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  1. Al-Naqeep G, Ismail M, Allaudin Z
    J Nutrigenet Nutrigenomics, 2009;2(4-5):163-72.
    PMID: 19887822 DOI: 10.1159/000227264
    BACKGROUND AND AIM: Nigella sativa and its active constituent thymoquinone (TQ) have been exploited for their various health benefits. This work was aimed to investigate the regulatory effects of TQ-rich fraction (TQRF) and commercial TQ on the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) genes in HepG2 cells.

    METHODS AND RESULTS: TQRF was extracted from N. sativa seeds using supercritical fluid extraction. The regulatory effects of TQRF at 80 microg/ml and TQ at 2 microg/ml on LDLR and HMGCR gene expression were investigated in HepG2 cells using quantitative real-time PCR. The TQ content in TQRF was 2.77% (w/w) and was obtained at a temperature of 40 degrees C and a pressure of 600 bar. Treatment of cells with TQRF and TQ resulted in a 7- and 2-fold upregulation of LDLR mRNA level, respectively, compared with untreated cells. The mRNA level of HMGCR was downregulated by 71 and 12%, respectively, compared with untreated cells.

    CONCLUSION: TQRF and TQ regulated genes involved in cholesterol metabolism by two mechanisms, the uptake of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol via the upregulation of the LDLR gene and inhibition of cholesterol synthesis via the suppression of the HMGCR gene.

    Matched MeSH terms: Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases/genetics*
  2. Song AA, Abdullah JO, Abdullah MP, Shafee N, Othman R, Tan EF, et al.
    PLoS One, 2012;7(12):e52444.
    PMID: 23300671 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0052444
    Isoprenoids are a large and diverse group of metabolites with interesting properties such as flavour, fragrance and therapeutic properties. They are produced via two pathways, the mevalonate pathway or the 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol-4-phosphate (MEP) pathway. While plants are the richest source of isoprenoids, they are not the most efficient producers. Escherichia coli and yeasts have been extensively studied as heterologous hosts for plant isoprenoids production. In the current study, we describe the usage of the food grade Lactococcus lactis as a potential heterologous host for the production of sesquiterpenes from a local herbaceous Malaysian plant, Persicaria minor (synonym Polygonum minus). A sesquiterpene synthase gene from P. minor was successfully cloned and expressed in L. lactis. The expressed protein was identified to be a β-sesquiphellandrene synthase as it was demonstrated to be functional in producing β-sesquiphellandrene at 85.4% of the total sesquiterpenes produced based on in vitro enzymatic assays. The recombinant L. lactis strain developed in this study was also capable of producing β-sesquiphellandrene in vivo without exogenous substrates supplementation. In addition, overexpression of the strain's endogenous 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme-A reductase (HMGR), an established rate-limiting enzyme in the eukaryotic mevalonate pathway, increased the production level of β-sesquiphellandrene by 1.25-1.60 fold. The highest amount achieved was 33 nM at 2 h post-induction.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases/genetics*
  3. Wan Hasan WN, Chin KY, Abd Ghafar N, Soelaiman IN
    Drug Des Devel Ther, 2020;14:969-976.
    PMID: 32184566 DOI: 10.2147/DDDT.S224941
    PURPOSE: Annatto-derived tocotrienol (AnTT) has been shown to improve bone formation in animal models of osteoporosis and promote differentiation of pre-osteoblastic cells. However, the mechanism of action of AnTT in achieving these effects is unclear. This study aims to investigate the mechanism of action of AnTT on MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts via the mevalonate pathway.

    METHODS: Murine pre-osteoblastic cells, MC3T3-E1, were cultured with the density of 1 × 104 cells/mL and treated with 4 concentrations of AnTT (0.001-1 µg/mL). Expression of HMG-CoA reductase (HMGR) gene was carried out using qPCR after treatment with AnTT for 21 days. RhoA activation and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) were measured using immunoassay after 9 and 15 days of AnTT treatment. Lovastatin was used as the positive control. Mineralized nodules were detected using Von Kossa staining after 21 days of AnTT treatment.

    RESULTS: The results showed that HMGR was up-regulated in the lovastatin group on day 9 and 21 compared to the control. Lovastatin also inhibited RhoA activation (day 9 and 15) and increased BMP-2 protein (day 15). On the other hand, AnTT at 0.001 μg/mL (day 3) and 0.1 μg/mL (day 21) significantly down-regulated HMGR gene expression compared to the control. On day 21, HMGR gene expression was significantly reduced in all groups compared to day 15. AnTT at 0.1 μg/mL significantly decreased RhoA activation on day 9 compared to the control. AnTT at 1 μg/mL significantly increased BMP-2 protein on day 15 compared to the control (P<0.05). Mineralized calcium nodules were more abundant in AnTT treated groups compared to the control on day 21.

    CONCLUSION: AnTT suppresses the mevalonate pathway by downregulating HMGR gene expression and inhibiting RhoA activation, leading to increased BMP-2 protein in MC3T3-E1 cells. This explains the stimulating effects of AnTT on osteoblast mineralization.

    Matched MeSH terms: Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases/genetics*
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