Non-coherent visible and infrared radiation increase survival to UV (254 nm) in Escherichia coli K12

Interactions between visible or infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV, 254 nm) radiation have been studied in E. coli. Pre-illumination with non-coherent monochromatic 446, 466, 570 and 685 nm radiation, as well as with polychromatic red and IR radiation at room temperature, leads to increased cell survival after a subsequent irradiation with UV light. In the thermic range of the spectrum (red and IR), IR but not red light pre-treatment is able to increase cell survival to a subsequent lethal heat (51 degrees C) challenge, suggesting that increased UV survival may be due to IR-induced heat-shock response. On the other hand, visible-light-induced resistance may be due to a different mechanism, possibly involved with unknown bacterial light receptors.     

Action spectra for modification of Escherichia coli B/r menaquinone by near-ultraviolet and visible radiations (313-578 nm)

–Menaquinone-8 (MQ-8) was irradiated in vivo in Escherichia coli B/r and in vitro after extraction from E. coli B/r, using monochromatic radiation in the range 313–578 nm. Within experimental error, the action spectra for loss of chromatographic mobility after irradiation in vivo and in vitro agree with each other and with the absorption spectrum of pure MQ-8. The MQ-8 is extremely sensitive to near-UV light (300–380 nm), showing an F₃₇in vivo at 334 nm of 1.3 kj/m², a value 15 times lower than that required for growth delay, and 150 times lower than that for killing, of E. coli B/r. The quantum yield for this reaction in vivo at 334 nm has the very high value of 0.26. The high sensitivity of MQ-8 suggests involvement in near-UV-induced effects on the plasma membrane.     

Overview of the inactivation by 254 nm ultraviolet radiation of bacteria with particular relevance to biodefense

Abstract Our goal was to ultimately predict the sensitivity of untested bacteria (including those of biodefense interest) to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. In this study, we present an overview and analysis of the relevant 254 nm data previously reported and available in the literature. The amount of variability in this data prevented us from determining an "average" response for any bacterium. Therefore, we developed particular selection criteria to include the data in our analysis and suggested future guidelines for reporting UV sensitivity results. We then compiled a table of the sensitivity to 254 nm UV for 38 bacteria and three bacterial spores. The UV sensitivity was quite similar (within 10%) among the spores of Bacillus anthracis (strains Vollum 1B and Sterne), Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus megaterium. These data indicate that spores of B. subtilis and B. megaterium could be adequate simulants of B. anthracis spores in UVC experiments. Spores of B. anthracis, B. subtilis and B. megaterium were 5-10 times more resistant to UV than were their corresponding vegetative cells. The vegetative cells of B. anthracis showed similar UV sensitivity to those of Burkholderia pseudomallei, Shigella sonnei, and a wild-type strain of Escherichia coli. Yersinia enterocolitica and Vibrio cholerae appeared more sensitive to UV and Salmonella typhi slightly more resistant to UV than E. coli. The sensitivity (at 254 nm) of all vegetative bacteria ranged from 11 to 80 Jm(2) for a 1 Log(10) kill and from 25-200 Jm(2) for 4 Log(10) kill.     

Action spectra for photoreactivation of mutation of prototrophy in strains of Escherichia coli possessing and lacking photoreactivating-enzyme activity

Abstract— The action spectrum and dose-rate dependence for photoreactivation of mutation to prototrophy in late-lag-phase cultures of Escherichia coli H³r30 (which lacks active photo-reactivating enzyme) are roughly similar to those for photoprotection from killing in other strains. It is suggested that photoreactivation of this mutation in H/r30 is an indirect effect, similar in mechanism to photoprotection. The action spectrum and dose-rate dependence for photoreactivation of mutation to prototrophy in late-lag-phase cultures of E. coli H³r30-R (which possesses active photoreactivating enzyme) are roughly similar to those for photoreactivation of killing in most other strains. It is suggested that photoreactivation of this mutation in H/r30-R is a direct effect at long wavelengths, but that there is an indirect component at short wavelengths. A quite different interpretation of these data is noted. Finally, it is found that, under the conditions of these experiments, indirect photoreactivation of killing in H/r30 and H/r30-R is weak or nonexistent.     

