Study of the Prooxidant and Antioxidant Activity of Anti-Radiation Agents with LUX-Biosensors

Abstract

The effects of 29 substances, including known antioxidants, anti-radiation agents, amino acids, and vitamins, on the luminescence intensity of E. coli K12 MG1655 (pSoxS-lux) and MG1655 (pKatG-lux) bacterial cells induced by paraquat and peroxide, respectively, were studied. The luminescence of biosensors occurs as a result of activation of the soxS and katA gene promoters in response to an increase in the concentration of superoxide radicals and H₂O₂ in the cell. In the case of an antioxidant effect exerted by a substance under study, the intensity of the induced luminescence decreases, and in the case of a prooxidant effect, the luminescence intensity increases. Antioxidant activity was exhibited by 23 of 29 substances (79%) on the pKatG-lux biosensor and 22 of 29 substances (76%) on the pSoxS-lux biosensor. The studied anti-radiation agents (ten substances) showed different degrees of pro- and antioxidant activity. Lithium salt of glutathione disulfide, glutoxim, ginestein, and indraline significantly reduced the level of induced luminescence in both biosensors; magnesium salt of glutathione disulfide, zinc salt of reduced glutathione, and molixane, only in the pSoxS-lux biosensor; and cistamine and 5-AED, only in the pKatG-lux biosensor. Among the anti-radiation agents, a high prooxidant activity on the pKatG-lux biosensor at low concentrations was shown by lithium and magnesium salts of glutathione disulfide, zinc salt of reduced glutathione, molixane, and indralin (B-190); and on the pSoxS-lux biosensor, by genistein, cystamine, and 5-АED. The applicability of lux-biosensors for primary evaluation of the potential antioxidant and radioprotective activity of chemicals is discussed.