Article
Biology
Fedor D. Kornilov, Yury B. Slonimskiy, Daria A. Lunegova, Nikita A. Egorkin, Anna G. Savitskaya, Sergey Yu. Kleymenov, Eugene G. Maksimov, Sergey A. Goncharuk, Konstantin S. Mineev, Nikolai N. Sluchanko
Summary: This study explains the ligand promiscuity of AstaPo1 by determining its NMR structure and validating it through various experiments. The FAS1 domain of AstaPo1 binds carotenoids by embracing their polyene structure, but cannot cap the beta-ionone rings to dictate specificity. This research also suggests the neofunctionalization of FAS1 in a subset of AstaP-like proteins in green algae.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Zijian Liang, Pangzhen Zhang, Yun Xiong, Stuart K. Johnson, Zhongxiang Fang
Summary: This study characterized the phenolic and carotenoid profiles of the Australian native bulb plant, Haemodorum spicatum, using HPLC-DAD-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS and HPLC-DAD. The results identified 40 phenolic compounds and 2 carotenoids, with 35 compounds being reported for the first time in H. spicatum.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jiyu Lee, Byeong Ill Lee, Jangmi Choi, Yuri Park, Seo-Jin Park, Minjae Park, Jeong-Hyeon Lim, Sangsoo Hwang, Jeong-Min Lee, Young G. Shin
Summary: The aim of this study was to investigate the difference in in vitro-in vivo correlation and explore the possibility of extra-hepatic metabolism of alpha-amanitin. A LC-qTOF-MS method was developed to evaluate the in vitro liver microsomal metabolic stability and the pharmacokinetics of alpha-amanitin in rat. The results showed a difference between in vitro and in vivo metabolism. A glucuronide metabolite was identified in in vitro liver microsomes samples, while no significant metabolites were detected in in vivo rat plasma. A semi-mass balance study suggested that alpha-amanitin was mainly eliminated in urine intact, indicating the involvement of unknown transporters in kidney. Further investigation of kidney transporters is warranted to understand the in vivo clearance mechanism of alpha-amanitin.
Article
Plant Sciences
Jinli Gong, Yunliu Zeng, Qiunan Meng, Yajie Guan, Chengyang Li, Hongbin Yang, Yingzi Zhang, Charles Ampomah-Dwamena, Ping Liu, Chuanwu Chen, Xiuxin Deng, Yunjiang Cheng, Pengwei Wang
Summary: Carotenoids play vital roles in fruit coloration, with red light inducing accelerated degreening and carotenoid accumulation in kumquat fruits through the specific induction of a NAC transcription factor, FcrNAC22. FcrNAC22 activates key carotenoid metabolic genes and enhances color change in citrus and tomato fruits, mediating red light-induced fruit coloration.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Jinxing Du, Honglin Chen, Biplab K. Mandal, Jun Wang, Zhiyi Shi, Guoqing Lu, Chenghui Wang
Summary: The study revealed that the red color in common carp varieties is carotenoid-based and regulated by the Scarb1 and Scarb1-like genes.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Willow R. Lindsay, Rute Mendonca, Mathilda Waleij Slight, Maria Prager, Mats X. Andersson, Nicholas I. Mundy, Staffan Andersson
Summary: Intense red colours in birds are often caused by ketocarotenoids. The expression of CYP2J19 gene in southern red bishop birds is related to season, sex, moult, body condition and sex steroids, but not plumage redness or male body condition.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Luca Piccinini, Sergio Iacopino, Stefano Cazzaniga, Matteo Ballottari, Beatrice Giuntoli, Francesco Licausi
Summary: Inspired by the light-driven conformational transitions of orange carotenoid proteins, researchers developed a molecular device that can switch its state in response to blue-green light. This study provides a new approach for applying light-responsive systems in plants and successfully controlled transcriptional responses in chloroplasts using a photoswitch.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Junpeng Zhang, Changxu Tian, Kecheng Zhu, Yong Liu, Can Zhao, Mouyan Jiang, Chunhua Zhu, Guangli Li
Summary: This study evaluated the effects of dietary astaxanthin on growth and pigmentation in leopard coralgrouper. The results showed that natural astaxanthin has a better coloration effect on P. leopardus, which is more suitable as a red colorant in aquaculture.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Yunlong Bai, Yuxi Song, Jiang Zhang, Shixin Fu, Ling Wu, Cheng Xia, Chuang Xu
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the metabolic differences in dairy cows with inactive ovaries and estrus, with 30 differentially abundant metabolites identified between the two groups. Serum metabolites were significantly higher in cows with inactive ovaries compared to those in estrus, suggesting abnormalities in glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and glutathione metabolism obstructing follicular development in postpartum dairy cows.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Bo-Tian Yang, Bin Wen, Yu Ji, Qin Wang, Hao-Ran Zhang, Yuan Zhang, Jian-Zhong Gao, Zai-Zhong Chen
Summary: Discus fish with different body colors have distinct metabolite profiles and metabolic pathways, resulting in different pigmentary and structural colors. Yellow discus have higher levels of astaxanthin, while blue discus have more adenine, xanthine and hypoxanthine.
