Search Results (3,167)

Background: Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) is the richest plant source of lignin secondary metabolites. Lignans from flax have been applied in the fields of food, medicine, and health due to their significant physiological activities. The most abundant lignan is secoisolariciresinol, which exists in a glycosylated form in plants. Results: After ingestion, it is converted by human intestinal flora into enterodiol and enterolactone, which both have physiological roles. Here, the basic structures, contents, synthesis, regulatory, and metabolic pathways, as well as extraction and isolation methods, of flax lignans were reviewed. Additionally, the physiological activity-related mechanisms and their impacts on human health, from the biosynthesis of lignans in plants to the physiological activity effects observed in animal metabolites, were examined. Conclusions: The review elucidates that lignans, as phenolic compounds, not only function as active substances in plants but also offer significant nutritional values and health benefits when flax is consumed. Full article

Stamens are vital reproductive organs in angiosperms, essential for plant growth, reproduction, and development. The genetic regulation and molecular mechanisms underlying stamen development are, however, complex and varied among different plant species. MSL-lncRNAs, a gene specific to the Y chromosome of Populus deltoides, is predominantly expressed in male flower buds. Heterologous expression of MSL-lncRNAs in Arabidopsis thaliana resulted in an increase in both stamen and anther count, without affecting pistil development or seed set. To reveal the molecular regulatory network influenced by MSL-lncRNAs on stamen development, we conducted transcriptome sequencing of flowers from both wild-type and MSL-lncRNAs-overexpressing Arabidopsis. A total of 678 differentially expressed genes were identified between wild-type and transgenic Arabidopsis. Among these, 20 were classified as transcription factors, suggesting a role for these regulatory proteins in stamen development. GO enrichment analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes were significantly associated with processes such as pollen formation, polysaccharide catabolic processes, and secondary metabolism. KEGG pathway analysis indicated that MSL-lncRNAs might promote stamen development by upregulating genes involved in the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway. The top three upregulated genes, all featuring the DUF295 domain, were found to harbor an F-box motif at their N-termini, which is implicated in stamen development. Additionally, in transgenic Arabidopsis flowers, genes implicated in tapetum formation and anther development were also observed to be upregulated, implying a potential role for MSL-lncRNAs in modulating pollen development through the positive regulation of these genes. The findings from this study establish a theoretical framework for elucidating the genetic control exerted by MSL-lncRNAs over stamen and pollen development. Full article

Microorganisms that exist in the seawater form microbial biofilms on materials used in marine construction, especially on metal surfaces submerged in seawater, where they form biofilms and cause severe corrosion. Biofilms are mainly composed of bacteria and their secreted polymeric substances. In order to understand how biofilms promote metal corrosion, planktonic and biofilm cells of Desulfovibrio bizertensis SY-1 (D. bizertensis) from Q235 steel were collected and analyzed as to their intracellular proteome and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). The intracellular proteome analysis showed that the cellular proteins were strongly regulated in biofilm cells compared to planktonic cells, e.g., along with flagellar proteins, signaling-related proteins were significantly increased, whereas energy production and conversion proteins and DNA replication proteins were significantly regulated. The up-and-down regulation of proteins revealed that biofilm formation by bacteria on metal surfaces is affected by flagellar and signaling proteins. A significant decrease in DNA replication proteins indicated that DNA is no longer replicated and transcribed in mature biofilms, thus reducing energy consumption. Quantitative analysis and lectin staining of the biofilm on the metal’s surface revealed that the bacteria secreted a substantial amount of EPS when they began to attach to the surface, and proteins dominated the main components of EPS. Further, the infrared analysis showed that the secondary structure of the proteins in the EPS of the biofilm was mainly dominated by β-sheet and 3-turn helix, which may help to enhance the adhesion of EPS. The functional groups of EPS analyzed using XPS showed that the C element of EPS in the biofilm mainly existed in the form of combinations with N. Furthermore, the hydroxyl structure in the EPS extracted from the biofilm had a stronger hydrogen bonding effect, which could maintain the stability of the EPS structure and biofilm. The study results revealed that D. bizertensis regulates the metabolic pathways and their secreted EPS structure to affect biofilm formation and cause metal corrosion, which has a certain reference significance for the study of the microbially influenced corrosion (MIC) mechanism. Full article

