Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Li Rui-jie, Zhai Hong, He Shao-zhen, Zhang Huan, Zhao Ning, Liu Qing-chang
Summary: In this study, it was found that overexpression of the IbGGPS gene significantly increased the carotenoid contents in sweetpotato, which was achieved by upregulating the genes involved in carotenoid biosynthesis pathways.
JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE AGRICULTURE
(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
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Amanda Arcidiacono, Davide Accomasso, Lorenzo Cupellini, Benedetta Mennucci
Summary: This study utilizes QM/MM surface hopping nonadiabatic dynamics to investigate the excited-state decay of canthaxanthin in OCP, revealing possible pathways for structural changes and photoactivation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yury B. Slonimskiy, Andrei O. Zupnik, Larisa A. Varfolomeeva, Konstantin M. Boyko, Eugene G. Maksimov, Nikolai N. Sluchanko
Summary: Cyanobacteria played a crucial role in the Great Oxygenation Event, and the Gloeobacter OCPX, a primitive form of OCP, exhibits unique functional adaptations and faster recovery after photoactivation through an intramolecular locking mechanism.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
V. U. Chukhutsina, J. M. Baxter, A. Fadini, R. M. Morgan, M. A. Pope, K. Maghlaoui, C. M. Orr, A. Wagner, J. J. van Thor
Summary: This study provides insights into the photo-sensing mechanism of Orange Carotenoid protein (OCP), revealing the involvement of single bond isomerization and structural changes. The findings contribute to a better understanding of OCP's role in light-harvesting.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Alexandre Furtado Silveira Mello, Giovani Olegario da Silva, Adriana Paula da Silva Minguita, Felipe Nardo dos Santos, Tarcisio Samborski, Jose Carlos Ferreira, Jose Luiz Viana de Carvalho, Marilia Regini Nuti, Ana Carolina Silva Siquieroli, Joseana Severo
Summary: Blind starvation caused by micronutrient deficiency is a major issue in many countries. Brazil is working on the biofortification program to overcome this issue, and the study found that the CIP BRS Nuti and Beauregard sweet potato genotypes were preferred by consumers due to their higher dry matter content and sensory evaluation.
JOURNAL OF FOOD COMPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Yi-Wen Yang, Ke Liu, Da Huang, Chen Yu, Si-Zhuo Chen, Min Chen, Bao-Sheng Qiu
Summary: Expanded orange carotenoid protein paralogs in subaerial Nostoc species have specialized functions as either singlet oxygen quenchers or phycobilisome fluorescence quenchers for survival in desiccation conditions. The different paralogs displayed different activities, with HCP2 being the most effective singlet oxygen quencher and OCPx1 exhibiting stronger phycobilisome fluorescence quenching compared to OCPx2. The crystal structures and mutant analysis revealed important roles for Trp111 and Met125 in OCPx2, which showed a more flexible regulation in energy quenching activities compared to OCPx1.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Richard Atinpoore Atuna, Matthew Atongbiik Achaglinkame, Trudy Abla Sitsofe Accorley, Francis Kweku Amagloh
Summary: The study investigated the physicochemical and functional properties of gari processed by partially substituting cassava with orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP). The sensory evaluation showed that the composite gari had similar properties and preferences to that of cassava-only gari. The addition of OFSP increased the beta-carotene content, reduced residual cyanogenic compounds, and could potentially address vitamin A deficiency in Ghana.
FRONTIERS IN NUTRITION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mahmoud Sharawy, Natalia B. Pigni, Eric R. May, Jose A. Gascon
Summary: This study investigates the protein rearrangements of the orange carotenoid protein (OCP) using metadynamics. The results reveal the importance of ketocarotenoid translocation for domain separation and provide an energetically feasible pathway to dissociation.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
George A. Sutherland, James P. Pidgeon, Harrison Ka Hin Lee, Matthew S. Proctor, Andrew Hitchcock, Shuangqing Wang, Dimitri Chekulaev, Wing Chung Tsoi, Matthew P. Johnson, C. Neil Hunter, Jenny Clark
Summary: Singlet exciton fission is the process of generating two triplet excited states from a singlet state. Previous studies suggested that intramolecular singlet fission occurs only in protein complexes with twisted carotenoid molecules. In this research, we studied a one-carotenoid system, the orange carotenoid protein (OCP), and found no evidence of intramolecular singlet fission despite the twist in the carotenoid molecule.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Biophysics
Elena A. Andreeva, Stanislaw Nizinski, Adjele Wilson, Matteo Levantino, Elke De Zitter, Rory Munro, Fernando Muzzopappa, Aurelien Thureau, Ninon Zala, Gotard Burdzinski, Michel Sliwa, Diana Kirilovsky, Giorgio Schiro, Jacques-Philippe Colletier
Summary: This study investigates the photoinduced structural changes in the orange carotenoid protein (OCP) using a combination of experimental techniques. The results suggest that oligomerization plays a role in regulating the OCP photocycle, and a numbed state is formed upon non-photoproductive excitation.
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Xufeng Fang, Shenglong Li, Zicheng Zhu, Xian Zhang, Cheng Xiong, Xuezheng Wang, Feishi Luan, Shi Liu
Summary: This study identified the recessive gene Clorf as the regulator of orange flesh color in watermelon and narrowed down the candidate gene Cla97C10G200950. The findings provide a genetic resource for investigating orange flesh color in watermelon.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
Rafaela Feola Conz, Johan Six, Maria Isabel Andrade, Engil Isadora Pujol Pereira
Summary: This study aimed to determine the potential of using locally-accessible organic amendments and weed biomass management to maintain crop yield and soil fertility for orange-fleshed sweet potatoes in sub-Saharan Africa. The results showed that poultry manure is a more reliable organic amendment to maintain agricultural performance and soil fertility, with potential for long-term cultivation of sweet potatoes.
