• Title/Summary/Keyword: $B_2H_6$

Search Result 5,356, Processing Time 0.044 seconds

The Role of Lymphocyte Compartment and Cytokine in Coal Workers Pneumoconiosis (진폐증환자에서의 임파구 분획 및 싸이토카인의 역할)

  • Lee, Jung-Yeon;Yoo, Kwang-Ha;Ahn, Hae-Ryon;Kim, Sung-Ryul;Lee, Hae-Woon;Ahn, Cheol-Min;Kim, Hyung-Joong
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
    • /
    • v.52 no.3
    • /
    • pp.241-250
    • /
    • 2002
  • Background : Coal-worker's pneumoconiosis(CWP) is characterized by a chronic inflammatory lung reaction associated with macrophage accumulation in the alveolar spaces. CWP is usually divided into two stage : simple pneumoconiosis(SP) where there are a limited number of fibrotic lesions remain limited, with radiological opacities smaller than 1cm and progressive massive fibrosis(PMF), which is characterized by the development of a perifocal extensive fibrotic response of the lung and severe alterations in pulmonary function. In this study, the lymphocyte compartment and cytokine were evaluated by measuring the serum levels in the control, SP and PMF groups. Materials and Methods : The coal workers selected for this study were employees(patients?) of the Tae-Baek and Dong-Hae hospital. All were men, 45-76 years old and the mean duration of their exposure to coal dust was 23.2 years in the lymphocyte compartment and 24.3 years in the cytokine checked group. According to X-ray examination results, the patients were classified into either one of the SP, PMF categories. The normal controls examined were 26-70 years old men. The serum cytokine levels were estimated by using an end point enzyme immunoassay technique. Results : T lymphocyte, helper and suppressor T cells were highly related to pneumoconiosis in this study. A statistically significant decrease in the number of suppressor T lymphocytes was observed in the simple pneumoconiosis patients and at the same time, there was an increase in the lymphocyte index. Howevere, there was no statistically difference in the serum cytokines levels among the SP, PMF and control groups. Conclusion : T lymphocyte, helper T, and suppressor T cells may be highly related to the development of CWP compared to the control group particularly in the early stage of pneumoconiosis. The changes observed in the immunological system in patients with pneumoconiosis may lie at the bottom of the pathogenesis of fibrosis. Further study is needed to evaluate the lymphocyte compartment as a marker for pneumoconiosis development in the early stage.

An International Collaborative Program To Discover New Drugs from Tropical Biodiversity of Vietnam and Laos

  • Soejarto, Djaja D.;Pezzuto, John M.;Fong, Harry H.S.;Tan, Ghee Teng;Zhang, Hong Jie;Tamez, Pamela;Aydogmus, Zeynep;Chien, Nguyen Quyet;Franzblau, Scott G.;Gyllenhaal, Charlotte;Regalado, Jacinto C.;Hung, Nguyen Van;Hoang, Vu Dinh;Hiep, Nguyen Tien;Xuan, Le Thi;Hai, Nong Van;Cuong, Nguyen Manh;Bich, Truong Quang;Loc, Phan Ke;Vu, Bui Minh;Southavong, Boun Hoong
    • Natural Product Sciences
    • /
    • v.8 no.1
    • /
    • pp.1-15
    • /
    • 2002
  • An International Cooperative Biodiversity Group (ICBG) program based at the University of Illinois at Chicago initiated its activities in 1998, with the following specific objectives: (a) inventory and conservation of of plants of Cuc Phuong National Park in Vietnam and of medicinal plants of Laos; (b) drug discovery (and development) based on plants of Vietnam and Laos; and (c) economic development of communities participating in the ICBG project both in Vietnam and Laos. Member-institutions and an industrial partner of this ICBG are bound by a Memorandum of Agreement that recognizes property and intellectual property rights, prior informed consent for access to genetic resources and to indigenous knowledge, the sharing of benefits that may arise from the drug discovery effort, and the provision of short-term and long-term benefits to host country institutions and communities. The drug discovery effort is targeted to the search for agents for therapies against malaria (antimalarial assay of plant extracts, using Plasmodium falciparum clones), AIDS (anti-HIV-l activity using HOG.R5 reporter cell line (through transactivation of the green fluorescent protein/GFP gene), cancer (screening of plant extracts in 6 human tumor cell lines - KB, Col-2, LU-l, LNCaP, HUVEC, hTert-RPEl), tuberculosis (screening of extracts in the microplate Alamar Blue assay against Mycobacterium tuberculosis $H_{37}Ra\;and\;H_{37}Rv),$ all performed at UIC, and CNS-related diseases (with special focus on Alzheimer's disease, pain and rheumatoid arthritis, and asthma), peformed at Glaxo Smith Kline (UK). Source plants were selected based on two approaches: biodiversity-based (plants of Cuc Phuong National Park) and ethnobotany-based (medicinal plants of Cuc Phuong National Park in Vietnam and medicinal plants of Laos). At mc, as of July, 2001, active leads had been identified in the anti-HIV, anticancer, antimalarial, and anti- TB assay, after the screening of more than 800 extracts. At least 25 biologically active compounds have been isolated, 13 of which are new with anti-HIV activity, and 3 also new with antimalarial activity. At GSK of 21 plant samples with a history of use to treat CNS-related diseases tested to date, a number showed activity against one or more of the CNS assay targets used, but no new compounds have been isolated. The results of the drug discovery effort to date indicate that tropical plant diversity of Vietnam and Laos unquestionably harbors biologically active chemical entities, which, through further research, may eventually yield candidates for drug development. Although the substantial monetary benefit of the drug discovery process (royalties) is a long way off, the UIC ICBG program provides direct and real-term benefits to host country institutions and communities.

