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The ability of some rhizosphere bacteria to mitigate herbicidal stress in cultivated plants may be useful in agriculture and bioremediation. There is poor understanding of how bacteria directly or through herbicide degradation affect the biochemical processes in plants exposed to sulfonylurea herbicides. In this study, treatment with a combination of herbicide metsulfuron-methyl (MSM) and bacteria (Pseudomonas protegens DA1.2 or P. chlororaphis 4CH) of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and canola (Brassica napus L.) plants was carried out. Activity of glutathione-S-transferase (GST), an important enzyme for the herbicide detoxification, and acetolactate synthase (ALS), a target for MSM in plants, was measured by spectrophotometric assays. MSM residues were analyzed using the HPLC-MS. Then, 24 h after bacterial treatment, GST activity increased by 75–91% in wheat and by 38–94% in canola. On the 30th day, a decrease in MSM in the soil associated with bacterial treatment was 54.6–79.7%. An increase in GST activity and acceleration of MSM degradation were accompanied by a decrease in inhibition of the ALS enzyme in plants, which indicated a mitigation of the toxic effect. The results obtained are evidence that rhizospheric bacteria can have beneficial effects on plants exposed to MSM due to the combination of abilities to directly affect detoxification enzymes in plants and degrade MSM in the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A significant consequence of climate change is the rising incidence of wildfires. When wildfires occur close to wine grape (Vitis vinifera) production areas, smoke-derived volatile phenolic compounds can be taken up by the grape berries, negatively affecting the flavor and aroma profile of the resulting wine and compromising the production value of entire vineyards. Evidence for the permeation of smoke-associated compounds into grape berries has been provided through metabolomics; however, the basis for grapevines’ response to smoke at the gene expression level has not been investigated in detail. To address this knowledge gap, we employed time-course RNA sequencing to observe gene expression-level changes in grape berries in response to smoke exposure. Significant increases in gene expression (and enrichment of gene ontologies) associated with detoxification of reactive compounds, maintenance of redox homeostasis, and cell wall fortification were observed in response to smoke. These findings suggest that the accumulation of volatile phenols from smoke exposure activates mechanisms that render smoke-derived compounds less reactive while simultaneously fortifying intracellular defense mechanisms. The results of this work lend a better understanding of the molecular basis for grapevines’ response to smoke and provide insight into the origins of smoke-taint-associated flavor and aroma attributes in wine produced from smoke-exposed grapes.

The insecticidal and repellent activities of the four wild plant extracts: stinging nettle, Urtica dioica L., white henbane, Hyoscyamus albus L., camphorweeds, Pluchea dioscoridis L., and cocklebur, Xanthium strumarium L. were tested compared to the insecticide spirotetramat against the 3rd nymphal instar of Aphis gossypii Glover and adult females of Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley after 24 and 48 h of treatment. Their effects on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) enzyme activities were also assessed to explore their possible mechanisms of action. The phenolic compounds of the plant extracts were investigated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. The most abundant compounds in the methanol extract from P. dioscoridis were gallic acid (14.45 µg/mL), and cinnamic acid (11.44 µg/mL); from U. dioica were caffeic acid (15.32 µg/mL) and syringic acid (13.47 µg/mL); from H. albus were syringic acid (7.12 µg/mL) and catechol (5.33 µg/mL); and from X. strumarium were p-coumaric acid (24.53 µg/mL) and pyrogallol (18.35 µg/mL). According to the LC50 values, the contact toxicity of U. dioica, H. albus, P. dioscoridis, and X. strumarium against A. gossypii was 40.3, 60.6, 56.2, and 32.3 mg/L, whereas, the contact toxicity against P. solenopsis was 56.4, 67.5, 64.3, and 36.2 mg/L, compared to the spirotetramat (17.2 and 24.5 mg/L), respectively, at 48 h of treatment. The highest repellency rates were observed with LC50 values for X. strumarium (63.2 and 60.3%), followed by U. dioica (46.2 and 43.5%), P. dioscoridis (45.3 and 42.8%), and H. albus extract (38.8 and 35.2%) compared to the spirotetramat (78.5 and 76.2%) against A. gossypii and P. solenopsis at 24 h, but decreased with time. The AChE and GST activities in pests were significantly inhibited, compared to control and spirotetramat, with dose and time-dependent effects. These findings indicate that tested wild extracts may be suggested as viable alternatives for aphids and mealybugs control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aedes caspius mosquitoes are highly aggressive zoo-anthropophilic species of significant medical and veterinary importance. They can transmit serious disease agents with devastating effects on humans and other animals. Populations of these vectors are primarily managed using chemical insecticides in Turkey. In this study, we examined insecticide resistance in nine different Ae. caspius populations distributed in the Aegean and Mediterranean regions of Turkey. Bioassay results showed that all assayed populations were resistant to dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, malathion, fenitrothion, bendiocarb, propoxur, and suspected resistant to permethrin and deltamethrin. Biochemical assays revealed significantly higher activities of glutathione-s-transferase, monooxygenase and esterases in Ae. caspius populations. Overall, our results indicate the presence of multiple resistance mechanisms in Ae. caspius populations. These results provide useful information in guiding pesticide use in vector control programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present research was to evaluate the effect of diets supplemented with activated yeast, crude chitin, and chitosan on the growth, immune, and antioxidant response of freshwater prawn Cryphiops (Cryphiops) caementarius. Adult male prawns were kept in individual culture vessels installed in aquarium tanks. The basal diet (control) was supplemented with activated Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast (60 g/kg), crude chitin (20 g/kg), and chitosan (1 g/kg). Each dietary treatment consisted of three replicates. The diet supplemented with activated yeast causes greater growth, as well as a greater number of total hemocytes (82.54 × 105 cells/mL), semigranular (59 × 105 cells/mL), and granular (18.67 × 105 cells/mL) hemocytes and without atypical hemocytes. Furthermore, a higher number of hemocytes positive for prophenoloxidase (98%), a shorter hemolymph clotting time (42.87 s), a higher activity of acid phosphatase (12.50 U/mL) and glutathione‐S‐transferase (GST) (0.186 U/mL) were also observed in dietary yeast group. On the contrary, there were no differences in the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme in prawns from any dietary treatment. Results from this research demonstrate for the first time that the diet containing activated yeast increases the growth and immune response of the freshwater prawn through a significant increase in hemocyte and acid phosphatase levels, a decrease in hemolymph clotting time, and a greater number of proPO‐positive hemocytes. However, activated yeast is not effective in increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes SOD and GST. Therefore, the activated yeast diet can be useful to improve the aquaculture production of C. (C.) caementarius and possibly of other commercially important crustaceans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A significant consequence of climate change is the rising incidence of wildfires. When wildfires occur close to wine grape (Vitis vinifera) production areas, smoke-derived volatile phenolic compounds can be taken up by the grape berries, negatively affecting the flavor and aroma profile of the resulting wine and compromising the production value of entire vineyards. Evidence for the permeation of smoke-associated compounds into grape berries has been provided through metabolomics; however, the basis for grapevines' response to smoke at the gene expression level has not been investigated in detail. To address this knowledge gap, we employed time-course RNA sequencing to observe gene expression-level changes in grape berries in response to smoke exposure. Significant increases in gene expression (and enrichment of gene ontologies) associated with detoxification of reactive compounds, maintenance of redox homeostasis, and cell wall fortification were observed in response to smoke. These