Protective role of l-threonine against cadmium toxicity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Environment and food contamination with cadmium (Cd) can cause serious toxicity, posing a severe threat to agricultural production and human health. However, how amino acids contribute to defenses against oxidative stress caused by Cd in cells is not fully understood. As a model eukaryote with a relatively clear genetic background, Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been commonly used in Cd toxicity research. To gain insight into Cd toxicity and cell defenses against it, 20 amino acids were screened for protective roles against Cd stress in S. cerevisiae. The results showed that threonine (Thr, T) had the strongest protective effect against Cd-induced mortality and membrane damage in the cells. Compared to the antioxidant vitamin C (VC), Thr exhibited a higher efficacy in restoring the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity that was inhibited by Cd but not by H₂ O₂ in vivo. Thr exhibited evident DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) activity but weak ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-9 sulfonic acid)) scavenging activity, giving it a weaker effect against Cd-induced lipid peroxidation and superoxide radical O^2- , compared to VC. More importantly, compared to the chelating agent EDTA, Thr showed stronger chelation of Cd, giving it a stronger protective effect on SOD against Cd than VC in vitro. The results of the in vivo and in vitro experiments revealed that the role Thr plays in cell defenses against Cd may be attributed to its protection of the SOD enzyme, predominantly through the preferential chelation of Cd. Our results provide insights into the protective mechanisms of amino acid Thr that ameliorate Cd toxicity and suggest that a supplement of Thr might help to reduce Cd-induced oxidative damage.

Synthesis, characterization and solid state conductivity of nano-size ionic Schiff base polymers of Cu2+, Zn2+ and VO2+ containing viologen moieties

The new nano size ionic metallo-Schiff base polymers (IMSPs) were synthesized by reaction of Schiff base ligand of L and VO (acac)₂, ZnCl₂ and CuCl₂. The solid state conductivity measurements candidate them as new metallo-organic semiconductors.

Synthesis, structural characterization, fluorescence, antimicrobial, antioxidant and DNA cleavage studies of Cu(II) complexes of formyl chromone Schiff bases

Cu(II) complexes have been synthesized from different Schiff bases, such as 3-((2-hydroxy phenylimino)methyl)-4H-chromen-4-one (HL(1)), 2-((4-oxo-4H-chromen-3-yl)methylneamino) benzoicacid (HL(2)), 3-((3-hydroxypyridin-2-ylimino)methyl)-4H-chromen-4-one (HL(3)) and 3-((2-mercaptophenylimino)methyl)-4H-chromen-4-one (HL(4)). The complexes were characterized by analytical, molar conductance, IR, electronic, magnetic, ESR, thermal, powder XRD and SEM studies. The analytical data reveal that metal to ligand molar ratio is 1:2 in all the complexes. Molar conductivity data indicates that all the Cu(II) complexes are neutral. On the basis of magnetic and electronic spectral data, distorted octahedral geometry is proposed for all the Cu(II) complexes. Thermal behaviour of the synthesized complexes illustrates the presence of lattice water molecules in the complexes. X-ray diffraction studies reveal that all the ligands and their Cu(II) complexes have triclinic system with different unit cell parameters. Antimicrobial, antioxidant and DNA cleavage activities indicate that metal complexes exhibited greater activity as compared with ligands.

Synthesis of New VO(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) Complexes with Isatin-3-Chloro-4-Floroaniline and 2-Pyridinecarboxylidene-4-Aminoantipyrine and their Antimicrobial Studies

The complexes of tailor made ligands with life essential metal ions may be an emerging area to answer the problems of multi drug resistance. The coordination complexes of VO(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) with the Schiff bases derived from isatin with 3-chloro-4-floroaniline and 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde with 4-aminoantipyrine have been synthesized by conventional as well as microwave methods. These compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductance, electronic spectra, FT-IR, FAB mass and magnetic susceptibility measurements. FAB mass data show degradation of complexes. Both the ligands behave as bidentate and tridentate coordinating through O and N donor. The complexes exhibit coordination number 4, 5 or 6. The Schiff base and metal complexes show a good activity against the bacteria; Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Streptococcus fecalis and fungi Aspergillus niger, Trichoderma polysporum, Candida albicans and Aspergillus flavus. The antimicrobial results also indicate that the metal complexes are better antimicrobial agents as compared to the Schiff bases. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of the metal complexes were found in the range 10~40 µg/mL.