Paraoxonases-2 and -3 Are Important Defense Enzymes against Pseudomonas aeruginosa Virulence Factors due to Their Anti-Oxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Properties

The pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes serious damage in immunocompromised patients by secretion of various virulence factors, among them the quorum sensing N-(3-oxododecanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone (3OC12) and the redox-active pyocyanin (PCN). Paraoxonase-2 (PON2) may protect against P. aeruginosa infections, as it efficiently inactivates 3OC12 and diminishes PCN-induced oxidative stress. This defense could be circumvented because 3OC12 mediates intracellular Ca2+-rise in host cells, which causes rapid inactivation and degradation of PON2. Importantly, we recently found that the PON2 paralogue PON3 prevents mitochondrial radical formation. Here we investigated its role as additional potential defense mechanism against P. aeruginosa infections. Our studies demonstrate that PON3 diminished PCN-induced oxidative stress. Moreover, it showed clear anti-inflammatory potential by protecting against NF-κB activation and IL-8 release. The latter similarly applied to PON2. Furthermore, we observed a Ca2+-mediated inactivation and degradation of PON3, again in accordance with previous findings for PON2. Our results suggest that the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory functions of PON2 and PON3 are an important part of our innate defense system against P. aeruginosa infections. Furthermore, we conclude that P. aeruginosa circumvents PON3 protection by the same pathway as for PON2. This may help identifying underlying mechanisms in order to sustain the protection afforded by these enzymes

Interannual variability of methane storage and emission during autumn overturn in a small lake

Methane emissions from freshwater systems, and especially from small lakes source a significant proportion of naturally produced atmospheric methane. In small temperate lakes, storage flux, i.e. the diffusive emission of methane that was stored in anoxic waters during the seasonal overturn of the water column, can contribute a large fraction of annual methane emissions. Here we use an extensive field dataset to quantify methane storage in anoxic deep water and identify as well as quantify the sources and losses of this methane. The comparison of measurements from four years in a small temperate lake (Illmensee) shows that methane storage can differ substantially between years. In 2012 and 2018, the annual maximum of the methane stored in the entire water column was around twice as high (5350 kg and 5822 kg) as in 2013 and 2017 (2722 kg and 2295 kg). A methane mass balance approach suggests that the variability of methane storage in the anoxic water between the years was not caused by the methane flux at the anoxic-oxic water interface, but rather was related to changes in the methane source from the anoxic sediments. The interannual differences in sediment flux could not be explained by sediment temperature, but rather by the differing supply of organic matter. Our findings suggest that phytoplankton blooms promote methane storage within the same year and thus cause interannual variability in emissions during autumn overturn.publishe

One Enzyme, Two Functions: PON2 PREVENTS MITOCHONDRIAL SUPEROXIDE FORMATION AND APOPTOSIS INDEPENDENT FROM ITS LACTONASE ACTIVITY*

The human enzyme paraoxonase-2 (PON2) has two functions, an enzymatic lactonase activity and the reduction of intracellular oxidative stress. As a lactonase, it dominantly hydrolyzes bacterial signaling molecule 3OC12 and may contribute to the defense against pathogenic Pseudomonas aeruginosa. By its anti-oxidative effect, PON2 reduces cellular oxidative damage and influences redox signaling, which promotes cell survival. This may be appreciated but also deleterious given that high PON2 levels reduce atherosclerosis but may stabilize tumor cells. Here we addressed the unknown mechanisms and linkage of PON2 enzymatic and anti-oxidative function. We demonstrate that PON2 indirectly but specifically reduced superoxide release from the inner mitochondrial membrane, irrespective whether resulting from complex I or complex III of the electron transport chain. PON2 left O2˙̄ dismutase activities and cytochrome c expression unaltered, and it did not oxidize O2˙̄ but rather prevented its formation, which implies that PON2 acts by modulating quinones. To analyze linkage to hydrolytic activity, we introduced several point mutations and show that residues His114 and His133 are essential for PON2 activity. Further, we mapped its glycosylation sites and provide evidence that glycosylation, but not a native polymorphism Ser/Cys311, was critical to its activity. Importantly, none of these mutations altered the anti-oxidative/anti-apoptotic function of PON2, demonstrating unrelated activities of the same protein. Collectively, our study provides detailed mechanistic insight into the functions of PON2, which is important for its role in innate immunity, atherosclerosis, and cancer

The distribution and spread of quagga mussels in perialpine lakes north of the Alps

The dreissenids, quagga mussel Dreissena bugensis and zebra mussel D. polymorpha, are invasive freshwater mussels in Europe and North America. These species strongly impact aquatic ecosystems, such as the food web through their high abundance and filtration rate. They spread quickly within and between waterbodies, and have the ability to colonize various substrates and depths. The zebra mussel invaded and established in Swiss lakes in the 1960s, whereas the quagga mussel was not detected until 2014. We collected all available data from cantonal as well as local authorities and other institutions to describe the colonization pattern of quagga mussels in perialpine lakes north of the Alps. We also collected data regarding the distribution of larval stages of the mussels, the so-called veliger larvae. We observed that in lakes colonized by the quagga mussel, veligers are present the whole year round, whereas they are absent in winter in lakes with only zebra mussels. Additionally, we present detailed information about the invasion and colonization pattern of quagga mussels in Lake Constance. Quagga mussels colonized the lakeshore within a few years (~ 2016–2018), outcompeted zebra mussels, and have reached densities > 5000 ind. m-2 in the littoral zone, even at 80 m densities above 1000 ind. m-2 were found at some locations. At the end of the article, we discussed possibilities on how the spread of quagga mussels within and among northern perialpine lakes should be monitored and prevented in the future.ISSN:1818-5487ISSN:1798-654

The distribution and spread of quagga mussels in perialpine lakes north of the Alps

The dreissenids, quagga mussel Dreissena bugensis and zebra mussel D. polymorpha, are invasive freshwater mussels in Europe and North America. These species strongly impact aquatic ecosystems, such as the food web through their high abundance and filtration rate. They spread quickly within and between waterbodies, and have the ability to colonize various substrates and depths. The zebra mussel invaded and established in Swiss lakes in the 1960s, whereas the quagga mussel was not detected until 2014. We collected all available data from cantonal as well as local authorities and other institutions to describe the colonization pattern of quagga mussels in perialpine lakes north of the Alps. We also collected data regarding the distribution of larval stages of the mussels, the so-called veliger larvae. We observed that in lakes colonized by the quagga mussel, veligers are present the whole year round, whereas they are absent in winter in lakes with only zebra mussels. Additionally, we present detailed information about the invasion and colonization pattern of quagga mussels in Lake Constance. Quagga mussels colonized the lakeshore within a few years (~ 2016–2018), outcompeted zebra mussels, and have reached densities > 5000 ind. m-2 in the littoral zone, even at 80 m densities above 1000 ind. m-2 were found at some locations. At the end of the article, we discussed possibilities on how the spread of quagga mussels within and among northern perialpine lakes should be monitored and prevented in the future.ISSN:1818-5487ISSN:1798-654