findings suggest that the accumulation of volatile phenols from smoke exposure activates mechanisms that render smoke-derived compounds less reactive while simultaneously fortifying intracellular defense mechanisms. The results of this work lend a better understanding of the molecular basis for grapevines' response to smoke and provide insight into the origins of smoke-taint-associated flavor and aroma attributes in wine produced from smoke-exposed grapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Thailand's polyvoltine hybrid silkworm, Dok Bua, is 30% more productive than indigenous breeds and is robust and well-suited to the local environment, making it a preferred choice in Thai sericulture. However, synthetic insecticides used on mulberry pests pose risks to silkworms. Neem extract tends to be a safer alternative. The potential toxicity of Thai neem seed extract on this silkworm and their enzymatic detoxification capability could substantially affect their growth and productivity. To explore this, we carried out toxicological and biochemical assessments. The results indicated that the extract had a significant toxicity across all larval stages. Younger larvae were notably more susceptible. We proceeded to examine the activity of the key enzymes implicated in xenobiotic metabolism. The finding that the detoxification enzyme had a low level of activity in the early instar larvae aligned with the larvae mortality. Neem extract suppressed esterase activity but induced glutathione S-transferases (GST) activity, remarkably, in the whole body. Despite its toxicity, GST metabolism could mitigate the effects, indicating the detoxification capabilities of silkworms. These novel findings suggest that neem extract is toxic to all larvae, with GST playing a critical role in detoxification, highlighting the need for careful consideration in sustainable sericulture safety practices. Neem, a biopesticide, offers a safer alternative to the synthetic insecticides commonly used in mulberry cultivation, which can harm silkworms. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Thai neem seed extract on all instar larvae of the Thai polyvoltine hybrid silkworm, Bombyx mori L., Dok Bua strains, focusing on the mortality rate and the activities of esterase (EST) and glutathione S-transferases (GST) enzymes. Acute toxicity was assessed using the leaf-dipping method. Results showed that the mortality rate tended to be higher in younger instars than in older ones. The first instar larvae exhibited the highest mortality rate at 94%, whereas the LC50 was highest in the third instar at 5.23 mg L−1 at 72 h. This trend aligns with the activities of EST and GST, which were evaluated in the whole bodies of the first instar larvae and the midgut tissue of fifth instar larvae. As the extract concentration increased, EST activity decreased while GST activity increased in both the first and fifth instar larvae. These findings highlight that neem extract is toxic to all instar larvae, with GST playing a crucial role in detoxification, particularly in the whole body of the Thai polyvoltine hybrid silkworm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current study, two commercial industrial hemp (IH) fiber varieties (V1: CFX-2 and V2: Henola) were assessed for their ability to regulate salt-induced oxidative stress metabolism. For 30 days, plants were cultivated in greenhouse environments with five different salinity treatments (0, 50, 80, 100, 150, and 200 mM NaCl). Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde (MDA), and lipoxygenase (LOX) and antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, guaiacol peroxidase (GPOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST)) were assessed in fully expanded leaves. At 200 and 100 mM NaCl concentrations, respectively, 30 days after saline treatment, plants in V1 and V2 did not survive. At 80 mM NaCl, the leaves of V2 showed higher concentrations of H2O2, MDA, and LOX than those of V1. Higher SOD, CAT, GPOD, APX, GR, and GST activity in the leaves of V1 up to 100 mM NaCl resulted in lower levels of H2O2 and MDA. At 80 mM NaCl, V2 demonstrated the total failure of the antioxidant defense mechanism. These results reveal that V1 demonstrated stronger salt tolerance than V2, in part due to better antioxidant metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, including vegetable ingredients in fish diets without growth effects is common; however, their intestinal oxidative status under these conditions is less known. Five isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets with 75% vegetable oil (VO) inclusion were formulated for juvenile gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata). As VO, one diet contained palm oil (diet P), another rapeseed oil (diet R), and the other three included linseed oil (L) combined with the above-mentioned VOs (named PL, RL and RPL diets). After 18 weeks, pyloric caeca (PC) and proximal intestine (PI) were analyzed for oxidative stress biomarkers, lipid peroxidation (LPO), and gene expression. Dietary linseed oil diminished the superoxide dismutase activity in both intestinal regions, catalase in PC and glutathione reductase in PI; rapeseed oil reduced the glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione-S-transferase activities in PC, and palm oil upregulated GPx activity in PI. The PL diet triggered LPO levels in the PI, and RPL-fed fish showed the highest levels of LPO in the PC due to lower antioxidant activities, while RL-fed fish presented the best oxidative status. The results suggest that the dietary amount of n-6 and the unsaturated/saturated fatty acids ratio are factors to be considered in aquafeed formulation, including VOs, to improve the intestinal oxidative status in fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glutathione-S-transferase enzymes (GSTs) are essential components of the phase II detoxification system and protect organisms from oxidative stress induced by xenobiotics and harmful toxins such as 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB). In Tetrahymena thermophila, the TtGSTm34 gene was previously reported to be one of the most responsive GST genes to CDNB treatment (LD50 = 0.079 mM). This study aimed to determine the kinetic features of recombinantly expressed and purified TtGSTm34 with CDNB and glutathione (GSH). TtGSTm34-8xHis was recombinantly produced in T. thermophila as a 25-kDa protein after the cloning of the 660-bp full-length ORF of TtGSTm34 into the pIGF-1 vector. A three-dimensional model of the TtGSTm34 protein constructed by the AlphaFold and PyMOL programs confirmed that it has structurally conserved and folded GST domains. The recombinant production of TtGSTm34-8xHis was confirmed by SDS‒PAGE and Western blot analysis. A dual-affinity chromatography strategy helped to purify TtGSTm34-8xHis approximately 3166-fold. The purified recombinant TtGSTm34-8xHis exhibited significantly high enzyme activity with CDNB (190 µmol/min/mg) as substrate. Enzyme kinetic analysis revealed Km values of 0.68 mM with GSH and 0.40 mM with CDNB as substrates, confirming its expected high affinity for CDNB. The optimum pH and temperature were determined to be 7.0 and 25 °C, respectively. Ethacrynic acid inhibited fully TtGSTm34-8xHis enzyme activity. These results imply that TtGSTm34 of T. thermophila plays a major role in the detoxification of xenobiotics, such as CDNB, as a first line of defense in aquatic protists against oxidative damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability of some rhizosphere bacteria to mitigate herbicidal stress in cultivated plants may be useful in agriculture and bioremediation. There is poor understanding of how bacteria directly or through herbicide degradation affect the biochemical processes in plants exposed to sulfonylurea herbicides. In this study, treatment with a combination of herbicide metsulfuron-methyl (MSM) and bacteria (Pseudomonas protegens DA1.2 or P. chlororaphis 4CH) of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and canola (Brassica napus L.) plants was carried out. Activity of glutathione-S-transferase (GST), an important enzyme for the herbicide detoxification, and acetolactate synthase (ALS), a target for MSM in plants, was measured by spectrophotometric assays. MSM residues were analyzed using the HPLC-MS. Then, 24 h after bacterial treatment, GST activity increased by 75–91% in wheat and by 38–94% in canola. On the 30th day, a decrease in MSM in the soil associated with bacterial treatment was 54.6–79.7%. An increase in GST activity and acceleration of MSM degradation were accompanied by a decrease in inhibition of the ALS enzyme in plants, which indicated a mitigation of the toxic effect. The results obtained are evidence that rhizospheric bacteria can have beneficial effects on plants exposed to MSM due to the combination of abilities to directly affect detoxification enzymes in plants and degrade MSM in the soil.

