title: Alterations in oxidative activity and superoxide dismutase in Halobacterium halobium in response to aerobic respiratory inhibitors.
abstract: Aerobic incubation of Halobacterium halobium with low concentrations of cyanide or azide resulted in a twofold increase in activity of the Mn-containing superoxide dismutase (SOD). A similar effect was observed with antimycin A, albeit at a higher concentration. Oxygen consumption increased 100% at concentrations of cyanide, azide, and antimycin A that produced maximal SOD induction. Luminol chemiluminescence of H. halobium cells, indicative of oxidative activity, was elevated in the presence of concentrations of aerobic respiratory inhibitors that corresponded to maximal levels of SOD induction. In addition, oxidation of NADH by cell extracts was maximal at inhibitor concentrations that correlated with the peak induction of SOD. Proton fluxes for H. halobium cells also corresponded to concentration ranges of inhibitor resulting in greatest SOD levels, indicative of a potential uncoupling effect. A similar phenomenon was also observed with the uncoupler carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone. Growth was unaffected by inhibitors at the concentrations used for SOD induction. The results are interpreted as an induction of enhanced levels of SOD through a combination of increased electron flow and an increased oxidative environment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mississippi State University 39762, USA.
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Brown-Peterson
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Begonia
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Salin
mesh_terms: D000332:Aerobiosis / Q000187:drug effects; D000968:Antimycin A / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001386:Azides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002258:Carbonyl Cyanide m-Chlorophenyl Hydrazone / Q000494:pharmacology; D003486:Cyanides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects; D005609:Free Radicals; D019617:Halobacterium salinarum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008165:Luminol; D009243:NAD / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism*; D014475:Uncoupling Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D001386:Azides; D003486:Cyanides; D005609:Free Radicals; D014475:Uncoupling Agents; D009243:NAD; D002258:Carbonyl Cyanide m-Chlorophenyl Hydrazone; D008165:Luminol; D000968:Antimycin A; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase