Abstract
         
         Genistein, an isoflavonoid natural product, is widely used to inhibit protein tyrosine
            kinase (PTK). In the present study, we investigated the possible influence of genistein
            on α1-adrenoceptors (AR) in cultured C2C12 cells. Genistein enhanced the uptake of radioactive glucose into C2C12 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Similar results were also observed in
            samples treated with daidzein, the inactive congener for PTK inhibition. The effect
            of genistein on α1-AR was further characterized using the displacement of [3
            H]prazosin binding in C2C12 cells. The increase in radioactive glucose uptake by genistein was abolished by RS17053
            at a concentration sufficient to block α1A-AR. The pharmacological inhibition of phospholipase C (PLC) by U73122 resulted in
            a concentration-dependent reduction of genistein-stimulated glucose uptake in C2C12 cells. This inhibition by U73122 was specific because the inactive congener, U73343,
            failed to modify the action of genistein. Moreover, genistein can activate α1A-AR at a concentration (1 μmol/L) lower than that (50 μmol/L) needed to abolish the
            insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of PTK. The obtained data indicate an activation
            of α1A-AR by genistein to increase the glucose uptake into C2C12 cells and this supports the application of genistein as a TK inhibitor.
         
         
         
            
Key words
         
         
            Genistein - C2C12 cells - α1A-adrenoceptor - phospholipase C - protein tyrosine kinase
          
      
    
   
      
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         Professor Juei-Tang Cheng
            Department of Pharmacology
            
            College of Medicine
            
            National Cheng Kung University
            
            Tainan City
            
            Taiwan 70101
            
            R.O.C.
            
            Phone: +886-6-237-2706
            
            Fax: +886-6-238-6548
            
            Email: jtcheng@mail.ncku.edu.tw