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Role of respiration and glutathione in cadmium-induced oxidative stress in Escherichia coli K-12

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Joao Passos

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Abstract

Cadmium is a widespread pollutant that has been associated with oxidative stress, but the mechanism behind this effect in prokaryotes is still unclear. In this work, we exposed two glutathione deficient mutants (ΔgshA and ΔgshB) and one respiration deficient mutant (ΔubiE) to a sublethal concentration of cadmium. The glutathione mutants show a similar increase in reactive oxygen species as the wild type. Experiments performed using the ΔubiE strain showed that this mutant is more resistant to cadmium ions and that Cd-induced reactive oxygen species levels were not altered. In the light of these facts, we conclude that the interference of cadmium with the respiratory chain is the cause of the oxidative stress induced by this metal and that, contrary to previously proposed models, the reactive oxygen species increase is not due to glutathione depletion, although this peptide is crucial for cadmium detoxification. © 2007 Springer-Verlag.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Pacheco CC, Passos JF, Castro AR, Moradas-Ferreira P, De Marco P

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Archives of Microbiology

Year: 2008

Volume: 189

Issue: 3

Pages: 271-278

ISSN (print): 0302-8933

ISSN (electronic): 1432-072X

Publisher: Springer

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00203-007-0316-8

DOI: 10.1007/s00203-007-0316-8

PubMed id: 17968530

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