Fungal HacA/Hac1 transcription factors play a crucial role in regulating the unfolded protein response (UPR). The UPR helps cells to maintain endoplasmic reticulum (ER) protein homeostasis, which is critical for growth, development, and virulence. The Aspergillus flavus hacA gene encodes a domain rich in basic and acidic amino acids (Bsc) and a basic leucine zipper (bZip) domain, and features a non-conventional intron (Nt20). In this study, CRISPR/Cas9 was utilized to dissect the Bsc-coding, bZip-coding, and Nt20 sequences to elucidate the relationship between genotype and phenotype. In the Bsc and bZip experimental sets, all observed mutations in both coding sequences were in frame, suggesting that out-of-frame mutations are lethal. The survival rate of transformants in the Nt20 experiment set was low, at approximately 7%. Mutations in the intron primarily consisted of out-of-frame insertions and deletions. In addition to the wild-type-like conidial morphology, the mutants exhibited varied colony morphologies, including sclerotial, mixed (conidial and sclerotial), and mycelial morphologies. An ER stress test using dithiothreitol revealed that the sclerotial and mycelial mutants were much more sensitive than the conidial mutants. Additionally, the mycelial mutants were unable to produce aflatoxin but still produced aspergillic acid and kojic acid. RNAi experiments targeting the region encompassing Bsc and bZip indicated that transformant survival rates generally decreased, with a small number of transformants displaying phenotypic changes. Defects in the hacA gene at the DNA and transcript levels affected the survival, growth, and development of A. flavus. Thus, this gene may serve as a promising target for future host-induced gene-silencing strategies aimed at controlling infection and reducing aflatoxin contamination in crops. Full article

Introduction: The impact of ETI therapy on pulmonary function and nutritional status has been widely studied; the literature on the possible outcomes on glycemic control and insulin requirement in patients affected by CFRD is controversial. Aim: The main objective of our study was to evaluate HbA1c levels in patients with cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD) after one year of therapy with elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI). The secondary objective was to study the changes in the total daily insulin dose (TDD), pulmonary function and metabolism in this population. Materials and methods: A retrospective single-center observational study was conducted at the Regional Cystic Fibrosis Centre and Diabetology Centre of IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini. The observation period was divided into four different time points: initiation (T0), 3 months (T_3mo), 6 months (T_6mo) and 12 months (T_12mo) of ETI therapy. Demographic and clinical data were collected. The results were then stratified by genotype (homozygous or heterozygous F508del). Results: Twenty-eight patients with CFRD undergoing insulin therapy were included. TDD (IU) significantly decreased at T_3mo and T_6mo, but not at T_12mo, whereas HbA1c decreased significantly at all three times. The number of hospitalizations and pulmonary exacerbations decreased significantly. Conclusion: We demonstrated both improvement in glycemic control (by means of HbA1c) and insulin requirement in insulin-dependent CFRD patients after one year of ETI treatment. Full article

Pepper is a globally cultivated vegetable known for its distinct pungent flavor, which is derived from the presence of capsaicinoids, a class of unique secondary metabolites that accumulate specifically in pepper fruits. Since the accumulation of capsaicinoids is influenced by various factors, it is imperative to comprehend the metabolic regulatory mechanisms governing capsaicinoids production. This review offers a thorough examination of the factors that govern the metabolism of capsaicinoids in pepper fruit, with a specific focus on three primary facets: (1) the impact of genotype and developmental stage on capsaicinoids metabolism, (2) the influence of environmental factors on capsaicinoids metabolism, and (3) exogenous substances like methyl jasmonate, chlorophenoxyacetic acid, gibberellic acid, and salicylic acid regulate capsaicinoid metabolism. The findings of this study are expected to enhance comprehension of capsaicinoids metabolism and aid in the improvement of breeding and cultivation practices for high-quality pepper in the future. Full article

