Creating auxotrophic mutants in Methylophilus methylotrophus AS1 by combining electroporation and chemical mutagenesis

Stable auxotrophic mutants of the methylotroph Methylophilus methylotrophus AS1 were obtained by a novel mutagenesis technique in which electroporation is used to transport the chemical mutagen N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) across the cell membrane. By combining chemical mutagenesis with electroporation and screening single colonies for auxotrophy in 36 different amino acids and growth factors, 3 auxotrophs per 156 colonies screened were obtained, whereas no auxotrophs were found with chemical mutagenesis alone. MNNG mutagen toxicity was also increased in the methylotroph with this novel mutagenesis technique (death rate 96% compared to 79%). This technique did not increase the mutation rate for strain Escherichia coli BK6 which responds well to simple exposure to the mutagen. Received: 9 December 1996 / Received revision: 31 March 1997 / Accepted: 13 April 1997     

Random mutagenesis and use of 2-deoxy-D-glucose as an antimetabolite for selection of α-amylase-overproducing mutants of Aspergillus oryzae

By using 2-deoxy-D-glucose, selection of different mutants of Aspergillus oryzae PTCC 5164, which were produced by random mutagenesis by u.v. radiation, nitrous acid and N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), was studied. 2-Deoxy-D-glucose, a well-known antimetabolite, was used to isolate derepressed mutants. The mutational and lethal effects of these mutagens on conidia of A. oryzae were compared and the frequency distribution of isolated mutants, in the presence of 2-deoxy-D-glucose, was determined. Potent mutants, which produced higher dextrinizing and saccharogenic activities, were isolated. The best strain was a result of mutagenesis by nitrous acid, which produced 6.73 times more dextrinizing and 5.13 times more saccharogenic activity than the parent strain. In general, the mutants obtained by nitrous acid and u.v. were more potent than those obtained by MNNG.     

Antimutagenic activity of Lactobacillus plantarum KLAB21 isolated from kimchi Korean fermented vegetables

Antimutagenic activity of Lactobacillus plantarum KLAB21, isolated from Korean kimchi, was investigated against MNNG (N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine), NQO (4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide), NPD (4-nitro-O-phenylenediamine) and aflatoxin B1 using Salmonella typhimurium strains TA100 and TA98. Although all the cell fractions including the culture supernatant, dry cells and cell-free extract exhibited antimutagenic activity against MNNG and NQO, the culture supernatant possessed the highest activity. The antimutagenic ratio of the culture supernatant was 98.4% against MNNG on strain TA100 and 57.3% against NQO on strain TA98. Its antimutagenic activity was reconfirmed by a Bacillus subtilis spore-rec assay. Levels of the antimutagenic ratios of other lactic acid bacteria originating from fermented milk ranged between 26.8 to 53% against MNNG and 28.5 to 43.4% against NQO. The antimutagenic activities of the strain KLAB21 against NPD were 72.6% on TA100 and 62.8% on TA98, and those against aflatoxin B1 were 82.5% on TA100 and 78.2% on TA98.     

Development and characterization of a potent producer of penicillin G amidase by mutagenization

Summary The penicillin G amidase (PGA) activity of a parent strain of E. coli (PCSIR-102) was enhanced by chemical mutagenization with N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). After screening and optimization, a penicillinase deficient mutant (MNNG-37) was isolated and found effective for the production of penicillin G amidase as compared to the parent strain of E. coli (PCSIR-102). Penicillin G amidase activity of MNNG-37 appeared during an early stage of growth, whereas PCSIR-102 did not exhibit PGA activity due to the presence of penicillinase enzyme which inhibits the activity of enzyme PGA. However, MNNG-37 gave a three-fold increase in enzyme activity (231 IU mg⁻¹) as compared to PCSIR-102 (77 IU mg⁻¹) in medium containing 0.15 and 0.1% concentrations of phenylacetic acid, respectively which was added after 6 h of cultivation. The difference in K _m values of the enzyme produced by parent strain PCSIR-102 (0.26 mM) and mutant strain MNNG-37 (0.20 mM) is significant (1.3-fold increase in K _m value) which may show the superiority of the latter in terms of better enzyme properties.     

