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

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.