Action spectra for inactivation of normal and xeroderma pigmentosum human skin fibroblasts by ultraviolet radiations

—Action spectra for UV-induced lethality as measured by colony forming ability were determined both for a normal human skin fibroblast strain (lBR) and for an excision deficient xeroderma pigmentosum strain (XP4LO) assigned to complementation group A using 7 monochromatic wavelengths in the range 254-365 nm. The relative sensitivity of the XP strain compared to the normal skin fibroblasts shows a marked decrease at wavelengths longer than 313 nm. changing from a ratio of about 20 at the shorter wavelengths to just greater than 1.0 at the longer wavelengths. The action spectra thus indicate that the influence on cell inactivation of the DNA repair defect associated with XP cells is decreased and almost reaches zero at longer UV wavelengths. This would occur, for example, if the importance of pyrimidine dimers as the lethal lesion decreased with increasing wavelength. In common with other studies both in bacterial and mammalian cells, our results are consistent with pyrimidine dimers induced in DNA being the major lethal lesion in both cell strains over the wavelength range 254-313 nm. However, it is indicated that different mechanisms of inactivation operate at wavelengths longer than 313 nm.     

Action spectra for photoinduced inactivation of bacteriophage T7 sensitized by 8-methoxypsoralen and angelicin

The action spectrum (240-300 nm) for photoinactivation of unsensitized phage T7 and the action spectra (310-380 nm) for photoinactivation of phage T7 sensitized with 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) and angelicin were measured by an automated method. For unsensitized phage T7 the action spectrum is in good agreement with the absorption spectrum. For sensitization with angelicin the action spectrum is similar to the absorption spectrum, but for sensitization with 8-MOP the spectra are different. The agreement between the T7 absorption and action spectra in the far-UV region is due to photodamage of DNA, leading to phage inactivation. The similarity in the action and absorption spectra in the near-UV region for sensitization with angelicin seems to be in accordance with the monofunctional photobinding of angelicin to DNA. The action spectrum for sensitization with 8-MOP has a maximum at about 320 nm and this suggests that, in addition to the monoadducts, the biadducts play a role in the inactivation of phage T7. Taking the number of bound furocoumarin molecules into consideration, the quantum efficiencies were estimated. Furocoumarin increases the quantum efficiency in the near-UV region and the values are similar to those obtained in far-UV light without psoralens.     

Effects of temperature inactivation of penicillin-binding protein 2 on envelope growth in Escherichia coli

The transition from rod-shaped to spheroidal cells was studied in a temperature-sensitive strain (SP45) of Escherichia coli K12, carrying a mutation (pbpA) in the gene coding for penicillin-binding protein 2 (PBP-2). This transition imposed by the restrictive temperature was associated with reduction of peptidoglycan/surface area and of cellular osmotic stability.Addition of nalidixic acid (20 μg/ml) at the temperature shift from 30 to 42°C resulted in lysis of some cells and appearance of spheroidal bulges along the cylinders in other cells, consistent with the hypothesis of envelope weakening due to inactivation of PBP-2.     

Enhanced inactivation of Escherichia coli with Ag-coated TiO2 thin film under UV-C irradiation

The inactivation of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in water was investigated systematically with Ag-coated TiO₂ thin film under UV-C irradiation. Compared with UV-C irradiation alone, the inactivation of E. coli by the UV/Ag-TiO₂ process was enhanced and the photoreactivation of the bacteria was much repressed. Moreover, atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements of E. coli showed that the presence of Ag-TiO₂ thin film during UV exposure could expedite the destruction of cell wall and cell membrane, which was further confirmed by the formation of malondialdehyde (MDA) and leakage of intracellular potassium ion (K⁺) and protein. The results suggest that the cell structure destruction might be the major reason for the enhancement of inactivation efficiency, and the prepared Ag-TiO₂ thin films show potential as a new improvement tool for UV-C disinfection.     

Metabolic Engineering of Escherichia coli for Production of 2-phenylethanol from Renewable Glucose

2-Phenylethanol (2-PE) is an important aromatic alcohol with a rose-like odor and has wide applications. The present work aims to construct a synthetic pathway for 2-PE synthesis from glucose in Escherichia coli. First, the genes adh1 (encoding alcohol dehydrogenase) and kdc (encoding phenylpyruvate decarboxylase) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae S288c and Pichia pastoris GS115 were investigated in E. coli, respectively, and single overexpression of adh1 or kdc significantly increased 2-PE accumulation. When co-overexpressing adh1 and kdc, 2-PE was increased up to 130 from 57 mg/L. Furthermore, by optimizing coordinated expression of the four committed genes aroF, pheA, adh1 and kdc, 2-PE was improved to 285 mg/L which was the highest production of 2-PE by the recombinant E. coli system. In addition, our results also demonstrated that the tyrB gene, which encodes aromatic-amino-acid transaminase, plays an important role on 2-PE synthesis.     

