title: Functional differences between manganese and iron superoxide dismutases in Escherichia coli K-12.
abstract: Superoxide dismutases are enzymes that defend against oxidative stress through decomposition of superoxide radical. Escherichia coli contains two highly homologous superoxide dismutases, one containing manganese (MnSOD) and the other iron (FeSOD). Although E. coli Mn and FeSOD catalyze the dismutation of superoxide with comparable rate constants, it is not known if they are physiologically equivalent in their protection of cellular targets from oxyradical damage. To address this issue, isogenic strains of E. coli containing either Mn or FeSOD encoded on a plasmid and under the control of tac promoter were constructed. SOD specific activity in the Mn and FeSOD strains could be controlled by the concentration of isopropyl beta-thiogalactoside in the medium. The tolerance of these strains to oxidative stress was compared at equal Mn and FeSOD specific activities. Our results indicate that E. coli Mn and FeSOD are not functionally equivalent. The MnSOD is more effective than FeSOD in preventing damage to DNA, while the FeSOD appears to be more effective in protecting a cytoplasmic superoxide-sensitive enzyme. These data are the first demonstration that Mn and FeSOD are adapted to different antioxidant roles in E. coli.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Hopkin
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Papazian
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Steinman
mesh_terms: D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D006836:Hydro-Lyases / Q000378:metabolism; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007544:Isopropyl Thiogalactoside / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007700:Kinetics; D008345:Manganese / Q000378:metabolism; D010269:Paraquat / Q000494:pharmacology; D010957:Plasmids; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D007544:Isopropyl Thiogalactoside; D008345:Manganese; D007501:Iron; D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D006836:Hydro-Lyases; C022362:phosphogluconate dehydratase; D010269:Paraquat