scholarly journals Dimeric Brucella abortus Irr protein controls its own expression and binds haem

Microbiology ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 151 (10) ◽  
pp. 3427-3433 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcela Martínez ◽  
Rodolfo A. Ugalde ◽  
Marta Almirón
Keyword(s):  
Brucella Abortus ◽  
Biosynthetic Pathway ◽  
Response Regulator ◽  
Protoporphyrin Ix ◽  
Close Relative ◽  
Iron Availability ◽  
Iron Deprivation ◽  
Haem Biosynthesis ◽  
Insight Into

Brucella abortus needs to synthesize haem in order to replicate intracellularly and to produce virulence in mice. Thus, to gain insight into the pathogenesis of the bacterium, regulatory proteins of the haem biosynthetic pathway were sought. An iron response regulator (Irr) from Bradyrhizobium japonicum, which is a close relative of Brucella, was previously described as being involved in the coordination of haem biosynthesis and iron availability. The Bru. abortus genome was searched for an irr orthologue gene, and the Bru. abortus irr gene was cloned, sequenced and disrupted. A null mutant was constructed that accumulated protoporphyrin IX under conditions of iron deprivation. This phenotype was overcome by a complementing plasmid carrying the wild-type irr. Purified recombinant Bru. abortus Irr behaved as a stable dimer and bound haem. Interestingly, in vivo, Irr was only detected in cells obtained from iron-limited cultures and the protein downregulated its own transcription. Through lacZ fusion, it was demonstrated that iron did not regulate irr transcription. The data reported show that Bru. abortus Irr is a homodimeric protein that is accumulated in iron-limited cells, controls its own transcription and downregulates the biosynthesis of haem precursors.

scholarly journals Irr regulates brucebactin and 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid biosynthesis, and is implicated in the oxidative stress resistance and intracellular survival of Brucella abortus

Microbiology ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 152 (9) ◽  
pp. 2591-2598 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcela Martínez ◽  
Rodolfo A. Ugalde ◽  
Marta Almirón
Keyword(s):  
Brucella Abortus ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Wild Type Strain ◽  
Upstream Region ◽  
Dihydroxybenzoic Acid ◽  
Acid Biosynthesis ◽  
Mobility Shift ◽  
Iron Deprivation ◽  
Haem Biosynthesis ◽  
Mobility Shift Assay

Brucella abortus faces iron deprivation in both nature and the host. To overcome this limitation, Brucella secretes the siderophores 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid and brucebactin. A Fur-like protein named Irr has previously been characterized in B. abortus; this protein is present in the α-2 group of Proteobacteria only, where it negatively regulates haem biosynthesis when iron is scarce. Additional evidence that Irr also regulates the synthesis of both siderophores is presented here. Transcriptional lacZ fusion and chemical determinations revealed that Irr induced the transcription of the operon involved in the synthesis of the catecholic siderophores, which were consequently secreted under conditions of iron limitation. Irr was able to bind the upstream region of the operon, as shown by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. A B. abortus irr mutant showed higher intracellular haem content, catalase activity and resistance to hydrogen peroxide than the wild-type strain. The mutation also improved the replication and survival of iron-depleted bacteria within cultured mammalian cells. Although the pathogenesis of Brucella correlates with its ability to replicate intracellularly, pathogenicity was not attenuated when assayed in a murine model.

scholarly journals Siderophore Biosynthesis But Not Reductive Iron Assimilation Is Essential for Aspergillus fumigatus Virulence

2004 ◽  
Vol 200 (9) ◽  
pp. 1213-1219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Markus Schrettl ◽  
Elaine Bignell ◽  
Claudia Kragl ◽  
Chistoph Joechl ◽  
Tom Rogers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
Biosynthetic Pathway ◽  
Microbial Pathogens ◽  
High Affinity ◽  
Siderophore Biosynthesis ◽  
Iron Deprivation ◽  
Iron Assimilation ◽  
Striking Contrast ◽  
Virulence Attribute

The ability to acquire iron in vivo is essential for most microbial pathogens. Here we show that Aspergillus fumigatus does not have specific mechanisms for the utilization of host iron sources. However, it does have functional siderophore-assisted iron mobilization and reductive iron assimilation systems, both of which are induced upon iron deprivation. Abrogation of reductive iron assimilation, by inactivation of the high affinity iron permease (FtrA), has no effect on virulence in a murine model of invasive aspergillosis. In striking contrast, A. fumigatus l-ornithine-N 5-monooxygenase (SidA), which catalyses the first committed step of hydroxamate-type siderophore biosynthesis, is absolutely essential for virulence. Thus, A. fumigatus SidA is an essential virulence attribute. Combined with the absence of a sidA ortholog—and the fungal siderophore system in general—in mammals, these data demonstrate that the siderophore biosynthetic pathway represents a promising new target for the development of antifungal therapies.

The Complex Rcs Regulatory Cascade

2018 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin Wall ◽  
Nadim Majdalani ◽  
Susan Gottesman
Keyword(s):  
Response Regulator ◽  
Two Component System ◽  
Regulatory Cascade ◽  
Outer Membrane Lipoprotein ◽  
Two Component ◽  
Membrane Lipoprotein ◽  
Inner Membrane Protein ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
System Paradigm

RcsB, a response regulator of the FixJ/NarL family, is at the center of a complex network of regulatory inputs and outputs. Cell surface stress is sensed by an outer membrane lipoprotein, RcsF, which regulates interactions of the inner membrane protein IgaA, lifting negative regulation of a phosphorelay. In vivo evidence supports a pathway in which histidine kinase RcsC transfers phosphate to phosphotransfer protein RcsD, resulting in phosphorylation of RcsB. RcsB acts either alone or in combination with RcsA to positively regulate capsule synthesis and synthesis of small RNA (sRNA) RprA as well as other genes, and to negatively regulate motility. RcsB in combination with other FixJ/NarL auxiliary proteins regulates yet other functions, independent of RcsB phosphorylation. Proper expression of Rcs and its targets is critical for success of Escherichia coli commensal strains, for proper development of biofilm, and for virulence in some pathogens. New understanding of how the Rcs phosphorelay works provides insight into the flexibility of the two-component system paradigm.

scholarly journals Inhibition of ferrochelatase during differentiation of murine erythroleukaemia cells

1987 ◽  
Vol 243 (2) ◽  
pp. 419-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Fadigan ◽  
H A Dailey
Keyword(s):  
Biosynthetic Pathway ◽  
Protoporphyrin Ix ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Dimethyl Sulphoxide ◽  
Rate Limiting Step ◽  
Limiting Step ◽  
Bivalent Cations ◽  
Haem Biosynthesis ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Rate Limiting

During dimethyl sulphoxide-induced differentiation of DS-19 murine erythroleukaemia (MEL) cells, the activity of the terminal enzyme of the haem-biosynthetic pathway, ferrochelatase (protohaem ferrolyase, EC 4.99.1.1), is thought to be the rate-limiting step for haem production. Differentiation of induced MEL cells in the presence of exogeneously supplied protoporphyrin IX showed that total haem production was affected by added porphyrin only after 48 h. These data suggest that iron insertion, the terminal step, is rate-limiting during the first 48 h of differentiation. Addition of low levels of diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydro-2,4,6-trimethylpyridine to differentiating cultures resulted in decreased haem production and decreased ferrochelatase activity. N-Methylprotoporphyrin at nanomolar concentrations also strongly inhibited ferrochelatase activity, but had no inhibitory effect on cellular haem production. The bivalent cations Co2+, Cd2+ and Mn2+ were tested for their effect on haem production and ferrochelatase activity. All three metals were found to inhibit both haem formation and ferrochelatase activity, with Mn2+ being the strongest effector. These data, together with those previously published, suggest that the terminal step in haem biosynthesis is rate-limiting during the early stages of differentiation in MEL cells.

