Bioreaction of the Cells against the Stress Burden

This article discusses how living organisms respond to stress and how controlled heat stress can induce new biological functions in natural materials. It notes that living things exposed to undesirable conditions such as temperature, chemicals, poor nutrition and radiation generate heat shock (stress) proteins that repair stress-denatured proteins. An electron micrograph of the 64 kDa heat shock protein of Mycobacterium bovis BCG is presented, showing a donut shape with a central hole described as capturing denatured protein for repair. Using indirect immunofluorescence microscopy, a monoclonal antibody against BCG HSP showed cross-reactivity with mouse Meth A and Colon 26 tumour cells and human bladder cancer cells, suggesting its possible application as a new tumour marker. The article then describes black garlic, made by heating raw garlic at around 60-70 °C for a month without additives, which shows enhanced anti-oxidant activity and anti-tumour activity in a mouse tumour model. It also reports that baking Corbicula japonica shell changes its crystal structure from aragonite to calcite and lime depending on temperature, and that calcite shell powder heated at 500 °C improved liver function in the LEC rat model, lowering serum GOT, GPT and total bilirubin, with similar results in human volunteers and additional anti-diabetic activity. The author concludes that appropriate heat treatment can draw out new biofunctions from natural materials. Abstract prepared by the editorial office from the full text of the article; the authors did not supply one.