The action of free radicals on Deinococcus radiodurans carotenoids

• Published in: Archives of biochemistry and biophysics Vol. 275; no. 1; pp. 244 - 251
• Main Authors: Carbonneau, M.A., Melin, A.M., Perromat, A., Clerc, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Diego, CA Elsevier Inc 15.11.1989; Elsevier
• Subjects: Analytical, structural and metabolic biochemistry; antioxidantes; antioxidants; antioxydant; Aromatic and heterocyclic compounds; bacteria; bacterie; Biological and medical sciences; carotenoide; carotenoides; carotenoids; Carotenoids - isolation & purification; Carotenoids - metabolism; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Deferoxamine - pharmacology; Deinococcus radiodurans; Free Radicals; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gram-Positive Bacteria - drug effects; Gram-Positive Bacteria - genetics; Gram-Positive Bacteria - metabolism; Heterocyclic compounds, pigments; hydrogen peroxide; Hydrogen Peroxide - pharmacology; Kinetics; Mutation; Other biological molecules; peroxido de hidrogeno; peroxyde d' hydrogene; Species Specificity; Statistical analysis; Radiosensitivity; HPLC chromatography; Pigments; Bacteria; Micrococcales; Micrococcaceae; Carotenoid; Hydrogen Peroxides; Solvent; Micrococcus radiodurans; Free radical
• ISSN: 0003-9861; 1096-0384
• DOI: 10.1016/0003-9861(89)90370-6

The possible role of carotenoids as free radical scavengers has not been completely elucidated. To gain further insight into the quenching of OH. radicals by carotenoids, we used a feasible bacterial model, Deinococcus radiodurans, a red pigmented bacterium. We compared the action of H 2O 2 which produces in vivo OH. radicals by a Fenton-type reaction on the parental and two mutant strains, i.e., a red pigmented and a colorless one. While the red pigmented bacteria were resistant to H 2O 2 action, the colorless strain was significantly more sensitive and its sensitivity was dose-dependent. In the red pigmented strains, H 2O 2 induced a significant decrease in one carotenoid (X 5), which could be responsible for the antioxidant activity.