Synergistic Antibacterial Properties of Silver Nanoparticles and Its Reducing Agent from Cinnamon Bark Extract.

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles with antibacterial properties using a one-pot green approach that harnesses the natural reducing and capping properties of cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) bark extract is presented in this work. Silver nitrate was the sole chemical reagent employed in this process, acting as the precursor salt. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS), High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis, and some phytochemical tests demonstrated that cinnamaldehyde is the main component in the cinnamon bark extract. The resulting bio-reduced silver nanoparticles underwent comprehensive characterization by Ultraviolet-Vis (UV-Vis) and Fourier Transform InfraRed spectrophotometry (FTIR), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Transmission Electron Microscopy, and Scanning Electron Microscopy suggesting that cinnamaldehyde was chemically oxidated to produce silver nanoparticles. These cinnamon-extract-based silver nanoparticles (AgNPs-cinnamon) displayed diverse morphologies ranging from spherical to prismatic shapes, with sizes spanning between 2.94 and 65.1 nm. Subsequently, the antibacterial efficacy of these nanoparticles was investigated against Klebsiella, E. Coli, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus aureus, and Acinetobacter strains. The results suggest the promising potential of silver nanoparticles obtained (AgNPs-cinnamon) as antimicrobial agents, offering a new avenue in the fight against bacterial infections.

Marine Arthropods as a Source of Antimicrobial Peptides.

Peptide therapeutics play a key role in the development of new medical treatments. The traditional focus on endogenous peptides has shifted from first discovering other natural sources of these molecules, to later synthesizing those with unique bioactivities. This review provides concise information concerning antimicrobial peptides derived from marine crustaceans for the development of new therapeutics. Marine arthropods do not have an adaptive immune system, and therefore, they depend on the innate immune system to eliminate pathogens. In this context, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) with unique characteristics are a pivotal part of the defense systems of these organisms. This review covers topics such as the diversity and distribution of peptides in marine arthropods (crustacea and chelicerata), with a focus on penaeid shrimps. The following aspects are covered: the defense system; classes of AMPs; molecular characteristics of AMPs; AMP synthesis; the role of penaeidins, anti-lipopolysaccharide factors, crustins, and stylicins against microorganisms; and the use of AMPs as therapeutic drugs. This review seeks to provide a useful compilation of the most recent information regarding AMPs from marine crustaceans, and describes the future potential applications of these molecules.

Structure, kinetics, molecular and redox properties of a cytosolic and developmentally regulated fungal catalase-peroxidase.

CAT-2, a cytosolic catalase-peroxidase (CP) from Neurospora crassa, which is induced during asexual spore formation, was heterologously expressed and characterized. CAT-2 had the Met-Tyr-Trp (M-Y-W) adduct required for catalase activity. Its KM for H2O2 was micromolar for peroxidase and millimolar for catalase activity. A Em = -158 mV reduction potential value was obtained and the Soret band shift suggested a mixture of low and high spin ferric iron. CAT-2 EPR spectrum at 10 K indicated an axial and a rhombic component. With peroxyacetic acid (PAA), formation of Compound I* was observed with EPR. CAT-2 homodimer crystallographic structure contained two K+ ions; Glu107 residues were displaced to bind them. CAT-2 showed the essential amino acid residues for activity in similar positions to other CPs. CAT-2 Arg426 is oriented towards the M-Y-W adduct, interacting with the deprotonated Tyr238 hydroxyl group. A perhydroxy modification of the indole nitrogen of Trp90 was oriented toward the catalytic His91. In contrast to cytochrome c peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase, the catalase-peroxidase heme propionates are not exposed to the solvent. Together with other N. crassa enzymes that utilize H2O2 as a substrate, CAT-2 has many tryptophan and proline residues at its surface, probably related to H2O2 selection in water.

The nitric oxide production in the moss Physcomitrella patens is mediated by nitrate reductase.

During the last 20 years multiple roles of the nitric oxide gas (•NO) have been uncovered in plant growth, development and many physiological processes. In seed plants the enzymatic synthesis of •NO is mediated by a nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-like activity performed by a still unknown enzyme(s) and nitrate reductase (NR). In green algae the •NO production has been linked only to NR activity, although a NOS gene was reported for Ostreococcus tauri and O. lucimarinus, no other Viridiplantae species has such gene. As there is no information about •NO synthesis neither for non-vascular plants nor for non-seed vascular plants, the interesting question regarding the evolution of the enzymatic •NO production systems during land plant natural history remains open. To address this issue the endogenous •NO production by protonema was demonstrated using Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR). The •NO signal was almost eliminated in plants treated with sodium tungstate, which also reduced the NR activity, demonstrating that in P. patens NR activity is the main source for •NO production. The analysis with confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) confirmed endogenous NO production and showed that •NO signal is accumulated in the cytoplasm of protonema cells. The results presented here show for the first time the •NO production in a non-vascular plant and demonstrate that the NR-dependent enzymatic synthesis of •NO is common for embryophytes and green algae.

