Tetrahydrobiopterin from cyanide-degrading bacterium Bacillus pumilus strain SVD06 induces apoptosis in human lung adenocarcinoma cell (A549)

Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is an essential biological cofactor and a derivative of pterin which is considered potent anticancer agents. In continuation of our previous study on the identification of BH4 from cyanide-degrading Bacillus pumilus, the present study focuses on evaluating the anticancer properties of BH4 on A549, a human lung adenocarcinoma. Anticancer activity analysis shows that BH4 inhibited A549 cell growth after 24 h of incubation with 0.02 mg/mL. In acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining, BH4-treated A549 cells showed apoptotic morphology. BH4 treatment caused cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase compared to control cells. BH4 augmented p53 expression in alveolar cancer cells by downregulating MDM2 levels. There was downregulation of casp-3 and upregulation of iNOS gene in BH4-treated A549 cells. Further, docking studies indicated that BH4 had significant interactions with the above proteins affirming the apoptosis mechanism. Thus, BH4 could be considered a potential anticancer drug.

Bacterial respiratory inhibition triggers dispersal of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms

Pseudomonas aeruginosa grows as a biofilm under many environmental conditions, and the bacterium can disperse from biofilms via highly regulated, dynamic processes. However, physiologic triggers of biofilm dispersal remain poorly understood. Based on prior literature describing dispersal triggered by forms of starvation, we tested bacterial respiratory inhibitors for biofilm dispersal in two models resembling chronic airway infections. Our underlying hypothesis was that respiratory inhibitors could serve as a model for the downstream effects of starvation. We used two experimental conditions. In the first condition, biofilms were grown and dispersed from the surface of airway epithelial cells, and the second condition was a model where biofilms were grown on glass in cell culture media supplemented with host-relevant iron sources. In both biofilm models, the respiratory inhibitors potassium cyanide and sodium azide each triggered biofilm dispersal. We hypothesized that cyanide-induced dispersal was due to respiratory inhibition rather than signaling via an alternative mechanism, and, indeed, if respiration was supported by overexpression of cyanide-insensitive oxidase, dispersal was prevented. Dispersal required the activity of the cyclic-di-GMP regulated protease LapG, reinforcing the role of matrix degradation in dispersal. Finally, we examined the roles of individual phosphodiesterases, previously implicated in dispersal to specific triggers, and found signaling to be highly redundant. Combined deletion of the phosphodiesterases dipA, bifA, and rbdA was required to attenuate the dispersal phenotype. In summary, this work adds insight into the physiology of biofilm dispersal under environmental conditions in which bacterial respiration is abruptly limited. IMPORTANCE The bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa grows in biofilm communities that are very difficult to treat in human infections. Growing as a biofilm can protect bacteria from antibiotics and the immune system. Bacteria can leave a biofilm through a process called "dispersal." Dispersed bacteria seed new growth areas and are more susceptible to killing by antibiotics. The triggers for biofilm dispersal are not well understood, and if we understood dispersal better it might lead to the development of new treatments for infection. In this paper, we find that inhibiting P. aeurginosa's ability to respire (generate energy) can trigger dispersal from a biofilm grown in association with human respiratory epithelial cells in culture. The dispersal process requires a protease which is previously known to degrade the biofilm matrix. These findings give us a better understanding of how the biofilm dispersal process works so that future research can discover better ways of clearing bacteria growing in biofilms.

Gasotransmitter H2S accelerates seed germination via activating AOX mediated cyanide-resistant respiration pathway

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) has been witnessed as a crucial gasotransmitter involving in various physiological processes in plants. H₂S signaling has been reported to involve in regulating seed germination, but the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. Here, we found that endogenous H₂S production was activated in germinating Arabidopsis seeds, correlating with upregulated both the transcription and the activity of L-cysteine desulfhydrase (EC 4.4.1.28, LCD and DES1) responsible for H₂S production. Moreover, seed germination could be significantly accelerated by exogenous NaHS (the H₂S donor) fumigation and over-expressing DES1, while H₂S-generation defective (lcd/des1) seeds exhibited decreased germination speed. We also confirmed that the alternative oxidase (AOX), a cyanide-insensitive terminal oxidase, can be stimulated by imbibition. Furthermore, exogenous H₂S fumigation and over-expressing DES1 could significantly reinforced imbibition induced increase of both the AOX1A expression and AOX protein abundance, while this increase could be obviously weakened in lcd/des1. Additionally, exogenous H₂S fumigation mediated post-translational modification to keep AOX in its reduced and active state, which might involve H₂S induced improvement of the reduced GSH content and the cell reducing power. The promotive effect of H₂S on germination was clearly impaired by inducing aox1a mutation, indicating that AOX acts downstream of H₂S signaling to accelerate seed germination. Consequently, H₂S signaling was activated during germination then acted as a trigger to induce AOX mediated cyanide-resistant respiration to accelerate seed germination. Our study correlates H₂S signaling to cyanide-resistant respiration, providing evidence for more extensive studies of H₂S signaling.

Effect of cyanide ions (CN-) extracted from cassava (Manihotesculenta Crantz) on Alveolar Epithelial Cells (A549 cells)

Cassava (Manihotesculenta Crantz) is one of the most important root crops in tropical countries. It is a major source of cyanogenic glycosides viz. linamarin and lotaustralin, and these on breakdown liberate HCN and ketone. Cassava cyanide extract (CCE) from cassava leaves and tuber rinds were formulated as a biopesticide against certain borer insect pests of horticultural crops. Adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cells (A549) were treated with three different concentrations (100, 200, 400 ppm) of CCE. The MTT and NRU assays showed dose-dependent cytotoxicity. The DCFH-DA assay does not show any free radical scavenging activity, whereas the NRR assay showed a reduction in the nitrile radicals with an increase in the concentration of the bioactive compound. A negative correlation was found between the concentration of the bioactive principles and mitochondrial and lysosomal functions. Various cellular assays demonstrated the cellular response of the CCE, and it was found that at higher concentration (400 ppm), the CCE exert a significant necrotic cell death rather than apoptosis. The results of the study indicated that the CCE have a remarkable tendency of anti-proliferative ability.

