Expression profiling of the estrogen responsive genes in response to phytoestrogens using a customized DNA microarray

Here, we examined phytoestrogens, isoflavones (genistein, daidzein, glycitein, biochanin A and ipriflavone), flavones (chrysin, luteolin and apigenin), flavonols (kaempferol and quercetin), and a coumestan, a flavanone and a chalcone (coumestrol, naringenin and phloretin, respectively) by means of a DNA microarray assay. A total of 172 estrogen responsive genes were monitored with a customized DNA microarray and their expression profiles for the above phytoestrogens were compared with that for 17beta-estradiol (E2) using correlation coefficients, or R values, after a correlation analysis by linear regression. While R values indicate the similarity of the response by the genes, we also examined the genes by cluster analysis and by their specificity to phytoestrogens (specific to genistein, daidzein or glycitein) or gene functions. Several genes were selected from p53-related genes (CDKN1A, TP53I11 and CDC14), Akt2-related genes (PRKCD, BRCA1, TRIB3 and APPL), mitogen-activated protein kinase-related genes (RSK and SH3BP5), Ras superfamily genes (RAP1GA1, RHOC and ARHGDIA) and AP-1 family and related genes (RIP140, FOS, ATF3, JUN and FRA2). We further examined the extracts from two local crops of soy beans (Kuro-daizu or Mochi-daizu) by comparing the gene expression profiles with those of E2 or phytoestrogens as a first step in utilizing the expression profiles for various applications.     

大豆异黄酮的分离与纯化

天然大豆异黄酮作为健康食品在防治骨质疏松和癌症方面具有一定功效。由于化合物结构相似,异黄酮甙元特别是高纯度黄豆黄素（glycitein）的获得有一定难度,文献报道大多是通过盐酸水解异黄酮甙的方法获得,而这种方法对环境污染和工厂生产设备腐蚀较大。本文报道了用醇溶剂进行固相提取以及硅胶柱色谱方对含有三种大豆异黄酮甙元的混合物产品进行分离。通过低成本和无环境污染的固相提取方法得到纯度为97％的黄豆黄素和纯度超过95％的大豆黄素（daidzein）;95％纯度的另一种大豆甙元金雀异黄素（genistein）则通过硅胶柱色谱分离得到。应用硅胶柱色谱,一次性分离了一种含有两个异黄酮甙：大豆甙（daidzin）和黄豆甙（glycitin）的产品。     

Metabolism of isoflavones in human subjects

Isoflavones form a group of plant compounds that occur mainly in legumes, soy being the most important source in human diet. The high levels of isoflavones in the diet have been associated with a lowered risk for hormone-dependent diseases, including breast and prostate cancers, osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. The metabolism of isoflavones in humans has been studied to a certain extent, but detailed studies are lacking. This paper reviews the current knowledge on metabolism of isoflavones and presents some preliminary results of a comprehensive soy feeding study, in which the phase I metabolites of soy isoflavones, daidzein, genistein and glycitein, were identified by GC-MS. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.