Cr3+和Cd2+对普通小球藻生长及抗氧化酶活性的影响

[目的] 为探究重金属对淡水绿藻生长的影响。[方法] 选取对水质检测具有明显指示作用的普通小球藻（Chlorella vulgaris）为实验材料,CdCl₂·2H₂O和CrCl₃·7H₂O提供重金属离子,探究不同浓度Cr³⁺和Cd²⁺在单一和复合胁迫下对藻细胞浓度、叶绿素a及相关抗氧化酶活性的影响。[结果] 随着Cr³⁺和Cd²⁺浓度不断增加,藻细胞浓度呈先增长后下降趋势;叶绿素a含量呈现先下降后升高再下降的现象,浓度为1 mg/L的单一和复合胁迫下有最大值,且毒性作用表现为Cr³⁺ < Cd²⁺ < Cr³⁺+Cd²⁺;与藻细胞膜相关的丙二醛（MDA）和过氧化氢（H₂O₂）含量随着重金属离子浓度的增大而增长;重金属离子浓度低于10 mg/L时对藻细胞内抗氧化酶系统中的超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）和过氧化物酶（POD）表现为促进作用,而大于10 mg/L时具有抑制作用。[结论] 结果表明在单一或复合重金属胁迫下,普通小球藻会充分调动与抗逆性相关的酶来维持自身的正常生长。     

He-Ne激光预处理对镉胁迫下小麦幼苗生理特性的影响

用He-Ne激光（波长632.8 nm,辐射剂量5.43 mW/mm²）对萌动小麦种子辐照5 min,待幼苗长至一叶一心时,用150 μmol/L CdCl₂溶液进行胁迫处理,研究He-Ne激光预处理对镉（Cd²⁺）胁迫下小麦幼苗生长发育和生理特性的影响。结果显示:He-Ne激光预处理能显著降低Cd²⁺胁迫下小麦幼苗中丙二醛（MDA）、过氧化氢（H₂O₂）含量及超氧自由基（O^-·₂）产生速率,显著提高幼苗叶片超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、抗坏血酸氧化酶（APX）活性,并使叶片抗氧化物质谷胱甘肽(GSH)和抗坏血酸(AsA)含量以及幼苗株高、根长和干重增加。研究表明,He-Ne激光预处理可有效缓解镉胁迫对小麦幼苗生长的抑制作用,并通过促进其幼苗中酶类和非酶类抗氧化剂的产生,有效减少镉胁迫产生的脂质过氧化物含量,从而提高其耐镉性。     

重金属Cd2+和Cu2+胁迫下泥蚶消化酶活性的变化

为了探讨重金属Cd²⁺和Cu²⁺胁迫对泥蚶消化酶活性的影响,运用酶学分析的方法,按《渔业水质标准》（GB 11607）规定的Cd²⁺、Cu²⁺最高限量值的1、2、5、10倍设置重金属离子Cd²⁺、Cu²⁺浓度及其组合,研究了在重金属Cd²⁺、Cu²⁺胁迫下,30d内泥蚶3种消化酶活性的变化规律。结果表明：与空白对照组相比,在重金属Cd²⁺、Cu²⁺或其组合的胁迫下,较低浓度组泥蚶的淀粉酶活性实验前期增强（即被诱导）,实验后期减弱（即被抑制）,较高浓度组泥蚶的淀粉酶活性从实验一开始就减弱,并保持在较低水平,毒性比较,同一重金属高浓度 > 低浓度,不同重金属及其组合Cu²⁺ > （Cd²⁺+Cu²⁺）组合 > Cd²⁺;泥蚶脂肪酶的活性实验前期增强,实验后期转为微减弱或减弱,毒性比较,同一重金属高浓度 > 低浓度,不同重金属及其组合（Cd²⁺+Cu²⁺）组合 > Cu²⁺ > Cd²⁺;泥蚶胃蛋白酶的活性实验前期增强,且活性呈现升高-降低-再升高-再降低的变化,实验后期分别表现微增强、微减弱和减弱,毒性比较,同一重金属高浓度 > 低浓度,不同重金属及其组合（Cd²⁺+Cu²⁺）组合 > Cu²⁺ > Cd²⁺。可见：环境中的Cd²⁺和Cu²⁺对泥蚶的消化酶活性起着明显的影响作用。     

