The Cercospora nicotianae SOR1 (singlet oxygen resistance) gene was identified previously as a gene involved in resistance of this fungus to singlet-oxygengenerating phototoxins. Although homologues to SOR1 occur in organisms in four kingdoms and encode one of the most highly conserved proteins yet identified, the precise function of this protein has, until now, remained unknown. We show that SOR1 is essential in pyridoxine (vitamin B6) synthesis in C. nicotianae and Aspergillus flavus, although it shows no homology to previously identified pyridoxine synthesis genes identified in Escherichia coli. Sequence database analysis demonstrated that organisms encode either SOR1 or E. coli pyridoxine biosynthesis genes, but not both, suggesting that there are two divergent pathways for de novo pyridoxine biosynthesis in nature. Pathway divergence appears to have occurred during the evolution of the eubacteria. We also present data showing that pyridoxine quenches singlet oxygen at a rate comparable to that of vitamins C and E, two of the most highly efficient biological antioxidants, suggesting a previously unknown role for pyridoxine in active oxygen resistance.The filamentous, phytopathogenic fungus Cercospora nicotianae exhibits a uniquely effective, broad-spectrum resistance to potent photosensitizers of diverse chemical structure and solubility (1, 2). C. nicotianae is resistant to cercosporin, a light-activated, singlet oxygen ( 1 O 2 )-generating toxin it produces in culture and during plant parasitism, and also to other potent photosensitizers including porphyrins and xanthine and thiazine dyes. Photosensitizers are highly toxic compounds that produce their deleterious effects only after activation by light. Absorbed light energy converts the photosensitizer to an excited (triplet) state molecule that may transfer an electron to oxygen to generate superoxide and͞or transfer energy directly to oxygen, yielding 1 O 2 (3). Exposure of cells to photosensitizers plus light leads to the destruction of critical cellular components including proteins, membranes, and DNA and often results in cell death. Studies on the mechanisms by which organisms protect themselves against reactive oxygen species have focused primarily on reduced and radical forms of oxygen, including hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), superoxide (O 2 . ), and the hydroxyl radical (OH⅐). These active oxygen species are byproducts of normal cellular metabolism, and cells contain numerous and conserved defenses against them. By contrast, the highly reactive, but nonradical 1 O 2 is produced primarily via light activation of photosensitizing compounds. Most organisms do not tolerate 1 O 2 , and few biological defenses have been identified (2). The broad-spectrum resistance expressed by Cercospora species against cercosporin and other photosensitizers of diverse structure make these organisms an excellent model for understanding the cellular basis of 1 O 2 resistance. To study specific genes and proteins involved in photosensitizer and 1 O 2 resistance...

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The teleost warm temperature acclimation related 65 kDa protein (Wap65) is a plasma glycoprotein with the potential roles in heat adaptation, heme recycling, immune response and copper metabolism. It is most homologous to the mammalian hemopexin, which is the plasma transporter of heme. A full-length cDNA clone of the Wap65 gene, 1,534 bp in size, was isolated from the fish ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis). Its deduced amino acid sequence of 439 residues had 60.4-65.4% and 38.3-47.3% identical to fish Wap65-2-type and Wap65-1-type sequences, respectively. In phylogenetic analysis, aWap65 grouped tightly with those fish Wap65-2-type sequences. In healthy control fish, the highest mRNA signal for aWap65 was from the liver, moderately high in brain and gill, and but weaker in spleen, kidney, muscle, heart and intestine. In Listonella anguillarum-infected fish, aWap65 transcripts were significantly increased in liver, while no obvious changes in other tissues at 12 hpi. However, aWap65 transcripts were significantly increased in various tissues at 24 hpi when hemolysis developing, suggesting that aWap65 might be involved in the immune response of ayu.

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