NUTRIENT CYCLING IN AGROECOSYSTEMS
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Wolfgang J. Gruneberg, Bert De Boeck, Federico Diaz, Raul Eyzaguirre, Jan W. Low, Jochen C. Reif, Hugo Campos
Summary: This study evaluated heterosis increments and response to selection in three hybrid populations of orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) after one reciprocal recurrent selection cycle. The results showed significant genetic gains in storage root yield, but no significant heterosis increments in quality traits. Population hybrid breeding is an effective tool for achieving high yields in sweetpotato.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Chalmers K. Mulwa, Simon Heck, Joyce Maru, Josephine Mwema, Hugo Campos
Summary: Malnutrition remains a significant issue in developing and underdeveloped countries, exacerbated by climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic. The partnership between the World Food Programme and the International Potato Center in Kenya aims to improve nutrition through the use of biofortified crops. The study highlights the positive impact of nutrition awareness on the utilization of orange-fleshed sweetpotato, while also identifying key determinants for widespread adoption.
Article
Plant Sciences
Atif Ali Khan Khalil, Kazi-Marjahan Akter, Hye-Jin Kim, Woo Sung Park, Dong-Min Kang, Kyung Ah Koo, Mi-Jeong Ahn
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ho Soo Kim, Wenbin Wang, Le Kang, So-Eun Kim, Chan-Ju Lee, Sung-Chul Park, Woo Sung Park, Mi-Jeong Ahn, Sang-Soo Kwak
PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY REPORTS
(2020)
Article
Plant Sciences
Woo Sung Park, Kyung Ah Koo, Ji-Yeong Bae, Hye-Jin Kim, Dong-Min Kang, Ji-Min Kwon, Seung-Mann Paek, Mi Kyeong Lee, Chul Young Kim, Mi-Jeong Ahn
Summary: A study analyzed the content of seven lignans in Schisandra chinensis fruit using HPLC-DAD, revealing that seeds had the highest content. The addition of oligosaccharide/white sugar to fermented beverages significantly increased lignan content.
Article
Plant Sciences
Chan-Ju Lee, So-Eun Kim, Sul-U Park, Ye-Hoon Lim, Ha-Young Choi, Won-Gon Kim, Chang Yoon Ji, Ho Soo Kim, Sang-Soo Kwak
Summary: Lignin plays crucial roles in plant cell wall rigidity, water and solute transport, and stress resistance. Modulating monolignol levels and S/G ratios can enhance cold stress tolerance and antioxidation capacity in sweetpotato, providing valuable insights into root formation mechanisms and stress responses in this crop.
PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
So-Eun Kim, Xiaofeng Bian, Chan-Ju Lee, Sul-U Park, Ye-Hoon Lim, Beg Hab Kim, Woo Sung Park, Mi-Jeong Ahn, Chang Yoon Ji, Yang Yu, Yizhi Xie, Sang-Soo Kwak, Ho Soo Kim
Summary: Transgenic sweetpotato plants overexpressing IbHPPD exhibited enhanced tolerance to various environmental stresses, including salt, drought, and oxidative stresses. They also showed increased resistance to the herbicide sulcotrione, which inhibits HPPD. Additionally, these plants had higher levels of alpha-tocopherol content under dehydrated conditions.
PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Chan-Ju Lee, Sul-U Park, So-Eun Kim, Ye-Hoon Lim, Chang Yoon Ji, Yun-Hee Kim, Ho Soo Kim, Sang-Soo Kwak
Summary: The study isolated and analyzed the cold-induced lignin forming peroxidase (IbLfp) gene in sweetpotato, demonstrating its physiological functions in the plant, especially in low-temperature storage ability and defense against invading pathogens.
PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Woo-Sung Park, Hye-Jin Kim, Atif Ali Khan Khalil, Dong-Min Kang, Kazi-Marjahan Akter, Ji-Min Kwon, Yong-ung Kim, Xiang-Lan Piao, Kyung-Ah Koo, Mi-Jeong Ahn
Summary: This study examined the anatomical and chemical differences among five Ulmus species in South Korea. The anatomical characteristics of leaf, stem, and root barks were observed, and various compounds were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography. The five species were efficiently differentiated based on their anatomy and chemical composition, which could be used for appropriate identification and standard establishment for commercialization purposes.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Ji-Yeong Bae, Woo-Sung Park, Hye-Jin Kim, Ho-Soo Kim, Kwon-Kyoo Kang, Sang-Soo Kwak, Mi-Jeong Ahn
Summary: The carotenoid extract of orange-fleshed sweet potato has been shown to protect mice against gastric ulcers induced by HCl/ethanol. It also exhibits potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, reducing nitric oxide production and inflammatory cytokines in a dose-dependent manner.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Taehyeok Hwang, Hyo Jung Lee, Woo Sung Park, Dong-Min Kang, Mi-Jeong Ahn, Hyonok Yoon, Jae Cheal Yoo, Dong Kyu Moon, Dong Kyun Woo
Summary: In this study, the possible anti-melanogenic effects of Catechin-7-O-??-L-rhamnopyranoside (C7R) were evaluated, and it was found to inhibit tyrosinase. C7R reduced melanin accumulation and tyrosinase activity in melanoma cells, and exhibited competitive inhibition on a Lineweaver-Burk plot. Docking simulation and pharmacophore analysis suggested that C7R interacts with tyrosinase through an aromatic ring and various hydrophobic and hydrogen bonds.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES
(2022)