• BMB Reports
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.53-57
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• 1998

The CMCax gene from Acetobacter xylinum ATCC 23769 was cloned and expressed in E. coli. With this gene, three gene products - mature CMCax, CMCax containing signal peptide(pre-CMCax), and a glutathione-S-transferase(GST)-CMCax fusion enzyme - were expressed. CMCax and pre-CMCax are aggregated to multimeric forms which showed high CMC hydrolysis activity, whereas GST-CMCax was less aggregated and showed lower activity, indicating that oligomerization of CMCax controbutes to the cellulose hydrolysis activity to achieve greater efficiency. The enzyme was identified to be an $\beta$-1,4-endoglucanase, which catalyzes the cleavage of internal $\beta$-1,4-glycosidic bonds of cellulose. The reaction products, cellobiose and cellotriose, from cellopentaose as a substrate, were identified by HPLC. Substrate specificity of cellotetraose by this enzyme was poor, and the reaction products consisted of glucose, cellobiose, and cellotriose in a very low yield. Theses results suggested that cellopentaose might be the oligosaccharide substrate consisting of the lowest number of glucose. The optimum pH of CMCax and pre CMCax was about 4.5, whereas that of GST-CMCas was rather broad at pH 4.5-8. The physiological significance of cellulose-hydrolyzing enzyme, CMCax, having such low $\beta$-1,4-endoglucanase activity and low optimum pH in cellulose-producing A. xylinum is not clearly known yet, but it seems to be closely related to the production of cellulose.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.822-829
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• 2007

A gene coding for phosphoketolase, a key enzyme of carbohydrate catabolism in heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria(LAB), was cloned from a Lactobacillus paraplantarum C7 and expressed in Escherichia coli. The gene is 2,502 bp long and codes for a 788-amino-acids polypeptide with a molecular mass of 88.7 kDa. A Shine-Dalgarno sequence(aaggag) and an inverted-repeat terminator sequence are located upstream and downstream of the phosphoketolase gene, respectively. The gene exhibits an identity of >52% with phosphoketolases of other LAB. The phosphoketolase of Lb. paraplantarum C7(LBPK) contains several highly conserved phosphoketolase signature regions and typical thiamine pyrophosphate(TPP) binding sites, as reported for other TPP-dependent enzymes. The phosphoketolase gene was fused to a glutathione S-transferase(GST::LBPK) gene for purification. The GST::LBPK fusion protein was detected in the soluble fraction of a recombinant Escherichia coli BL21. The GST::LBPK fusion protein was purified with a yield of 4.32mg/400ml by GSTrap HP affinity column chromatography and analyzed by N-terminal sequencing. LBPK was obtained by factor Xa treatment of fusion protein and the final yield was 3.78mg/400ml. LBPK was examined for its N-terminal sequence and phosphoketolase activity. The $K_M\;and\;V_{max}$ values for fructose-6-phosphate were $5.08{\pm}0.057mM(mean{\pm}SD)$ and $499.21{\pm}4.33{\mu}mol/min/mg$, respectively, and the optimum temperature and pH for the production of acetyl phosphate were $45^{\circ}C$ and 7.0, respectively.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.309-320
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• 2001

Objectives : This study was done to investigate the protective effects of Samgiinjin-tang on liver injury of rats induced by CCI4 and d-galactosamine. Methods: All animals were divided into .5 groups, those were normal group(untreated), control group(treated with 0.9% Saline solution), sample I group(2,250mg/kg administrated), sample II group(4,500mg/kg administrated), Silymarin 200mg/kg administrated group. Liver injury of rats were induced by CCI4 and d-galactosamine, and then the serum transaminases(ALT&AST) alkaline phosphatase(ALP), lactic dehydrogenase(LDH) for enzyme activities, liver weight, lipid peroxidation and catalase, glutathione S-transferase(GST) for enzyme activities were measured. Results : The inhibitory effects on the serum ALT, AST activities in liver injury of rats induced by CCI4 were noted in both sample I and sample II group. The inhibitory effects on the serum ALP, LDH activities and the Lipid peroxidation of Mitochondria & Cytosol were noted in only sample II group. The decreased effects on the GST activities of Homogenate & Cytosol were inhibited in both sample I and sample II groups. The decreased effects on the GST activities of Mitochondria & Microsome were inhibited in sample II group. The inhibitory effects of the serum ALT, AST, LDH activities in liver injury of rats induced by d-galactosamine were noted in both sample I and sample II groups. In serum AST activities, sample II group. Conclusions : Samgiinjin-tang has protective effects against liver injury of rats induced by CCI4 and d-galactosamine. So it is required to study about the actions of mutual relation of medicines and patho-mechanism by experiment.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.932-938
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• 1999