scholarly journals The HemQ coprohaem decarboxylase generates reactive oxygen species: implications for the evolution of classical haem biosynthesis

2016 ◽  
Vol 473 (21) ◽  
pp. 3997-4009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlie Hobbs ◽  
Harry A. Dailey ◽  
Mark Shepherd
Keyword(s):  
Reactive Oxygen Species ◽  
Biosynthetic Pathway ◽  
Protein Complexes ◽  
Protoporphyrin Ix ◽  
Reactive Oxygen ◽  
Divergent Evolution ◽  
Oxygen Species ◽  
Compound I ◽  
Fenton Chemistry ◽  
Haem Biosynthesis

Bacteria require a haem biosynthetic pathway for the assembly of a variety of protein complexes, including cytochromes, peroxidases, globins, and catalase. Haem is synthesised via a series of tetrapyrrole intermediates, including non-metallated porphyrins, such as protoporphyrin IX, which is well known to generate reactive oxygen species in the presence of light and oxygen. Staphylococcus aureus has an ancient haem biosynthetic pathway that proceeds via the formation of coproporphyrin III, a less reactive porphyrin. Here, we demonstrate, for the first time, that HemY of S. aureus is able to generate both protoporphyrin IX and coproporphyrin III, and that the terminal enzyme of this pathway, HemQ, can stimulate the generation of protoporphyrin IX (but not coproporphyrin III). Assays with hydrogen peroxide, horseradish peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase confirm that this stimulatory effect is mediated by superoxide. Structural modelling reveals that HemQ enzymes do not possess the structural attributes that are common to peroxidases that form compound I [FeIV==O]+, which taken together with the superoxide data leaves Fenton chemistry as a likely route for the superoxide-mediated stimulation of protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase activity of HemY. This generation of toxic free radicals could explain why HemQ enzymes have not been identified in organisms that synthesise haem via the classical protoporphyrin IX pathway. This work has implications for the divergent evolution of haem biosynthesis in ancestral microorganisms, and provides new structural and mechanistic insights into a recently discovered oxidative decarboxylase reaction.

Plasminogen Activation In Vivo upon Intravenous Infusion of DDAVP

1992 ◽  
Vol 67 (01) ◽  
pp. 111-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcel Levi ◽  
Jan Paul de Boer ◽  
Dorina Roem ◽  
Jan Wouter ten Cate ◽  
C Erik Hack
Keyword(s):  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Plasminogen Activator ◽  
Plasma Levels ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Fibrinolytic System ◽  
Plasminogen Activation ◽  
Plasminogen Activator Activity ◽  
Insight Into

SummaryInfusion of desamino-d-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP) results in an increase in plasma plasminogen activator activity. Whether this increase results in the generation of plasmin in vivo has never been established.A novel sensitive radioimmunoassay (RIA) for the measurement of the complex between plasmin and its main inhibitor α2 antiplasmin (PAP complex) was developed using monoclonal antibodies preferentially reacting with complexed and inactivated α2-antiplasmin and monoclonal antibodies against plasmin. The assay was validated in healthy volunteers and in patients with an activated fibrinolytic system.Infusion of DDAVP in a randomized placebo controlled crossover study resulted in all volunteers in a 6.6-fold increase in PAP complex, which was maximal between 15 and 30 min after the start of the infusion. Hereafter, plasma levels of PAP complex decreased with an apparent half-life of disappearance of about 120 min. Infusion of DDAVP did not induce generation of thrombin, as measured by plasma levels of prothrombin fragment F1+2 and thrombin-antithrombin III (TAT) complex.We conclude that the increase in plasminogen activator activity upon the infusion of DDAVP results in the in vivo generation of plasmin, in the absence of coagulation activation. Studying the DDAVP induced increase in PAP complex of patients with thromboembolic disease and a defective plasminogen activator response upon DDAVP may provide more insight into the role of the fibrinolytic system in the pathogenesis of thrombosis.

