• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.45 no.9
• /
• pp.640-648
• /
• 2022

CD133, also known as prominin-1, was first identified as a biomarker of mammalian cancer and neural stem cells. Previous studies have shown that the prominin-like (promL) gene, an orthologue of mammalian CD133 in Drosophila, plays a role in glucose and lipid metabolism, body growth, and longevity. Because locomotion is required for food sourcing and ultimately the regulation of metabolism, we examined the function of promL in Drosophila locomotion. Both promL mutants and pan-neuronal promL inhibition flies displayed reduced spontaneous locomotor activity. As dopamine is known to modulate locomotion, we also examined the effects of promL inhibition on the dopamine concentration and mRNA expression levels of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and DOPA decarboxylase (Ddc), the enzymes responsible for dopamine biosynthesis, in the heads of flies. Compared with those in control flies, the levels of dopamine and the mRNAs encoding TH and Ddc were lower in promL mutant and pan-neuronal promL inhibition flies. In addition, an immunostaining analysis revealed that, compared with control flies, promL mutant and pan-neuronal promL inhibition flies had lower levels of the TH protein in protocerebral anterior medial (PAM) neurons, a subset of dopaminergic neurons. Inhibition of promL in these PAM neurons reduced the locomotor activity of the flies. Overall, these findings indicate that promL expressed in PAM dopaminergic neurons regulates locomotion by controlling dopamine synthesis in Drosophila.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
• /
• v.16 no.5
• /
• pp.341-348
• /
• 2008

Cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) catalyzes the acylation of cholesterol to cholesteryl ester with long chain fatty acids and ACAT inhibition is a useful strategy for treating hypercholesterolemia or atherosclerosis. Inhibitory effects on ACAT of the MeOH extracts prepared from 163 edible plants were evaluated. 15 species out of 163 species exhibited higher than 50% of inhibition on the hACAT-1 and 9 species exhibited higher than 50% of inhibition on the hACAT-2 activity at their concentration of $100\;{\mu}g/mL$.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.137-149
• /
• 2015

Human hepatocytes, with complete hepatic metabolizing enzymes, transporters and cofactors, represent the gold standard for in vitro evaluation of drug metabolism, drug-drug interactions, and hepatotoxicity. Successful cryopreservation of human hepatocytes enables this experimental system to be used routinely. The use of human hepatocytes to evaluate two major adverse drug properties: drug-drug interactions and hepatotoxicity, are summarized in this review. The application of human hepatocytes in metabolism-based drug-drug interaction includes metabolite profiling, pathway identification, P450 inhibition, P450 induction, and uptake and efflux transporter inhibition. The application of human hepatocytes in toxicity evaluation includes in vitro hepatotoxicity and metabolism-based drug toxicity determination. A novel system, the Integrated Discrete Multiple Organ Co-culture (IdMOC) which allows the evaluation of nonhepatic toxicity in the presence of hepatic metabolism, is described.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.43 no.3
• /
• pp.304-311
• /
• 2020

Methionyl-tRNA synthetase (MRS) is essential for translation. MRS mutants reduce global translation, which usually increases lifespan in various genetic models. However, we found that MRS inhibited Drosophila reduced lifespan despite of the reduced protein synthesis. Microarray analysis with MRS inhibited Drosophila revealed significant changes in inflammatory and immune response genes. Especially, the expression of anti-microbial peptides (AMPs) genes was reduced. When we measured the expression levels of AMP genes during aging, those were getting increased in the control flies but reduced in MRS inhibition flies age-dependently. Interestingly, in the germ-free condition, the maximum lifespan was increased in MRS inhibition flies compared with that of the conventional condition. These findings suggest that the lifespan of MRS inhibition flies is reduced due to the down-regulated AMPs expression in Drosophila.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.21 no.6
• /
• pp.677-682
• /
• 1998

