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Updated: Jun 18, 2026
Quantifying Plant Soluble Protein and Digestible Carbohydrate Content, Using Corn (Zea mays) As an Exemplar
Published on: August 6, 2018
Screening for beneficial effects of oral intake of sweet corn by DNA microarray analysis
Yoshihiko Tokuji1, Kyoko Akiyama, Keita Yunoki
1Dept of Agriculture and Life Science, Obihiro Univ of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan. tokuji@obihiro.ac.jp
Abstract:
To identify novel functions of the oral intake of sweet corn, we performed DNA microarray analysis of the livers of sweet corn-fed mice. Functional annotation clustering 1600 genes with expression levels that were affected (more than 1.5-fold change) by dietary sweet corn indicated that both cell proliferation and programmed cell death were modulated by sweet corn intake. In the Wnt signaling pathway, which is involved in cell proliferation, the levels of Jun and beta-catenin expression were downregulated by dietary sweet corn. The mRNA levels of Rb and p53, negative regulators of the cell cycle, were increased in mice fed with sweet corn. Dietary corn upregulated expression levels of genes that regulate apoptosis positively (for example, BOK, BID, CASP4). These results suggested that sweet corn is a valuable food for suppressing cancer. Oral administration of sweet corn inhibited tumor growth (36.6% reduce in tumor weight, P < 0.05) in mice inoculated with Ehrlich tumor cells.
Insights
Sweet corn intake modulates cell proliferation and programmed cell death, potentially suppressing cancer. Studies show dietary sweet corn inhibits tumor growth in mice, suggesting its value in cancer prevention.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
Background:
- The potential health benefits of dietary sweet corn are not fully understood.
- Investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying sweet corn's effects on cellular processes is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify novel functions of oral sweet corn intake.
- To elucidate the molecular pathways modulated by dietary sweet corn.
Main Methods:
- DNA microarray analysis was performed on the livers of mice fed with sweet corn.
- Functional annotation clustering identified genes affected by sweet corn intake ( > 1.5-fold change).
- Gene expression analysis focused on cell cycle regulators and apoptosis-related genes.
Main Results:
- Dietary sweet corn modulated both cell proliferation and programmed cell death.
- Sweet corn intake downregulated Jun and beta-catenin in the Wnt signaling pathway.
- Upregulation of cell cycle negative regulators (Rb, p53) and pro-apoptotic genes (BOK, BID, CASP4) was observed.
- Oral sweet corn administration significantly inhibited tumor growth by 36.6% (P < 0.05) in mice with Ehrlich tumor cells.
Conclusions:
- Sweet corn intake influences key molecular pathways involved in cell cycle regulation and apoptosis.
- These findings suggest sweet corn possesses anti-cancer properties.
- Dietary sweet corn demonstrates potential as a functional food for cancer suppression.