Gray mold caused by Botrytis elliptica is one of the most determinative factors of lily growth and has become a major threat to lily productivity. However, the nature of the lily B. elliptica interaction remains largely unknown. Here, comparative transcriptomic and metabolomic were used to investigate the defense responses of resistant (‘Sorbonne’) and susceptible (‘Tresor’) lily cultivars to B. elliptica infection at 24 hpi. In total, 1326 metabolites were identified in ‘Sorbonne’ and ‘Tresor’ after infection, including a large number of phenylpropanoids. Specifically, the accumulation of four phenylpropanes, including eriodictyol, hesperetin, ferulic acid, and sinapyl alcohol, was significantly upregulated in the B. elliptica-infected ‘Sorbonne’ compared with the infected ‘Tresor’, and these phenylpropanes could significantly inhibit B. elliptica growth. At the transcript level, higher expression levels of F3′M, COMT, and CAD led to a higher content of resistance-related phenylpropanes (eriodictyol, ferulic acid, and sinapyl alcohol) in ‘Sorbonne’ following B. elliptica infection. It can be assumed that these phenylpropanes cause the resistance difference between ‘Sorbonne’ and ‘Tresor’, and could be the potential marker metabolites for gray mold resistance in the lily. Further transcriptional regulatory network analysis suggested that members of the AP2/ERF, WRKY, Trihelix, and MADS-M-type families positively regulated the biosynthesis of resistance-related phenylpropanes. Additionally, the expression patterns of genes involved in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis were confirmed using qRT-PCR. Therefore, we speculate that the degree of gray mold resistance in the lily is closely related to the contents of phenylpropanes and the transcript levels of the genes in the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway. Our results not only improve our understanding of the lily’s resistance mechanisms against B. elliptica, but also facilitate the genetic improvement of lily cultivars with gray mold resistance. Full article

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) serves as a substitute for bread and is a staple food for half of the world’s population, but it is heavily affected by insect pests. The fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) is a highly destructive pest, threatening rice and other crops in tropical regions. Despite its significance, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying rice’s response to fall armyworm infestation. In this study, we used transcriptome analysis to explore the global changes in gene expression in rice leaves during a 1 h and 12 h fall armyworm feeding. The results reveal 2695 and 6264 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at 1 and 12 h post-infestation, respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG enrichment analyses provide insights into biological processes and pathways affected by fall armyworm feeding. Key genes associated with hormone regulation, defense metabolic pathways, and antioxidant and detoxification processes were upregulated, suggesting the involvement of jasmonic acid (JA) signaling, salicylic acid biosynthesis pathways, auxin response, and heat shock proteins in defense during 1 h and 12 h after fall armyworm infestation. Similarly, key genes involved in transcriptional regulation and defense mechanisms reveal the activation of calmodulins, transcription factors (TFs), and genes related to secondary metabolite biosynthesis. Additionally, MYB, WRKY, and ethylene-responsive factors (ERFs) are identified as crucial TF families in rice’s defense response. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the molecular dynamics in rice responding to fall armyworm infestation, offering valuable insights for developing pest-resistant rice varieties and enhancing global food security. The identified genes and pathways provide an extensive array of genomic resources that can be used for further genetic investigation into rice herbivore resistance. This also suggests that rice plants may have evolved strategies against herbivorous insects. It also lays the groundwork for novel pest-resistance techniques for rice. Full article