The present study was designed to examine the metabolism of 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate (ANS), an anionic compound which is transported into liver via "multispecific organ ic anion transporter", with rat hepatic microsomes. TLC analysis indicated that the fluorescent metabolites were not produced to a measurable extent, which made it possible to assess the ANS metabolism by measuring the fluorescence disappearance. The metabolism of ANS was remarkably inhibited by the presence of SKF-525A as well as by the substitution of 02 by CO gas. ANS metabolism by microsomes also required NADPH as a cofactor. These results indicated that the microsomal monooxygenase system might be mainly responsible for the ANS metabolism. The maximum velocity ($V_{max}$) and Michaelis constant ($K_m$) were calculated to be $4.3{\pm}0.2$ nmol/min/mg protein and $42.1{\pm}2.0\;{\mu}M$, respectively. Assuming that 1g of liver contains 32mg of microsomal protein, the $V_{max}$ value was extrapolated to that per g of liver ($V_{max}^I$). The intrinsic metabolic clearance ($CL_{int}$) under linear conditions calculated from this in vitro metabolic study was 3.3ml/min/g liver, being comparable with that (3.0ml/min/g liver) calculated by analyzing the in vivo plasma disappearance curve in a previous study. Furthermore, the effects of other organic anions on the metabolism of ANS were examined. Bromophenolblue (BPB) and rose bengal (RB) competitively inhibited the metabolism of ANS, while BSP inhibited it only slightly. The inhibition constant ($K_i$) of BPB ($6\;{\mu}M$) was much smaller than that of RB ($200\;{\mu}M$). In conclusion, the microsomal monooxygenase system plays a major role in the metabolism of ANS, and other unmetabolizable organic anions (BPB and RB) compete for this metabolism.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.26 no.9
• /
• pp.768-772
• /
• 2003

Tween 80 (Polysorbate 80) is a hydrophilic nonionic surfactant commonly used as an ingredient in dosing vehicles for pre-clinical in vivo studies (e.g., pharmacokinetic studies, etc.). Tween 80 increased apical to basolateral permeability of digoxin in Caco-2 cells suggesting that Tween 80 is an in vitro inhibitor of P-gp. The overall objective of the present study was to investigate whether an inhibition of P-gp by Tween 80 can potentially influence in vivo absorption of P-gp substrates by evaluating the effect of Tween 80 on the disposition of digoxin (a model P-gp substrate with minimum metabolism) after oral administration in rats. Rats were dosed orally with digoxin (0.2 mg/kg) formulated in ethanol (40％, v/v) and saline mixture with and without Tween 80 (1 or 10％, v/v). Digoxin oral AUC increased 30 and 61％ when dosed in 1 ％ and 10％ Tween 80, respectively, compared to control (P＜0.05). To further examine whether the increase in digoxin AUC after oral administration of Tween 80 is due, in part, to a systemic inhibition of digoxin excretion in addition to an inhibition of P-gp in the GI tract, a separate group of rats received digoxin intravenously (0.2 mg/kg) and Tween 80 (10％ v/v) orally. No significant changes in digoxin IV AUC was noted when Tween 80 was administered orally. In conclusion, Tween 80 significantly increased digoxin AUC and Cmax after oral administration, and the increased AUC is likely to be due to an inhibition of P-gp in the gut (i.e., improved absorption). Therefore, Tween 80 is likely to improve systemic exposure of P-gp substrates after oral administration. Comparing AUC after oral administration with and without Tween 80 may be a viable strategy in evaluating whether oral absorption of P-gp substrates is potentially limited by P-gp in the gut.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.48 no.4
• /
• pp.207-212
• /
• 2005

Prolyl endopeptidase (PEP, EC 3.4.21.26), also referred to as prolyl oligopeptidase, has been suggested to participate in learning and memory processes by cleaving peptide bonds on carboxyl side of prolyl residue within neuropeptides of less than 30 amino acids, and is abundant in brains of amnestic patients. Therefore, compounds possessing PEP inhibitory activity can be good candidate of drug against memory loss. Upon examination for PEP inhibition from traditional medicinal plants having tonic, stimulating, and anti-amnestic effects, Corni Fructus (Cornus officinallis) showed significant PEP inhibition. Ursolic and oleanolic acids, components of Corni Fructus, inhibited PEP with $IC_{50}$ values of $17.2\;{\pm}\;0.5$ and $22.5\;{\pm}\;0.7\;{\mu}M$, respectively.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.132-135
• /
• 1995

