• Quantitative Bio-Science
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.103-111
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• 2018

This study was performed to investigate the cytoprotective effects of Stachys riederi var. japonica ethanol extract (SREE) to control oxidative stress induced by UVA-irradiation by examining antioxidant capacity and gene expression of cytochrome c using human dermal fibroblasts. The total polyphenolics and flavonoids in the SREE were 41.2 and 25.4 mg/g, respectively. At concentrations of 500 and $1000{\mu}g/mL$, the electron-donating ability of SREE was 48.6% and 82.0%, respectively, and the 2,2'-azino-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activity was 62.3% and 78.8%, respectively. These findings showed that SREE has a fairly good antioxidant capacity. As determined by an MTT assay, the maximum permissible level for treating SREE to human dermal fibroblasts was shown to be over $200{\mu}g/mL$. SREE ($200{\mu}g/mL$) significantly decreased cytochrome c mRNA and protein expression by 31.1% (p<0.001) and 38.8% (p<0.01), respectively. These findings suggest that SREE may protect human skin cells against mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis. Therefore, SREE seems to be a natural antioxidant to protect cells against oxidative stress induced by UVA-irradiation.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.155-161
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• 1996

The enzymatic properties for NADPH-P450 reductase domain of a fusion protein between human cytochrome P450 1A1 and rat NADPH-P450 reductase expressed in Escherichia coli were investigated. The fusion plasmid pCW/1A1OR-expressed E. coli membrane showed high NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity ($830.1\pm 85.8 nmol\cdot min^{-1}\cdot mg protein^{-1}$), while pCW control vector and P 450 1A1 expression vector pCW/1A1 showed relatively quite low activity ($4.35\pm 0.49, 3.27\pm 0.50 nmol\cdot min^{-1}\cdot mg protein^{-1}$, respectively). The kinetic curves for NADPH-cytochrome c reductase followed typical Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The $K_{max}$ and $V_{max}$ for NADPH-dependent reductase activity were $8.24\pm 2.61\mu $and $817.9\pm 60.8 nmol\cdot min^{-1}\cdot mg protein^{-1}$, respectively, whereas those for cytochrome c-dependent reductase activity were $19.97\pm 2.86\mu M$ and $1303.5\pm 67.1 nmol\cdot min^{-1}\cdot mg protein^{-1}$. The reductase activities were also compared with those of rat, porcine and human liver microsomes. The activity of pCW/ 1A1OR-expressed E. coli membrane was 15.2-fold higher than that of rat liver microsome. Treatment with benzo(a)pyrene, 7-ethoxyresorufin and $\alpha$-naphthofiavone which are known as specific substrates or inhibitor for human P450 1A1 increased NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity of fusion protein in E. coli membrane dose-dependently. These results demonstrate that the membrane topology of fused enzyme may be important for activity of its NADPH-P450 reductase domain.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.215-221
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• 1995

This paper examines the effects of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid/saturated fatty acid (p/s) ratios and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) on the hepatic microsomaI mixed-function oxidase sy. stem in 2~acetylaminofiuorene (2-AAF) treated rats. Sprague-Dawley male rats were fed the diet of beef tallow (p/s 0.08), beef tallow plus soybean oil (p/s 1.0), and soybean oil (p/s 4.0) at the level of 15%fat and with or without 0.3% BHT. After 2-AAF was injected twice at the ages of 23 and 27 weeks, cholesterol/phospholipid molar ratio, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) level, cytochrome P450, cytochrome $b_5$, NADPH-cytochrome $b_5$, and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity were measured from isolated hepatic microsomal fractions. In the beef tallow (p/s 0.08) and beef tallow plus soybean oil (p/s 1.0) groups, cholesterol/phospholipid molar ratio showed decreasing tendency by 2-AAF and BHT. Cytochrome P-450 content was decreased in the group of soybean oil (p/s 4.0) and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity was increased by 2-AAF and BHT in all the dietary groups. While TBARS levels were increased by 2-AAF in all the dietary groups, they were reduced by BHT in the soybean oil (p/s 4.0) group. These results suggest that long term intake of soybean oil (p/s 4.0) diet induced changes in the nature of microsomal membrane and induced less cytochrome P-450, low level feeding of BHT increased cytochrome c reductase activity and lowered microsomal lipid peroxidation levels, which were increased by 2-AAF treatment.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.627-635
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• 2004