Cd2+对角突臂尾轮虫和曲腿龟甲轮虫的急性毒性和生命表统计学参数的影响

采用急性毒性试验研究了(25±1)℃下Cd²⁺对角突臂尾轮虫(Brachionus angularis)和曲腿龟甲轮虫(Keratella valga)的24 h LC₅₀值, 采用生命表实验方法研究了(25±1)℃下、以密度为1.0×10⁶ 个细胞/mL的斜生栅藻为轮虫食物时不同浓度(7.0、12.0、20.4、34.6、58.8,100.0 μg/L)的Cd²⁺对角突臂尾轮虫和曲腿龟甲轮虫生命表统计学参数的影响。结果表明, Cd²⁺对角突臂尾轮虫和曲腿龟甲轮虫幼体的24 h LC₅₀值分别为95.5 μg/L和231.9 μg/L。Cd²⁺浓度对角突臂尾轮虫的种群内禀增长率具有显著的影响(P<0.05), 对曲腿龟甲轮虫的世代时间、生命期望和净生殖率具有显著的影响(P<0.05)。与对照组相比, 100.0 μg/L的Cd²⁺显著降低了角突臂尾轮虫的种群内禀增长率; 34.6 μg/L和58.8 μg/L的Cd²⁺显著降低了曲腿龟甲轮虫的世代时间, 34.6和100.0 μg/L的Cd²⁺显著降低了曲腿龟甲轮虫的生命期望, 34.6 μg/L的Cd²⁺显著降低了曲腿龟甲轮虫的净生殖率。角突臂尾轮虫对Cd²⁺污染的敏感性较曲腿龟甲轮虫强, 各生命表统计学参数对污染物的敏感性因轮虫种类的不同而异。     

锰胁迫对盐肤木种子萌发、幼苗生长及理化特性的影响

为揭示植物适应锰胁迫的生理机制,通过在不同Mn²⁺浓度(0、1、5、10、15、20 mmol/L)下开展盐肤木(Rhus chinensis)种子萌发以及幼苗生长实验,检测锰胁迫处理7、15、30 d后幼苗生理生化特性的变化。结果表明:(1)随着Mn²⁺浓度的升高,盐肤木种子发芽率变化不显著,在80.0%-81.6%之间,发芽势、发芽指数和活力指数则呈先升后降的趋势;其幼苗生物量也呈现先升后降的趋势;(2)随着Mn²⁺浓度的升高与胁迫时间的延长,盐肤木幼苗叶绿素a、叶绿素b含量均呈现先增加后降低的趋势,类胡萝卜素含量呈现下降的趋势;(3)胁迫7 d时,随着Mn²⁺浓度的升高,盐肤木幼苗超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性均显著上升;胁迫15、30 d时,高Mn²⁺浓度(15-20 mmol/L)下POD、CAT活性则均降低;(4)胁迫7 d时,随着Mn²⁺浓度的升高,可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白、游离脯氨酸含量升高;胁迫15、30 d时,在Mn²⁺浓度为20 mmol/L时可溶性蛋白与游离脯氨酸含量显著降低;(5)随着Mn²⁺浓度的升高与胁迫时间的延长,丙二醛(MDA)含量均升高。研究说明盐肤木具有较强的耐受锰胁迫能力,它可通过增强抗氧化酶活性、积累渗透调节物质含量来应对锰胁迫。     

Cd2+胁迫对银芽柳PSⅡ叶绿素荧光光响应曲线的影响

以盆栽银芽柳为材料,利用MINI-IMAGING-PAM荧光成像测定系统,研究了Cd²⁺胁迫下叶片叶绿素荧光参数的变化及其光响应曲线。结果表明,初始荧光Fo与最大荧光Fm随着Cd²⁺浓度的增大而呈现先升后降的趋势,Fo与Fm在200 mg/LCd²⁺处理4周时达到最高值,400 mg/LCd²⁺处理则显著下降;PSⅡ最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)与PSⅡ潜在光化学效率(Fv/Fo)显著受 Cd²⁺胁迫抑制,但随Cd²⁺浓度的增加呈先降后升的变化趋势。Cd²⁺胁迫下各叶绿素荧光参数的光响应结果表明,PSⅡ实际光量子效率Y(Ⅱ)、荧光淬灭系数(qP)随光化光强度的增加呈下降趋势,而同光强下高浓度Cd²⁺ 使Y(Ⅱ)与(qP) 显著降低;PSⅡ调节性能量耗散的量子产额Y(NPQ)、非光化学淬灭系数(qN)与表观电子传递速率(ETR)则随着光强增加呈上升趋势,同光强下高浓度Cd²⁺处理显著提高Y(NPQ)、qN 与ETR。Cd²⁺胁迫下,PSⅡ非调节性能量耗散的量子产额Y(NO)稳定在较低水平,同光强下Y(NO)随Cd²⁺浓度增加略有提高。说明,银芽柳通过调节PSⅡ反应中心开放程度与活性,对Cd²⁺胁迫表现出较强的耐性,高浓度Cd²⁺胁迫导致PSⅡ反应中心关闭或不可逆失活,表现出光抑制。     

