title: Escherichia coli engineered to produce eicosapentaenoic acid becomes resistant against oxidative damages.
abstract: The colony-forming ability of Escherichia coli genetically engineered to produce eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) grown in 3mM hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) was similar to that of untreated cells. It was rapidly lost in the absence of EPA. H(2)O(2)-induced protein carbonylation was enhanced in cells lacking EPA. The fatty acid composition of the transformants was unaffected by H(2)O(2) treatment, but the amount of fatty acids decreased in cultures of cells lacking EPA and increased in cultures of cells producing EPA, suggesting that cellular EPA is stable in the presence of H(2)O(2) in vivo and may protect cells directly against oxidative damage. We discuss the possible role of EPA in partially blocking the penetration of H(2)O(2) into cells through membranes containing EPA.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Environmental Earth Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan.
authors.forename: Takanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishida
authors.forename: Yoshitake
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Orikasa
authors.forename: Yukiya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Reiko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Hidetoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okuyama
mesh_terms: D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D050050:Protein Carbonylation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D002374:Catalase