JOURNAL OF PROTEOMICS
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Adekunle David Micah, Bin Wen, Qin Wang, Yuan Zhang, Abdullateef Yusuf, Olivier Sonagnon Tokpanou, Meriyamoh Mero Onimisi, Samuel Olusegun Adeyemi, Jian-Zhong Gao, Zai-Zhong Chen
Summary: This study investigated the effects of dietary astaxanthin on fish growth and body coloration. The results showed that the group supplemented with astaxanthin had higher skin redness and yellowness, as well as higher concentrations of astaxanthin and lipoproteins. Differentially expressed genes involved in carotenoid deposition were identified, suggesting their association with skin coloration.
AQUACULTURE REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Ruixue Jia, Rong Zhang, Sunil S. Gangurde, Chaochen Tang, Bingzhi Jiang, Guilan Li, Zhangying Wang
Summary: In this study, an integrated analysis of metabolomic and transcriptomic was performed to investigate carotenoid metabolism and regulatory mechanisms in sweetpotato tuberous roots of different colors. The results showed that different colored sweetpotatoes contain different compositions of carotenoids, and key genes and transcription factors highly associated with carotenoid content were identified.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lucia Pappalardo
Summary: Pomegranate is a valuable source of nutrition with medicinal benefits. As the demand for pomegranate fresh fruit juices increases, the issue of adulteration becomes a concern. This study utilized UV-visible spectroscopy and multivariate statistical analysis to detect adulteration of pomegranate juice with apple juice concentrate.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Ursula Hofle, Teresa Cardona Cabrera, Alberto Sanchez-Cano, Isabel G. de Fernandez de Mera, Maria A. Risalde, Alberto Moraga-Fernandez, Jose Antonio Ortiz
Summary: This study reports the mortality of red-legged partridges coinfected with BAGV and Plasmodium spp. in a hunting estate in Southern Spain. Such outbreaks may be related to shifts in host, vector, and pathogen ecology and interactions associated with climate change.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Balaji Chattopadhyay, Giovanni Forcina, Kritika M. Garg, Martin Irestedt, Monica Guerrini, Filippo Barbanera, Frank E. Rheindt
Summary: A high-quality de novo genome assembly of the red-legged partridge A. rufa was produced using novel 10x Chromium technology, revealing unique genes and inferring a major demographic decline in historical populations, providing key insights into avian physiology research and poultry husbandry practices.
Article
Zoology
Blanca Fernandez-Eslava, David Galicia, Daniel Alonso, Juan Arizaga, Carlos Alonso-Alvarez
Summary: Carotenoid-based ornaments are considered reliable signals of individual condition, and the production of red ketocarotenoids is suggested to require efficient cell respiration. This study investigated the correlation between male plumage redness and body morphology in crossbills and found that larger body size and longer flight feathers were positively associated with plumage redness. These results suggest that body size and flight feather length may play a role in acquiring carotenoids and are related to the physiological processes involved in ketocarotenoid synthesis.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Carlos Alonso-Alvarez, Pedro Andrade, Alejandro Cantarero, Judith Morales, Miguel Carneiro
Summary: This study investigates the evolutionary mechanism of red ornaments and suggests that the ornament type and production costs may lead to tissue-specific gene relocation. The research data on birds show that species with red bare parts are less likely to have strong hepatic CYP2J19 expression compared to species with only red plumages.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Kailen Padayachee, Chevonne Reynolds, Rafael Mateo, Arjun Amar
Summary: This study reviews the monitoring of two organochlorine pesticides (DDT and dieldrin) in raptors on a global scale. Monitoring efforts have been biased towards the global north, with most studies conducted in Europe and North America. The limited geographical coverage and narrow species focus may not fully represent the global environments where raptors are found.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Maria Dulsat-Masvidal, Albert Bertolero, Rafael Mateo, Silvia Lacorte
Summary: The aim of this study is to evaluate the exposure of 91 emerging and legacy micropollutants in flamingo chicks, an emblematic species of the area. The results indicate a multi-exposure of flamingo's chicks from a very young age. This is the first study to describe flamingos chicks' exposure to multiple contaminants, highlighting the importance of biomonitoring for wildlife conservation and biodiversity preservation.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Thomas G. G. Bean, Elizabeth A. A. Chadwick, Marta Herrero-Villar, Rafael Mateo, Vinny Naidoo, Barnett A. A. Ratter
Summary: The majority of knowledge on the risk of pharmaceuticals to wildlife comes from the Asian vulture crisis, where the use of diclofenac led to a severe decline in vulture populations. NSAIDs like diclofenac have been found to be hazardous to vultures and other avian species. While research on pharmaceutical exposure in birds is extensive, there are still knowledge gaps for amphibians, reptiles, and mammals.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Maria Dulsat-Masvidal, Carlos Ciudad, Octavio Infante, Rafael Mateo, Silvia Lacorte
