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Baltzi E, Papaloukas C, Spandidos DA, Michalopoulos I. Genes encoding γ‑glutamyl‑transpeptidases in the allicin biosynthetic pathway in garlic ( Allium sativum). Biomed Rep 2024; 20:45. [PMID: 38357244 PMCID: PMC10865298 DOI: 10.3892/br.2024.1733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Allicin is a thiosulphate molecule produced in garlic (Allium sativum) and has a wide range of biological actions and pharmaceutical applications. Its precursor molecule is the non-proteinogenic amino acid alliin (S-allylcysteine sulphoxide). The alliin biosynthetic pathway in garlic involves a group of enzymes, members of which are the γ-glutamyl-transpeptidase isoenzymes, Allium sativum γ-glutamyl-transpeptidase AsGGT1, AsGGT2 and AsGGT3, which catalyze the removal of the γ-glutamyl group from γ-glutamyl-S-allyl-L-cysteine to produce S-allyl-L-cysteine. This removal is followed by an S-oxygenation, which leads to the biosynthesis of alliin. The aim of the present study is to annotate previously discovered genes of garlic γ-glutamyl-transpeptidases, as well as a fourth candidate gene (AsGGT4) that has yet not been described. The annotation includes identifying the loci of the genes in the garlic genome, revealing the overall structure and conserved regions of these genes, and elucidating the evolutionary history of these enzymes through their phylogenetic analysis. The genomic structure of γ-glutamyl-transpeptidase genes is conserved; each gene consists of seven exons, and these genes are located on different chromosomes. AsGGT3 and AsGGT4 enzymes contain a signal peptide. To that end, the AsGGT3 protein sequence was corrected; four indel events occurring in AsGGT3 coding regions suggested that at least in the garlic variety Ershuizao, AsGGT3 may be a pseudogene. Finally, the use of protein structure prediction tools allowed the visualization of the tertiary structure of the candidate peptide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Baltzi
- Centre of Systems Biology, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
- Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
| | - Costas Papaloukas
- Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
| | - Demetrios A. Spandidos
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, Medical School, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Ioannis Michalopoulos
- Centre of Systems Biology, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
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Takahashi K, Nango H, Ushijima M, Takashima M, Nakamoto M, Matsutomo T, Jikihara H, Arakawa N, Maki S, Yabuki A, Endo Y, Yamato O. Therapeutic effect of aged garlic extract on gingivitis in dogs. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1277272. [PMID: 38026667 PMCID: PMC10658002 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1277272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Periodontal disease is one of the most common dental health problems in dogs. Clinical studies in humans have shown that aged garlic extract (AGE), which contains stable and water-soluble sulfur-containing bioactive compounds, improves the symptoms of periodontal diseases. Our previous study demonstrated that oral administration of AGE in healthy Beagle dogs at 90 mg/kg/day for 12 weeks had no adverse effects such as hemolytic anemia, which is well known to occur as a result of ingestion of Allium species, including onions and garlic, in dogs. However, the therapeutic potential of AGE in canine periodontal disease remains unclear. Accordingly, we investigated the therapeutic effects of AGE in Beagle dogs with mild gingivitis. Feeding 18 mg/kg/day of AGE for 8 weeks resulted in the improvement of gingival index score, level of volatile sulfur compounds in exhaled air, and enzyme activity of periodontal pathogens without any adverse effects on clinical signs and hematological and serum biochemical parameters. Moreover, AGE increased the concentration of salivary cathelicidin, an antimicrobial peptide that contributes to the oral innate immune response. These results suggest that AGE could be a potential therapeutic agent for canine gingivitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaori Takahashi
- Kagoshima University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Nango
- Central Research Institute, Wakunaga Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Mitsuyasu Ushijima
- Central Research Institute, Wakunaga Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Miyuki Takashima
- Central Research Institute, Wakunaga Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Masato Nakamoto
- Central Research Institute, Wakunaga Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Toshiaki Matsutomo
- Central Research Institute, Wakunaga Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Jikihara
- Research Administration Department, Wakunaga Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Nanami Arakawa
- Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Shinichiro Maki
- Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Akira Yabuki
- Kagoshima University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
- Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Endo
- Kagoshima University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Osamu Yamato
- Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
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Ushijima M, Kunimura K, Suzuki JI. S -1-Propenylcysteine, a sulfur compound in aged garlic extract, alleviates cold-induced reduction in peripheral blood flow in rat via activation of the AMPK/eNOS/NO pathway. Exp Ther Med 2020; 20:2815-2821. [PMID: 32765777 PMCID: PMC7401927 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2020.8969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Aged garlic extract (AGE) has been shown to improve peripheral circulatory disturbances in both clinical trials and experimental animal models. To investigate the effect of S-1-propenylcysteine (S1PC), a characteristic sulfur compound in AGE, on cold-induced reduction in tail blood flow of rat, Wistar rats were individually placed in a restraint cage and given the treatment with cold water (15˚C) after the oral administration of AGE or its constituents S1PC, S-allylcysteine (SAC) and S-allylmercaptocysteine (SAMC). After the cold-treatment the tail blood flow of rats was measured at the indicated times. The pretreatment with AGE (2 g/kg BW) and S1PC (6.5 mg/kg BW) significantly alleviated the reduction of rat tail blood flow induced by cold treatment. The effect of S1PC was dose-dependent and maximal at the dose of 6.5 mg/kg BW, whereas SAC and SAMC were ineffective. To gain insight into the mechanism of S1PC action, the concentration of nitrogen oxide metabolites (NOx) in the plasma and the levels of phosphorylated endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in the aorta were measured. The pretreatment with S1PC significantly increased the plasma concentration of NOx as well as the level of phosphorylated form of AMPK and eNOS in the aorta after cold-treatment. The present findings suggest that S1PC is a major constituent responsible for the effect of AGE to alleviate the cold-induced reduction of peripheral blood flow in rat by acting on the AMPK/eNOS/NO pathway in the aorta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitsuyasu Ushijima
- Central Research Institute, Wakunaga Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hiroshima 739-1195, Japan
| | - Kayo Kunimura
- Central Research Institute, Wakunaga Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hiroshima 739-1195, Japan
| | - Jun-Ichiro Suzuki
- Central Research Institute, Wakunaga Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hiroshima 739-1195, Japan
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