• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.55-63
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• 2001

Aucubin, an irdoid g1ucoside, was investigated to determine whether it has a stimulating effect on $\alpha$-amanitin excretion in $\alpha$-amanitin intoxicated rats, and whether there is binding activity to calf thymus DNA. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of $\alpha$-amanitin in rat urine allowed quantitative measurement of the $\alpha$-amanitin concentration with a detection limit of 50${mu}g/ml$. In this system, a group treated with both $\alpha$-amanitin and aucubin showed that o(-amanitin was excreted about 1.4 times faster than in the $\alpha$-amanitin only treated group. Our previous results showed that the toxicity of $\alpha$-amanitin is due to specific inhibition of RNA polymerase activity and the resultant blockage of the synthesis of certain RNA species in the nucleus. However, no significant activity change on RNA polymerase from Hep G2 cells was observed when aucubin was treated with $\alpha$-amanitin at any concentration tested. Nevertheless, aucubigenin inhibited both DNA polymerase (IC50, 80.5${mu}g/ml$) and RNA polymerase (IC50, 135.0${mu}g/ml$) from the Hep G2 cells. The potential of both $\alpha$-amanitin and aucubin to interact with DNA were examined by spectrophotometric analysis. $\alpha$-Amanitin showed no significant binding capacity to calf thymus DNA, but aucubin was found to interact with DNA, and the apparent binding constant ($K_{app}$) and apparent number of binding sites per D7A phosphate ($B_{app}$) were 0.45$0.45{\times}$$10^4$ $M^{-1}$ and 1.25, respectively.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.108-115
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• 2018

Purpose: Glehnia littoralis has been reported to have several pharmacological properties but no in vivo reports describing the protective effects of this plant on${\alpha}$-amanitin-induced hepatotoxicity have been published. ${\alpha}$-Amanitin is a peptide found in several mushroom species that accounts for the majority of severe mushroom poisonings leading to severe hepatonecrosis. In our previous in vitro study, we found that ${\alpha}$-amanitin induced oxidative stress, which may contribute to its severe hepatotoxicity. The aim of this study was to investigate whether Glehnia littoralis acetate extract (GLEA) has protective antioxidant effects on ${\alpha}$-amanitin-induced hepatotoxicity in a murine model. Methods: Swiss mice (n=40 in all groups) were divided into four groups (n=10/group). Three hours after giving ${\alpha}$-amanitin (0.6 mg/kg, i.p.) to the mice, they were administered silibinin (50 mg/kg/d, i.p.) or Glehnia littoralis ethyl acetate extract (100 mg/kg/d, oral) therapies once a day for 3 days. After 72 hours of treatment, each subject was killed, cardiac blood was aspirated for hepatic aminotransferase measurement, and liver specimens were harvested to evaluate the extent of hepatonecrosis. The degree of hepatonecrosis was assessed by a pathologist blinded to the treatment group and divided into 4 categories according to the grade of hepatonecrosis. Results: GLEA significantly improved the beneficial functional parameters in ${\alpha}$-amanitin-induced hepatotoxicity. In the histopathological evaluation, the toxicity that was generated with ${\alpha}$-amanitin was significantly reduced by GLEA, showing a possible hepatoprotective effect. Conclusion: In this murine model, Glehnia littoralis was effective in limiting hepatic injury after ${\alpha}$-amanitin poisoning. Increases of aminotransferases and degrees of hepatonecrosis were attenuated by this antidotal therapy.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.63-72
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• 2013

