Insect pests can be controlled through direct application of insecticides. Insect control by residual protectants is relatively inexpensive and has an advantage of destroying all stages of infestations. The efficacy of control is largely determined by the concentration of insecticides to which the pest species is exposed. A reduction in the period of control in the field afforded by a specific level of a protectant indicates that resistance has developed. An increase in the level of protectant is required to maintain control, and the efficacy of currently used insecticides has been severely reduced by insecticide resistance in pest species. Development of resistance to particular insecticide varies with species because insecticide resistance is often correlated with increased levels of certain enzymes, which are cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenases, glutathione S-transferases and esterases. Some sections of insecticide molecules can be modified by one or more of these primary enzymes. A reduction in the sensitivity of the action site of a xenobiotic also constitutes a mechanism of resistance. Acetylcholinesterase is a major target site for insecticide action, as are axonal sodium ion channels and ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid receptors. Development of reduced sensitivity of these target sites to insecticides usually occurs. This review not only may contribute to a better understanding of insecticide resistance, but also illustrates the gaps still present for a full biochemical understanding of the resistance.

Xylose (glucose) isomerase was purified to homogeneity from cell-extracts of Streptomyces chibaensis J-59 via ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, and gel filtration on Sephacryl S-300. The purified enzyme is a homotetramer with a native molecular mass of 180 kDa and a subunit molecular mass of 44 kDa. The amino acid N-terminal sequence of glucose isomerase from S. chibaensis J-59 was determined to be Ser-Tyr-Gln-Pro-Thr-Pro-Glu-Asp-Arg-Phe-Thr-Phe-Gly-Leu. The first 14 amino acids of the N-terminal sequence of the enzyme showed strong analogies with N-terminal sequences of glucose isomerase produced by other Streptomyces spp. The optimum pH and temperature for activity were 7.5 and 85, respectively. The purified enzyme required $Mg^{2+}$, $Co^{2+}$, and $Mn^{2+}$ for the activity, $Mg^{2+}$ being the most effective. The enzyme was not inhibited by $Ca^{2+}$, but was inhibited by $Hg^{2+}$, $Ag^+$, and $Cu^{2+}$. The $K_m$, $V_{max}$, and $k_{cat}$ values of S. chibaensis J-59 isomerase for glucose were 83 mM, 40.9 U/mg, and $1,843min^{-1}$, respectively. In the presence of $Co^{2+}$, cell-free enzymes retained 100% without loss of activities by the heat-treatment at $70^{\circ}C$ for 7 days. The enzyme retained 50% residual activity after heating at $85^{\circ}C$ for 13.5 h, at $90^{\circ}C$ for 126 min. The enzyme is more thermostable than any other glucose isomerases of Streptomyces spp.

NTR1 gene of Brassica campestris L. ssp. perkinensis encodes a floral nectary-specific methyltransferase. In this study, the NTR1 cDNA was expressed in E. coli to examine the enzymatic characteristics of the protein product. The GST-NTR1 fusion protein was purified to near homogeneity, showing that the size of NTR1 was 44 kDa. The protein reacted specifically with jasmonic acid (JA), consuming methyl group from S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM). GC-MS analysis revealed that the compound produced was authentic methyl jasmonate (MeJA), suggesting that NTR1 is an S-adenosyl-L-methionine: jasmonic acid carboxyl methyltransferase. Km values of NTR1 for JA and SAM were 38.0 and $6.4{\mu}M$, respectively. Optimal activity of the NTR1 was observed at $20^{\circ}C$, pH 7.5, in the presence of 100-150 mM KCl. Thus, kinetic properties, thermal characteristics, optimal pH, and ion-dependency of the NTR1 activity were almost identical to those of Arabidopsis JA methyltransferase JMT, indicating that these two proteins are orthologues of each other.

A putative protein encoded by Arabidopsis AtMTN3 gene, a homologue of Medicago truncatula MTN3, consists of 285 amino acid residues, and has a predicted molecular mass of 31.5 kDa and a calculated pI of 9.1. Primary amino acid sequence analyses have revealed that the protein contains seven putative transmembrane regions with N-terminus oriented to the outside of the membrane. The AtMTN3 protein shows overall 16.4% of amino acid identity with the rat GALR3 protein, known to be a G-protein-coupled receptor. The gene is present as a single copy in the Arabidopsis genome, and expressed in aerial parts but not in roots of Arabidopsis. Therefore, AtMTN3 appears not to be specifically involved in Rhizobium-induced nodule development, as was predicted for the MTN3 gene. These proteins possibly mediate signal transmission through G-protein-coupled pathways during general interactions between plants and symbiotic or pathogenic microbes.

