• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2006

Peroxiredoxins (Prxs) are ubiquitously distributed and play important functions in diverse cellular signaling systems. The proteins are largely classified into three groups, such as typical 2-Cys Prx, atypical 2-Cys Prx, and 1-Cys Prx, that are distinguished by their catalytic mechanisms and number of Cys residues. From the three classes of Prxs, the typical 2-Cys Prx containing the two-conserved Cys residues at its N-terminus and C-terminus catalyzes $H_2O_2$ with the use of thioredoxin (Trx) as an electron donor. During the catalytic cycle, the N-terminal Cys residue undergoes a peroxide-dependent oxidation to sulfenic acid, which can be further oxidized to sulfinic acid at the presence of high concentrations of $H_2O_2$ and a Trx system containing Trx, Trx reductase, and NADPH. The sulfinic acid form of 2-Cys Prx is reduced by the action of sulfiredoxin which requires ATP as an energy source. Under the strong oxidative or heat shock stress conditions, 2-Cys Prx in eukaryotes rapidly switches its protein structure from low-molecular-weight species to high-molecular-weight protein structures. In accordance with its structural changes, the protein concomitantly triggers functional switching from a peroxidase to a molecular chaperone, which can protect its substrate denaturation from external stress. In addition to its N-terminal active site, the C-terminal domain including 'YF-motif' of 2-Cys Prx plays a critical role in the structural changes. Therefore, the C-terminal truncated 2-Cys Prxs are not able to regulate their protein structures and highly resistant to $H_2O_2$-dependent hyperoxidation, suggesting that the reaction is guided by the peroxidatic Cys residue. Based on the results, it may be concluded that the peroxidatic Cys of 2-Cys Prx acts as an '$H_2O_2$-sensor' in the cells. The oxidative stress-dependent regulation of 2-Cys Prx provides a means of defense systems in cells to adapt stress conditions by activating intracellular defense signaling pathways. Particularly, 2-Cys Prxs in plants are localized in chloroplasts with a dynamic protein structure. The protein undergoes conformational changes again oxidative stress. Depending on a redox-potential of the chloroplasts, the plant 2-Cys Prx forms super-molecular weight protein structures, which attach to the thylakoid membranes in a reversible manner.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.201-212
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• 1992

Effect of exogenous taurine on HOCl, $NH_2Cl$ and other oxidants-induced degradation of hyaluronic acid was investigated. The scavenging action of taurine on HOCl, $NH_2Cl$ and other oxidants was examined. The antioxidant action of taurine was also compared with that of thiol compounds. Viscosity of hyaluronic acid was markedly decreased by HOCl and $NH_2Cl$ on a dose dependent fashion. The degradative effect of HOCl on hyaluronic acid was greater than that of $NH_2Cl$. Taurine effectively inhibited HOCl-and $NH_2Cl-induced$ degradation of hyaluronic acid in a dose dependent fashion. The degradative effect of HOCl was markedly inhibited by DMSO. $Fe^{2+}$ plus $H_2O_2-induced$ degradation of hyaluronic acid was inhibited by catalase and DMSO but not affected by taurine. The desradative action of xanthine and xanthine oxidase was effectively inhibited by SOD and catalase but not affected by taurine. HOCl was significantly decomposed by taurine, DMSO, GSH and MPG. Both absorbance of HOCl at 250 nm and absorbance of $NH_2Cl$ at 242 nm were significantly increased by the addition of taurine. Interaction of $NH_2Cl$ with GSH or MPG showed an initial peak absorbance, but these absorbances were gradually decreased with time. OH production in the presence of $Fe^{2+}$ and $H_2O_2$ was inhibited by catalase and DMSO but not affected by taurine. Taurine did not affect $^1O_2$ production by U.V. irradiation which is responsible for DABCO and DABA. GSH and MPG markedly inhibited the degradative action of HOCl. These results suggest that the protective action of taurine on oxidants-induced damages of tissue components, including degradation of hyaluronic acid may be attributable to both its scavenging action on HOCl and $NH_2Cl$ and the complex formation of taurine with HOCl or $NH_2Cl$ without scavenging action on oxygen free radicals. Sulfhydryl group of taurine appears to show partially a protective action on HOCl-and $NH_2Cl-induced$ degradation.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.475-483
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• 1994

Background: N-acetylcysteine(ACE) is used both orally and intravenously in a variety of experimental pathologies resembling human disease states which exhibit endothelial toxicity as a result of oxidative stress, including acute pulmonary oxygen toxicity, septicemia and endotoxin shock. Despite these observations in vivo, it is not certain how this thiol drug produces its protective effects. ACE is a cysteine derivative which is able to direct1y react with oxygen radicals and may also act as a cysteine and glutathione(GSH) precursor following deacetylation. In this paper, we tried to know whether the therapeutic doses of ACE can modify the inflammatory function of the neutrophils and can increase the glutathione level of plasma in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) patients. In addition, the effect of ACE to the purified neutrophil in terms of superoxide release and glutathione synthesis were observed. Method: Firstly, we gave 600mg of ACE for seven days and compare the release of superoxide, luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence from the neutrophils, neutrophil chemotaxis, and plasma GSH levels before and after ACE treatment in COPD patients. Secondly, we observed the dose dependent effect of ACE to the purified neutrophil's superoxide release and GSH levels in vitro. Results: 1) Usual oral therapeutic doses(600mg per day) of ACE for seven days did affect neither on the neutrophil's superoxide release, chemiluminescence, chemotaxis, nor on the plasma GSH concentration in the COPD patients. 2) ACE decreases the purified neutrophil's superoxide release and increase the GSH production in dose dependent fashion in vitro. Conclusion: Despite the fact that oral ACE treatment did not affect on the neutrophil's inflammatory function and plasma GSH concentration in COPD patients in usual therapeutic doses, it decreases the superoxide release and increases the GSH production from the isolated neutrophils in high molar concentrations. These findings suggest that to obtain an antioxidative effects of ACE, it might be needed to increase the daily dosage of ACE or therapeutic duration or change the route of adminisration in COPD patients.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.909-914
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• 1995