A specific inhibitor of RNA polymerase II, ${\alpha}$-amanitin is broadly used to block transcriptional activities in cells. Previous studies showed that ${\alpha}$-amanitin affects in vitro maturation of cumulus-oocyte-complex (COC). In this study, we evaluated the target of ${\alpha}$-amanitin, and whether it affects oocytes or cumulus cells (CCs), or both. We treated ${\alpha}$-amanitin with different time period during in vitro culture of denuded oocytes (DOs) or COCs in comparison, and observed the changes in morphology and maturation status. Although DOs did not show any change in morphology and maturation rates with ${\alpha}$-amanitin treatment, oocytes from COCs were arrested at metaphase I (MI) stage and CCs were more scattered than control groups. To discover causes of meiotic arrest and scattering of CCs, we focused on changes of cumulus expansion, gap junctions, and cellular metabolism which to be the important factors for the successful in vitro maturation of COCs. Expression of genes for cumulus expansion markers (Ptx3, Has2, and Tnfaip6) and gap junctional proteins (Gja1, Gja4, and Gjc1) decreased in ${\alpha}$-amanitin-treated CCs. However, these changes were not observed in oocytes. In addition, expression of genes related to metabolism (Prps1, Rpe, Rpia, Taldo1, and Tkt) decreased in ${\alpha}$-amanitin-treated CCs but not in oocytes. Therefore, we concluded that the transcriptional activities of CCs for supporting suitable transcripts, especially for its metabolic activities and formation of gap junctions among CCs as well as with oocytes, are important for oocytes maturation in COCs.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.107-115
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• 2017

Purpose: Glehnia littoralis has been used to treat ischemic stroke, phlegm, cough, systemic paralysis, antipyretics and neuralgia. The pharmacological mechanisms of Glehnia littoralis include calcium channel block, coumarin derivatives, anticoagulation, anti-convulsive effect, as well as anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Alpha-amanitin (${\alpha}$-amanitin) is a major toxin from extremely poisonous Amanita fungi. Oxidative stress, which may contribute to severe hepatotoxicity was induced by ${\alpha}$-amanitin. The aim of this study was to investigate whether Glehnia littoralis ethyl acetate extract (GLEA) has the protective antioxidant effects on ${\alpha}$-amanitin -induced hepatotoxicity. Methods: Human hepatoma cell line HepG2 cells were pretreated in the presence or absence of GLEA (50, 100 and $200{\mu}g/ml$) for 4 hours, then exposed to $60{\mu}mol/L$ of${\alpha}$-amanitin for an additional 4 hours. Cell viability was evaluated using the MTT method. AST, ALT, and LDH production in a culture medium and intracellular MDA, GSH, and SOD levels were determined. Results: GLEA (50, 100 and $200{\mu}g/ml$) significantly increased the relative cell viability by 7.11, 9.87, and 14.39%, respectively, and reduced the level of ALT by 10.39%, 34.27%, and 52.14%, AST by 9.89%, 15.16%, and 32.84%, as well as LDH by 15.86%, 22.98%, and 24.32% in culture medium, respectively. GLEA could also remarkably decrease the level of MDA and increase the content of GSH and SOD in the HepG2 cells. Conclusion: In the in vitro model, Glehnia littoralis was effective in limiting hepatic injury after ${\alpha}$-amanitin poisoning. Its antioxidant effect is attenuated by antidotal therapy.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.183-190
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• 1994

Cell-free extracts prepared from cultured insect cells, Spodoptera. frugiperda, were analyzed for activation of early gene transcription of an insect baculovirus, Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV). The template DNA used for in vitro transcription assays contained promoter sites for the baculovirus genes that have been classified as immediate early ($\alpha$) or early genes. These genes are located in the HindIII-K/Q region of the AcNPV genome. Nuclei isolated from the AcNPV-infected Spodoptera frugiperda cells were also used for in vitro transcription analysis by RNase-mapping the labeled RNA synthesized from in vitro run-on reaction in the isolated nuclei. The genes studied by this technique were p26 and pl0 genes which were classified as delayed early and late gene, respectively. We found that transcription of the genes from the HindIII-K region was accurately initiated and unique in the whole cell extract obtained from uninfected cells, although abundance of the in vitro transcripts was reverse to that of in vivo RNA. With isolated nuclei transcription of the p26 gene was inhibited by $\alpha$-amanitin suggesting that the p26 gene was transcribed by host RNA polymerase II. However, transcription of the pl0 gene in isolated nuclei was not inhibited by $\alpha$-amanitin, but rather stimulated by the inhibitor. We also found that the synthesis of $\alpha$-amanitin-resistant RNA polymerase was begun before 6 hr p.i., the time point at which the onset of viral DNA replication as well as the appearance of a-amanitin-resistant viral transcripts were detected. These studies give us strong evidence to support the previous data that early genes of AcNPV were transcribed by host RNA polymerease III, while transcription of late genes was mediated at least by a novel $\alpha$-amanitin-resistant RNA polymerase.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.112-117
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• 2021

