• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.368-375
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• 2008

Approximately 120 UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs), which are classified into 14 distinct groups (A to N), have been annotated in the Arabidopsis genome. UGTs catalyze the transfer of sugars to various acceptor molecules including flavonoids. Previously, UGT71C1 was shown to glycosylate the 3-OH of hydroxycinnamates and flavonoids in vitro. Such secondary metabolites are known to play important roles in plant growth and development. To help define the role of UGT71C1 in planta, we investigated its expression patterns, and isolated and characterized a loss-of-function mutation in the UGT71C1 gene (named ugt71c1-1). Our analyses by quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), microarray data mining, and histochemical detection of GUS activity driven by the UGT71C1 promoter region, revealed the tissue-specific expression patterns of UGT71C1 with highest expression in roots. Interestingly, upon treatment with methyl viologen (MV, paraquat), ugt71c1-1 plants displayed enhanced resistance to oxidative stress, and ROS scavenging activity was higher than normal. Metabolite profiling revealed that the levels of two major glycosides of quercetin and kaempferol were reduced in ugt71c1-1 plants. In addition, when exposed to MV-induced oxidative stress, eight representative ROS response genes were expressed at lower levels in ugt71c1-1 plants, indicating that ugt71c1-1 probably has higher non-enzymatic antioxidant activity. Taken together, our results indicate that ugt71c1-1 has increased resistance to oxidative stress, suggesting that UGT71C1 plays a role in some glycosylation pathways affecting secondary metabolites such as flavonoids in response to oxidative stress.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.419-427
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• 2017

Background: Glycosylation of natural compounds increases the diversity of secondary metabolites. Glycosylation steps are implicated not only in plant growth and development, but also in plant defense responses. Although the activities of uridine-dependent glycosyltransferases (UGTs) have long been recognized, and genes encoding them in several higher plants have been identified, the specific functions of UGTs in planta remain largely unknown. Methods: Spatial and temporal patterns of gene expression were analyzed by quantitative reverse transcription (qRT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and GUS histochemical assay. In planta transformation in heterologous Arabidopsis was generated by floral dipping using Agrobacterium tumefaciens (C58C1). Protein localization was analyzed by confocal microscopy via fluorescent protein tagging. Results: PgUGT72AL1 was highly expressed in the rhizome, upper root, and youngest leaf compared with the other organs. GUS staining of the promoter: GUS fusion revealed high expression in different organs, including axillary leaf branch. Overexpression of PgUGT72AL1 resulted in a fused organ in the axillary leaf branch. Conclusion: PgUGT72AL1, which is phylogenetically close to PgUGT71A27, is involved in the production of ginsenoside compound K. Considering that compound K is not reported in raw ginseng material, further characterization of this gene may shed light on the biological function of ginsenosides in ginseng plant growth and development. The organ fusion phenotype could be caused by the defective growth of cells in the boundary region, commonly regulated by phytohormones such as auxins or brassinosteroids, and requires further analysis.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.15-30
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• 2017

Objectives: Hwangryunhaedok-tang (HHT; Huanglianjiedu-tang, Orengedoku-to), a traditional herbal formula, is used for treating inflammation, hypertension, gastritis, liver dysfunction, cerebrovascular diseases, dermatitis and dementia. The objective of this study was to assess the sub-acute toxicity of HHT in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, and its effect on the activities of human microsomal cytochrome P450s (CYP450s) and UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs). Methods: Male and female SD rats were orally administered HHT once daily at doses of 0, 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg for 4 weeks. We analyzed mortality, clinical observations, body weight, food consumption, organ weights, urinalysis, hematology, serum biochemistry, and histopathology. The activities of major human CYP450s (CYP1A2, CYP3A4, CYP2B6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, and CYP2E1) and UGTs (UGT1A1, UGT1A4, and UGT2B7) were assessed using in vitro fluorescence- and luminescence-based enzyme assays, respectively. Results: No toxicologically significant changes related to the repeated administration of HHT were observed in both male and female SD rats. The no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) value was more than 2000 mg/kg/day for both sexes. HHT inhibited the activities of human microsomal CYP1A2, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, and CYP2E1, whereas it weakly inhibited the activities of CYP2B6, CYP2C9, CYP3A4, and UGT1A1. In addition, HHT negligibly inhibited the activities of human microsomal UGT1A4 and UGT2B7 with $IC_{50}$ values in excess of $1000{\mu}g/mL$. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that HHT may be safe for repeated administration up to 4 weeks. In addition, these findings provide information on the safety and effectiveness of HHT when co-administered with conventional drugs.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.16-23
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• 2023

