Article
Plant Sciences
Li-Xian Li, Yue Fang, Dan Li, Zi-Hao Zhu, Ya Zhang, Zi-Yu Tang, Ting Li, Xue-Sen Chen, Shou-Qian Feng
Summary: This study investigates the effects of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) on ester aroma synthesis in apples, revealing that MeJA treatment significantly increases ester aroma production and upregulates several genes involved in the jasmonate pathway transduction. The transcription factor MdMYC2 and MdMYB85 directly interact with the promoter region of MdAAT1, enhancing its transcriptional activity. Therefore, this study elucidates the role of the gene module consisting of MdMYC2, MdMYB85, and MdAAT1 in mediating the effects of JA and promoting ester aroma synthesis in apples.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Yu Gao, Yan Sun, Huiling Gao, Ying Chen, Xiaoqing Wang, Jinai Xue, Xiaoyun Jia, Runzhi Li
Summary: The study identified CeDGAT2-2 from Cyperus esculentus as a promising target enzyme with high activity and specificity for oleic acid-containing substrates. Overexpressing CeDGAT2-2 in tobacco significantly increased leafy oil accumulation without negative impact on other agronomic traits.
BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Huijun Zhang, Xiuxiu Zhu, Runzhe Xu, Yushu Yuan, Modesta N. Abugu, Congsheng Yan, Denise Tieman, Xiang Li
Summary: In postharvest handling systems, refrigeration can extend fruit shelf life but may result in reduced flavor quality due to changes in the biosynthesis of volatile organic compounds. Chilling affects the perception of melon fruit and decreases the content of volatile esters. Chilling also alters the expression of key genes involved in fruit ripening and metabolic regulation.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Aye Aye Myat, Yu Zhou, Yuan Gao, Xiang Zhao, Chengzhen Liang, Muhammad Ali Abid, Peilin Wang, Umar Akram, Mubashir Abbas, Muhammad Askari, Sandui Guo, Rui Zhang, Zhigang Meng
Summary: This study focuses on the molecular regulation mechanism of GhKTI12 in plant developmental processes by transforming the GhKTI12 gene into tobacco plants. The overexpression of GhKTI12 positively improved key agronomic traits in tobacco by regulating cell proliferation, photosynthesis, and organ development. These findings suggest that homologs of GhKTI12 may also be important in the genetic improvement of other crop plants.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Lichao Wen, Jianmin Cao, Wei Li, Yongfeng Guo
Summary: Dynamic changes in volatile compounds during tobacco leaf senescence are observed, and the integration of gene-metabolites datasets offers important readouts for the genetic control of volatile production during the process of leaf senescence.
JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xianwen Zhang, Shuang Liang, Biao Luo, Zhongjing Zhou, Jiandong Bao, Ruiqiu Fang, Fang Wang, Xijiao Song, Zhenfeng Liao, Guang Chen, Yan Wang, Fei Xu, Yi Teng, Wanchang Li, Shengchun Xu, Fu-Cheng Lin
Summary: The transient expression of the maize WUS ortholog ZmWus2 caused severe leaf necrosis in tobacco leaves. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed the active metabolism of inositol trisphosphate and glycerol-3-phosphate, upregulation of plant hormone signaling, and downregulation of photosystem and protein folding pathways. Additionally, the study identified the regulation of transcription factors such as ethylene-responsive factors, basic helix-loop-helix factors, and MYBs by ZmWus2. These findings contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms underlying WUS ectopic expression and can inform future genetic transformation strategies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
William B. Domingues, Tony L. R. Silveira, Leandro S. Nunes, Eduardo B. Blodorn, Augusto Schneider, Carine D. Corcine, Antonio S. Varela Junior, Izani B. Acosta, Mateus T. Kuetter, Gonzalo Greif, Carlos Robello, Danillo Pinhal, Luis F. Marins, Vinicius F. Campos
Summary: The overexpression of growth hormone in gh-transgenic zebrafish affects various aspects of their physiology, behavior, and reproductive performance. The dysregulation of miRNAs in sperm due to gh overexpression leads to a reduction in sperm quality and reproductive potential in these transgenic zebrafish.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Yan-hui Chen, Bin Xie, Xiu-hong An, Ren-peng Ma, De-ying Zhao, Cun-gang Cheng, En-mao Li, Jiang-tao Zhou, Guo-dong Kang, Yan-zhen Zhang
Summary: This study identified the key period for texture formation in 'Golden Delicious' apples before harvest. It revealed that expansin proteins are highly expressed during the ripening stage and the MdEXLB1 gene plays an important role in promoting fruit ripening and softening.
JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE AGRICULTURE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Panpan Li, Haizhen Ma, Ning Xiao, Yuqing Zhang, Tianyu Xu, Tao Xia
Summary: ZmSUS1 increases the amylose content of maize by regulating the expression of Shrunken2 (Sh2) and Brittle2 (Bt2), and it also affects the expression of Granule bound starch synthase1 (GBSS1) and Starch synthase1 (SS1), leading to improved traits and yield of maize seeds.
Article
Plant Sciences
Jordan P. Tolley, Zachary Gorman, Jiaxin Lei, In-Cheol Yeo, Yukihiro Nagashima, Vijay Joshi, Keyan Zhu-Salzman, Michael Kolomiets, Hisashi Koiwa
Summary: Overexpression of ZmLOX6 in Arabidopsis reveals its role in producing pentyl leaf volatiles (PLVs) and their effects on hormone content, plant growth, and interaction with aphids. ZmLOX6 is an unusual plant 13-lipoxygenase that functions as a hydroperoxide lyase and is involved in the synthesis of PLVs. Overexpression of ZmLOX6 leads to a chlorotic phenotype and induces similar phenotypes in nearby unaffected plants, suggesting airborne PLVs as the responsible signals.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Charles Ampomah-Dwamena, Sumathi Tomes, Amali H. Thrimawithana, Caitlin Elborough, Nitisha Bhargava, Ria Rebstock, Paul Sutherland, Hilary Ireland, Andrew C. Allan, Richard V. Espley
Summary: This study investigates the transcriptional regulation of the carotenoid metabolic pathway in apple. The authors overexpressed a key biosynthetic gene and found that it increased carotenoid content in transgenic fruit. They also discovered that the expression of other carotenoid pathway genes was elevated, suggesting a feed-forward regulation of carotenogenesis. Transcriptome profiling identified several transcription factors that were co-expressed with carotenoid pathway genes. Overall, this study sheds new light on plant carotenogenesis and provides insights into the transcriptional regulation of apple carotenoid biosynthesis.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Tianfei Zheng, Qianying Zhang, Pinhe Li, Xinying Wu, Yi Liu, Zhen Yang, Dongliang Li, Juan Zhang, Guocheng Du
Summary: This study aimed to characterize the microbial community, volatile flavor compounds (VFCs), and flavor of cigar tobacco leaves (CTLs) from four famous cigar-producing areas. The results showed that there were variations in microbial community, VFCs, and flavor among CTLs from different regions. The bacterial community had a greater contribution to the flavor of CTLs than the fungal community.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jingjing Mao, Jiaping Yuan, Zhijie Mo, Lulu An, Sujuan Shi, Richard G. F. Visser, Yuling Bai, Yuhe Sun, Guanshan Liu, Haobao Liu, Qian Wang, C. Gerard van der Linden
Summary: Overexpression of NtCBL5A in tobacco plants results in salt supersensitivity, necrotic lesions on leaves, and increased sensitivity to Na+ accumulation, leading to the production of high levels of reactive oxygen species under salt stress. Additionally, transcriptome profiling shows that immune response-related genes are upregulated while photosynthetic machinery-related genes are downregulated in salt-stressed NtCBL5A-overexpressing leaves.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xing Zhao, Zhidong Zeng, Wenjia Cao, Dawood Khan, Muhammad Ikram, Kangbing Yang, Limei Chen, Kunzhi Li
Summary: The co-overexpression of AtSHMT1 and AtFDH was more effective in enhancing HCHO metabolism in tobacco leaves than overexpression of AtSHMT1 alone, leading to increased production of metabolites and resistance.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jing Xu, Jiahong Zhu, Yanhui Lin, Honglin Zhu, Liqiong Tang, Xinhua Wang, Xiaoning Wang
Summary: This study identified genes involved in the biosynthesis and regulation of chlorogenic acids (CGAs) in sweet potato. The accumulation of CGA components varied among different tissues and developmental stages. Transcriptome analysis identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to secondary metabolite pathways. Co-expression network analysis revealed genes highly associated with CGA accumulation. These findings provide insights into the biosynthesis and regulation of the CGA pathway.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Bin Wang, Bin Yu, Chao Yuan, Li Guo, Pengfei Liu, Wei Gao, Dapeng Li, Bo Cui, A. M. Abd El-Aty
