The role of O2.- in the production of HO.: in vitro and in vivo

Plant-based active photoprotectants for sunscreens

Excessive exposure to the sun's radiation is the major exogenous mediator of skin damage, which accelerates skin ageing and increases the risk of developing skin cancer. Compounds with photoprotectant activity are extremely useful for decreasing the effect of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on the skin; however, numerous sun filters, especially organic sunscreens, are allergenic. Therefore, the development of formulations containing plant extracts, which may be potentially safer, is extensively being explored. Plant-based cosmetics are commonly used to avoid skin ageing because they contain antioxidant agents that minimize free radical activity, and numerous studies have investigated the skin-protectant effects of related plant species. In addition to their antioxidant properties, plant-based cosmetics protect the skin against solar radiation because they contain polyphenols such as flavonoids and carotenoids. Therefore, this study aims to present a review of plant species commonly used in sunscreens to protect the skin against damage due to sunlight exposure.

Oxidative Stress

The ancestors of Escherichia coli and Salmonella ultimately evolved to thrive in air-saturated liquids, in which oxygen levels reach 210 μM at 37°C. However, in 1976 Brown and colleagues reported that some sensitivity persists: growth defects still become apparent when hyperoxia is imposed on cultures of E. coli. This residual vulnerability was important in that it raised the prospect that normal levels of oxygen might also injure bacteria, albeit at reduced rates that are not overtly toxic. The intent of this article is both to describe the threat that molecular oxygen poses for bacteria and to detail what we currently understand about the strategies by which E. coli and Salmonella defend themselves against it. E. coli mutants that lack either superoxide dismutases or catalases and peroxidases exhibit a variety of growth defects. These phenotypes constitute the best evidence that aerobic cells continually generate intracellular superoxide and hydrogen peroxide at potentially lethal doses. Superoxide has reduction potentials that allow it to serve in vitro as either a weak univalent reductant or a stronger univalent oxidant. The addition of micromolar hydrogen peroxide to lab media will immediately block the growth of most cells, and protracted exposure will result in the loss of viability. The need for inducible antioxidant systems seems especially obvious for enteric bacteria, which move quickly from the anaerobic gut to fully aerobic surface waters or even to ROS-perfused phagolysosomes. E. coli and Salmonella have provided two paradigmatic models of oxidative-stress responses: the SoxRS and OxyR systems.

Proteomic analysis of the hippocampus in naïve and ischemic-preconditioned rat

The hippocampus exhibits regional differences in vulnerability to ischemia, wherein pyramidal cells in the CA1 region are vulnerable to ischemia while pyramidal cells in the CA3 region and granule cells in the dentate gyrus (DG) region are relatively ischemia resistant. However, pyramidal cells in the CA1 region reportedly exhibit ischemic tolerance following exposure to a brief non-lethal period of ischemia known as ischemic preconditioning. In this study, we used proteomic analysis to examine the difference in protein expression between naïve rat CA1 and CA3/DG regions, as well as the altered protein expression in the CA1 region after 3min of ischemic preconditioning. Proteomic analysis identified ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase isozyme L1 (UCH-L1), glutathione S-transferase μ5 (GSTμ5), glutamine synthetase (GS), and dynamin-1 as proteins with differential expression levels in naïve CA1 and CA3/DG regions. The difference in expression levels of GSTμ5 and GS between these two regions was further confirmed by western blot. Our analysis also identified aconitase2, α-tubulin, protein-l-isoaspartate O-methiltransferase (PIMT), and voltage-dependent anion channel 1 (VDCA1) as proteins with down-regulated expression levels in the CA1 region following 3min ischemic preconditioning. The decrease in the expression of aconitase2 was also confirmed by western blot and immunohistochemical staining. The present results suggest that GSTμ5 and GS may be associated with ischemia-resistance in the CA3/DG region and that aconitase2 may play a part in the ischemic tolerance in the CA1 region.

Interactions between mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and cellular glucose metabolism

Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and detoxification are tightly balanced. Shifting this balance enables ROS to activate intracellular signaling and/or induce cellular damage and cell death. Increased mitochondrial ROS production is observed in a number of pathological conditions characterized by mitochondrial dysfunction. One important hallmark of these diseases is enhanced glycolytic activity and low or impaired oxidative phosphorylation. This suggests that ROS is involved in glycolysis (dys)regulation and vice versa. Here we focus on the bidirectional link between ROS and the regulation of glucose metabolism. To this end, we provide a basic introduction into mitochondrial energy metabolism, ROS generation and redox homeostasis. Next, we discuss the interactions between cellular glucose metabolism and ROS. ROS-stimulated cellular glucose uptake can stimulate both ROS production and scavenging. When glucose-stimulated ROS production, leading to further glucose uptake, is not adequately counterbalanced by (glucose-stimulated) ROS scavenging systems, a toxic cycle is triggered, ultimately leading to cell death. Here we inventoried the various cellular regulatory mechanisms and negative feedback loops that prevent this cycle from occurring. It is concluded that more insight in these processes is required to understand why they are (un)able to prevent excessive ROS production during various pathological conditions in humans.

The cell biology of lignification in higher plants

BACKGROUND

Lignin is a polyphenolic polymer that strengthens and waterproofs the cell wall of specialized plant cell types. Lignification is part of the normal differentiation programme and functioning of specific cell types, but can also be triggered as a response to various biotic and abiotic stresses in cells that would not otherwise be lignifying.

SCOPE

Cell wall lignification exhibits specific characteristics depending on the cell type being considered. These characteristics include the timing of lignification during cell differentiation, the palette of associated enzymes and substrates, the sub-cellular deposition sites, the monomeric composition and the cellular autonomy for lignin monomer production. This review provides an overview of the current understanding of lignin biosynthesis and polymerization at the cell biology level.

