Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Qingzhou Zhang, Marjorie Brand
Summary: Enhancers play a role in transcriptional activation. The study by Vermunt et al.1 reveals that genes can undergo sequential transitions between enhancers, leading to progressive downregulation of expression.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Haiqing Zhang, Zhuqing Zhao, Bihua Nie, Chenhao Lyu, Xinwei Liu
Summary: Selenium biofortification is increasingly used to improve selenium content in crops. This study found that steaming is the best processing method to minimize selenium loss in selenium-enriched potatoes, compared to boiling and frying. The research highlights the importance of processing methods in preserving the selenium content in food products.
JOURNAL OF FOOD COMPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Sisheng Li, Minna Luo, Donpon Wannasin, Xiaoyan Hu, Jaekun Ryu, Qian Ju, David Julian McClements
Summary: This study investigated the properties and digestibility of plant-based egg yolk as a replacement for real egg yolk. The addition of beta-glucan affected the viscosity, gelation properties, and digestibility of the plant-based egg yolk.
FOOD HYDROCOLLOIDS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Renjie Fu, Deyao Meng, Baocai Song, Hongyang Wang, Jianfa Zhang, Jing Li
Summary: The study found that Riclinoctaose (RiOc) can promote root growth and defense response in potatoes. RiOc triggered the salicylic acid (SA)-mediated defense response and stimulated the growth of adventitious and lateral roots. In addition, RiOc altered the transcription and metabolism of potato roots, improving the production and allocation efficiency of defense and growth-related metabolites.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Yu Jin Chung, Pawel Swietach, M. Kate Curtis, Vicky Ball, Peter A. Robbins, Samira Lakhal-Littleton
Summary: Iron-deficiency anemia leads to metabolic remodeling in the heart towards a glycolytic, lactic acid-producing phenotype, characteristic of hypoxia. This results in negative impacts on biological pathways such as oxidative phosphorylation and cardiac contraction.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kexuan Deng, Huan Yin, Fangjie Xiong, Li Feng, Pan Dong, Maozhi Ren
Summary: The study identified potential TOR-miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks in TOR signaling in potato. TOR inhibition led to significant differential expression of 2,899 genes in potato, mainly enriched in multiple metabolic processes. In addition, TOR suppression resulted in up-regulation of 41 miRNAs and down-regulation of 45 miRNAs, suggesting a crucial role of TOR in miRNA regulatory network. Integrated mRNA and miRNA expression profiling revealed involvement of these miRNAs in large-scale metabolic processes in the TOR signal pathway in potato.
Article
Oncology
Philipp Rabe, Mareike Gehmlich, Anna Peters, Petra Krumbholz, Anders Nordstrom, Claudia Staeubert
Summary: In this study, we investigated the relationship between cellular metabolism and HCA(2) in BT-474 cells and found that HCA(2) regulates glycolytic flux and fatty acid metabolism. This suggests that HCA(2) could be a potential target in combination cancer therapy.
Review
Plant Sciences
Gaurav Moghe, Lars H. Kruse, Maike Petersen, Federico Scossa, Alisdair R. Fernie, Emmanuel Gaquerel, John C. D'Auria
Summary: The ability of plants to chemically modify specialized metabolites is why the plant kingdom has diverse compounds. The addition of an acyl moiety to produce esters and amides is an important chemical modification. Phylogenomics analyses have shown that acyl transfer reactions on small molecules synthesized by plants are performed by enzymes from a few gene families. This review focuses on one of these families, the BAHD acyltransferases, describing their biochemistry, evolutionary origins, and implications in chemical ecology. The BAHD family has critical roles in modifying various specialized metabolites, as confirmed by metabolomic studies and sequencing of plant species. Future research on BAHDs includes their application in synthetic biology and metabolic engineering.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF PLANT BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Lucia Morote, Maria Lobato-Gomez, Oussama Ahrazem, Javier Argandona, Begona Olmedilla-Alonso, Alberto Jose Lopez-Jimenez, Gianfranco Diretto, Rossana Cuciniello, Paolo Bergamo, Sarah Frusciante, Enrique Niza, Angela Rubio-Moraga, Stefania Crispi, Antonio Granell, Lourdes Gomez-Gomez
Summary: Transgenic tomato fruits and hp3/Bsh tomato mutants were combined to increase the levels of crocins in tomato fruits. The crocin-rich juice from these fruits showed high antioxidant capacity and protected neuroblastoma cells against oxidative insult. The bio-accessibility of crocins in the juice was similar to that observed with saffron. Overall, crocin-fortified tomatoes could provide better protection against oxidative stress-related chronic diseases in humans.
