SummaryThe RIN gene encodes a putative MADS box transcription factor that controls tomato fruit ripening, and its ripening inhibitor (rin) mutation yields non-ripening fruit. In this study, the molecular properties of RIN and the rin mutant protein were clarified. The results revealed that the RIN protein accumulates in ripening fruit specifically and is localized in the nucleus of the cell. In vitro studies revealed that RIN forms a stable homodimer that binds to MADS domain-specific DNA sites. Analysis of binding site selection experiments revealed that the consensus binding sites of RIN highly resemble those of the SEPALLATA (SEP) proteins, which are Arabidopsis MADS box proteins that control the identity of floral organs. RIN exhibited a transcriptionactivating function similar to that exhibited by the SEP proteins. These results indicate that RIN exhibits similar molecular functions to SEP proteins although they play distinctly different biological roles. In vivo assays revealed that RIN binds to the cis-element of LeACS2. Our results also revealed that the rin mutant protein accumulates in the mutant fruit and exhibits a DNA-binding activity similar to that exhibited by the wild-type protein, but has lost its transcription-activating function, which in turn would inhibit ripening in mutant fruit.

A kinetic study of the quenching reaction of singlet oxygen (1O2) with eight kinds of carotenoids and α-tocopherol was performed in ethanol/chloroform/D2O (50:50:1, v/v/v) solution at 35 °C. The overall rate constants, kQ (=kq+kr, physical quenching+chemical reaction), for the reaction of carotenoids with 1O2 were measured, using the competition reaction method, where endoperoxide was used as a singlet oxygen generator, 2,5-diphenyl-3,4-benzofuran (DPBF) as an UV-vis absorption prove, and α-tocopherol as a standard compound. The rate constants, kQ (S) and kQ (t1/2), were determined by analyzing the first-order rate constant (S) and the half-life (t1/2) of the decay curve of DPBF with carotenoids, respectively, showing good accordance with each other. Similar measurements were performed for tomato and carrot extracts. From the results, a new assay method that can quantify the singlet oxygen absorption capacity (SOAC) of antioxidants, including carotenoids, α-tocopherol, and vegetable extracts, has been proposed.

Recently a new assay method that can quantify the singlet oxygen absorption capacity (SOAC) of antioxidants was proposed. In the present work, kinetic study of the reaction of singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)) with carotenoids and vegetable extracts has been performed in ethanol/chloroform/D(2)O (50:50:1, v/v/v) solution at 35 °C. Measurements of the second-order rate constants (k(Q)(S)) and the SOAC values were performed for eight kinds of carotenoids and three kinds of vegetable extracts (red paprika, carrot, and tomato). Furthermore, measurements of the concentrations of the carotenoids included in vegetable extracts were performed, using a HPLC technique. From the results, it has been clarified that the total (1)O(2)-quenching activity (that is, the SOAC value) for vegetable extracts may be explained as the sum of the product {Σ k(Q)(Car-i)(S) [Car-i](i)} of the rate constant (k(Q)(Car-i)(S)) and the concentration ([Car (i)]) of carotenoids included in vegetable extracts.

Quercetin is a typical flavonoid present mostly as glycosides in plant foods; it has attracted much attention for its potential beneficial effects in disease prevention. In this study, we examined human volunteers after the short-term ingestion of onion, a vegetable rich in quercetin glucosides. The subjects were served diets containing onion slices (quercetin equivalent: 67.6-93.6 mg/day) with meals for 1 wk. Quercetin was only found in glucuronidase-sulfatase-treated plasma, and its concentration after 10 h of fasting increased from 0.04 +/- 0.04 microM before the trial to 0.63 +/- 0.72 microM after the 1-wk trial. The quercetin content in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) after glucuronidase-sulfatase treatment corresponded to <1% of the alpha-tocopherol content. Human LDL isolated from the plasma after the trial showed little improvement of its resistance to copper ion-induced oxidation. It is therefore concluded that conjugated metabolites of quercetin accumulate exclusively in human blood plasma in the concentration range of 10(-7) approximately 10(-6) M after the short-term ingestion of vegetables rich in quercetin glucosides, although these metabolites are hardly incorporated into plasma LDL.

To evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of spices, 21 different spices were fed to rats with liver damage caused by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plus d-galactosamine (D-GalN). As assessed by plasma aminotranferase activities, nutmeg showed the most potent hepatoprotective activity. Bioassay-guided isolation of the active compound from nutmeg was carried out in mice by a single oral administration of the respective fractions. Myristicin, one of the major essential oils of nutmeg, was found to possess extraordinarily potent hepatoprotective activity. Myristicin markedly suppressed LPS/D-GalN-induced enhancement of serum TNF-alpha concentrations and hepatic DNA fragmentation in mice. These findings suggest that the hepatoprotective activity of myristicin might be, at least in part, due to the inhibition of TNF-alpha release from macrophages. However, further studies are needed to elucidate the hepatoprotective mechanism(s) of myristicin.