Absorption spectra of viral components of Sendai virus in the wavelength region from 130 to 320 nm.

Using synchrotron radiation as a light source, the absorption spectra of purified viral components of the Sendai virus, i.e. messenger RNA, lipids, spike (envelope) proteins, reconstructed envelopes, core proteins and whole virions, were obtained in the wavelength region 130-320 nm by measuring the transmission of thin films. Viral (messenger) RNA two peaks at 260 and 190 nm, and a large increase below 160 nm. The absorption spectrum of lipids exhibited a broad peak at 190 nm and a very sharp increase below 160 nm. With spike proteins, a slight peak at 280 nm and a shoulder at 230 nm were observed in addition to a sharper peak at 190 nm and a rather slow increasing absorption below 160 nm. Reconstructed envelopes showed the features of a combination of lipids and proteins. The absorption spectra of core proteins and whole virions exhibited similar characteristics to spike proteins. Conventional UV data were also obtained in the wavelength range 210-320 nm with RNA and lipids. The UV and synchrotron radiation data were in good agreement in terms of the mass absorption coefficients. The molecular splitting of spike proteins was also examined. Proteins gave more diffuse reflection than their subunits, causing a reduction in absorption. This was explained by a loss of transparency with increasing molecular weight.     

Electrochemically assisted photocatalytic inactivation of Escherichia coli under visible light using a ZnIn2S4 film electrode

ZnIn2S4 film was fabricated on Ti substrate by a two-step approach including electrodeposition and annealing. The film obtained after electrodeposition was composed of Zn, In, and S. Then this precursor film was gradually converted to hexagonal phase ZnIn2S4 during the process of annealing in a nitrogen flow. The crystallographic structures and photoresponse ability of the film could be affected significantly by the annealing temperature. From diffuse reflection spectra, ZnIn2S4 film annealed at 500 degrees C exhibited the highest absorption intensity in visible light region among all the samples, resulting in a high photoresponse in the electrochemical measurement. The microstructures of ZnIn2S4 were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, and the results indicated that the interlayer distance was 0.295 nm, corresponding to d(104) space of hexagonal ZnIn2S4. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectra showed that the atomic ratio of Zn:In:S was 9.3:20.3:39.5, which was close to the stoichiometry ZnIn2S4. The photocatalytic ability of ZnIn2S4 was investigated by photoelectrocatalytic inactivation of Escherichia coli ( E. coli) with the initial concentration of approximately 3 x 10(8) colony forming units per milliliter. More than 3 logs of E. coli were killed within 60 min with the ZnIn2S4 film under visible light, and when the photocatalytic process was assisted by a 0.6 V positive potential, no surviving bacteria were detected after 60 min of inactivation.     

微量热法研究硒对砷在大肠杆菌生长中的联合作用

以大肠杆菌为模型生物,结合生物学的细菌培养方法,用微量热法研究了硒代吗啉与亚砷酸钠对大肠杆菌的联合作用,初步探讨了它们之间的作用机理.结果表明,硒代吗啉和亚砷酸钠之间既有拮抗作用,也有协同作用,这依赖于两者的相对浓度.硒与砷的作用机理可能与细菌生长代谢过程中酶的合成有关.     

An Improved Method for the Conjugation of FAB' to B-D-Galactosidase from Escherichia coli

Abstract

An improved method for the conjugation of Fab' to B-D-galactosidase from Escherichia coli was developed. The enzyme with thiol groups was treated with excess of N, N'-o-phenylene-dimaleimide to introduce maleimide groups, and the maleimide-enzyme was reacted with thiol groups in the hinge of Fab' to form Fab'-B-D-galactosidase conjugate. Gel filtration of Fab' was required only once, and the recovery of Fab' in the conjugate was 71–81%, while in the previous method, gel filtration was required twice and the recovery was 31–38 %. Although the enzyme activity was decreased slightly (8–12%) by the dimaleimide treatment, the conjugate was as useful for sandwich enzyme immunoassay as that obtained by the previous method. 1gG also could be conjugated to B-D-galactosidase more efficiently in the present method than in the previous one.     

