OxyR regulon controls lipid peroxidation-mediated oxidative stress in Escherichia coli

Membrane lipid peroxidation processes yield products that may react with DNA and proteins to cause oxidative modifications. The oxyR gene product regulates the expression of enzymes and proteins that are needed for cellular protection against oxidative stress. Upon exposure to tert-butylhydroperoxide (t-BOOH) and 2,2'-azobis (2-amidinopropane) hydrochloride (AAPH), which induce lipid peroxidation in membranes, the Escherichia coli oxyR overexpression mutant was much more resistant to lipid peroxidation-mediated cellular damage, when compared to the oxyR deletion mutant in regard to growth kinetics, viability, and DNA damage. The deletion of the oxyR gene in E. coli also resulted in increased susceptibility of superoxide dismutase to lipid peroxidation-mediated inactivation. The results indicate that the peroxidation of lipid is probably one of the important intermediary events in free radical-induced cellular damage. Also, the oxyR regulon plays an important protective role in lipid peroxidation-mediated cellular damage.