Additive coclastogenicity of sodium selenite and caffeine in CHO cells treated withN-methyl-N′-Nitro-N-Nitrosoguanidine

The clastogenic effect ofN-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and its modulation by Na₂SeO₃ and caffeine were studied by metaphase analysis of chromosome aberrations (CA) as well as by measuring the formation and repair of single-strand (ss) DNA breaks employing hydroxylapatite chromatography. Treatment of CHO cells with MNNG (1.25 or 2.5 × 10-5M) for 3 h caused CA in 11 and 19% of metaphases scored, respectively. Pretreatment of cells with Na₂SeO₃ (1–5 μg/mL) or caffeine (0.2–2.0 mg/mL) for 2 h resulted in a 2–3.5-fold increase of CA frequency. Addition of both modulators during the mutagen exposure tended to cause a slight inhibition of clastogenic activity of MNNG (1.25 × 10⁻⁵ M) or had no effect on CA number when MNNG was used at a concentration of 2.5 × 10−5M. Posttreatment of CHO cells with Na₂SeO₃ for 20 h after MNNG was ineffective in influencing the number of metaphases with CA, whereas, at these conditions, caffeine enhanced up to 6-7-fold the clastogenic activity of MNNG. Addition of both modulators during the whole experiment, 2 h pretreatment included, resulted in a further significant increase of CA frequency up to the total pulverization of chromosomes in all metaphases scored. The coclastogenic effect of caffeine was greater in this case. The enhancement of chromosome-damaging activity of MNNG by selenite and caffeine was better expressed when this carcinogen was applied at the higher concentration used. An additive coclastogenic effect was observed in CHO cells treated simultaneously with Na₂SeO₃ and caffeine plus MNNG. In addition, the treatment of CHO cells with MNNG (5 × 10⁻⁶ M) caused a rapid increase of ssDNA breaks number reaching maximal values after 30–45 min. However, up to 50–60% of MNNG-induced ssDNA breaks were repaired during the first 60–150 min after the mutagen exposure. The 2 h pretreatment of CHO cells with Na₂SeO₃ (2 μg/mL) or the addition of this trace element after MNNG had no effect on formation and repair of MNNG-induced ssDNA breaks. The coclastogenic effect of Na₂SeO₃ in CHO cells treated with MNNG was not directly linked to the induction and disappearance of ssDNA breaks measured by hydroxylapatite chromatography.     

Binding Rather Than Metabolism May Explain the Interaction of Two Food-Grade Lactobacillus Strains with Zearalenone and Its Derivative ά-Zearalenol

The interaction between two Fusarium mycotoxins, zearalenone (ZEN) and its derivative ¯α-zearalenol (¯α-ZOL), with two food-grade strains of Lactobacillus was investigated. The mycotoxins (2 μg ml⁻¹) were incubated with either Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG or L. rhamnosus strain LC705. A considerable proportion (38 to 46%) of both toxins was recovered from the bacterial pellet, and no degradation products of ZEN and ¯α-ZOL were detected in the high-performance liquid chromatograms of the supernatant of the culturing media and the methanol extract of the pellet. Both heat-treated and acid-treated bacteria were capable of removing the toxins, indicating that binding, not metabolism, is the mechanism by which the toxins are removed from the media. Binding of ZEN or ¯α-ZOL by lyophilized L. rhamnosus GG and L. rhamnosus LC705 was a rapid reaction: approximately 55% of the toxins were bound instantly after mixing with the bacteria. Binding was dependent on the bacterial concentration, and coincubation of ZEN with ¯α-ZOL significantly affected the percentage of the toxin bound, indicating that these toxins may share the same binding site on the bacterial surface. These results can be exploited in developing a new approach for detoxification of mycotoxins from foods and feeds.     

Antimutagenic activity of soybeans fermented with basidiomycetes in Ames/Salmonella test

Soybeans fermented with either Phellinus igniarius or Agrocybe cylindracea inhibited the mutagenicity of the directly-acting mutagens: 4-nitro-o-phenylenediamine on Salmonella typhimurium strain TA 98 and NaN₃ on S. typhimurium strain TA 100; and indirectly-acting mutagens, 2-aminofluorene using strain TA 98 and benzo[a]pyrene using strain TA 100, in the presence of a supernatant solution from mammalian hepatic microsomes.     