CONCLUSIONS

The lignification process ranges from full autonomy to complete co-operation depending on the cell type. The different roles of lignin for the function of each specific plant cell type are clearly illustrated by the multiple phenotypic defects exhibited by knock-out mutants in lignin synthesis, which may explain why no general mechanism for lignification has yet been defined. The range of phenotypic effects observed include altered xylem sap transport, loss of mechanical support, reduced seed protection and dispersion, and/or increased pest and disease susceptibility.

Proteome analysis identifies the Dpr protein of Streptococcus mutans as an important factor in the presence of early streptococcal colonizers of tooth surfaces

Oral streptococci are primary colonizers of tooth surfaces and Streptococcus mutans is the principal causative agent of dental caries in humans. A number of proteins are involved in the formation of monospecies biofilms by S. mutans. This study analyzed the protein expression profiles of S. mutans biofilms formed in the presence or absence of S. gordonii, a pioneer colonizer of the tooth surface, by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE). After identifying S. mutans proteins by Mass spectrometric analysis, their expression in the presence of S. gordonii was analyzed. S. mutans was inoculated with or without S. gordonii DL1. The two species were compartmentalized using 0.2-μl Anopore membranes. The biofilms on polystyrene plates were harvested, and the solubilized proteins were separated by 2-DE. When S. mutans biofilms were formed in the presence of S. gordonii, the peroxide resistance protein Dpr of the former showed 4.3-fold increased expression compared to biofilms that developed in the absence of the pioneer colonizer. In addition, we performed a competition assay using S. mutans antioxidant protein mutants together with S. gordonii and other initial colonizers. Growth of the dpr-knockout S. mutans mutant was significantly inhibited by S. gordonii, as well as by S. sanguinis. Furthermore, a cell viability assay revealed that the viability of the dpr-defective mutant was significantly attenuated compared to the wild-type strain when co-cultured with S. gordonii. Therefore, these results suggest that Dpr might be one of the essential proteins for S. mutans survival on teeth in the presence of early colonizing oral streptococci.

Intracellular oxidant activity, antioxidant enzyme defense system, and cell senescence in fibroblasts with trisomy 21

Down's syndrome (DS) is characterized by a complex phenotype associated with chronic oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Overexpression of genes on chromosome-21 is thought to underlie the pathogenesis of the major phenotypic features of DS, such as premature aging. Using cultured fibroblasts with trisomy 21 (T21F), this study aimed to ascertain whether an imbalance exists in activities, mRNA, and protein expression of the antioxidant enzymes SOD1, SOD2, glutathione-peroxidase, and catalase during the cell replication process in vitro. T21F had high SOD1 expression and activity which led to an interenzymatic imbalance in the antioxidant defense system, accentuated with replicative senescence. Intracellular ROS production and oxidized protein levels were significantly higher in T21F compared with control cells; furthermore, a significant decline in intracellular ATP content was detected in T21F. Cell senescence was found to appear prematurely in DS cells as shown by SA-β-Gal assay and p21 assessment, though not apoptosis, as neither p53 nor the proapoptotic proteins cytochrome c and caspase 9 were altered in T21F. These novel findings would point to a deleterious role of oxidatively modified molecules in early cell senescence of T21F, thereby linking replicative and stress-induced senescence in cultured cells to premature aging in DS.

Photodynamic therapy: current status and future directions

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a minimally invasive therapeutic modality used for the management of a variety of cancers and benign diseases. The destruction of unwanted cells and tissues in PDT is achieved by the use of visible or near-infrared radiation to activate a light-absorbing compound (a photosensitizer, PS), which, in the presence of molecular oxygen, leads to the production of singlet oxygen and other reactive oxygen species. These cytotoxic species damage and kill target cells. The development of new PSs with properties optimized for PDT applications is crucial for the improvement of the therapeutic outcome. This review outlines the principles of PDT and discusses the relationship between the structure and physicochemical properties of a PS, its cellular uptake and subcellular localization, and its effect on PDT outcome and efficacy.

Hydrophilic carbon clusters as therapeutic, high-capacity antioxidants

Oxidative stress reflects an excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and is a hallmark of several acute and chronic human pathologies. Although many antioxidants have been investigated, most have demonstrated poor efficacy in clinical trials. Here we discuss the limitations of current antioxidants and describe a new class of nanoparticle antioxidants, poly(ethylene glycol)-functionalized hydrophilic carbon clusters (PEG-HCCs). PEG-HCCs show high capacity to annihilate ROS such as superoxide (O2(•-)) and the hydroxyl (HO(•)) radical, show no reactivity toward the nitric oxide radical (NO(•)), and can be functionalized with targeting moieties without loss of activity. Given these properties, we propose that PEG-HCCs offer an exciting new area of study for the treatment of numerous ROS-induced human pathologies.

Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene is associated with oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers in acute Myocardial Infarction

Several studies have associated exposure to environmental pollutants, especially polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), with the development of cardiovascular diseases. Considering that 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) is the major biomarker of exposure to pyrenes, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential association between 1-OHP and oxidative stress/inflammatory biomarkers in patients who had suffered an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). After adopting the exclusion criteria, 58 post-infarction patients and 41 controls were sub-divided into smokers and non-smokers. Urinary 1-OHP, hematological and biochemical parameters, oxidative stress biomarkers (MDA, SOD, CAT, GPx and exogenous antioxidants) and the inflammatory biomarker (hs-CRP) were analyzed. 1-OHP levels were increased in post-infarct patients compared to controls (p < 0.05) and were correlated to MDA (r = 0.426, p < 0.01), CAT (r = 0.474, p < 0.001) and β-carotene (r = -0.309; p < 0.05) in non-smokers. Furthermore, post-infarction patients had elevated hs-CRP, MDA, CAT and GPx levels compared to controls for both smokers and non-smokers. Besides, β-carotene levels and SOD activity were decreased in post-infarction patients. In summary, our findings indicate that the exposure to pyrenes was associated to lipid damage and alterations of endogenous and exogenous antioxidants, demonstrating that PAHs contribute to oxidative stress and are associated to acute myocardial infarction.

