Determination of Plant Thiols by Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Coulometric and Amperometric Detection in Lettuce Treated by Lead(II) Ions

A novel HPLC-MS/MS approach for the identification of biological thiols in vegetables

Thiols are important natural molecules with diverse functions, ranging from acting as antioxidants that prevent chronic diseases to contributing aromas to foods and beverages. Biological thiols such as glutathione are of particular interest due to their functional roles, which include helping maintain cellular redox homeostasis and detoxifying reactive oxygen species. However, knowledge of thiol metabolism in plants is limited to studying known compounds, whereas other important thiol-containing metabolites could also exist. This work aimed to develop a new analytical approach for screening of thiols in plants, using four vegetal examples and beginning with HPLC-MS/MS in precursor ion scan mode, after extraction and thiol-specific derivatisation with 4,4'-dithiodipyridine (DTDP). Compound identity for prospective thiols was then proposed using HPLC with high resolution MS, and verified with authentic standards. This approach could lead to prospecting studies that identify thiols with potential roles in metabolic pathways, nutritional value of vegetables, or flavouring of foods.

Analysis of Food by High Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Coulometric Detection and Related Techniques: A Review

The development of single coulometric cells in combination with high performance liquid chromatography to dual cells and to the coulometric electrode array detector is described. An overview is given about the application of these methods in food chemistry. Easily oxidizable compounds, such as phenolic substances, pesticides, or vitamins, can be determined, as well as substances with high oxidation potentials or electroinactive compounds. Substances exhibiting poor electrochemical activity can be transformed to electroactive compounds by precolumn derivatization, postcolumn photochemical reactions, postcolumn enzyme reactors, or by using the oxidative/reductive mode for coulometric electrode array detection. Furthermore, it is shown that the interesting combination of high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemistry and mass spectrometry has opened further possibilities with respect to interpretation of redox reactions, drug metabolism studies, metabolomics, and electrochemical derivatization.

Molecular characterization of zeta class glutathione S-transferases from Pinus brutia Ten

Glutathione transferases (GSTs; EC 2.5.1.18) play important roles in stress tolerance and metabolic detoxification in plants.In higher plants, studies on GSTs have focussed largely on agricultural plants. There is restricted information about molecular characterization of GSTs in gymnosperms. To date, only tau class GST enzymes have been characterized from some pinus species. For the first time, the present study reports cloning and molecular characterization of two zeta class GST genes, namely PbGSTZ1 and PbGSTZ2 from Pinus brutia Ten., which is an economically important pine native to the eastern Mediterranean region and have to cope with several environmental stress conditions. The PbGSTZ1 gene was isolated from cDNA, whereas PbGSTZ2 was isolated from genomic DNA. Sequence analysis of PbGSTZ1 and PbGSTZ2 revealed the presence of an open reading frame of 226 amino acids with typical consensus sequences of the zeta class plant GSTs. Protein and secondary structure prediction analysis of two zeta class PbGSTZs have shared common features of other plant zeta class GSTs. Genomic clone, PbGSTZ2 gene, is unexpectedly intronless. Extensive sequence analysis of PbGSTZ2, with cDNA clone, PbGSTZ1, revealed 87% identity at nucleotide and 81% identity at amino acid levels with 41 amino acids differences suggesting that genomic PbGSTZ2 gene might be an allelic or a paralogue version of PbGSTZ1.

Determination of Phytochelatins in Rice by Stable Isotope Labeling Coupled with Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

A highly sensitive method was developed for the detection of phytochelatins (PCs) in rice by stable isotope labeling coupled with liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (IL-LC-ESI-MS/MS) analysis. A pair of isotope-labeling reagents [ω-bromoacetonylquinolinium bromide (BQB) and BQB-d(7)] were used to label PCs in plant sample and standard PCs, respectively, and then combined prior to LC/MS analysis. The heavy labeled standards were used as the internal standards for quantitation to minimize the matrix and ion suppression effects in MS analysis. In addition, the ionization efficiency of PCs was greatly enhanced through the introduction of a permanent charged moiety of quaternary ammonium of BQB into PCs. The detection sensitivities of PCs upon BQB labeling improved by 14-750-fold, and therefore, PCs can be quantitated using only 5 mg of plant tissue. Furthermore, under cadmium (Cd) stress, we found that the contents of PCs in rice dramatically increased with the increased concentrations and treatment time of Cd. It was worth noting that PC5 was first identified and quantitated in rice tissues under Cd stress in the current study. Taken together, this IL-LC-ESI-MS/MS method demonstrated to be a promising strategy in detection of PCs in plants with high sensitivity and reliability.

Nucleoside bearing boron clusters and their phosphoramidites – building blocks for modified oligonucleotide synthesis

Synthesis of four canonical nucleoside-closo-/nido-carborane conjugates, their phosphoramidites, their electrochemical characteristics and the first example of the X-ray structure of a nucleoside-boron cluster conjugate.

