhystidyllysine (GHK). Ascorbate oxidase activity and ascorbate-dependent hydroxyl radical generation by free Fe(III) were inhibited by Abeta1-42, Abeta1-16, and Abeta1-12. Although Cu(II)-Abeta shows a significant SOD-like activity, the rate constant for the reaction of superoxide with Cu(II)-Abeta was much slower than that with SOD. Overall, our results suggest that His6, His13, and His14 residues of Abeta1-42 control the redox activity of transition metals present in senile plaques.     

Is oxidative stress primarily involved in reperfusion injury of the ischemic heart?

Reperfusion injury of ischemic organs is suggested to result from metabolic derangements initiating an imbalanced formation of free oxygen radicals. Most investigators in this field have used the spin-trap 5,5'-dimethyl-N-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) to stabilize these short-lived radicals and make them visible by means of the electron spin resonance (ESR) technique. ESR signals obtained from intravascular DMPO were reported to indicate the formation of free OH. radicals and, in some cases, also carbon-centered radicals. We were unable to confirm these findings. Carbon-centered radicals were not obtained irrespectively of conditions studied, while oxygen-centered DMPO-adducts could only be detected in minor amounts. Instead, we observed an ascorbyl-related ESR signal. The addition of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), which was used by many investigators in this field, was found to greatly influence ESR-spectra of the reperfusion fluid. The ascorbyl radical concentration was clearly reduced and the DMPO-OH. adduct became more prominent. The addition of iron further stimulated this change eliciting a Fenton-type reaction responsible for DMPO-OH.-related ESR spectra in the perfusate after ischemia. Accordingly, we observed the release of iron and ascorbic acid into the perfusate as a consequence of ischemia. We could demonstrate that iron in the presence of ascorbate and EDTA causes both types of radicals detected in the perfusate. DMPO-OH. generation in the presence of EDTA was found to result from free OH. radicals that were not generated in the absence of EDTA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Optimization of preservation conditions of As (III) bioreporter bacteria

Long-term preservation of bioreporter bacteria is essential for the functioning of cell-based detection devices, particularly when field application, e.g., in developing countries, is intended. We varied the culture conditions (i.e., the NaCl content of the medium), storage protection media, and preservation methods (vacuum drying vs. encapsulation gels remaining hydrated) in order to achieve optimal preservation of the activity of As (III) bioreporter bacteria during up to 12 weeks of storage at 4°C. The presence of 2% sodium chloride during the cultivation improved the response intensity of some bioreporters upon reconstitution, particularly of those that had been dried and stored in the presence of sucrose or trehalose and 10% gelatin. The most satisfying, stable response to arsenite after 12 weeks storage was obtained with cells that had been dried in the presence of 34% trehalose and 1.5% polyvinylpyrrolidone. Amendments of peptone, meat extract, sodium ascorbate, and sodium glutamate preserved the bioreporter activity only for the first 2 weeks, but not during long-term storage. Only short-term stability was also achieved when bioreporter bacteria were encapsulated in gels remaining hydrated during storage.     

Superoxide anion and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities of vegetable extracts measured using electron spin resonance.

Radical scavenging by reconstituted lyophilized powders of water extracts from 16 common vegetables was measured using electron spin resonance (ESR) with 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO), hydroxyl radicals, (.OH) or superoxide anion radicals (O2.-), as DMPO-OH or DMPO-OOH spin adducts. On a dry weight basis, eggplant, and red, yellow and green bell pepper extracts showed potent superoxide anion radical scavenging activities (SOD-like activities). Ascorbate oxidase- or heat-treatments, decreased SOD-like activities in bell pepper extracts suggesting that ascorbate accounts for much of their free radical scavenging activity. Eggplant epidermis extract exhibited the most potent hydroxyl radical scavenging and SOD-like activities. Eggplant SOD-like activity did not decrease after ascorbate oxidase treatment, but decreased following ultrafiltration demonstrating that SOD-like activity is partially due to high molecular weight substances. Nasunin, an anthocyanin in eggplant epidermis, showed markedly potent superoxide anion radical scavenging activity, while it inhibited hydroxyl radical generation probably by chelating ferrous ion.     

Diversity of rhizospheric and endophytic bacteria isolated from dried fruit of Ficus carica

There is currently an increasing demand for the characterization of endophytic bacteria isolated from different parts of plants (rhizosphere, roots, fruit, leaf) in order to improve the organic agriculture practices. The current research was performed to identify both rhizospheric bacteria isolated from the rhizosphere of Ficus carica in three different sites in the north of Tunisia and endophytic bacteria isolated from dried figs. We then characterized them for a diversity of plant growth-promoting (PGP) activities. A collection of 120 isolates from rhizospheric soil and 9 isolates from dried figs was obtained and purified. 16SrDNA gene amplification of rhizospheric bacteria revealed significant diversity and allowed for the assigning of the isolates to 6 phyla: Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. Representative strains of the collection (90 strains) were tested for numerous PGP activities and resistance to abiotic stresses. The most common PGP trait for all bacteria from the three regions was siderophore production (62%), followed by cellulase (38%), then protease activity (37%), then by lipases activity (17%) and lastly by solubilization of phosphates (9%). Twenty -three strains that showed most PGP traits were selected, 8 strains presented 12 or more, and 15 strains displayed between 7 and 11 of 17 PGP activities. The majority of the isolates manifested a possible adaptation to abiotic stress and unfavorable environments. PCR-DGGE analysis of soil rhizosphere of the three sites allowed also for the acquisition of a Cluster analysis of rhizospheric bacterial communities. Our current study identified and characterized for the first time in Tunisia rhizospheric and endophytic bacteria from dried fruit of Ficus carica.     