Caenorhabditis elegans: a model to investigate oxidative stress and metal dyshomeostasis in Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by progressive motor impairment attributed to progressive loss of dopaminergic (DAergic) neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. Additional clinical manifestations include non-motor symptoms such as insomnia, depression, psychosis, and cognitive impairment. PD patients with mild cognitive impairment have an increased risk of developing dementia. The affected brain regions also show perturbed metal ion levels, primarily iron. These observations have led to speculation that metal ion dyshomeostasis plays a key role in the neuronal death of this disease. However, the mechanisms underlying this metal-associated neurodegeneration have yet to be completely elucidated. Mammalian models have traditionally been used to investigate PD pathogenesis. However, alternate animal models are also being adopted, bringing to bear their respective experimental advantage. The nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, is one such system that has well-developed genetics, is amenable to transgenesis and has relatively low associated experimental costs. C. elegans has a well characterized neuronal network that includes a simple DAergic system. In this review we will discuss mechanisms thought to underlie PD and the use of C. elegans to investigate these processes.

Comparative analysis and modeling of superoxide dismutases (SODs) in Brachypodium distachyon L

Superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1) is an enzyme catalyzing the dismutation of superoxide radical to hydrogen peroxide and dioxygen. To date, four types of SODs--Cu/ZnSOD, MnSOD, FeSOD, and NiSOD--have been identified. In this study, SOD proteins of Brachypodium distachyon (L.) Beauv. were screened by utilization of bioinformatics approaches. According to our results, Mn/FeSODs and Cu/ZnSODs of B. distachyon were found to be in basic and acidic character, respectively. Domain analyzes of SOD proteins revealed that iron/manganese SOD and copper/zinc SOD were within studied SOD proteins. Based on the seconder structure analyzes, Mn/FeSODs and Cu/ZnSODs of B. distachyon were found as having similar sheets, turns and coils. Although helical structures were noticed in the types of Mn/FeSODs, no the type of Cu/ZnSODs were identified having helical structures. The predicted binding sites of Fe/MnSODs and Cu/ZnSODs were confirmed for having His-His-Asp-His and His-His-His-Asp-Ser residues with different positions, respectively. The 3D structure analyzes of SODs revealed that some structural divergences were observed in patterns of SODs domains. Based on phylogenetic analysis, Mn/FeSODs were found to have similarities whereas Cu/ZnSODs were clustered independently in phylogenetic tree.

Brain iron homeostasis: from molecular mechanisms to clinical significance and therapeutic opportunities

Iron has emerged as a significant cause of neurotoxicity in several neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD), and others. In some cases, the underlying cause of iron mis-metabolism is known, while in others, our understanding is, at best, incomplete. Recent evidence implicating key proteins involved in the pathogenesis of AD, PD, and sCJD in cellular iron metabolism suggests that imbalance of brain iron homeostasis associated with these disorders is a direct consequence of disease pathogenesis. A complete understanding of the molecular events leading to this phenotype is lacking partly because of the complex regulation of iron homeostasis within the brain. Since systemic organs and the brain share several iron regulatory mechanisms and iron-modulating proteins, dysfunction of a specific pathway or selective absence of iron-modulating protein(s) in systemic organs has provided important insights into the maintenance of iron homeostasis within the brain. Here, we review recent information on the regulation of iron uptake and utilization in systemic organs and within the complex environment of the brain, with particular emphasis on the underlying mechanisms leading to brain iron mis-metabolism in specific neurodegenerative conditions. Mouse models that have been instrumental in understanding systemic and brain disorders associated with iron mis-metabolism are also described, followed by current therapeutic strategies which are aimed at restoring brain iron homeostasis in different neurodegenerative conditions. We conclude by highlighting important gaps in our understanding of brain iron metabolism and mis-metabolism, particularly in the context of neurodegenerative disorders.

Mitochondria in ageing: there is metabolism beyond the ROS

Mitochondria are responsible for a series of metabolic functions. Superoxide leakage from the respiratory chain and the resulting cascade of reactive oxygen species-induced damage, as well as mitochondrial metabolism in programmed cell death, have been intensively studied during ageing in single-cellular and higher organisms. Changes in mitochondrial physiology and metabolism resulting in ROS are thus considered to be hallmarks of ageing. In this review, we address 'other' metabolic activities of mitochondria, carbon metabolism (the TCA cycle and related underground metabolism), the synthesis of Fe/S clusters and the metabolic consequences of mitophagy. These important mitochondrial activities are hitherto less well-studied in the context of cellular and organismic ageing. In budding yeast, they strongly influence replicative, chronological and hibernating lifespan, connecting the diverse ageing phenotypes studied in this single-cellular model organism. Moreover, there is evidence that similar processes equally contribute to ageing of higher organisms as well. In this scenario, increasing loss of metabolic integrity would be one driving force that contributes to the ageing process. Understanding mitochondrial metabolism may thus be required for achieving a unifying theory of eukaryotic ageing.

