Oxidative Stress Resistance (oxidative + stress_resistance)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Determination of survival, identity and stress resistance of probiotic bifidobacteria in bio-yoghurts

LETTERS IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2006
V.S. Jayamanne
Abstract Aims:, To determine the level of bifidobacteria in bio-yoghurts in the UK, identify the species, and compare the resistance of common Bifidobacterium spp. to acidity and oxidative stress. Methods and Results:, A storage trial of bio-yoghurts was carried out to determine the level and survival of bifidobacteria. The 16S rRNA gene targeted PCR was used to identify the species. Acid tolerance was determined by introducing the organisms to pH-adjusted skimmed milk and enumerating during storage at 4°C. Oxidative stress resistance was determined using the H2O2 disc diffusion assay technique. Nine of 10 bio-yoghurts contained bifidobacteria at levels >106 CFU g,1 at the time of purchase. The viability of the organism decreased during storage and on expiry only five products retained viability >106 CFU g,1 while two others were very close to the target population. Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis showed superior survival abilities and stress tolerance compared with Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium adolescentis and Bifidobacterium longum biotype infantis. Conclusions:,Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis, the only Bifidobacterium spp. found in bio-yoghurts, had the greatest resistance to acidity and oxidative stress. Significance and Impact of the Study:, The technological properties of B. animalis ssp. lactis make it suitable for inclusion in bio-yoghurts although its putative health benefits need further investigation. [source]


Transcription elongation factor S-II maintains transcriptional fidelity and confers oxidative stress resistance

GENES TO CELLS, Issue 10 2003
Hiroshi Koyama
Background:, During transcription elongation, RNA polymerase II is arrested on the template when incorrect ribonucleotides are incorporated into the nascent transcripts. Transcription factor S-II enhances the excision of these mis-incorporated nucleotides by RNA polymerase II and stimulates transcription elongation in vitro. This mechanism is considered to be transcriptional proof-reading, but its physiological relevance remains unknown. Results:, We report that S-II contributes to the maintenance of transcriptional fidelity in vivo. We employed a genetic reporter assay utilizing a mutated lacZ gene from which active ,-galactosidase protein is expressed when mRNA proof-reading is compromised. In S-II-disrupted mutant yeasts, ,-galactosidase activity was ninefold higher than that in wild-type. The S-II mutant exhibited sensitivity to oxidants, which was suppressed by introduction of the S-II gene. The mutant S-II proteins, which are unable to stimulate transcription by RNA polymerase II in vitro, did not suppress the sensitivity of the mutants to oxidative stress or maintain transcriptional fidelity. Conclusion:, These results suggest that S-II confers oxidative stress resistance by providing an mRNA proof-reading mechanism during transcription elongation. [source]


Methionine sulfoxide reductase A expression is regulated by the DAF-16/FOXO pathway in Caenorhabditis elegans

AGING CELL, Issue 6 2009
Alicia N. Minniti
Summary The methionine sulfoxide reductase system has been implicated in aging and protection against oxidative stress. This conserved system reverses the oxidation of methionine residues within proteins. We analyzed one of the components of this system, the methionine sulfoxide reductase A gene, in Caenorhabditis elegans. We found that the msra-1 gene is expressed in most tissues, particularly in the intestine and the nervous system. Worms carrying a deletion of the msra-1 gene are more sensitive to oxidative stress, show chemotaxis and locomotory defects, and a 30% decrease in median survival. We established that msra-1 expression decreases during aging and is regulated by the DAF-16/FOXO3a transcription factor. The absence of this enzyme decreases median survival and affects oxidative stress resistance of long lived daf-2 worms. A similar effect of MSRA-1 absence in wild-type and daf-2 (where most antioxidant enzymes are activated) backgrounds, suggests that the lack of this member of the methionine repair system cannot be compensated by the general antioxidant response. Moreover, FOXO3a directly activates the human MsrA promoter in a cell culture system, implying that this could be a conserved mechanism of MsrA regulation. Our results suggest that repair of oxidative damage in proteins influences the rate at which tissues age. This repair mechanism, rather than the general decreased of radical oxygen species levels, could be one of the main determinants of organisms' lifespan. [source]


Condition-adapted stress and longevity gene regulation by Caenorhabditis elegans SKN-1/Nrf

AGING CELL, Issue 5 2009
Riva P. Oliveira
Summary Studies in model organisms have identified regulatory processes that profoundly influence aging, many of which modulate resistance against environmental or metabolic stresses. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the transcription regulator SKN-1 is important for oxidative stress resistance and acts in multiple longevity pathways. SKN-1 is the ortholog of mammalian Nrf proteins, which induce Phase 2 detoxification genes in response to stress. Phase 2 enzymes defend against oxygen radicals and conjugate electrophiles that are produced by Phase 1 detoxification enzymes, which metabolize lipophilic compounds. Here, we have used expression profiling to identify genes and processes that are regulated by SKN-1 under normal and stress,response conditions. Under nonstressed conditions SKN-1 upregulates numerous genes involved in detoxification, cellular repair, and other functions, and downregulates a set of genes that reduce stress resistance and lifespan. Many of these genes appear to be direct SKN-1 targets, based upon presence of predicted SKN-binding sites in their promoters. The metalloid sodium arsenite induces skn-1- dependent activation of certain detoxification gene groups, including some that were not SKN-1-upregulated under normal conditions. An organic peroxide also triggers induction of a discrete Phase 2 gene set, but additionally stimulates a broad SKN-1-independent response. We conclude that under normal conditions SKN-1 has a wide range of functions in detoxification and other processes, including modulating mechanisms that reduce lifespan. In response to stress, SKN-1 and other regulators tailor transcription programs to meet the challenge at hand. Our findings reveal striking complexity in SKN-1 functions and the regulation of systemic detoxification defenses. [source]


Functional genomic approach to identify novel genes involved in the regulation of oxidative stress resistance and animal lifespan

AGING CELL, Issue 4 2007
Yongsoon Kim
Summary Genetic studies in many organisms suggest that an increased animal lifespan phenotype is often accompanied by enhanced resistance toward reactive oxygen species (ROS). In Caenorhabditis elegans, mutations in daf-2, which encode an insulin/insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor-like molecule, lead to an extended animal lifespan and increased resistance to ROS. We have optimized an assay to monitor ROS resistance in worms using the ROS-generating chemical paraquat. We have employed this assay to screen the RNAi library along chromosomes III and IV for genes that, when silenced, confer paraquat resistance. The positive RNAi clones were subsequently screened for a lifespan extension phenotype. Using this approach, we have identified 84 genes that, when inactivated by RNAi, lead to significant increases in animal lifespan. Among the 84 genes, 29 were found to act in a manner dependent on daf-16. DAF-16, a forkhead transcription factor, is known to integrate signals from multiple pathways, including the daf-2 pathway, to regulate animal lifespan. Most of the 84 genes have not been previously linked to aging, and potentially participate in important cellular processes such as signal transduction, cell,cell interaction, gene expression, protein degradation, and energy metabolism. Our screen has also identified a group of genes that potentially function in a nutrient-sensing pathway to regulate lifespan in C. elegans. Our study provides a novel approach to identify genes involved in the regulation of aging. [source]