The present study was designed to determine long-term feeding effects of vitamin E and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) on serum biochemical profiles, organ weight, and intestinal and hepatic antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) in ICR mice. Four wk old ICR mice (n=8 per group) were fed the diets supplemented with vitamin E (I ; 0.03% and II ; 0.3%) and BHT (I ; 0.05% and II ; 0.5%) for 12 months. Feeding the diets containing vitamin E and BHT had no effects on growth and serum biochemical profiles. However, feeding the diets supplemented with 0.5% BHT for 12 months significantly increased liver weight of the mice. In the small intestine, there were no effects of vitamin E or BHT on SOD and GSH-PX activities in the mucosa. However, the activity of intestinal GST of the mice that received 0.5% BHT was almost twice as high as that of control mice. In the liver, the activity of SOD was not affected by feeding antioxidants for 12 months, whereas GSH-PX activity was significantly increased in mice that received the diets containing BHT (0.05%, 0.5%) and vitamin E (0.03%, 0.3%). In addition, supplementation of 0.5% BHT markedly enhanced hepatic GST activity compared with other groups. Enhanced activity of GSH-PX in response to feeding vitamin E or BHT might aid hepatic enzymes to eliminate active oxygen in organs from mice. However, we could not exclude the possibility of increased lipid peroxidation by high dosage of BHT supplementation. More detailed study is necessary for assessment of preventive or toxicological effects of high dosage of BHT supplementation.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.54-58
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• 2014

The liver is vulnerable to alcohol-related injury because it is the primary site of alcohol metabolism. Additionally, a number of potentially dangerous by-products are generated as alcohol is broken down in the liver. However, dietary supplements may prevent or relieve some of alcohol's deleterious effects. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the prophylactic effect of aqueous extract of Sesamum indicum (SI) on ethanol induced toxicity in rats. Male Wistar albino rats were divided into control, ethanol, pre-treatment, simultaneous and post-treatment groups. In the prophylactic experiment, Sesamum indicum, (200 mg/kg body weight) was administered by oral gavage for 28 days; two hours before, simultaneously with or two hours after ethanol exposure. Toxicity was induced by administering 45% ethanol (4.8 g/kg bw) by oral gavage. Lipid peroxidation (TBARS) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and gluthathione-S-transferase (GST) activities were then determined in the liver, serum triglyceride (TG) levels, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities were monitored and histological examination was carried out. The results revealed that ethanol administration led to significant elevation of TBARS level while depleting in the level of GSH as well as CAT, GPx, SOD and GST activities. Similarly, TG level and ALT and AST activities were elevated. The SI pre-treated group significantly inhibited TBARS, restored GSH level, enhanced CAT, GPx, SOD and GST activities and significantly decreased the elevated level of serum TG, ALT and AST activities. SI treatment (simultaneously with ethanol) exhibited similar effects to those of the SI pre-treated groups, while the SI post-treated group did not show the same protection as the Pre-treated group. S. indicum possesses antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties, that eliminate the deleterious effects of toxic metabolites of ethanol.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.14-19
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• 2006

