Energetics and biochemistry of fermentative benzoate degradation by Syntrophus gentianae

The pathway of fermentative benzoate degradation by the syntrophically fermenting bacterium Syntrophus gentianae was studied by measurement of enzyme activities in cell-free extracts. Benzoate was activated by a benzoate-CoA ligase reaction, forming AMP and pyrophosphate, which was subsequently cleaved by a membrane-bound proton-translocating pyrophosphatase. Glutaconyl-CoA (formed from hypothetical pimelyl-CoA and glutaryl-CoA intermediates) was decarboxylated to crotonyl-CoA by a sodium-ion-dependent membrane-bound glutaconyl-CoA decarboxylase, a biotin enzyme that could be inhibited by avidin. The overall energy budget of this fermentation could be balanced only if the dearomatizing reduction of benzoyl-CoA is assumed to produce cyclohexene carboxyl-CoA rather than cyclohexadiene carboxyl-CoA, although experimental evidence of this reaction is still insufficient. With this assumption, benzoate degradation by S. gentianae can be balanced to yield one-third to two-thirds of an ATP unit per benzoate degraded, in accordance with earlier measurements of whole-cell energetics. Received: 5 August 1998 / Accepted: 18 February 1999     

红球菌R04苯甲酸转运相关膜蛋白RHOGL009301的生理功能

【目的】探究红球菌(Rhodococcus sp.)R04膜蛋白RHOGL009301的生理功能和突变菌株的代谢特性,确定该膜蛋白的生理功能与苯甲酸转运的关系。【方法】将RHOGL009301基因与绿色荧光蛋白基因在Rhodococcus erythropolis进行融合表达,Delta Vision观察该基因蛋白产物的定位。通过基因同源重组敲除RHOGL009301基因,并对比野生型菌株和缺陷型菌株在不同碳源培养下的生长情况。HPLC测定红球菌R04野生型菌株和缺陷型菌株代谢联苯和苯甲酸时细胞内外代谢物,分析不同生长条件下代谢物的浓度变化。【结果】RHOGL009301基因与绿色荧光蛋白基因在Rhodococcus erythropolis中实现共表达,并定位在细胞膜上。获得了RHOGL009301基因的缺陷型菌株R04ΔMP,与野生型菌株相比,缺陷型菌株在联苯和苯甲酸培养条件下的生物量明显降低,生长速度减慢。HPLC分析表明RHOGL009301基因的缺失抑制了苯甲酸的转运。【结论】膜蛋白RHOGL009301是苯甲酸代谢和转运相关的蛋白,基于序列同源性分析,该膜蛋白是一种新型的苯甲酸转运蛋白。     

5%甲氨基阿维菌素苯甲酸盐微乳剂对6种环境生物的急性毒性

甲氨基阿维菌素苯甲酸盐是一种新型的抗生素类杀虫剂、杀螨剂,其大量使用可能会导致一系列的生态风险,因此有必要开展其对相关环境生物毒性的研究。测定了甲氨基阿维菌素苯甲酸盐对意大利蜜蜂、日本鹌鹑、斑马鱼、家蚕、大型溞和赤子爱胜蚓6种非靶标生物的急性毒性。5％甲氨基阿维菌素苯甲酸盐微乳剂对蜜蜂的急性经口LC50（48 h）为0．555 a．i．mg· L-1,对鹌鹑的经口LD50（7 d）为148．369 a．i．mg· kg-1,对斑马鱼的LC50（96 h）为0．368 a．i．mg· L-1,对家蚕的急性摄入毒性LC50（96 h）为0．005 a．i．mg· L-1,对大型溞的运动抑制毒性EC50（48 h）为0．020 a．i． mg· L-1,对蚯蚓的急性毒性LC50（14 d）为18．397 a．i．mg· kg-1。该农药对家蚕和大型溞均为剧毒,对蜜蜂和斑马鱼均为高毒,对鹌鹑中毒,对蚯蚓低毒。总体而言,甲氨基阿维菌素苯甲酸盐微乳剂对环境生物危害大,在使用过程中要注意。     

百草枯和苯甲酸钠对渗透胁迫下抗旱性不同玉米品种愈伤组织的影响

两个品种玉来愈伤组织经0．5和5mmol/L的百草枯处理3h后,在渗透胁迫（PEG6000－0．5MPa溶液）下处理24h,电解质泄漏率增加;H2O2和MDA积累;AsA和CAR含量的减少加剧。0．5和5mmol/L的苯甲酸钠减轻渗透胁迫诱导的氧化伤害,促进CAT活性的增加;使SOD、GR、AP和POD能维持较高的活性;AsA和CAR含量降低的幅度减小。抗旱性强的品种PAN6043愈伤组织抗氧化胁迫和渗透胁迫能力强于抗旱性弱品种SC701,并与合高活力抗氧化系统密切相关。     

Effects of sodium benzoate,a commonly used food preservative,on learning,memory, and oxidative stress in brain of mice

Sodium benzoate (SB) is a widely used preservative and antimicrobial substance in many foods and soft drinks. However, this compound is generally recognized as safe food additives, but evidence has suggested that a high intake of SB may link to attention deficit‐hyperactivity disorder in children. Present study investigate the effects of oral administration of different concentrations of SB (0.56, 1.125, and 2.25 mg/mL) for 4 weeks, on the learning and memory performance tests, and also the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), and acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE) in the mouse brain. The results showed that SB significantly impaired memory and motor coordination. Moreover, SB decreased reduced GSH and increased the MDA level in the brain significantly (P < 0.001). However, nonsignificant alteration was observed in the AChE activity. These findings suggest that short‐term consumption of SB can impair memory performance and increased brain oxidative stress in mice.     