In order to study the gene expression of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) in Ruditapes philippina- rum under the stress of heavy metal mercury (Hg), a single chronic exposure experiment on the indicator organism R. philippinarum was car- ried out. The expression of two genes in visceral mass and gill of R. philippinarum was detected at 0,12 h, 24 h and 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 d. The results showed that the expression multiples of GPx and GST in the visceral mass showed a fluctuation trend, and the expression multiples reached the highest (P<0.05) at 24 and 12 h, respectively. The expression level was the lowest at 6 d(P>0.05) and 3 d (P<0.05). The ex- pression multiple of GPx in the gill was the highest at 8 d (P<0.05), and the first peak appeared at 5 d. The expression amount of GST was the highest at 5 d (P<0.05). It showed that mercury exposure could induce the expression of GPx and GST in different degrees in the short term, but it had obvious inhibitory effect with the extension of time. This study provided the theoretical basis for revealing the toxicity of heavy metal mercury to R. philippinarum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amblyomma sculptum is a species of tick in the family Ixodidae, with equids and capybaras among its preferred hosts. In this study, the acaricidal activity of the essential oil (EO) from Piper aduncum and its main component, Dillapiole, were evaluated against larvae of A. sculptum to establish lethal concentration values and assess the effects of these compounds on tick enzymes. Dillapiole exhibited slightly greater activity (LC50 = 3.38 mg/mL; 95% CI = 3.24 to 3.54) than P. aduncum EO (LC50 = 3.49 mg/mL; 95% CI = 3.36 to 3.62) against ticks. The activities of α-esterase (α-EST), β-esterase (β-EST), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) enzymes in A. sculptum larvae treated with Dillapiole showed a significant increase compared to the control at all concentrations (LC5, LC25, LC50 and LC75), similar results were obtained with P. aduncum EO, except for α-EST, which did not differ from the control at the highest concentration (LC75). The results of the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity show an increase in enzyme activity at the two lower concentrations (LC5 and LC25) and a reduction in activity at the two higher, lethal concentrations (LC50 and LC75) compared to the control. These results suggest potential mechanisms of action for these natural acaricides and can provide guidance for the future development of potential plant-derived formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, there is an increasing presence of heavy metals and metalloids in soils and water due to anthropogenic activities. However, the biggest problem caused by this increase is the difficulty in recycling these elements and their high permanence in soils. There are plants with great capacity to assimilate these elements or make them less accessible to other organisms. We analyzed the behavior of Solanum lycopersicum L., a crop with great agronomic interest, under the stress caused by antimony (Sb). We evaluated the antioxidant response throughout different exposure times to the metalloid. Our results showed that the enzymes involved in the AsA-GSH cycle show changes in their expression level under the stress caused by Sb but could not find a relationship between the NITROSOGLUTATHIONE REDUCTASE (GSNOR) expression data and nitric oxide (NO) content in tomato roots exposed to Sb. We hypothesize that a better understanding of how these enzymes work could be key to develop more tolerant varieties to this kind of abiotic stress and could explain a greater or lesser phytoremediation capacity. Moreover, we deepened our knowledge about Glutathione S-transferase (GST) and Glutathione Reductase (GR) due to their involvement in the elimination of the xenobiotic component. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this experiment, maize plants were subjected to different concentrations (0, 50, 100, and 250 µM) of the herbicide 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D), with some groups primed with abscisic acid (ABA) and others not. Initial observations showed that after five days of incubation, seedlings exposed to the highest concentration of 2, 4-D exhibited stunted growth and a reduction in chlorophyll accumulation. Key parameters such as relative water content, relative growth rate, and net assimilation rate decreased (by 25%, 39%, and 35% respectively) under this condition. However, these parameters partially recovered with ABA priming, showing average improvements (8%, 14%, and 16%). Recovery in tissue hydration was also noted, coinciding with increased concentrations of proline (Pro) and glycine betaine (GB), and a decrease in the Na+/K+ ratio. When exposed to the highest concentration of the herbicide, fluorescence activity was reduced, but this too was reversed with ABA treatment. A notable inhibition of photosynthesis occurred, particularly at the decarboxylation reactions involving NADP-malic enzyme and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, affecting total sugar concentrations. Under the influence of 2, 4-D, there was a significant increase in reactive oxygen species, such as superoxide (35%) and hydrogen peroxide (78%), but these levels significantly diminished with ABA priming. Abscisic acid priming also mitigated oxidative stress, evidenced by a reduction in malondialdehyde (by 10%) and carbonyl content (by 11%), along with lower electrolyte leakage. The regulation of oxidative pathways through ABA priming was apparent as the plants showed increased activity of enzymes such as peroxidases, catalases, and those involved in glutathione metabolism, including glutathione reductase and glutathione S-transferase. The study also discussed how ABA metabolism regulates sensitivity to 2, 4-D and highlighted certain parameters for selecting redox homeostasis against herbicidal toxicity.

Summary: Meloidogyne enterolobii is an emerging root‐knot nematode species that overcomes most of the nematode resistance genes in crops. Nematode effector proteins secreted in planta are key elements in the molecular dialogue of parasitism. Here, we show the MeMSP1 effector is secreted into giant cells and promotes M. enterolobii parasitism.Using co‐immunoprecipitation and bimolecular fluorescent complementation assays, we identified glutathione‐S‐transferase phi GSTFs as host targets of the MeMSP1 effector. This protein family plays important roles in plant responses to abiotic and biotic stresses. We demonstrate that MeMSP1 interacts with all Arabidopsis GSTF. Moreover, we confirmed that the N‐terminal region of AtGSTF9 is critical for its interaction, and atgstf9 mutant lines are more susceptible to root‐knot nematode infection.Combined transcriptome and metabolome analyses showed that MeMSP1 affects the metabolic pathways of Arabidopsis thaliana, resulting in the accumulation of amino acids, nucleic acids, and their metabolites, and organic acids and the downregulation of flavonoids.Our study has shed light on a novel effector mechanism that targets plant metabolism, reducing the production of plant defence‐related compounds while favouring the accumulation of metabolites beneficial to the nematode, and thereby promoting parasitism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethacrynic acid (EA, Edecrin) is a well-known diuretic drug used in the treatment of high blood pressure and the swelling caused by diseases such as congestive heart failure, liver failure, and kidney failure. EA has an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl unit which acts as a Michael acceptor involved in the inhibition of the major classes of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) (α, μ, and π) that plays a crucial role in regulating the multidrug resistance. Moreover, EA was used as an adjuvant to improve the therapeutic efficacy of several anticancer chemotherapeutic agents. EA and their derivatives have received considerable attention in the past decades due to their interesting biological properties. This review highlights the recent development in this area, focusing on their synthesis and their antitumor activities.

