• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.184-188
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• 2010

A cyanobacteria species, Anabaena sp. PCC 7120, was tested to assess its biotransformation ability on two widely used insecticides, aldrin and chlorpyrifos-methyl, in the culture medium. The blue-green alga metabolized aldrin mainly to dieldrin by an epoxidation reaction with the participation of cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenase in the cyanobacteria. The blue-green alga also produced chlorpyrifosmethyl oxon as a primary metabolite from chlorpyrifos-methyl via a desulfuration reaction, presumably conducted by cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenase. Therefore, two insecticides might be possibly dissipated by cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenases in the blue-green algae in the contaminated environments.

• BMB Reports
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.391-398
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• 1998

In vitro effects of acetone, methanol, and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) on liver microsomal cytochrome P450 (P450) content, and P450-dependent arylhydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) and 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase (ECOD) activities were studied in rats. Acetone at 1% (v/v) enhanced the content ofP450, assayed spectrally in 3-methylcholanethrene (MC)- and ${\beta}-naphthoflavone$ (BNF)-inducible microsomes by 18 and 7%, respectively. Methanol, up to 5% (v/v) applied, also showed enhancement effects on P450 content in liver microsomes from rats treated with phenobarbital (PB), MC, and BNF, as well as uninduced microsomes with similar but low strength. DMSO, however, did not show such enhancing effects at the ranges of the concentrations applied. AHH and ECOD activities in MC-inducible microsomes were also enhanced by acetone at 1%, which was in proportion to the increase in P450 content by the same concentration. However, the P450 content, and AHH and ECOD activities, were decreased by increasing the concentration of acetone. Methanol at the same concentration with acetone also enhanced ECOD activity but not AHH activity in MCinducible microsomes. The enhancing effect of acetone on the enzymes was negligible when the microsomes were pretreated with a specific monoclonal antibody of MC-inducible isozyme. The difference in the effects of these solvents on P450 system might be due to their different properties that cause the P450 active site to be exposed in milieu.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Tobacco Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.99-107
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• 1998

Numerous studies have demonstrated a negative association between cigarette smoking and Parkinson's disease. The present study was undertaken to investigate whether chronic exposure of mice to cigarette smoke a(footed the metabolism of 1-methyl-1113,6-tetrahydro-pyridine (MPTP) by cytochrome P4SO (P-450) or flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO) in the hepatic microsomes of C57BL6/J mice. Adult male C57BL6/J mice were exposed to mainstream smoke generated from 15 cigarettes for 10 min a day and 5 day per week for 6 weeks. MPTP (10 mg/kg body weight) was administered to mice by subcutaneous injection for 6 consecutive days. Microsolnal P-450 content was increased by MPTP, smoke exposure, or both, but NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase activity was rather decreased by the same treatments. The activities of benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylase, 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase and ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase were significantly increased by the exposure of cigarette smoke, but were not or little affected by MPTP treatment. Benzphetamine N-demethylase activity was not affected either by MPTP treatment or by cigarette smoke exposure, but it was significantly increased by the combined MPTP treatment with cigarette smoke exposure, showing their synergic effect for the induction of the enzyme activity. Interestingly, in vitro studies of hepatic FMO and P-450 system both O-oxygenation and N-demethylation of MPTP were increased in the smoke-exposed or in the MPTP-treated mice. These results suggest that the enhancement in the N-demethylation as well as O-deethylation of P-450 system and in the N-oxygenation of FMO activity by cigarette smoke exposure in mouse liver may contribute to attenuating the neurotoxic effects of MPTP on the nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.105-112
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• 2001

