The effects of vitamin E on arylamine N-acetyltransferase activity in strains of Helicobacter pylori from peptic ulcer patients.

Arylamine N-acetyltransferase (NAT) activities with 2-aminofluorene (2-AF) and p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) were determined in the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. Cytosols or suspensions of H. pylori, with or without specific concentrations of vitamin E co-treatment, showed different percentages of 2-AF acetylation. The data indicated that there was increased NAT activity associated with increased levels of vitamin E in H. pylori cytosols and intact bacteria. For the cytosol and intact bacteria examinations, the apparent values of Km and Vmax were increased when vitamin E was added to the reaction mixtures for 2-AF and PABA acetylation, respectively. This report is the first demonstration to show that antioxidant agents (vitamin E) can promote H. pylori N-acetyltransferase activity.