Breast cancer may be the consequence of free radical damage, which is partially caused by the excessive intake of dietary fat and imbalances in antioxidant scavenger system;. In this experiment, we examined! the effects of dietary peroxidizability index (PI) values on hepatic thiobmbituric acid reaction substances (TBARS) and antioxidant enzyme activities in rats treated with 7,12-dimethylbenz[$\alpha$]anthracene (DMBA). Female Sprague-Dawley rats were used and 7,12-DMBA (20 mg/kg body weight) was gastrically intubated at seven weeks of age in order to induce mammary tumors (MT). The levels of dietary PI were 36, 81, 126 and 217 (LPI, MLPI, MHPI and HPI), while dietary polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acids ratio was maintained at the same level (1.0). Fat used in the experiment was mixed with soybean oil, com oil, palm oil, perilla oil, sesame oil, fish oil, and beef tallow. Experimental diets were given for the following 20 weeks. We measured tumor numbers and weights, and then assayed the hepatic TBARS levels and antioxidant enzyme activities such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glutathione reductase (GR). The incidence of Mr was the lowest in the MHPI group. The hepatic TBARS level was significantly raised with increasing dietary PI value. The hepatic SOD and GR activities were differed significantly by dietary PI value. The hepatic SOD activity was negatively correlated with dietary PI value and GR activity was the highest in the rats fed the MHPI diet. When the dietary P/S ratio is kept at 1.0, adequate dietary PI value (PI value of 126) may reduce the incidence and growth of Mr, but this benefit may be lost with higher dietary PI value. These results suggest that the awareness of dietary PI values may help to decrease breast cancer incidence and growth.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.99-107
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• 1999

A series of organosulfur compounds were synthesized with the aim of developing chemopreventive compounds active against hepatotoxicity and chemical carcinogesis. 2-(Allylthio) prazine (2-AP) was effective in inhibiting cytochrome P450 2E1-mediated catalytic activities and protein expression, and in inducing microsomal epoxide hydrolase and major glutathione S-transferases. 2-AP reduced the hepatotoxicity caused by toxicant sand elevated cellular GSH content. Development of skin tumors, pulmonary adenoma and aberrant crypt foci in colon by various chemical carcinogens was inhibited by 2-AP pretreatment. Anticarcinogenic effects of 2-AP at the stage of initiation of tumors were also observed in the aflatoxin B1 ($AFB_1$)-induced three-step medium-term hepatocarcinogenesis model. Reduction of $AFB_1$-DNA adduct by 2-AP appeared to result from the decreased formation of $AFB_1$-8,9-epoxide via suppression of cytochrome P450, while induction of GST 2-AP increases the excretion of glutathione-conjugated $AFB_1$ . 2-AP was a radioprotective agent effective against the lethal dose of total body irradiation and reduced radiation-induced injury in association with the elevation of detoxifying gene expression. 2-AP produces reactive oxygen species in vivo, which is not mediated with the thiol-dependent production of oxidants and that NF-KB activation is not involved in the induction of the detoxifying enzymes. the mechanism of chemoprotection by 2-AP may involve inhibition of the P450-mediated metabolic activation of chemical carcinogens and enhancement of electrophilic detoxification through induction of phase II detoxification enzymes which would facilitate the clearance of activated metabolites through conjugation reaction.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.31 no.2 s.61
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• pp.275-284
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• 1998

Activities of enzymes involved in the metabolism of various carcinogenic xenobiotics is one of the most important host factors for cancer occurrence. N-acetyltransferase (NAT) and glutathione S-transferases (GST) are enzymes which .educe the toxicity of activated carcinogenic metabolites. Slow N-acetylation and lack of GST mu (GSTMI) were reported as risk factors of bladder cancer. GST theta (GSTT1), which is another type of GST, was reported to be deleted at higher proportion among Koreans. Since cause of bladder cancer is not fully explained by single risk factor, many kinds of enzymes would be involved in the metabolism of carcinogens excreted in urine. This study was performed to investigate whether the polymorphisms of NAT2, GSTM1 and GSTT1 are risk factors of bladder cancer and to evaluate the effects of their interaction on bladder cancer development. Sixty-seven bladder cancer and 67 age- and sex-matched non-cancer patients hospitalized in Chungbuk National University Hospital from March to December 1996, are the subjects of this case-control study. Questionnaire interview was done and the genotypes of NAT2, GSTM1 and GSTT1 were identified using PCR methods with DNA extracted from venous blood. The effects of the polymorphism of NAT2 and GSTM1 and their interaction on bladder cancer were statistically tested after controlling the other risk factors. The frequencies of slow, intermediate, and rapid acetylators were 3.0%, 38.8%, and 58.2% to. the cases, and 7.6%, 40.9%, and 51.5% for the controls, respectively. The risk of bladder cancer was not associated with the increase of NAT2 activity($\chi^2_{trend}=1.18$, P-value>0.05). GSTM1 was deleted in 68.7% of the cases and 49.3% of the controls ($\chi^2=5.21$, P-value<0.05), and the odds ratio (95% CI) was 2.23 (1.12 - 4.56). GSTT1 deletion, the .ate of which were 26.9% for the bladder cancer patients and 43.3% for the controls, was a significant protective factor against bladder cancer. Smoking history turned out to be insignificant as a risk factor of bladder cancer (OR=1.85, 95% CI: 0.85 - 4.03), and occupation could not be tested because of the extremely small number of occupational history related to the increase of bladder cancer. In multiple logistic analysis controlling the effects of other risk factors, GSTM1 deletion was the only significant risk factor for bladder cancer (OR: 2.56, 95% CI: 1.22-5.36, P-value<0.05), but slow acetylation and GSTT1 deletion were not. These results suggest that GSTM1 deletion may be a significant risk factor of bladder cancer. Since there have been much debates on causal relationship between slow acetylation and GSTT1 deletion, and bladder cancer, further studies are needed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.319-326
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• 1997

