Satomi Yoshiko, Misawa Norihiko, Maoka Takashi, Nishino Hoyoku
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2004 Jul 23;320(2):398-401. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2004.05.179.
Carotenoids have been recognized as chemopreventive agents against human diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. Mammalians utilize carotenoids supplied from their food since they are unable to perform the de novo synthesis of carotenoids. We previously created mammalian cultured cells producing phytoene, a type of carotenoid, and showed that these cells acquired resistance against oxidative stress and oncogenic transformation. In the present study, we established a transgenic mouse line, carrying the crtB gene encoding phytoene synthase, which could produce phytoene endogenously. It was found that connexin 26 was induced in these phytoene-producing mice. Since it is known that carotenoids enhance gap junctional communication by inducing the expression of connexin genes, the present data suggest that the induction of connexin 26 in phytoene-producing mice may play a role in controlling cell-to-cell communication. Phytoene-producing mice provide a useful system in which to investigate the in vivo function of the carotenoid phytoene.
类胡萝卜素已被公认为是预防人类疾病如癌症和心血管疾病的化学预防剂。哺乳动物利用从食物中获取的类胡萝卜素，因为它们无法进行类胡萝卜素的从头合成。我们之前创建了能够产生类胡萝卜素八氢番茄红素的哺乳动物培养细胞，并表明这些细胞获得了对氧化应激和致癌转化的抗性。在本研究中，我们建立了一个携带编码八氢番茄红素合酶的crtB基因的转基因小鼠品系，该品系能够内源性地产生八氢番茄红素。结果发现，在这些产生八氢番茄红素的小鼠中，连接蛋白26被诱导表达。由于已知类胡萝卜素通过诱导连接蛋白基因的表达来增强间隙连接通讯，目前的数据表明，在产生八氢番茄红素的小鼠中连接蛋白26的诱导可能在控制细胞间通讯中发挥作用。产生八氢番茄红素的小鼠提供了一个有用的系统，可用于研究类胡萝卜素八氢番茄红素的体内功能。
