Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata, a subspecies of olive trees, stands out for its remarkable stress tolerance and commonly serves as a rootstock that enhances olive oil yield. To explore its genomic and cellular underpinnings for potential breeding applications, a chromosome-scale genome assembly and a root-specific single-cell atlas of O. europaea subsp. cuspidata was resolved. Using a combined survey evaluation strategy along with PacBio CLR and Hi-C sequencing technologies, a total genome of 1.62 Gb was obtained (23 chromosomes; N50: 55.72 Mb). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Oleaceae plants diverged by approximately 17.2 Mya, with O. europaea subsp. cuspidata splitting from other O. europaea lineages at approximately 5.7 Mya. It is genetically closer to the cultivated olive O. europaea subsp. europaea cv. 'Arbequina' than to the wild olive O. europaea subsp. europaea var. sylvestris. Additionally, a dynamic molecular map of olive roots was generated at single-cell resolution to reconstruct the continuous root cell differentiation and developmental trajectory. This helps to unravel key regulatory genes in olive root development and adaptation to the external environment. This study explored the diversity of olive trees at genomic and root cellular levels, with insights to support the theoretical basis for enhanced stress tolerance, aiding the global introduction and promotion of olive trees.

Dietary advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) contribute to insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis. This study investigated whether oat β-glucan (OBG) could alleviate AGE-induced metabolic dysfunction in Leprdb/db mice. Mice were fed a high-AGE (HA) diet, with OBG administered either by coingestion (HOS) or alternate-day intake (HOA). OBG supplementation reduced weight gain, hyperinsulinemia, and hepatic lipid accumulation without affecting food intake. Histology showed attenuated lipid deposition in the liver and kidney, with HOS exhibiting stronger improvement. Transcriptomics and gene set enrichment analysis revealed that OBG coingestion enhanced glycolysis, the TCA cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, and fatty acid oxidation, while downregulating steatosis-related genes. Western blot validated protein-level changes in key lipid regulators. These findings indicate that OBG protects against AGE-induced metabolic disorder mainly through transcriptional reprogramming of hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism. The superior efficacy of coingested OBG may be related to its potential physical barrier effect on intestinal AGE absorption, which needs to be further verified by direct experimental evidence.

Value-added recycling of post-consumer poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is critically important for the sustainable development of the PET industry. In this study, ethylene glycol (EG), 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM), and NPG were systematically evaluated as glycolysis agents. On this basis, two novel composite glycolysis systems—NPG–glycerol and NPG–dipentaerythritol—were innovatively constructed, enabling both highly efficient depolymerization of recycled PET and precise regulation of the molecular structure of the resulting glycolysis products. The results demonstrate that the pendant methyl groups of NPG effectively disrupt chain regularity, suppress crystallization, and maintain the reaction in a homogeneous liquid phase, thereby markedly enhancing glycolysis efficiency and yielding a new class of polyester polyols. PUs synthesized from these polyols exhibit a pronounced positive correlation between their mechanical performance and the functionality of the glycolysis agents. Notably, the PU-SJ sample derived from the NPG–dipentaerythritol system displays the highest tensile strength (46.58 MPa) and superior thermal stability, with a maximum decomposition temperature (T d, max) of 513.6 ℃, whereas the PU-1 sample based on single-component NPG shows the highest elongation at break (423.37

Medicinal and edible fungal polysaccharides (MEFPs) are fungal bioactive carbohydrates. This review systematically summarizes their sources, preparation, structural characteristics and health benefits as prebiotics. Most MEFPs derive from Basidiomycota with specific molecular structures and monosaccharide compositions. Optimized extraction and purification methods ensure their structural integrity. MEFPs regulate gut microbiota, improve lipid metabolism and immunity, and exhibit therapeutic potential for colitis, diabetes and obesity.