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of methionine(Met) and selenium(Se) levels on alcohol metabolic enzyme system in rats. Sprague-Dawley male rats were fed on diets containing one of the three levels of Met(0, 3, 9g/kg diet) with or without Se(0.45mg/kg diet). Alcohol was administrated with 25%(v/v) ethanol orally at the same time once a day in alcohol group and isocaloric sucrose was administrated to the control group. The rats were sacrificed after 5 and 10 week of feeding periods. Alcohol dehydrogenase(ADH) and microsomal ethanol oxidizing system(MEOS) activities of hepatic tissuedom were increased more in alcohol treated groups than control group. Increment of activities preinated in simultaneous deficiency of dietary Met and Se(LMet-Se+EtOH) group. Aldehyde dehydrogenase (AIDH) activity was decreased more in alcohol treated groups than control group and significantly decreased in Met and Se supplemented(NMet+Se+EtOH) group. Hepatic cytochrome P-450 content and xanthine oxidase(XO) activity were significantly increased in alcohol treated groups Compared to control group and predominated in Met deficiency(LMet) group and excessive Met administration (HMet) group. Superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase, glutathione S-transferase(GST) activities tended to increase by alcohol administration, the degree of increase predominated in 10 week. The activity of glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px) was decreased in alcohol groups and tended to increase in proportion to the level of dietary Met.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.2497-2502
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• 2010

Arg13 is a conserved active-site residue in all known Pi class glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) and in most Alpha class GSTs. To evaluate its contribution to substrate binding and catalysis of this residue, three mutants (R13A, R13K, and R13L) were expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by GSH affinity chromatography. The substitutions of Arg13 significantly affected GSH-conjugation activity, while scarcely affecting glutathione peroxidase or steroid isomerase activities. Mutation of Arg13 into Ala largely reduced the GSH-conjugation activity by approximately 85 - 95%, whereas substitutions by Lys and Leu barely affected activity. These results suggest that, in the GSH-conjugation activity of hGST P1-1, the contribution of Arg13 toward catalytic activity is highly dependent on substrate specificities and the size of the side chain at position 13. From the kinetic parameters, introduction of larger side chains at position 13 results in stronger affinity (Leu > Lys, Arg > Ala) towards GSH. The substitutions of Arg13 with alanine and leucine significantly affected $k_{cat}$, whereas substitution with Lys was similar to that of the wild type, indicating the significance of a positively charged residue at position 13. From the plots of log ($k_{cat}/{K_m}^{CDNB}$) against pH, the $pK_a$ values of the thiol group of GSH bound in R13A, R13K, and R13L were estimated to be 1.8, 1.4, and 1.8 pK units higher than the $pK_a$ value of the wild-type enzyme, demonstrating the contribution of the Arg13 guanidinium group to the electrostatic field in the active site. From these results, we suggest that contribution of Arg13 in substrate binding is highly dependent on the nature of the electrophilic substrates, while in the catalytic mechanism, it stabilizes the GSH thiolate through hydrogen bonding.