Regulation Systems of Bacteria such as Escherichia coli in Response to Nutrient Limitation and Environmental Stresses

An overview was made to understand the regulation system of a bacterial cell such as Escherichia coli in response to nutrient limitation such as carbon, nitrogen, phosphate, sulfur, ion sources, and environmental stresses such as oxidative stress, acid shock, heat shock, and solvent stresses. It is quite important to understand how the cell detects environmental signals, integrate such information, and how the cell system is regulated. As for catabolite regulation, F1,6B P (FDP), PEP, and PYR play important roles in enzyme level regulation together with transcriptional regulation by such transcription factors as Cra, Fis, CsrA, and cAMP-Crp. αKG plays an important role in the coordinated control between carbon (C)- and nitrogen (N)-limitations, where αKG inhibits enzyme I (EI) of phosphotransferase system (PTS), thus regulating the glucose uptake rate in accordance with N level. As such, multiple regulation systems are co-ordinated for the cell synthesis and energy generation against nutrient limitations and environmental stresses. As for oxidative stress, the TCA cycle both generates and scavenges the reactive oxygen species (ROSs), where NADPH produced at ICDH and the oxidative pentose phosphate pathways play an important role in coping with oxidative stress. Solvent resistant mechanism was also considered for the stresses caused by biofuels and biochemicals production in the cell.

Free radical paradoxes

Unlike bigger and more advanced animals, Caenorhabditis elegans does not generate NO, yet it was recently found that NO produced by chemical or biological sources exerts profound effects in that animal, leading to increased life span and thermotolerance. The biological source was Bacillus subtilis, a natural food for C. elegans. Yet once in the cell, NO might react with superoxide, leading to the production of the potentially toxic peroxynitrite. In this paper, a number of paradoxes that are involved in that situation are discussed. It is also argued that their solution might lead to a sizeable advancement of our knowledge of what constitutes oxidative stress and what role oxidative stress plays in the development of pathological processes and aging.

Novel insight into neutrophil immune responses by dry mass determination of Candida albicans morphotypes

The common fungal pathogen Candida albicans has the ability to grow as a yeast or as a hypha and can alternate between these morphotypes. The overall biomass of both morphotypes increases with growth. However, only yeasts, but not hyphae, exist as discrete cellular entities. Multiplicity of infection (MOI) is a useful parameter to determine the initial inoculum of yeasts for in vitro infection assays. Since the amount of hyphae is difficult to quantify, comparable starting conditions in such assays cannot be determined accurately for yeasts and hyphae using MOI. To circumvent this problem, we have established a set of correlation coefficients to convert fungal metabolic activity and optical density to dry mass. Using these correlations, we were able to accurately compare ROS production and IL-8 release by polymorphonuclear neutrophils upon infection with equal dry mass amounts of yeast and hyphal morphotypes. Neutrophil responses depended on the initial form of infection, irrespective of C. albicans wild-type yeasts transforming to hyphal growth during the assay. Infection with a high mass of live C. albicans yeasts resulted in lower neutrophil ROS and this decrease stems from efficient ROS detoxification by C. albicans without directly affecting the phagocyte ROS machinery. Moreover, we show that dead C. albicans induces significantly less ROS and IL-8 release than live fungi, but thimerosal-killed C. albicans were still able to detoxify neutrophil ROS. Thus, the dry mass approach presented in this study reveals neutrophil responses to different amounts and morphotypes of C. albicans and serves as a template for studies that aim to identify morphotype-specific responses in a variety of immune cells.

Health protective effects of carotenoids and their interactions with other biological antioxidants

Carotenoids are natural pigments attracting attention of physicists, chemists and biologists due to their multiple functions in the nature. While carotenoids have unusually high extinction coefficients, they do not exhibit adequate emission. This fact has resulted in detailed studies of photophysical and photochemical properties of carotenoids and their role as light-harvesting pigments in photosynthesis. Carotenoids are abundantly present in fruits and vegetables and are considered as important species with beneficial effect on human health by decreasing the risk of various diseases, particularly decreasing the incidence of cancers and eye disease. More trials are needed to ascertain the role of carotenoids in prevention of cardiovascular disease and metabolic disease. Carotenoids effectively scavenge peroxyl radicals and act predominantly as antioxidants. However, under conditions of increased concentration of oxygen and carotenoid concentration, beta-carotene was found to exhibit prooxidant behaviour. Photophysical properties of carotenoids and conditions affecting a switch between antioxidant and prooxidant behaviour of carotenoids are the main aims of this review. In addition, the localization of carotenoids in biological membranes, their interactions and reactions with ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) as well as their redox potentials are discussed in view of their antioxidant properties as beneficial species in preventing various diseases.

Mitochondrial defects and oxidative stress in Alzheimer disease and Parkinson disease

Alzheimer disease (AD) and Parkinson disease (PD) are the two most common age-related neurodegenerative diseases characterized by prominent neurodegeneration in selective neural systems. Although a small fraction of AD and PD cases exhibit evidence of heritability, among which many genes have been identified, the majority are sporadic without known causes. Molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration and pathogenesis of these diseases remain elusive. Convincing evidence demonstrates oxidative stress as a prominent feature in AD and PD and links oxidative stress to the development of neuronal death and neural dysfunction, which suggests a key pathogenic role for oxidative stress in both AD and PD. Notably, mitochondrial dysfunction is also a prominent feature in these diseases, which is likely to be of critical importance in the genesis and amplification of reactive oxygen species and the pathophysiology of these diseases. In this review, we focus on changes in mitochondrial DNA and mitochondrial dynamics, two aspects critical to the maintenance of mitochondrial homeostasis and function, in relationship with oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of AD and PD.