Background: We aimed in this article to assess the likeliness of efavirenz to induce functional senescence in Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly). Methods: Ten different concentrations of EFV were mixed with fly food and fed to 3-day-old flies orally for a 7 day LC50 calculation. Drug concentrations from LC50 were selected for a 28 day survival to determine the duration of treatment for behavioral and biochemical assays. A 5day feeding plan was used to investigate the effects of the drug on organismal, neuromuscular, reproductive, and metabolic senescence. An in silico study was executed to decipher a molecular interaction of Drosophila enzymes glutathione-s-transferase (GST) or acetylcholinesterase (AChE) with EFV. Results: The calculated LC50 of EFV was 118 mg/10-g fly diet. The test drug induced a significant (P < 0.05) increase in fly mortality, climbing difficulty, and procreative deficits after a 5 day oral exposure. Similarly, there were significant (P < 0.05) biochemical alterations, which suggested in vivo biochemical damage against total thiols (T-SH), SOD (superoxide dismutase), CAT (catalase), GST, AChE, and MDA (malondialdehyde) in the test flies compared to the control groups. In silico study revealed a significantly (P < 0.05) higher binding energy between EFV and the active amino acids of fly AChE and GST when compared to the substrates or standard inhibitors respectively. Conclusion: EFV exhibited ecotoxic potentials evidenced by age-related deficits in the fly's functional integrity such as sluggish movement, procreative deficiency, increased mortality, and oxidant-antioxidant inequality. Results from in silico study suggested antagonism against GST and AChE activities as a likely mechanism of EFV-induced toxicity in the fruit fly. Graphical Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neonicotinoid insecticides are harmful to non-target soil invertebrates, which are crucial for sustainable agriculture. Gene expression biomarkers could provide economic and high-throughput metrics of neonicotinoid exposure and toxicity to non-target invertebrates. Thereby, biomarkers can help guide remediation efforts or policy enforcement. Gene expression of Glutathione S-Transferase 3 (GST3) has previously been proposed as a biomarker for the neonicotinoid imidacloprid in the soil ecotoxicological model species Folsomia candida (Collembola). However, it remains unclear how reliably gene expression of neonicotinoid biomarkers, such as GST3, can indicate the exposure to the broader neonicotinoid family under putative GST enzymatic inhibition. In this work, we exposed springtails to two neonicotinoids, thiacloprid and imidacloprid, alongside diethyl maleate (DEM), a known GST metabolic inhibitor that imposes oxidative stress. First, we determined the influence of DEM on neonicotinoid toxicity to springtail fecundity. Second, we surveyed the gene expression of four biomarkers, including GST3, under mutual exposure to neonicotinoids and DEM. We observed no effect of DEM on springtail fecundity. Moreover, the expression of GST3 was only influenced by DEM under mutual exposure with thiacloprid but not with imidacloprid. The results indicate that GST3 is not a robust indicator of neonicotinoid exposure and that probable GST enzymatic inhibition mediates the toxicity of imidacloprid and thiacloprid differentially. Future research should investigate biomarker reliability under shifting metabolic conditions such as provided by DEM exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Modulation of disease progression is frequently started by identifying biochemical pathway catalyzed by biomolecule that is prone to inhibition by small molecular weight ligands. Such ligands (leads) can be obtained from natural resources or synthetic libraries. However, de novo design based on fragments assembly and optimization is showing increasing success. Plasmodium falciparum parasite depends on glutathione-S-transferase (PfGST) in buffering oxidative heme as an approach to resist some antimalarials. Therefore, PfGST is considered an attractive target for drug development. In this research, fragment-based approaches were used to design molecules that can fit to glutathione (GSH) binding site (G-site) of PfGST. Methods: The involved approaches build molecules from fragments that are either isosteric to GSH sub-moieties (ligand-based) or successfully docked to GSH binding sub-pockets (structure-based). Compared to reference GST inhibitor of S-hexyl GSH, ligands with improved rigidity, synthetic accessibility, and affinity to receptor were successfully designed. The method involves joining fragments to create ligands. The ligands were then explored using molecular docking, Cartesian coordinate's optimization, and simplified free energy determination as well as MD simulation and MMPBSA calculations. Several tools were used which include OPENEYE toolkit, Open Babel, Autodock Vina, Gromacs, and SwissParam server, and molecular mechanics force field of MMFF94 for optimization and CHARMM27 for MD simulation. In addition, in-house scripts written in Matlab were used to control fragments connection and automation of the tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Agriculture & Nature / Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Tarım & Doğa Dergisi is the property of Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam Universitesi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract Background Inter-individual differences in regulation and activity of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes (XMEs) CYP1A and GST might cause distinct susceptibility to chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) phenotypes that need to be explored. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the role and risk of CYP1A and GST gene variants in allergic CRS subjects with and without asthma. A total of 224 allergic CRS cases with asthma, 252 allergic CRS cases without asthma, and 350 healthy control subjects were subjected to genetic analysis. Gene variants of cytochrome P450 (CYP1A1 T3801 rs4646903, A2455G rs1048943, C2453A rs1799814 and CYP1A2 G3858A rs2069514, T739G rs2069526, C163A rs762551) and glutathione S-transferase P (GSTP1 A313G rs1605 & C341T rs1799811) were investigated by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism and GSTM1null, and GSTT1null by multiplex PCR methods. Results TG genotype of CYP1A2 rs2069526 (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.20–2.50, p

Abstract Background Glutathione s-transferases (GSTs) perform an essential role in detoxification of xenobiotics and endogenous compounds via their conjugation to reduce glutathione. Results A GST enzyme, designated tick larvae glutathione S transferase (TLGST), was purified from larvae of the camel tick Hyalomma dromedarii via ammonium sulfate precipitation, glutathione-Sepharose affinity column and Sephacryl S-300 chromatography. TLGST-specific activity was found to be 1.56 Umg−1 which represents 39 folds and 32.2% recovery. The molecular weight of TLGST purified from camel tick larvae was found as 42 kDa by gel filtration. TLGST has a pI value of 6.9 and was found a heterodimeric protein of 28 and 14 kDa subunits as detected on SDS-PAGE. The Lineweaver–Burk plot calculated the km for CDNB to be 0.43 mM with Vmax value of 9.2 Umg−1. TLGST exhibited its optimal activity at pH 7.9. Co2+, Ni2+ and Mn2+ increased the activity of TLGST while Ca2+, Cu2+, Fe2+ and Zn2+ inhibited it. TLGST was inhibited by cumene hydroperoxide, p-hydroxymercuribenzoate, lithocholic acid, hematin, triphenyltin chloride, p-chloromercuribenzoic acid (pCMB), N-p-Tosyl-L-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone (TPCK), iodoacetamide, EDTA and quercetin. pCMB inhibited TLGST competitively with Ki value of 0.3 mM. Conclusions These findings will help to understand the various physiologic conditions of ticks and targeting TLGST could be significant tool for development of prospective vaccines against ticks as a bio-control strategy to overcome the rapid grows in pesticide-resistant tick populations. Graphical Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess the functional state of glutathione system in menopausal women of the Buryat ethnic group with insomnia. Methods. The study involved 94 women aged 45 to 60 years who were divided into perimenopause (n = 44) and postmenopause (n = 50) groups. In each period, a control group and an insomniac group were identified. The reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) glutathione levels in erythrocyte lysate, the glutathione-S-transferase π concentration and glutathione reductase activity in blood serum were determined. Results. An increase of the GSH level (p < 0.05) and GSH/GSSG ratio (p < 0.05) both in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women with insomnia were found as compared to controls. There were no differences in the glutathione-depends enzymes parameters. Comparative analysis of the main groups showed an increase GSH/GSSG ratio (p < 0.05) in the postmenopausal period compared with perimenopause. Conclusion. The study results demonstrate the glutathione link activation in Buryat menopausal women with insomnia. In this regard, the appointment of glutathione preparations for the correction of free radical homeostasis in these groups of women cannot be recommended.