Kava analogues as agents for treatment of periodontal diseases: Synthesis and initial biological evaluation

Six kava analogues of the structural type 3-oxocyclohex-1-en-1-yl benzoates (and corresponding benzamides) were synthesized and evaluated for their affect on periodontal deconstruction in collagen anti-body primed oral gavage model of periodontitis. The compounds were prepared through an acylation or amidation of the enolizable cyclic 1,3-diketone. We have learned that three of the analogues are responsible for the reduction of inflammatory cell counts within soft tissue. These novel kava-like molecules where the lactone is replaced by an α,β-unsaturated ketone show promise in the prevention and treatment of inflammation and alveolar bone loss associated with periodontitis.     

Effectiveness of benzyl benzoate in elimination of house dust mites

The effect of elimination treatment with benzyl benzoate was examined in 30 adults with asthma caused by sensitivity to house dust mites. The patients were randomised into a control and an active group, who treated their mattresses with benzyl benzoate (Acarosan^®). The study lasted 12 months and the effect of the treatment was monitored by monthly dust sampling, analyzed for major allergens fromDermatophagoides pteronyssinus andfarinae by the ELISA method and for guanine by the Acarex^® method. The clinical effect was assessed by measuring lung function, daily peak flows, symptoms and medicine consumption as well as skin prick tests, and specific IgE to mite allergens. For both groups, a significant decrease was observed in house dust mite allergens, but there was no significant difference between the groups. No considerable differences were observed in clinical parameters within or between the groups. A good correlation was observed between ELISA and Acarex^®. but the latter showed a major variation in the different classes. In conclusion. treatment of mattresses with benzyl benzoate had no effect in a group of patients with asthma due to house dust mite allergy. Regular vacuum cleaning of the bed may reduce house dust mite allergen exposure.     

Isolation and characterization of a thermophilic benzoate-degrading,sulfate-reducing bacterium,Desulfotomaculum thermobenzoicum sp. nov.

A new thermophilic sulfate-reducing bacterium, strain TSB, that was spore-forming, rod-shaped, slightly motile and gram-positive, was isolated from a butyrate-containing enrichment culture inoculated with sludge of a thermophilic methane fermentation reactor. This isolate could oxidize benzoate completely. Strain TSB also oxidized some fatty acids and alcohols. SO _inf4 ^sup2- , SO _inf3 ^sup2- , S₂O _inf3 ^sup2- and NO _inf3 ^sup- were utilized as electron acceptors. With pyruvate or lactate the isolate grew without an external electron acceptor and produced acetate. The optimum temperature for growth was 62°C. The G+C content of DNA was 52.8 mol%. This isolate is described as a new species, Desulfotomaculum thermobenzoicum.     

Efficacy of Four Nematicides Against the Reproduction and Development of Pinewood Nematode,Bursaphelenchus xylophilus

To understand the efficacy of emamectin benzoate, avermectin, milbemectin, and thiacloprid on the reproduction and development of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, seven parameters, namely population growth, fecundity, egg hatchability, larval lethality, percent larval development, body size, and sexual ratio, were investigated using sublethal (LC₂₀) doses of these compounds in the laboratory. Emamectin benzoate treatment led to a significant suppression in population size, brood size, and percent larval development with 411, 3.50, and 49.63%, respectively, compared to 20850, 24.33, and 61.43% for the negative control. The embryonic and larval lethality increased obviously from 12.47% and 13.70% to 51.37% and 75.30%, respectively. In addition, the body length was also significantly reduced for both males and females in the emamectin benzoate treatment. Avermectin and milbemectin were also effective in suppressing population growth by increasing larval lethality and reducing larval development, although they did not affect either brood size or embryonic lethality. Body length for both male and female worms was increased by avermectin. Thiacloprid caused no adverse reproductive effects, although it suppressed larval development. Sexual ratio was not affected by any of these four nematicides. Our results indicate that emamectin benzoate, milbemectin, and avermectin are effective against the reproduction of B. xylophilus. We think these three nematicides can be useful for the control of pine wilt disease.     

Effect of emamectin benzoate under semi-field and field conditions on key predatory biological control agents used in vegetable greenhouses

Predatory arthropods are commonly used as biological control agents (BCAs). They are released in commercial vegetable greenhouses as primary elements of integrated pest management programmes for some of the most devastating pests on pepper and tomato in southeastern Spain. Emamectin benzoate, a macro-cyclic lactone insecticide derived from the avermectin family of natural products, is being developed for the control of Lepidoptera pests on a variety of crops in Europe including vegetables. The compatibility of emamectin benzoate with the predatory BCAs Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot and Orius laevigatus (Fieber) in field trials (direct spray and aged residues) and Macrolophus pygmaeus (Rambur) and Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) in semi-field studies was studied. Emamectin benzoate at the highest recommended concentration (14.25 mg L^?1) was compatible with A. swirskii and O. laevigatus when applied 3 days before the introduction of the arthropods, but it was toxic when directly sprayed. M. pygmaeus and C. carnea adults survived to direct spray applications.