Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Malihe Gorgich, Antonio A. Martins, Teresa M. Mata, Nidia S. Caetano
Summary: Chlorella zofingiensis is a microalgae that has garnered attention for its viability in cultivation, ability to yield various products, and adaptability to different environmental and stress conditions, making it a promising source of valuable compounds for industrial applications.
ALGAL RESEARCH-BIOMASS BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS
(2021)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Vaibhav Sunil Tambat, Anil Kumar Patel, Reeta Rani Singhania, Akash Pralhad Vadrale, Archana Tiwari, Chiu-Wen Chen, Cheng-Di Dong
Summary: This study focused on designing and optimizing a two-stage mixotrophic bioprocess using Chlorella zofingiensis to produce astaxanthin. Gradual increase in light intensity and micronutrient concentration during the first stage and stress conditions during the second stage were found to enhance biomass and astaxanthin yield. The study also showed the potential of using Chlorella zofingiensis for commercial production of astaxanthin and lipid, with promising sustainability features.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Hang-Zhi Zhu, Shan Jiang, Jun-Jie Wu, Xue-Rong Zhou, Peng-Yang Liu, Feng-Hong Huang, Xia Wan
Summary: This study successfully engineered Yarrowia lipolytica to produce high levels of 3S,3'S-astaxanthin, providing potential for industrial production and laying the foundation for a sustainable biorefinery platform.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yuanhao Chen, Hong Du, Honghao Liang, Ting Hong, Tangcheng Li
Summary: Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was transformed with BKT genes from Phaffia rhodozyma (PrBKT) and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (CrBKT), resulting in the stable transformed algal strains C18 and P1. The total carotenoid content of C18 and P1 was 2.13-fold and 2.20-fold higher than that of the WT, respectively. Transcriptome and metabolome analysis revealed that overexpression of PrBKT in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii up-regulated more genes in the carotenoid pathway metabolism compared to CrBKT, indicating a structural difference between the two BKT genes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hanyu Liang, Hongjuan Chen, Xinya Liu, Zihan Wang, Pengfu Li, Shan Lu
Summary: This study aims to investigate the synthesis mechanism of astaxanthin and suggests that the hydroxylation step may be the bottleneck for heterologous production of astaxanthin in Synechocystis.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ying Ye, Wei Ding, Junchao Huang, Jin Liu
Summary: The green alga Chromochloris zofingiensis is a potential alternative producer of value-added ketocarotenoids. Mutants czchy1 and czchy2 showed significant changes in carotenoid profile, with czchy1 accumulating the highest level of canthaxanthin under high light and nitrogen deprivation conditions. The molecular characterization of czchy1 revealed mutations in the CHYb gene, leading to decreased enzyme activity and altered gene expression. czchy1 likely employs a combination of strategies to enhance canthaxanthin accumulation.
ALGAL RESEARCH-BIOMASS BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS
(2023)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Yu Zhang, Ying Ye, Fan Bai, Jin Liu
Summary: Chromochloris zofingiensis is considered a promising feedstock for biodiesel production due to its ability to accumulate high levels of triacylglycerol and synthesize high-value keto-carotenoids. With the development of genetic tools, C. zofingiensis has become an emerging model for studying lipid metabolism and carotenogenesis, and strategies for trait improvements in triacylglycerol and astaxanthin synthesis have been discussed.
BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xianglin Liu, Yanyao Li, Xiaowei Zheng, Liangliang Zhang, Haoxuan Lyu, Honghui Huang, Zhengqiu Fan
Summary: GenX, a substitute for perfluorooctanoic acid, has been widely detected in surface water and has potential ecological hazards. Research shows that acute exposure to GenX inhibits the growth of Chlorella pyrenoidosa and damages its photosynthetic system, but the up-regulation of related genes provides an antioxidant mechanism. This study provides new insights into the antioxidant capacity to cope with the oxidative stress caused by acute GenX exposure.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Deqian Kong, Yue Liu, Li Li, Huajun Wang, Ke Li, Guangying Zheng
Summary: This study confirmed that the targeting of GPX4 by astaxanthin (ATX) could inhibit ferroptosis, improve oxidative stress, and alleviate damage to human lens epithelial cells (LECs), suggesting a promising therapeutic approach for age-related cataract.
CHEMICO-BIOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Sofia Amendola, Jacob S. Kneip, Florian Meyer, Federico Perozeni, Stefano Cazzaniga, Kyle J. Lauersen, Matteo Ballottari, Thomas Baier
Summary: By systematically screening and overexpressing carotenoid pathway enzymes in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, researchers identified phytoene synthase (PSY/crtB) as a bottleneck for astaxanthin accumulation. Increased ss-carotene hydroxylase (CHYB) activity was found to be essential for engineered astaxanthin production. A combined expression strategy of BKT, crtB, and CHYB resulted in a 4-fold increase in astaxanthin production compared to previous reports in C. reinhardtii.