scholarly journals Plant-Derived Extracellular Vesicles: Current Findings,Challenges, and Future Applications

Membranes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 411
Author(s):  
Nader Kameli ◽  
Anya Dragojlovic-Kerkache ◽  
Paul Savelkoul ◽  
Frank R. Stassen
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Extracellular Vesicles ◽  
Preliminary Results ◽  
In Vivo Experiments ◽  
Health And Disease ◽  
Conducting Research ◽  
Protocol Standardization ◽  
Insight Into

In recent years, plant-derived extracellular vesicles (PDEVs) have gained the interest of many experts in fields such as microbiology and immunology, and research in this field has exponentially increased. These nano-sized particles have provided researchers with a number of interesting findings, making their application in human health and disease very promising. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments have shown that PDEVs can exhibit a multitude of effects, suggesting that these vesicles may have many potential future applications, including therapeutics and nano-delivery of compounds. While the preliminary results are promising, there are still some challenges to face, such as a lack of protocol standardization, as well as knowledge gaps that need to be filled. This review aims to discuss various aspects of PDEV knowledge, including their preliminary findings, challenges, and future uses, giving insight into the complexity of conducting research in this field.

An insight into the determination of size and number concentration of silver nanoparticles in blood using single particle ICP-MS (spICP-MS): Feasibility of application to samples relevant to in vivo toxicology studies

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel Abad-Álvaro ◽  
Diego Leite ◽  
Dorota Bartczak ◽  
Susana Cuello ◽  
Beatriz Gomez-Gomez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Silver Nanoparticles ◽  
Single Particle ◽  
Number Concentration ◽  
Biological Matrices ◽  
Icp Ms ◽  
Toxicological Studies ◽  
Insight Into

Toxicological studies concerning nanomaterials in complex biological matrices usually require a carefully designed workflow that involves handling, transportation and preparation of a large number of samples without affecting the nanoparticle...

scholarly journals Chimeric Mouse With Humanized Liver Is an Appropriate Animal Model to Investigate Mode of Action for Porphyria-Mediated Hepatocytotoxicity

2021 ◽  
pp. 019262332110274
Author(s):  
Ayumi Eguchi ◽  
Satoki Fukunaga ◽  
Keiko Ogata ◽  
Masahiko Kushida ◽  
Hiroyuki Asano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Model ◽  
Mode Of Action ◽  
Aminolevulinic Acid ◽  
Protoporphyrin Ix ◽  
Human Hepatocytes ◽  
Chimeric Mouse ◽  
Hepatocellular Injury ◽  
Hepatocyte Necrosis ◽  
Key Events

Porphyrinogenic compounds are known to induce porphyria-mediated hepatocellular injury and subsequent regenerative proliferation in rodents, ultimately leading to hepatocellular tumor induction. However, an appropriate in vivo experimental model to evaluate an effect of porphyrinogenic compounds on human liver has not been fully established. Recently, the chimeric mouse with humanized liver (PXB mice) became widely used as a humanized model in which human hepatocytes are transplanted. In the present study, we examined the utility of PXB mice as an in vivo experimental model to evaluate the key events of the porphyria-mediated cytotoxicity mode of action (MOA) in humans. The treatment of PXB mice with 5-aminolevulinic acid, a representative porphyrinogenic compound, for 28 days caused protoporphyrin IX accumulation, followed by hepatocyte necrosis, increased mitosis, and an increase in replicative DNA synthesis in human hepatocytes, indicative of cellular injury and regenerative proliferation, similar to findings in patients with porphyria or experimental porphyria models and corresponding to the key events of the MOA for porphyria-mediated hepatocellular carcinogenesis. We conclude that the PXB mouse is a useful model to evaluate the key events of the porphyria-mediated cytotoxicity MOA in humans and suggest the utility of PXB mice for clarifying the human relevancy of findings in mice.

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