Several clofibrate congeners (bezafibrate, gemfibrozil and fenofibrate) were investigated the relationship between effects on the aggregation induced by aggregating agents (thrombin, arachidonic acid, ADP and collagen) and arachidonic acid metabolism in rabbit homogenized platelet. In platelet aggregation study, all drugs produced no significant inhibition (data not shown) in arachidonic acid and thrombin. Also platelet aggregation by ADP was not changed in bezafibrate and Inhibited dose dependently in fenofibrate and gemfibrozil. Platelet aggregation by collagen was inhibited dose dependently and significantly (from p<0.5 to p<0.001) by gemfibrozil and fenofibrate at concentrations between 20 and 400 $\mu$M. In arachidonic acid metabolism study, synthesis of thromboxane $B_2$ was not changed in rabbit platelet membranes and that of prostaglandin $E_2$ and $F_{2{\alpha}}$ was slightly increased by all drugs. It was concluded that clofibrate congeners inhibited ADP and collagen induced rabbit platelet aggregation and inhibition of collagen induced aggregation was probably mediated through some mechanism (pathway) other than arachidonic acid metabolism, judging from arachidonic acid metabolites (thromboxane $B_2$, prostaglandin $E_2$and $F_{ 2{\alpha}}$) synthesis in rabbit homogenized Platelet.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.49 no.3
• /
• pp.110-113
• /
• 2006

Prolyl endopeptidase (PEP, EC 3.4.21.26, also referred to as prolyl oligopeptidase) degrades proline containing, biologically active neuropeptides such as vasopressin, substance P and thyrotropin-releasing hormone by cleaving peptide bonds on carboxyl side of prolyl residue within neuropeptides of less than 30 amino acids. Evaluation of PEP levels in postmortem brains of Alzheimer's disease patients revealed significant increases in PEP activity. Therefore, a specific PEP inhibitor can be a good candidate of drug against memory loss. Upon our examination for PEP inhibitory activity from micronutrients, ascorbic acid (vitamin C) showed small but significant PEP inhibition (13% PEP inhibition at $8{\mu}g{\cdot}ml^{-1}$). Palmitic acid showed almost no PEP inhibition. However, 6-O-palmitoyl ascorbic acid ($\underline{1}$) showed 70% PEP inhibition at $8{\mu}g{\cdot}ml^{-1}$ indicating that hydrophobic portion of the compound $\underline{1}$ may facilitate the inhibitory effect. $IC_{50}$ value of compound $\underline{1}$ was $12.6{\pm}0.2{\mu}M$. The primary and secondary Lineweaver Burk and Dixon plots for compound $\underline{1}$ indicated that it is a non-competitive inhibitor with inhibition constant (Ki) value of $23.7{\mu}M$.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.23 no.7
• /
• pp.923-931
• /
• 2013

Rapamycin, known as an inhibitor of Target of Rapamycin (TOR), is an immunosuppressant drug used to prevent rejection in organ transplantation. Despite the close association of the TOR signaling cascade with various scopes of metabolism, it has not yet been thoroughly investigated at the metabolome level. In our current study, we applied mass spectrometric analysis for profiling primary metabolism in order to capture the responsive dynamics of the Chlamydomonas metabolome to the inhibition of TOR by rapamycin. Accordingly, we identified the impact of the rapamycin treatment at the level of metabolomic phenotypes that were clearly distinguished by multivariate statistical analysis. Pathway analysis pinpointed that inactivation of the TCA cycle was accompanied by the inhibition of cellular growth. Relative to the constant suppression of the TCA cycle, most amino acids were significantly increased in a time-dependent manner by longer exposure to rapamycin treatment, after an initial down-regulation at the early stage of exposure. Finally, we explored the isolation of the responsive metabolic factors into the rapamycin treatment and the culture duration, respectively.