Characterization of the Domoic Acid Uptake Mechanism of the Mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) Digestive Gland

Cultures of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis are frequently affected by accumulation of the amnesic shellfish poisoning toxin domoic acid (DA). This species is characterized by a fast uptake and release of the toxin. In this work, the main characteristics of the uptake mechanism have been studied by incubation of digestive gland thin slices in media with different composition and DA concentration. DA uptake seems to follow Michaelis-Menten kinetics, with a very high estimated KM (1722 µg DA mL-1) and a Vmax of 71.9 µg DA g-1 h-1, which is similar to those found for other amino acids in invertebrates. Replacement of NaCl from the incubation media by Cl-choline (Na+-free medium) did not significantly reduce the uptake, but replacement by sorbitol (Na+-free and Cl--depleted medium) did. A new experiment replacing all chlorides with their equivalent gluconates (Na+- and Cl--free medium) showed an important reduction in the uptake that should be attributed to the absence of chloride, pointing to a Na+-independent, Cl- (or anion-) dependent transporter. In media with Na+ and Cl-, neither decreasing the pH nor adding cyanide (a metabolic inhibitor) had significant effect on DA uptake, suggesting that the transport mechanism is not H+- or ATP-dependent. In a chloride depleted medium, lowering pH or adding CN increased the uptake, suggesting that other anions could, at least partially, substitute chloride.

Photolabile ruthenium complexes to cage and release a highly cytotoxic anticancer agent

CHS-828 (N-(6-(4-chlorophenoxy)hexyl)-N'-cyano-N″-4-pyridyl guanidine) is an anticancer agent with low bioavailability and high systemic toxicity. Here we present an approach to improve the therapeutic profile of the drug using photolabile ruthenium complexes to generate light-activated prodrugs of CHS-828. Both prodrug complexes are stable in the dark but release CHS-828 when irradiated with visible light. The complexes are water-soluble and accumulate in tumour cells in very high concentrations, predominantly in the mitochondria. Both prodrug complexes are significantly less cyototoxic than free CHS-828 in the dark but their toxicity increases up to 10-fold in combination with visible light. The cellular responses to light treatment are consistent with release of the cytotoxic CHS-828 ligand.

Short versus long term effects of cyanide on sugar metabolism and transport in dormant walnut kernels

Tree seed dormancy release by cold stratification accompanies with the embryo increased gluconeogenesis competence. Cyanide also breaks seed dormancy however, integrated information about its effects on carbon metabolism is lacking. Accordingly, the impacts of HCN on germination, lipid gluconeogenesis and sugar transport capacity of walnut (Juglans regia L.) kernels were investigated during 10-days period prior to radicle protrusion. HCN increased walnut kernel germination and within four days of kernel incubation, hastened the decline of starch, reducing and non-reducing sugars and led to greater activities of alkaline invertase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. From four days of kernel incubation onwards, starch and non-reducing sugars accumulated only in the HCN treated axes. Cyanide also increased the activities of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and glyoxysomal succinate oxidase and led to greater acid invertase activity during the aforementioned period. The expressions of both sucrose transporter (JrSUT1) and H⁺-ATPase (JrAHA1) genes especially in cotyledons and H⁺-ATPase activity in kernels were significantly enhanced by exposure to cyanide. Thus in short-term HCN led to prevalence of carbohydrate catabolic events such as oxidative pentose phosphate pathway and possibly glycolysis in dormant walnut kernels. Long-term effects however, are increased gluconeogenesis and enhanced sugar transport capacity of kernels as a prerequisite for germination.

Current knowledge and future research perspectives on cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) chemical defenses: An agroecological view

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is one of the most important staple crops worldwide. It constitutes the major source of carbohydrates for millions of low-income people living in rural areas, as well as a cash crop for smallholders in tropical and sub-tropical regions. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations predicts that cassava plantations will increase and production systems will intensify in the future, highlighting the need for developing strategies that improve the sustainability of production. Plant chemical defenses hold the potential for developing pest management strategies, as these plant traits can influence the behavior and performance of both pests and beneficial arthropods. Cassava plants are well-defended and produce a number of compounds involved in direct defense, such as cyanogenic glycosides, flavonoid glycosides, and hydroxycoumarins. In addition, volatile organic compounds induced upon herbivory and the secretion of extrafloral nectar act as indirect defense against herbivores by recruiting natural enemies. Here, cassava chemical defenses against pest arthropods are reviewed, with the aim of identifying gaps in our knowledge and areas of research that deserve further investigation for developing sound pest control strategies to improve sustainable production of this crop, and how these defenses can be used to benefit other crops. Cyanogenic content in cassava is also highly toxic to humans, and can cause irreversible health problems even at sub-lethal doses when consumed over prolonged periods. Therefore, the promotion of chemical defense in this crop should not aggravate these problems, and must be accompanied with the education on processing methods that reduce human exposure to cyanide.

In Vitro Antihepatoma Activity of Novel 3D-Copper Cyanide Supramolecular Coordination Polymers

This study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effect of novel 3D-organocopper supramolecular coordination polymers (SCPs) on the invasive potential of HepG2 cells. Chemoprevention could represent an important means to inhibit the process of hepatocarcinogenesis. The inhibitory effect of an SCP compound on the proliferation of HepG2 hepatoma cells was evaluated by cell vibility assay. DNA ladder bands were observed by DNA agarose gel electrophoresis. The influence of the SCP compound on phosphorylated ERK1/2, Bcl-2, and β-catenin protein expression of HepG2 cells was analyzed by Western blot. The SCP compound exerted an inhibitory effect on HepG2 cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. This inhibitory effect was confirmed by examination of cell morphology and DNA fragmentation. Furthermore, Western blot analysis revealed that phosphorylated ERK1/2 and β-catenin protein expression was inhibited after 24 h of treatment with the SCP compound, and that this event was associated with decreased Bcl-2 expression. We concluded that SCP can effectively inhibit the invasive potential of the ERK signaling pathway in HepG2 cells by altering apoptosis and by inhibiting Bcl-2 and β-catenin, which may play a significant role in this process.

