This work describes Ni–Ce–Cu metallic–organic framework (MOF) for the detection of non-essential amino acid l-cysteine. The tri-metallic Ni–Ce–Cu MOF was synthesized via a solvothermal method. The cyclic voltammetry and the differential pulse voltammetry techniques were used to examine the electrochemical detection of l-cysteine. The Ni–Ce–Cu MOF shows an oxidation peak in PB solution at pH 3.0 between the potential range of 0.0 and 0.7 V and strong electro-catalytic activity toward the oxidation of l-cysteine across a wide linear range of 0.1 to 250 nM and low detection limit (LOD) was calculated of 1.56 nM. The analysis of l-cysteine in milk and egg yolk samples showed with recovery range of 96.75–103.5% and 97.78–99.43% with RSD% of 2.3–3.2% and 2.7–7.2%, respectively. These results show the Ni–Ce–Cu MOF has high selectivity for l-cysteine detection in milk and egg samples.

본 연구는 식물검역 분야에서 주요하게 사용되고 있는 메틸브로마이드 훈증제로 인해 발생하는 약해를 저감하기 위한 물질을 모델식물인 애기장대를 이용하여 스크리닝하였다. 사전연구를 통하여 메틸브로마이드 훈증제의 식물 독성 메커니즘으로 활성산소발생와 식물 성장 호르몬인 옥신의 식물체 내 분배억제효과가 발생하는 것을 바탕으로 하여, 약해 저감물질후보군으로 활성산소를 제거하는 역할을 하는 ROS scavenger 2종 (NAC, GSH)과 옥신을 훈증제 처리 전 애기장대에 처리한 후 약해의 저감 정도를 육안평가와 더불어 관련 유전자의 발현을 확인하였다. 연구 결과 메틸브로마이드에 의해 유도된 약해는 옥신보다는 활성산소를 저감시키는 물질후보군들에서 약해 저감효과가 나타났다. 이 중 GSH을 이용하여 농도구배하여 전처리하였을 때, 5 mM GSH 전처리 후 메틸브로마이드 훈증 시 약해 저감효과가 두드러졌다. GSH 전처리 시 식물체 내에 MBF1c와 HSP70 유전자 발현이 증가하는 것을 확인하였으며, 이는 메틸브로마이드 훈증으로 유도되는 약해를 방어하는 역할을 담당하였을 것이라고 평가된다. 따라서, 식물검역 훈증제 메틸브로마이드에 의해 발생하는 약해를 저감하는 데 GSH의 사용가능성을 평가하였으며, 이를 기반으로 다양한 식물체에 적용하여 수출입 시 약해로 인한 경제적 손실을 감소시킬 수 있기를 기대한다.

The objectives of this investigation were to study the effects of moisture content, screw speed and barrel temperature on physical properties of extruded soy protein isolate (SPI) with L-cysteine and xylose. SPI with L-cysteine and xylose was extruded at 30 and 35% moisture contents, screw speed 150 and 250 rpm and barrel temperatures 140 and 160℃. SPI extruded at 30% moisture content, screw speed 250 rpm and barrel temperature 140℃ was control (100% SPI). Increasing barrel temperature and moisture content decreased expansion ratio of all extrudates but increasing screw speed increased expansion ratio. Moisture content, screw speed and barrel temperature affected the color (L, a, b, ΔE) of extrudates. Water absorption index (WAI) and fat binding capacity (FBC) increased with increasing barrel temperature and screw speed. WAI and FBC were the highest at 30% moisture content. The pore structure of extrudates was a finer at barrel temperature 160℃. The increase in screw speed and moisture content showed more organized fibrous and thicker cell walls. The extrusion condition and the addition of L-cysteine and xylose may improve physical properties such as the structure-forming and textures of extruded SPI products.