In order to distinguish the genetic polymorphism among the olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) obtained from East sea of Jumunjin, aquaculture of Tongyoung and Geoje, and East sea of North Korea, the ND-4 and cytochrome b genes of olive flounder were divided into 5 regions. Each region was analyzed by degenerating gel electrophoresis scanning (DGES), and by subsequent DNA sequencing. The DGES disclosed characteristic DNA polymorphisms in ND-4-2 and ND-4-3 regions of olive flounder, which were also confirmed by the DNA sequencing. The olive flounders obtained from the different marine areas showed DNA mutations in ND-4-2 region (G390A, C402T, and A411G； GenBank： AB028664), and also showed frequent DNA mutations in ND-4-3 region (C515G, C537T, C538T, A567G, G714A, C736T, G756A, A759T, T817C, and T829G), white the cytochrome b gene showed no DNA mutation both in the DGES and DNA sequencing. These data suggest that the ND-4-2 and ND-4-3 regions are candidate loci to distinguish the origin of olive flounder, and that the DGES used in this study provided fast and reliable informations for the genetic polymorphism.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.375-380
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• 2002

Cytochrome P4501A2 (CYP1A2) is a member of the cytochrome P450 family of isozymes involved in the phase I drug metabolism of vertebrates. CYP1A2 is responsible for the activation of a number of aromatic amines to mutagenic and carcinogenic forms. Thus, the level of CYP1A2, which varies among different populations, may determine an individual's susceptibility to these chemicals. We have previously reported on the importance of a cis element named PRB (protected region B) in the regulation of human Cytochrome P4501A2 (CYP1A2) gene, which appeared to act as a positive regulatory element. Closer examination of the PRB sequence (-2218 to -2187 bp) revealed a putative AP-1 binding site, TGACTAA, at -2212 bp (Chung and Bresnick, 1997). To elucidate the role of AP-1 in CYP1A2 regulation, we transiently overexpressed c-Jun and c-Fos transcription factors in human hepatoma HepG2 cells, and examined their influence on the CYP1A2 promoter activity by reporter gene assays. Cotransfection of the c-Jun and the c-Fos expression vectors increased the induced transactivation by five to six fold from the CYP1A2 promoter constructs. However, deletion of the PRB element did not affect the degree of activation by the c-Jun and the c-Fos. Therefore, it is unlikely that the c-Jun and the c-Fos activate the CYP1A2 promoter through this AP-1 consensus-like sequence in the PRB region.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.303-307
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• 2003

Tributyltin (TBT) used world-wide in antifouling paints toy ships is a wide-spread environmental pollutant. At low doses, antiproliferative modes of action have been shown to be involved, whereas at higher doses apoptosis seems to be the mechanism of toxicity in reproductive organs by TBT. In this study, we investigated that the mechanisms underlying apoptosis induced by TBT in R2C cell. Effects of TBT on intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ level and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were investigated in R2C cells by fluorescence detector. TBT significantly induced intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ level in a time-dependent manner. The rise in intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ level was followed by a time-dependent generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) at the cytosol level. Simultaneously, TBT induced the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondrial membrane into the cytosol. Furthermore, ROS production and the release of cytochrome c were reduced by BAPTA, an intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ chelator, indicating the important role of $Ca^{2+}$ in R2C during these early intracellular events. In addition, Z-DEVD FMB, a caspase -3 inhibitor, decreased apoptosis by TBT. Taken together, the present results indicated that the apoptotic pathway by TBT might start with an increase in intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ level, continues with release of ROS and cytochrome c from mitochondria, activation of caspases, and finally results in DNA fragmentation.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.63-72
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• 2022

