Seagrasses are important components of coastal ecosystems and represent a source of chemically diverse natural products with potentially relevant biological activities. This study aimed to characterize the biochemical and metabolomic profiles of leaves and rhizomes of the Mediterranean seagrass Cymodocea nodosa and to compare the biological activity of extracts from the two tissues across different marine organisms. Hydroalcoholic extracts were characterized by biochemical assays and untargeted liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry, while biological responses were assessed using Aliivibrio fischeri, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Dunaliella tertiolecta, Acartia tonsa, and the fouling serpulid Ficopomatus enigmaticus. Leaves and rhizomes differed in their biochemical characteristics but shared most putatively annotated metabolites, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, lipid-derived metabolites, and amino acid derivatives. Semi-quantitative analysis revealed tissue-associated differences in relative LC-HRMS signal intensities. Biological responses were species- and endpoint-dependent, with F. enigmaticus showing the highest sensitivity, particularly to the rhizome extract (EC50 = 48.8 mg/L), whereas the other organisms generally responded at higher concentrations. Overall, these findings highlight tissue-associated chemical and biological differences in C. nodosa extracts and identify rhizomes as particularly interesting for further investigation into the relationships between seagrass metabolites and fouling-related biological responses.
Hypoxia-inducible factor 2α (HIF-2α), encoded by EPAS1, has long been studied in erythropoiesis, high-altitude adaptation, and cancer. Recent studies also implicate HIF-2α within non-malignant lung development and disease. This review examines HIF-2α as a dosage-sensitive, context-dependent regulator of lung cell state rather than a uniformly protective or pathogenic transcription factor. HIF-2α inhibitors have been approved in oncology, while pulmonary studies demonstrate roles for HIF-2α in fetal lung maturation, endothelial barrier integrity, alveolar–capillary maintenance, pulmonary vascular remodeling, aberrant epithelial repair, fibroblast persistence, airway differentiation, and alveolar macrophage metabolic and surfactant homeostasis. We summarize the canonical EGLN/PHD–VHL–HIF pathway, the HIF-1α/HIF-2α isoform bias, human genetic evidence from chronic hypoxia adaptation, and emerging disease-specific data in pulmonary arterial hypertension, pulmonary fibrosis, COPD/emphysema, acute lung injury/ARDS, and muco-obstructive disease. We also highlight chromatin, long noncoding RNA, and post-transcriptional mechanisms that tune HIF-2α activity. Together, these findings support the need to precisely tailor HIF-2α modulation in lung disease, guided by cell type, disease phase, spatial context, and biological objective.
CREB3L1 expression during mechanical suture remodeling remains incompletely characterized. We examined transcripts and staining in distracted zygomaticomaxillary sutures (ZMS) from 4-week-old male C57BL/6J mice and expanded ZMS-derived cultures. Archived microscopy, four single-cell libraries, qPCR and micro-CT measurements were evaluated separately. Each single-cell condition/day represented one biological sample. Author clarification enabled micro-CT reanalysis of 61 animals. Exact tests used separate Holm corrections for tissue qPCR, culture-vessel qPCR and micro-CT. Compared with sham controls (SCs), distraction (DO) was associated with higher micro-CT bone volume at day 14 (Holm-adjusted p = 0.0346), whereas regional bone mineral density was lower in DO at days 3 and 28 (Holm-adjusted p = 0.0227 and 0.0216, respectively). With four animals per group, tissue Creb3l1 and Spp1 mean estimates were lower than same-day sham references on day 1 and higher on day 3; none of the 11 tissue qPCR comparisons was significant. Two static dishes and three stretch chambers came from one pooled six-mouse preparation in one experiment. After three days of stretch, Creb3l1 and Spp1 mean differences were −0.09 and +0.11 log2 units; both adjusted p values were 1.000. These preliminary structural and expression observations do not establish CREB3L1 activation or causality. Small samples, unreplicated single-cell conditions and incomplete imaging/batch metadata require independent validation.
Salt stress is a major constraint on rice production because it inhibits plant growth and reduces yield. Although millimeter-wave (MMW) seed priming was reported to improve plant performance under environmental stress, the molecular mechanisms underlying its effects remain largely unknown. This study examined whether MMW seed priming improves early rice performance under salt stress and characterized associated changes in the root proteome. Rice seeds were irradiated with MMW, and morphological traits were evaluated under 150 mM NaCl as salt stress for 2 days. Based on morphological results, rice seeds were irradiated with 20 mW for 20 min. Root proteins were analyzed based on the growth responses. Among 6307 proteins analyzed with label-free proteomics, selected proteomic observations were further examined by immunoblotting, gene-expression analysis, and starch measurements. MMW irradiation improved seed germination and alleviated salt-induced inhibition of root growth. Proteomic analysis showed that proteins associated with carbohydrate metabolism and endoplasmic-reticulum function were markedly affected by MMW irradiation. Glutathione reductase and ascorbate peroxidase accumulated under salt stress and further increased following MMW irradiation. Calreticulin and calcium-dependent protein kinase were also increased in abundance by MMW irradiation under salt stress. In addition, soluble starch content, which declined under salt stress, was attenuated the salt-associated reduction by MMW irradiation. These findings extend molecular studies of MMW-mediated salt-stress responses to the rice root proteome and identify candidate proteins and biological processes associated with the improved salt-tolerant phenotype. The observed proteomic changes provide insight into potential mechanisms that may contribute to improved rice growth under saline conditions.
Vitamin E-related tocochromanols include the rare homologs tocomonoenol (TM) and tocodienol (TD), containing one and two side-chain double bonds, respectively. This review critically evaluates their structural diversity, biosynthesis, natural occurrence, biological activities, and biotechnological potential. Recent analytical studies identify 11′-TM homologs, particularly 11′-α-TM and 11′-γ-TM, in plant oils and photosynthetic microorganisms, whereas 12′-α-TM, known as marine-derived tocopherol (MDT), is associated with cold-water marine organisms. Genetic evidence supports a VTE1/VTE2-dependent pathway for TM formation involving partially reduced prenyl precursors. Chemical partial hydrogenation of tocotrienols can generate TM and TD, while targeted microbial production remains a potential but unvalidated strategy. Cellular studies demonstrate the uptake and metabolism of 11′-TM, whereas antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and adipocyte-related effects have been reported primarily for MDT. Preliminary evidence also suggests antiproliferative effects of α-TM in prostate cancer cell models, although therapeutic relevance remains unestablished. Importantly, the endogenous biosynthetic pathway of TD remains unresolved, and direct cellular and in vivo evidence for the biological activity of naturally occurring TD is lacking. Consequently, its physiological and therapeutic significance cannot yet be established. Future research should prioritize isotope tracing, candidate-enzyme validation, purified-compound pharmacokinetics, and compound-specific toxicological evaluation. Overall, TM shows emerging biological potential, whereas TD remains a major biosynthetic and functional knowledge gap.
