• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.267-274
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• 2000

Since intracellular free $Mg^{2+}$ ($[Mg^{2+}]_i$) appears to be tightly regulated following cellular energy depletion, we hypothesized that the increase in $[Mg^{2+}]_i$ would result in $Mg^{2+}$ extrusion into circulation. Extracellualr $Mg^{2+}$ contents ($[Mg^{2+}]_o$) were measured in rat erythrocytes, the perfused heart and liver, and plasma in the anesthetized rat. Animals were injected intraperitoneally with sodium nitrite ($NaNO_2$) and plasma $Mg^{2+}$ was measured after the injection and then 10 and 20 minutes later. An increase in circulating (plasma) $Mg^{2+}$ ($[Mg^{2+}]_c$) and methemoglobin was observed in animals injected with $NaNO_2$ (30 mg/Kg). The time course of the effects demonstrated that $[Mg^{2+}]_c$ and methemoglobin continued to increase 10 minutes after the $NaNO_2$ injection. Under these conditions, there was a sustained increase in $[Mg^{2+}]_c$, but not in methemoglobin, which was inhibited by pretreatment with potassium cyanide (KCN, 4 mg/Kg), indicating that an increase in $[Mg^{2+}]_c$ was accompanied by ATP depletion. Injection of rotenone (0.9 mg/Kg) or 2,4-dinitrophenol (15 mg/Kg) also induced an increase in $[Mg^{2+}]_c$. Reduced respiration rate from 100/min to 10/min during 30 minutes also caused a time-dependent rise in $[Mg^{2+}]_c$. These increase in $[Mg^{2+}]_c$ were inhibited by pretreatment with KCN. In addition, ATP depletion by $NaNO_2$ or KCN sustainedly increased the $[Mg^{2+}]_o$ in rat erythrocytes. $Mg^{2+}$ efflux was stimulated by KCN in the perfused heart and liver, but not by $NaNO_2$. These results suggest that the activation of $Mg^{2+}$ effluxes into the circulation is directly dependent on the ATP depletion-induced increase in $[Mg^{2+}]_i$ and heart, liver and erythrocytes have a major pool of $Mg^{2+}$ that can be mobilized upon cellular energy state.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.423-428
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• 2009

Superoxide dismutases (SODs) constitute the first line of cellular defense against oxidative stress in plants. SODs generally occur in three different forms with Cu/Zn, Fe, or Mn as prosthetic metals. We cloned the full-length cDNA of the Thellungiella halophila Cu/Zn-SOD gene ThCSD using degenerate RT-PCR and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). Sequence analysis indicated that the ThCSD gene (GenBank accession number EF405867) had an open reading frame of 456 bp. The deduced 152-amino acid polypeptide had a predicted molecular weight of 15.1 kDa, an estimated pI of 5.4, and a putative Cu/Zn-binding site. Recombinant ThCSD protein was expressed in Escherichia coli and assayed for SOD enzymatic activity in a native polyacrylamide gel. The SOD activity of ThCSD was inactivated by potassium cyanide and hydrogen peroxide but not by sodium azide, confirming that ThCSD is a Cu/Zn-SOD. Northern blotting demonstrated that ThCSD is expressed in roots, stems, and leaves. ThCSD mRNA levels increased by about 30-fold when plants were treated with sodium chloride (NaCl), abscisic acid (ABA), and indole-acetic acid (IAA) and by about 50-fold when treated with UVB light. These results indicate that ThCSD is involved in physiological pathways activated by a variety of environmental conditions.