Val43 residue of NsrR is crucial for the nitric oxide response of Salmonella Typhimurium.

ABSTRACT: In pathogenic bacteria, the flavohemoglobin Hmp is crucial in metabolizing the cytotoxic levels of nitric oxide (NO) produced in phagocytic cells, contributing to bacterial virulence. Hmp expression is predominantly regulated by the Rrf2 family transcription repressor NsrR in an NO-dependent manner; however, the underlying molecular mechanism in enterobacteria remains poorly understood. In this study, we identified Val43 of Salmonella Typhimurium NsrR (StNsrR) as a critical amino acid residue for regulating Hmp expression. The Val43-to-Ala-substituted mutant NsrR isolated through random and site-directed mutagenesis showed high binding affinity to the target DNA irrespective of NO exposure, resulting in a severe reduction in hmp transcription and slow NO metabolism in Salmonella under NO-producing conditions. Conversely, the Val43-to-Glu-substituted NsrR caused effects similar to nsrR null mutation, which directed hmp transcription and NO metabolism in a constitutive way. Comparative analysis of the primary sequences of NsrR and another NO-sensing Rrf2 family regulator, IscR, from diverse bacteria, revealed that Val43 of enterobacterial NsrR corresponds to Ala in Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Streptomyces coelicolor NsrR and Glu in enterobacterial IscR, all of which are located in the DNA recognition helix α3. The predicted structure of StNsrR in complex with the hmp DNA suggests dissimilar spatial stoichiometry in the interactions of Val43 and its substituted residues with the target DNA, consistent with the observed phenotypic changes in StNsrR Val43 mutants. Our findings highlight the discriminative roles of the NsrR recognition helix in regulating species-specific target gene expression, facilitating effective NO detoxification strategies in bacteria across diverse environments. IMPORTANCE: The precise regulation of flavohemoglobin Hmp expression by NsrR is critical for bacterial fitness, as excessive Hmp expression in the absence of NO can disturb bacterial redox homeostasis. While the molecular structure of Streptomyces coelicolor NsrR has been recently identified, the specific molecular structures of NsrR proteins in enterobacteria remain unknown. Our discovery of the crucial role of Val43 in the DNA recognition helix α3 of Salmonella NsrR offers valuable insights into the Hmp modulation under NO stress. Furthermore, the observed amino acid polymorphisms in the α3 helices of NsrR proteins across different bacterial species suggest the diverse evolution of NsrR structure and gene regulation in response to varying levels of NO pressure within their ecological niches.

The Small Protein CydX Is Required for Cytochrome bd Quinol Oxidase Stability and Function in Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium: a Phenotypic Study.

Cytochrome bd quinol oxidases, which have a greater affinity for oxygen than heme-copper cytochrome oxidases (HCOs), promote bacterial respiration and fitness in low-oxygen environments, such as host tissues. Here, we show that, in addition to the CydA and CydB subunits, the small protein CydX is required for the assembly and function of the cytochrome bd complex in the enteric pathogen Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. Mutant S Typhimurium lacking CydX showed a loss of proper heme arrangement and impaired oxidase activity comparable to that of a ΔcydABX mutant lacking all cytochrome bd subunits. Moreover, both the ΔcydX mutant and the ΔcydABX mutant showed increased sensitivity to ß-mercaptoethanol and nitric oxide (NO). Cytochrome bd-mediated protection from ß-mercaptoethanol was not a result of resistance to reducing damage but, rather, was due to cytochrome bd oxidase managing Salmonella respiration, while ß-mercaptoethanol interacted with the copper ions necessary for the HCO activity of the cytochrome bo-type quinol oxidase. Interactions between NO and hemes in cytochrome bd and cytochrome bd-dependent respiration during nitrosative stress indicated a direct role for cytochrome bd in mediating Salmonella resistance to NO. Additionally, CydX was required for S Typhimurium proliferation inside macrophages. Mutants deficient in cytochrome bd, however, showed a significant increase in resistance to antibiotics, including aminoglycosides, d-cycloserine, and ampicillin. The essential role of CydX in cytochrome bd assembly and function suggests that targeting this small protein could be a useful antimicrobial strategy, but potential drug tolerance responses should also be considered.IMPORTANCE Cytochrome bd quinol oxidases, which are found only in bacteria, govern the fitness of many facultative anaerobic pathogens by promoting respiration in low-oxygen environments and by conferring resistance to antimicrobial radicals. Thus, cytochrome bd complex assembly and activity are considered potential therapeutic targets. Here we report that the small protein CydX is required for the assembly and function of the cytochrome bd complex in S Typhimurium under stress conditions, including exposure to ß-mercaptoethanol, nitric oxide, or the phagocytic intracellular environment, demonstrating its crucial function for Salmonella fitness. However, cytochrome bd inactivation also leads to increased resistance to some antibiotics, so considerable caution should be taken when developing therapeutic strategies targeting the CydX-dependent cytochrome bd.