Investigation of cyano-bridged coordination nanoparticles Gd(3+)/[Fe(CN)6](3-)/D-mannitol as T1-weighted MRI contrast agents

Cyano-bridged Gd(3+)/[Fe(CN)6](3-) coordination polymer nanoparticles of 3-4 nm stabilized with D-mannitol presenting a high r1 relaxivity value of 11.4 mM(-1) s(-1) were investigated in vivo as contrast agents (CA) for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). They allow an increase of the MR image contrast and can act as an efficient intravascular T1 CA with a relatively long blood-circulation lifetime (60 min) without specific toxicity.

Note: A micro-perfusion system for use during real-time physiological studies under high pressure

We construct a micro-perfusion system using piston screw pump generators for use during real-time, high-pressure physiological studies. Perfusion is achieved using two generators, with one generator being compressed while the other is retracted, thus maintaining pressurization while producing fluid flow. We demonstrate control over perfusion rates in the 10-μl/s range and the ability to change between fluid reservoirs at up to 50 MPa. We validate the screw-pump approach by monitoring the cyanide-induced response of UV-excited autofluorescence from Saccharomyces cerevisiae under pressurization.

Involvement of Sulfide:Quinone Oxidoreductase in Sulfur Oxidation of an Acidophilic Iron-Oxidizing Bacterium,Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidansNASF-1

The effects of cyanide, azide, and 2-n-Heptyl-4-hydroxy-quinoline-N-oxide (HQNO) on the oxidation of ferrous ion or elemental sulfur with Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans NASF-1 cells grown in iron- or sulfur-medium were examined. The iron oxidation of both iron- and sulfur-grown cells was strongly inhibited by cyanide and azide, but not by HQNO. Sulfur oxidation was relatively resistant to cyanide and azide, and inhibited by HQNO. Higher sulfide oxidation, ubiquinol dehydrogenase activity, and sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase (SQR) activity were observed in sulfur-grown cells more than in iron-grown cells. Sulfide oxidation in the presence of ubiquinone with the membrane fraction was inhibited by HQNO, but not by cyanide, azide, antimycin A, and myxothiazol. The transcription of three genes, encoding an aa(3)-type cytochrome c oxidase (coxB), a bd-type ubiquinol oxidase (cydA), and an sqr, were measured by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The transcriptional levels of coxB and cydA genes were similar in sulfur- and iron-grown cells, but that of sqr was 3-fold higher in sulfur-grown cells than in iron-grown cells. A model is proposed for the oxidation of reduced inorganic sulfur compounds in A. ferrooxidans NASF-1 cells.

Structure and applications of metal-organic framework based on cyanide and 3,5-dichloropyridine

The reaction of the aqueous/acetonitrile solutions of K3[Cu(CN)4] and 3,5-dichloropyridine (3,5-dClpy), in the presence of Me3SnCl affords a new metal-organic framework (MOF), (3)∞[(CuCN)2·(3,5-dClpy)2], 1. The structure of the MOF 1 was characterized by IR, UV-visible, TGA and X-ray single crystal analysis. The structure of MOF 1 consists of CuCN building blocks which are connected by CN group forming 1D-zig-zag chains. Each chain is bridged to another chain by hydrogen bonding organizing 2D-sheets. The structure of 1 is further close packed by hydrogen bonds, π-π stacking and lp-π interactions creating 3D-network. The emission spectra and the thermodynamic parameters from TGA of the MOF 1 were discussed. The MOF 1 was used as heterogeneous catalyst for the oxidative discoloration of methylene blue dye (MB) by dilute solution of hydrogen peroxide as oxidant. The in vitro cytotoxic activity has been evaluated against the human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7. The cytotoxic effect of the MOF 1 on the viability of MCF-7 cells was determined by MTT assay.

Targeting heme for the identification of cytotoxic agents

Certain tumor types have an increased capacity for heme synthesis, which serves as the basis for photodynamic therapy. Heme also serves as the target for the anti-malaria drug artemisinin, which has also been used as an anti-cancer drug. We developed a high-throughput screening assay to identify heme interacting (HI) compounds, which included imidazole, pyridine, carbonitrile, isocyanide, and quinoline core structures that are known to interact with heme or hemin. The cytotoxicity of several of the compounds towards human leukemia cell lines could be modulated by increasing or decreasing heme synthesis. Spectral analysis indicated that distinct molecular interactions occurred with heme, suggesting that HI compounds appear to target heme with exquisite specificity. These studies suggest that heme may serve as a novel therapeutic target for cancer drug discovery.

A unified electrocatalytic description of the action of inhibitors of nickel carbon monoxide dehydrogenase

Several small molecules and ions, notably carbon monoxide, cyanide, cyanate, and hydrogen sulfide, are potent inhibitors of Ni-containing carbon monoxide dehydrogenases (Ni-CODH) that catalyze very rapid, efficient redox interconversions of CO(2) and CO. Protein film electrochemistry, which probes the dependence of steady-state catalytic rate over a wide potential range, reveals how these inhibitors target particular oxidation levels of Ni-CODH relating to intermediates (C(ox), C(red1), and C(red2)) that have been established for the active site. The following properties are thus established: (1) CO suppresses CO(2) reduction (CO is a product inhibitor), but its binding affinity decreases as the potential becomes more negative. (2) Cyanide totally inhibits CO oxidation, but its effect on CO(2) reduction is limited to a narrow potential region (between -0.5 and -0.6 V), below which CO(2) reduction activity is restored. (3) Cyanate is a strong inhibitor of CO(2) reduction but inhibits CO oxidation only within a narrow potential range just above the CO(2)/CO thermodynamic potential--EPR spectra confirm that cyanate binds selectively to C(red2). (4) Hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S/HS(-)) inhibits CO oxidation but not CO(2) reduction--the complex on/off characteristics are consistent with it binding at the same oxidation level as C(ox) and forming a modified version of this inactive state rather than reacting directly with C(red1). The results provide a new perspective on the properties of different catalytic intermediates of Ni-CODH--uniting and clarifying many previous investigations.