The role of molecular oxygen in the iron(III)-promoted oxidative dehydrogenation of amines.

A mechanistic study is presented of the oxidative dehydrogenation of the iron(III) complex [Fe(III)L(3)](3+), 1, (L(3) = 1,9-bis(2'-pyridyl)-5-[(ethoxy-2''-pyridyl)methyl]-2,5,8-triazanonane) in ethanol in the presence of molecular oxygen. The product of the reaction was identified by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography as the identical monoimine complex [Fe(II)L(4)](2+), 2, (L(4) = 1,9-bis(2'-pyridyl)-5-[(ethoxy-2''-pyridyl)methyl]-2,5,8-triazanon-1-ene) also formed under an inert nitrogen atmosphere. Molecular oxygen is an active player in the oxidative dehydrogenation of iron(III) complex 1. Reduced oxygen species, e.g., superoxide, (O2˙(-)) and peroxide (O2(2-)), are formed and undergo single electron transfer reactions with ligand-based radical intermediates. The experimental rate law can be described by the third order rate equation, -d[(Fe(III)L(3))(3+)]/dt = kOD[(Fe(III)L(3))(3+)][EtO(-)][O2], with kOD = 3.80 ± 0.09 × 10(7) M(-2) s(-1) (60 °C, µ = 0.01 M). The reduction O2 → O2˙(-) represents the rate determining step, with superoxide becoming further reduced to peroxide as shown by a coupled heme catalase assay. In an independent study, with H2O2, replacing O2 as the oxidant, the experimental rate law depended on [H2O2]: -d[(Fe(III)L(3))(3+)]/dt = kH2O2[(Fe(III)L(3))(3+)][H2O2]), with kH2O2 = 6.25 ± 0.02 × 10(-3) M(-1) s(-1). In contrast to the reaction performed under N2, no kinetic isotope effect (KIE) or general base catalysis was found for the reaction of iron(III) complex 1 with O2. Under N2, two consecutive one-electron oxidation steps of the ligand coupled to proton removal produced the iron(II)-monoimine complex [Fe(II)L(4)](2+) and the iron(II)-amine complex [Fe(II)L(3)](2+) in a 1 : 1 ratio (disproportionation), with the amine deprotonation being the rate determining step. Notably, the reaction is almost one order of magnitude faster in the presence of O2, with kEtO(-) = 3.02 ± 0.09 × 10(5) M(-1) s(-1) (O2) compared to kEtO(-) = 4.92 ± 0.01 × 10(4) M(-1) s(-1) (N2), documenting the role of molecular oxygen in the dehydrogenation reaction.

On the mechanism of iron(III)-dependent oxidative dehydrogenation of amines.

Kinetic and structural data are presented for the iron-promoted dehydrogenation of the amine, [Fe(III)L3]3+ (1), L3 = 1,9-bis(2'-pyridyl)-5-[(ethoxy-2''-pyridyl)methyl]-2,5,8-triazanonane. Spectroscopic and electrochemical experiments under the exclusion of dioxygen helped to identify reaction intermediates and the final product, the Fe(II)-monoimine complex [Fe(II)L4]2+ (2), L4 = 1,9-bis(2'-pyridyl)-5-[(ethoxy-2''-pyridyl)methyl]-2,5,8-triazanon-1-ene. 2 is formed by disproportionation of the starting complex 1 by a three-step reaction mechanism, most likely via ligand-centered radical intermediates. The rate law can be described by the second-order rate equation, -d[(Fe(III)L3)3+]/dt = k(EtO)- [(Fe(III)L3)3+][EtO-], with k(EtO)- = 4.92 +/- 0.01 x 104 M(-1) s(-1) (60 degrees C, mu = 0.01 M). The detection of general base catalysis and a primary kinetic isotope effect (k(EtO)-(H)/k(EtO)-(D) = 1.73) represents the first kinetic demonstration that the deprotonation becomes rate determining followed by electron transfer in the oxidative dehydrogenation mechanism. We also isolated the Fe(II)-monoimine complex 2 and determined its structure in solution (NMR) and in the solid state (X-ray).