ANTIOXIDANT SURVEY TO ASSESS ANTAGONISM TO REDOX STRESS USING A PROKARYOTIC AND AN EUKARYOTIC SYSTEM

Using a prokaryote (Escherichia coli) and a metazoa-resembling eukaryo te (Ochromonas danica), we surveyed antioxidants which might overcome redox stress imposed by menadione sodium bisulphite (MD) and buthionin e sulphoximine (BSO). BSO oxidant stress was evident only in O. danica ; MD oxidant stress was evident in both organisms. Glutathione, its pr ecursors, e.g. cysteine, homocysteine, and 2-oxo-4-thiazolidine carbox ylic acid, and red blood cells, emerged as prime antioxidants for reli eving BSO and MD oxidant stress. BSO and MD oxidant activity and antio xidant-annulling effect in O. danica were judged comparable to those f ound in animal cells whereas the results E. coli were not entirely equ ivalent. The O. danica system emerged as a practical, rapid, and usefu l system for pinpointing oxidant stressors and antioxidants, and shows promise for studies with mammalian systems.