α-Amanitin and β-amanitin are highly toxic bicyclic octapeptides responsible for the poisoning of poisonous mushrooms such as Amanita, Galerina, and Lepiota by inhibiting RNA polymerase II, DNA transcription, and protein synthesis. A sensitive, simple, and selective liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometric method using parallel reaction monitoring mode was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of α- and β-amanitin in mouse plasma to evaluate the toxicokinetics of α- and β-amanitin in mice. Protein precipitation of 5 μL mouse plasma sample with methanol as sample clean-up procedure and use of negative electrospray ionization resulted in better sensitivity and less matrix effect. The calibration curves for α- and β-amanitin in mouse plasma were linear over the range of 0.5-500 ng/mL. The intra- and inter-day coefficient of variations and accuracies for α- and β-amanitin at four quality control concentrations were 3.1-14.6% and 92.5-115.0%, respectively. The present method was successfully applied to the toxicokinetic study of α- and β-amanitin after an oral administration of α- and β-amanitin at 1.5 mg/kg dose to male ICR mice.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.58-65
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• 2019

Purpose: Alpha-amanitin induces potent oxidative stress and apoptosis, and may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of hepatotoxicity. This study examined the mechanisms of α-amanitin-induced apoptosis in vitro, and whether green tea extract (GTE) offers protection against hepatic damage caused by α-amanitin (AMA) induced apoptosis in vivo. Methods: The effects of GTE and SIL on the cell viability of cultured murine hepatocytes induced by AMA were evaluated using an MTT assay. Apoptosis was assessed by an analysis of DNA fragmentation and caspase-3. In the in vivo protocol, mice were divided into the following four groups: control group (0.9% saline injection), AMA group (α-amanitin 0.6 mg/kg), AMA+SIL group (α-amanitin and silibinin 50 mg/kg), and AMA+GTE group (α-amanitin and green tea extract 25 mg/kg). After 48 hours of treatment, the hepatic aminotransferase and the extent of hepatonecrosis of each subject was evaluated. Results: In the hepatocytes exposed to AMA and the tested antidotes, the cell viability was significantly lower than the AMA only group. An analysis of DNA fragmentation showed distinctive cleavage of hepatocyte nuclear DNA in the cells exposed to AMA. In addition, the AMA and GTE or SIL groups showed more relief of the cleavage of the nuclear DNA ladder. Similarly, values of caspase-3 in the AMA+GTE and AMA+SIL groups were significantly lower than in the AMA group. The serum AST and ALT levels were significantly higher in the AMA group than in the control and significantly lower in the AMA+GTE group. In addition, AMA+GTE induced a significant decrease in hepatonecrosis compared to the controls when a histologic grading scale was used. Conclusion: GTE is effective against AMA-induced hepatotoxicity with its apoptosis regulatory properties under in vitro and in vivo conditions.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.1-13
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• 1991

In order to investigate the factors of the control mechanism of somitogenesis, early chick embryos (H-H stage $8{\sim}13$) were treated with heat shock, ${\alpha}$-amanitin and cycloheximide and morphological changes of somite were examined by light microscopy, transmission and scanning electron microscopy. In normal chick embryo, somites were formed from the somitomere which preexisted in segmental plate. Somites were wrapped with extracellular collagen fibrils and connected with neural tube, notochord and ectoderm. And then, somites were differentiated to sclerotome, dermatome and myotome by the interaction of nervous tissue. Abnormal somites were observed after formation of six or seven so mites in heat shock treated group. Amounts of collagen fibrils were obviously decreased in this group. In cycloheximide treated group, most so mites were smaller and neural tube formation was incomplete. Chromatins were condenced and formed several heterochromatins in the nucleus of somite cells. Lipid like cytoplasmic dense mass and lipid droplets were also observed. Segmentation of somites seemed to be normal progress in ${\alpha}$-amanitin treated group. Center of somite, however, hollowed in longitudinal sectioned samples. These results suggested that so mites were already existed in the segmental plate as the form of somitomere. Segmented somites were contacted with neural tube or notochord and the somites were tightly connected with each other by the extracellular collagen fibrils which were secreted from neuroepithelium and somite cells. Somites are thought to differentiate into sclerotome, dermatome and myotome by these interactions.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.95-105
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• 2022

