Escherichia coli engineered to produce eicosapentaenoic acid becomes resistant against oxidative damages.
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.
Nishida
Takanori
T
Graduate School of Environmental Earth Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan.
Orikasa
Yoshitake
Y
Ito
Yukiya
Y
Yu
Reiko
R
Yamada
Akiko
A
Watanabe
Kazuo
K
Okuyama
Hidetoshi
H
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
D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D002374:Catalase