Summary: With increasing awareness of environmental protection, the development of eco-friendly sustainable biomaterials as alternative strategy to reduce petroleum-based raw materials is necessary. Starch, especially corn starch, has been used as a renewable material for developing biodegradable packaging due to its properties. The addition of plasticizers can improve the mechanical and barrier properties of starch-based films, but may reduce water resistance. This study focuses on changes in starch granules during gelatinization, types of biodegradable films, and the influence of plasticizers on corn starch-based films.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION
(2022)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Yang Jiang, Dongxiao Sun-Waterhouse, Yilun Chen, Feng Li, Dapeng Li
Summary: High dietary polyphenol intake, especially flavonoids, is strongly associated with a low incidence of cardiovascular diseases. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important regulatory roles in CVDs, while flavonoids may exert their therapeutic effects through modulation of cellular signaling pathways.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Feng Li, Syeda Qasim, Dapeng Li, Q. Ping Dou
Summary: In-depth insights on cancer biology have highlighted the important roles of epigenetic mechanisms in tumorigenesis. Targeting the cancer epigenome with epi-drugs, including phytochemicals like EGCG, offers promising strategies for cancer chemoprevention and therapy. However, there are limitations to using EGCG as an epigenetic modulator in cancer treatment.
SEMINARS IN CANCER BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rili Hao, Junlin Ge, Xinyu Song, Feng Li, Dongxiao Sun-Waterhouse, Dapeng Li
Summary: This study revealed that cadmium can induce cytotoxicity and neurotoxicity in PC12 cells through both apoptosis and ferroptosis, with involvement of the miR-34a-5p/Sirt1 axis. Knocking out miR-34a-5p alleviated cadmium-induced damage, highlighting the critical role of miRNAs as regulators in cadmium toxicity.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Junlin Ge, Rili Hao, Xue Rong, Q. Ping Dou, Xintong Tan, Guannan Li, Feng Li, Dapeng Li
Summary: The polyphenolic compound SDG found in flaxseed has been shown to protect mice from BaP-induced liver and kidney toxicity by regulating oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. SDG administration resulted in lower levels of liver and kidney damage markers and modulation of specific signaling pathways.
FOOD AND CHEMICAL TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Applied
Yuqian Liu, Zeinab Mohammadi Shad, Padraig Strappe, Longhua Xu, Fengjiao Zhang, Yilun Chen, Dapeng Li
Summary: This article focuses on the mechanism of rice yellowing, highlighting the importance of temperature and moisture as dominant factors that affect rice yellowing, which is mainly caused by heat stress. The direct cause of yellowing is the upregulation of flavonoids, while the Maillard reaction also contributes to yellowing.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Xue Rong, Yang Jiang, Feng Li, Dongxiao Sun-Waterhouse, Shancang Zhao, Xuedong Guan, Dapeng Li
Summary: This study reveals the synergistic toxicity of zearalenone and deoxynivalenol at low concentrations, leading to increased apoptosis and inflammatory response. Furthermore, miR-221 plays a critical role in counteracting the combined toxicity through regulating the PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yongfeng Ren, Dongxiao Sun-Waterhouse, Fangxin Ouyang, Xintong Tan, Dapeng Li, Longhua Xu, Bo Li, Yongli Wang, Feng Li
Summary: In this study, the protective effects and working mechanisms of apple phenolic extracts (APEs) against lead acetate (Pb(Ac)(2))-induced cognitive impairment and depression- and anxiety-like behavior were examined in vivo. The results showed that APE administration alleviated these Pb(Ac)(2)-induced changes through regulating oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and apoptosis via the miR-22-3p/Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) signaling pathway.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Dongjie Huang, Wenjing Li, Guannan Li, Wenyuan Zhang, Hongru Chen, Yang Jiang, Dapeng Li
Summary: This study systematically investigated the effect of high-intensity ultrasound on Tenebrio Molitor Protein and found that ultrasound treatment can optimize the physical characteristics of the protein and result in smaller particle size and denser structure in emulsions stabilized by the protein.