Cell death of rice roots under salt stress may be mediated by cyanide-resistant respiration

Treatment with solutions containing high concentrations of NaCl (200 or 300 mM) induced cell death in rice (Oryza sativa L.) roots, as well as the application of exogenous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Moreover, the pretreatment with dimethylthiourea (DMTU), a scavenger of H2O2, partially alleviated the root cell death induced by 200 mM NaCl. These observations suggest that the cell death of rice roots under high salt stress is linked to H2O2 accumulation in vivo. NaCl stress increased the level of cyanide-resistant respiration to some extent and enhanced the transcript levels of the alternative oxidase (AOX) genes AOX1a and AOX1b in rice roots. High-salt-stressed (200 mM NaCl) rice roots pretreated with 1 mM salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM), a specific inhibitor of alternative oxidase, exhibited higher levels of cell death and H2O2 production than roots subjected to either 200 mM NaCl stress or SHAM treatment alone. These results suggest that cyanide-resistant respiration could play a role in mediating root cell death under high salt stress. Furthermore, this function of cyanide-resistant respiration could relate to its ability to reduce the generation of H2O2.

Electrical phenotypes of calcium transport mutant strains of a filamentous fungus, Neurospora crassa

We characterized the electrical phenotypes of mutants with mutations in genes encoding calcium transporters-a mechanosensitive channel homolog (MscS), a Ca(2+)/H(+) exchange protein (cax), and Ca(2+)-ATPases (nca-1, nca-2, nca-3)-as well as those of double mutants (the nca-2 cax, nca-2 nca-3, and nca-3 cax mutants). The electrical characterization used dual impalements to obtain cable-corrected current-voltage measurements. Only two types of mutants (the MscS mutant; the nca-2 mutant and nca-2-containing double mutants) exhibited lower resting potentials. For the nca-2 mutant, on the basis of unchanged conductance and cyanide-induced depolarization of the potential, the cause is attenuated H(+)-ATPase activity. The growth of the nca-2 mutant-containing strains was inhibited by elevated extracellular Ca(2+) levels, indicative of lesions in Ca(2+) homeostasis. However, the net Ca(2+) effluxes of the nca-2 mutant, measured noninvasively with a self-referencing Ca(2+)-selective microelectrode, were similar to those of the wild type. All of the mutants exhibited osmosensitivity similar to that of the wild type (the turgor of the nca-2 mutant was also similar to that of the wild type), suggesting that Ca(2+) signaling does not play a role in osmoregulation. The hyphal tip morphology and tip-localized mitochondria of the nca-2 mutant were similar to those of the wild type, even when the external [Ca(2+)] was elevated. Thus, although Ca(2+) homeostasis is perturbed in the nca-2 mutant (B. J. Bowman et al., Eukaryot. Cell 10:654-661, 2011), the phenotype does not extend to tip growth or to osmoregulation but is revealed by lower H(+)-ATPase activity.

Metabolic stress in isolated mouse ventricular myocytes leads to remodeling of t tubules

Cardiac ventricular myocytes possess an extensive t-tubular system that facilitates the propagation of membrane potential across the cell body. It is well established that ionic currents at the restricted t-tubular space may lead to significant changes in ion concentrations, which, in turn, may affect t-tubular membrane potential. In this study, we used the whole cell patch-clamp technique to study accumulation and depletion of t-tubular potassium by measuring inward rectifier potassium tail currents (I(K1,tail)), and inward rectifier potassium current (I(K1)) "inactivation". At room temperatures and in the absence of Mg(2+) ions in pipette solution, the amplitude of I(K1,tail) measured ~10 min after the establishment of whole cell configuration was reduced by ~18%, but declined nearly twofold in the presence of 1 mM cyanide. At ~35°C I(K1,tail) was essentially preserved in intact cells, but its amplitude declined by ~85% within 5 min of cell dialysis, even in the absence of cyanide. Intracellular Mg(2+) ions played protective role at all temperatures. Decline of I(K1,tail) was accompanied by characteristic changes in its kinetics, as well as by changes in the kinetics of I(K1) inactivation, a marker of depletion of t-tubular K(+). The data point to remodeling of t tubules as the primary reason for the observed effects. Consistent with this, detubulation of myocytes using formamide-induced osmotic stress significantly reduced I(K1,tail), as well as the inactivation of inward I(K1). Overall, the data provide strong evidence that changes in t tubule volume/structure may occur on a short time scale in response to various types of stress.

ANTAGONISM TO THE ACTIONS OF HYDRALLAZINE, RESERPINE, POTASSIUM CYANIDE, SODIUM AZIDE AND ANOXIA ON ARTERIAL SMOOTH MUSCLE

Many intermediates of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism give protection against the hydrallazine depression of acetylcholine, (-)-adrenaline, (-)-noradrenaline, histamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine-induced contractions of spirally cut strips of horse carotid arteries. Strips made anoxic behave in a manner similar to hydrallazine-treated strips. Inhibition of drug-induced contractions by potassium cyanide, iodoacetate and azide was of a different character from that caused by hydrallazine and anoxia. Few intermediates gave significant protection. Hydrallazine probably exerts its effect by a non-specific depression of metabolism rather than upon specific receptors. Reserpine depression of drug-induced contractions in artery strips was so persistent that experiments using intermediary metabolites could not be made.