土壤盐度对加拿利海枣幼苗生长与生理指标的影响

将加拿利海枣(Phoenix canariensis Hort. ex Chab.)幼苗培养在不同盐度(1.2~14.5)的土壤中,探讨土壤含盐量对其生长及生理指标的影响。结果表明:随基质盐度的提高,幼苗新生叶片数降低且叶片死亡数增加。随基质盐度的提高,叶绿素含量增加,叶绿素a/b在低盐度时增加而当盐度超过5.1时下降。土壤盐度在1.2~5.1时,MDA含量约为4.30 μmol g^-1,以后随土壤盐度的升高而升高。SOD活性在低盐时升高,土壤盐度超过10.8时,SOD活性迅速下降。盐胁迫下叶片Na⁺和Cl^-含量升高,K⁺、Ca²⁺、Mg²⁺含量及K⁺/Na⁺下降。盐胁迫导致加拿利海枣生长下降的主要原因是叶片有效光合面积减少,离子平衡破坏。这些表明加拿利海枣具有很高的耐盐能力,其幼苗在土壤盐度5.1时生长正常,当土壤盐度为10.8时才开始出现受害症状,适宜在滨海地区推广应用。     

两种大型真菌子实体对Cd2+的生物吸附特性

对两种多孔菌科大型真菌槐栓菌(Trametes robiniophila)和木蹄层孔菌(Fomes fomentarius)子实体生物吸附Cd²⁺的影响因素(包括吸附剂用量、初始pH、吸附时间、初始Cd²⁺浓度)和吸附特性进行分析。结果表明,槐栓菌和木蹄层孔菌对低浓度的Cd²⁺(10 mg/L)吸附的最适pH为6;Cd²⁺的去除率随吸附剂用量和吸附时间的增加而增大,槐栓菌和木蹄层孔菌均在吸附剂用量为2g/L时达到吸附平衡,槐栓菌在吸附时间为30 min时达到吸附平衡,而木蹄层孔菌在吸附时间为60 min时达到吸附平衡;槐栓菌和木蹄层孔菌对10 mg/L Cd²⁺的最大去除率分别为98%和94%。Langmuir等温吸附平衡模型比Freundlich等温吸附平衡模型能更好的拟合两种大型真菌对Cd²⁺的吸附过程;槐栓菌和木蹄层孔菌对10 mg/L Cd²⁺的最大吸附量分别为17.40 mg/g和8.91 mg/g。对实验数据进行动力学模型拟合可知,两种大型真菌对Cd²⁺的生物吸附过程均符合准二阶动力学模型。槐栓菌和木蹄层孔菌生物吸附低浓度Cd²⁺的化学反应机理可能为离子交换。     

外源脯氨酸（Pro）对茶菱抗Cd2+胁迫能力的影响

以高等水生植物茶菱（Trapella sinensis Olive）为材料,研究了外施不同浓度的脯氨酸（Pro）对Cd²⁺毒害的缓解效应。结果表明,茶菱体内Pro含量在单一Cd²⁺毒害下明显增加,外施Pro后,显著降低;叶绿素和可溶性蛋白含量在单一Cd²⁺毒害下大幅下降,外施Pro后,失绿症状有所减轻;保护酶（SOD、CAT、POD）系统在单一Cd²⁺毒害下比例失调,平衡被打破,活性下降,外施Pro后,SOD、POD活性较对照升高,CAT持平,其比例维持在正常范围内;O^－₂产生速率在单一Cd²⁺毒害下大大加快,外施Pro后,其产生速率恢复正常水平;丙二醛（MDA）含量在单一Cd²⁺毒害下积累加剧,外施Pro后,积累程度有所降低。因此,外源Pro可以通过减轻叶绿素和可溶性蛋白的降解,促进蛋白合成,减缓MDA积累,降低O^－₂产生速率,增强保护酶活性来增强植物对重金属胁迫的抗性,增强植物对逆境的适应能力。本实验中Pro作用的最佳浓度范围为40~60 mg·L^-1。     

