MECHANISM OF THE REDUCTION OF WATER BY REDUCED METHYL VIOLOGEN MEDIATED BY PLATINIZED ALUMINA - H/D ISOTOPE EFFECTS

The rate of oxidation of reduced methyl viologen (MV+4) by water, catalyzed by colloidal Pt/Al2O3, is reduced by a factor of congruent-to 5 when D2O is used as a solvent rather than H2O in the presence of a pH 4.40 acetate buffer. In contrast, the rate measured in the presence of a pH 3.05 buffer is reduced only slightly when D2O replaces H2O. H/D isotope separation factors for the methyl viologen mediated reduction of water to hydrogen catalyzed by Pt/Al2O3 are 4.22 (+/- 0.15) at pH 4.40 and 5.99 (+/- 0.11) at pH 3.05, at 25-degrees-C. These data are interpreted in terms of the electrochemical model for metal-catalyzed redox reactions with a pH-dependent mechanism for the hydrogen-evolving reaction. It is proposed that hydrogen atom combination on the catalyst surface is the rate-limiting step at pH 4.40, whereas at pH 3.05 diffusion of MV2+4 is rate limiting and hydrogen evolution proceeds via the electrochemical reaction between a surface-adsorbed hydrogen atom and a solution-phase proton.

Redox control of light-induced charge separation in a transition metal cluster: photochemistry of a methyl viologen-substituted [Os-3(CO)10(a-diimine)] cluster

Sub)picosecond transient absorption (TA) and time-resolved infrared (TRIR) spectra of the cluster [OS3(CO)(10-) (AcPy-MV)](2+) (the clication AcPy-MV = Acpy-MV2+ = [2-pyridylacetimine-N-(2-(1'-methyl-4,4'-bipyridine-1,1'-diium-1-yl) ethyl)] (PF6)(2)) (1(2+)) reveal that photoinduced electron transfer to the electron-accepting 4,4'-bipyridine-1,1'diium (MV2+) moiety competes with the fast relaxation of the initially populated sigmapi* excited state of the cluster to the ground state and/or cleavage of an Os-Os bond. The TA spectra of cluster 12 in acetone, obtained by irradiation into its lowest-energy absorption band, show the characteristic absorptions of the one-electron-reduced MV*(+) unit at 400 and 615 nm, in accordance with population of a charge-separated (CS) state in which a cluster-core electron has been transferred to the lowest pi* orbital of the remote MV2+ unit. This assignment is confirmed by picosecond TRIR spectra that show a large shift of the pilot highest-frequency nu(CO) band of 1(2+) by ca. +40 cm(-1), reflecting the photooxidation of the cluster core. The CS state is populated via fast (4.2 x 10(11) s(-1)) and efficient (88%) oxidative quenching of the optically populated sigmapi* excited state and decays biexponentially with lifetimes of 38 and 166 ps (1:2:1 ratio) with a complete regeneration of the parent cluster. About 12% of the cluster molecules in the sigmapi* excited state form long-lived open-core biradicals. In strongly coordinating acetonitrile, however, the cluster core-to-MV2+ electron transfer in cluster 12+ results in the irreversible formation of secondary photoproducts with a photooxidized cluster core. The photochemical behavior of the [Os-3(CO)(10)(alpha-diimine-MV)](2+) (donor-acceptor) dyad can be controlled by an externally applied electronic bias. Electrochemical one-electron reduction of the MV2+ moiety prior to the irradiation reduces its electron-accepting character to such an extent that the photoinduced electron transfer to MV*+ is no longer feasible. Instead, the irradiation of reduced cluster 1(.)+ results in the reversible formation of an open-core zwitterion, the ultimate photoproduct also observed upon irradiation of related nonsubstituted clusters [Os-3(CO)(10)(alpha-diimine)] in strongly coordinating solvents such as acetonitrile.

A Cyanobacterium Lacking Iron Superoxide Dismutase Is Sensitized to Oxidative Stress Induced with Methyl Viologen but Is Not Sensitized to Oxidative Stress Induced with Norflurazon1

A strain of Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7942 with no functional Fe superoxide dismutase (SOD), designated sodB−, was characterized by its growth rate, photosynthetic pigments, and cyclic photosynthetic electron transport activity when treated with methyl viologen or norflurazon (NF). In their unstressed conditions, both the sodB− and wild-type strains had similar chlorophyll and carotenoid contents and catalase activity, but the wild type had a faster growth rate and higher cyclic electron transport activity. The sodB− was very sensitive to methyl viologen, indicating a specific role for the FeSOD in protection against superoxide generated in the cytosol. In contrast, the sodB− mutant was less sensitive than the wild type to oxidative stress imposed with NF. This suggests that the FeSOD does not protect the cell from excited singlet-state oxygen generated within the thylakoid membrane. Another up-regulated antioxidant, possibly the MnSOD, may confer protection against NF in the sodB− strain. These results support the hypothesis that different SODs have specific protective functions within the cell.