A candidate for Lr19, an exotic gene conditioning leaf rust resistance in wheat

Lr19, one of the few widely effective genes conferring resistance to leaf rust in wheat, was transferred from the wild relative Thinopyrum ponticum to durum wheat. Since Lr19 confers a hypersensitive response to the pathogen, it was considered likely that the gene would be a member of the major nucleotide-binding site (NBS)-leucine-rich repeat (LRR) plant R gene family. NBS profiling, based on PCR amplification of conserved NBS motifs, was applied to durum wheat–Th. ponticum recombinant lines involving different segments of the alien 7AgL chromosome arm, carrying or lacking Lr19. Differential PCR products were isolated and sequenced. From one such sequence (AG15), tightly linked to Lr19, a 4,121-bp full-length cDNA was obtained. Its deduced 1,258 amino acid sequence has the characteristic NBS-LRR domains of plant R gene products and includes a coiled-coil (CC) region typical of monocots. The genomic DNA sequence showed the presence of two exons and a short intron upstream of the predicted stop codon. Homology searches revealed considerable identity of AG15 with the cloned wheat resistance gene Pm3a and a lower similarity with wheat Lr1, Lr21, and Lr10. Quantitative PCR on leaf-rust-infected and non-infected Lr19 carriers proved AG15 to be constitutively expressed, as is common for R genes. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Morphological,growth, and chromosomal changes in bovine pancreatic duct epithelial cells exposed toN-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine

Summary Epithelial cells cultured from bovine pancreatic ducts were given a single treatment ofN-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). Multinucleated cells and giant cells were observed more frequently in carcinogen-treated cultures than in controls. The MNNG-treated cultures also contained a sizeable population of small, dense cells that were not observed in control cultures. At the concentration of 1.0 μg/ml, MNNG caused an initial depression in the growth rate of the cells followed by growth stimulation for several weeks. The MNNG produced chromosomal damage in the cells as indicated by the observation that a substantial proportion of carcinogen-treated cells were heteroploid and contained a high frequency of metacentric and submetacentric chromosomes and a dicentric marker chromosome. The MNNG treated and control cultures did not acquire the ability to grow in soft agar or to produce tumors after transplantation into athymic, nude mice. This work was supported in part by Public Health Service Contract and Interagency Agreement Y01-CP60204 from the Division of Cancer Cause and Prevention, National Cancer Institute.     

A comparative study on the antimutagenic properties of aqueous extracts of Aspalathus linearis (rooibos), different Cyclopia spp. (honeybush) and Camellia sinensis teas

Antimutagenic activity of aqueous extracts of the South African herbal teas, Aspalathus linearis (rooibos) and Cyclopia spp. (honeybush) was compared with that of Camellia sinensis (black, oolong and green) teas in the Salmonella mutagenicity assay using aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) and 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) as mutagens. The present study presents the first investigation on antimutagenic properties of C. subternata, C. genistoides and C. sessiliflora. The herbal teas demonstrated protection against both mutagens in the presence of metabolic activation, with the exception of “unfermented” (green/unoxidised) C. genistoides against 2-AAF, which either protected or enhanced mutagenesis depending on the concentration. Antimutagenic activity of “fermented” (oxidised) rooibos was significantly (P < 0.05) less than that of Camellia sinensis teas against AFB₁, while for 2-AAF it was less (P < 0.05) than that of black tea and similar (P > 0.05) to that of oolong and green teas. Antimutagenic activity of unfermented C. intermedia and C. subternata exhibited a similar protection as fermented rooibos against AFB₁. Against 2-AAF, fermented rooibos exhibited similar protective properties than unfermented C. intermedia and C. sessiliflora. Unfermented rooibos was less effective than the C. sinensis teas and fermented rooibos, but had similar (P > 0.05) antimutagenicity to that of fermented C. sessiliflora against AFB₁ and fermented C. subternata against 2-AAF. Fermented C. intermedia and C. genistoides exhibited the lowest protective effect against 2-AAF, while fermented C. intermedia exhibited the lowest protection when utilising AFB₁ as mutagen. Aspalathin and mangiferin, major polyphenols in rooibos and Cyclopia spp., respectively, exhibited weak to moderate protective effects when compared to the major green tea catechin, (−)epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Antimutagenic activity of selected herbal tea phenolic compounds indicated that they contribute towards (i) observed antimutagenic activity of the aqueous extracts against both mutagens and (ii) enhancement of the mutagenicity of 2-AAF by unfermented C. genistoides. Antimutagenic activity of the South African herbal teas was mutagen-specific, affected by fermentation and plant material, presumably due to changes and variation in phenolic composition.     

Induction of kinetochore positive and negative micronuclei in V79 cells by N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine: the protective effect of the pyridoindole antioxidant stobadine

The induction of micronuclei by N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) and their reduction by the cardioprotective synthetic antioxidant, stobadine were studied in hamster V79 cells cultured in vitro. The micronuclei derived from acentric fragments or from whole chromosomes were evaluated with the help of an immunofluorescent staining using antikinetochore antibodies from the serum of scleroderma (CREST syndrome) patients. Our results showed that MNNG (0.5 μg/ml) induced mainly kinetochore-negative micronuclei. At 6, 24 and 48 h after MNNG treatment, we measured a 2.7-, 4.3- and 7.0-fold increase, respectively, of kinetochore-negative micronuclei over the controls. The increase of kinetochore-positive micronuclei was rather low and represented at 6, 24 and 48 h, respectively 0.9-, 1.8- and 2.6-fold increases over the controls. Stobadine decreased the level of kinetochore-negative micronuclei at 6, 24 and 48 h to approximately one-half; the frequency of kinetochore-positive micronuclei was reduced only at 6 h. We suppose that the antioxidant stobadine reduces the induction of micronuclei by MNNG by scavenging of MNNG-induced highly reactive OH radicals which cause chromosomal damage.     