Reactive oxygen species and the free radical theory of aging

The traditional view in the field of free radical biology is that free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are toxic, mostly owing to direct damage of sensitive and biologically significant targets, and are thus a major cause of oxidative stress; that complex enzymatic and nonenzymatic systems act in concert to counteract this toxicity; and that a major protective role is played by the phenomenon of adaptation. Another part of the traditional view is that the process of aging is at least partly due to accumulated damage done by these harmful species. However, recent workers in this and in related fields are exploring the view that superoxide radical and reactive oxygen species exert beneficial effects. Thus, such ROS are viewed as involved in cellular regulation by acting as (redox) signals, and their harmful effects are seen mostly as a result of compromised signaling, rather than due to direct damage to sensitive targets. According to some followers of this view, ROS such as hydrogen peroxide and superoxide are not just causative agents of aging but may also be agents that increase the life span by acting, for example, as prosurvival signals. The goal of this review is to recall that many of the effects of ROS that are interpreted as beneficial may actually represent adaptations to toxicity and that some of the most extravagant recent claims may be due to misinterpretation, oversimplification, and ignoring the wealth of knowledge supporting the traditional view. Whether it is time to abandon the free radical (oxidative stress) theory of aging is considered.

Superoxide poisons mononuclear iron enzymes by causing mismetallation

Superoxide (O(2)(-)) is a primary agent of intracellular oxidative stress. Genetic studies in many organisms have confirmed that excess O(2)(-) disrupts metabolism, but to date only a small family of [4Fe-4S] dehydratases have been identified as direct targets. This investigation reveals that in Escherichia coli O(2)(-) also poisons a broader cohort of non-redox enzymes that employ ferrous iron atoms as catalytic cofactors. These enzymes were inactivated by O(2)(-) both in vitro and in vivo. Although the enzymes are known targets of hydrogen peroxide, the outcome with O(2)(-) differs substantially. When purified enzymes were damaged by O(2)(-) in vitro, activity could be completely restored by iron addition, indicating that the O(2)(-) treatment generated an apoprotein without damaging the protein polypeptide. Superoxide stress inside cells caused the progressive mismetallation of these enzymes with zinc, which confers little activity. When O(2)(-) stress was terminated, cells gradually restored activity by extracting zinc from the proteins. The overloading of cells with zinc caused mismetallation even without O(2)(-) stress. These results support a model in which O(2)(-) repeatedly excises iron from these enzymes, allowing zinc to compete with iron for remetallation of their apoprotein forms. This action substantially expands the physiological imprint of O(2)(-) stress.

Targeting the redox balance in inflammatory skin conditions

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) can be both beneficial and deleterious. Under normal physiological conditions, ROS production is tightly regulated, and ROS participate in both pathogen defense and cellular signaling. However, insufficient ROS detoxification or ROS overproduction generates oxidative stress, resulting in cellular damage. Oxidative stress has been linked to various inflammatory diseases. Inflammation is an essential response in the protection against injurious insults and thus important at the onset of wound healing. However, hampered resolution of inflammation can result in a chronic, exaggerated response with additional tissue damage. In the pathogenesis of several inflammatory skin conditions, e.g., sunburn and psoriasis, inflammatory-mediated tissue damage is central. The prolonged release of excess ROS in the skin can aggravate inflammatory injury and promote chronic inflammation. The cellular redox balance is therefore tightly regulated by several (enzymatic) antioxidants and pro-oxidants; however, in case of chronic inflammation, the antioxidant system may be depleted, and prolonged oxidative stress occurs. Due to the central role of ROS in inflammatory pathologies, restoring the redox balance forms an innovative therapeutic target in the development of new strategies for treating inflammatory skin conditions. Nevertheless, the clinical use of antioxidant-related therapies is still in its infancy.

Aconitase causes iron toxicity in Drosophila pink1 mutants

The PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1) is a mitochondrial kinase, and pink1 mutations cause early onset Parkinson's disease (PD) in humans. Loss of pink1 in Drosophila leads to defects in mitochondrial function, and genetic data suggest that another PD-related gene product, Parkin, acts with pink1 to regulate the clearance of dysfunctional mitochondria (mitophagy). Consequently, pink1 mutants show an accumulation of morphologically abnormal mitochondria, but it is unclear if other factors are involved in pink1 function in vivo and contribute to the mitochondrial morphological defects seen in specific cell types in pink1 mutants. To explore the molecular mechanisms of pink1 function, we performed a genetic modifier screen in Drosophila and identified aconitase (acon) as a dominant suppressor of pink1. Acon localizes to mitochondria and harbors a labile iron-sulfur [4Fe-4S] cluster that can scavenge superoxide to release hydrogen peroxide and iron that combine to produce hydroxyl radicals. Using Acon enzymatic mutants, and expression of mitoferritin that scavenges free iron, we show that [4Fe-4S] cluster inactivation, as a result of increased superoxide in pink1 mutants, results in oxidative stress and mitochondrial swelling. We show that [4Fe-4S] inactivation acts downstream of pink1 in a pathway that affects mitochondrial morphology, but acts independently of parkin. Thus our data indicate that superoxide-dependent [4Fe-4S] inactivation defines a potential pathogenic cascade that acts independent of mitophagy and links iron toxicity to mitochondrial failure in a PD–relevant model.