Enhancement of skin permeation of vitamin C using vibrating microneedles.

This study was performed to evaluate the use of vibrating microneedles for the transdermal delivery of vitamin C. The microneedles were designed to vibrate at three levels of intensity. In vitro permeation by vitamin C was evaluated according to the specific conditions such as vibration intensity (levels 1, 2 and 3), application time (1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 min), and application power (500, 700 and 1,000 g). The highest permeation of vitamin C was observed at level 3 of vibration intensity, 5 min of application, and 1,000 g of application power. Vitamin C gel showed no cytotoxic effect against Pam212 cells or skin irritation effects. A pharmacokinetic study of the gel in rats was conducted under optimized conditions. The AUC0-∞ and Cmax increased 1.35-fold and 1.44-fold, respectively, compared with those after vitamin C gel without application with vibrating microneedles. The present study suggests that vibrating microneedles can be used to facilitate the skin permeability of vitamin C under optimal conditions.

Nasal delivery of chitosan-coated poly(lactide-co-glycolide)-encapsulated honeybee (Apis mellifera) venom promotes Th 1-specific systemic and local intestinal immune responses in weaned pigs.

Nasal delivery is a convenient and acceptable route for drug administration, and has been shown to elicit a much more potent local and systemic response compared with other drug delivery routes. We previously demonstrated that rectal administration of poly(lactide-co-glycolide)-encapsulated honeybee venom (P-HBV) could enhance systemic Th 1-specific immune responses. We therefore synthesized chitosan-coated P-HBV (CP-HBV) and then evaluated the immune-boosting efficacy of nasally administered CP-HBV on systemic and local intestinal immunity compared with non-chitosan-coated P-HBV. The nasally delivered CP-HBV effectively enhanced Th 1-specific responses, eliciting a significant increase in the CD3(+)CD4(+)CD8(-) Th cell population, lymphocyte proliferation capacity, and expression of Th 1 cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-12, and IL-2) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Furthermore, these immune-boosting effects persisted up to 21days post CP-HBV administration. Nasal administration of CP-HBV also led to an increase of not only the CD4(+) Th 1 and IFN-γ secreting CD4(+) Th 1 cell population but also Th 1-specific cytokines and transcription factors, including IL-12, IFN-γ, STAT4, and T-bet, in isolated mononuclear cells from the spleen and ileum.