Bactericidal activity of alkyl peroxyl radicals generated by heme-iron-catalyzed decomposition of organic peroxides.

To clarify the nature of cytocidal molecular species among the radicals generated in the iron-catalyzed reactions of peroxides (ROOH), we examined the cytocidal effects of these radicals against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria in the presence or absence of various radical scavengers. Three organic peroxides, t-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BuOOH), methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKOOH), and cumene hydroperoxide, were used. Each radical generated from these peroxides was identified and quantitated by electron spin resonance (ESR) spin trapping with 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO). The major cytotoxic radical species generated in the mixtures of various peroxides and heme iron, especially methemoglobin, metmyoglobin, or hemin, was the alkyl peroxyl radical (ROO.). Strong bactericidal action against gram-positive bacteria was observed in the peroxide-heme iron system, especially in the case of t-BuOOH and MEKOOH. Killing curves for gram-positive bacteria showed an initial lag period, which may indicate the multihit/multitarget kinetics of cell killing. When the diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA)-Fe2+ complex was used as a catalyst for decomposition of various peroxides, alkyl, alkoxyl, and alkyl peroxyl radicals were identified by spin-trapping analysis. However, study of the time course of alkyl peroxyl radical production in the DTPA-Fe2+ complex system revealed that radical species generated in this system were very short lived: a maximal level was achieved within 1 min and then declined sharply, and no bactericidal activity was observed after 10 min. In contrast, the alkyl peroxyl radical level generated by the organic peroxide-heme iron system remained high for 30 min or longer. The generation of alkyl peroxyl radicals quantified by ESR correlated quite well with the bactericidal effect of the system of peroxide plus iron. In addition, bactericidal activity was completely inhibited by the addition of the spin trap DMPO, as well as of other various radical scavengers (alpha-tocopherol and L-ascorbic acid), into the peroxide-heme iron system, but this effect was not observed with superoxide dismutase, beta-carotene, dimethyl sulfoxide, diphenylamine, or butylated hydroxyltoluene. In view of these results, it is assumed that alkyl peroxyl radicals are the potent molecular species that are cytotoxic against bacteria, whereas alkoxyl radicals (RO.) generated in this system do not affect bacterial viability.     

Evidence for free radical formation during horseradish peroxidase-catalyzed N-demethylation of crystal violet.

Crystal violet (gentian violet) can undergo an oxidative metabolism, catalyzed by horseradish peroxidase, resulting in formaldehyde formation. The N-demethylation reaction was strongly inhibited by reduced glutathione. Evidence for the formation of a crystal violet radical during the horseradish peroxidase catalyzed reaction was the detection of thiyl and ascorbate radicals from glutathione and ascorbate, respectively. The concentration of radicals from both compounds was significantly increased in the presence of crystal violet. Oxygen uptake was stimulated when glutathione was present in the system and this oxygen uptake was dependent on the dye and enzyme concentration. Oxygen uptake did not occur when ascorbate, instead of glutathione, was present in the system. However, when glutathione was present, ascorbate totally inhibited the glutathione-stimulated oxygen uptake in the crystal violet/horseradish peroxidase/hydrogen peroxide system. Although a weak ESR spectrum from a crystal violet-derived free radical was detected when the dye reacted with H2O2 and horseradish peroxidase, using the fast flow technique, this spectrum could not be interpreted.     

ESR study of the non-enzymic scission of xyloglucan by an ascorbate-H2O2-copper system: the involvement of the hydroxyl radical and the degradation of ascorbate

Xyloglucan is degraded by a mixture of copper(II), hydrogen peroxide and ascorbate. In the presence of ascorbate and/or hydrogen peroxide, copper(II) species were rapidly reduced to copper(I), which react with hydrogen peroxide. Spin-trapping experiments showed that hydroxyl radicals formed and attacked xyloglucan causing its degradation. The formation of a carbon-centred ascorbyl (C-ascorbyl) radical and its degradation with the formation of oxalate, was also caused by hydroxyl radicals. As a consequence, the features of the bis(oxalate) copper(II) complex clearly appeared in the frozen solution ESR spectra. The formation of carbon-centred radicals on the xyloglucan is the trigger for a series of possible molecular rearrangements which led to its oxidative scission.     

Responses of a compatible lucerne variety to attack by spotted alfalfa aphid: Changes in the redox balance in affected tissues

The spotted alfalfa aphid,Therioaphis trifolii maculata (Buckton), caused local browning of cells surrounding feeding sites on lucerne plants (cv. Hunter River). Aqueous extracts of infested leaves underwent a marked browning process that did not occur in extracts of healthy leaves. The process was accelerated by addition of tyrosinase and peroxidase and reversed by reducing agents such as ascorbate and glutathione. In the presence of added reducing agents, the extracts produced brown precipitates, probably conjugates of phenolics with leaf proteins similar to those involved in the sealing of damaged tissuesin vivo. Partially autoxidised catechin (PAC) solutions showed an absorbance peak at 438 nm that was increased by polyphenol oxidase and decreased by ascorbate and glutathione. When extraction of tissues into PAC was used to assess redox activities, healthy tissues showed a rapid, short lived oxidising activity combined with a much more persistent reducing activity, whereas infested leaves had even greater oxidising activity and no detectable reducing activity. Soluble phenolics increased in infested leaves and stems. Total protein decreased, but the specific activity of peroxidase, catechol oxidase and superoxide dismutase relative to protein content increased. The ability of extracts to reduce cytochrome c increased, indicating an overall increase in superoxide radicals in attacked tissues. These results are consistent with a general disturbance of redox balance induced in tissues by aphid feeding, including accumulation of oxidases and phenolic substrates and loss of reducing activity and protein.