Insect pests can be controlled through direct application of insecticides. Insect control by residual protectants is relatively inexpensive and has an advantage of destroying all stages of infestations. The efficacy of control is largely determined by the concentration of insecticides to which the pest species is exposed. A reduction in the period of control in the field afforded by a specific level of a protectant indicates that resistance has developed. An increase in the level of protectant is required to maintain control, and the efficacy of currently used insecticides has been severely reduced by insecticide resistance in pest species. Development of resistance to particular insecticide varies with species because insecticide resistance is often correlated with increased levels of certain enzymes, which are cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenases, glutathione S-transferases and esterases. Some sections of insecticide molecules can be modified by one or more of these primary enzymes. A reduction in the sensitivity of the action site of a xenobiotic also constitutes a mechanism of resistance. Acetylcholinesterase is a major target site for insecticide action, as are axonal sodium ion channels and ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid receptors. Development of reduced sensitivity of these target sites to insecticides usually occurs. This review not only may contribute to a better understanding of insecticide resistance, but also illustrates the gaps still present for a full biochemical understanding of the resistance.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.17-28
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• 1998

Drug-metabolizing activities of Korean native cattle and swine were investigated from viewpoints of the cytochrome P-450's level, their dependent mixed function oxidase activities, the reactive oxygen species formation and cytosolic enzyme acitivities from each liver homogenates. Level of cytochrome P-450 in the liver microsome of Korean native cattle was $0.28{\pm}0.05nmole/mg$ and that in pigs $0.35{\pm}0.03nmole/mg$. Level of cytochrome $b_5$ of Korean native cattle was $0.24{\pm}0.06nmole/mg$, and that of pigs $0.2{\pm}0.05nmole/mg$, showing no difference between two species. NADPH P-450 reductase were higher in Korean native cattle ($58.3{\pm}5.3nmole/mg/min$) than in pigs ($29.9{\pm}3.8nmole/mg/min$)(p<0.01). The activities of cytochrome P-450 dependent monooxygenases such as ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (cattle, $96.5{\pm}12.5nmole/mg/min$ ; pigs, $13.6{\pm}2.1nmole/mg/min$), N-benzphetamine N-demethylase (cattle, $5.23{\pm}0.82nmole/mg/min$ ; pigs, $0.76{\pm}0.3nmole/mg/min$) and aniline hydroxylase (cattle, $0.95{\pm}0.1nmole/mg/min$ ; pigs, $0.33{\pm}0.08nmole/mg/min$) were much higher in Korean native cattle than in swine(p<0.01). However, the activity of testosterone $7{\alpha}$-hydroxylase was higher in swine ($90.4{\pm}1.2nmole/mg/min$) than cattle (cattle, $32.8{\pm}1.2nmole/mg/min$). Interestingly, testosterone $16{\alpha}$-hydroxylase, a marker enzyme for P-450 IIA was not detected in both animal species. These results suggest that Korean native cattle and pigs have high contents of P-450 IA1 and P-450 IIIA. Total sulfhydryl compound (cattle, $10.3{\pm}1.1nmole/mg$ ; Pigs, $14.5{\pm}1.8nmole/mg$) and glutathione related enzymes except glutathione reductase (cattle, $38.1{\pm}7.9nmole/mg/min$; swine, $22{\pm}3.6nmole/mg/min$) showed higher levels in swine than in Korean native cattle. Superoxide dismutase (cattle, $7.64{\pm}0.84nmole/mg/min$ ; pigs, $4.47{\pm}0.94nmole/mg/min$) and catalase (cattle, $30.4{\pm}3.7nmole/mg/min$ ; pigs, $17.2{\pm}1.8nmole/mg/min$) were remarkably higher in Korean native cattle than in swine (p<0.05).

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.212-218
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• 2009

Triterpenoid saponins were synthesized in Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer via the isoprenoid pathway by cyclization of 2,3-oxidosqualene to give primarily oleanane (beta-amyrin) or dammarane triterpenoid skeletons. The triterpenoids are backbone and undergoes various modifications (oxidation, substitution and glycosylation), mediated by cytochrome P450 (CYP)-dependent monooxygenases, glycosyltransferase and other enzymes. This is likely to be due in part to the complexity of the molecules and the lack of pathway intermediates for biochemical studies. A cDNA clone encoding a putative CYP gene was isolated from flower bud of ginseng and transformed into the plant(Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi) and confirmed by PCR analysis. The CYP gene (PgCYP) contained an open reading frame(ORF) encoding mature protein of 500 amino acids. The expression of PgCYP were investigated in transgenic tobacco by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).