A trace amount of the human pro-apoptotic factor Bax induces bacterial death accompanied by damage of DNA.

The Journal of Biological Chemistry
S AsohS Ohta

Abstract

An amount of human pro-apoptotic Bax as low as 0.01% of total protein was sufficient to cause cell death in Escherichia coli. The bacterial cell death was examined using a viable bacteria-specific fluorescence indicator system and loss of colony formation ability. Co-expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-xL showed a modest inhibitory effect on the cell death caused by Bax. The trace amount of Bax elongated E. coli and accumulated monounsaturated fatty acids, suggesting an unusual metabolism of redox in the host. In fact, an increase of KCN-dependent O2 consumption accompanied the expression of Bax. At the same time, a fluorescent pH indicator showed the apparent accumulation of protons outside the cell, suggesting that the membrane is intact. Bax increased the level of superoxide anion as measured by the expression of superoxide-dependent promoter. Nicked DNA was significantly generated, and the frequency of mutations resistant to rifampicin was increased by 30-fold, depending upon the expression of Bax. It is proposed that trace amounts of Bax increase oxygen consumption, triggering generation of superoxide, which affects DNA, leading to bacterial death.

References

Nov 1, 1977·Journal of Bacteriology·H Moustafa Hassan, I Fridovich
Jan 1, 1979·The Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry : Official Journal of the Histochemistry Society·J W VisserH J Tanke
Mar 1, 1977·Journal of Bacteriology·H M Hassan, I Fridovich
Jan 1, 1991·Annual Review of Cell Biology·R E EllisH R Horvitz
Jan 1, 1991·Free Radical Research Communications·C T Privalle, I Fridovich
Aug 15, 1995·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·T W SedlakS J Korsmeyer
Apr 20, 1995·Nature·T ChittendenB C Guild
Sep 27, 1994·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·T SatoH G Wang
Jan 1, 1994·The Journal of Cell Biology·J C Reed
Mar 15, 1993·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·C T PrivalleI Fridovich
Apr 1, 1996·The Journal of Experimental Medicine·N ZamzamiG Kroemer
Dec 10, 1996·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·J XiangS J Korsmeyer
Jan 23, 1997·Nature·A J MinnC B Thompson
Jan 1, 1997·Annual Review of Neuroscience·D E Merry, S J Korsmeyer
Feb 1, 1997·Molecular Biology of the Cell·J M JürgensmeierS Ottilie
Jul 18, 1997·Science·B AntonssonJ C Martinou
Nov 5, 1997·The Journal of Biological Chemistry·M AritomiK Morikawa

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Sep 4, 2009·Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology·S Thangminlal VaipheiK J Mukherjee
Oct 20, 2005·Apoptosis : an International Journal on Programmed Cell Death·M SaundersB E Sawaya
Jan 27, 2004·Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications·Toshiyuki AokageShigeo Ohta
Apr 27, 2005·FEMS Yeast Research·Rieka ReekmansRoland Contreras
Apr 12, 2000·Genes to Cells : Devoted to Molecular & Cellular Mechanisms·R Nanbu-WakaoS Ohta
Oct 19, 2011·Genes & Development·Xiaming PangXu Luo
Jul 13, 2001·The Journal of Cell Biology·D J AdamsJ E Rasko
Jul 18, 2009·Medical Hypotheses·R H Verheesen, C M Schweitzer
Apr 15, 2004·Chemistry and Physics of Lipids·Ileana M Cristea, Mauro Degli Esposti
Feb 6, 2004·Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta·Cédric MontignyPierre Falson
Jun 4, 2002·Nature Reviews. Molecular Cell Biology·Can Jin, John C Reed
Apr 23, 2008·Current Protocols in Protein Science·Fakhri Saïda
Jan 23, 2002·Cell Death and Differentiation·N LeeH L Nakhasi
Nov 20, 1998·FEBS Letters·M LigrD H Wolf
Feb 15, 2001·Cell Death and Differentiation·S Matsuyama, J C Reed
Oct 12, 2000·Nature Cell Biology·J C ReedR Tsien
Jun 22, 2000·The Journal of Biological Chemistry·S C KampranisA M Makris

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

BCL-2 Family Proteins

BLC-2 family proteins are a group that share the same homologous BH domain. They play many different roles including pro-survival signals, mitochondria-mediated apoptosis and removal or damaged cells. They are often regulated by phosphorylation, affecting their catalytic activity. Here is the latest research on BCL-2 family proteins.

ASBMB Publications

The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) includes the Journal of Biological Chemistry, Molecular & Cellular Proteomics, and the Journal of Lipid Research. Discover the latest research from ASBMB here.