Antioxidant response of Phragmites australis to Cu and Cd contamination

Metals are known to induce oxidative stress in plant cells. Antioxidant thiolic compounds are known to play an important role in plants׳ defence mechanisms against metal toxicity but, regarding salt marsh plants, their role is still very poorly understood. In this work, the involvement of non-protein thiols (NPT), such as cysteine (Cys), reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidised glutathione (GSSG) and total acid-soluble SH compounds (total thiols), in the tolerance mechanisms of the marsh plant Phragmites australis against Cu and Cd toxicity was assessed. Specimens of this plant, freshly harvested in an estuarine salt marsh, were exposed, for 7 days, to rhizosediment soaked with the respective elutriate contaminated with Cu (0, 10 and 100 mg/L) or Cd (0, 1, 10 mg/L). In terms of NPT production, Cu and Cd contamination induced different responses in P. australis. The content of Cys increased in plant tissue after plant exposure to Cu, whereas Cd contamination led to a decrease in GSSG levels. In general, metal contamination did not cause a significant variation on GSH levels. Both metals influenced, to some extent, the production of other thiolic compounds. Despite the accumulation of considerable amounts of Cu and Cd in belowground tissues, no visible toxicity signs were observed. So, antioxidant thiolic compounds were probably involved in the mechanisms used by P. australis to alleviate metal toxicity. As P. australis is considered suitable for phytostabilising metal-contaminated sediments, understanding its tolerance mechanisms to toxic metals is important to optimise the conditions for applying this plant in phytoremediation procedures.

Quantification of thiols and disulfides

BACKGROUND

Disulfide bond formation is a key posttranslational modification, with implications for structure, function and stability of numerous proteins. While disulfide bond formation is a necessary and essential process for many proteins, it is deleterious and disruptive for others. Cells go to great lengths to regulate thiol-disulfide bond homeostasis, typically with several, apparently redundant, systems working in parallel. Dissecting the extent of oxidation and reduction of disulfides is an ongoing challenge due, in part, to the facility of thiol/disulfide exchange reactions.

SCOPE OF REVIEW

In the present account, we briefly survey the toolbox available to the experimentalist for the chemical determination of thiols and disulfides. We have chosen to focus on the key chemical aspects of current methodology, together with identifying potential difficulties inherent in their experimental implementation.

MAJOR CONCLUSIONS

While many reagents have been described for the measurement and manipulation of the redox status of thiols and disulfides, a number of these methods remain underutilized. The ability to effectively quantify changes in redox conditions in living cells presents a continuing challenge.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

Many unresolved questions in the metabolic interconversion of thiols and disulfides remain. For example, while pool sizes of redox pairs and their intracellular distribution are being uncovered, very little is known about the flux in thiol-disulfide exchange pathways. New tools are needed to address this important aspect of cellular metabolism. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Current methods to study reactive oxygen species - pros and cons and biophysics of membrane proteins. Guest Editor: Christine Winterbourn.

Ion exchange chromatography and mass spectrometric methods for analysis of cadmium-phytochelatin (II) complexes

In this study, in vitro formed Cd-phytochelatin (PC2) complexes were characterized using ion exchange chromatography (IEC) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. The ratio of both studied compounds as well as experimental conditions were optimized. The highest yield of the complex was observed under an applied concentration of 100 µg·mL⁻¹ PC2 and 100 µg·mL⁻¹ of CdCl₂. The data obtained show that IEC in combination with MALDI-TOF is a reliable and fast method for the determination of these complexes.

Investigation into the effect of molds in grasses on their content of low molecular mass thiols

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of molds on levels of low molecular mass thiols in grasses. For this purpose, the three grass species Lolium perenne, Festulolium pabulare and Festulolium braunii were cultivated and sampled during four months, from June to September. The same species were also grown under controlled conditions. High-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection was used for quantification of cysteine, reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) glutathione, and phytochelatins (PC2, PC3, PC4 and PC5). Data were statistically processed and analyzed. Thiols were present in all examined grass species. The effect of fungicide treatments applied under field conditions on the content of the evaluated thiols was shown to be insignificant. Species influenced (p < 0.05) PC3 and GSSG content. F. pabulare, an intergeneric hybrid of drought- and fungi-resistant Festuca arundinacea, was comparable in PC3 content with L. perenne and F. braunii under field conditions. Under controlled conditions, however, F. pabulare had higher (p < 0.05) PC3 content than did L. perenne and F. braunii. Under field conditions, differences between the evaluated species were recorded only in GSSG content, but only sampling in June was significant. F. pabulare had higher (p < 0.05) GSSG content in June than did L. perenne and F. braunii.

Effect of selenium in organic and inorganic form on liver, kidney, brain and muscle of Wistar rats

Selenium is a micronutrient, localized in the active sites of enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase and thioredoxin reductase, and participating together with these enzymes in an antioxidant defence system of organisms against free radicals. Administration of selenium is necessary for maintaining oxidative homeostasis. The present experiment is aimed at investigation of selenium impact on basal metabolic processes and selected antioxidants in a Wistar rat model, fed selenium in organic and inorganic forms. Liver, kidney, brain and muscle were sampled during a month-long feeding with four different doses of selenium (0.075 mg or 1.5 mg of inorganic and/or organic selenium per kg of feed). We found a significant reduction in glutathione level in liver tissue regardless of the form of the administered selenium. On the other hand, selenium caused a decreased glutathione reductase level in the liver and metallothionein level in the liver, kidney and muscle.