In this work we provide mechanistic insight linking together two of the earliest observations in Parkinson's disease: the excessive build-up of iron in diseased substantia nigra neurons and mitochondrial dysfunction particularly increased reactive oxygen species production at the level of Complex I. We identify aconitase mutants as strong genetic suppressors of Parkinson-related pink1 mutant phenotypes, both at the organismal and at the cellular/mitochondrial level. We show that the mitochondrial dysfunction in pink1 mutants that includes Complex I dysfunction results in superoxide-dependent inactivation of the Aconitase iron-sulfur cluster, leading to the release of iron and peroxide that combine to produce hydroxyl radicals and mitochondrial failure. Consequently, scavenging free iron using expression of mitoferritin or decreasing the levels of aconitase both rescue pink1 mutants; while increased wild-type Aconitase, but not a mutant that does not harbor an iron-sulfur cluster, results in severe mitochondrial defects. Given that reduced electron transport chain activity, increased oxidative stress, and natural iron build-up in the substantia nigra are common factors in sporadic and familial forms of Parkinson's disease, we believe that oxidative inactivation of Aconitase may represent an important pathogenic cascade underlying neuronal dysfunction in Parkinson's disease.

Cell death from antibiotics without the involvement of reactive oxygen species

Recent observations have suggested that classic antibiotics kill bacteria by stimulating the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). If true, this notion might guide new strategies to improve antibiotic efficacy. In this study, the model was directly tested. Contrary to the hypothesis, antibiotic treatment did not accelerate the formation of hydrogen peroxide in Escherichia coli and did not elevate intracellular free iron, an essential reactant for the production of lethal damage. Lethality persisted in the absence of oxygen, and DNA repair mutants were not hypersensitive, undermining the idea that toxicity arose from oxidative DNA lesions. We conclude that these antibiotic exposures did not produce ROS and that lethality more likely resulted from the direct inhibition of cell-wall assembly, protein synthesis, and DNA replication.

Metabolic Regulation of a Bacterial Cell System with Emphasis on Escherichia coli Metabolism

It is quite important to understand the overall metabolic regulation mechanism of bacterial cells such as Escherichia coli from both science (such as biochemistry) and engineering (such as metabolic engineering) points of view. Here, an attempt was made to clarify the overall metabolic regulation mechanism by focusing on the roles of global regulators which detect the culture or growth condition and manipulate a set of metabolic pathways by modulating the related gene expressions. For this, it was considered how the cell responds to a variety of culture environments such as carbon (catabolite regulation), nitrogen, and phosphate limitations, as well as the effects of oxygen level, pH (acid shock), temperature (heat shock), and nutrient starvation.

Iron induces bimodal population development by Escherichia coli

Bacterial biofilm formation is a complex developmental process involving cellular differentiation and the formation of intricate 3D structures. Here we demonstrate that exposure to ferric chloride triggers rugose biofilm formation by the uropathogenic Escherichia coli strain UTI89 and by enteric bacteria Citrobacter koseri and Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium. Two unique and separable cellular populations emerge in iron-triggered, rugose biofilms. Bacteria at the air-biofilm interface express high levels of the biofilm regulator csgD, the cellulose activator adrA, and the curli subunit operon csgBAC. Bacteria in the interior of rugose biofilms express low levels of csgD and undetectable levels of matrix components curli and cellulose. Iron activation of rugose biofilms is linked to oxidative stress. Superoxide generation, either through addition of phenazine methosulfate or by deletion of sodA and sodB, stimulates rugose biofilm formation in the absence of high iron. Additionally, overexpression of Mn-superoxide dismutase, which can mitigate iron-derived reactive oxygen stress, decreases biofilm formation in a WT strain upon iron exposure. Not only does reactive oxygen stress promote rugose biofilm formation, but bacteria in the rugose biofilms display increased resistance to H(2)O(2) toxicity. Altogether, we demonstrate that iron and superoxide stress trigger rugose biofilm formation in UTI89. Rugose biofilm development involves the elaboration of two distinct bacterial populations and increased resistance to oxidative stress.

Mitochondrial involvement in neurodegenerative diseases

The classical bioenergetical view of the involvement of mitochondria in neurogeneration is based on the fact that mitochondria are the central players of ATP synthesis in neurons and their failure leads to neuronal dysfunction and eventually to cell death. Mutations in at least 39 genes in inherited neurodegenerative disorders seem to alter directly or indirectly mitochondrial function. Most of these mutations do not directly affect oxidative phosphorylation, but act through disturbed mitochondrial dynamics and quality control. This, however, does not invalidate the bioenergetic hypothesis. Neurodegeneration is not necessarily associated with a gross failure of ATP production, but might rather be a consequence of local insufficiencies of ATP supply in critical compartments of neurons, like the presynaptic terminal. We hypothesize that slow disease progression, at least in a subgroup of neurodegenerative diseases, can be explained by the parallel action of subcellular ATP insufficiency and clonal expansion of somatic mitochondrial DNA mutations, and particularly deletions.

Reconstruction and evaluation of the synthetic bacterial MEP pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Isoprenoids, which are a large group of natural and chemical compounds with a variety of applications as e.g. fragrances, pharmaceuticals and potential biofuels, are produced via two different metabolic pathways, the mevalonate (MVA) pathway and the 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway. Here, we attempted to replace the endogenous MVA pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by a synthetic bacterial MEP pathway integrated into the genome to benefit from its superior properties in terms of energy consumption and productivity at defined growth conditions. It was shown that the growth of a MVA pathway deficient S. cerevisiae strain could not be restored by the heterologous MEP pathway even when accompanied by the co-expression of genes erpA, hISCA1 and CpIscA involved in the Fe-S trafficking routes leading to maturation of IspG and IspH and E. coli genes fldA and fpr encoding flavodoxin and flavodoxin reductase believed to be responsible for electron transfer to IspG and IspH.

