• Molecules and Cells
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.133-141
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• 2023

Transcription factor NRF2 (NF-E2-related factor 2) is a master regulator of cellular responses against environmental stresses. NRF2 induces expression of detoxification and antioxidant enzymes and suppresses inductions of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes. KEAP1 (Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1) is an adaptor subunit of CULLIN 3 (CUL3)-based E3 ubiquitin ligase. KEAP1 regulates the activity of NRF2 and acts as a sensor for oxidative and electrophilic stresses. NRF2 has been found to be activated in many types of cancers with poor prognosis. Therapeutic strategies to control NRF2-overeactivated cancers have been considered not only by targeting cancer cells with NRF2 inhibitors or NRF2 synthetic lethal chemicals, but also by targeting host defense with NRF2 inducers. Understanding precise molecular mechanisms how the KEAP1-NRF2 system senses and regulates the cellular response is critical to overcome intractable NRF2-activated cancers.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.167-172
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• 2007

A tomato zinc-finger protein gene, LeZFP1, encoding the Cys2/His2-type zinc-finger transcription factor was searched from cDNA microarray analysis of gene expression following induction of the overexpressed tomato transgenic plants showing resistance for pathogen and abiotic stresses. The full-length cDNA of LeZFP1 encoded a protein of 261 amino acid residues. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence of LeZFP1 revealed that it shares high sequence identity with pepper CAZFP1 (81% identity). We found that single copy of LeZFP1 gene is present in the tomato genome through southern blot analysis. The LeZFP1 transcripts were constitutively expressed in the tomato mature and young leaves, but were detectable weakly in the flower, stem and root. The LeZFP1 transcripts were significantly reduced in treated leaf tissues with NaCl and mannitol. The LeZFP1 gene was induced by oxidative stress especially. Our results indicated that LeZFP1 may play a role function involved in oxidative stress signaling pathways.

• Mycobiology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.152-157
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• 2014

The iron uptake and utilization pathways play a critical role in allowing human pathogens, including Cryptococcus neoformans, the causative agent of fatal meningoencephalitis, to survive within the mammalian body by competing with the host for iron. Here we show that the iron regulon is also required for diverse environmental stress responses and that in C. neoformans, it is regulated by the high-osmolarity glycerol response (HOG) pathway. Between CFO1 and CFO2, two ferroxidase genes in the iron regulon, CFO1 but not CFO2 was induced during oxidative and osmotic stress. Interestingly, we found that the HOG pathway repressed basal expression of both CFO1 and CFO2. Furthermore, when the HOG pathway was blocked, CFO2 also responded to oxidative and osmotic stress and the response of CFO1 was increased. We also established that CFO1 plays a major role in responding and adapting to diverse environmental stresses, including oxidative and genotoxic damage, osmotic fluctuations, heavy metal stress, and stress induced by cell membrane destabilizers. Therefore, our findings indicate that in C. neoformans, the iron uptake and utilization pathways are not only required for iron acquisition and survival, but also play a significant role in the environmental stress response through crosstalk with the HOG pathway.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.13-17
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• 2001

Cucumber leaves subjected to light chilling stress exhibit a preferential inactivation of photosystem(PS) I relative to PSII, resulting in the photoinhibition of photosynthesis. In light chilled cucumber leaves, Cu/Zn-Superoxide dismutase(SOD) is regarded as a primary target of the light chilling stress and its inactivation is closely related to the increased production of reactive oxygen species. In the present study, we further explored that inactivation of PSI in cucumber leaves is not a light chilling specific, but general to various oxidative stresses. Oxidative stress in cucumber leaves was induced by treatment of methylviologen(MV), a producer of reactive oxygen species in chloroplasts. MV treatment decreased the maximal photosynthetic O$_2$ evolution, resulting in the photoinhibition of photosynthesis. The photoinhibition of photosynthesis was attributable to the decline in PSI functionality determined in vivo by monitoring absorption changes around 820 nm. In addition, MV treatment inactivated both antioxidant enzymes Cu-Zn-superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase known sensitive to reactive oxygen species. From these results, we suggest that chloroplast antioxidant enzymes are the primary targets of photooxidative stress, followed by subsequent inactivation of PSI.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.88-93
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• 2001

Oxidative stress is one of the major limiting factor in plant productivity. Reactive oxygens species (ROS) generated during metabolic processes damage cellular functions and consequently lead to disease, senescence and cell death. Plants have evolved an efficient defense system by which the ROS is scavenged by antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX). Attempts to reduce oxidative damages under the stress conditions have included the manipulation of 갠 scavenging enzymes by gene transfer technology. Increased SOD activities of transgenic plants lead to increased resistance against oxidative stresses derived from methyl viologen (MV), and from photooxidative damage caused by high light and low temperature. Transgenic tobacco plants overexpressing APX showed reduced damage following either MV treatment of photooxidative treatment. Overexpression of glutathion reductase (GR) leads to increase in pool of ascorbate and GSH, known as small antioxidant molecules. These results indicate through overexpression of enzymes involved in ROS-scavenging could maintain or improve the plant productivities under environment stress condition. In this study, the rational approaches to develop stress-tolerant plants by gene manipulation of antioxidant enzymes will be introduced to provide solutions for the global food and environmental problems in the $21^\textrm{st}$ century.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.1412-1423
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• 2019

