The Escherichia coli BtuE protein functions as a resistance determinant against reactive oxygen species.

ABSTRACT: This work shows that the recently described Escherichia coli BtuE peroxidase protects the bacterium against oxidative stress that is generated by tellurite and by other reactive oxygen species elicitors (ROS). Cells lacking btuE (ΔbtuE) displayed higher sensitivity to K(2)TeO(3) and other oxidative stress-generating agents than did the isogenic, parental, wild-type strain. They also exhibited increased levels of cytoplasmic reactive oxygen species, oxidized proteins, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and lipoperoxides. E. coli ΔbtuE that was exposed to tellurite or H(2)O(2) did not show growth changes relative to wild type cells either in aerobic or anaerobic conditions. Nevertheless, the elimination of btuE from cells deficient in catalases/peroxidases (Hpx(-)) resulted in impaired

SUBMITTER: Arenas FA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3018469 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature