Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Synergism between cysteine and alkylating agents.

H S Rosenkranz, H S Carr, J Zyroff

    Journal of Bacteriology
    |June 1, 1970
    PubMed
    Summary

    L-cysteine unexpectedly enhanced the lethal effects of certain alkylating agents on Escherichia coli, rather than protecting them. This synergistic antibacterial action was specific to L-cysteine and related compounds.

    Related Concept Videos

    You might also read

    Related Articles

    Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

    Sort by
    Same author

    The Development and Characterisation of a Structure-activity Relationship Model of the Draize Eye Irritation Test.

    Alternatives to laboratory animals : ATLA·2015
    Same author

    The High Production Volume Chemical Challenge Program : The Rodent LD50 and its Possible Replacement.

    Alternatives to laboratory animals : ATLA·2014
    Same author

    Structural Basis of the Toxicity of Chemicals in Cultured Human HeLa Cells.

    Alternatives to laboratory animals : ATLA·2014
    Same author

    A battery of cell toxicity assays as predictors of eye irritation: a feasibility study.

    Alternatives to laboratory animals : ATLA·2014
    Same author

    Structure-activity approach to the identification of environmental estrogens: the MCASE approach.

    SAR and QSAR in environmental research·2004
    Same author

    A substructure-based SAR model for odor perception in humans relevant to health risk assessments.

    SAR and QSAR in environmental research·2003

    Area of Science:

    • Microbiology
    • Biochemistry
    • Antimicrobial Agents

    Background:

    • Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a common bacterium.
    • Alkylating agents are chemicals that can damage DNA.
    • L-cysteine is an amino acid with potential protective properties.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the effect of L-cysteine on the antibacterial action of monofunctional alkylating agents against E. coli.
    • To determine if L-cysteine protects E. coli from DNA-damaging agents.

    Main Methods:

    • Exposure of E. coli cultures to alkylating agents (nitrosomethylurethane, methylmethane sulfonate) with and without L-cysteine.
    • Assessment of bacterial survival and growth inhibition.
    • Testing of related amino acids (D-cysteine, homocysteine, S-methylcysteine, serine) and ethylmethane sulfonate.

    Main Results:

    • L-cysteine significantly enhanced the lethal effects of nitrosomethylurethane and methylmethane sulfonate on E. coli.
    • D-cysteine showed a similar, but weaker, synergistic effect.
    • Homocysteine, S-methylcysteine, and serine did not enhance the antibacterial action.
    • The synergistic effect was not due to S-methylcysteine formation.
    • L-cysteine did not affect the bacteriostatic action of ethylmethane sulfonate.

    Conclusions:

    • L-cysteine exhibits a synergistic antibacterial effect with certain alkylating agents against E. coli.
    • This interaction enhances, rather than mitigates, the lethal action of these specific DNA-damaging agents.
    • The mechanism of this synergistic toxicity requires further investigation.

    Related Experiment Videos