ACS SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Dongzhe Sun, Zhao Zhang
Summary: This study revealed that NADPH oxidase-derived ROS is the key regulator in astaxanthin and fatty acid accumulation in the green alga Zofingiensis under nitrogen starvation conditions.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYCOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Rachel Cray, Ira Levine
Summary: This study quantifies the relationship between astaxanthin and ROS in H. pluvialis, confirming the role of ROS as a modulator of carotenogenesis and astaxanthin as a protective mechanism against oxidative stress. The findings can be applied to optimize commercial astaxanthin production, reducing production time requirements by over 10%.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Wenshao Li, Carlos H. Luna-Flores, Raveendra Anangi, Renwu Zhou, Xinle Tan, Marius Jessen, Lian Liu, Rusen Zhou, Tianqi Zhang, Alexander Gissibl, Patrick J. Cullen, Kostya (Ken) Ostrikov, Robert E. Speight
Summary: In this study, a bubble discharge reactor was developed to generate plasma-activated water (PAW) to produce PAW-made yeast malt (YM) medium. Strains cultured in 15 and 30 min-treated PAW-made medium produced significantly higher amounts of carotenoids and astaxanthin due to oxidative stress induced by PAW. This study demonstrates the potential of PAW to increase astaxanthin yields for industrial-scale production.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Juanjuan Wei, Yurong Li, Zimao Ye, Yi Li, Zhiqin Zhou
Summary: Citrus carotenoids have antioxidant and anticancer properties, making them potentially effective in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer. Different citrus species contain abundant carotenoids, which exhibit good antioxidant and anticancer activities. Citrus carotenoids can induce cell oxidative stress and regulate cell apoptosis, showing potential for the development of anti-breast cancer products.
Article
Plant Sciences
Zeno Guardini, Luca Dall'Osto, Simone Barera, Mehrdad Jaberi, Stefano Cazzaniga, Nicola Vitulo, Roberto Bassi
Summary: By applying chemical mutagenesis and selecting for norflurazon-resistant strains, enhanced carotenoid pool size and growth tolerance under photooxidative stress were observed in Chlorella vulgaris. Optimizing carotenoid/chlorophyll ratio and resistance to photooxidative stress improved light-to-biomass conversion efficiency under high light conditions of photobioreactors. Enhanced tolerance to singlet oxygen in Chlorella is promoted by at least two independent mechanisms, only one of which is carotenoid-dependent.
Review
Chemistry, Applied
Hui Xu, Qian Zhou, Bin Liu, Feng Chen, Mingfu Wang
Summary: Fucosylated chondroitin sulfates (FCS) are a type of sulfated polysaccharide found exclusively in the body wall of sea cucumber, with potential benefits in preventing metabolic syndromes and other diseases. Studies suggest that the positive effects of FCS may be achieved by modulating gut microbiota composition.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2022)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Jie-Hua Chen, Louise Weiwei Lu, Qian Ge, Dana Feng, Jianfeng Yu, Bin Liu, Ruijie Zhang, Xinying Zhang, Caiqun Ouyang, Feng Chen
Summary: The use of time restricted eating (TRE) for weight management and metabolic health in overweight and obese individuals is still a topic of debate. This meta-analysis found that TRE can lead to significant weight loss, but mainly through the loss of lean mass rather than fat mass. TRE was also observed to have positive effects on blood pressure, insulin levels, and glucose metabolism. However, it did not have a significant impact on lipid profiles. Caution should be exercised when administering TRE to overweight and obese individuals with comorbidities.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION
(2023)
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Hanzhi Lin, Yantao Li, Russell T. Hill
Summary: This article reviews the recent advances in using phytohormones to promote microalgal growth and discusses the biosynthesis of phytohormones in microalgal-bacterial associations and their implications for algal physiology and metabolite production.
CURRENT OPINION IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Jia Wang, Yuxin Wang, Yijian Wu, Yuwei Fan, Changliang Zhu, Xiaodan Fu, Yawen Chu, Feng Chen, Han Sun, Haijin Mou
Summary: Adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) has been widely used to improve strains in microalgae production by enhancing cell growth rate, product yield, environmental tolerance, and wastewater treatment. Further development of ALE can provide theoretical support for producing high value-added products from microalgae production.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Jie-Hua Chen, Yiyuan Wang, Jialiang Pan, Louise Weiwei Lu, Jianfeng Yu, Bin Liu, Feng Chen, Hong Deng
Summary: This study investigates the mechanism of how GOS/FOS affect iron absorption in an iron-deficient rat model and determines the optimum dose of GOS.