In order to investigate gelation properties of Gelation Properties of ${\alpha}-lactalbumin$(${\alpha}-La$), gelling times and protein solubilities of ${\alpha}-La$ gels prepared in 0.1 M Tris-HCI buffer(pH 8.0) followed by heating at $90^{\circ}C$ for 40 minutes under different ${\alpha}-La$ concentration, NaCl, $CaCl_2$, N-ethylmaleimide(NEM), and dithiothreitol(DTT) concentration were measured. Gelling times decreased with increasing concentration of ${\alpha}-La$, NaCl, $CaCl_2$, and DTT, but increased with increasing concentration of NEM. ${\alpha}-La$ solutions made from all treatments were gelled within 40 minutes with the exception of NEM at $20{\sim}50\;mM$. Solubilities decreased with increasing concentration of ${\alpha}-La$, NaCl, $CaCl_2$, and DTT, but the solubility of NEM-modified gels increased with increasing concentration of NEM. As the results, solubilities In standard buffer were $10.4{\sim}51.3%$, $9.2{\sim}35.4%$, $11.1{\sim}35.0%$, $8.0{\sim}9.5%$, and $96.8{\sim}56.2%$, respectively. Solubilities in standard buffer containing 8 M urea and 0.5% SDS were higher than those in standard buffer, and were $41.8{\sim}81.3%$, $41.9{\sim}64.1%$, $43.5{\sim}69.8%$, $29.6{\sim}38.5%$, and $77.4{\sim}98.9%$, respectively. Solubilities in the presence of DTT were almost close to 100% in all conditions. These results indicates that the gelation rate and solubility are influenced by many factors, i.e. protein concentration, kind and concentration of salts, concentration of thiol reagents. The solubility of gel decreased with increasing the gelation rate.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.167-174
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• 2013

Peroxiredoxin 6 (Prx 6) is a member of the thiol-specific antioxidant protein family, which may play a role in protection against oxidative stress and in regulating phospholipid turnover. The aim of this study was to determine whether a human Prx 6/Luc vector was stably expressed and responded to antioxidants in a lung cell line (NCI-H460). To achieve this, the luciferase signal, hPrx 6 mRNA expression, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were measured in transfectants with a hPrx 6/Luc plasmid after treatment with four antioxidant extracts, including Korea white ginseng (KWG), Korea red ginseng (KRG), Liriope platyphylla (LP), and red Liriope platyphylla (RLP). First, the hPrx 6/Luc plasmid was successfully constructed with DNA fragments of human Prx 6 promoter, amplified by PCR using genomic DNA isolated from NCI-H460 cells, and cloned into the pTransLucent reporter vector. The orientation and sequencing of the hPrx 6/Luc plasmid were identified with restriction enzyme and automatic sequencing. A luciferase assay revealed significant enhancement of luciferase activity in the four treatment groups compared with a vehicle-treated group, although the ratio of the increase was different within each group. The KRG- and LP-treated groups showed higher activity than the KWG- and RLP-treated groups. Furthermore, the luciferase activity against RLP occurred roughly in a dose-dependent manner. However, the level of endogenous hPrx 6 mRNA did not change in any group treated with the four extracts. The SOD activity was in agreement with the luciferase activity. Therefore, these results indicate that the hPrx 6/Luc vector system may successfully express and respond to antioxidant compounds in NCI-H460 cells. The data also suggest that the Prx 6/Luc vector system may be effectively applied in screening the response of hPrx 6 to antioxidant compounds in transgenic mice.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.204-212
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• 1987

The purpose of this study is to investigate the reinforced effect between MGF treated silane coupling agents and rubber matrix under the configuration chemical bonds, also the effect of triazine thiol compounds. For this study, vulcanizates were prepared with fifteen different compounding formulas. Their vulcanization characteristics, physical properties were examined by means of the ODR(Oscillating Dist Rheometer), the tensile tester, the benzene swelling test. The results of this study obtained are as follows: 1. In the ODR test, the MA vulcanizate was the fastest one in terms of having reached to optimum cure time($t_{90}$) and, with the same formula, when MGF vulcanizates, the shortest optimum cure times has appeared. 2. The SA, SC vulcanizates were the best the other in the physical properties such as 100%modulus, 200%modulus, 300%modulus, tensile strength. The SB vulcanizate, with higher density of crosslinking than other vulcanizates. The vulcanizates, which were filled with MGF treated with silane coupling agents we were the higher density of crosslinking than vulcanizates filled with MGF only. 3. In aging properties, the silica vulcanizates appeared to be better than the other vulcanizates. The aging Properties of treated MGF vulcanizates were similar to the silica vulcanizates. The(CR+APS+silica) and(CR+APS+MCF) were easily crosslinked by exposure to the air, and the physical properties have been improved.