• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.35-40
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• 2006

Background: Inorganic arsenic is a human carcinogen that can target the liver, but its carcinogenic mechanisms are still unknown. Inorganic arsenic induces a spectrum of tumors including hepatocellular carcinoma in mice. Methods: Pregnant C3H mice were supplied with drinking water containing 50 ppm sodium arsenite during their pregnancy. The protein expression profile in the liver of 0.5-day-old. male offsprings exposed transplacentally to sodium arsenite was analyzed using protein 2D gel electrophoresis followed by mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF). Results: Expression of proteins such as hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA synthase mitochondrial precursor (HMG-CoA synthase), ${\beta}$-actin (cytoplasmic 1) and apolipoprotein A-IV precursor (Apo-AIV) were induced in mouse liver by sodium arsenite, while uricase (urate oxidase), guanine nucleotidebinding protein beta subunit 2-like 1 (RACK1) and fructose-bisphosphate aldolase B (Aldolase 2) were down-regulated. Summary: Expression of proteins that have been implicated in carcinogenesis, such as HMG-CoA, ${\beta}$-actin, and RACK1, was regulated in the liver of mice transplacentally exposed to inorganic arsenic.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.66-73
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• 1995

'Gyejakjimo-Tang(桂芍知母湯)', which is composed of Cinnamon bark(桂枝), Peony root(芍藥), Anemarrhena root(知母) and other seven herbs, is described as antipyretic, diuretic and analgesic prescription in traditional medical literatures including Geumgwe-Yoryak(金櫃要略). So it is being used in the treatment of gout clinically in oriental region. As the results of the pharmacological and biochemical trials of the prescription, it was found to have antiinflammatory and significant analgesic effects indicated by carrageenin edema, dye permeabilities and writhing behavior. And it potentiated the output of uric acid in blood and the increase of uric acid in urine of alcohol-toxicated rats, which mean the decrease of uric acid level only by excretion procedure. But the prescription didn't show any effects on the activities of adenine/guanine deaminase, purine nucleoside phosphorylase, xanthine oxidase or uricase, which are related with formation and metabolism of uric acid.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.66-70
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• 1993

Introduction : Methanethiol is a toxicant that is a byproduct in the industrial process (oil refinery), and it is produced in vivo from methionine via transamination in case of its overintake. And it also can be generated by the action of mucosal thiol Smethyltransferase on hydrogen sulfite which is formed by anaerobic bacteria in the intestinal tract. The toxicity of methanethiol has often been suggested as one of endogenous factors involved in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy. Furthermore, methanethiol could cause the membrane damage and inhibition of some membrane protective enzymes.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.95-108
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• 1987

Effects of allopurinol (2mM), a specific inhibitor of xanthine oxidase, on the growth and metabolism of llantoin in dark grown Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L.) seedlings were investigated. Allopurinol treatment maintained the fresh and dry weights of cotyledons at higher levels, but inhibited the elongation of hypocotyls and roots of the seedlings. Total nitrogen content in the cotyledons decreased at slower rate by allopurinol. Accordingly, the levels of total nitrogen contents in the hypocotyls and roots, were depressed by the inhibitor. In the cotyledons, allopurinol began to elevate RNA levels after day 3, which it did not affect DNA level throughout the experiment. Activities of xanthine oxidase (XO:EC 1.2.3.2), uricase (UO:EC 1.7.3.3) and allantoinase (AL:EC 3.5.2.5) in the cotyledons were examined. The activity of XO was not detected, but the accumulation of xanthine by allopurinol treatment presented an indirect evidence of the existence of XO in the organ. Allopurinol kept UO activity high up to day 2 after sowing and depressed AL activity throughout the experiment. By allopurinol treatment, allantoin content was kept high over the control both in cotyledons and roots, but it was kept low in hypocotyls. The level of allantoic acid in the 3 organs were shown to be depressed by allopurinol. These results suggest that allantoin and allantoic acid produced by the degradation of stored and newly synthesized RNA are transported from the storage tissue to hypocotyls and roots as important nitrogen sources for the development of Chinese cabbage seedlings.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.49-51
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• 1984