JOURNAL OF FUNCTIONAL FOODS
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Rossana Cuciniello, Francesco Di Meo, Maria Sulli, Olivia Costantina Demurtas, Mirella Tanori, Mariateresa Mancuso, Clizia Villano, Riccardo Aversano, Domenico Carputo, Alfonso Baldi, Gianfranco Diretto, Stefania Filosa, Stefania Crispi
Summary: Grapevine seeds contain polyphenols that can induce apoptosis and inhibit cancer properties in mesothelioma cells, possibly due to the presence of oligomeric proanthocyanidins. MDM2 was identified as a potential molecular target of AGS, and it was found to act in both a p53-dependent and independent manner. AGS significantly inhibited tumor progression in a mouse model of mesothelioma.
Review
Plant Sciences
Olivia Costantina Demurtas, Alessandro Nicolia, Gianfranco Diretto
Summary: Contrary to well-characterized biosynthetic pathways, the transport and secretion of terpenoids at different cellular and tissue levels are still poorly understood. This review aims to describe the current understanding of terpene transport and localization with a focus on physiologically and ecologically important terpenes. While only a small fraction of the thousands of identified terpenoids have been characterized for their transport, it is known that most are secreted in the apoplast or stored in vacuoles by ABC transporters. However, little is known about the movement of biosynthetic intermediates within the cell.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xiongjie Zheng, Yasha Zhang, Aparna Balakrishna, Kit Xi Liew, Hendrik N. J. Kuijer, Ting Ting Xiao, Ikram Blilou, Salim Al-Babili
Summary: Vitamin A deficiency is a global health issue that can be addressed by biofortifying crops with pro-vitamin A carotenoids. This study explores the engineering of carotenoid formation and storage in the cytosol of plant cells using a fungal carotenoid pathway. The engineered carotenoids accumulate in cytosolic lipid droplets and exhibit higher light stability compared to plastidial carotenoids. This research opens up opportunities for enhancing carotenoid biofortification in crops.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Antonio Teixeira, Henrique Noronha, Sarah Frusciante, Gianfranco Diretto, Hernani Geros
Summary: Flavescence doree, a disease caused by the phytoplasma 'Candidatus Phytoplasma vitis', has become a major threat to vineyards in Europe. This study investigated the changes in the metabolomic fingerprint of the phloem sap in response to FD infection in grapevines. The analysis revealed significant differences in sugar, organic acid, amino acid, and defense compound content in the phloem sap of infected vines compared to healthy vines, depending on the developmental stage of the vine.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Olivia Costantina Demurtas, Maria Sulli, Paola Ferrante, Paola Mini, Maricarmen Marti, Veronica Aragones, Jose-Antonio Daros, Giovanni Giuliano
Summary: Crocins, a type of glycosylated apocarotenoids found in saffron, have strong coloring power and various health benefits. The CsCCD2 enzyme, which catalyzes carotenoid cleavage, shows a preference for zeaxanthin and can be used in planta to produce saffron crocins.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Laura Lorenzo-Rebenaque, Cristina Casto-Rebollo, Gianfranco Diretto, Sarah Frusciante, Juan Carlos Rodriguez, Maria-Paz Ventero, Carmen Molina-Pardines, Santiago Vega, Clara Marin, Francisco Marco-Jimenez
Summary: This study investigated the influence of Salmonella phage on host physiology through caecal microbiota and metabolome modulation. It was found that phage therapy did not affect the diversity of the microbiota, but did cause changes in caecal metabolites. However, these changes had minimal impact on the blood serum and did not result in significant physiological response.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Plant Sciences