MOLECULAR NUTRITION & FOOD RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Yuelian Li, Han Sun, Yinan Wang, Shufang Yang, Jia Wang, Tao Wu, Xue Lu, Yawen Chu, Feng Chen
Summary: This study investigated the effects of regulation of photosystem and central carbon metabolism on cell growth and fucoxanthin accumulation in Isochrysis zhangjiangensis. The results showed that high light conditions promoted biomass accumulation but decreased fucoxanthin productivity. High light suppressed active photosystem and reduced chlorophyll content, but improved metabolic flux for massive biomass accumulation. Furthermore, high light inhibited genes involved in fucoxanthin biosynthesis and induced a diadinoxanthin cycle. Constant light at 100 μmol m(-2) s(-1) provided the highest fucoxanthin productivity.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Nana Zhang, Qian Zhou, Yueliang Zhao, Daming Fan, Jianbo Xiao, Feng Chen, Ka-Wing Cheng, Mingfu Wang
Summary: The study found that chitosan oligomer had a good inhibitory effect on the formation of harmful substances in roast beef patties, and combining it with flavonoid glycosides could further enhance the inhibitory effect, with the combination of Chi and phloridzin showing the most significant improvement.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Qian Zhou, Hui Xu, Yueliang Zhao, Bin Liu, Ka-Wing Cheng, Feng Chen, Mingfu Wang
Summary: The study found that the styryl flavonoid 6-PN could inhibit the generation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species (ROS) by downregulating the protein levels of AGE receptor (RAGE) and NADPH oxidase, improving the damage caused by AGE to cells. Compared to its parental compound, 6-PN showed higher bioavailability. Additionally, 6-PN inhibited AGE-induced inflammation through the activation of the Nrf2 signaling pathway, and this anti-inflammatory effect was blocked by the Nrf2 inhibitor.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Yuanyuan Ren, Jinquan Deng, Yan Lin, Junchao Huang, Feng Chen
Summary: In this study, a Chromochloris zofingiensis mutant (Cz-pkg) that stays green upon glucose treatment was generated and characterized. The mutant accumulated lutein up to 31.93 +/- 1.91 mg L-1, which is much higher than the common commercial source. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the dysfunctional cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) in Cz-pkg may regulate the metabolisms of photosynthetic pigments.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lu Liu, Shufang Yang, Feng Chen, Ka-Wing Cheng
Summary: The potential of CUR-encapsulated hyaluronic acid-zein composite nanoparticles as an oral adjuvant for OXA-based chemotherapy in colorectal cancer has been assessed and shown to have a stronger anticancer effect and reduced side effects.
Editorial Material
Plant Sciences
Yantao Li
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Han Sun, Yuxin Wang, Yongjin He, Bin Liu, Haijin Mou, Feng Chen, Shufang Yang
Summary: In the food industry, there is a growing focus on natural pigments instead of synthetic ones due to their excellent coloring ability and health properties. Microalgae are recognized as major sources of naturally derived commercial pigments and have gained significant value in the global food pigment market. This review provides updated information on the characteristics, application fields, production stability, and extraction processes of microalgae-derived pigments, particularly chlorophylls, carotenoids, and phycobiliproteins. The potential uses of these pigments as eco-friendly colorants, nutraceuticals, and antioxidants in food products are discussed, along with cultivation strategies and technical challenges in downstream processing.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Lexin Long, Yao Xiao, Jordy Evan Sulaiman, Fuqing Luo, Jian-Wei Tang, Yuqing Huang, Chuanhai Wu, Long Wu, Waichuen Wong, Feng Chen, Henry Lam, Pei-Yuan Qian
Summary: This study demonstrates that Elasnin could be effective in preventing marine biofilms and biofouling as a signaling molecule. It highlights the importance of finding environmentally friendly antibiofilm compounds to control marine biofilms, which pose significant threats to public health and the maritime industry. Elasnin acts by promoting the growth of dominant species while disrupting their regulation of the ATP-binding cassette transport system and the bacterial secretion system, ultimately inhibiting biofilm maturation and biofouler settlement. This study provides valuable insights into the mode of action of Elasnin and its application potential in eco-friendly technologies.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Hao Suo, Mohammad Rezaul Islam Shishir, Qi Wang, Mingfu Wang, Feng Chen, Ka Wing Cheng
Summary: This study found that red wine high-molecular-weight polyphenolic complexes (HPPCs) can inhibit key metabolic syndrome-associated enzymes and modulate human gut microbiota (GM) in vitro. Supplementation of HPPCs effectively attenuated high-fat diet-induced metabolic disturbance in mice, including obesity, insulin resistance, and dysregulation of lipid and glucose metabolism. It also improved the abundance of certain bacteria and the production of short-chain fatty acids, while modulating vitamin B metabolism-associated pathways. The findings suggest that dietary supplementation with red wine HPPCs may be a promising strategy for managing weight gain and metabolic dysregulation associated with high-fat diet.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Review
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Zahra Batool, Jie-Hua Chen, Bin Liu, Feng Chen, Mingfu Wang
Summary: A wide range of food processing contaminants (FPCs) are formed during the thermal processing of food products, with furan being highly volatile and present in various thermally processed foods. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the reasons for furan occurrence in different foods, determine the main sources of furan exposure, investigate factors affecting its formation, and develop specific analytical methods for its detection to guide future research. Controlling furan formation in processed foods at a large scale is challenging, and ongoing research is focused on this issue. Furthermore, understanding the molecular-level adverse effects of furan on human health is crucial for accurate risk assessment.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