Modeling diauxic glycolytic oscillations in yeast

Glycolytic oscillations in a stirred suspension of starved yeast cells is an excellent model system for studying the dynamics of metabolic switching in living systems. In an open-flow system the oscillations can be maintained indefinitely at a constant operating point where they can be characterized quantitatively by experimental quenching and bifurcation analysis. In this article, we use these methods to show that the dynamics of oscillations in a closed system is a simple transient version of the open-system dynamics. Thus, easy-setup closed-system experiments are also useful for investigations of central metabolism dynamics of yeast cells. We have previously proposed a model for the open system comprised of the primary fermentative reactions in yeast that quantitatively describes the oscillatory dynamics. However, this model fails to describe the transient behavior of metabolic switching in a closed-system experiment by feeding the yeast suspension with a glucose pulse-notably the initial NADH spike and final NADH rise. Another object of this study is to gain insight into the secondary low-flux metabolic pathways by feeding starved yeast cells with various metabolites. Experimental and computational results strongly suggest that regulation of acetaldehyde explains the observed behavior. We have extended the original model with regulation of pyruvate decarboxylase, a reversible alcohol dehydrogenase, and drainage of pyruvate. Using the method of time rescaling in the extended model, the description of the transient closed-system experiments is significantly improved.

Cyanide, a coproduct of plant hormone ethylene biosynthesis, contributes to the resistance of rice to blast fungus

Rice (Oryza sativa) plants carrying the Pi-i resistance gene to blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae restrict invaded fungus in infected tissue via hypersensitive reaction or response (HR), which is accompanied by rapid ethylene production and formation of small HR lesions. Ethylene biosynthesis has been implicated to be important for blast resistance; however, the individual roles of ethylene and cyanide, which are produced from the precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid, remain unevaluated. In this study, we found that Pi-i-mediated resistance was compromised in transgenic rice lines, in which ethylene biosynthetic enzyme genes were silenced and then ethylene production was inhibited. The compromised resistance in transgenic lines was recovered by exogenously applying cyanide but not ethephon, an ethylene-releasing chemical in plant tissue. In a susceptible rice cultivar, treatment with cyanide or 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid induced the resistance to blast fungus in a dose-dependent manner, while ethephon did not have the effect. Cyanide inhibited the growth of blast fungus in vitro and in planta, and application of flavonoids, secondary metabolites that exist ubiquitously in the plant kingdom, enhanced the cyanide-induced inhibition of fungal growth. These results suggested that cyanide, whose production is triggered by HR in infected tissue, contributes to the resistance in rice plants via restriction of fungal growth.

Effects of free cyanide on microbial communities and biological carbon and nitrogen removal performance in the industrial activated sludge process

The changes in process performance and microbial communities under free cyanide (CN(-)) were investigated in a lab-scale activated sludge process treating industrial wastewater. The performance of phenol degradation did not appear to be adversely affected by increases in CN(-) concentrations. In contrast, CN(-) was found to have an inhibitory effect on SCN(-) biodegradation, resulting in the increase of TOC and COD concentrations. Nitratation also appeared to be inhibited at CN(-) concentrations in excess of 1.0 mg/L, confirming that nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) is more sensitive to the CN(-) toxicity than ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB). After CN(-) loads were stopped, SCN(-) removal, denitrification, and nitrification inhibited by CN(-) were recovered to performance efficiency of more than 98%. The AOB and NOB communities in the aerobic reactor were analyzed by terminal restriction fragment length (T-RFLP) and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Nitrosomonas europaea lineage was the predominant AOB at all samples during the operation, but an obvious change was observed in the diversity of AOB at the shock loading of 30 and 50 mg/L CN(-), resulting in Nitrosospira sp. becoming dominant. We also observed coexisting Nitrospira and Nitrobacter genera for NOB. The increase of CN(-) loading seemed to change the balance between Nitrospira and Nitrobacter, resulting in the high dominance of Nitrobacter over Nitrospira. Meanwhile, through using the qPCR, it was observed that the nitrite-reducing functional genes (i.e., nirS) were dominant in the activated sludge of the anoxic reactor, regardless of CN(-) loads.

Adenosine triphosphate depletion by cyanide results in a Na(+)-dependent Mg(2+) extrusion from liver cells

Addition of NaCN to isolated hepatocytes results in a marked and rapid decrease in cellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content, and in the extrusion of a sizable amount of cellular Mg(2+). This extrusion starts after a 10-minute lag phase and reaches a maximum of 35 to 40 nmol Mg(2+) per milligram protein within 60 minutes from the addition of CN(-). A quantitatively similar Mg(2+) extrusion is also observed after the addition of the mitochondrial uncoupler carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxy-phenylhydrazone but not that of the glycolysis inhibitor iodoacetate. The Mg(2+) extrusion is completely inhibited by the removal of extracellular Na(+) or the addition of imipramine, quinidine, or glibenclamide, whereas it persists after the removal of extracellular Ca(2+) or K(+), or the addition of amiloride. An acidic extracellular pH or the removal of extracellular HCO₃⁻ inhibits the cyanide-induced Mg(2+) extrusion by at least 80%. Taken together, these data suggest that the decrease in cellular adenosine triphosphate content removes a major Mg(2+) complexing agent from the hepatocyte and results in an extrusion of hepatic Mg(2+) exclusively through a Na(+)-dependent exchange mechanism modulated by acidic changes in extracellular pH.

New insight in ethylene signaling: autokinase activity of ETR1 modulates the interaction of receptors and EIN2

Ethylene insensitive 2 (EIN2), an integral membrane protein of the ER network, has been identified as the central regulator of the ethylene signaling pathway. Still, the mechanism by which the ethylene signal is transferred from the receptors to EIN2 has not been solved yet. Here, we show that protein phosphorylation is a key mechanism to control the interaction of EIN2 and the receptors. In vivo and in vitro fluorescence studies reveal that the kinase domain of the receptors is essential for the interaction. Cyanide, an ethylene agonist, which is known to reduce auto-phosphorylation of the ethylene receptor ethylene resistant 1 (ETR1) or a mutation in the kinase domain of ETR1 that prevents auto-phosphorylation (H353A), increases the affinity of the receptors for EIN2. On the other hand, mimicking permanent auto-phosphorylation of ETR1 as in the mutant H353E releases the EIN2-ETR1 interaction from the control by the plant hormone. Based on our data, we propose a novel model on the integration of EIN2 in the ethylene signaling cascade.

