Abstract
Curcumin, a naturally occurring phenolic compound, has been shown to exhibit antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, etc., but the mechanism remains unclear. The present study was designed to investigate the novel antibacterial mechanism of curcumin that shows an apoptosis-like response in E. coli. We found that curcumin induces membrane damage at relatively high concentrations, but there was no effect at the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). At the MIC, curcumin-treated cells displayed various apoptotic markers such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, membrane depolarization, and Ca(2+) influx. Expression of RecA protein, which mediates a bacterial apoptosis-like response, was also increased by curcumin. In order to evaluate the influence of RecA on the appearance of other apoptotic markers, phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure and DNA fragmentation were examined and compared with a RecA deletion strain (ΔRecA). These markers were detected in E. coli wild-type cells, but not in ΔRecA cells. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that curcumin induces an apoptosis-like response in E. coli that involves RecA.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