To elucidate the neurochemical characteristics of the midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG), the distribution patterns of several neuroanatomical markers within the PAG were compared. Immunohistochemical staining for the intracellular calcium binding proteins including calbindin, calretinin, and parvalbumin and histochemical staining for cytochrome oxidase, acetylcholinesterase, and NADPH-diaphorase were performed in. Each chemical substance were localized in the specific subregions within PAG. Calbindin- immunoreactivity were selectively distributed in the dorsolateral PAG, the ventral half of lateral PAG, the ventralateral PAG, and supraoculomotor cap (Su3C) nucleus. Distribution of calretinin-immunoreactivity were generally similar with that of clabindin, but showed relatively low subregional selectivity. Parvalbumin-immunoreactivity was very poor within the PAG. High reactivity of cytochrome oxidase were found in the dorsomedial PAG and the lateral half of lateral PAG, in which calbindin- and calretinin-immunoreactive perikarya were scarcely observed. Acetylcholinesterase distribution was similar with that of cytochrome oxidase, and the difference was in the additional marking of of Su3C with acetylcholinesterase. Results of the present study provides data for the further subdivisions of the territory of the PAG compared to the presently accepted subregions within the PAG.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.206-212
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• 1997

Heliobacillus mobilis is a strictly anaerobic Gram-positive bacterium which contains a primitive Photosystem I-type reaction center. The membrane-bound cytochrome $C_{553}$ from the heliobacterium suggested to be the immediate electron donor to the photooxidized pigment (P798+) has been isolated and characterized. The heme protein was visualized as a major component with an apparent molecular size of 17kDa in TMBZ-staining analysis of the membrane preparation and showed characteristic $\alpha$ (552.5 nm), $\beta$ (522nm), and Soret absorption (416 nm) peaks of a typical reduced c-type cytochrome in the partially purified sample. The internal 43 amino acid sequence of the electron donor was obtained by chemical agent and protease treatments followed by N-terminal sequencing of the resulting fragments. The internal sequence carries lots of lysine residues and a Cys-X-X-Cys-His sequence motif which are the characteristics of typical c-type cytochromes. The analysis of the sequence by FAST or FASTA program, however, did not show any significant similarity to other known heme proteins.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.284-292
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• 2006

The cbb3 cytochrome c oxidase has the dual function as a terminal oxidase and oxygen sensor in the photosynthetic bacterium, Rhodobacter sphaeroides. The cbb3 oxidase forms a signal transduction pathway together with the PrrBA two-component system that controls photosynthesis gene expression in response to changes in oxygen tension in the environment. Under aerobic conditions the cbb3 oxidase generates an inhibitory signal, which shifts the equilibrium of PrrB kinase/phosphatase activities towards the phosphatase mode. Photosynthesis genes are thereby turned off under aerobic conditions. The catalytic subunit (CcoN) of the R. sphaeroides cbb3 oxidase contains five histidine residues (H2l4, B233, H303, H320, and H444) that are conserved in all CcoN subunits of the cbb3 oxidase, but not in the catalytic subunits of other members of copper-heme superfamily oxidases. H214A mutation of CcoN affected neither catalytic activity nor sensory (signaling) function of the cbb3 oxidase, whereas H320A mutation led to almost complete loss of both catalytic activity and sensory function of the cbb3 oxidase. H233V and H444A mutations brought about the partial loss of catalytic activity and sensory function of the cbb3 oxidase. Interestingly, the H303A mutant form of the cbb3 oxidase retains the catalytic function as a cytochrome c oxidase as compared to the wild-type oxidase, while it is defective in signaling function as an oxygen sensor. H303 appears to be implicated in either signal sensing or generation of the inhibitory signal to the PrrBA two-component system.

• BMB Reports
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.366-369
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• 2005

NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR) transfers electrons from NADPH to cytochrome P450 and also catalyzes the one-electron reduction of many drugs and foreign compounds. Various spectrophotometric assays have been performed to examine electron-accepting properties of CPR and its ability to reduce cytochrome $b_5$, cytochrome c, and ferricyanide. In this report, reduction of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) by CPR has been assessed as a method for monitoring CPR activity. The principle advantage of this substance is that the reduction of MTT can be assayed directly in the reaction medium by a continuous spectrophotometric method. The electrons released from NADPH by CPR were transferred to MTT. MTT reduction activity was then assessed spectrophotometrically by measuring the increase of $A_{610}$. MTT reduction followed classical Michaelis-Menten kinetics ($K_m\;=\;20\;{\mu}M$, $k_{cat}\;=\;1,910\;min^{-1}$). This method offers the advantages of a commercially available substrate and short analysis time by a simple measurement of enzymatic activity of CPR.