H. Baker et al., ANTIOXIDANT SURVEY TO ASSESS ANTAGONISM TO REDOX STRESS USING A PROKARYOTIC AND AN EUKARYOTIC SYSTEM, Experientia, 52(6), 1996, pp. 597-599
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.