The silkworm's dormancy and embryonic development are accomplished through the interaction of various genes. Analysis of the expression of several interacting genes can predict the embryonic stage of silkworms. In this study, we analyzed the changes in the expression level of genes at each stage during the embryonic development of dormant silkworm eggs and selected genes that can predict the hatching time. Jam123 and Jam124 silkworms were collected after egg laying, and the silkworm eggs were preserved using a double refrigeration method and expression analysis was performed for 23 genes during embryogenesis. There were 5 genes showing significant changes during embryogenesis: UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (BmUGTs), heat shock protein hsp20.8 (BmHsp20.8), Cytochromes b5-like proteins (BmCytb5), Krüppel homolog 1 (BmKr-h1), and cuticular protein RR-1 motif 41 (BmCpr41). As a result of quantitative comparison of the expression levels of these 5 genes through real-time PCR, the BmUGTs gene showed a difference between Jam123 and Jam124, making it difficult to see it as an indicator for predicting hatching time. However, the BmHsp20.8 gene had a common expression decreased at the imminent hatching stage. In addition, it was confirmed that the expression level of the BmCytb5 gene decreased to the lowest level at the time of imminent hatching, and the expression of the BmKr-h gene was made only at the time of imminent hatching. The expression of the last BmCpr41 gene can be confirmed only at the time of imminent hatching, and it was confirmed that it shows a rapid increase right before hatching. Taken together, these results suggest that expression analysis of BmHsp20.8, BmCytb5, BmKr-h1, and BmCpr41 genes can determine the stage of embryogenesis, predict hatching time, which facilitate better management of silkworm eggs.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.10
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• pp.1393-1396
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• 2010

The attachment of sugar to flavonoids enhances their solubility. Glycosylation is performed primarily by uridine diphosphate-dependent glycosyltransferases (UGTs). The UGT from Bacillus cereus, BcGT-1, transferred three glucose molecules into kaempferol. The structural analysis of BcGT-1 showed that its substrate binding site is wider than that of plant flavonoid monoglucosyltransferases. In order to create monoglucosyltransferase from BcGT-1, the error-prone polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed. We analyzed 150 clones. Among them, two mutants generated only kaempferol O-monoglucoside, albeit with reduced reactivity. Unexpectedly, the two mutants harbored mutations in the amino acids located outside of the active sites. Based on the modeled structure of BcGT-1, it was proposed that the local change in the secondary structure of BcGT-1 caused the alteration of triglucosyltransferase into monoglucosyltransferase.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.65-70
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• 2004

Modulation of biotransformation enzymes is one mechanism by which a diet high in fruits and vegetable may influence cancer risk. Inhibition of cytochrome P450s (CYP) and concomitant induction of conjugating enzymes are hypothesized to reduce the impact of carcinogens in humans. Thus, exposure to types and amounts of phytochemicals may influence disease risk. Like other xenobiotics, many classes of phytochemicals are rapodly conjugated with glutathione, glucuronide, and sulfate moieties and excreted in urine and bile. In humans, circulating phytochemical levels very widely among individuals even in response to controlled dietary interventions. Polymorphisms in biotransformation enzymes, such as the glutathione S-transferases (GST), UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGT), and sulfotransferases (SULT), may ocntribute to the variability in phytochemical clearance and efficacy; polymorphic enzymes with lower enzyme activity prolong the half-lives of phytochmicals in vivo. Isothiocyanates (ITC) in cruciferous vegetables are catalyzed by the four major human GSTs: however reaction velocities of the enzymes differ greatly. In some observational studies of cancer, polymorphisms in the GSTMI and GSTTI genes that result in complete lack of GSTM1-1 protein, respectively, confer greater protection from cruciferous vegetable in individuals with these genotypes. Similarly, we have shown in a controlled dietary trial that levels of GST-alpha-induced by ITC-are higher in GSTMI-null individuals exposed to cruciferous vegetablse. The selectivity of glucuronosyl conjugation of flavonoids is dependent both on flavonoid structure as well as on the UGI isozyme involved in its conjuagtion. The effects of UGI polymorphisms on flavonoid clearnace have not been examind; but polymorphisms affect glucuronidation of several drugs. Given the strong interest in the chemopreventive effects of flavonoids, systematic evaluation of these polymorphic UGTs and flavonoid pharmacokinetics are warranted. Overall, these studies suggest that for phytochemicals that are metabolized by, and affect activity of, biotransformation enzymes, interactions between genetic polymorphisms in the enzymes and intake of the compounds should be considered in studies of cancer risk. Genetic polymorphisms in biotransformation enzymes may account in prat for individual variation in metabolism of a wide range of phytochemicals and their ultimate impact on health.