Summary: This study analyzed the presence and distribution of 59 organic micropollutants (OMPs) in water samples from Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) in Spain. The results showed that lifestyle compounds, pharmaceuticals, and organophosphate esters (OPEs) were the most common pollutants, while pesticides and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) were found in less than 25% of the samples. The study also identified agriculture as the main source of OMPs in natural areas.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Elena Fernandez-Vizcaino, Francois Mougeot, Rafael Mateo, Pablo R. Camarero, Vicente Alcaide, Manuel E. Ortiz-Santaliestra
Summary: Through ecological experiments, we found that measuring triazole fungicide residues in farmland bird feces can effectively assess their exposure levels.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kim H. Parker, Jacqueline M. Bishop, Laurel E. K. Serieys, Rafael Mateo, Pablo R. Camarero, Gabriella R. M. Leighton
Summary: Urbanisation and associated anthropogenic activities release toxic metals and metalloids into the environment, threatening wildlife and human health. Caracals in Cape Town showed metal and metalloid exposure, with increased risk in urban areas and close to the coast. Metal exposure was linked to health effects such as lower haemoglobin levels and elevated infection-fighting cells. This study highlights the importance of anthropogenic activities as major sources of metal contamination in wildlife, and emphasizes the need for pollution monitoring and biodiversity conservation measures in urban landscapes.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Biyao Han, Hans van den Berg, Maarten J. J. E. Loonen, Rafael Mateo, Nico W. van den Brink
Summary: Historical mining activities in Svalbard have led to mercury contamination, which can affect the immune responses of Arctic organisms. In this study, newborn barnacle goslings were raised in control or mining sites with different levels of mercury. Results showed that exposure to mercury modulated the immune responses in barnacle goslings. Increased exposure to both environmental and supplemental mercury reduced natural antibodies and upregulated the expression of proinflammatory genes. These adverse effects on immune responses suggest that even low, environmentally relevant levels of mercury can impact immune competence and increase susceptibility to infections at the individual and population levels.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Laura Addy-Orduna, Rafael Mateo
Summary: Treated seeds and their cotyledons pose toxicological risks to seed-eating birds. The study found that the density of untreated seeds and the damage to seedlings were higher than those treated with imidacloprid. Additionally, the abundance and richness of birds decreased after sowing, suggesting a deterrent effect of imidacloprid-treated seeds on birds.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Ornithology
Ma Luisa Marcos Pacheco, Giacomo Tavecchia, Jose Manuel Igual, Carlos Alonso-Alvarez, Juan Arizaga, Aitor Galarza, Daniel Oro, Alejandro Martinez-Abrain
Summary: Variability in morphology and body size between populations of the same species is common and can be influenced by environmental conditions or differential migratory strategies. In this study, we found that Yellow-legged gulls from the Mediterranean region are larger in size compared to those from the Cantabrian-Atlantic region. Additionally, Mediterranean gulls have longer legs, bigger heads, thicker bills, and higher body mass than Cantabrian-Atlantic gulls.
ARDEOLA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Elena Fernandez-Vizcaino, Francois Mougeot, Xabier Cabodevilla, Mario Fernandez-Tizon, Rafael Mateo, Maria J. Madeira, Manuel E. Ortiz-Santaliestra
Summary: This study reveals the high risk of seed treatment with pesticides for granivorous birds, particularly red-legged partridges. The uptake of pesticides by red-legged partridges is related to their ingestion of cultivated plants and the use of recently sown fields.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Marta Herrero-Villar, Mark A. Taggart, Rafael Mateo
Summary: Veterinary drugs pose a potential threat to environmental pollution and avian scavengers due to their consumption of treated livestock carcasses. A study conducted in Aragon (NE Spain) and nearby regions analyzed samples from livestock carcasses, avian scavenger tissues, and plasma for commonly used veterinary pharmaceutical compounds. The study detected pharmaceuticals in livestock carcasses (54.1%), avian scavenger tissues (51.7%), and plasma (28.5%), with antibiotics being the most commonly detected. Caffeine was identified as a potential biomarker for urban garbage ingestion by vultures.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Irene Torres-Blas, Lourdes Migura-Garcia, Marta Cerda-Cuellar, Anais Carbajal, Manuel Lopez-Bejar, Rafael Mateo, Marta Herrero-Villar, Alex Llopis, Ignasi Marco
Summary: This study assessed the health status of captive bearded vultures in Catalonia, Spain. The research found that most hematologic and biochemical parameters of the birds were within normal range, but there were antibiotic-resistant bacteria present.
JOURNAL OF ZOO AND WILDLIFE MEDICINE
(2023)
Correction
Zoology
Blanca Fernandez-Eslava, Daniel Alonso, David Galicia, Juan Arizaga, Carlos Alonso-Alvarez