Evaluation of Metal-Amino Acid Chelates and Complexes at Various Levels of Copper and Zinc in Weanling Pigs and Broiler Chicks

  • Lee, S.H.;Choi, S.C.;Chae, B.J.;Lee, J.K.;Acda, S.P.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
    • /
    • v.14 no.12
    • /
    • pp.1734-1740
    • /
    • 2001
  • Feeding trials using weanling pigs and broiler chicks were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of different metal-amino acid chelates and complexes at various levels of copper and zinc on the performance and fecal excretions. A total of 200 weanling pigs (Large White ${\times}$ Yorkshire ${\times}$ Duroc, $11.20{\pm}0.81kg$) were randomly assigned to 5 dietary treatments following a randomized complete block design. Each treatment was replicated 4 times with 10 pigs per pen. The dietary treatments were designated as : A-diet containing 170 ppm Cu from $CuSO_4$ and 120 ppm Zn from $ZnSO_4$, B-diet containing 85 ppm Cu from Cu-amino acid chelate (CAC) and 60 ppm Zn from Zn-amino acid chelate (ZAC), C-diet containing 170 ppm Cu from CAC and 120 ppm Zn from ZAC, D-diet containing 85 ppm Cu from Cu-lysine complex (CL) and 60 ppm Zn from Zn-methionine complex (ZM), and E-diet containing 170 ppm Cu from CL and 120 ppm Zn from ZM. On the other trial, 144 of one day old broiler chicks were randomly distributed to 6 dietary treatments following a completely randomized design. Each treatment was replicated 3 times with 8 chicks per replicate. The dietary treatments were as follows: 1-diet with 60 ppm Cu from $CuSO_4$ and 40 ppm Zn from $ZnSO_4$, 2-diet with 120 ppm Cu from $CuSO_4$ and 80 ppm Zn from $ZnSO_4$, 3-diet with 60 ppm Cu from CAC and 40 ppm Zn from ZAC, 4-diet with 120 ppm Cu from CAC and 80 ppm Zn from ZAC, 5-diet with 60 ppm Cu from CL and 40 ppm Zn from ZM, and 6-diet with 120 ppm Cu from CL and 80 ppm Zn from ZM. In Exp. 1 with pigs, there was no difference on average daily gain and average daily feed intake observed among treatments. There was improvement (p<0.05) on the overall feed conversion ratio (FCR) of pigs fed diet containing 120 ppm Zn and 170 ppm Cu from metal-amino acid chelates relative to those fed diet containing inorganic sources of Cu and Zn but equally efficient as those fed diet containing metal-amino acid complexes. Pigs fed diet containing either metal-amino acid chelates or complexes as sources of Cu and Zn had higher (p<0.05) Cu and Zn concentration in serum and lower (p<0.05) in feces than those receiving diet with inorganic sources. In Exp. 2 with broiler chicks, the overall FCR was not different among treatments. Higher (p<0.05) Cu and Zn concentration in serum was obtained from birds fed diet with 60 ppm Cu and 40 ppm Zn from metal-amino acid chelates compared to those fed diet with inorganic sources of Cu and Zn. Also, the feces collected from birds fed diet with either metal-amino acid chelates or complexes contained generally lower Cu and Zn than those birds fed diet with inorganic sources. The higher the dietary level of Cu and Zn the higher the Cu and Zn concentration in the feces. Based on the results, both metal-amino acid chelates and complexes of Cu and Zn at low levels (Zn 60 ppm, Cu 85 ppm for weanling pigs and Zn 40 ppm, Cu 60 ppm for broiler chicks) are not different from that of high levels of inorganic sources in maintaining growth performance and serum concentration. The fecal excretions for Cu and Zn were greatly reduced when organic sources were used.