Effect of Ca2+ on programmed death of guard and epidermal cells of pea leaves

The effect of Ca2+ on programmed death of guard cells (GC) and epidermal cells (EC) determined from destruction of the cell nucleus was investigated in epidermis of pea leaves. Ca2+ at concentrations of 1-100 microM increased and at a concentration of 1 mM prevented the CN(-)-induced destruction of the nucleus in GC, disrupting the permeability barrier of GC plasma membrane for propidium iodide (PI). Ca2+ at concentrations of 0.1-1 mM enhanced drastically the number of EC nuclei stained by PI in epidermis treated with chitosan, an inducer of programmed cell death. The internucleosomal DNA fragmentation caused by CN(-) was suppressed by 2 mM Ca2+ on 6 h incubation, but fragmentation was stimulated on more prolonged treatment (16 h). Presumably, the disruption of the permeability barrier of plasma membrane for PI is not a sign of necrosis in plant cells. Quinacrine and diphenylene iodonium at 50 microM concentration prevented GC death induced by CN(-) or CN(-) + 0.1 mM Ca2+ but had no influence on respiration and photosynthetic O2 evolution in pea leaf slices. The generation of reactive oxygen species determined from 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein fluorescence was promoted by Ca2+ in epidermal peels from pea leaves.

Dynamic and interacting profiles of *NO and O2 in rat hippocampal slices

Nitric oxide (*NO) is a ubiquitous signaling molecule that participates in the neuromolecular phenomena associated with memory formation. In the hippocampus, neuronal *NO production is coupled to the activation of the NMDA-type of glutamate receptor. Although *NO-mediated signaling has been associated with soluble guanylate cyclase activation, cytochrome oxidase is also a target for this gaseous free radical, for which *NO competes with O(2). Here we show, for the first time in a model preserving tissue cytoarchitecture (rat hippocampal slices) and at a physiological O(2) concentration, that endogenous NMDA-evoked *NO production inhibits tissue O(2) consumption for submicromolar concentrations. The simultaneous real-time recordings reveal a direct correlation between the profiles of *NO and O(2) in the CA1 subregion of the hippocampal slice. These results, obtained in a system close to in vivo models, strongly support the current paradigm for O(2) and *NO interplay in the regulation of cellular respiration.

Effects of adrenaline on glycogenolysis in resting anaerobic frog muscles studied by 31P-NMR

The effects of adrenaline (also called epinephrine) on glycogenolysis in living anaerobic muscles were examined based on time-dependent changes of (31)P-NMR spectra of resting frog skeletal muscles with and without iodoacetate treatments. The phosphate-metabolite concentration and the intracellular pH determined from the NMR spectra changed with time, reflecting the advancement of various phosphate metabolic reactions coupled with residual ATPase reactions to keep the ATP concentration constant. The results could be explained semi-qualitatively as the ATP regenerative reactions, creatine kinase reaction and glycogenolysis, advanced with time showing the characteristic two phases. Thus, it was clarified for living muscles that adrenaline activates the phosphorylase step of glycogenolysis, and the adrenaline-activated glycogenolysis is further regulated at the phosphofructokinase step by PCr and also possibly by AMP. Associated with the adrenaline-activated glycogenolysis in the examined muscles, the P(i) concentration and the intracellular pH, factors affecting the muscle force, changed significantly, suggesting complicated effects of adrenaline on the muscle contractility.

Characterisation of QoI-resistant field isolates of Botrytis cinerea from citrus and strawberry

BACKGROUND

In 2004, field isolates of Botrytis cinerea Pers. ex Fr., resistant to strobilurin fungicides (QoIs), were first found in commercial citrus orchards in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. Subsequently, QoI-resistant isolates of this fungus were also detected in plastic strawberry greenhouses in Saga, Ibaraki and Chiba prefectures, Japan. Biological and molecular characterisation of resistant isolates was conducted in this study.

RESULTS

QoI-resistant isolates of B. cinerea grew well on PDA plates containing kresoxim-methyl or azoxystrobin at 1 mg L(-1), supplemented with 1 mM of n-propyl gallate, an inhibitor of alternative oxidase, whereas the growth of sensitive isolates was strongly suppressed. Results from this in vitro test were in good agreement with those of fungus inoculation tests in vivo. In resistant isolates, the mutation at amino acid position 143 of the cytochrome b gene, known to be the cause of high QoI resistance in various fungal pathogens, was found, but only occasionally. The heteroplasmy of cytochrome b gene was confirmed, and the wild-type sequence often present in the majority of resistant isolates, indicating that the proportion of mutated cytochrome b gene was very low.

CONCLUSION

The conventional RFLP and sequence analyses of PCR-amplified cytochrome b gene are insufficient for molecular identification of QoI resistance in B. cinerea.

Regulation of Acanthamoeba castellanii alternative oxidase activity by mutual exclusion of purine nucleotides; ATP's inhibitory effect

The effects of different adenine and guanine nucleotides on the cyanide-resistant respiration (i.e. alternative oxidase (AcAOX) activity) of mitochondria from the amoeba A. castellanii mitochondria were studied. We found that guanine nucleotides activate AcAOX to a greater degree than adenine nucleotides, and that nucleoside monophosphates were more efficient activators than nucleoside di- or triphosphates. The extent of the nucleotides' influence on AcAOX was dependent on the medium's pH and was more pronounced at pH 6.8, which is optimal for AcAOX activity. In contrast to other purine nucleosides, we demonstrate, for the first time, that ATP has an inhibitory effect on AcAOX activity. Since we also observed the inhibition by ATP in the mitochondria of another protozoon, such as Dictyostelium discoideum, and the yeast, Candida maltosa, it may be a regulatory feature common to all purine nucleotide-modulated non-plant AOXs. The physiological importance of this discovery is discussed. Kinetic data show that the binding of GMP (a positive allosteric effector) and the binding of ATP (a negative allosteric effector) to AcAOX are mutually exclusive. ATP's inhibition of the enzyme can be overcome by sufficiently high concentrations of GMP, and conversely, GMP's stimulation can be overcome by sufficiently high concentrations of ATP. However, an approximately three times lower concentration of GMP compared to ATP gives a half maximal effect on AcAOX activity. This is indicative of a higher binding affinity for the positive effector at the same or, at least overlapping, nucleotide-binding sites on AcAOX. These results suggest that AcAOX activity in A. castellanii mitochondria might be controlled by the relative intracellular concentrations of purine nucleotides.