Cd2+结合肽的筛选及与重金属离子的亲和作用*

利用噬菌体随机十二肽库和亲和层析技术对重金属Cd进行亲和筛选,共获得两条Cd结合肽序列。将展示有Cd²⁺结合肽的噬菌体单克隆扩增物对不同重金属离子(Cd²⁺、Cr²⁺、Cu²⁺、Co²⁺、Zn²⁺、Ni²⁺)螯合的树脂进行亲和测定,结果表明Cu²⁺、Co²⁺、Zn²⁺、Ni^2+<     

Design of novel iron compounds as potential therapeutic agents against tuberculosis

In the search for new therapeutic tools against tuberculosis two novel iron complexes, [Fe(L-H)₃], with 3-aminoquinoxaline-2-carbonitrile N¹,N⁴-dioxide derivatives (L) as ligands, were synthesized, characterized by a combination of techniques, and in vitro evaluated. Results were compared with those previously reported for two analogous iron complexes of other ligands of the same family of quinoxaline derivatives. In addition, the complexes were studied by cyclic voltammetry and EPR spectroscopy. Cyclic voltammograms of the iron compounds showed several cathodic processes which were attributed to the reduction of the metal center (Fe(III)/Fe(II)) and the coordinated ligand. EPR signals were characteristic of magnetically isolated high-spin Fe(III) in a rhombic environment and arise from transitions between m_S = ± 1/2 (g_eff ~ 9) or m_S = ± 3/2 (g_eff ~ 4.3) states. Mössbauer experiments showed hyperfine parameters that are typical of high-spin Fe(III) ions in a not too distorted environment. The novel complexes showed in vitro growth inhibitory activity on Mycobacterium tuberculosis H₃₇Rv (ATCC 27294), together with very low unspecific cytotoxicity on eukaryotic cells (cultured murine cell line J774). Both complexes showed higher inhibitory effects on M. tuberculosis than the “second-line” therapeutic drugs.     

p16INK4a and p14ARF methylation as a potential biomarker for human bladder cancer

Promoter hypermethylation is one of the putative mechanisms underlying the inactivation of negative cell-cycle regulators. We examined whether the methylation status of p16(INK4a) and p14(ARF), genes located upstream of the RB and p53 pathway, is a useful biomarker for the staging, clinical outcome, and prognosis of human bladder cancer. Using methylation-specific PCR (MSP), we examined the methylation status of p16(INK4a) and p14(ARF) in 64 samples from 45 bladder cancer patients (34 males, 11 females). In 19 patients with recurrent bladder cancer, we examined paired tissue samples from their primary and recurrent tumors. The methylation status of representative samples was confirmed by bisulfite DNA sequencing analysis. The median follow-up duration was 34.3 months (range 27.0-100.1 months). The methylation rate for p16(INK4a) and p14(ARF) was 17.8% and 31.1%, respectively, in the 45 patients. The incidence of p16(INKa) and p14(ARF) methylation was significantly higher in patients with invasive (>or=pT2) than superficial bladder cancer (pT1) (p=0.006 and p=0.001, respectively). No MSP bands for p16(INK4a) and p14(ARF) were detected in the 8 patients with superficial, non-recurrent tumors. In 19 patients with tumor recurrence, the p16(INK4a) and p14(ARF) methylation status of the primary and recurrent tumors was similar. Of the 22 patients who had undergone cystectomy, 8 (36.4%) manifested p16(INKa) methylation; p16(INK4a) was not methylated in 23 patients without cystectomy (p=0.002). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that patients with p14(ARF) methylation had a significantly poorer prognosis than those without (p=0.029). This is the first study indicating that MSP analysis of p16(INK4a) and p14(ARF) genes is a useful biomarker for the pathological stage, clinical outcome, and prognosis of patients with bladder cancer.     

Molecular composition and regulation of the Nox family NAD(P)H oxidases

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are conventionally regarded as inevitable deleterious by-products in aerobic metabolism with a few exceptions such as their significant role in host defense. The phagocyte NADPH oxidase, dormant in resting cells, becomes activated during phagocytosis to deliberately produce superoxide, a precursor of other microbicidal ROS, thereby playing a crucial role in killing pathogens. The catalytic center of this oxidase is the membrane-integrated protein gp91(phox), tightly complexed with p22(phox), and its activation requires the association with p47(phox), p67(phox), and the small GTPase Rac, which normally reside in the cytoplasm. Since recent discovery of non-phagocytic gp91(phox)-related enzymes of the NAD(P)H oxidase (Nox) family--seven homologues identified in humans--deliberate ROS production has been increasingly recognized as important components of various cellular events. Here, we describe a current view on the molecular composition and post-translational regulation of Nox-family oxidases in animals.     

