Plasma glutathione and oxidized glutathione level, glutathione/oxidized glutathione ratio, and albumin concentration in complicated and uncomplicated falciparum malaria

Objective: To compare the level of glutathione(GSH) and oxidized glutathione(GSSG),the ratio of GSH/GSSG and the concentration of albumin in plasma of patients with complicated and un-complicated falciparum malaria.Methods: This research was a cross sectional study using comparison analysis with the plasma GSH and GSSG, the ratio of plasma GSH/GSSG and the concentration of plasma albumin as variables. The complicated malaria patients were obtained from Dr. Saiful Anwar Hospital Malang, whereas uncomplicated malaria patients were obtained from the Regency of Pleihari South Kalimantan. Plasma GSH and GSSG levels were determined by the spectrophotometer at the wave length of 412 nm, whereas the concentration of albumin was determined by bromocresol green method in the p H of 4.1.Results: There were no significant differences between the level of plasma GSH and GSSG in complicated and uncomplicated malaria patients, as well as the ratio of plasma GSH/GSSG in the two groups(P = 0.373; P = 0.538; and P = 0.615, respectively, independent ttest). In contrast, the plasma albumin concentration in complicated malaria patients were significantly higher than uncomplicated malaria patients(P = 0.000, Mann Whitney U test).Conclusions: It can be concluded that the average of plasma GSH and GSSG level, also plasma GSH/GSSG ratio in complicated malaria are not different from uncomplicated malaria. Although plasma concentration of albumin in both groups is below the normal range,there is an increase in complicated malaria that might be as compensation of oxidative stress.

The effect of glutathione on glucosinolate biosynthesis through the sulfur assimilation pathway in pakchoi associated with the growth conditions

Glucosinolates(GSLs) are a group of nitrogen-and sulfur-containing secondary metabolites, synthesized primarily in members of the Brassicaceae family, that play an important role in food flavor, plant antimicrobial activity, resistance to insect attack, stress tolerance, and human anti-cancer effects. As a sulfur-containing compound, glutathione has a strong connection with GSLs biosynthesis as a sulfur donor or redox system, and exists in reduced(glutathione;GSH) and oxidized(glutathione disulfide;GSSG) forms. However, the mechanism of GSH regulating GSLs biosynthesis remainds unclear. Hence, the exogenous therapy to pakchoi under normal growth condition and sulfur deficiency condition were conducted in this work to explore the relevant mechanism. The results showed that exogenous application of buthionine sulfoximine, an inhibitor of GSH synthesis, decreased the transcript levels of GSLs synthesis-related genes and transcription factors, as well as sulfur assimilation-related genes under the normal growth condition. Application of exogenous GSH inhibited the expression of GSLs synthesis-and sulfur assimilation-related genes under the normal condition, while the GSLs biosynthesis and the sulfur assimilation pathway were activated by exogenous application of GSH when the content of GSH in vivo of plants decreased owing to sulfur deficiency. Moreover,exogenous application of GSSG increased the transcript levels of GSLs synthesis-and sulfur assimilation-related genes under the normal growth condition and under sulfur deficiency. The present work provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of GSLs biosynthesis underlying glutathione regulation.

Protective Effect of Reduced Glutathione C_(60) Derivative against Hydrogen Peroxide-induced Apoptosis in HEK 293T Cells

Hydrogen peroxide（H_2O_2） and free radicals cause oxidative stress, which induces cellular injuries, metabolic dysfunction, and even cell death in various clinical abnormalities. Fullerene（C_（60）） is critical for scavenging oxygen free radicals originated from cell metabolism, and reduced glutathione（GSH） is another important endogenous antioxidant. In this study, a novel water-soluble reduced glutathione fullerene derivative（C_（60）-GSH） was successfully synthesized, and its beneficial roles in protecting against H_2O_2-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in cultured HEK 293 T cells were investigated. Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance were used to confirm the chemical structure of C_（60）-GSH. Our results demonstrated that C_（60）-GSH prevented the reactive oxygen species（ROS）-mediated cell damage. Additionally, C_（60）-GSH pretreatment significantly attenuated H_2O_2-induced superoxide dismutase（SOD） consumption and malondialdehyde（MDA） elevation. Furthermore, C_（60）-GSH inhibited intracellular calcium mobilization, and subsequent cell apoptosis via bcl-2/bax-caspase-3 signaling pathway induced by H_2O_2 stimulation in HEK 293 T cells. Importantly, these protective effects of C_（60）-GSH were superior to those of GSH. In conclusion, these results suggested that C_（60）-GSH has potential to protect against H_2O_2-induced cell apoptosis by scavenging free radicals and maintaining intracellular calcium homeostasis without evident toxicity.

Comparative metabolomic analysis of wild type and mads3 mutant rice anthers

Rice（Oryza sativa L.） MADS3 transcription factor regulates the homeostasis of reactive oxygen species（ROS）during late anther development,and one MADS3 mutant,mads3-4,has defective anther walls,aborted microspores and complete male sterility.Here,we report the untargeted metabolomic analysis of both wild type and mads3-4 mature anthers.Mutation of MADS3 led to an unbalanced redox status and caused oxidative stress that damages lipid,protein,and DNA.To cope with oxidative stress in mads3-4 anthers,soluble sugars were mobilized and carbohydrate metabolism was shifted to amino acid and nucleic acid metabolism to provide substrates for the biosynthesis of antioxidant proteins and the repair of DNA.Mutation of MADS3 also affected other aspects of rice anther development such as secondary metabolites associated with cuticle,cell wall,and auxin metabolism.Many of the discovered metabolic changes in mads3-4 anthers were corroborated with changes of expression levels of corresponding metabolic pathway genes.Altogether,this comparative metabolomic analysis indicated that MADS3 gene affects rice anther development far beyond the ROS homeostasis regulation.