Effects of Sugars on the Retrogradation of Rice Flour Gels (당 첨가가 쌀가루겔의 노화에 미치는 영향)

  • Choi, Cha-Ran;Shin, Mal-Shick
    • Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
    • /
    • v.28 no.5
    • /
    • pp.904-909
    • /
    • 1996
  • To investigate effects of sugars on the retrogradation of rice flour gels, sucrose and isomaltooligosaccharide (1, 2, and 5%, w/w on the flour basis were added to 50% Dongjinbyeo rice flour gels and stored at different temperature $(20^{\circ}C,\;4^{\circ}C)$ far 1, 3 and 6 days. Changes on the degree of retrogradation (DR) of these rice flour gels were measured by α-amylase-iodine method, DSC and X-ray diffractometry. DRs of rice flour gels increased over storage and showed a rapid increase up to 3 days and then decreased thereafter. DRs of rice flour gels with sucrose or oligosaccharide also increased rapidly until 3 day storage but these values were lower than those of rice flour gels without sugar. DRs of rice flour gels with oligosaccharide were lower than those of gels with sucrose. Changes in enthalpy of rice flour gels measured by DSC showed the same tendency with those in DRs of rice flour gels by ${\alpha}-amylase-iodine$ method, but varied with sugar levels.

  • PDF

National Genetic Evaluation (System) of Hanwoo (Korean Native Cattle)

  • Park, B.;Choi, T.;Kim, S.;Oh, S.H.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
    • /
    • v.26 no.2
    • /
    • pp.151-156
    • /
    • 2013
  • Hanwoo (Also known as Korean native cattle; Bos taurus coreanae) have been used for transportation and farming for a long time in South Korea. It has been about 30 yrs since Hanwoo improvement began in earnest as beef cattle for meat yield. The purpose of this study was to determine the trend of improvement as well as to estimate genetic parameters of the traits being used for seedstock selection based on the data collected from the past. Hanwoo proven bulls in South Korea are currently selected through performance and progeny tests. National Hanwoo genetic evaluations are implemented with yearling weight (YW), carcass weight (CW), eye muscle area (EMA), backfat thickness (BF) and marbling score (MS). Yearling weights and MS are used for selecting young bulls, and EMA, BF, and MS are used for selecting proven bulls. One individual per testing room was used for performance tests, and five individuals per room for progeny tests. Individuals tested were not allowed to graze pasture, but there was enough space for them to move around in the testing room. Feeds including roughages and minerals were fed ad libitum, and concentrates were provided at the rate of about 1.8% of individual weight. Overall means of the traits were $352.8{\pm}38.56$ kg, $335.09{\pm}44.61$ kg, $77.85{\pm}8.838\;cm^2$, $8.6{\pm}3.7$ mm and $3.293{\pm}1.648$ for YW, CW, EMA, BF and MS. Heritabilities estimated in this study were 0.30, 0.30, 0.42, 0.50 and 0.63 in YW, CW, EMA, BF and MS, respectively, which are similar to results from previous research. Yearling weight was 315.54 kg in 1998, and had increased to 355.06 kg in 2011, resulting in about 40 kg of improvement over 13 yrs. YW and CW have improved remarkably over the past 15 yrs. Breeding values between 1996 and 2000 decreased or did not change much, but have moved in a desirable direction since 2001. These improvements correspond with the substantial increase in use of animal models since the late 1990s in Korea. Hanwoo testing programs have practically contributed to the improvement in aspects of quality and quantity. In sum, the current selection system is good enough to accommodate circumstances where fewer sires are used on many more cows. Although progeny tests take longer and cost more, they seem to be appropriate under the circumstances of the domestic market with its higher requirement for better meat quality. Consequently, accumulative data collection, genetic evaluation model development, revision of selection indices, as well as cooperation among farms, associations, National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, universities, research institutes, and government agencies must be applied to the Hanwoo selection program. All these efforts will assist the domestic market to secure a competitive position against imported beef under Free Trade Agreement trade system and will provide farmers with higher profits as well as the public with a higher quality of beef.

