Ultraweak light emission is a common response of bacterial cells to chemico-physical stress.
Escherichia coli JM101 cells were subjected to pore-forming electric fields, irradiation with ultraviolet light or oxidative stress by either the lipoxygenase products 9- and 13-hydroperoxyoctadecadienoic acids (9- and 13-HPOD) or hydrogen peroxide. It was found that all chemico-physical stresses enhanced ultraweak light emission from the bacterial cells, the most effective treatment being electroporation (up to 20-fold increase in luminescence compared to the control value), followed by oxidative stress with 9- or 13-HPOD (up to 4-fold increase) and irradiation with UV light (up to 2.8-fold increase). Bacterial luminescence was always in the red edge of the spectrum and was paralleled by changes in membrane oxidative index and specific activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase.
Maccarrone
M
M
Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy.
Finazzi Agró
A
A
Rosato
N
N
D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D018274:Electroporation; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D007700:Kinetics; D008041:Linoleic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D008054:Lipid Peroxides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D008041:Linoleic Acids; D008054:Lipid Peroxides; C038649:13-hydroperoxy-9,11-octadecadienoic acid; C049606:9-hydroperoxy-11,12-octadecadienoic acid; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase