title: A ferritin-like protein with antioxidant activity in Ureaplasma urealyticum.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ureaplasma urealyticum is a major pathogen associated with many diseases. The ability of U. urealyticum to protect itself from oxidative stress is likely to be important for its pathogenesis and survival, but its oxidative stress tolerance mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigates the antioxidant activity of a ferritin-like protein from U. urealyticum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The uuferritin gene, which was up regulated when U. urealyticum was subjected to oxidative stress, was cloned from U. urealyticum and the corresponding recombinant protein uuferritin was purified. Uuferritin protein reduced the levels of hydroxyl radicals generated by the Fenton reaction as a consequence of its ferroxidase activity, and thus the protein protected DNA from oxidative damage. Furthermore, oxidation-sensitive Escherichia coli mutants transformed with pTrc99a-uuferritin showed significantly improved tolerance to oxidative stress compared to E. coli mutants transformed with an empty pTrc99a vector.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present work shows that uuferritin protein confers resistance to oxidative stress in vitro and in E. coli. The protective role of uuferritin provides a foundation for understanding the mechanisms of oxidative stress tolerance in U. urealyticum.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathogenic Biology, University of South China, Changsheng road 28, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China. daigz008@126.com.|Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China. daigz008@126.com.|Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First People's Hospital of Chenzhou, Chenzhou, 42300, Hunan, China. daigz008@126.com.
authors.forename: Guozhi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathogenic Biology, University of South China, Changsheng road 28, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China. ranhui81@163.com.|Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China. ranhui81@163.com.
authors.forename: Ranhui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First People's Hospital of Chenzhou, Chenzhou, 42300, Hunan, China. chenhongliang2007@126.com.
authors.forename: Hongliang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathogenic Biology, University of South China, Changsheng road 28, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China. 290798633@qq.com.
authors.forename: Chuanhao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathogenic Biology, University of South China, Changsheng road 28, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China. youxiaoxing2013@gmail.com.|Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China. youxiaoxing2013@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Xiaoxing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: You
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathogenic Biology, University of South China, Changsheng road 28, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China. yimouwu@sina.com.|Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China. yimouwu@sina.com.
authors.forename: Yimou
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D005293:Ferritins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical / Q000378:metabolism; D016877:Oxidants / Q000633:toxicity; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D016990:Ureaplasma urealyticum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D016877:Oxidants; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical; D005293:Ferritins