Influence of Dry Roasting of Whole Faba Beans (Vicia faba) on Rumen Degradation Characteristics in Dairy Cows, II: Starch

  • Yu, P.;Egan, A.R.;Holmes, J.H.G.;Leury, B.J.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
    • /
    • v.11 no.5
    • /
    • pp.503-509
    • /
    • 1998
  • Whole faba beans (WFB) were dry roasted at different temperatures of 110, 130 and $150^{\circ}C$ for 15, 30 and 45 minutes (min) to determine the optimal heating conditions to increase bypass starch as glucose source which may be a limiting nutrient in high producing dairy cattle. Ruminant degradation characteristics of starch (St) of WFB were determined using in sacco method in 6 dairy cows fed 60% hay and 40% concentrate. Measured characteristics of St were soluble (washable) fraction (S), potentially degradation fraction (D) and the rate of degradation (Kd) of the insoluble but degradable St fraction. Based on measurement of these characteristics, percentage bypass starch (%BSt) and bypass starch (BSt) were calculated. Degradability of starch in the rumen was reduced by dry roasting at temperature of 130 and $150^{\circ}C$ and increased at $110^{\circ}C$. S varied from 50.0% in the raw whole faba beans (RWFB) and 53.7% in $110^{\circ}C$/15 min to 18.2% in $150^{\circ}C$/45 min. D varied from 49.9% in RWFB and 46.3% in $110^{\circ}C$/15 min to 81.8 % in $150^{\circ}C$/45 min. Kd varied from 9.8% in RWFB and 11.0% in the $110^{\circ}C$/30 min to 4.2 in $150^{\circ}C$/45 min. All these effects resulted in increasing %BSt from 22.1% in the $110^{\circ}C$/45 min and 23.9% in RWFB to 49.9% in the $150^{\circ}C$/45 min. Therefore BSt increased from 91.4 g/kg and 98.4 g/kg to 199.9 g/kg respectively. Dry roasting at $110^{\circ}C$ increased the starch rumen degradation. Treatment at higher temperature (130 and $150^{\circ}C$) decreased rumen degradation of starch and seemed to be linear up to highest values tested. No optimal dry roasting conditions of treatment could be determined at this stage. It may be concluded that dry roasting at temperatures of 130 and $150^{\circ}C$ was effective in shifting starch degradation from rumen to intestine to increase bypass starch.

Generation and maintenance of type II collagen-specific T-cell line expressing conserved TCR-CDR3 motifs among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (류마티스 관절염 환자에서 Conserved T 세포 수용체의 CDR3 motif를 표현하는 제2형 콜라겐 특이 T세포주의 형성과 유지)

  • Kim, Seung-Hoon;Cho, Mi-La;Youn, Jeehee;Park, Sung-Hwan;Hwang, Sue-Yun;Cho, Chul-Soo;Kim, Ho-Youn
    • IMMUNE NETWORK
    • /
    • v.1 no.1
    • /
    • pp.61-69
    • /
    • 2001
  • Background: To determine the molecular structure of type II collagen-specific T-cell receptors associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: We generated CII-specific T-cell lines of 8 RA patients by prolonged in vitro culture with bovine CII (bCII) and the immunogenic peptide (256-270) of human CII. The proliferation response towards CII stimulation was measured from the uptake of 3H-thymidine. Changes in the secretion of Th 1 and Th2 cytokines in the culture supernatent were measured by ELISA. The TCR clonotypes of these T-cells were examined by RT-PCR/SSCP analyses of all 22 $V_{\beta}$ chains. Results: T-cells from patients' tissue exhibited strong proliferation index upon CII stimulation, which was maintained up to 6 months in the culture. The secretion of INF-$\gamma$from these T-cells increased along with the duration of culture time, while the amount of IL-4 production did not show significant changes. The SSCP band patterns of patients' T-cells appear as discrete bands unlike the smeary streak produced from normal samples. Some SSCP bands, each representing selected expansion of a TCR containing certain subtype of $V_{\beta}$ peptides, appeared to be identical in more than one patients. Among these, the expansion of SSCP band representing the $V_{\beta}$ 14 CDR3 region persisted after switching the antigen to the immunogenic human peptide (256-270). Conclusion: CII-reactive T-cells expressing distinct CDR3 motifs are selectively expanded in the peripheral blood and synovial fluid of RA patients, and their persistent proliferation upon CII stimulation, as well as the production Th 1-type cytokines, may play pivotal roles in RA pathogenesis.