WTC-01, a novel synthetic oxime-flavone compound, destabilizes microtubules in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Dynamic polymerization of microtubules is essential for cancer cell growth and metastasis, and microtubule-disrupting agents have become the most successful anti-cancer agents in clinical use. Besides their antioxidant properties, flavonoids also exhibit strong microtubule-disrupting activity and inhibit tumour growth. We have designed, synthesized and tested a series of oxime/amide-containing flavone derivatives. Here we report the evaluation of one compound, WTC-01 for its anti-proliferative effects in human cancer cells. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: We used a range of cancer cell lines including two human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell lines, measuring proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis, along with caspase levels and mitochondrial membrane potentials. Assays of tubulin polymerisation in vitro and computer modelling of the colchicine binding site in tubulin were also used. In mice, pharmacokinetics and growth of NPC-derived tumours were studied. KEY RESULTS: WTC-01 was most potent against proliferation of NPC cells (IC50 = 0.45 µM), inducing accumulation of cells in G2 /M and increasing apoptosis, time- and concentration-dependently. The colchicine competition-binding experiments and computer modelling results suggested that WTC-01 causes microtubule disruption via binding to the colchicine-binding site of tubulin resulting in mitochondrial membrane damage and cell apoptosis via activation of caspase-9/-3 without noticeable activation of the caspase-8. Notably, our in vivo studies demonstrated that at doses of 25 and 50 mg·kg(-1) , WTC-01 exhibited good pharmacokinetic properties and completely inhibited the growth of NPC-TW01 cells in a xenograft nude mouse model. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: WTC-01, a new synthetic oxime-containing flavone, exhibited potent anti-tumour activity against NPC cells and merits further investigation.

Preparation and characterization of mucoadhesive enteric-coating ginsenoside-loaded microparticles.

Ginsenoside saponins are phytochemically extracted from red ginseng and have been regarded as the principal components manifesting the pharmacologic activities. Saponins are very soluble in water but poorly absorbed when orally administrated. Moreover, they have some disadvantages including the decomposition in acid medium. The aim of this study was to develop oral formulation of ginsenosides composed of enteric-coating polymer and mucoadhesive polymer considering the low stability in acid medium and the low permeability of saponins. Ginsenoside-loaded microparticles were prepared by spray dryer. The influences of various parameters such as the ratio of saponin to polymer, feed concentration, feed rate, inlet/outlet temperature and additional excipients during spray-drying were investigated. In vitro release profile of ginsenoside-loaded microparticles using additional excipients, ginsenoside saponin Rg1 or Rb1 showed an 18 or 13% release in pH 1.2 when ethyl cellulose was added. Also, ginsenoside-loaded microparticles exhibited mucoadhesive properties in the presence of chitosan. The application of these polymers is being considered as the potential strategy for improvement of bioavailability in saponin delivery, orally.

Synthesis and antiproliferative evaluation of amide-containing flavone and isoflavone derivatives.

Certain amide-containing flavone and isoflavone derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their antiproliferative activities. These compounds were synthesized via alkylation of hydroxyl precursors followed by the reaction with H(2)SO(4) and NaN(3) (Schmidt reaction). The preliminary assays indicated that the inhibitory activity against the growth of NCI-H661 decreased in an order of linked chromophore flavone-6-yl 16a-d>flavone-7-yl 17a-d>flavone-3-yl 15a-d and isoflavone-7-yl 18a-d. Among these flavone-6-yl derivatives, N-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-(4-oxo-2-phenyl-4H-chromen-6-yloxy)acetamide (16c) was the most potent with a GI(50) value of 0.84 microM. The inhibitory activity against the growth of NPC-TW01 decreased in an order of linked chromophore flavone-6-yl 16a-d>isoflavone-7-yl 18a-d>flavone-7-yl 17a-d>flavone-3-yl 15a-d. Flavone-6-yl derivatives 16a-d demonstrated significant inhibitory activities against the growth of NPC-TW01 cell with an average GI(50) value of 0.84 microM. The oxime derivatives 1 and 2 caused accumulation of NPC-TW01 cell in G(2)/M phase which were distinct from that of their amide isomers 16b and 16c, respectively, which induced cell-cycle arrest in G(0)/G(1) phase followed by apoptosis. Therefore, the antiproliferative mechanism of flavone derivatives was affected not only by the phenyl benzopyran-4-one pharmacophore but also by the peripheral substituents.