Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Willian Capa-Robles, Ernesto Garcia-Mendoza, Jose de Jesus Paniagua-Michel
Summary: Optimizing the mixotrophic conditions with glycerol, salinity, and light intensity can significantly enhance the growth and beta-carotene yields of Dunaliella salina. Increasing light intensity and non-isosmotic salinity can further improve beta-carotene productivity in the microalga.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Chi-Hua Yen, Po-Sheng Chang, Ching-Ju Chiu, Yu-Yun Huang, Ping-Ting Lin
Summary: In this study, obese osteoarthritis patients showed higher rates of metabolic syndrome, abdominal obesity, and lower beta-carotene status compared to non-obese patients and controls. A higher beta-carotene status was found to be inversely associated with the risk of metabolic syndrome and inflammation, particularly in cases with low-grade inflammation. This suggests that beta-carotene status could potentially predict the risk of metabolic syndrome and inflammation in patients with or without osteoarthritis.
Article
Plant Sciences
Stella Koessler, Tegan Armarego-Marriott, Danuse Tarkowska, Veronika Tureckova, Shreya Agrawal, Jianing Mi, Leonardo Perez de Souza, Mark Aurel Schoettler, Anne Schadach, Anja Froehlich, Ralph Bock, Salim Al-Babili, Stephanie Ruf, Arun Sampathkumar, Juan C. Moreno
Summary: The expression levels of LCYB have significant impacts on plant growth and phytohormone content, suggesting the importance of setting thresholds for LCYB expression levels for plant growth.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Wenyang Tao, Xingqian Ye, Yanping Cao
Summary: The study found that all-trans-beta-carotene undergoes degradation during oral, gastro, and intestinal digestion, with the most significant degradation occurring during intestinal digestion. Isomerization was observed during oral digestion, and different degradation products with various functional groups were identified.
FOOD SCIENCE AND HUMAN WELLNESS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Antanas Straksys, Tatjana Kavleiskaja, Ruta Gruskiene, Kazimieras Badokas, Jolanta Sereikaite
Summary: The study proposes a new system for delivering beta-carotene into aqueous environments using xylan as a base. The beta-carotene-xylan complexes were prepared using the mechanochemical method and showed good loading capacity and antioxidant activity.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xu Ding, Jie-Xia Liu, Tong Li, Ao-Qi Duan, Lian Yin, Hao Wang, Li-Li Jia, Yan-Hua Liu, Hui Liu, Jian-Ping Tao, Ai-Sheng Xiong
Summary: The overexpression of AgZDS gene in Arabidopsis thaliana and celery resulted in increased accumulation of lutein and beta-carotene and up-regulated expression levels of genes involved in carotenoid biosynthesis. Additionally, the antioxidant capacity of A. thaliana and photosynthetic capacity of celery were enhanced in transgenic plants.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Enrika Celitan, Ruta Gruskiene, Tatjana Kavleiskaja, Jolanta Sereikaite
Summary: This study aimed to improve the water solubility and stability of β-carotene by coating it with pectin. By coating β-carotene - 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin complexes with pectin of different degrees of esterification, stable particles with a high thermal stability and specific sizes were obtained. The additional coating approach could be used for the development of a β-carotene delivery system.
FOOD HYDROCOLLOIDS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Farah Azhar, Humaira Naureen, Gul Shahnaz, Syed Damin Abbas Hamdani, Maria Hassan Kiani, Shahana Khattak, Manoj Kumar Manna, Mustafeez Mujtaba Babar, Jayakumar Rajadas, Abbas Rahdar, Ana M. Diez-Pascual
Summary: Thiolated chitosan-lithocholic acid nanomicelles loaded with beta-carotene were designed to improve drug characteristics. The results showed that these nanomicelles could sustainably release the drug and delay skin cancer growth.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Hongxia Wang, Ludan Hu, Lin Peng, Jie Du, Miaochuan Lan, Yang Cheng, Liang Ma, Yuhao Zhang
Summary: Beta-carotene was successfully encapsulated using a self-assembly process with beta-cyclodextrin and chitosan. The dual encapsulation system exhibited excellent rheological properties, thermal stability, and potential for 3D printing. 3D printing tests on paper and bread demonstrated its outstanding extrudability and printability.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Graham W. Burton, Trevor J. Mogg, William W. Riley, James G. Nickerson
Summary: Beta-carotene oxidation products have newly discovered bioactivity, and synthetic fully oxidized beta-carotene (OxBC) can support livestock health with evaluated safety. Plant sources of beta-carotene contain natural OxBC, with estimated intake levels for humans and livestock. Consumption of synthetic OxBC at levels comparable to natural OxBC is safe for humans and animals.