Amatoxin-induced mushroom poisoning starts with nonspecific symptoms of toxicity but hepatic damage may follow, resulting in the rapid development of liver insufficiency and, ultimately, coma and death. Accurate detection of amatoxins, such as α-, β-, and γ-amanitin, within the first few hours after presentation is necessary to improve the therapeutic outcomes of patients. Therefore, analytical methods for the identification and quantification of α-, β-, and γ-amanitin in biological samples are necessary for clinical and forensic toxicology. This study presents a literature review of the analytical techniques available for amatoxin detection in biological matrices, and established an inventory of liquid chromatography (LC) techniques with mass spectrometry (MS), ultraviolet (UV) detection, and electrochemical detection (ECD). LC-MS methods using quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry, time-of-flight mass spectrometry, and orbitrap MS are powerful analytical techniques for the identification and determination of amatoxins in plasma, urine, serum, and tissue samples, with high sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility compared to LC with UV and ECD, enzyme-linked immunoassay, and capillary electrophoresis methods.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.404-411
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• 1989

In this study, we attempted to determine the precise patterns of protein synthesis during the second cleavage in mouse. F1 hybrid 2-cell embryos showing a highly synchronized cell cycle and outbreed ICR strain 2-cell embryos were used. The patterns of protein synthesis during the second cleavage showed the sequential changes in the F1 hybrid and ICR strain 2-cell embryos. Moreover, we examined the effects of mitotic and transcriptional inhibitors such as colcemid and a-amanitin on the protein synthesis in the late 2-cell embryos of ICR strain. Treatment of colcemid (0.1mg/ml) blocked the second cleavage, but did not affect on the change of protein synthesis. However, treatment of a-amanitin induced the synthesis of two set of polypeptides without affecting on synthesis of other proteins and cleavage. It thus seems that the appearance of a-amanitin-sensitive proteins may be not involved in the second cleavage. Therefore, these results indicate that the second cell cycle in mouse embryos appears to be regulated at post transcriptional level, presumably independent on the expression of embryonic genome. 본 연구는 생쥐 배아의 2세포기 분열과정중 단백질 합성양상과 단백질합성에 미치는 colcemid와 $\alpha$-amanitin의 영향을 조사하였다 이를 위하여 체내 수정된 ICR strain의 2세포기 배아와 매우 일치된 초기배아 분열양상을 보여주는 체외 수정된 F1 (C57BL x CBA) hybrid 2세포기 배아를 사용하였다. 두 종류의 2세포기 배아에서 단백질 합성은 분열단계에 따라서 매우 일치된 변화를 보여 주었다. 또한 유사분열 억제제인 colcemid (0.1mg/ml)의 처리는 2세포기 배아분열을 억제하였으나, 단백질 합성에는 아무런 변화를 주지 못하였다. 그리고 후기 2세포기 배아에 전사 억제제인 a-amanitin (100mg/ml)을 처리하였을 때 세포분열이나 다른 단백질의 합성에는 아무런 영향이 없이 단지 두개의 단백질의 합성만을 유도하였다. 이는 아마도 a-amanitin의 stress효과에 기인하는 것으로 추측된다. 따라서 생쥐 2세포기 배아의 분열과정은 배아게놈의 유전자 발현과는 무관하게 이미 합성되어 존재하는 mRNA에 의하여 조절되는 것으로 사료된다.