  • PDF

Evaluation of Biological Activities of Fermented Rice Bran from Novel Black Colored Rice Cultivar SuperC3GHi (슈퍼자미(SuperC3GHi) 미강 발효물의 생리활성)

  • Kim, Dong-Ju;Choi, Su-Min;Kim, Hwa-Young;Kim, Joong-Hark;Ryu, Su-Noh;Han, Sang-Jun;Hong, Seong-Gil
    • KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
    • /
    • v.56 no.4
    • /
    • pp.420-426
    • /
    • 2011
  • Rice bran is by-product from the dehulling process of rice, an important staple food in Korea. Various studies have been reported immune-enhancing effects of rice bran cultured with Lentinus edodes. In particular black rice bran that contains anthocyanin has the beneficial effects on immune system. SuperC3GHi, a recently released black colored rice cultivar, has higher contents of cyanidine-3-glucoside (C3G), a strong antioxidant than those of currently cultivated black rice cultivars. In this study, we investigate the beneficial effects of fermented SuperC3GHi rice bran (C3G-F) with Lentinus edodes. Using in vivo and in vitro model for inflammation and allgergy, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects of C3G-F were determined. C3G-F induced tumor suppressive effect on Sarcoma-180 cell and B16 melanoma cell injected to mice. These results suggest that the capacity of C3G-F seems to act as a potent immunomodulator and with the absence of notable side-effects, C3G-F could be used as a novel functional food ingredient having possible therapeutic effects against immunological disorders.