Copyright of Xinjiang Agricultural Sciences is the property of Xinjiang Agricultural Sciences Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. (Fabaceae) is considered as a remarkable medicinal plant and an excellent natural source of L-Dopa. Due to its medicinal values the present study was carried out to evaluate the efficiency of different polyamines, viz. putrescine, spermidine, and spermine, singly and in combination with other plant growth regulators for in vitro multiplication from cotyledonary node explants. Polyamines were further examined for in vitro root formation in regenerated shootlets. Among different combinations, Murashige and Skoog medium consisting of putrescine (10.0 μM) with 6-benzyladenine (2.5 μM) was found to be the most effective combination for obtaining the highest number of shoots (22.8) with most significant mean shoot length (6.04 cm) per explant in 85% cultures, after eight weeks. Rhizogenesis in regenerated shootlets was successfully achieved on half-strength MS medium containing putrescine (15.0 μM) with indole-3-butyric acid (0.5 μM). On this media, the highest mean numbers of roots (4.5) with mean root length (3.8 cm) per microshoot were recorded in 95% of cultures, after four weeks. Analysis of glutathione-S-transferase activity indicated that the polyamines-mediated cultures revealed the lowest amount of toxic agents. This activity is substantial to evaluate the level of detoxification in plant tissues during in vitro culture conditions. During the hardening and acclimatization period, the photosynthetic pigments were initially fluctuating, and thereafter a gradual increasing trend was observed. Finally, well-acclimatized regenerated plantlets were transferred to the field, where they grew normally without any phenotypic variation with a 90% survival rate after eight weeks. Genetic fidelity among regenerants was validated by DNA fingerprinting using inter simple sequence repeats markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increase in temperature due to global warming alters the relative abundance of insects and also affect insecticidal activity. In the present study we investigated the effect of temperature on the toxicity of five insecticides belonging to five different mode of actions groups according to Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC) viz., emamectin benzoate, spinetoram, chlorantraniliprole, novaluron and thiodicarb, against fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith). We found that, as temperature increased from 20 to 41 ℃ the toxicity of chlorantraniliprole, emamectin benzoate, novaluron and thiodicarb increased to 8.26, 3.82, 1.97 and 1.94-fold respectively, showing positive temperature coefficient. Whereas, a 3.89-fold decrease in toxicity of spinetoram was observed, thus showing a negative temperature coefficient. The activity of detoxifying enzymes viz., glutathione-S-transferase (GST), carboxylesterase (CarE), and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) increased with the rise in the temperature whereas cytochrome P450 activity was inhibited. Significant correlation of median lethal concentration (LC50) of these insecticides with AchE activity was observed for spinetoram (r = 0.968), novaluron (r = –0.967) and thiodicarb (r = –0.976). The study has implications for the management of S. frugiperda in diverse agroecological regions of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During inflammatory processes, immunocompetent cells are exposed to substantial amounts of free radicals and toxic compounds. Glutathione is a cysteine-containing tripeptide that is an important and ubiquitous antioxidant molecule produced in human organs. The intracellular content of GSH regulates the detoxifying capacity of cells, as well as the inflammatory and immune response. GSH is particularly important in the liver, where it serves as the major non-protein thiol involved in cellular antioxidant defense. There are numerous causes of hepatitis. The inflammation of the liver can be caused by a variety of infectious viruses. The relationship between oxidative stress and the hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is not fully known. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between hepatotropic viruses and glutathione status, including reduced glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG), as well as antioxidant enzymes, e.g., glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) in liver diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed coat color is a typical morphological trait that can be used to reveal the evolution of soybean. The study of seed coat color-related traits in soybeans is of great significance for both evolutionary theory and breeding practices. In this study, 180 F10 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from the cross between the yellow-seed coat cultivar Jidou12 (ZDD23040, JD12) and the wild black-seed coat accession Y9 (ZYD02739) were used as materials. Three methods, single-marker analysis (SMA), interval mapping (IM), and inclusive composite interval mapping (ICIM), were used to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling seed coat color and seed hilum color. Simultaneously, two genome-wide association study (GWAS)models, the generalized linearmodel (GLM) and mixed linearmodel (MLM), were used to jointly identify seed coat color and seed hilum color QTLs in 250 natural populations. By integrating the results from QTL mapping and GWAS analysis, we identified two stable QTLs (qSCC02 and qSCC08) associated with seed coat color and one stable QTL (qSHC08) related to seed hilum color. By combining the results of linkage analysis and association analysis, two stable QTLs (qSCC02, qSCC08) for seed coat color and one stable QTL (qSHC08) for seed hilum color were identified. Upon further investigation using Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis, we validated the previous findings that two candidate genes (CHS3C and CHS4A) reside within the qSCC08 region and identified a new QTL, qSCC02. There were a total of 28 candidate genes in the interval, among which Glyma.02G024600, Glyma.02G024700, and Glyma.02G024800 were mapped to the glutathione metabolic pathway, which is related to the transport or accumulation of anthocyanin. We considered the three genes as potential candidate genes for soybean seed coat-related traits. The QTLs and candidate genes detected in this study provide a foundation for further understanding the genetic mechanisms underlying soybean seed coat color and seed hilum color and are of significant value in marker-assisted breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spotted pod borer, Maruca vitrata (F.), is one of the severe threats to grain legumes in the tropics and subtropics owing to its destructiveness and broad host range. It is imperative to look for safer alternatives for its management, such as the utilization of host plant resistance which can be induced upon the exogenous application of jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA). We studied the changes induced in the digestive and detoxifying enzymes of M. vitrata upon its feeding on JA and SA-treated pigeonpea plants in comparison with the untreated plants. Both JA and SA induced a defense response in pigeonpea plants against M. vitrata, which in turn affected the pest's development and physiology. The effect on the digestive enzymes (amylase, total proteases, elastase, lactate dehydrogenase) and developmental parameters (larval duration, larval weight, pupal weight, pupal percent, adult emergence and adult longevity) of M. vitrata was more pronounced and significant in the plants pre-treated with JA and then infested with M. vitrata after 12 h of JA application, compared to other treatments and untreated plants. The resistant genotype, AL 1747 responded better to the exogenous application of elicitors and M. vitrata infestation than the susceptible genotype MN 1. As a counter-response to induced plant defenses, an increase in the activity of glutathione-S-transferases (GST) and glucose oxidase (GOX) enzymes was observed in M. vitrata. Despite elevating its GOX activity upon elicitor application, the pod borer was unable to overcome the induced pigeonpea defences consequent of elicitor application as was indicated by its reduced larval weight and other biological parameters. SA also altered the activities of digestive and defense-related enzymes in M. vitrata; however, the effect was not as pronounced as JA. Both JA and SA seem to be involved in triggering the pigeonpea defenses and their exogenous application can be utilized to develop sustainable pest management strategies against M. vitrata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: The adequate dietary antioxidant capacity levels determined in this study can be used in planning prevention and diet therapy for patients with CVD. The antioxidant potential of foods plays a vital role in counteracting oxidative stress and its consequences in the body. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) are the primary line of defence against cellular damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Glutathione is considered to be the most vital antioxidant for the body because its changes during oxidative stress increase the risk of CVD. The dietary antioxidant capacity supporting the glutathione defence system is not known. Therefore, we analysed the glutathione defence-related markers changes in the serum of CVD patients under the dietary supplementation of increased antioxidant capacity snacks. Patients were split into groups according to inclusion criteria and dietary intervention (DI) design. The serum concentration of GPx and GST (glutathione-S-transferase) was measured before and after the 6-week DI. During the DI, CVD and control (CON) subjects increased the total diet antioxidant capacity by 48% and 21%, respectively. It resulted in a significantly decreased GST (from 3.71 to 2.54 U/g Hb, p < 0.05) and an increased GPx (from 33.90 to 38.3 U/L). The results in the CON group did not reveal significant changes in GST and GPx. This study demonstrated that an increased antioxidant capacity might be associated with improving glutathione-related defence. However, the conclusion is not substantial due to the small sample used in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Ovarian carcinomas are responsible for the death of more women than all other gynecologic malignancies in the Western world. Ovarian carcinomas are detected in an advanced stage of the disease in approximately 80% of the patients. Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are an important family involved in the detoxification of several xenobiotics. Thus, this mechanism protects tissues from the harmful effects of oxidative stress and chemical-induced damages. The expression of them may contribute to the characteristics of ovarian carcinoma as they can metabolise both exogenous and endogenous compounds, which are implicated in the development of ovarian cancer. Therefore, our aim was to determine the expressions of GST Mu 1 (GSTM1), GST Pi 1 (GSTP1), and also p53, which is a tumor suppressor gene, in benign and malign ovarian tumors and metastasis tissues. Methods: A total of the 99 patients with ovarian tumor enrolled in the study. Thirty-one of the tissues was benign tumor, 17 was malign tumor and 51 was metastasis. The immunohistochemical GSTM1, GSTP1, and p53 staining characteristics of these tissues were investigated. Results: The highest GSTM1, GSTP1, and p53 expression was noted in the malignant group followed by the metastasis group. GSTP1 expression was significantly higher in malignant tissues than benign ones (p = 0.015). No statistically significant difference was observed in the level of GSTM1 expression between groups (p = 0.524). p53 expression was significantly higher in the metastasis and malignant tissues than the benign ones (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The higher expressions of GSTP1 and p53 in malignant and metastasis tissues than benign ones indicate that these expressions could be important biomarkers in ovarian cancer development and progression. Further studies with more cases are required to confirm the results of our present study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Baghdad Science Journal is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Glutathione s-transferases (GSTs) perform an essential role in detoxification of xenobiotics and endogenous compounds via their conjugation to reduce glutathione. Results: A GST enzyme, designated tick larvae glutathione S transferase (TLGST), was purified from larvae of the camel tick Hyalomma dromedarii via ammonium sulfate precipitation, glutathione-Sepharose affinity column and Sephacryl S-300 chromatography. TLGST-specific activity was found to be 1.56 Umg−1 which represents 39 folds and 32.2% recovery. The molecular weight of TLGST purified from camel tick larvae was found as 42 kDa by gel filtration. TLGST has a pI value of 6.9 and was found a heterodimeric protein of 28 and 14 kDa subunits as detected on SDS-PAGE. The Lineweaver–Burk plot calculated the km for CDNB to be 0.43 mM with Vmax value of 9.2 Umg−1. TLGST exhibited its optimal activity at pH 7.9. Co2+, Ni2+ and Mn2+ increased the activity of TLGST while Ca2+, Cu2+, Fe2+ and Zn2+ inhibited it. TLGST was inhibited by cumene hydroperoxide, p-hydroxymercuribenzoate, lithocholic acid, hematin, triphenyltin chloride, p-chloromercuribenzoic acid (pCMB), N-p-Tosyl-L-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone (TPCK), iodoacetamide, EDTA and quercetin. pCMB inhibited TLGST competitively with Ki value of 0.3 mM. Conclusions: These findings will help to understand the various physiologic conditions of ticks and targeting TLGST could be significant tool for development of prospective vaccines against ticks as a bio-control strategy to overcome the rapid grows in pesticide-resistant tick populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, there is an increasing presence of heavy metals and metalloids in soils and water due to anthropogenic activities. However, the biggest problem caused by this increase is the difficulty in recycling these elements and their high permanence in soils. There are plants with great capacity to assimilate these elements or make them less accessible to other organisms. We analyzed the behavior of Solanum lycopersicum L., a crop with great agronomic interest, under the stress caused by antimony (Sb). We evaluated the antioxidant response throughout different exposure times to the metalloid. Our results showed that the enzymes involved in the AsA-GSH cycle show changes in their expression level under the stress caused by Sb but could not find a relationship between the NITROSOGLUTATHIONE REDUCTASE (GSNOR) expression data and nitric oxide (NO) content in tomato roots exposed to Sb. We hypothesize that a better understanding of how these enzymes work could be key to develop more tolerant varieties to this kind of abiotic stress and could explain a greater or lesser phytoremediation capacity. Moreover, we deepened our knowledge about Glutathione S-transferase (GST) and Glutathione Reductase (GR) due to their involvement in the elimination of the xenobiotic component.

Aquatic ecosystems are often exposed to a complex mixture of pollutants that can have a negative influence on the health of the resident organisms. In this context, it is crucial to understand the biological responses of the different organisms that inhabit impacted areas to identify biomonitors that are representative of alterations in the local biota. In the present study, two fish, Serrasalmus rhombeus (red-eyed piranha) and Prochilodus nigricans (curimatã) were assessed as potential biomonitors for Amazonian rivers. A total of 121 fish of these two species were collected during the dry season from two rivers representing different extremes of pollution. One site was the Xingu River, which has low level of pollution, while the other was the Itacaiunas River, which is impacted by high levels pollution from multiple sources. Two exposure biomarkers (glutathione S-transferase activity and total antioxidant capacity) and one effect biomarker (lipid peroxidation) were evaluated in samples of both species extracted from various types of tissues (brain, liver, gills and muscle). The results of the analyses indicated the occurrence of both species-specific and tissue-specific responses. The responses of the biomarkers of the detritivorous species, P. nigricans, were more significant than those of the apex predator, S. rhombeus. In addition, the P. nigricans specimens from the polluted (Itacaiunas) river presented marked suppression of the responses related to the detoxification and antioxidant defences, which resulted in more significant oxidative damage (lipoperoxidation) in comparison with the less polluted (Xingu) river. These findings indicate that P. nigricans is the more sensitive of the two species and would thus be the better choice as a biomonitor for environmental monitoring. The results of the present study also indicate that a more integrated approach to the assessment of the response of biochemical biomarkers, including the analysis of a range of different types of tissue should be adopted to guarantee the robustness of analyses of environmental quality.