First detection and quantification of N-monomethylarginine,a structural isomer of N-monomethylarginine,in humans using MS

The l-arginine metabolites methylated at the guanidino moiety, such as N^G-monomethyl-l-arginine (LNMMA), asymmetric N^G,N^G-dimethyl-l-arginine (ADMA), and symmetric N^G,N^G'-dimethyl-l-arginine (SDMA), are long known to be present in human plasma. Far less is known about the structural isomer of LNMMA, N^δ-monomethyl-l-arginine (δ-MMA). In prior work, it has been detected in yeast proteins, but it has not been investigated in mammalian plasma or cells. In this work, we present a method for the simultaneous and unambiguous quantification of LNMMA and δ-MMA in human plasma that is capable of detecting δ-MMA separately from LNMMA. The method comprises a simple protein precipitation sample preparation, hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) gradient elution on an unmodified silica column, and triple stage mass spectrometric detection. Stable isotope-labeled D₆-SDMA was used as internal standard. The calibration ranges were 25–1000 nmol/L for LNMMA and 5–350 nmol/L for δ-MMA. The intra- and inter-batch precision determinations resulted in relative standard deviations of less than 12% for both compounds with accuracies of less than 6% deviation from the expected values. In a pilot study enrolling 10 healthy volunteers, mean concentrations of 48.0 ± 7.4 nmol/L for LNMMA and 27.4 ± 7.7 nmol/L for δ-MMA were found.     

The Na+/H+ antiporter of the thermohalophilic bacterium Rhodothermus marinus

In the thermohalophilic bacterium Rhodothermus marinus, the NADH:quinone oxidoreductase (complex I) is encoded by two single genes and two operons, one of which contains the genes for five complex I subunits, nqo10-nqo14, a pterin carbinolamine dehydratase, and a putative single subunit Na+/H+ antiporter. Here we report that the latter encodes indeed a functional Na+/H+ antiporter, which is able to confer resistance to Na+, but not to Li+ to an Escherichia coli strain defective in Na+/H+ antiporters. In addition, an extensive amino acid sequence comparison with several single subunit Na+/H+ antiporters from different groups, namely NhaA, NhaB, NhaC, and NhaD, suggests that this might be the first member of a new type of Na+/H+ antiporters, which we propose to call NhaE.     

Heme-heme and heme-ligand interactions in the di-heme oxygen-reducing site of cytochrome bd from Escherichia coli revealed by nanosecond absorption spectroscopy

Cytochrome bd is a terminal quinol:O₂ oxidoreductase of respiratory chains of many bacteria. It contains three hemes, b₅₅₈, b₅₉₅, and d. The role of heme b₅₉₅ remains obscure. A CO photolysis/recombination study of the membranes of Escherichia coli containing either wild type cytochrome bd or inactive E445A mutant was performed using nanosecond absorption spectroscopy. We compared photoinduced changes of heme d-CO complex in one-electron-reduced, two-electron-reduced, and fully reduced states of cytochromes bd. The line shape of spectra of photodissociation of one-electron-reduced and two-electron-reduced enzymes is strikingly different from that of the fully reduced enzyme. The difference demonstrates that in the fully reduced enzyme photolysis of CO from heme d perturbs ferrous heme b₅₉₅ causing loss of an absorption band centered at 435 nm, thus supporting interactions between heme b₅₉₅ and heme d in the di-heme oxygen-reducing site, in agreement with previous works. Photolyzed CO recombines with the fully reduced enzyme monoexponentially with τ ∼ 12 μs, whereas recombination of CO with one-electron-reduced cytochrome bd shows three kinetic phases, with τ ∼ 14 ns, 14 μs, and 280 μs. The spectra of the absorption changes associated with these components are different in line shape. The 14 ns phase, absent in the fully reduced enzyme, reflects geminate recombination of CO with part of heme d. The 14-μs component reflects bimolecular recombination of CO with heme d and electron backflow from heme d to hemes b in ∼ 4% of the enzyme population. The final, 280-μs component, reflects return of the electron from hemes b to heme d and bimolecular recombination of CO in that population. The fact that even in the two-electron-reduced enzyme, a nanosecond geminate recombination is observed, suggests that namely the redox state of heme b₅₉₅, and not that of heme b₅₅₈, controls the pathway(s) by which CO migrates between heme d and the medium.     

