Cell-free extracts from several microorganisms, when prepared by methods originally devised for Chlorella pyrenoidosa (Emerson strain 3) and incubated anaerobically with ATP, Mg(2+), and 2, 3-dimercaptopropan-1-ol, are capable of reducing sulfate-(35)S to thiosulfate. These microorganisms include, in addition to C. pyrenoidosa (Emerson strain 3), several other strains of C. pyrenoidosa, Chlorel...

In humans, sulfite is generated endogenously by the metabolism of sulfur containing amino acids such as methionine and cysteine. Sulfite is also formed from exposure to sulfur dioxide, one of the major environmental pollutants. Sulfite is used as an antioxidant and preservative in dried fruits, vegetables, and beverages such as wine. Sulfite is also used as a stabilizer in many drugs. Sulfite t...

Sulfite oxidase (SO) plays an important role in sulfite metabolism. To date, the molecular mechanisms of sulfite metabolism in plants are largely unknown. Previously, a full-length cDNA of the putative sulfite oxidase gene from maize (ZmSO) was cloned, and its response to SO(2)/sulfite stress at the transcriptional level was characterized. In this study, the recombinant ZmSO protein was purifie...

Theoretical ab initio quantum mechanical charge field molecular dynamics (QMCF MD) has been applied in conjunction with experimental large angle X-ray scattering (LAXS) to study the structure and dynamics of the hydrated thiosulfate ion, S2O3(2-), in aqueous solution. The S-O and SC-ST bond distances have been determined to be 1.479(5) and 2.020(6) Å by LAXS and to be 1.478 and 2.017 Å by QMCF ...

Two new examples of mixed metal copper(I) sulfites, namely, Na3Mn2Cu(SO3)4(H2O)5 (1) and NaMn4Cu(SO3)5(H2O)3 (2), have been synthesized and structurally characterized. The 1D structure of 1 is built from a chain of [Mn2Cu(SO3)4]3- bridged by Na+ ions whereas the structure of 2 features a complicated 3D framework in which Mn8O36 octanuclear clusters are bridged by sulfite anions and copper(I) io...

In an acid forest soil of pH 4.0 to 4.2 amended with glucose, 1.0 mug of nitrite-N per g of soil inhibited the rate of O(2) utilization and CO(2) evolution. The inhibition was evident only for several hours after nitrite addition, and the subsequent rate of glucose mineralization was the same as in soil not receiving nitrite. The decomposition of protein hydrolysate was reduced by 10 mug of nit...