Pharmaceutical compounds are among several classes of contaminants of emerging concern, such as pesticides, heavy metals and personal care products, all of which are a major concern for aquatic ecosystems. The hazards posed by the presence of pharmaceutical is one which affects both freshwater organisms and human health—via non-target effects and by the contamination of drinking water sources. The molecular and phenotypic alterations of five pharmaceuticals which are commonly present in the aquatic environment were explored in daphnids under chronic exposures. Markers of physiology such as enzyme activities were combined with metabolic perturbations to assess the impact of metformin, diclofenac, gabapentin, carbamazepine and gemfibrozil on daphnids. Enzyme activity of markers of physiology included phosphatases, lipase, peptidase, β-galactosidase, lactate dehydrogenase, glutathione-S-transferase and glutathione reductase activities. Furthermore, targeted LC-MS/MS analysis focusing on glycolysis, the pentose phosphate pathway and the TCA cycle intermediates was performed to assess metabolic alterations. Exposure to pharmaceuticals resulted in the changes in activity for several enzymes of metabolism and the detoxification enzyme glutathione-S-transferase. Metabolic perturbations on key pathways revealed distinct groups and metabolic fingerprints for the different exposures and their mixtures. Chronic exposure to pharmaceuticals at low concentrations revealed significant alterations of metabolic and physiological endpoints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, the use of pesticides is, as before, the most common way to control arthropod plant pests and the ectoparasites of animals. The sublethal effects of pesticides on insects can appear at different levels, from genetics to populations, and the study of these effects is important for a better understanding of the environmental and evolutionary patterns of pesticidal resistance. The current study aimed to assess the sublethal effects of chlorfenapyr and fipronil on the activities of detoxifying enzymes (carboxylesterase—CarE, acetylcholinesterase—AChE, glutathione-S-transferase—GST, and cytochrome P450 monooxygenase—P450) in adults Musca domestica L. The insects were exposure to insecticides by a no-choice feeding test and the enzyme activities and the AChE kinetic parameters were examined in female and male specimens at 24 h after their exposure. According to Tukey's test, the CarE activity was statistically significantly decreased by 29.63% in the females of M. domestica after an exposure to chlorfenapyr at a concentration of 0.015% when compared to the controls (p ≤ 0.05). An exposure to the sublethal concentration of fipronil (0.001%) was followed by a slightly decrease in the specific activity (33.20%, p ≤ 0.05) and the main kinetic parameters (Vmax, Km) of AChE in females in comparison with the control values. The GST and P450 activities had not significantly changed in M. domestica males and females 24 h after their exposure to chlorfenapyr and fipronil at sublethal concentrations. The results suggest that the males and females of M. domestica displayed biochemically different responses to fipronil, that is a neurotoxin, and chlorfenapyr, that is a decoupler of oxidative phosphorylation. Further research needs to be addressed to the molecular mechanisms underlying the peculiarities of the insect enzyme responses to different insecticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] To clone the Hyphantria cunea glutathione S-transferases (GST) gene (HcGST-E1 ) and verify the role of this gene in the response of H. cunea to quercetin, a common secondary substance in host plants. [Methods] HcGST-E1 was cloned based on the quercetin-induced midgut transcriptome of H. cunea and real-time, quantitative PCR results. The gene was then silenced using RNAi technology and the effect of this on the weight and survival of quercetin-treated 4th instar larvae investigated. [Results] The HcGST-E1 was successfully cloned and silenced. dsHcGST-E1 effectively inhibited the expression of HcGST-E1 with a maximum silencing efficiency of 62.3%. Over the same period of time, 1 000 ng of dsHcGST-E1 was more effective than 500 ng dsHcGST-E1. The survival rates of HcGST-E1 silenced larvae that had been fed an artificial diet containing either 0.5% or 1.0% quercetin were 40.00% and 33.33%, respectively, significantly lower than their respective control groups (73.33% and 66.67%; P < 0.05) or blank control groups (86.67% and 80.00%; P < 0.05) . The body weight of HcGST-E1 silenced H. cunea larvae did not fluctuate significantly, and their weight was lower than that of larvae in both respective, and blank, control groups. Larvae in the 5% quercetin treatment group were not significantly lighter than those in the respective control group, but were significantly lighter than those in the blank control groups on day 6 (P < 0.01). Similarly, larvae in the 1.0% quercetin treatment group were not significantly lighter than those in the respective control group, but were significantly lighter than those in the blank control groups on days 4 and 6 (P <0.05). [Conclusion] Silencing the HcGST-E1 gene increased the susceptibility of H. cunea larvae to quercetin, retarding their growth and development. This indicates that HcGST-E1 plays a role in the detoxification and metabolization of quercetin. These results provide a basis for further research on the role of GST genes in the resistance of H. cunea to plant secondary compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Squamous cell carcinoma-related antigen is not always sensitive enough for the early detection of oral cancer which is why a new marker has been desired as a substitute to be applied for serum diagnosis of oral cancer. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been known to play an important role in carcinogenesis. Glutathione-s-transferases (GSTs) are a family of eukaryotic and prokaryotic phase-II metabolic isoenzymes involved in xenobiotic detoxification. This correlation of the ROS species function and their role in initiation and progression of cancer could be exploited as of diagnostic value. The biologic function of the GSTs in human head-and-neck squamous cell carcinomas has been studied by researchers at gross as well as molecular levels. Taking into consideration this scientific background, future scope and perspectives, we initiated this study. Materials and Methods: This study was performed as a prospective case–control in vitro analytical study with subjects (n = 40) fulfilling the prerequisite conditions and were compliant. The case group (n = 20) was subjects with histopathologically proven cases of oral malignancy and age- and sex-matched control group (n = 20). The enzyme GST was evaluated in sera of all participants and then comparison was done between two groups as well as correlation with histopathologic grading for oral malignancy. Results: The mean serum GST activity in oral cancer patients was significantly higher than that of the control group. The present study has compared the alterations of enzyme in relation to histopathological grading of oral malignancy and found increased serum GST activity of well-differentiated and moderately differentiated carcinomas than the poorly differentiated carcinoma in terms of mean. Conclusion: Increased expression of the enzyme, as reported in the present study, can be due to tumor burden which attributes to overproduction of GST by cancer cells. The major clinical significance of the present study is that it gives important information regarding a new tumor progression and prognosis marker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to verify the effect of temperature on blood parameters, reactive oxygen species, and lipid peroxidation of pacu. After acclimation period, 180 healthy juveniles (29.48 ± 2.73 g) were randomly placed in five RAS (12 fish tank−1; 1.68 g L−1 stocking density) and exposed to five treatments (18, 21, 24 [control], 27, and 30 °C—in triplicate) for 45 days. At the end of the experiment, blood samples (n = 9) were used to measure pH, glucose, lactate, hemoglobin, hematocrit, erythrocytes, MCV, MCH, and MCHC. Tissue (liver and muscle) samples (n = 9) were collected for GST, ACAP, TBARS, P-SH, and NP-SH analysis. Blood glucose, hematocrit, and erythrocytes were higher in pacu maintained at 27 and 30 °C. Blood pH was higher at 18 °C and lactate was higher at 18 and 30 °C compared to other treatments. Hemoglobin was lower at 18 and 21 °C and higher at 27 and 30 °C than at 24 °C. GST in the liver was lower at 18 °C than at 24 °C. P-SH in muscle was lowest at 27 and 30 °C, while NP-SH was higher at 21 °C. Sulfhydryl groups (P-SH and NP-SH) in the liver showed a positive linear relationship with the water temperature (R2 = 0.90). TBARS presented a quadratic relationship with the water temperature in the muscle (R2 = 0.85) and liver (R2 = 0.83). In accordance with the hematological parameters, P. mesopotamicus can be reared in the range between 24 and 27 °C. However, 24.09 °C was the optimum temperature as muscle lipid peroxidation was minimum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microcerotermes diversus Silvestri, is an important termite in Khuzestan province with a broad range of foraging. In recent years, control of underground termites has been more based on the application of chemicals which has increased pest insecticide resistance. In this study, the resistance of different populations of termites to chlorpyrifos was investigated using estimated LC50 and measuring the activity of two acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and glutathione-s-transferase enzymes. Four populations of M. diversus with different histories of organophosphorus insecticide spraying were studied. Populations A (Am Altamir1), B (Am Altamir2), and C (Mollasani) were collected from date palm groves with 30 and 10-year histories of organophosphorus insecticide spraying, as well as without spraying history, respectively. Population D (Ramin University) was collected from orange trees, three weeks after spraying with chlorpyrifos. The bioassay results showed that the highest and lowest LC50 values were observed in populations A and C, respectively. Moreover, the activity of AChE using acetylthiocholine iodide, propionylthiocholine iodide, and butyrylthiocholine iodide substrates was higher in the populations with chlorpyrifos spraying history, with the highest activity in population A. It was also demonstrated that the AChE activity with acetylthiocholine iodide substrate was higher than the activity of this enzyme with butyrylthiocholine iodide and the propionyl choline substrates in the populations with 30 and 10-year history of spraying. The Michaelis constant (Km) and maximum velocity (Vmax) values of AChE as two important kinetic factors, indicated the highest affinity of this enzyme to the substrate in population A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several mechanisms involved in weed herbicide resistance are unknown, particularly those acting at the epigenetic level, such as the capacity of small-non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) to target messenger RNAs of genes involved in herbicide detoxification. The transcription of these sncRNAs is stimulated by epigenetic factors, thereby affecting gene expression. This study was carried out in order to evaluate, for the first time in Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv. (barnyardgrass), the capacity of miRNAs to regulate the expression of genes associated with bispyribac-sodium detoxification. The expression profiles of eight miRNAs with a high degree of complementarity (≥80%) with mRNAs of genes involved in herbicide detoxification (CYP450, GST and eIF4B) were determined by qRT-PCR before and after herbicide spraying. Five of the miRNAs studied (gra-miR7487c, gma-miR396f, gra-miR8759, osa-miR395f, ath-miR847) showed an increased expression after herbicide application in both susceptible and resistant biotypes. All the miRNAs, except gra-miR8759, were more highly expressed in the herbicide-resistant biotypes. In specimens with increased expression of miRNAs, we observed reduced expression of the target genes. The remaining three miRNAs (ata-miR166c-5p, ath-miR396b-5p and osa-miR5538) showed no over-expression after herbicide treatment, and no difference in expression was recorded between susceptible and resistant biotypes. Our results represent a first overview of the capacity of miRNAs to regulate the expression of genes involved in bispyribac-sodium detoxification in the genus Echinochloa. Further research is required to identify novel miRNAs and target genes to develop more focused and sustainable strategies of weed control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: The crocodile is a model for studying relevant sources of environmental contamination. They were determined an appropriate biomonitoring species for various toxins. The cytosolic and microsomal fraction of crocodiles plays a role in detoxifying xenobiotics. Cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) metabolizes aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) to aflatoxin M1, while glutathione-S-transferase (GST) catalyzes carcinogenic agents. This study aimed to investigate the GST activity in various organs of Crocodylus siamensis. Further, the fate of microsomal and cytosolic fractions from various crocodile organs against AFB1-induced apoptosis in human hepatocarcinoma (HepG2) cells was investigated. Materials and Methods: The liver, lungs, intestines, and kidneys tissues from a 3-year-old crocodile (C. siamensis) (n=5) were collected. The cytosolic and microsomal fraction of all tissues was extracted, and protein concentrations were measured with a spectrophotometer. Subsequently, a comparison of GST activity from various organs was carried out by spectrophotometry, and the protective effects of CYP450 and GST activity from various crocodile organs were studied. In vitro AFB1-induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells was detected by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Comparisons between the metabolisms of the detoxification enzyme in organs were tested using the Kruskal–Wallis one-way analysis of variance and Dunn's multiple comparison tests. All kinetic parameters were analyzed using GraphPad Prism software version 5.01 (GraphPad Software Inc., San Diego, USA). Results: Total GST activity in the liver was significantly higher than in the kidneys, intestines, and lungs (p

Meloidogyne arenaria belongs to root-knot nematodes (RKNs) which constitute a group of highly polyphagous nematodes causing serious damages to many crop varieties. Maize (Zea mays) is one of its main hosts. During plant response to RKN infection, many mechanisms are involved. Pathogenesis-related proteins (PRs), which present many functions and en- zymatic activities, such as ribonucleases (RNases), antioxidative enzymes, or proteases are involved in these processes. The aim of this study was to describe changes in peroxidase and RNase activities induced in Z. mays during its response to M. arenaria infection. Moreover, proteins potentially responsible for peroxidase activity were indicated. RNase and peroxi- dase activities were tested on proteins extracted from roots of healthy plants, M. arenaria infected plants, and healthy plants mixed with M. arenaria juveniles, in native polyacryla- mide (PAA) gels. Samples were collected from two varieties of maize at four time points. A selected fraction showing peroxidase activity was excised from the gel and analyzed using mass spectrometry (MS) to determine protein factors responsible for enzymatic activity. As a result, the analyzed varieties showed slight differences in their RNase and peroxidase activities. Higher activity was observed in the Tasty Sweet variety than in the Waza variety. There were no significant differences between healthy and infected plants in RNase activi- ties at all time points. This was in contrast to peroxidase activity, which was the highest in M. arenaria-infected plants 15 days after inoculation. On the basis of protein identification in excised gel fractions using MS it can be assumed that mainly peroxidase 12 is responsible for the observed peroxidase activity. Moreover, peroxidase activity may be presented by glutathione-S-transferase as well.