title: A shared mechanism of SoxR activation by redox-cycling compounds.
abstract: In this issue of Molecular Microbiology, Gu and Imlay show that a class of compounds known as redox-cycling agents directly activate the transcription factor SoxR of Escherichia coli and cause cellular toxicity independent of the production of the reactive oxygen species superoxide. Despite the fact that redox-cycling agents increase formation of superoxide in E. coli, the results described in this new publication revise the long-held assumption that superoxide is responsible for the activation of SoxR and for all of the major toxic effects of redox-cycling drugs. This study also suggests that the critical function of the SoxRS regulon in E. coli is in protection against redox-cycling agents and not exclusively the defence against superoxide.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, 1212 Amsterdam Avenue, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
authors.forename: Lars E P
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Dietrich
authors.forename: Patricia J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Kiley
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects; D008773:Methylphenazonium Methosulfate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010269:Paraquat / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D024483:Vitamin K 3 / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D013481:Superoxides; C070724:SoxR protein, Bacteria; C070725:SoxS protein, E coli; D008773:Methylphenazonium Methosulfate; D024483:Vitamin K 3; D010269:Paraquat