Fig. 4.

Reliable scheme for isothiocyanates (redox inducers) activates the Keap1/Nrf2/ARE pathway. When oxidoreductive compounds such as isothiocyanates in Brassicaceae vegetables are absorbed into the cell, the highly reactive cysteine residues of sensor protein Keap1 are modified. Conformational changes of Keap1 repress Nrf2, which subsequently undergoes nuclear translocation. In heterodimeric combination with small Maf transcription factors, it binds to ARE and recruits the basal transcriptional machinery to activate transcription of cytoprotective genes.