Soil salinization and alkalinization are pervasive environmental issues that severely restrict plant growth and crop yield. Utilizing plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) is an effective strategy to enhance plant tolerance to saline–alkaline stress, though the regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. This study employed biochemical and RNA-Seq methods to uncover the critical growth-promoting effects of Trichoderma spp. on Salix linearistipularis under saline–alkaline stress. The results showed that, during saline–alkaline stress, inoculation with Trichoderma sp. M4 and M5 significantly increased the proline and soluble sugar contents in Salix linearistipularis, enhanced the activities of SOD, POD, CAT, and APX, and reduced lipid peroxidation levels, with M4 exhibiting more pronounced effects than M5. RNA-Seq analysis of revealed that 11,051 genes were upregulated after Trichoderma sp. M4 inoculation under stress conditions, with 3532 genes primarily involved in carbon metabolism, amino acid biosynthesis, and oxidative phosphorylation—processes that alleviate saline–alkaline stress. Additionally, 7519 genes were uniquely upregulated by M4 under stress, mainly enriched in secondary metabolite biosynthesis, amino acid metabolism, cyanamide metabolism, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. M4 mitigates saline–alkaline stress-induced damage in Salix linearistipularis seedlings by reducing oxidative damage, enhancing organic acid and amino acid metabolism, and activating phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways to eliminate harmful ROS. This enhances the seedlings’ tolerance to saline–alkaline stress, providing a basis for studying fungi–plant interactions under such conditions. Full article

Streptomyces clavuligerus is a species used worldwide to industrially produce clavulanic acid (CA), a molecule that enhances antibiotic effectiveness against β-lactamase-producing bacterial strains. Despite its low inherent CA production, hyper-producing strains have been developed. However, genomic analyses specific to S. clavuligerus and CA biosynthesis are limited. Genomic variations that may influence CA yield were explored using S. clavuligerus strain genomes from diverse sources. Despite the slight differences obtained by similarity index calculation, pan-genome estimation revealed that only half of the genes identified were present in all strains. As expected, core genes were associated with primary metabolism, while the remaining genes were linked to secondary metabolism. Differences at the sequence level were more likely to be found in regions close to the tips of the linear chromosome. Wild-type strains preserved larger chromosomal and plasmid regions compared to industrial and/or hyper-producing strains; such a grouping pattern was also found through refined phylogenetic analyses. These results provide essential insights for the development of hyper-producing S. clavuligerus strains, attending to the critical demand for this antibiotic enhancer and contributing to future strategies for CA production optimization. Full article

Soil microorganisms are critical to the occurrence of Cordyceps sinensis (Chinese Cordyceps), a medicinal fungi used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The over-collection of Chinese Cordyceps has caused vegetation degradation and impacted the sustainable occurrence of Cordyceps. The effects of Chinese Cordyceps collection on soil microorganisms have not been reported. Metagenomic analysis was performed on the soil of collecting and non-collecting areas of production and non-production areas, respectively. C. sinensis collection showed no alteration in alpha-diversity but significantly affected beta-diversity and the community composition of soil microorganisms. In Cordyceps production, Thaumarchaeota and Crenarchaeota were identified as the dominant archaeal phyla. DNA repair, flagellar assembly, propionate metabolism, and sulfur metabolism were affected in archaea, reducing the tolerance of archaea in extreme habitats. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, and Nitrospirae were identified as the dominant bacterial phyla. The collection of Chinese Cordyceps enhanced the bacterial biosynthesis of secondary metabolites and suppressed ribosome and carbon metabolism pathways in bacteria. A more complex microbial community relationship network in the Chinese Cordyceps production area was found. The changes in the microbial community structure were closely related to C, N, P and enzyme activities. This study clarified soil microbial community composition and function in the Cordyceps production area and established that collection clearly affects the microbial community function by altering microbial community structure. Therefore, it would be important to balance the relationship between cordyceps production and microbiology. Full article

Glucose and lipid metabolism disorders are the core pathological mechanism of a variety of metabolic diseases, and the incidence of related diseases is increasing year by year, which seriously threatens human life and health. Traditional Chinese medicine with medicinal and edible properties refers to Chinese medicinal resources that have both medicinal and edible characteristics. Due to its safety and its health-promoting and medicinal functions, traditional Chinese medicine has received increasing attention in the development of functional health foods. Phenolic acids are important secondary metabolites that are ubiquitous in medicinal and edible homologous plants, and the regulation of glycolipid metabolism is an important activity and plays a key role in many diseases. In this paper, we focus on the alleviation of glycolipid disorders using MEHH phenolic acids, which regulate glucose metabolism and lipid metabolism, improve insulin resistance, inhibit inflammatory responses, alleviate oxidative stress, and regulate intestinal flora; additionally, we summarize the mechanism in order to provide a reference for MEHH phenolic acids in the treatment of glycolipid metabolism diseases. Full article