Biotransformation of p-, m-, and o-hydroxybenzoic acids by Panax ginseng hairy root cultures

The regioselective glycosylation of three isomers of hydroxybenzoic acids was observed in Panax ginseng hairy root cultures. p-Hydroxybenzoic acid (1) and m-hydroxybenzoic acid (2) were converted into their corresponding glycosides (1a and 2a) and glycosyl esters (1b and 2b) while no metabolite of o-hydroxybenzoic acid (3) was detected. A new compound, m-hydroxybenzoic acid β-d-xylopyranosyl (1 → 6)-β-d-glycopyranosyl ester (2c) was identified as a biotransformation product of 2. Further time-course studies of the biotransformation reactions showed that the glycosides were major products in the latter stage. The addition of carbohydrates or antioxidants increased glycosyl esters formation.     

Adhesion of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus to Human Intestinal Mucus

The intestinal mucus layer provides a potential niche for colonization by vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREF). We therefore examined the ability of six VREF strains to adhere to human intestinal mucus and determined binding kinetics. Four of six (67%) VREF strains demonstrated significant adhesion to immobilized intestinal mucus compared with a Salmonella typhimurium–negative control strain, but the level of adherence was low compared with Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG. Binding kinetics studies demonstrated that the maximum number of these four VREF strains that could adhere to a unit surface area of immobilized mucus was similar to or higher than the maximum number of L. rhamnosus GG that could adhere; however, L. rhamnosus GG demonstrated 20- to 130-times higher affinity than the VREF strains. These results demonstrate that VREF strains may adhere to human intestinal mucus and suggest that L. rhamnosus GG might be able to displace VREF strains.     

Helicobacter pylori infection can modulate the susceptibility of gastric mucosa cells to MNNG

The pathogenesis of stomach cells can be associated with their susceptibility to exogenous dietary irritants, like nitrosamines such as dimethylnitrosamines (DMNA), and to the effects of non-dietary factors, including Helicobacter pylori infection. We used N-methyl-N’-nitro N-nitrosoguanidyne (MNNG) as a surrogate agent that induces a spectrum of DNA damage similar to DMNA. Using the alkaline comet assay, we showed that antioxidants — vitamins C and E, quercetin, and melatonin — reduced the genotoxic effect of MNNG in H. pylori-infected and non-infected human gastric mucosa cells (GMCs). To compare the sensitivity of the stomach and the blood, the experiment was also carried out in peripheral blood. We observed a higher level of DNA damage induced by MNNG in H. pylori-infected than in noninfected GMCs. We did not note any difference in the efficacy of the repair of the damage in either type of GMC. H. pylori infection may play an important role in the pathogenesis of GMCs, as it can modulate their susceptibility to dietary mutagens/carcinogens, thus contributing to gastric cancer.     

Occurrence of wheat leaf rust (Puccinia triticina) races and virulence changes in Slovakia in 1994–2004

In 1995–2004 we investigated leaf rust virulence in Slovakia on Thatcher near isogenic lines (NILs) with genes Lr1, Lr2a, Lr2b, Lr2c, Lr3a, Lr9, Lr10, Lr11, Lr15, Lr17, Lr19, Lr21, Lr23, Lr24, Lr26 and Lr28. According to reaction of leaf rust isolates resistance genes Lr9 and Lr19 were completely effective to all examined pathotypes in all years. The resistance genes Lr24 and Lr28 were also completely effective to all examined pathotypes till the year 2001. In the year 2001 we detected 20% and 10% virulent isolates on NILs Lr24 and Lr28, respectively. According to the reaction of investigated isolates from the territory of Slovakia on NILs, resistance genes Lr2c, Lr3a, Lr11, Lr17, Lr21, Lr23 and Lr26 were mostly ineffective. During the 1994–2004 period we detected 16 races of leaf rust (races 2, 2SaBa, 6, 6SaBa, 12, 12SaBa, 14, 14SaBa, 57, 57SaBa, 61, 61SaBa, 62SaBa, 77, 77SaBa, 77/57SaBa). The most frequently determined races were 61SaBa and 77SaBa, which occurred in all years. Among frequently determined races we can assign race 12SaBa as well. According to the field tests in 2001–2004 good resistance to leaf rust was displayed by the cvs Arida (Lr13, Lru), Eva (Lr3, Lru) and Solara (Lru).     

