Abstract
The effect of exogenous, highly diluted formaldehyde on the rate of demethylation/re-methylation of veratric acid by the bacteria Rhodococcus erythropolis was studied using electrophoretic and microscopic techniques. The activity of 4-O-demethylase, responsible for accumulation of vanillic acid, and the levels of veratric and vanillic acids were determined using capillary electrophoresis. Formaldehyde was serially diluted at 1:100 ratios, and the total number of iterations was 20. After incubation of the successive dilutions of formaldehyde with the bacteria, demethylase activity oscillated in a sinusoidal manner. It was established using capillary electrophoresis that methylation of vanillic acid to veratric acid occurred at a double rate, as shown by the doubled fluctuation in the concentration of veratrate. There were also changes in the NADH oxidase activity, which is associated with methylation processes. Microscopic observations revealed the presence of numerous enlarged vacuoles in bacterial cells during the accumulation of large amounts of vanillic acid, and their disappearance together with a decrease in 4-O-demethylase activity. The presented results give evidence for the ability of living cells to detect the presence of submolecular concentrations of biological effectors in their environment and provide a basis for a scientific explanation of the law of hormesis and the therapeutic effect of homeopathic dilutions.
Highlights
Demethylation processes are widespread in all living organisms
They regulate replication and translation processes via methylation and demethylation of histones. They take an active part in transformations of phenolics, which form the basis of synthesis and biodegradation of lignin in plant tissues and humic acids in soil
In 1998, in a study of transformations of methoxyphenols in fungi and ligninolytic bacteria [16], we described the cyclic process of demethylation/methylation of veratric acid and vanillic acids in Rh. erythropolis [17], coupled with the activity of membrane bound NADH oxidase [18] and periodic reconstruction of the pool of veratric acid as a result of alternate activation of methylase and demethylase activities in these bacteria combined with changes in the levels of oxygen uptake
Summary
Demethylation processes are widespread in all living organisms. They regulate replication and translation processes via methylation and demethylation of histones. They take an active part in transformations of phenolics, which form the basis of synthesis and biodegradation of lignin in plant tissues and humic acids in soil. Transformations of phenolics are strongly associated with secondary metabolism. Methylathion is based on a reversible substitution of hydrogen with a -CH3 group at an electrophilic atom of nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur. Demethylation refers primarily to the removal of a -CH3 group from a methoxy group (O-CH3), an N-methyl group (N-CH3) or an S-
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