Overexpression of Iron Superoxide Dismutase in Transformed Poplar Modifies the Regulation of Photosynthesis at Low CO2 Partial Pressures or Following Exposure to the Prooxidant Herbicide Methyl Viologen1

Chloroplast-targeted overexpression of an Fe superoxide dismutase (SOD) from Arabidopsis thaliana resulted in substantially increased foliar SOD activities. Ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and monodehydroascorbate reductase activities were similar in the leaves from all of the lines, but dehydroascorbate reductase activity was increased in the leaves of the FeSOD transformants relative to untransformed controls. Foliar H2O2, ascorbate, and glutathione contents were comparable in all lines of plants. Irradiance-dependent changes in net CO2 assimilation and chlorophyll a fluorescence quenching parameters were similar in all lines both in air (21% O2) and at low (1%) O2. CO2-response curves for photosynthesis showed similar net CO2-exchange characteristics in all lines. In contrast, values of photochemical quenching declined in leaves from untransformed controls at intercellular CO2 (Ci) values below 200 μL L−1 but remained constant with decreasing Ci in leaves of FeSOD transformants. When the O2 concentration was decreased from 21 to 1%, the effect of FeSOD overexpression on photochemical quenching at limiting Ci was abolished. At high light (1000 μmol m−2 s−1) a progressive decrease in the ratio of variable (Fv) to maximal (Fm) fluorescence was observed with decreasing temperature. At 6oC the high-light-induced decrease in the Fv/Fm ratio was partially prevented by low O2 but values were comparable in all lines. Methyl viologen caused decreased Fv/Fm ratios, but this was less marked in the FeSOD transformants than in the untransformed controls. These observations suggest that the rate of superoxide dismutation limits flux through the Mehler-peroxidase cycle in certain conditions.

Molecular analysis of inorganic nitrogen assimilation in yeasts

Assimilation of nitrate and various other inorganic nitrogen compounds by different yeasts was investigated. Nitrate, nitrite, hydroxylamine, hydrazine, ammonium sulphate, urea and L-asparagine were tested as sole sources of nitrogen for the growth of Candida albicans, C. pelliculosa, Debaryomyces hansenii, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, C. tropicalis, and C. utilis. Ammonium sulphate and L-asparagine supported the growth of all the yeasts tested except D. hansenii while hydroxylamine and hydrazine failed to support the growth of any. Nitrate and nitrite were assimilated only by C. utilis. Nitrate utilization by C. utilis was also accompanied by the enzymatic activities of NAD(P)H: nitrate oxidoreductase (EC 1.6.6.2) and NAD(P)H: nitrite oxidoreductase (EC 1.6.6.4), but not reduced methyl viologen-or FAD-nitrate oxidoreductases (EC 1.7.99.4). It is demonstrated here that nitrate and nitrite reductase activities are responsible for the ability of C. utilis to assimilate primary nitrogen.

Purification and characterization of assimilatory nitrite reductase from Candida utilis

Nitrate assimilation in many plants, algae, yeasts and bacteria is mediated by two enzymes, nitrate reductase (EC 1.6.6.2) and nitrite reductase (EC 1.7.7.1). They catalyse the stepwise reduction of nitrate to nitrite and nitrite to ammonia respectively. The nitrite reductase from an industrially important yeast, Candida utilis, has been purified to homogeneity. Purified nitrite reductase is a heterodimer and the molecular masses of the two subunits are 58 and 66 kDa. The native enzyme exhibits a molecular mass of 126 kDa as analysed by gel filtration. The identify of the two subunits of nitrite reductase was confirmed by immunoblotting using antibody for Cucurbita pepo leaf nitrite reductase. The presence of two different sized transcripts coding for the two subunits was confirmed by (a) in vitro translation of mRNA from nitrate-induced C. utilis followed by immunoprecipitation of the in vitro translated products with heterologous nitrite reductase antibody and (b) Northern-blot analysis. The 66 kDa subunit is acidic in nature which is probably due to its phosphorylated status. The enzyme is stable over a range of temperatures. Both subunits can catalyse nitrite reduction, and the reconstituted enzyme, at a higher protein concentration, shows an activity similar to that of the purified enzyme. Each of these subunits has been shown to contain a few unique peptides in addition to a large number of common peptides. Reduced Methyl Viologen has been found to be as effective an electron donor as NADPH in the catalytic process, a phenomenon not commonly seen for nitrite reductases from other systems.

