Regulation of unbalanced redox homeostasis induced by the expression of wild-type HIV-1 viral protein R (NL4-3Vpr) in fission yeast.

The wild-type viral protein R (Vpr) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 exerts multiple effects on cellular activities during infection, including the induction of cell cycle G2 arrest and the death of human cells and cells of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. In this study, wild-type Vpr (NL4-3Vpr) integrated as a single copy gene in S. pombe chromosome was used to investigate the molecular impact of Vpr on cellular oxidative stress.

Antifungal activity of the primycin complex and its main components A1, A2 and C1 on a Candida albicans clinical isolate, and their effects on the dynamic plasma membrane changes.

The in vitro antifungal activities of the macrolide lactone antibiotic complex primycin (PC) and its main components, A1 (50%), A2 (7.3%) and C1 (13%), against the opportunistic pathogenic fungus Candida albicans 33erg(+)were determined by microdilution testing. The MIC(100) (the minimal concentration required for 100% growth inhibition) values found, A2 (2 μg ml(-1)), PC (32 μg ml(-1)), A1 (32 μg ml(-1)) and C1 (64 μg ml(-1)), suggested that the biological activity of PC is highly dependent on the proportions of its constituents.

Direct in vivo interaction of the antibiotic primycin with the plasma membrane of Candida albicans: an EPR study.

The direct interaction of the antibiotic primycin with the plasma membrane was investigated by employing the well-characterized ergosterol-producing, amphotericin B-sensitive parental Candida albicans strain 33erg(+) and its ergosterol-less amphotericin B-resistant plasma membrane mutant erg-2. The growth inhibition concentration in shaken liquid medium was 64 μgml(-1) for 33erg(+) and 128 μgml(-1) for erg-2, suggesting that the plasma membrane composition influences the mode of action of primycin. To determine the primycin-induced changes in the plasma membrane dynamic, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy methods were used, the spin-labeled fatty acid 5-(4,4-dimethyloxazolidine-N-oxyl)stearic acid) being applied for the in vivo measurements.

The abc1-/coq8- respiratory-deficient mutant of Schizosaccharomyces pombe suffers from glutathione underproduction and hyperaccumulates Cd2+.

The abc1(-)/coq8(-) gene deletion respiratory-deficient mutant NBp17 of fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe displayed a phenotypic fermentation pattern with enhanced production of glycerol and acetate, and also possessed oxidative stress-sensitive phenotypes to H(2)O(2), menadione, tBuOOH, Cd(2+), and chromate in comparison with its parental respiratory-competent strain HNT. As a consequence of internal stress-inducing mutation, adaptation processes to restore the redox homeostasis of mutant NBp17 cells were detected in minimal glucose medium. Mutant NBp17 produced significantly increased amounts of O(2)•- and H(2)O(2) as a result of the decreased internal glutathione concentration and the only slightly increased glutathione reductase activity.

Differential scanning calorimetry study of glycerinated rabbit psoas muscle fibres in intermediate state of ATP hydrolysis.

Background: Thermal denaturation experiments were extended to study the thermal behaviour of the main motor proteins (actin and myosin) in their native environment in striated muscle fibres. The interaction of actin with myosin in the highly organized muscle structure is affected by internal forces; therefore their altered conformation and interaction may differ from those obtained in solution. The energetics of long functioning intermediate states of ATP hydrolysis cycle was studied in muscle fibres by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).

Pro-oxidative versus antioxidative reactions between Trolox and Cr(VI): The role of H(2)O(2).

The effect of the Vitamin E model compound Trolox in reactions with Cr(VI) in the presence or absence of hydrogen peroxide was investigated. The aim of this study was to establish and discuss potential Trolox-mediated pro-oxidative reactions. The importance of the Trolox:Cr(VI) ratio in the Cr(VI) reduction process was determined from the EPR spectra and DNA cleavage reactions.

Effect of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on erythrocyte membranes by DSC and EPR.

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR) experiments were performed on human erythrocyte membranes and 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) model systems in order to study the effect the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on lipid structure and dynamics. Eight different compounds among others naphthalene and pyrene were compared, which occur in significant concentrations in dust collected from the air in large cities. Experiments using spin label technique showed that the compounds induced mobility changes in the lipid region in the environment of the fatty acid probe molecules incorporated into the membranes.

Effects of hexavalent chromium on the plasma membranes of sensitive and tolerant mutants of Schizosaccharomyces pombe. An EPR study.

The interactions of chromium(VI) with the plasma membranes of chromium-sensitive (chr-51S) and chromium-tolerant (chr1-66T) mutants and their parental strain (6chr(+)) of a Schizosaccharomyces pombe strain were studied by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. 5-doxylstearic acid (5-SASL) and 3-doxylbutyric acid (HO-185) spin probes were used to label the membranes. The order parameter S from the EPR spectra was calculated at different temperatures (0-25 degrees C) in order to characterize the internal dynamics of the membranes.

Effect of nucleotides and their analogues on essential light chains in myosin head.

The domain movement in myosin head plays a decisive role in the energy transduction process of the muscle contraction. During hydrolysis of ATP, the specific formation of strong binding of myosin head for actin causes conformational changes. As a consequence, the light chain-binding motif generates the powerstroke.

Effect of adenosine 5'-[beta,gamma-imido]triphosphate on myosin head domain movements.

Conventional and saturation transfer electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR and ST EPR) was used to study the orientation of probe molecules in muscle fibers in different intermediate states of the ATP hydrolysis cycle. A separate procedure was used to obtain ST EPR spectra with precise phase settings even in the case of samples with low spectral intensity. Fibers prepared from rabbit psoas muscle were labeled with isothiocyanate spin labels at the reactive thiol sites of the catalytic domain of myosin.