Discrimination against the cytosine analog tC by Escherichia coli DNA polymerase IV DinB

The cytosine analog 1,3-diaza-2-oxophenothiazine (tC) is a fluorescent nucleotide that forms Watson-Crick base pairs with dG. The Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I (an A-family polymerase) can efficiently bypass tC on the template strand and incorporate deoxyribose-triphosphate-tC into the growing primer terminus. Y-family DNA polymerases are known for their ability to accommodate bulky lesions and modified bases and to replicate beyond such nonstandard DNA structures in a process known as translesion synthesis. We probed the ability of the Escherichia coli Y-family DNA polymerase DinB (Pol IV) to copy DNA containing tC and to incorporate tC into a growing DNA strand. DinB selectively adds dGTP across from tC in template DNA but cannot extend beyond the newly formed G:tC base pair. However, we find that DinB incorporates the tC deoxyribonucleotide triphosphate opposite template G and extends from tC. Therefore, DinB displays asymmetry in terms of its ability to discriminate against the modification of the DNA template compared to the incoming nucleotide. In addition, our finding that DinB (a lesion-bypass DNA polymerase) specifically discriminates against tC in the template strand may suggest that DinB discriminates against template modifications in the major groove of DNA.     

Effect of lipid removal on carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios in crustacean tissues

The analysis of tissue's naturally occurring stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios is a useful tool to delineate trophic relationships. However, the interpretation of δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N is complicated by the influence of multiple factors such as the tissue-specific lipid content. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of lipid extraction on δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N compositions in muscle, hepatopancreas and gonads of a marine decapod crustacean, the spider crab Maja brachydactyla. Samples were analyzed for stable isotopes before and after lipid removal, using a derived Soxhlet extraction method. Differences in δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N were measured among tissues before and after treatment. Lipid extraction of muscle did not have a significant effect on either δ¹³C or δ¹⁵N. By contrast, ecologically significant shifts for both carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes ratios (+ 2.9 ± 0.8‰ for δ¹³C, and + 1.2 ± 0.7‰ for δ¹⁵N) were noticed in the hepatopancreas. In regard to gonads, lipid extraction led to a shift only on δ¹³C (+ 1.3 ± 0.3‰). Finally, the derived Soxhlet extraction method removed the lipid influence for δ¹³C, and had an effect on δ¹⁵N composition for lipid-rich samples. We recommend this treatment for carbon stable isotope studies on decapod crustacean lipid-rich tissues.     

Role of the small GTPase Rac in p22phox-dependent NADPH oxidases

The superoxide-producing phagocyte NADPH oxidase gp91(phox)/Nox2 and the non-phagocytic oxidases Nox1 and Nox3 each form a complex in the membrane with p22(phox), which provides both stabilization and a docking site for organizer proteins. The p22(phox)-complexed Nox2 and Nox1 are dormant on their own, and their activation requires soluble supportive proteins such as a Nox organizer (p47(phox) or Noxo1) and a Nox activator (p67(phox) or Noxa1). The small GTPase Rac directly binds to the activators, and thus plays an essential role in the Nox2-based oxidase containing p47(phox) and p67(phox) or a positive role in Nox1 activity supported by Noxo1 and Noxa1. Although Nox3 complexed with p22(phox) constitutively produce superoxide, the production can be enhanced by supportive proteins. Here we compare the roles of Rac in these p22(phox)-dependent oxidases using the organizer and activator in different combinations. Expression of constitutively active Rac1(Q61L) is essential for activation of the Nox2- or Nox1-based oxidase containing the organizer p47(phox) and either p67(phox) or Noxa1. When these oxidases use Noxo1 as an organizer instead of p47(phox), they produce a small but significant amount of superoxide without expression of Rac1(Q61L), although the production is enhanced by Rac1(Q61L). Thus p47(phox) is likely related to strict dependence on Rac. The Nox3-based oxidase has a similar tendency in the change of the dependence: Rac plays a positive role in Nox3 activation in the presence of p47(phox) and either p67(phox) or Noxa1, whereas Rac fails to upregulate Nox3 activity when p47(phox) is replaced with Noxo1. We also demonstrate that, in the Nox3-based oxidase containing solely p67(phox) as supportive protein, expression of Rac1(Q61L) enhances not only superoxide production but also membrane translocation of p67(phox). Since the enhancements are not observed with a mutant p67(phox) defective in binding to Rac, this GTPase appear to directly recruit p67(phox) to the membrane.