AnkB, a periplasmic ankyrin-like protein in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, is required for optimal catalase B (KatB) activity and resistance to hydrogen peroxide.

In this study, we have cloned the ankB gene, encoding an ankyrin-like protein in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The ankB gene is composed of 549 bp encoding a protein of 183 amino acids that possesses four 33-amino-acid ankyrin repeats that are a hallmark of erythrocyte and brain ankyrins. The location of ankB is 57 bp downstream of katB, encoding a hydrogen peroxide-inducible catalase, KatB.

Production of superoxide dismutases from Proteus mirabilis and Proteus vulgaris.

Proteus mirabilis and Proteus vulgaris expressed a combination of superoxide dismutase (Sod) activities, which was assigned to FeSod1, FeSod2 and MnSod for P. mirabilis, and FeSod, MnSod and CuZnSod for P. vulgaris.

Swarming characteristics of Proteus mirabilis under anaerobic and aerobic conditions.

Nutrients have a pronounced effect on the growth and swarming behaviour of Proteus mirabilis 7002. Iron, zinc, amino acids, and dioxygen are important for rapid growth and normal swarming. Anaerobically grown cultures of P.

Heavy metal effects on Proteus mirabilis superoxide dismutase production.

Proteus mirabilis expressed three superoxide dismutase activities, which depended on the level of soluble iron and dioxygen in the culture medium. Cadmium and lead decreased production of super oxide dismutase in liquid culture and on solid medium. A fourth super oxide dismutase activity appeared in extracts from cells grown in the presence of cadmium.

Phenylalanine- and tyrosine-dependent production of enterobactin in Escherichia coli.

Under low-iron conditions, Escherichia coli synthesizes the siderophore enterobactin. When compared to wild-type cells grown in iron sufficient medium, cells grown under iron limitation, in the absence of tyrosine and phenylalanine or the presence of both, increased catechol production (a measure of enterobactin and its degradation product 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid) 5- to 9-fold while cells supplemented with tyrosine alone produced a 10- to 20-fold increase. Mutations in fur, tyrA, pheA, or pheU generally resulted in increased enterobactin production, while a tyrR mutant was unaffected by combinations of tyrosine and phenylalanine.

Improved methods for the cultivation of strictly anaerobic, extremely thermophilic methanogens.

The strictly anaerobic, extremely thermophilic methanogens, Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum Marburg and M. thermoautotrophicum delta H, have been cultivated in liquid culture and on solid medium in screw-top bottles, which permit continuous monitoring of the growth of the microorganisms. We have been able to routinely grow methanogens in medium containing bicarbonate, TRIS or 4-morpholinepropanesulfonic acid (MOPS) buffers and three different sulfur sources (sulfide, sulfite and thiosulfate) at temperatures up to 70 degrees C and at pressures up to 35 psi while monitoring cell density or colony formation.

Control of Escherichia coli superoxide dismutase (sodA and sodB) genes by the ferric uptake regulation (fur) locus.

The ferric uptake regulation (fur) gene product participates in regulating expression of the manganese- and iron-containing superoxide dismutase genes of Escherichia coli. Examination of beta-galactosidase activity coded from a chromosomal phi(sodA'-'lacZ) fusion suggests that metallated Fur protein acts as a transcriptional repressor of sodA (manganese superoxide dismutase [MnSOD]). Gel retardation assays demonstrate high-affinity binding of pure, Mn2(+)-Fur protein to DNA fragments containing the sodA promoter.

Novel effect of aromatic compounds on the iron-dependent expression of the Escherichia coli K12 manganese superoxide dismutase (sodA) gene.

In Escherichia coli, the superoxide dismutase genes (sodA and sodB) sense the availability of Fe through the action of the fur locus [E. C. Niederhoffer, C.