OXIDATIVE STRESS AND ORGANIC CYCLOPYROPHOSPHATE IN BACTERIA

Oxidative stress in the nocardioform bacteria Corynebacterium (Breviba cterium) ammoniagenes, Micrococcus luteus, and Mycobacterium smegmatis is accompanied by a significant accumulation of 2-C-methyl-D-erythrit ol-2,4-cyclopyrophosphate (MEG), which is correlated with the ability of the producer to grow under stress. Metabolic stability of MEC in th e bacterial cells, its spontaneous isomerization into 1,2-cyclophospho -4-phosphate, and the possibility of genetic transfer of the MEG-synth esizing capacity from Corynebacterium to E. coli have been demonstrate d. The involvement of MEC in the response to oxidative stress via comp lex formation with bivalent cations is postulated.