Hyperthermia and other factors increasing sensitivity of Euglena to mutagens and carcinogens

Synthesis, antimicrobial activity and bleaching effect of some reaction products of 4-oxo-4H-benzopyran-3-carboxaldehydes with aminobenzothiazoles and hydrazides

The synthesis of the biologically active novel systems derived from reaction of 3-formylchromones with three types of amino derivatives, 6-R2-2-aminobenzothiazoles, 6-amino-2-R3-thiobenzothiazoles and hydrazide derivatives (derived from cyanoacetic, isonicotine, salicylic and gallic acids) was carried out. The structures of the prepared compounds have been proved by elemental analysis, 1H NMR and IR spectra. Antimicrobial activity was studied against the following microorganisms--bacteria G+ (Staphylococcus aureus 29/58, Bacillus subtilis 18/66), G- (Escherichia coli 326/71, Pseudomonas aeruginosa); yeasts: Candida albicans, Saccharomyces cerevisiae; moulds: Microsporum gypseum, Aspergillus niger, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis; and against typical and atypical mycobacteria: Mycobacterium tuberculosis (H37Rv), Mycobacterium kansasii (PFG 8), Mycobacterium avium (My 80/72), Mycobacterium fortuitum (1021). The hereditary bleaching effect on the plastid system of Euglena gracilis, a unique phenomenon of the biological activity of chromone derivatives, is reported. The bleaching test on E. gracilis is used for detecting extranuclear mutations.

Euglena gracilis as an eukaryotic test organism for detecting mutagens and antimutagens

The unicellular flagellate Euglena gracilis was used in order to assess the inhibition of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) and N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) mutagenicities, which induce white mutants due to the irreversible loss of chloroplasts. All tested compounds, including o-aminobenzoic acid and p-aminobenzoic acid, salicylic acid, acetylsalicylic acid, sodium salicylate and p-aminosalicylic acid, were not mutagenic per se and inhibited MNNG mutagenicity by at least 50%. The last two compounds inhibited by at least 50% also MNU mutagenicity.

Euglena gracilis as a supplementary test organism for detecting biologically active compounds

The mutagenic activity of more than 120 antimicrobial agents and protective components was investigated. Only Kathon showed a consistent increase in revertant counts in the Ames test on Salmonella typhimurium. The hereditary bleaching test on Euglena gracilis used for detecting extranuclear mutations, showed positive results for Kathon, triethanolamine and diamine silver tetraborate.

A genotoxicological study of the new local anaesthetic carbamate derivatives carbisocaine, heptacaine and pentacaine

The potential mutagenic activity of three carbamate derivatives with local anaesthetic activity was investigated. Genotoxic activity was observed after application of Carbisocaine on Euglena gracilis, whereas no activity was detected by Carbisocaine, Heptacaine and Pentacaine on Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli and Drosophila melanogaster.

Different effect of hyperthermia and heat shock on the action of quinolone drugs versus some mutagens against chloroplasts of Euglena gracilis

Hyperthermia (37 degrees C permanently) and heat shock (42 degrees C for 10 min, and then 27 degrees C) retarded the elimination of chloroplasts from the flagellate Euglena gracilis induced by quinolone antibacterial chemotherapeutics (OA, NA, Cnx, Ofx, Cpfx, Enx, Nfx) in comparison with their action at 27 degrees C. In the case of OA, NA, and Cnx those hyperthermic conditions completely blocked their action against chloroplasts. On the other hand, both temperature regimes accelerated the antichloroplast activity of the mutagens/carcinogens nitrosoguanidine and furylfuramide.

Interaction of drugs with extranuclear genetic elements and its consequences

Bacterial ancestry of mitochondria and plastids is now generally accepted. Both organelles contain their own DNA and transcription-translation apparatus of a prokaryotic type. Due to this fact these systems carry bacteria-like properties. Thus organellar DNA and ribosomes are essentially different from nuclear DNA and cytoplasmic ribosomes in physical as well as in functional respects. Due to the bacterial character of both types of organelles they are susceptible to various antibacterial chemicals. Inhibitors of bacterial protein synthesis inhibit mitochondrial (plastidial) biogenesis. Therefore the cellular content of mitochondria (plastids)-made proteins decreases during cytoplasmic turnover or cell division in the presence of these drugs. Such drug activity consequently leads to a reduced capacity for oxidative phosphorylation or photosynthesis. Organellar genomes are less stable and more sensitive to mutagenesis as compared to nuclear genome. It means also that genotoxic agents induce various disorders of mitochondrial (plastidial) functions. Impairments in the respiratory chain are associated with structural as well as functional abnormalities of mitochondria. These are clinically expressed mostly in tissues with a high demand for ATP: brain, heart, skeletal muscle, and retina. On the other hand, some antibacterial inhibitors of mitochondrial biogenesis (e.g., tetracyclines) inhibit selectively tumor cell proliferation. Therefore they may be considered for use in anticancer therapy. The article summarizes the response of mitochondria and plastids in various organisms to drugs and environmental xenobiotics. Various model organisms suitable for detection of xenobiotic effect on mitochondria (plastids) are presented as well as the possible consequences of such interaction.

Effect of elevated temperature on genotoxicity of chemotherapeuticals toward Euglena gracilis

A collection of 20 compounds was tested for their ability to induce a permanent loss of chloroplasts from Euglena gracilis cells under conditions increasing the sensitivity of the flagellate to genotoxic compounds, viz. in the resting medium and at an elevated temperature. Streptomycin, dihydrostreptomycin, gentamicin, kanamycin and partially chloramphenicol exhibited mutagenic effects. Eight antibiotics eliminated chloroplasts only from growing cultures and seven antibiotics did not induce the mutation at all.

Effect of heat shock on the mutagenicity of mutagens and carcinogens in Euglena gracilis

The effect of heat-shock treatment (42 degrees C for 15 min) on the ability of four mutagens and carcinogens to induce hereditary bleaching in Euglena gracilis cells was investigated. All four mutagens (treatment time: 1-24 h) tested after heat shock increased the frequency of bleached mutants of Euglena gracilis.