Degradation of a model naphthenic acid, cyclohexanoic acid, by vacuum UV (172 nm) and UV (254 nm)/H2O2

The mechanism of hydroxyl radical initiated degradation of a typical oil sands process water (OSPW) alicyclic carboxylic acid was studied using cyclohexanoic acid (CHA) as a model compound. By use of vacuum ultraviolet irradiation (VUV, 172 nm) and ultraviolet irradiation in the presence of hydrogen peroxide UV(254 nm)/H(2)O(2), it was established that CHA undergoes degradation through a peroxyl radical. In both processes the decay of the peroxyl radical leads predominantly to the formation of 4-oxo-CHA, and minor amounts of hydroxy-CHA (detected only in UV/H(2)O(2)). In UV/H(2)O(2), additional 4-oxo-CHA may also have been formed by direct reaction of the oxyl radical with H(2)O(2). The oxyl radical can be formed during decay of the peroxyl-CHA radical or reaction of hydroxy-CHA with hydroxyl radical. Oxo- and hydroxy-CHA further degraded to various dihydroxy-CHAs. Scission of the cyclohexane ring was also observed, on the basis of the observation of acyclic byproducts including heptadioic acid and various short-chain carboxylic acids. Overall, the hydroxyl radical induced degradation of CHA proceeded through several steps, involving more than one hydroxyl radical reaction, thus efficiency of the UV/H(2)O(2) reaction will depend on the rate of generation of hydroxyl radical throughout the process. In real applications to OSPW, concentrations of H(2)O(2) will need to be carefully optimized and the environmental fate and effects of the various degradation products of naphthenic acids considered.     

Emission spectra of an argon inductively coupled plasma in the vacuum ultraviolet: background spectra from 85 to 200 nm

The background spectra emitted from an argon ICP discharge have been recorded over the spectral range 85 to 200 nm. These vacuum ultraviolet spectra were acquired by coupling the ICP to a 0.5-m Seya-Namioka vacuum monochromator, through a helium purged side-arm. Background features observed include emission from the resonance lines of ArI, and emission from gas impurities such as oxygen, nitrogen, carbon and hydrogen.     

Mechanistic investigation of UDP-galactopyranose mutase from Escherichia coli using 2- and 3-fluorinated UDP-galactofuranose as probes.

The galactofuranose moiety found in many surface constituents of microorganisms is derived from UDP-D-galactopyranose (UDP-Galp) via a unique ring contraction reaction catalyzed by UDP-Galp mutase. This enzyme, which has been isolated from several bacterial sources, is a flavoprotein. To study this catalysis, the cloned Escherichia coli mutase was purified and two fluorinated analogues, UDP-[2-F]Galf (9) and UDP-[3-F]Galf (10), were chemically synthesized. These two compounds were found to be substrates for the reduced UDP-Galp mutase with the Km values determined to be 65 and 861 microM for 9 and 10, respectively, and the corresponding kcat values estimated to be 0.033 and 5.7 s(-1). Since the fluorine substituent is redox inert, a mechanism initiated by the oxidation of 2-OH or 3-OH on the galactose moiety can thus be firmly ruled out. Furthermore, both 9 and 10 are poorer substrates than UDP-Galf, and the rate reduction for 9 is especially significant. This finding may be ascribed to the inductive effect of the 2-F substituent that is immediately adjacent to the anomeric center, and is consistent with a mechanism involving formation of oxocarbenium intermediates or transition states during turnover. Interestingly, under nonreducing conditions, compounds 9 and 10 are not substrates, but instead are inhibitors for the mutase. The inactivation by 10 is time-dependent, active-site-directed, and irreversible with a K(I) of 270 microM and a k(inact) of 0.19 min(-1). Since the K(I) value is similar to Km, the observed inactivation is unlikely a result of tight binding. To our surprise, the inactivated enzyme could be regenerated in the presence of dithionite, and the reduced enzyme is resistant to inactivation by these fluorinated analogues. It is possible that reduction of the enzyme-bound FAD may induce a conformational change that facilitates the breakdown of the putative covalent enzyme-inhibitor adduct to reactivate the enzyme. It is also conceivable that the reduced flavin bears a higher electron density at N-1, which may play a role in preventing the formation of the covalent adduct or facilitating its breakdown by charge stabilization of the oxocarbenium intermediates/transition states. Clearly, this study has led to the identification of a potent inactivator (10) for this enzyme, and study of its inactivation has also shed light on the possible mechanism of this mutase.     

