Open AccessThe reducing antioxidant capacity of Mycoplasma fermentans
Author(s) -
Yavlovich Amichai,
Kohen Ron,
Ginsburg Isaac,
Rottem Shlomo
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2006.00271.x
Subject(s) - antioxidant , microbiology and biotechnology , oxidative stress , biochemistry , plasminogen activator , proteolysis , biology , chemistry , catalase , extracellular , enzyme , endocrinology
Mycoplasma fermentans is an extracellular microorganism capable of adhering to the surface of host cells. It has been recently shown that plasminogen binding to M. fermentans in the presence of the urokinase‐type plasminogen activator promotes the invasion of host cells by this organism. In this report, we show that viable mycoplasmas persist within the infected HeLa cells for prolonged periods of time despite the expectation that within host cells the organism may be exposed to oxidative stress. Using cyclic voltammetry and luminol‐enhanced chemiluminescence assays, we detected a potent reducing antioxidant activity in M. fermentans . The reducing antioxidant activity was heat stable, not affected by proteolysis and was almost totally lost upon dialysis suggesting that the activity is due to a nonproteinaceus low molecular weight antioxidant. This antioxidant was partially purified by Bio‐Gel column chromatography followed by high‐pressure liquid chromatographic analysis. We suggest that the high reducing antioxidant capacity in M. fermentans is a principal defense mechanism playing a major role in the battle of the organism against oxidative stress within the host cells.