Effects of water-soluble extract from roasted-chicory root on the cholesterol metabolism in rats fed cholesterol diet were investigated. Sprague-Dawley rats received a hypercholesterolemic diets without (control group) or with 5.0% water-soluble extract from roasted chicory root for 2 weeks. Roasted chicory extract group showed significantly higher body weight gain and food intake compared with the control group. The concentrations of total cholesterol and LDL+VLDL cholesterol in serum were significantly lower in rats fed roasted chicory extract diet. However, HDL-cholesterol concentration, and atherogenic index were not significantly affected by the dietary roasted chicory extract. Fecal net weight, fecal cholesterol, and bile acid excretion were significantly higher in the chicory extract group. The results suggest that the hypocholesterolemic effect in rats fed roasted chicory extract may be caused by an alteration in the absorption of cholesterol by an increase in the fecal excretion of cholesterol and bile acid.

To observe the changes in isotopic composition (${\delta}^{15}N$) of $NO_3{^-}$ during denitrification, an incubation experiment using soil treated with nitrification inhibitor (2-chloro-6-trichloromethyl-pyridine) under water-saturated condition was conducted for 153 h. The $NO_3-N$ concentration decreased from 73.3 to $20.6mg\;kg^{-1}$ during the incubation period, with denitrification rate constant of $0.00905h^{-1}$, and ${\delta}^{15}N$ values of $NO_3-N$ increased from +0.9 to +25.5‰ with decreasing the $NO_3-N$ concentration. The increase in the ${\delta}^{15}N$ values of $NO_3-N$ is due to kinetic isotope fractionation, which always results in $^{15}N$ enrichment of the substrate. The isotopic fractionation factor calculated in this study was 1.0196, an indication that 1.96% more $^{14}NO_3{^-}$ reacted at a given time interval than a comparable number of $^{15}NO_3{^-}$. The ${\delta}^{15}N$ values measured through the incubation study showed a good agreement with the results calculated from the Fochts isotope fractionation model. Our results suggest that when the ${\delta}^{15}N$ of $NO_3{^-}$ is used for tracing the fate of N, the kinetic isotope fractionation associated with denitrification must be taken into consideration.

Quantitative gas chromatographic method for determining the ant repellent activity of cineol, ${\alpha}$-terpineol, linalool, and piperitone which usually found in Chinese Prickly Ash Zanthoxylum piperitum DC. was developed. These monoterpenes showed higher ant repellent activities than DEET due perhaps to their volatility. Gas chromatographic method quantified the volatility of the four monoterpenes and DEET.

Eight flavonoids, including rutin, naringin, hesperidin, quercetin, hesperetin, nobiletin, 3,5,6,7,8,3',4'-methoxylated flavone, and tangeretin, in the peels of satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu) species of Halla, Gungcheon, Hungjin, Namgam-20, Illnam-1, and Chungdo harvested between August and December were analyzed through HPLC. Hesperidin content of Halla harvested during early maturation was 28.70 mg/g, and was the highest among the tested citrus fruits. Rutin content of Hungjin harvested during early maturation was 2.66 mg/g. Naringin in all citrus species and hesperetin in Halla, Gungchun, Namgam-20, and Chungdo were only detected in the peel of fruits harvested during early maturation. Hesperidin and rutin were detected mainly in all citrus species, and other flavonoids in trace. Flavonoid content in the peel of fruits was high during early maturation. Flavonoid contents in the peels of all fruit samples were generally high in the early stage of maturation, which then decreased rapidly.

Methanol extracts from 51 fruits were tested for their fungicidal activities against six phytopathogenic fungi in a greenhouse. The efficacy varied with both the plant pathogen and fruit species used. At 10 and 5 mg/pot, methanol extracts of Poncirus trifoliata peel and seed gave over 80% control values against Pyricularia grisea, and strong fungicidal activities against Rhizoctonia solani were showed from the extracts of Citrus paradisi peel and Punica granatum leaf. In a test with Botrytis cinerea at 5 mg/pot, the extracts of C. sinensis seed and D. kaki leaf produced potent fungicidal activities, and the extracts of C. crenata peel and leaf, Ch. sinensis seed, P. trifoliata peel, and Z. jujuba leaf had strong fungicidal activities. At 5 mg/pot, strong fungicidal activities were produced in the extracts of P. trifoliata peel and seed against Phytophthora infestans and in the extracts of P. ussriensis var. macrostipes fruit and seed, C. crenata peel, C. crenata leaf, C. paradisi peel, P. trifoliata peel, P. granatum peel, and Z. jujuba leaf against Puccinia recondita. In a test with E. graminis, potent activities at 10 mg/pot were produced from the extracts of Ch. sinensis seed, C. sinensis seed, P. trifoliata leaf, P. ussriensis var. macrostipes fruit and seed, and Vitis vinifera seed. In the control effect of seven extracts against B. cinerea strains resistant to carbendazim, procymidone, and diethofencarb, extracts of C. crenata peel and leaf, Ch. sinensis seed, and P. trifoliata peel were highly effective against all strains of B. cinerea. Furthermore, potent fungicidal activities were produced from the extracts of C. sinensis seed and D. kaki leaf against the SSR, SRR, and RRS, and Z. jujuba leaf against the SSR and RRS strains. As a naturally occurring fungicide, these fruit-derived materials could be useful as new fungicidal products against phytopathogenic fungi.