Moroccan flora, renowned for its diverse medicinal plant species, has long been used in traditional medicine to manage diabetes. This review synthesizes ethnobotanical surveys conducted during the last two decades. Among these plants, 10 prominent Moroccan medicinal plants are evaluated for their phytochemical composition and antidiabetic properties through both in vitro and in vivo studies. The review encompasses a comprehensive analysis of the bioactive compounds identified in these plants, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, terpenoids, and alkaloids. Phytochemical investigations revealed a broad spectrum of secondary metabolites contributing to their therapeutic efficacy. In vitro assays demonstrated the significant inhibition of key enzymes α-amylase and α-glucosidase, while in vivo studies highlighted their potential in reducing blood glucose levels and enhancing insulin secretion. Among the ten plants, notable examples include Trigonella foenum-graecum, Nigella Sativa, and Artemisia herba-alba, each showcasing distinct mechanisms of action, such as enzymatic inhibition and the modulation of glucose metabolism pathways. This review underscores the necessity for further chemical, pharmacological, and clinical research to validate the antidiabetic efficacy of these plants and their active compounds, with a view toward their potential integration into therapeutic practices. Full article

Objectives: modulation of gut microbiota by probiotics has been proposed as a target for intervention to reduce bone mineral density (BMD) loss in the postmenopausal period. This study aims to evaluate the effect of Lacticaseibacillus (L.) paracasei LPC100 and Lactiplantibacillus (L.) plantarum LP140 on BMD in postmenopausal women in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Methods: the primary outcome was the change in T-score of the lumbar spine measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry assessed after twelve-month probiotic supplementation. Secondary outcomes included changes in serological markers of inflammation and calcium–phosphate metabolism, body mass index, gastrointestinal symptoms, and satisfaction with the intervention. Results: a decrease in T-score indicating the progressive bone demineralization reached a statistically significant difference in the placebo group (from mean values of 0.06 ± 1.04 to −0.28 ± 1.12, p = 0.041) but not in the probiotic group (0.19 ± 0.99 and −0.08 ± 1.05, respectively, p = 0.125) with a p-value = 0.089 between the groups. No significant differences were found in secondary outcomes with the exception of vitamin D concentration and a significant reduction in some gastrointestinal symptoms in the probiotic group. A significant decrease in vitamin D level was observed only in the placebo group (p = 0.014). Probiotics were safe and well tolerated. Conclusions: this study suggests that the oral administration of L. paracasei LPC100 and L. plantarum LP140 may be a viable strategy to prevent BMD loss and vitamin D deficiency in postmenopausal women, but further research is necessary to confirm clinical benefits and to know the mechanism of action [ClinicalTrial.gov NCT06375668]. Full article

Lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) are caused by the deficient activity of a lysosomal hydrolase or the lack of a functional membrane protein, transporter, activator, or other protein. Lysosomal enzymes break down macromolecular compounds, which contribute to metabolic homeostasis. Stored, undegraded materials have multiple effects on cells that lead to the activation of autophagy and apoptosis, including the toxic effects of lyso-lipids, the disruption of intracellular Ca²⁺ ion homeostasis, the secondary storage of macromolecular compounds, the activation of signal transduction, apoptosis, inflammatory processes, deficiencies of intermediate compounds, and many other pathways. Clinical observations have shown that carriers of potentially pathogenic variants in LSD-associated genes and patients affected with some LSDs are at a higher risk of cancer, although the results of studies on the frequency of oncological diseases in LSD patients are controversial. Cancer is found in individuals affected with Gaucher disease, Fabry disease, Niemann-Pick type A and B diseases, alfa-mannosidosis, and sialidosis. Increased cancer prevalence has also been reported in carriers of a potentially pathogenic variant of an LSD gene, namely CLN3, SGSH, GUSB, NEU1, and, to a lesser extent, in other genes. In this review, LSDs in which oncological events can be observed are described. Full article