Electrochemistry of copper(II) induced complexes in mycorrhizal maize plant tissues

Aim of the present paper was to study the electrochemical behavior of copper(II) induced complexes in extracts obtained from mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal maize (Zea mays L.) plants grown at two concentrations of copper(II): physiological (31.7 ng/mL) and toxic (317 μg/mL). Protein content was determined in the plant extracts and, after dilution to proper concentration, various concentrations of copper(II) ions (0, 100, 200 and 400 μg/mL) were added and incubated for 1h at 37°C. Further, the extracts were analyzed using flow injection analysis with electrochemical detection. The hydrodynamic voltammogram (HDV), which was obtained for each sample, indicated the complex creation. Steepness of measured dependencies was as follows: control 317 μg/mL of copper<control 31.7 ng/mL of copper<mycorrhizal 31.7 ng/mL of copper<mycorrhizal 317 μg/mL of copper. Based on these results it can be concluded that mycorrhizal fungus actively blocks transport copper(II) ions to upper parts of a plant by means of adsorbing of copper(II) in roots. Rapid complex formation was determined under applied potentials 300, 500 and 600 mV during the measuring HDVs. It was also verified that mycorrhizal colonization reduced root to shoot translocation of Cu(II) ions.

Bio-sensing of cadmium(II) ions using Staphylococcus aureus

Cadmium, as a hazardous pollutant commonly present in the living environment, represents an important risk to human health due to its undesirable effects (oxidative stress, changes in activities of many enzymes, interactions with biomolecules including DNA and RNA) and consequent potential risk, making its detection very important. New and unique technological and biotechnological approaches for solving this problems are intensely sought. In this study, we used the commonly occurring potential pathogenic microorganism Staphylococcus aureus for the determination of markers which could be used for sensing of cadmium(II) ions. We were focused on monitoring the effects of different cadmium(II) ion concentrations (0, 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, 15, 25 and 50 μg mL(-1)) on the growth and energetic metabolism of Staphylococcus aureus. Highly significant changes have been detected in the metabolism of thiol compounds-specifically the protein metallothionein (0.79-26.82 mmol/mg of protein), the enzyme glutathione S-transferase (190-5,827 μmol/min/mg of protein), and sulfhydryl groups (9.6-274.3 μmol cysteine/mg of protein). The ratio of reduced and oxidized glutathione indicated marked oxidative stress. In addition, dramatic changes in urease activity, which is connected with resistance of bacteria, were determined. Further, the effects of cadmium(II) ions on the metabolic pathways of arginine, β-glucosidase, phosphatase, N-acetyl β-d-glucosamine, sucrose, trehalose, mannitol, maltose, lactose, fructose and total proteins were demonstrated. A metabolomic profile of Staphylococcus aureus under cadmium(II) ion treatment conditions was completed seeking data about the possibility of cadmium(II) ion accumulation in cells. The results demonstrate potential in the application of microorganisms as modern biosensor systems based on biological components.

Phytochelatin synthase activity as a marker of metal pollution

The synthesis of phytochelatins is catalyzed by γ-Glu-Cys dipeptidyl transpeptidase called phytochelatin synthase (PCS). Aim of this study was to suggest a new tool for determination of phytochelatin synthase activity in the tobacco BY-2 cells treated with different concentrations of the Cd(II). After the optimization steps, an experiment on BY-2 cells exposed to different concentrations of Cd(NO(3))(2) for 3 days was performed. At the end of the experiment, cells were harvested and homogenized. Reduced glutathione and cadmium (II) ions were added to the cell suspension supernatant. These mixtures were incubated at 35°C for 30min and analysed using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrochemical detector (HPLC-ED). The results revealed that PCS activity rises markedly with increasing concentration of cadmium (II) ions. The lowest concentration of the toxic metal ions caused almost three fold increase in PCS activity as compared to control samples. The activity of PCS (270fkat) in treated cells was more than seven times higher in comparison to control ones. K(m) for PCS was estimated as 2.3mM.

Effects of various doses of selenite on stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.)

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of selenium (Se) on the growth, accumulation and possible mechanisms of Se transport in certain parts (roots, leaves, stamp and apex) of nettle (Urtica dioica L.) plants. Se was supplemented by one-shot and two repeated doses to the soil (2.0 and 4.0 mg Se per kg of substrate). Selenium content in roots increased linearly with dose and was significantly higher compared to other plant parts of interest. However, growth of the above-ground parts of plant as well as roots was slightly inhibited with increasing selenium concentration in comparison to the untreated plants. The content of phytochelatin2, a low molecular mass peptide containing a sulfhydryl group, correlated well with the Se content. This suggests a possible stimulation of synthesis of this plant peptide by Se.