Disentangling the Evolutionary History of Feo, the Major Ferrous Iron Transport System in Bacteria

Feo, a ferrous iron transport system composed of three proteins (FeoA, -B, and -C), is the most prevalent bacterial iron transporter. It plays an important role in iron acquisition in low-oxygen environments and some host-pathogen interactions.

Interactions of Ascorbic Acid, 5-Caffeoylquinic Acid, and Quercetin-3-Rutinoside in the Presence and Absence of Iron during Thermal Processing and the Influence on Antioxidant Activity

Bioactive compounds in fruit and vegetables influence each other’s antioxidant activity. Pure standards, and mixtures of the common plant compounds, namely ascorbic acid, 5-caffeoylquinic acid, and quercetin-3-rutinoside (sum 0.3 mM), in the presence and absence of iron, were analyzed pre- and post-thermal processing in an aqueous solution. Antioxidant activity was measured by total phenolic content (TPC), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (TEAC) radical-scavenging assays. Ionic ferrous iron (Fe2+) and ferric iron (Fe3+) were measured photometrically. For qualification and quantification of reaction products, HPLC was used. Results showed that thermal processing does not necessarily lead to a decreased antioxidant activity, even if the compound concentrations decreased, as then degradation products themselves have an antioxidant activity. In all used antioxidant assays the 2:1 ratio of ascorbic acid and 5-caffeoylquinic acid in the presence of iron had strong synergistic effects, while the 1:2 ratio had strong antagonistic effects. The pro-oxidant iron positively influenced the antioxidant activity in combination with the used antioxidants, while ferrous iron itself interacted with common in vitro assays for total antioxidant activity. These results indicate that the antioxidant activity of compounds is influenced by factors such as interaction with other molecules, temperature, and the minerals present.

Nitrate reduction potential of a fractured Middle Triassic carbonate aquifer in Southwest Germany

Nitrate reduction constitutes an important natural mechanism to mitigate the widespread and persistent nitrate contamination of groundwater resources. In fractured aquifers, however, the abundance and accessibility of electron donors and their spatial correlation with groundwater flow paths are often poorly understood. In this study, the nitrate reduction potential of a fractured carbonate aquifer in the Upper Muschelkalk of SW Germany was investigated, where denitrification is due to the oxidation of ferrous iron and reduced sulfur. Petrographical analyses of rock samples revealed concentrations of syn-sedimentary and diagenetically formed pyrite ranging from 1 to 4 wt.% with only small differences between different facies types. Additional ferrous iron is available in saddle dolomites (up to 2.6 wt.%), which probably were formed by tectonically induced percolation of low-temperature hydrothermal fluids. Borehole logging at groundwater wells (flowmeter, video, gamma) indicates that most groundwater flow occurs along karstified bedding planes partly located within dolomites of the shoal and backshoal facies. The high porosity (15–30%) of these facies facilitates molecular diffusive exchange of solutes between flow paths in the fractures and the reactive minerals in the pore matrix. The high-porosity facies together with hydraulically active fractures featuring pyrite or saddle dolomite precipitates constitute the zones of highest nitrate reduction potential within the aquifer. Model-based estimates of electron acceptor/donor balances indicate that the nitrate reduction potential protecting water supply wells increases with increasing porosity of the rock matrix and decreases with increasing hydraulic conductivity (or effective fracture aperture) and spacing of the fracture network.

Increased susceptibility of cystic fibrosis airway epithelial cells to ferroptosis

Background Defective chloride transport in airway epithelial cells (AECs) and the associated lung disease are the main causes of morbidity and early mortality in cystic fibrosis (CF). Abnormal airway iron homeostasis and the presence of lipid peroxidation products, indicative of oxidative stress, are features of CF lung disease. Results Here, we report that CF AECs (IB3-1) are susceptible to ferroptosis, a type of cell death associated with iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation. Compared to isogenic CFTR corrected cells (C38), the IB3-1 cells showed increased susceptibility to cell death upon exposure to iron in the form of ferric ammonium citrate (FAC) and the ferroptosis inducer, erastin. This phenotype was accompanied by accumulation of intracellular ferrous iron and lipid peroxides and the extracellular release of malondialdehyde, all indicative of redox stress, and increased levels of lactate dehydrogenase in the culture supernatant, indicating enhanced cell injury. The ferric iron chelator deferoxamine (DFO) and the lipophilic antioxidant ferrostatin-1 inhibited FAC and erastin induced ferroptosis in IB3-1 cells. Glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) expression was decreased in IB3-1 cells treated with FAC and erastin, but was unchanged in C38 AECs. Necroptosis appeared to be involved in the enhanced susceptibility of IB3-1 AECs to ferroptosis, as evidenced by partial cell death rescue with necroptosis inhibitors and enhanced mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL) localisation to the plasma membrane. Conclusion These studies suggest that the increased susceptibility of CF AECs to ferroptosis is linked to abnormal intracellular ferrous iron accumulation and reduced antioxidant defences. In addition, the process of ferroptotic cell death in CF AECs does not appear to be a single entity and for the first time we describe necroptosis as a potential contributory factor. Iron chelation and antioxidant treatments may be promising therapeutic interventions in cystic fibrosis. Graphical Abstract

Effects of Drying-Rewetting Cycles on Ferrous Iron-Involved Denitrification in Paddy Soils

Soil moisture status has an important effect on the process of denitrification in paddy soils. However, it is unclear how it affects the ferrous iron-involved denitrification. Here, the influence of drying-rewetting cycles on ferrous iron-involved denitrification in paddy soil were studied with batch experiments. The dynamics of nitrate, ammonia, Fe2+, Fe3+ and total organic carbon (TOC), as well as nitrous oxide (N2O) were investigated using the iron-rich paddy soil in Jiangxi province, South China. Results demonstrated that the denitrification rate dropped while ammonia nitrogen content (NH4+-N) showed a rapid accumulation in the drying period. In the rewetting period, organic carbon played two-side roles. Organic carbon and ferrous iron together provided electron donors to denitrification, and organic carbon simultaneously reduced ferric iron under anaerobic environment. There were complex interactions among organic carbon, nitrate and Fe2+/Fe3+ under drying-rewetting cycles. Soil rewetting led to denitrification flush, especially after a moderately long drying period, while excessively frequent drying-rewetting alternation was not favorable to nitrate denitrification.