The study aims to assess the embryo development and survivability of bovine embryos cultured in vitro by addition of cysteine. The rates of metaphase II formation are not significantly different among the three groups(73.8% for TCM199, 76.9% for TCM199 with 0.3mM cysteine and 83.8% for TCM199 with 0.5mM cysteine). No differences on cleavage rate(70.6~74.6%) was observed among three culture medium(70.6% for TCM199, 71.3% for CR1aa, and 74.6% for SOF) with 0.5mM cysteine. However, significantly(P<0.05) higher development rate was obtained in the blastocyst stage by adding 0.5mM cysteine in SOF medium(35.6%) than in TCM199(27.6%) or CR1aa(26.6%). No significant differences in the cleavage rates were observed among the three culture. After freezing the blastocysts cultured with 0.5M cysteine, the re-expansion rates ranged from 61.3% to 86.4% among groups, and hatching rates are from 26.3% to 46.9% among groups. The rates of re-expansion and hatching are significantly(P<0.05) higher in SOF medium(86.4% and 46.9%, respectively) than those in TCM199(61.3% and 26.3%) and CR1aa medium(87.1 and 44.4%). After thawing, the blastocyst re-expansion rate become significantly(P<0.05) higher in in vivo (87.1%) and in vitro (70.3%) embryos. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that supplementation of IVM and IVC media with 0.5mM cysteine improved the quality of in vitro production of embryo and post-thawed embryo. Future studies comparing these culture systems in well-designed trials should be performed.

This study performed to investigate the changes in S-allyl-L-cysteine (SAC) content of garlic with different cooking methods. Methods for determining SAC was validated by determining specificity, linearity, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), precision and accuracy using HPLC-FLD system. Results showed high linearity in the calibration curve with a coefficient of correaltion (R 2 ) of 0.9999. The LOD and LOQ values for SAC were 0.15 and 0.49 μg/mL, respectively. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) for intra- and inter-day precision of SAC were less than 5%. The recovery rate of SAC was in the range from 97.35% to 97.47%. The SAC content of raw garlic was 2.77 mg/g, and there are no significantly difference among blanching and microwave treatment in SAC content. However, SAC content of boiling, autoclaving at 110℃ and 121℃ increased in the range of 3.50~9.19 mg/g, 6.52~16.21 mg/g and 14.15~50.24 mg/g as increasing cooking temperature and time, respectively.

The honeybee inhibitor cysteine knot (ICK) peptide acts as an antifungal peptide and insecticidal venom toxin. However, the ICK peptide from bumblebees has not been characterized. Here, we report the molecular cloning and antifungal activity of a bumblebee (Bombus ignitus) ICK peptide (BiICK). We identified a BiICK that contains an ICK fold. The BiICK was expressed in the epidermis, fat body, and venom gland of B. ignitus worker bees. A 6.7-kDa recombinant BiICK peptide was expressed in baculovirus-infected insect cells. Recombinant BiICK peptides directly bound to Beauveria bassiana, Ascosphaera apis, and Fusarium graminearum, but they did not bind to Escherichia coli, Paenibacillus larvae, or Bacillus thuringiensis. Consistent with this finding, BiICK exhibited antifungal activity against fungi. These results demonstrate that BiICK acts as an antifungal peptide.

