Gentisic Acid (gentisic + acid)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Structural and biochemical characterization of gentisate 1,2-dioxygenase from Escherichia coli O157:H7

MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 6 2006
Melanie A. Adams
Summary Gentisic acid (2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid) is a key intermediate in aerobic bacterial pathways that are responsible for the metabolism of a large number of aromatic compounds. The critical step of these pathways is the oxygen-dependent reaction catalysed by gentisate 1,2-dioxygenase which opens the aromatic ring of gentisate to form maleylpyruvate. From gentisic acid, the cell derives carbon and energy through the conversion of maleylpyruvate to central metabolites. We have confirmed the annotation of a gentisate 1,2-dioygenase from the pathogenic O157:H7 Escherichia coli strain and present the first structural characterization of this family of enzymes. The identity of the reaction product was revealed using tandem mass spectroscopy. The operon responsible for the degradation of gentisate in this organism exhibits a high degree of conservation with the gentisate-degrading operons of other pathogenic bacteria, including the Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O103:H2, but does not appear to be present in non-pathogenic strains. The acquisition of the gentisate operon may represent a special adaptation to meet carbon source requirements under conditions of environmental stress and may provide a selective advantage for enterohaemorrhagic E. coli relative to their non-pathogenic counterparts. [source]


The effect of temperature on the stability of compounds used as UV-MALDI-MS matrix: 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 2,4,6-trihydroxyacetophenone, ,-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid, 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxycinnamic acid, nor-harmane and harmane

JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY (INCORP BIOLOGICAL MASS SPECTROMETRY), Issue 2 2009
Olga I. Tarzi
Abstract The thermal stability of several commonly used crystalline matrix-assisted ultraviolet laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (UV-MALDI-MS) matrices, 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (gentisic acid; GA), 2,4,6-trihydroxyacetophenone (THA), ,-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHC), 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (sinapinic acid; SA), 9H-pirido[3,4-b]indole (nor-harmane; nor-Ho), 1-methyl-9H-pirido[3,4-b]indole (harmane; Ho), perchlorate of nor-harmanonium ([nor-Ho + H]+) and perchlorate of harmanonium ([Ho + H]+) was studied by heating them at their melting point and characterizing the remaining material by using different MS techniques [electron ionization mass spectrometry (EI-MS), ultraviolet laserdesorption/ionization-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (UV-LDI-TOF-MS) and electrospray ionization-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (ESI-TOF-MS)] as well as by thin layer chromatography analysis (TLC), electronic spectroscopy (UV-absorption, fluorescence emission and excitation spectrosco y) and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMR). In general, all compounds, except for CHC and SA, remained unchanged after fusion. CHC showed loss of CO2, yielding the trans-/cis -4-hydroxyphenylacrilonitrile mixture. This mixture was unambiguously characterized by MS and 1H-NMR spectroscopy, and its sublimation capability was demonstrated. These results explain the well-known cluster formation, fading (vanishing) and further recovering of CHC when used as a matrix in UV-MALDI-MS. Commercial SA (SA 98%; trans -SA/cis -SA 5 : 1) showed mainly cis- to- trans thermal isomerization and, with very poor yield, loss of CO2, yielding (3,,5,-dimethoxy-4,-hydroxyphenyl)-1-ethene as the decarboxilated product. These thermal conversions would not drastically affect its behavior as a UV-MALDI matrix as happens in the case of CHC. Complementary studies of the photochemical stability of these matrices in solid state were also conducted. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Structural and biochemical characterization of gentisate 1,2-dioxygenase from Escherichia coli O157:H7

MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 6 2006
Melanie A. Adams
Summary Gentisic acid (2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid) is a key intermediate in aerobic bacterial pathways that are responsible for the metabolism of a large number of aromatic compounds. The critical step of these pathways is the oxygen-dependent reaction catalysed by gentisate 1,2-dioxygenase which opens the aromatic ring of gentisate to form maleylpyruvate. From gentisic acid, the cell derives carbon and energy through the conversion of maleylpyruvate to central metabolites. We have confirmed the annotation of a gentisate 1,2-dioygenase from the pathogenic O157:H7 Escherichia coli strain and present the first structural characterization of this family of enzymes. The identity of the reaction product was revealed using tandem mass spectroscopy. The operon responsible for the degradation of gentisate in this organism exhibits a high degree of conservation with the gentisate-degrading operons of other pathogenic bacteria, including the Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O103:H2, but does not appear to be present in non-pathogenic strains. The acquisition of the gentisate operon may represent a special adaptation to meet carbon source requirements under conditions of environmental stress and may provide a selective advantage for enterohaemorrhagic E. coli relative to their non-pathogenic counterparts. [source]


Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer Between Polyphenolic Compounds and Riboflavin Indicates a Possible Accessory Photoreceptor Function for Some Polyphenolic Compounds

PHOTOCHEMISTRY & PHOTOBIOLOGY, Issue 5 2006
Kumar Chandrakuntal
ABSTRACT The photoreceptive extreme tip of the wheat coleoptile exhibits intense green-yellow fluorescence under UV light, suggesting the presence of UV-absorbing materials. Fluorescence spectra of the intact coleoptile tip and tip homogenate showed the presence of the known photoreceptor pigments flavin and carotene, and a preponderance of phenolic compounds. Absorption spectra and fluorescence spectra of various phenolic compounds showed close overlap with the absorption and fluorescence spectra of the wheat coleoptile tip homogenate. Fluorescence spectra of several phenolic compounds showed close overlap with the absorption bands of flavin, carotene and pterine, suggesting possible energy transduction from phenols to these photoreceptors. Excitation of gentisic acid and ferulic acid with 340 nm light in the presence of flavin showed enhancement of flavin fluorescence in a concentration- and viscosity-dependent fashion, indicating fluorescence resonance energy transfer between them and riboflavin. Furthermore, several phenolic compounds tested generated superoxide anion on excitation at 340 nm, suggesting that superoxide-dependent signal cascades could operate in a polyphenol-mediated pathway. Phenolic compounds thus may act as accessory photoreceptors bringing about excitation energy transfer to the reactive photoreceptor molecules, or they may take over the function of the normal photoreceptor in genetic mutations lacking the system, or both processes may occur. The responses of plants to UV-B and UV-A light in mutants may be explained in terms of various phenolics acting as energy transducers in photoreceptor functioning. [source]


Comparative study of 11 phenolic acids and five flavan-3-ols in cv. Vidal: impact of natural icewine making versus concentration technology

AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF GRAPE AND WINE RESEARCH, Issue 3 2009
R.R. TIAN
Abstract Background and Aims:, In an effort to protect the development of the icewine production industry, this study aimed to find indicators to distinguish between authentic and non-authentic icewines. Methods and Results:, Fully ripened berries were used to prepare three types of high-sugar grape juices: naturally frozen juice, refrigerator-frozen juice and concentrated juice. The content of phenolic acids and flavan-3-ols in the samples before and after fermentation was assayed. Significant differences were found in the individual level of most phenolic acids and flavan-3-ols except chlorogenic acid, sinapic acid and (,)-epicatechin among the three types of high-sugar juices. At the end of fermentation, there were significant differences in the wines, not attributable to the influence of yeasts. Conclusions:, Vanillic acid, caffeic acid, (,)-epigallocatechin gallate, gentisic acid and syringic acid may be used as indicators of authentic icewine. Significance of the Study:, This work provides a basis for distinguishing authentic icewine and controlling icewine quality. [source]


Systemic Potato virus YNTN infection and levels of salicylic and gentisic acids in different potato genotypes

PLANT PATHOLOGY, Issue 4 2005
-Stres, H. Kre
Endogenous levels of free and conjugated salicylic (SA) and gentisic (GA) acids, both putative signal molecules in plant defence, were analysed in order to investigate their involvement in the resistance of four potato (Solanum tuberosum) genotypes with different susceptibilities to Potato virus YNTN (PVYNTN) infection: the highly susceptible cv. Igor and its extremely resistant transgenic line, the extremely resistant cv. Sante and the tolerant cv. Pentland Squire. The lowest levels of free and conjugated SA were observed in the extremely resistant cv. Sante, while free GA, which was detected in all the other varieties, was absent. The extremely resistant transgenic cv. Igor contained the highest basal total SA level and the lowest level of total GA of all four cultivars. In susceptible cv. Igor, but not in resistant transgenic cv. Igor, a systemic increase of free SA was measured 1 day postinfection (dpi). Even more significant increases of free and conjugated SA and GA were detected 11 dpi when systemic symptoms appeared. In inoculated but not in upper noninoculated leaves of resistant transgenic cv. Igor, significant increase of SA conjugates occurred, but not before 11 dpi. The increase of SA and GA in susceptible cv. Igor could contribute to the general elevated levels of phenolic compounds as a response to stress caused by virus infection. It appears that basal levels of SA and GA do not correlate with resistance to PVYNTN in potato plants. [source]