전기자동차 개발

  • 임성기
    • 전기의세계
    • /
    • v.41 no.12
    • /
    • pp.21-30
    • /
    • 1992
  • 내연기관의 가솔린자동차보다 역사가 오래된 전기자동차는 상대적으로 주생성능과 가격 경쟁력의 열세로 그 자취를 감추었고 최근까지 주로 특수목적의 단거리 저속차량으로 사용되고 있다. 그러나 1890년대 후반부터 전세계가 자동차배기가스에 의한 대기오염과 지구온난화 현상등의 문제를 심각하게 공감하게 되었고 마침내 미국 캘리포니아주에서는 전가자동차의 강제판매를 규정화하게 이르렀다. 이 규정에 의하면 1998년도부터 차량 판매대수의 2%를 전기자동차 판매로 강제요구하고 있다. 이 비율은 2000녀도에 5% 2003년에는 10%로 늘어날 계획이다. 따라서 미국에 많은 자동차를 수출하고 있는 일본, 독일 및 여러 유럽국가에서는 이 사업에 막대한 자금을 투자하며 개발에 몰두하고 있다. 미국의 Big3도 에너지성의 도움으로 최근 USABC를 결성하여 전기자동차 개발에 박차를 가하고 있다. 지금까지 기존의 가솔린자동차 기술에 있어서 일본과 독일에 상대적 열세에 있었던 미국도 이번 캘리포니아주의 전기자동차 강제판매 규정에 따른 전기자동차 사업으로 미국자동차 시장의 새로운 판도를 조성하겠다는 의도인듯하다. 국내에서도 정부가 이 사업의 중요성을 심각히 인식하고 G7사업과제의 하나로 선정하여 산, 학, 연 각층의 전문가가 참여하여 성공적으로 개발을 마칠 수 있도록 적극 지원하고 있다. 지금까지의 평균주행성능을 보면 최고속도 100-120km/h, 일층전 최대주행거리 150-200km 정도이며, 아직 양산체제에 돌입하지 않았기 때문에 가격면에서 경쟁력이 없는 실정이다. 그러나 1990년도에 들면서 각종 요소부품들의 기술수준이 급성장을 이루어서 앞으로 10년정도 후면 성능과 가격면에서 가솔린자동차와 대등한 수준의 전기자동차 개발이 실현될 수 있으리라 예측된다.는 영향받지 않았다. Clonidine의 심박수 감소작용은 .뇌실내및 정맥내 diltiazem이나 nifedipine 처리후에 감약되었다. 5). 뇌실내 clonidine$(30{\mu}g)$ 처 리후 뇌실내 diltiazem$(400{\mu}g)$과 nifedipine$(350{\mu}g)$의 혈압하강및 심박수 감소효과는 영향 받지 않고 그대로 나타났다. 이상의 결과로 diltiazem과 nifedipine은 가토뇌내에서 methoxamine에 의한 혈압상승의 작용점인 alrfia-1 adrenoceptor의 흥분에는 영향을 미치지 못하나 clonidine의 작용점인 alpha-2 adrenoceptor의 흥분에 의한 혈압하강및 심박수 감소효과는 억제한다고 추론하였다.thin 함량은 110.6 mg/L로서 산업적인 생산성이 있는 것으로 나타났다. 이번 연구를 통하여 개발된 변이주 B76 및 이의 대량 발효를 위한 최종조건의 정립은 향후 astaxanthin의 산업적 생산공정에 필요한 기초자료로 이용될 것으로 기대된다.색총말내에 소형의 도형, 소형의 장형 연접소포 및 DENSE CORE VESICLE의 3가지 연접소포를 가지고 있었고 출현빈도수는 촉각엽에서 가장 큰 33%이었다. 제5형 신경연접은 축색종말내에 중등도크기의 원형, 대형의 원형연접소포 및 DENSE CORE VESICLE을 포함하였고 13%의 출현빈도수로 관찰되었다. 배추횐나비의 촉각에 있는 지각신경세포가 뇌의 촉각엽으로 뻗어 들어가 위의 5가지 신경연접중 어느 형을 형성하는지를 관찰하기 위하여 좌측 촉각의 기부를 제거하여 지각신경세포를 절단하였는데 그 결과, 좌측 촉각엽에서 제4형의 신경연접이 퇴행성 변화를 나타내었다.

  • PDF

Molecular Cloning and Function Analysis of an Anthocyanidin Synthase Gene from Ginkgo biloba, and Its Expression in Abiotic Stress Responses

  • Xu, Feng;Cheng, Hua;Cai, Rong;Li, Lin Ling;Chang, Jie;Zhu, Jun;Zhang, Feng Xia;Chen, Liu Ji;Wang, Yan;Cheng, Shu Han;Cheng, Shui Yuan
    • Molecules and Cells
    • /
    • v.26 no.6
    • /
    • pp.536-547
    • /
    • 2008
  • Anthocyanidin synthase (ANS, leucoanthocyanidin oxygenase), a 2-oxoglutarate iron-dependent oxygenase, catalyzed the penultimate step in the biosynthesis of the anthocyanin class of flavonoids, from the colorless leucoanthocyanidins to the colored anthocyanidins. The full-length cDNA and genomic DNA sequences of ANS gene (designated as GbANS) were isolated from Ginkgo biloba for the first time. The full-length cDNA of GbANS contained a 1062-bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a 354-amino-acid protein. The genomic DNA analysis showed that GbANS gene had three exons and two introns. The deduced GbANS protein showed high identities to other plant ANSs. The conserved amino acids (H-X-D) ligating ferrous iron and residues (R-X-S) participating in 2-oxoglutarate binding were found in GbANS at the similar positions like other ANSs. Southern blot analysis indicated that GbANS belonged to a multi-gene family. The expression analysis by real-time PCR showed that GbANS expressed in a tissue-specific manner in G. biloba. GbANS was also found to be up-regulated by all of the six tested abiotic stresses, UV-B, abscisic acid, sucrose, salicylic acid, cold and ethylene, consistent with the promoter region analysis of GbANS. The recombinant protein was successfully expressed in E. coli strain with pET-28a vector. The in vitro enzyme activity assay by HPLC indicated that recombinant GbANS protein could catalyze the formation the cyanidin from leucocyanidin and conversion of dihydroquercetin to quercetin, suggesting GbANS is a bifunctional enzyme within the anthocyanidin and flavonol biosynthetic pathway.