Ascorbic acid specific utilization by some yeasts

One hundred and eighty strains of yeasts belonging to 17 genus and 53 species were screened for their ability to grow on ascorbic acid and iso-ascorbic acid as the sole carbon source. Most of the tested strains (157) were unable to grow on either compound. Strains of seven species of the genus Cryptococcus, of two Candida species, of Filobasidiella neoformans, Trichosporon cutaneum, Lipomyces starkeyi, Hansenula capsulata, and one strain of Aureobasidium pullulans were able to grow on ascorbic as well as on iso-ascorbic acid. Conversely, four strains of Aureobasidium pullulans, Candida blankii, and Cryptococcus dimennae could use only ascorbic acid for growth.     

Correlation between nitric oxide synthase activity and reduced glutathione level in human and murine endothelial cells

Summary The synthesis of nitric oxide (NO), detected as citrulline production, in human (HUVEC) and murine (tEnd.1) endothelial cells correlated with intracellular GSH. tEnd.1, which exhibited an intracellular GSH level 2.5-fold higher than HUVEC, showed a citrulline production (basally and after ionomycin stimulation) 5–8 times higher than human cells. Ionomycinelicited citrulline synthesis in tEnd.1 cells increased 2.4-fold after loading with GSH, and decreased dose-dependently after GSH depletion. Cell loading with N-(2-mercaptopropionyl)-glycine neither significantly increased citrulline production nor relieved the effect of GSH depletion.