Novel dithiocarbamate derivatives are effective copper-dependent antimicrobials against Streptococcal species

Resisting death by metal: metabolism and Cu/Zn homeostasis in bacteria

Metal ions such as zinc and copper play important roles in host-microbe interactions and their availability can drastically affect the survival of pathogenic bacteria in a host niche. Mechanisms of metal homeostasis protect bacteria from starvation, or intoxication, defined as when metals are limiting, or in excess, respectively. In this mini-review, we summarise current knowledge on the mechanisms of resistance to metal stress in bacteria, focussing specifically on the homeostasis of cellular copper and zinc. This includes a summary of the factors that subvert metal stress in bacteria, which are independent of metal efflux systems, and commentary on the role of small molecules and metabolic systems as important mediators of metal resistance.

Effects of Copper or Zinc Organometallics on Cytotoxicity, DNA Damage and Epigenetic Changes in the HC-04 Human Liver Cell Line

Copper and zinc organometallics have multiple applications and many are considered "data-poor" because the available toxicological information is insufficient for comprehensive health risk assessments. To gain insight into the chemical prioritization and potential structure activity relationship, the current work compares the in vitro toxicity of nine "data-poor" chemicals to five structurally related chemicals and to positive DNA damage inducers (4-nitroquinoline-oxide, aflatoxin-B1). The HC-04 non-cancer human liver cell line was used to investigate the concentration-response effects (24 h and 72 h exposure) on cell proliferation, DNA damage (γH2AX and DNA unwinding assays), and epigenetic effects (global genome changes in DNA methylation and histone modifications using flow cytometry). The 24 h exposure screening data (DNA abundance and damage) suggest a toxicity hierarchy, starting with copper dimethyldithiocarbamate (CDMDC, CAS#137-29-1) > zinc diethyldithiocarbamate (ZDEDC, CAS#14324-55-1) > benzenediazonium, 4-chloro-2-nitro-, and tetrachlorozincate(2-) (2:1) (BDCN4CZ, CAS#14263-89-9); the other chemicals were less toxic and had alternate ranking positions depending on assays. The potency of CDMDC for inducing DNA damage was close to that of the human hepatocarcinogen aflatoxin-B1. Further investigation using sodium-DMDC (SDMDC, CAS#128-04-1), CDMDC and copper demonstrated the role of the interactions between copper and the DMDC organic moiety in generating a high level of CDMDC toxicity. In contrast, additive interactions were not observed with respect to the DNA methylation flow cytometry data in 72 h exposure experiments. They revealed chemical-specific effects, with hypo and hypermethylation induced by copper chloride (CuCl2, CAS#10125-13-0) and zinc-DMDC (ZDMDC, CAS#137-30-4), respectively, but did not show any significant effect of CDMDC or SDMDC. Histone-3 hypoacetylation was a sensitive flow cytometry marker of 24 h exposure to CDMDC. This study can provide insights regarding the prioritization of chemicals for future study, with the aim being to mitigate chemical hazards.