FOOD HYDROCOLLOIDS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hui Guan, Wenyuan Zhang, Hui Liu, Yang Jiang, Feng Li, Maoyu Wu, Geoffrey I. N. Waterhouse, Dongxiao Sun-Waterhouse, Dapeng Li
Summary: This study investigated the anticancer mechanism of quercetin in liver cancer cells by inducing apoptosis. Quercetin inhibited YY1 and promoted p53 expression, leading to increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and induction of cell proliferation and apoptosis. The study also revealed that quercetin directly interacted with YY1 and disrupted YY1-p53 interaction, thereby activating p53. These findings provide insights into the mechanism of quercetin's anticancer action and support its development as a therapeutic agent.
Review
Food Science & Technology
Hui Liu, Hui Guan, Fatao He, Ye Song, Feng Li, Dongxiao Sun-Waterhouse, Dapeng Li
Summary: Tea phenolic compounds, such as catechins and theaflavins, have abundant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Clinical studies have shown that drinking tea or taking catechin supplements on a daily basis can enhance the body's natural antioxidant defense system and inhibit the production of inflammatory factors. However, the epigenetic mechanisms involved in the regulation of chronic diseases by tea phenolic compounds have not been fully studied.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wenyuan Zhang, Songjuan Zhuang, Hui Guan, Feng Li, Hui Zou, Dapeng Li
Summary: Excessive apoptosis can cause damage to the liver, heart, and nerves. Polyphenols derived from plants can interact with proteins to inhibit apoptosis. In this study, multiple polyphenols were screened and two (SDG and EGCG) were identified to have the best affinity for Bax protein, reducing cell apoptosis through maintaining Bax in its inactive form and preventing mitochondrial membrane damage.
JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR STRUCTURE & DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Rili Hao, Xing Zhou, Xiaqing Lv, Xiangyang Zhu, Yang Jiang, Dapeng Li
Summary: In this study, it was found that caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) protected against lung damage caused by cadmium (Cd) through multiple pathways. These pathways include alleviating oxidative stress, suppressing inflammation, and modulating apoptosis. Furthermore, the miR-182-5p/TLR4 pathway was identified to be involved in the lung protection effect of CAPE.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Yuli Wang, Xue Rong, Hui Guan, Fangxin Ouyang, Xing Zhou, Feng Li, Xintong Tan, Dapeng Li
Summary: Restricting isoleucine intake can alleviate lipid metabolism disorders and cognitive impairment caused by high-fat diet by altering gut microbiota, reducing neuroinflammation, insulin resistance, and improving synaptic plasticity. This study is of great importance for investigating the effects of an isoleucine-restricted diet on cognitive dysfunction in a high-fat induced obesity model.
MOLECULAR NUTRITION & FOOD RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Xiangyang Zhu, Rili Hao, Xiaqing Lv, Xing Zhou, Dapeng Li, Chen Zhang
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effects of nuciferine on glucose and lipid metabolism disorders induced by high-fat diets in obese mice models and the underlying mechanisms. The results showed that nuciferine effectively improved HFD-induced insulin resistance through the IRS/PI3K/AKT pathway and alleviated lipid accumulation by regulating the expression of FAS and ATGL via AMPK. Nuciferine also protected against HFD-induced intestinal damage and altered the composition of gut microbiota. Overall, nuciferine ameliorated glucose and lipid metabolism disorders in obese mice by balancing the gut-liver axis.