FOOD AND CHEMICAL TOXICOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
W. W. Riley, J. G. Nickerson, G. W. Burton
Summary: Fully oxidized b-carotene (OxBC) was found to enhance broiler growth and feed intake, with the optimal dose being 2 ppm. OxBC significantly improved bird final body weight, feed conversion rate, and feed intake, while having no effect on mortality rate.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Mehdi Jalali-Jivan, Hadis Rostamabadi, Elham Assadpour, Merve Tomas, Esra Capanoglu, Mahmood Alizadeh-Sani, Mohammad Saeed Kharazmi, Seid Mahdi Jafari
Summary: This study reviews different micro/nanocarriers reported on beta-carotene encapsulation, with a specific focus on bioavailability. Liposomal structures have been successfully used to enhance beta-carotene stability and bioavailability. Emulsion-based carriers, including Pickering emulsions, nanoemulsions, and microemulsions, as well as lipid-based nanoparticles and nanostructural carriers, have also been widely evaluated for beta-carotene encapsulation and protection. These delivery systems have led to increased hydro-solubility and dispersibility of beta-carotene, thereby improving its bioavailability and promoting its application in food, cosmetic, and nutraceutical products.
ADVANCES IN COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Qiya Zhong, Wen Sun, Yao Qin, Huadong Xu
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between dietary alpha-carotene and beta-carotene intake and cognitive function decline. The data from NHANES 2011-2014 were used, with 2009 participants included in the analysis. Logistic regression and restricted cubic spline models were applied, and it was found that higher intake of beta-carotene was associated with a lower risk of cognitive decline. The results suggest that dietary alpha-carotene and beta-carotene intake have inverse effects on cognitive function decline in older adults.
Article
Spectroscopy
V. S. Novikov, V. V. Kuzmin, M. E. Darvin, J. Lademann, E. A. Sagitova, K. A. Prokhorov, L. Yu Ustynyuk, G. Yu Nikolaeva
Summary: Using density functional theory (DFT), the study analyzed the structures and Raman spectra of trans-isomers of different carotenoids, finding that the position of the C=C stretching band is mainly determined by the number of conjugated C=C bonds and decreases with increased conjugation length. The C-C stretching band shifts with conjugation length or mass of end groups, and the presence of side CH3 groups affects the intensity and position of the bands.
SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA PART A-MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Tong Li, Yuan-Jie Deng, Jie-Xia Liu, Ao-Qi Duan, Hui Liu, Ai-Sheng Xiong
Summary: This study revealed that DcCCD4 plays a significant role in the accumulation of carotenoids in carrot taproots by cleaving alpha- and beta-carotene, which affects the color of the taproot.
Article
Plant Sciences
Mengting Wu, Qi Zhang, Yi Dong, Zican Wang, Wenqin Zhan, Zebin Ke, Shengchun Li, Lin He, Stephanie Ruf, Ralph Bock, Jiang Zhang
Summary: Spider mites take up plastid RNA upon feeding. Transplastomic plants expressing dsRNA targeted against spider mite beta-Actin mRNA showed high levels of resistance to spider mites and induced a more robust RNAi response compared to nuclear transgenic plants expressing dsRNA. This study demonstrates the potential of PM-RNAi as an efficient pest control measure for spider mites.
Article
Plant Sciences
Andre Vidal-Meireles, Soujanya Kuntam, Eszter Szeles, David Toth, Juliane Neupert, Ralph Bock, Szilvia Z. Toth
Summary: The lifetime of PSBO in green algae is strongly influenced by light intensity and carbon availability. It is crucial for the stability of photosystem II and loss of PSBO leads to significant changes in cell morphology and cell cycle.
PLANT CELL AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Vladimir Novoderezhkin, Roberta Croce
Summary: Lhca1 is a pigment-protein complex in the outer antenna of plant Photosystem I, and it plays a crucial role in delivering energy to the core. The unique energy distribution of Lhca1 allows for direct energy transfer to the core and coupling with the neighboring Lhca4 antenna for efficient excitation energy transfer.
PHOTOSYNTHESIS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Rabea Ghandour, Yang Gao, Josephin Laskowski, Rouhollah Barahimipour, Stephanie Ruf, Ralph Bock, Reimo Zoschke
Summary: In plant biotechnology, the expression of transgenes in chloroplasts is common practice. However, the potential unintended effects on native chloroplast genes are often overlooked. This study examined the expression of the chloroplast genome in transplastomic tobacco plants and found that transgene insertion can lead to overexpression of downstream genes and interfere with the transcription and translation of nearby genes. The study suggests strategies to minimize unintended consequences of transgene expression on native chloroplast genes.
PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Deserah D. Strand, Daniel Karcher, Stephanie Ruf, Anne Schadach, Mark A. Schoettler, Omar Sandoval-Ibanez, David Hall, David M. Kramer, Ralph Bock
Summary: Understanding the regulation of photosynthetic light harvesting and electron transfer is crucial to improving the electron transport chain for downstream metabolism. ATP synthase, a central regulator of the chain, is thermodynamically and post-translationally regulated, with proposed phosphorylation sites. This study focused on the N-terminal serines on the catalytic subunit beta in tobacco, previously suggested to be important for dark inactivation of ATP synthase. The findings show that phosphorylation may not play a clear role in dark inactivation, but loss of N-terminal phosphorylation affects ATP synthase accumulation during assembly.
Article
Plant Sciences
Rudan Geng, Xiaoqing Pang, Xia Li, Shanshan Shi, Boris Hedtke, Bernhard Grimm, Ralph Bock, Jirong Huang, Wenbin Zhou
Summary: This study investigates the role of chloroplast-localized gene PCD8 in tetrapyrrole biosynthesis (TBS) and reveals its interaction with ClpC1 and several TBS enzymes. The findings uncover the function of PCD8 and provide a new perspective for understanding the molecular regulation of TBS in plants.
Review
Plant Sciences
Hang Su, Andre van Eerde, Espen Rimstad, Ralph Bock, Norica Branza-Nichita, Igor A. Yakovlev, Jihong Liu Clarke
Summary: Plants are valuable sources of food, feed, herbal medicines, and raw materials for industry. They can also serve as green factories for producing biopharmaceuticals and vaccines. Plant-based production platforms offer advantages such as scalability, cost-effectiveness, and safety. Recent developments include plant-made vaccines for COVID-19 and Ebola, as well as clinical trials for plant-made influenza vaccines.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Christopher J. Gisriel, Eduard Elias, Gaozhong Shen, Nathan T. Soulier, David A. Flesher, M. R. Gunner, Gary W. Brudvig, Roberta Croce, Donald A. Bryant
Summary: To adapt to low-light environments, some cyanobacteria express a variant of the light-harvesting protein allophycocyanin (AP) that strongly absorbs far-red light (FRL). The structure-function relationship of this FRL-AP complex, expressed during acclimation to low light, was revealed using cryo-electron microscopy and time-resolved absorption spectroscopy. FRL-AP forms helical nanotubes instead of typical toroids due to altered domain geometry within each subunit. This study expands the understanding of light-harvesting proteins in nature and highlights the trade-off between resource accessibility and efficiency achieved through biological plasticity.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Wojciech J. Nawrocki, Michael R. Jones, Raoul N. Frese, Roberta Croce, Vincent M. Friebe
Summary: Photosynthetic reaction centers play a crucial role in solar energy conversion, but transferring them from their natural membrane environment to artificial architectures leads to efficiency losses. This study identified bottlenecks in electron transfer and a short-circuiting of separated charges as the main causes for efficiency reduction in a biophotoelectrode.
Article
Plant Sciences
Chen Hu, Eduard Elias, Wojciech J. Nawrocki, Roberta Croce
Summary: Drought has significant effects on the photosynthetic apparatus of plants, leading to the disassembly and degradation of PSII supercomplexes and cores, as well as reduced antenna size and disassembly of PSI-LHCI supercomplexes. Despite no changes in PSI core protein content, the functionality of PSI is severely affected, suggesting the accumulation of nonfunctional PSI complexes. The operative quantum efficiency of PSII can be used as an early detection parameter for drought stress.
Article
Plant Sciences
Xin Liu, Wojciech J. Nawrocki, Roberta Croce
Summary: This study reveals the crucial role of LHCBM1 in protecting photosynthetic organisms from excess light, potentially enhancing the function of LHCSR3 in the process of nonphotochemical quenching.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xiaojie Pang, Wojciech J. Nawrocki, Pierre Cardol, Mengyuan Zheng, Jingjing Jiang, Yuan Fang, Wenqiang Yang, Roberta Croce, Lijin Tian
Summary: Weak acids produced during fermentation can suppress both photosynthesis and aerobic respiration. This effect is widespread among photosynthetic organisms and helps algae adapt to changing environmental conditions.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Julia Smirnova, Justus Loerke, Gunnar Kleinau, Andrea Schmidt, Joerg Buerger, Etienne H. Meyer, Thorsten Mielke, Patrick Scheerer, Ralph Bock, Christian M. T. Spahn, Reimo Zoschke
Summary: Translation in plant cells occurs in three compartments, and this study focuses on the structure of the 80S ribosomes in the cytosol. By using cryo-electron microscopy, the researchers solved the structure of translating tobacco ribosomes and gained insights into the molecular underpinnings of cytosolic translation in plants.