In vitro and in vivo studies on antitumor effects of gossypol on human stomach adenocarcinoma (AGS) cell line and MNNG induced experimental gastric cancer

The present study has evaluated the chemopreventive effects of gossypol on N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG)-induced gastric carcinogenesis and on human gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS) cell line. Gossypol, C₃₀H₃₀O₈, is a polyphenolic compound that has anti proliferative effect and induces apoptosis in various cancer cells. The aim of this work was to delineate in vivo and in vitro anti-initiating mechanisms of orally administered gossypol in target (stomach) tissues and in human gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS) cell line. In vitro results prove that gossypol has potent cytotoxic effect and inhibit the proliferation of adenocarcinoma (AGS) cell line. In vivo results prove gossypol to be successful in prolonging the survival of MNNG induced cancer bearing animals and in delaying the onset of tumor in animals administrated with gossypol and MNNG simultaneously. Examination of the target (stomach) tissues in sacrificed experimental animals shows that administration of gossypol significantly reduces the level of tumor marker enzyme (carcino embryonic antigen) and pepsin. The level of Nucleic acid contents (DNA and RNA) significantly reduces, and the membrane damage of glycoprotein subsides, in the target tissues of cancer bearing animals, with the administration of gossypol. These data suggest that gossypol may create a beneficial effect in patients with gastric cancer.     

Exchange of individual ribosomal proteins between ribosomes as studied by heavy isotope-transfer experiments

Summary We have described previously an inducible response in Escherichia coli which occurs during growth on low levels of the methylating agent, N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), and which enables cells both to survive better and to be less mutated by a subsequent challenge dose of MNNG than control cultures (Samson and Cairns, 1977). We show here that this response is distinct from previously characterised pathways of DNA repair, and particularly from the SOS response, which is another inducible effect resulting from DNA damage. An examination of the cross-reactivity of this response with other mutagens has shown that it is a generalised mechanism affecting alkylation damage to DNA. It cannot, however, be induced by UV or the UV-mimetic mutagen, 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide, nor act on lesions put into DNA by those mutagens.     

MMR/c-Abl-dependent activation of ING2/p73α signaling regulates the cell death response to N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine

Agents inducing O⁶-methylguanine (O⁶MeG) in DNA such as N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) are cytotoxic and a deficiency in mismatch repair (MMR) results in lack of sensitivity to this genotoxin (termed alkylation tolerance). Here, we show that ING2, a member of the inhibitor of growth family, is required for cell death induced by MNNG. We further observe that MNNG treatment increases cellular protein levels of ING2 that is dependent on intact MMR function and that MNNG-induced ING2 localizes and associates with p73α in the nucleus. Suppression of ING2 by short hairpin RNA (shRNA) in MMR-proficient colorectal cancer cells decreased its sensitivity to MNNG and, in addition, abrogated MNNG-induced stabilization and acetylation of p73α. Interestingly, suppression of p73α had a greater impact on MNNG-induced cell death than ING2 leading us to conclude that ING2 regulates the cell death response, in part, through p73α. Inhibition of c-Abl by STI571 or suppression of c-Abl expression by shRNA blocked ING2 induction and p73α acetylation induced by this alkylator. Similarly, suppression of MMR (MLH1) by shRNA abrogated ING2 induction/p73α acetylation. Taken together, these results demonstrate that MLH1/c-Abl-dependent activation of ING2 > p73α signaling regulates cell death triggered by MNNG and further suggests that dysregulation of this event may, in part, be responsible for alkylation tolerance observed in MMR compromised cells.     

Correlation between lethality and DNA single-strand breaks in Bacillus subtilis cells treated with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine

The effects of N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) treatment two Bacillus subtilis strains which exhibit different UV sensitivities were monitored at both the cellular (survival) and subcellular (DNA strand break) levels. The MNNG-induced single strand DNA breaks (SSB) in either strain, as measured by alkaline sucrose gradient centrifugation, were shown to be well correlated with lethality. These DNA lesions were shown by a computer simulation to be randomly induced. Cell survival after MNNG treatment is inversely related to the number of replication forks per cell which in turn depends upon the doubling time of the culture and the growth phase. The production of single-strand breaks and cell killing are proportional to the log of the initial MNNG concentration and may imply that decomposition of the mutagen is (pseudo) second order.