The filamentous fungus Aspergillus tubingensis that belongs to the black Aspergillus section has the capacity to produce high-value metabolites, for instance, naphtho-gamma-pyrones (NGPs). For these fungal secondary metabolites, numerous biological properties of industrial interest have been demonstrated, such as antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-cancer capacities. It has been observed that production of these secondary metabolites is linked with fungal sporulation. The aim of this research was to apply osmotic and oxidative environmental stresses to trigger the production of NGPs in liquid cultures with CYB (Czapek Dox Broth). In addition, numerous parameters were tested during the experiments, such as pH value, incubation time, container geometry, and static and agitation conditions. Results demonstrate that the produced amount of NGPs can be enhanced by decreasing the water activity ($a_w$) or by adding an oxidative stress factor. In conclusion, this study can contribute to our knowledge regarding A. tubingensis to present an effective method to increase NGP production, which may support the development of current industrial processes.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.286-290
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• 2005

Ascorbate peroxidase (APX) plays a crucial role in the detoxification of hydrogen peroxide. APX activity is maintained significantly higher in the paraquat­treated leaves of the paraquat-tolerant Rehmannia glutinos. This study was conducted to understand structural and regulatory characteristics of APX gene in R. glutinosa. A putative APX cDNA clone (RgAPX1) was isolated from a leaf cDNA library using a partially sequenced expressed sequence tag clone. RgAPX1 is consisted of 1148 bp nucleotides and contains an open reading frame encoding a 250 amino acid-long polypeptide. Deduced RgAPX1 amino acid sequence shares higher sequence similarity to cytosolic APXs. RgAPX1. expression was higher in the leaf than in the flower and root. Southern blot result indicates the presence of one or two RgAPX1-related genes in R. glutinosa genome. RgAPX1 transcription was affected differentially by various stresses and phytohormone. The results indicate that RgAPXl is constitutively expressed in most tissues and its expression is modulated for the immediate and efficient detoxification of $H_2O_2$ under normal and stress conditions.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.285-290
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• 2020

To understand the role of small heat shock protein (sHSPs) in rice plant response to various stresses such as the heat and oxidative stresses, a cDNA encoding a 24.1 kDa mitochondrial small HSP (Oshsp24.1) was isolated from rice by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) PCR. The deduced amino acid sequence shows very high similarity with other plant small HSPs. DNA gel blot analysis suggests that the rice genome contains more than one copy of Oshsp24.1. High level of expression of Oshsp24.1 transcript was observed in rice seedlings in response to heat, methyl viologen, hydrogen peroxide, ozone, salt and heavy metal stresses. Recombinant OsHSP24.1 protein was produced in E. coli cells for biochemical assay. The protein formed oligomeric complex when incubated with Sulfo-EGS (ethylene glycol bis (succinimidyl succinate)). Our results shows that Oshsp24.1 has an important role in abiotic stress response and have potential for developing stress-tolerant plants.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.185-191
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• 2009

The elevated level of circulating estradiol increases the risk of breast tumor development. To gain further insight into mechanisms involved in their actions, we investigated the molecular mechanisms of 4-hydroxyestradiol (4-$OHE_2$) to initiate and/or promote abnormal cell growth, and of $\alpha$- or $\gamma$-tocopherol to inhibit this process. MCF-10A, human breast epithelial cells were incubated with $0.1{\mu}M$ 4-$OHE_2$, either with or without $30{\mu}M$ tocopherols for 96 h. 4-$OHE_2$ caused the accumulation of intracellular ROS, while cellular GSH/GSSG ratio and MnSOD protein levels were decreased, indicating that there was an oxidative burden. 4-$OHE_2$ treatment also changed the levels of DNA repair proteins, BRCA1 and PARP-1. $\gamma$-Tocopherol suppressed the 4-$OHE_2$-induced increases in ROS, GSH/GSSG ratio, and MnSOD protein expression, while $\alpha$-tocopherol up-regulated BRCA1 and PARP-1 protein expression. In conclusion, 4-$OHE_2$ increases oxidative stress reducing the level of proteins related to DNA repair. Tocopherols suppressed oxidative stress by scavenging ROS or up-regulating DNA repair elements.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.1345-1353
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• 2007

The effect of salicylic acid(SA) on antioxidant system and protective mechanisms against UV-B induced oxidative stress was investigated in cucumber(Cucumis sativus L.) leaves. UV-B radiation and SA were applied separately or in combination to first leaves of cucumber seedlings, and dry matter accumulation, lipid peroxidation and activities of antioxidant enzymes were measured in both dose and time-dependant manner. UV-B exposure showed reduced levels of fresh weight and dry matter production, whereas SA treatment significantly increased them. SA noticeably recovered the UV-B induced inhibition of biomass production. UV-B stress also affected lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme defense system. Malondialdehyde(MDA), a product of lipid peroxidation, was greatly increased under UV-B stress, showing a significant enhancement of a secondary metabolites, which may have antioxidative properties in cucumber leaves exposed to UV-B radiation. Combined application of UV-B and SA caused a moderate increase in lipid peroxidation. These results suggest that SA may mediate protection against oxidative stress. UV-B exposure significantly increased SOD, APX, and GR activity compared with untreated control plants. Those plants treated with 1.0 mM SA showed a similar pattern of changes in activities of antioxidant enzymes. SA-mediated induction of antioxidant enzyme activity may involve a protective accumulation of $H_2O_2$ against UV-B stress. Moreover, their activities were stimulated with a greater increase by UV-B+SA treatment. The UV-B+SA plants always presented higher values than UV-B and SA plants, considering the adverse effects of UV-B on the antioxidant cell system. ABA and JA, second messengers in signaling in response to stresses, showed similar mode of action in UV-B stress, supporting that they may be important in acquired stress tolerance. Based on these results, it can be suggested that SA may participates in the induction of protective mechanisms involved in tolerance to UV-B induced oxidative stress.