Gwendolyn K. Kirschner, Ting Ting Xiao, Muhammad Jamil, Salim Al-Babili, Vinicius Lube, Ikram Blilou
Summary: Parasitic plants invade their host through the formation of haustoria, which is facilitated by the plant hormones auxin and cytokinin.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Angelica Silva, Henrique Noronha, Dorotea Ricci, Sarah Frusciante, Gianfranco Diretto, Carlos Conde, Antonio Granell, Hernani Geros
Summary: This study investigated the role of plastidal VviPPT1 in grapevine secondary metabolism using pigmented cultured cells from cv Gamay freaux grapes. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of VviPPT1 resulted in a cell line with low anthocyanin content and significant changes in the metabolome. Key enzymes of the shikimate and phenylpropanoid pathways were inhibited at the protein activity and/or gene expression level.
JOURNAL OF PLANT GROWTH REGULATION
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jian You Wang, Guan-Ting Erica Chen, Justine Braguy, Muhammad Jamil, Lamis Berqdar, Salim Al-Babili
Summary: Strigolactones (SLs) are secreted by plant roots to inhibit shoot branching/tillering and attract symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi, but can also be used by parasitic weeds to induce seed germination. The OsMAX1-1900 gene in rice does not affect SL metabolism or rice architecture, indicating functional redundancy among rice MAX1 homologs.
JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Thomas Naake, Feng Zhu, Saleh Alseekh, Federico Scossa, Leonardo Perez de Souza, Monica Borghi, Yariv Brotman, Tetsuya Mori, Ryo Nakabayashi, Takayuki Tohge, Alisdair R. Fernie
Summary: Plants synthesize specialized metabolites to interact with the environment. This study used genome-wide association studies and quantitative trait locus mapping to identify genetic loci controlling specialized metabolites in Arabidopsis seeds, including glucosinolates, flavonoids, and unknown sulfur-containing compounds.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Sylvia Mutinda, Muhammad Jamil, Jian You Wang, Lamis Berqdar, Elijah Ateka, Emily S. Bellis, Salim Al-Babili, Steven Runo
Summary: Striga, a parasitic plant, greatly limits the production of staple cereals in Africa. This article discusses the importance of resistance to Striga in sorghum genotypes and their potential role in alleviating food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa. By leveraging genomics, researchers have identified new Striga-resistant sorghum genotypes, which could significantly reduce crop losses caused by Striga infestation.
PLANTS PEOPLE PLANET
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Kaijie Zhu, Yimei Feng, Yufeng Huang, Dongmei Zhang, Muhammad Ateeq, Xiongjie Zheng, Salim Al-Babili, Guohuai Li, Junwei Liu
Summary: β-CCA enhances drought tolerance in peach seedlings by improving photosynthesis and reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, indicating its potential for drought control in peach and other fruit crops.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jian You Wang, Justine Braguy, Salim Al-Babili
Summary: The cleavage of plant carotenoids produces apocarotenoids, a group of metabolites including precursors of strigolactones (SLs) and abscisic acid, which are regulatory and signaling molecules. Zaxinone, a recently discovered apocarotenoid, acts as a growth regulator and suppresses SL biosynthesis in rice. Co-supplying zaxinone and synthetic SL analog rac-GR24 to the SL-deficient rice mutant revealed that zaxinone and GR24 act independently to regulate root and shoot growth and development in rice.
PLANT SIGNALING & BEHAVIOR
(2023)