Intracellular free iron and its potential role in ultrahigh-pressure-induced inactivation of Escherichia coli

Intracellular free iron of Escherichia coli was determined by whole-cell electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometry. Ultrahigh pressure (UHP) increased both intracellular free iron and cell lethality in a pressure-dose-dependent manner. The iron chelator 2,2'-dipyridyl protected cells against UHP treatments. A mutation that produced iron overload conditions sensitized E. coli to UHP treatment.

Evidence of oxidative damage and inflammation associated with low glutathione redox status in the autism brain

Despite increasing evidence of oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of autism, most studies have not evaluated biomarkers within specific brain regions, and the functional consequences of oxidative stress remain relatively understudied. We examined frozen samples from the cerebellum and temporal cortex (Brodmann area 22 (BA22)) from individuals with autism and unaffected controls (n=15 and n=12 per group, respectively). Biomarkers of oxidative stress, including reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and glutathione redox/antioxidant capacity (GSH/GSSG), were measured. Biomarkers of oxidative protein damage (3-nitrotyrosine; 3-NT) and oxidative DNA damage (8-oxo-deoxyguanosine; 8-oxo-dG) were also assessed. Functional indicators of oxidative stress included relative levels of 3-chlorotyrosine (3-CT), an established biomarker of a chronic inflammatory response, and aconitase activity, a biomarker of mitochondrial superoxide production. Consistent with previous studies on plasma and immune cells, GSH and GSH/GSSG were significantly decreased in both autism cerebellum (P<0.01) and BA22 (P<0.01). There was a significant increase in 3-NT in the autism cerebellum and BA22 (P<0.01). Similarly, 8-oxo-dG was significantly increased in autism cerebellum and BA22 (P<0.01 and P=0.01, respectively), and was inversely correlated with GSH/GSSG in the cerebellum (P<0.01). There was a significant increase in 3-CT levels in both brain regions (P<0.01), whereas aconitase activity was significantly decreased in autism cerebellum (P<0.01), and was negatively correlated with GSH/GSSG (P=0.01). Together, these results indicate that decreased GSH/GSSG redox/antioxidant capacity and increased oxidative stress in the autism brain may have functional consequence in terms of a chronic inflammatory response, increased mitochondrial superoxide production, and oxidative protein and DNA damage.

Alzheimer's disease: redox dysregulation as a common denominator for diverse pathogenic mechanisms

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia and a progressive neurodegeneration that appears to result from multiple pathogenic mechanisms (including protein misfolding/aggregation, involved in both amyloid β-dependent senile plaques and tau-dependent neurofibrillary tangles), metabolic and mitochondrial dysfunction, excitoxicity, calcium handling impairment, glial cell dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress. Oxidative stress, which could be secondary to several of the other pathophysiological mechanisms, appears to be a major determinant of the pathogenesis and progression of AD. The identification of oxidized proteins common for mild cognitive impairment and AD suggests that key oxidation pathways are triggered early and are involved in the initial progression of the neurodegenerative process. Abundant data support that oxidative stress, also considered as a main factor for aging, the major risk factor for AD, can be a common key element capable of articulating the divergent nature of the proposed pathogenic factors. Pathogenic mechanisms influence each other at different levels. Evidence suggests that it will be difficult to define a single-target therapy resulting in the arrest of progression or the improvement of AD deterioration. Since oxidative stress is present from early stages of disease, it appears as one of the main targets to be included in a clinical trial. Exploring the articulation of AD pathogenic mechanisms by oxidative stress will provide clues for better understanding the pathogenesis and progression of this dementing disorder and for the development of effective therapies to treat this disease.

Photodynamic Therapy:In VitroPhotosensitizing Efficacy of Bis(tri-n-hexylsiloxy)silicon Phthalocyanine against Achromic M6 Melanocytes. ESR Study of Active Oxygen Intermediates

The in vitro photodynamic effect of bis(tri-n-hexylsiloxy)silicon phthalocyanine has been evaluated against the melanotic M6 cell line. The results showed that at 10-5M dose, LD50is obtained for a 150 J cm-2light dose and LD90for 540 J cm-2. Electron spin resonance spectroscopy was used with spin traps to study the type I and type II photochemical pathways involved and to detect active oxygen intermediates such as singlet oxygen, oxygen superoxide and hydroxyl radical. The two mechanisms occurred simultaneously and no change was observed when the phthalocyanine was entrapped in liposomes.

Mitochondria-targeted superoxide dismutase (SOD2) regulates radiation resistance and radiation stress response in HeLa cells

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) act as a mediator of ionizing radiation-induced cellular damage. Previous studies have indicated that MnSOD (SOD2) plays a critical role in protection against ionizing radiation in mammalian cells. In this study, we constructed two types of stable HeLa cell lines overexpressing SOD2, HeLa S3/SOD2 and T-REx HeLa/SOD2, to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the protection against radiation by SOD2. SOD2 overexpression in mitochondria enhanced the survival of HeLa S3 and T-REx HeLa cells following γ-irradiation. The levels of γH2AX significantly decreased in HeLa S3/SOD2 and T-REx HeLa/SOD2 cells compared with those in the control cells. MitoSox(TM) Red assays showed that both lines of SOD2-expressing cells showed suppression of the superoxide generation in mitochondria. Furthermore, flow cytometry with a fluorescent probe (2',7'-dichlorofluorescein) revealed that the cellular levels of ROS increased in HeLa S3 cells during post-irradiation incubation, but the increase was markedly attenuated in HeLa S3/SOD2 cells. DNA microarray analysis revealed that, of 47,000 probe sets analyzed, 117 and 166 probes showed more than 2-fold changes after 5.5 Gy of γ-irradiation in control and HeLa S3/SOD2 cells, respectively. Pathway analysis revealed different expression profiles in irradiated control cells and irradiated SOD2-overexpressing cells. These results indicate that SOD2 protects HeLa cells against cellular effects of γ-rays through suppressing oxidative stress in irradiated cells caused by ROS generated in the mitochondria and through regulating the expression of genes which play a critical role in protection against ionizing radiation.