Biosynthesis of isoprenoids. purification and properties of IspG protein from Escherichia coli

[Structure: see text]. The IspG protein is known to catalyze the transformation of 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate into 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-2-(E)-butenyl 4-diphosphate in the nonmevalonate pathway of isoprenoid biosynthesis. We have found that the apparent IspG activity in the cell extracts of recombinant Escherichia coli cells as observed by a radiochemical assay can be enhanced severalfold by coexpression of the isc operon which is involved in the assembly of iron-sulfur clusters. The recombinant protein was isolated by affinity chromatography under anaerobic conditions. With a mixture of flavodoxin, flavodoxin reductase, and NADPH as the reducing agent, stringent assay methods based on photometry or on 13C NMR detection of multiply 13C-labeled substrate/product ratios afforded catalytic activities greater than 60 nmol mg(-1) min(-1) for the protein "as isolated" (i.e., without reconstitution of any kind). Lower apparent activities were found using photoreduced deazaflavin as an artifactual electron donor, whereas dithionite was unable to serve as an artificial electron donor. The apparent Michaelis constant for 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate was 700 microM. The enzyme was inactivated by EDTA and could be reactivated by Mn2+. The pH optimum was at 9.0. The protein contained 2.4 iron ions and 4.4 sulfide ions per subunit. The replacement of any of the three conserved cysteine residues afforded mutant proteins which were devoid of catalytic activity and contained less than 6% of Fe2+ and less than 23% of S2- as compared to the wild-type protein. Sequence comparison indicates that putative IspG proteins of plants, the apicomplexan protozoan Plasmodium falciparum, and bacteria from the Bacteroidetes/Chlorobi group contain an insert of about 170-320 amino acid residues as compared with eubacterial enzymes.     

Study on continuous (254 nm) and pulsed UV (266 and 355 nm) lights on BVD virus inactivation and its effects on biological properties of fetal bovine serum

Both continuous UV lights and pulsed UV lasers have potentials to inactivate known and emerging viruses. Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), from the Pestivirus genus, is known to be a common viral contamination in (fetal) bovine serum (FBS). Also, BVDV has been used in the blood product industry as a surrogate for Hepatitis C virus (HCV), due to its similarity in structure and genome. Germicidal UV lamp with the wavelength of 254 nm and Nd:YAG laser (pulsed UV laser) in its third and fourth harmonic with the wavelengths of 355 and 266 nm, respectively, were used. BVDV suspended in PBS or FBS were exposed to different intensities and doses and then reduction in BVDV titer were calculated. To complete inactivation of BVDV suspended in PBS and PBS containing 5% FBS, 1.6 (t = 30 min) and 3.2 (t = 60 min) J/cm² were used. The minimum doses for inactivation of BVDV suspended in PBS with the 355 and 266 nm of pulsed UV laser were 352 and 92.25 J/cm². Also, the minimum doses for inactivation of BVDV suspended in FBS with 355 and 266 nm wavelengths of pulsed UV laser were 704 and 127 J/cm². To evaluate the irradiated FBS quality to support cell culture growth, FBS was treated with the dose of 190.5 J/cm² and 266 nm pulsed UV laser and was used to grow Vero cells, in comparison with a control group. The viability of cells in two groups was identical and the statistical evaluation showed no significant difference in 12 passages.     

A study of product ratios in the direct (313 nm) and Hg-sensitized (254 nm) photodecomposition of 2-methylcyclohexanone in the gas phase

The photolysis of 2-methylcyclohexanone has been studied in the gas phase at 313 nm, mainly at 100°C, over a range of pressures. The Hg(6³P₁) photosensitized decomposition has also been investigated at 100°C. Under conditions of high excitation and/or little collisional quenching the major products are carbon monoxide and the hydrocarbons: 1-hexene, trans-and cis-2-hexene and methylcyclopentane, with minor aldehyde formation. The various product ratios are presented in tabular form. At lower excitation energies, and with increased collisional deactivation, trans- and cis-5-heptenal become important products, and the trans/cis aldehyde ratio is seen to be slightly pressure dependent when all the systems are compared. Similarly, there is a small pressure dependence for the Σ hexenes/methylcyclopentane ratio. From experiments at 250°C the temperature dependence of this ratio was established, and for thermalized hexane-1,5-diyl an activation energy difference (E_d ? E_c) = ?1.3 kcal mol^?1 has been determined for the disproportionation and combination of the biradical. The mechanism for the photolysis is discussed in terms of triplet state photochemistry and biradical intermediates as developed, in particular, by Frey and coworkers, this Journal, 16 , 1337 (1984).