Inhibitor cysteine knot (ICK) peptides exhibit ion channel blocking, insecticidal, and antimicrobial activities, but currently, no functional roles for bee-derived ICK peptides have been identified. In this study, a bee (Apis cerana) ICK peptide (AcICK) that acts as an antifungal peptide and as an insecticidal venom toxin was identified. AcICK contains an ICK fold that is expressed in the epidermis, fat body, or venom gland and is present as a 6.6-kDa peptide in bee venom. Recombinant AcICK peptide (expressed in baculovirus-infected insect cells) bound directly to Beauveria bassiana and Fusarium graminearum, but not to Escherichia coli or Bacillus thuringiensis. Consistent with these findings, AcICK showed antifungal activity, indicating that AcICK acts as an antifungal peptide. Furthermore, AcICK expression is induced in the fat body and epidermis after injection with B. bassiana. These results provide insight into the role of AcICK during the innate immune response following fungal infection. Additionally, we show that AcICK has insecticidal activity. Our results demonstrate a functional role for AcICK in bees: AcICK acts as an antifungal peptide in innate immune reactions in the body and as an insecticidal toxin in venom. The finding that the AcICK peptide functions with different mechanisms of action in the body and in venom highlights the two-pronged strategy that is possible with the bee ICK peptide.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of Korean Native Cattle sperm frozen-thawed with L-cysteine and/or catalase. The semen from bulls was collected by the artificial vagina method, and Triladyl containing 20% egg-yolk and/or L-cysteine (L), catalase (C) and L-cysteine + catalase was added to the diluted semen for cryopreservation. The results showed that sperm viability was significantly higher in the L-cysteine + catalase (69.49 ± 3.16%) group than in the control (60.5 ± 3.94%) group (p<0.05). Acrosome damage was significantly lower in the L-cysteine (17.12 ± 1.08%) group than in the control (21.46 ± 1.14%), catalase (20.54 ± 0.76%), and L-cysteine + catalase (19.29 ± 0.65%) groups (p<0.05). In addition, the level of intact mitochondria in the spermatozoa was significantly higher in the L-cysteine (58.65 ± 1.39%) group than in the control (50.63 ± 2.37%) group (p<0.05). The hydrogen peroxide level in the frozen-thawed sperm was significantly lower in the L-cysteine (3.74 ± 1.66%), catalase (4.65 ± 1.87%), and L-cysteine + catalase (8.11 ± 2.15%) groups than in the control (13.22 ± 1.6%) group (p<0.05). The glutathione level was significantly higher in the L-cysteine (1.33 ± 0.03%) group than in the control (1.08 ± 0.06 %), catalase (1.05 ± 0.02%) and L-cysteine + catalase (1.11 ± 0.03%) groups (p<0.05). In conclusion, L-cysteine and catalase could protect the membrane of Korean Native Cattle sperm from damage during sperm cryopreservation. Especially, L-cysteine was more effective for keeping acrosomes and mitochondria intactness during sperm cryopreservation.

Cystatins (CSTs) are reversible and competitive inhibitors of C1A cysteine proteases, corresponding to papain-like cathepsins in plants and animals. A viral CST (CpBV-CST1) was identified from a polydnavirus, Cotesia plutellae bracovirus. Our previous study indicated that overexpression of CpBV-CST1 interfered with immune response and development of Plutella xylostella larvae. This study produced a recombinant CpBV-CST1 protein (rCpBV-CST1) using bacterial expression system to analyze its inhibitory activity against cysteine protease and physiological role in the parasitism of an endoparsitoid wasp, Cotesia plutellae. The open reading frame (ORF) of CpBV-CST1 encodes a polypeptide of 138 amino acids (15 kDa). rCpBV-cystatin protein in BL21 STAR (DE3) competent cells containing a recombinant pGEX4T-3:CpBV-CST1 was overexpressed by 0.5 mM IPTG for 4 h. In biological activity assay, partially purified GST-fused rCpBV-CST1 showed inhibitory activity against papain. It also inhibited larval development of P. xylostella in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that CpBV-CST1 plays a role in retardation of larval development of P. xylostella during parasitism.

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of L-cysteine on sperm characteristics and oocyte cleavage in vitro in Korean native cattle. For this study, the freezing of diluted semen were added with Triladyl containing 20% eggyolk and/or 0, 5, 10 and 20 mM L-cysteine before cryopreservation. The viability in frozen-thawed sperm were estimated by SYBR14/PI double stain, acrosome damage with FITC-PNA, mitochondria intact with Rhodamin123 and hydrogen peroxide(H2O2) level with carboxy-DCFDA by flow-cytometry. The developmental capacity was also assessed with cleavage rates in oocytes fertilized in vitro by frozen-thawed sperm. In results, the sperm viability was significantly increased in 10 mM and 20 mM concentrations of L-cysteine than other groups (p<0.05). In addition, acrosome damage was significantly decreased in 10 mM and 20 mM concentrations of L-cysteine than other groups (p<0.05). The mitochondria intact was also significantly increased in 10 mM and 20 mM concentrations of L-cysteine than other groups (p<0.05). On the other hand, the cleavage rates were significantly increased in 0 mM, 5 mM and 10 mM groups than 20 mM concentration of L-cysteine (p<0.05). The oocyte degeneration of oocytes were significantly decreased in 0 mM, 5 mM and 10 mM groups than in 20 mM L-cysteine group (P<0.05). However, there are no significantly differences among the L-cysteine treatment groups. We suggest that concentration of 10 mM L-cysteine have beneficial impact for sperm cryopreserved in Korean native cattle. This result also could be recommended for artificial insemination program if supported by an improvement in the fertility results and required further study.