• Genes and Genomics
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• v.40 no.12
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• pp.1287-1300
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• 2018

Hydrogen sulfide ($H_2S$), a small bioactive gas, has been proved functioning in plant growth and development as well as alleviation of abiotic stresses, which including promoting seed germination, accelerating embryonic root growth, regulating flower senescence, inducing stomatal closure, and defending drought, heat, heavy metals and osmotic stresses etc. However, the molecular functioning mechanism of $H_2S$ was still unclear. The primary objective of this research was to analyze the transcriptional differences and functional genes involved in the $H_2S$ responses. In details, 4-week-old plantlets in tissue culture of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivar 'Zuoyouhong' were sprayed with 0.1 mM NaHS for 12 h, and then transcriptome sequencing and qRT-PCR analysis were used to study the transcriptional differences and functional genes involved in the $H_2S$ responses. Our results indicated that 650 genes were differentially expressed after $H_2S$ treatment, in which 224 genes were up-regulated and 426 genes were down-regulated. The GO enrichment analysis and KEGG enrichment analysis results indicated that the up-regulated genes after $H_2S$ treatment focused on carbon metabolism, biosynthesis of amino acids, and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, and the down-regulated genes were mainly in metabolic pathways, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and plant hormone signal transduction. Analyzing the transcription factor coding genes in details, it was indicated that 10 AP2/EREBPs, 5 NACs, 3 WRKYs, 3 MYBs, and 2 bHLHs etc. transcription factor coding genes were up-regulated, while 4 MYBs, 3 OFPs, 3 bHLHs, 2 AP2/EREBPs, 2 HBs etc. transcription factor coding genes were down-regulated. Taken together, $H_2S$ increased the productions in secondary metabolites and a variety of defensive compounds to improve plant development and abiotic resistance, and extend fruits postharvest shelf life by regulating the expression of AP2/EREBPs, WRKYs, MYBs, CABs, GRIP22, FERRITINs, TPSs, UGTs, and GHs etc.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.703-709
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• 2010

Glucuronidation is a major pathway for NNAL [4-(methylnitrosamno)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol] and UGT2B17 (UGT, uridine diphospho-glucuronosyltransferase) is from the UGT2B family that glucuronidates carcinogens. UGT2B17 deletion was associated with decreased levels of NNAL and with increased risk of some cancers. The UGT2B17 gene varies in copy number from zero to two per individual in humans. To examine whether UGT2B17 gene deletion is associated with the risk of lung cancer, we investigated copy number variants (CNV) in 271 cancer-free controls and 176 cases of lung cancer in Koreans by a PCR-based method. The frequency of the UGT2B17 deleted alleles was much higher than in other Caucasian and African-American groups which have already been reported. While only up to 10% of Caucasians have zero copies of the gene, up to 74% of Koreans in this study showed that both copies of the gene were deleted. Furthermore, the overall frequency of this dual deletion in female groups was higher than in male groups. However, there was no association between CNV in UGT2B17 and lung cancer. This result suggested that the UGT2B17 deletion allele was not associated with the susceptibility of lung cancers in the Korean group. However, this UGT2B17 CNV polymorphism may be a useful marker for evolutionary analysis among races.