Reactive oxygen species in programmed death of pea guard cells

Hydrogen peroxide potentiates CN(-)-induced apoptosis of guard cells recorded as destruction of cell nuclei in the epidermis from pea leaves. A still stronger effect was exerted by the addition of H2O2 and NADH, which are the substrates of the plant cell wall peroxidase producing O2*- coupled to the oxidation of NADH. The CN(-)-or (CN(-) + H2O2)-induced destruction of guard cell nuclei was completely removed by nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) oxidizing O2*- and preventing there-by the subsequent generation of H2O2. The reduced NBT was deposited in the cells as formazan crystals. Cyanide-induced apoptosis was diminished by mannitol and ethanol, which are OH* traps. The dyes Rose Bengal (RB) and tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester (TMRE) photosensitizing singlet oxygen production suppressed the CN(-)-induced destruction of the cell nuclei in the light. This suppression was removed by exogenous NADH, which reacts with 1O2 yielding O2*-. Incubation of leaf slices with RB in the light lowered the photosynthetic O2 evolution rate and induced the permeability of guard cells for propidium iodide, which cannot pass across intact membranes. Inhibition of photosynthetic O2 evolution by 3-(3',4'-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea or bromoxynil prevented CN(-)-induced apoptosis of guard cells in the light but not in the dark. RB in combination with exogenous NADH caused H2O2 production that was sensitive to NBT and estimated from dichlorofluorescein (DCF) fluorescence. Data on NBT reduction and DCF and TMRE fluorescence obtained using a confocal microscope and data on the NADH-dependent H2O2 production are indicative of generation of reactive oxygen species in the chloroplasts, mitochondria, and nuclear region of guard cells as well as with participation of apoplastic peroxidase. Cyanide inhibited generation of reactive oxygen species in mitochondria and induced their generation in chloroplasts. The results show that H2O2, OH*, and O2*- resources utilized for H2O2 production are involved in apoptosis of guard cells. It is likely that singlet oxygen generated by RB in the light, judging from the permeability of the plasmatic membrane for propidium iodide, makes Photosystem II of chloroplasts inoperative and induces necrosis of the guard cells.

Pdr12p-dependent and -independent fluorescein extrusion from baker's yeast cells

Fluorescein efflux from S. cerevisiae cells was measured to study the peculiarities of fluorescein transport system, which is important for yeast resistance to certain drugs and weak organic acid preservatives. Glucose-independent and glucose-stimulated fluorescein effluxes were characterized using iodoacetate, cyanide and orthovanadate, inhibitors of glycolysis, electron transport chain, and ATPases, respectively. It is supposed that in glucose-free medium fluorescein extrusion is ATP-dependent and the energy for this efflux is mainly provided by respiration. In glucose-containing medium, glycolysis plays a critical role for extrusion of fluorescein. The results indicate that acetic acid inhibits the fluorescein efflux from yeast cells. The inhibition constant of glucose-stimulated fluorescein efflux is significantly lower in parental strain than in two mutants defective in PDR12 (ABC-transporter Pdr12p) or WAR1 (transcription factor of Pdr12p). It can be suggested that the membrane protein Pdr12 is involved in fluorescein extrusion from the yeast cells, but component(s) other than Pdr12p is (are) also important.

Diversity in antifungal activity of strains of Chromobacterium violaceum from the Brazilian Amazon

Chromobacterium violaceum is a free-living Gram-negative bacterium found in soil and aquatic habitats; abundantly present in the Brazilian Amazon, it is an important example of exploitable microbial diversity of the tropics. In this study, 24 strains from the Brazilian Amazon and ATCC 12472(T) were investigated for biocontrol potential of seven fungi pathogenic to soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merril] seed. Both cells and the supernatants of two Brazilian strains, 07-1 and 27-1, together with ATCC 12472(T) were strongly antagonistic to six out of the seven fungi. The antifungal activity of the Brazilian strains to Fusarium sp., Phomopsis sp. and Cercospora kikuchi was consistently stronger than that of ATCC 12472(T). In addition, the two Brazilian strains, but not ATCC 12472(T), were effective against Corynespora sp., and all three strains and their supernatants were equally effective against Aspergillus sp. and Colletotrichum sp. None of the strains had antifungal activity against Botroyodiplodia sp. Three potential mechanisms related to the antibiosis were investigated: violacein toxicity, cyanide production and chitinolytic activity; however, it was not possible to associate any of them with the antifungal activity. The results highlight the biotechnological potential still to be explored within the poorly characterized microbial biodiversity of the tropics.

[Respiratory activity of yeast Yarrowia lipolytica under oxidative stress and heat shock]

Heat shock (45 degrees C) and the effect of oxidants (H2O2) resulted in a decrease of the respiratory activity of yeast cells and their survival rate. Increased resistance to stress effects after mild heat treatment (37 degrees C) or treatment with a nonlethal dose of oxidants (0.5 mM H2O2 for 60 min) was accompanied by appearance of an alternative (cyanide-resistant) oxidative pathway in the mitochondria, which promotes survival due to retention of the capacity for ATP synthesis in the first coupling point at the level of endogenous NADH dehydrogenase. The alternative oxidative pathway is more resistant to the effect of stressors that disrupt electron transfer in the cytochrome site of the respiratory chain.