Cancer is the result of damage to the genetic system, i.e., dysfunction of the DNA repair system, resulting in dysregulated expression of various molecules, leading to cancer formation, migration, and invasion. In cancer progression, several proteases play a critical role in metastasis; however, their biological mechanism in cancer metastasis is not clearly understood. Among these proteases, cathepsins are a family of lysosomal proteases found in most animal cells. Cathepsins have an important role in protein turnover of mammalian, and are classified into 15 types based on their structure as serine (cathepsin A and G), aspartic (cathepsin D and E), and cysteine cathepsins (cathepsin B, C, F, H, K, L, O, S, V, X, and W). Cysteine cathepsins appear to accelerate the progression of human and rodent cancers, which can be a biomarker of the potency of malignancy or metastasis in mammalian. Overexpression of cyteine cathepsins causes the activation of angiogenesis promoting factor, whereas their downregulation reduces the angiogenesis of cancer progression. Under physiological conditions, cysteine cathepsins are essential in inflammation, infection, and cancer development. Activity of cysteine proteases, i.e., cathepsin B, is required for cancer progression or metastasis. Elevation of cysteine cathepsin is associated with cancer metastasis, angiogenesis, and immunity. Therefore, in this review, we suggest that cysteine cathepsin may be an anticancer target of strong clinical interest, although the exact mechanism of cathepsins in cancer metastasis is under investigation.

Glutathione (GSH)은 직접적으로 활성산소종을 제거하거나 GSH peroxidase와 같은 활성산소종 제거 효소의 조효소로써, 산화적 스트레스로부터 세포를 방어하는 데 중요한 역할을 한다. GSH peroxidase는 두 분자의 GSH을 이용해 세포 내 과산화수소를 물로 전환한다. N-acetyl-L cysteine (NAC)는 항산화제 중 하나로 세포 내 GSH의 전구물질로 이용된다. 본 연구는, 0mM에서 20mM의 NAC 단독 처리

NAC는 GSH의 전구물질로, thiol기를 포함하는 항산화제 중 하나로 잘 알려져 있으며, 방사선 조사 시 발생하는 생체 내 영향을 감소시켜 생체 손상의 방호 및 회복에 도움을 주는 방사선 방어제로 이용된다. S. cerevisiae에서 항산화제 NAC를 전처리 함에 따라 이온화 방사선 조사에 따른 효모의 세포사멸 방어효과 및 superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx)와 같은

In this study, cysteine compounds found ingenus Allium plants, including N-acetyl cysteine(NAC), S-allyl cysteine(SAC), S-ethyl cysteine(SEC), and S-methyl cysteine(SMC), were examined for effects on blood glucose, glucose tolerance, and plasma lipid concentrations in streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic mice. In the mice, the ingestion of these cysteine compounds did not affect blood glucose levels significantly. However, their ingestion did improve the diabetic symptoms of polydipsia, polyphagia, polyuria, and weight loss. glucose tolerance was also found to be improved in the STZ diabetic animals by feeding the cysteine compounds. Treatment of the compounds also caused a slight decrease in plasma concentrations of total cholesterol along with increases in HDL-cholesterol and slight decreases in LDL-cholesterol, resulting in a significant decrease in the atherogenic index of plasma in the diabetic animals. They also showed reductions of liver triglyceride content to relieve diabetic fatty liver syndrome. In summary, the cysteine compounds such as NAC, SAC, SEC, and SMC, found ingenus Allium plants, had certain beneficial effects on blood glucose metabolism along with preventing abnormalities in lipid metabolism, a complication of diabetes, by improving the atherogenic index of plasma and fatty liver in STZ-induced diabetic mice.