After pretreatment with ginseng followed by induction of acute intoxication of alcohol, the activities of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), microsomal ethanol-oxidizing system (MEOS) and aldehyde dehydrogenase(Ald DH) increased respectively compared to the groups treated with alcohol alone. In case that ginseng was given to rats fed with 5% alcohol instead of water for 60 days, the activities of ADH and MEOS increased compared to the groups treated. On the contrary, the activity of Ald DH in mitochondrial fraction decreased to an extent of about 35% in chronic alcoholism, but after pretreatment of ginseng the activity was restored to the control level. On the other hand, the catalase activity was not significantly affected by either treatment. Ginseng butanol fraction significantly increased the serum isocitrate dehydrogenase activity which is inhibited by alcohol-treated in rat. Alcohol-induced lactate dehydrogenase activity was decreased to control level in liver by ginseng treatment. And the serum level of lactic acid also decreased by ginseng treatment in alcohol-intoxicated rat. Ginseng butanol fraction markedly decreased the xanthine oxidase activity in the ethanol-treated rat liver. It was also observed that ginseng reduced the blood concentration of uric acid on experimentally reduced hyperuricemia by alcohol treatment. Uricase activity was not affected by either treatment. Ginseng butanol fraction decreased the hepatic aniline hydroxylase activity which was induced by alcohol-treated rat. These results suggest that the treatment with ginseng can be promoted the recovery from alcohol intoxication and some therapeutic effect on alcoholinduced metabolic disease.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.1147-1155
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• 2018

The degradation efficiency and catabolism pathways of the different methylxanthines (MXs) in isolated caffeine-tolerant strain Pseudomonas putida CT25 were comprehensively studied. The results showed that the degradation efficiency of various MXs varied with the number and position of the methyl groups on the molecule (i.e., xanthine > 7-methylxanthine ${\approx}$ theobromine > caffeine > theophylline > 1-methylxanthine). Multiple MX catabolism pathways coexisted in strain CT25, and a different pathway would be triggered by various MXs. Demethylation dominated in the degradation of N-7-methylated MXs (such as 7-methylxanthine, theobromine, and caffeine), where C-8 oxidation was the major pathway in the catabolism of 1-methylxanthine, whereas demethylation and C-8 oxidation are likely both involved in the degradation of theophylline. Enzymes responsible for MX degradation were located inside the cell. Both cell culture and cell-free enzyme assays revealed that N-1 demethylation might be a rate-limiting step for the catabolism of the MXs. Surprisingly, accumulation of uric acid was observed in a cell-free reaction system, which might be attributed to the lack of activity of uricase, a cytochrome c-coupled membrane integral enzyme.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.381-388
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• 1995

Four cONA clones expressed in late root nodules of Canavalia lineata were isolated by differential screening using total RNA from uninfected roots, Clb1 and uricase II cONAs as competitors and named Cnod1, Cne2, Cne3 and Clb2, respectively. Cnod1, hybridized to 1450 nt mRNA, was highly homologous to cysteine proteinase gene from rice and showed nodule-specific expression, especially in late nodules. Cne2, hybrdized to 900 nt mRNA, was moderately homologous to Expressed Sequence Tag of rice and expressed mainly in root nodules. Its expression was increased at 13 OAI and subsequently remained at the same level. Cne3, hybridized to 1700 nt and 1400 ot mRNAs, was highly homologous to tonoplast membrane intrinsic protein TRG31 gene from pea and was expressed strongly in roots and nodules, but weakly in leaves. Temporal expression pattern of Cne3 was coincided with the life cycle of root nodules. Clb2, hybridized to 800 nt mRNA, was expressed from 8 OAI, amplified at 13 DAI and remained steady thereafter.eafter.