Photoelectrochemical reduction of CO2 mediated with methylviologen at roughened silver electrodes

The photoelectrocatalytic effect for the reduction of CO2 mediated with methylviologen (MV) was studied at mercury, polished silver and roughened silver electrodes using electrochemical and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) techniques. A large photoelectrocatalytic effect for the reduction of CO2 in the presence of MV was observed at the roughened silver electrode, whereas there was only a very small photoelectrocatalytic current at a more negative potential on mercury and polished silver electrodes. The SERS spectra of MV in the presence and absence of CO2, along with the electrochemical results, demonstrate that the surface adsorbed complexes, MV+ -Ag and MV0-Ag, played a role as the mediator for photoinduced electron transfer to CO2 in the solution. The results also suggest that the surface plasmon resonance of the nanoscale silver particle contributes to the overall photoelectrocatalytic effect on a roughened silver electrode.

Identification and characterization of the AcrR/AcrAB system of a pathogenic Edwardsiella tarda strain

Edwardsielia tarda is one of the leading marine pathogens that can infect a wide range of cultured marine species. In this study, the acrR-acrAB cluster was cloned from TX1, a pathogenic E. tarda strain isolated from diseased fish. AcrR and AcrAB were found to be involved in resistance against acriflavine and methyl viologen, which positively regulate the expression of acrAB. AcrR negatively regulates its own expression and the expression of the acrAB operon, most likely by interacting with a 24-bp operator site that overlaps the putative promoter of acrA (PacrA). The repressive effect of AcrR on PacrA could be relieved by acriflavine, methyl viologen, and ethidium bromide, the presence of each of which enhanced transcription from PacrA. Interruption of the regulated expression of acrR by introducing into TX1 a plasmid that overexpresses acrR affected growth under stress conditions, AI-2 production, and bacterial virulence. In addition, mutational analyses identified a constitutively active AcrR mutant (named N215), which exhibits full repressor activity but is impaired in its ability to interact with the inducer. Overexpression of N215 produced the same kind of but moderately stronger effect on TX1 compared to that produced by overexpression of the wild-type acrR.

迟缓爱德华氏菌两种保护性抗原及AcrAB耐药系统的分析

迟缓爱德华氏菌是危害水产养殖业发展的重要病原菌之一，因而其免疫防治研究具有重要意义。论文分析了9种具有保护潜能的迟缓爱德华氏菌蛋白，经过牙鲆免疫保护实验，筛选出EseD和Et18两种有显著性保护效应的抗原。为了提高其保护效应，论文使用基因工程技术将这两种抗原融合到一起，构建重组融合蛋白EEH。结果表明，融合蛋白EEH保护效应较EseD和Et18分别免疫时有所提高。ELISA和Western blotting 结果显示，三种蛋白都能诱导牙鲆产生特异抗体。这些研究为开发迟缓爱德华氏菌疫苗提供了理论基础。 论文克隆分析了迟缓爱德华氏菌AcrAB耐药系统，采用定点突变确定了acrAB、acrR的启动子序列和AcrR在acrAB启动子的结合位点。启动子分析显示，AcrR对acrAB启动子有300倍抑制效应, 对acrR启动子有3倍抑制效应。定点突变显示，K39和R45对AcrR功能具重要性；缺失突变表明，N端205个氨基酸残基是其功能必需。实验筛选出Acriflavine、Ethidium Bromide、Methyl Viologen、Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate等四种AcrR诱导物。分析AcrR过量表达菌株结果显示，其耐药性、生长状况和毒力水平较阴性对照组降低。这些研究加深了我们对迟缓爱德华氏菌耐药机制及其与毒力关系的了解。

Photoelectrochemistry with quinone radical anions: Kinetics of homogeneous redox catalysis

Cyclic voltammograms of quinones were recorded in acetonitrile in the presence of various substrates: carbonyl compounds, halobenzenes, Methyl Viologen and Neutral Red. When illuminated with light of λ >410 nm, catalytic waves were observed. From the ratio of the catalysed to uncatalysed peak current, electron transfer rate constants were calculated using the working curves of Saveant and coworkers. The values of these rate constants were compared with the values obtained by Shukla and Rusling for different systems using a similar method and with quenching rate constants calculated using Rehm-Weller-Marcus theory.