The cellular and molecular origin of reactive oxygen species generation during myocardial ischemia and reperfusion

Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury is an important cause of impaired heart function in the early postoperative period subsequent to cardiac surgery. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation increases during both ischemia and reperfusion and it plays a central role in the pathophysiology of intraoperative myocardial injury. Unfortunately, the cellular source of these ROS during ischemia and reperfusion is often poorly defined. Similarly, individual ROS members tend to be grouped together as free radicals with a uniform reactivity towards biomolecules and with deleterious effects collectively ascribed under the vague umbrella of oxidative stress. This review aims to clarify the identity, origin, and progression of ROS during myocardial ischemia and reperfusion. Additionally, this review aims to describe the biochemical reactions and cellular processes that are initiated by specific ROS that work in concert to ultimately yield the clinical manifestations of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion. Lastly, this review provides an overview of several key cardioprotective strategies that target myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury from the perspective of ROS generation. This overview is illustrated with example clinical studies that have attempted to translate these strategies to reduce the severity of ischemia-reperfusion injury during coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.

Antioxidant therapy in acute pancreatitis: experimental and clinical evidence

SIGNIFICANCE

Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of both acute and chronic pancreatitis. Although its impact is well investigated and has been studied clinically in chronic pancreatitis, it is less well defined for acute pancreatitis.

RECENT ADVANCES

Pathophysiological aspects of oxidative stress in acute pancreatitis have shown that reactive oxidative species (ROS) participate in the inflammatory cascade, and mediate inflammatory cell adhesion and consecutive tissue damage. Furthermore, ROS are involved in the generation of pain as another important clinical feature of patients suffering from acute pancreatitis.

CRITICAL ISSUES

Despite sufficient basic and experimental knowledge and evidence, the step from bench to bedside has not been successfully performed. Only a limited number of clinical studies are available that can give convincing evidence for the use of antioxidants in the clinical setting of acute pancreatitis.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Future studies are required to evaluate potential benefits of antioxidative substances to attenuate the severity of acute pancreatitis. Special focus should be put on the aspect of pain generation and the progression from mild to severe acute pancreatitis in the clinical setting.

Deficiency of multidrug and toxin extrusion 1 enhances renal accumulation of paraquat and deteriorates kidney injury in mice

Multidrug and toxin extrusion 1 (MATE1/solute carrier 47A1) mediates cellular transport of a variety of structurally diverse compounds. Paraquat (PQ), which has been characterized in vitro as a MATE1 substrate, is a widely used herbicide and can cause severe toxicity to humans after exposure. However, the contribution of MATE1 to PQ disposition in vivo has not been determined. In the present study, we generated Mate1-deficient (Mate1–/–) mice and performed toxicokinetic analyses of PQ in Mate1–/– and wild-type (Mate1+/+) mice. After a single intravenous administration of PQ (50 mg/kg), Mate1–/– mice exhibited significantly higher plasma PQ concentrations than Mate1+/+ mice. The renal PQ concentration was markedly increased in Mate1–/– mice compared with Mate1+/+ mice. The subsequent nephrotoxicity of PQ were examined in these mice. Three days after intraperitoneal administration of PQ (20 mg/kg), the transcript levels of N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase (Lcn2) and kidney injury molecule-1 (Kim-1) in the kidney were remarkably enhanced in the Mate1–/– mice. This was accompanied by apparent difference in renal histology between Mate1–/– and Mate1+/+ mice. In conclusion, we demonstrated that Mate1 is responsible for renal elimination of PQ in vivo and the deficiency of Mate1 function confers deteriorated kidney injury caused by PQ in mice.

Arsenic transformation predisposes human skin keratinocytes to UV-induced DNA damage yet enhances their survival apparently by diminishing oxidant response

Inorganic arsenic and UV, both human skin carcinogens, may act together as skin co-carcinogens. We find human skin keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) are malignantly transformed by low-level arsenite (100nM, 30weeks; termed As-TM cells) and with transformation concurrently undergo full adaptation to arsenic toxicity involving reduced apoptosis and oxidative stress response to high arsenite concentrations. Oxidative DNA damage (ODD) is a possible mechanism in arsenic carcinogenesis and a hallmark of UV-induced skin cancer. In the current work, inorganic arsenite exposure (100nM) did not induce ODD during the 30weeks required for malignant transformation. Although acute UV-treatment (UVA, 25J/cm(2)) increased ODD in passage-matched control cells, once transformed by arsenic to As-TM cells, acute UV actually further increased ODD (>50%). Despite enhanced ODD, As-TM cells were resistant to UV-induced apoptosis. The response of apoptotic factors and oxidative stress genes was strongly mitigated in As-TM cells after UV exposure including increased Bcl2/Bax ratio and reduced Caspase-3, Nrf2, and Keap1 expression. Several Nrf2-related genes (HO-1, GCLs, SOD) showed diminished responses in As-TM cells after UV exposure consistent with reduced oxidant stress response. UV-exposed As-TM cells showed increased expression of cyclin D1 (proliferation gene) and decreased p16 (tumor suppressor). UV exposure enhanced the malignant phenotype of As-TM cells. Thus, the co-carcinogenicity between UV and arsenic in skin cancer might involve adaptation to chronic arsenic exposure generally mitigating the oxidative stress response, allowing apoptotic by-pass after UV and enhanced cell survival even in the face of increased UV-induced oxidative stress and increased ODD.