The active transport of carbohydrates by Escherichia coli

The active transport of carbohydrates by Escherichia coli is discussed with particular reference to (1) identification of an uptake process as 'active transport', (2) nature and control of transport proteins, and (3) mechanisms of energy transduction. (1) The use of substrate analogues, of mutants blocked in metabolism and of subcellular vesicles in the isolation of the transport process from interference by subsequent metabolic reactions is described. Criteria are outlined for establishing that the solute is taken up against a concentration gradient and that this is energy-dependent. Three types of poisons for energy systems that act primarily on respiration, on ATP formation and as uncoupling ('proton conducting') agents are considered. (2) Methods are described for the selection of mutants impaired in the active uptake of specific carbohydrates. (3) Results show that the uptake of galactose, D-fucose and arabinose by appropriate strains of E. coli is inducible, specific and accompanied by proton uptake. Such and other data support a model based on a chemiosmotic theory of active transport.

The purple membrane of Halobacterium halobium: a new system for light energy conversion

Patches of a distinctly different structure from the rest of the cell membrane occur in Halobacterium halobium. The isolated patches are called the purple membrane. It derives its colour from a retinal-protein complex, bacteriorhodopsin, which is the only protein species in this membrane serving a phototransducing function. Light energy is converted by a photochemical cycle going on continuously under illumination and accompanied by a cyclic release and uptake of protons. In the intact cell, this cycle operates as a vectorial process and therefore builds up an electrochemical gradient across the cell membrane conserving part of the absorbed light energy. The cell apparently uses this electrochemical gradient for the synthesis of ATP. Photophosphorylation is shown to be insensitive to cyanide but sensitive to dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) and uncouplers. The concentration of ATP and the pH are tightly coupled but can be uncoupled by DCCD. Bacteriorhodopsin, as a light-driven proton pump, can then be studied in the cell as an isolated process. Quantitation of light energy conversion is possible by the indirect method of inhibition of respiration by light and the comparison of the number of absorbed quanta which prevent consumption of one molecule of oxygen.

Cyanogenic pseudomonads influence multitrophic interactions in the rhizosphere

In the rhizosphere, plant roots cope with both pathogenic and beneficial bacterial interactions. The exometabolite production in certain bacterial species may regulate root growth and other root-microbe interactions in the rhizosphere. Here, we elucidated the role of cyanide production in pseudomonad virulence affecting plant root growth and other rhizospheric processes. Exposure of Arabidopsis thaliana Col-0 seedlings to both direct (with KCN) and indirect forms of cyanide from different pseudomonad strains caused significant inhibition of primary root growth. Further, we report that this growth inhibition was caused by the suppression of an auxin responsive gene, specifically at the root tip region by pseudomonad cyanogenesis. Additionally, pseudomonad cyanogenesis also affected other beneficial rhizospheric processes such as Bacillus subtilis colonization by biofilm formation on A. thaliana Col-0 roots. The effect of cyanogenesis on B. subtilis biofilm formation was further established by the down regulation of important B. subtilis biofilm operons epsA and yqxM. Our results show, the functional significance of pseudomonad cyanogenesis in regulating multitrophic rhizospheric interactions.

Nitrite controls the release of nitric oxide in Pseudomonas aeruginosa cd1 nitrite reductase

Nitrite reductase (cd1NIR) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which catalyses the reduction of nitrite to nitric oxide (NO), contains a c-heme as the electron acceptor and a d1-heme where catalysis occurs. Reduction involves binding of nitrite to the reduced d1-heme, followed by dehydration to yield NO; release of NO and re-reduction of the enzyme close the cycle. Since NO is a powerful inhibitor of ferrous hemeproteins, enzymatic turnover demands the release of NO. We recently discovered that NO dissociation from the ferrous d1-heme is fast, showing that cd1NIR behaves differently from other hemeproteins. Here we demonstrate for the first time that the physiological substrate nitrite displaces NO from the ferrous enzyme, which enters a new catalytic cycle; this reaction depends on the conserved His369 whose role in substrate stabilization is crucial for catalysis. Thus we suggest that also in vivo the activity of cd1NIR is controlled by nitrite.

Spatial and functional architecture of the mammalian brain stem respiratory network: a hierarchy of three oscillatory mechanisms

Mammalian central pattern generators (CPGs) producing rhythmic movements exhibit extremely robust and flexible behavior. Network architectures that enable these features are not well understood. Here we studied organization of the brain stem respiratory CPG. By sequential rostral to caudal transections through the pontine-medullary respiratory network within an in situ perfused rat brain stem-spinal cord preparation, we showed that network dynamics reorganized and new rhythmogenic mechanisms emerged. The normal three-phase respiratory rhythm transformed to a two-phase and then to a one-phase rhythm as the network was reduced. Expression of the three-phase rhythm required the presence of the pons, generation of the two-phase rhythm depended on the integrity of Bötzinger and pre-Bötzinger complexes and interactions between them, and the one-phase rhythm was generated within the pre-Bötzinger complex. Transformation from the three-phase to a two-phase pattern also occurred in intact preparations when chloride-mediated synaptic inhibition was reduced. In contrast to the three-phase and two-phase rhythms, the one-phase rhythm was abolished by blockade of persistent sodium current (I(NaP)). A model of the respiratory network was developed to reproduce and explain these observations. The model incorporated interacting populations of respiratory neurons within spatially organized brain stem compartments. Our simulations reproduced the respiratory patterns recorded from intact and sequentially reduced preparations. Our results suggest that the three-phase and two-phase rhythms involve inhibitory network interactions, whereas the one-phase rhythm depends on I(NaP). We conclude that the respiratory network has rhythmogenic capabilities at multiple levels of network organization, allowing expression of motor patterns specific for various physiological and pathophysiological respiratory behaviors.