The AP2/ERF superfamily is a key class of transcription factors involved in plant responses to various stresses. As an ancient species, the olive tree (Olea europaea L.) exhibits considerable stress tolerance and wide adaptability. In this study, we identified 348 AP2/ERF genes in the cultivated olive variety 'Arbequina' at the whole-genome level. According to protein sequence alignments and phylogenetic analyses via the Maximum Likelihood method, these genes were classified into four major families: AP2, ERF/DREB, RAV, and Soloist. The ERF/DREB family was further divided into DREB and ERF subfamilies, each encompassing six groups (A1-A6 and B1-B6), with the ERF subfamily being the largest. Members of each group exhibited relatively consistent gene structures and domain/motif compositions of their encoded proteins; however, the distribution of cis-elements and expression patterns varied. Each AP2/ERF gene contained 12 light-responsive, three MeJA-responsive, three ABA-responsive, two anaerobic induction, and one MYB binding site on average. With the threshold of p value < 0.5, control TPM > 0, and |log2(fold change)| > 0, 50 candidate genes were simultaneously up-regulated (30) or down-regulated (20) under four stress treatments (acid-aluminum, cold, disease, and wound), among which nine showed potential protein-protein interactions. This study provides a comprehensive genomic characterization of the AP2/ERF family in olive and identifies key candidate stress-responsive genes, establishing a foundation for future functional studies on the molecular mechanisms of stress adaptation in the olive tree.

AbstactThe effects of different concentrations of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), ferulic acid (FA), and caffeic acid (CA) (final concentrations of 0.1, 0.5, and 1 μmol/mL) on the antioxidant activity, chemical structural changes, and in vitro digestive properties of myoglobin (Mb). The results showed that the antioxidant activity of Mb treated with polyphenols was significantly enhanced and increased with increasing polyphenol concentration, thereby inhibiting the formation of ferric myoglobin. When the polyphenol concentration was 0.1 μmol/mL, the ferric myoglobin content of FA-Mb, EGCG-Mb, and CA-Mb decreased by 5.73%, 11.15%, and 4.58%, respectively. The presence of FA, EGCG, and CA inhibited the formation of total thiol and carbonyl groups in proteins, as the introduction of hydrophilic groups reduced surface hydrophobicity. The addition of polyphenols altered the microenvironment of myoglobin amino acid residues. As polyphenol concentration increased, the α-helix content of Mb gradually decreased, and myoglobin gradually exhibited an aggregated state. High concentrations of EGCG and CA (1 μmol/mL) significantly inhibited the degree of hydrolysis during the in vitro simulated digestion process of myoglobin. In summary, polyphenol concentration plays a decisive role in the structure and in vitro digestive properties of myoglobin.

Pregnancy-induced hypertension is a significant risk factor for adverse maternal and fetal outcomes, with methyldopa being a commonly prescribed antihypertensive for its safety profile. However, the physiological changes during pregnancy may alter the pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of methyldopa, complicating the establishment of optimal dosing regimens. This study aims to develop and validate a pregnancy-specific physiologically based pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PBPK-PD) model for methyldopa to optimize dosing strategies and support individualized treatment plans for managing pregnancy-induced hypertension effectively. The PBPK-PD model for methyldopa was developed using PK-Sim, MoBi, and MATLAB software, incorporating pregnancy-specific physiological parameters from the literature. The development process involved: (a) constructing and validating a PBPK model for non-pregnant individuals based on intravenous and oral administration, including renal clearance, serum clearance, and enzyme clearance; (b) extending the model to a pregnant PBPK model and validating it for oral administration; (c) constructing a PK/PD model using the maximum effect model; and (d) integrating the PBPK and PK/PD models to form a unified PBPK-PD model. This model was then used to simulate mean arterial pressure (MAP) responses across different stages of pregnancy. Finally, the optimal dosing regimen was calculated. The model verification results show a good fit, indicating that the parameters are appropriate. The pregnancy model indicated no significant change in phenol sulfotransferase (PST) activity during pregnancy. The physiologically based pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic simulations across different stages of pregnancy show fluctuations in both PK and PD; however, these variations are not particularly significant. Ultimately, the results indicate that 500 mg is the optimal dosing regimen for patients with MAP ≤ 130 mmHg. For MAP > 130 mmHg, additional antihypertensive medications are recommended. Due to its delayed onset, methyldopa should be combined with other antihypertensives during the first 48 hours. The PBPK-PD model developed in this study provides a valuable tool for optimizing methyldopa therapy, supporting personalized treatment strategies, and improving blood pressure management and maternal and fetal health outcomes in pregnancy-induced hypertension.

The fermentation of prune juice significantly enhances its nutritional profile, antioxidant capacity, and flavor characteristics. In this study, Non-Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum were used to co-ferment prune juice to systematically investigate the dynamic changes in physicochemical properties and antioxidant activity during fermentation. The evolution of volatile compounds across fermentation stages was analyzed using gas chromatography-ion mobility spectroscopy (GC-IMS) combined with chemometric methods, including principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). The results showed that after fermentation, the total acidity (TA), total phenolic content (TPC), and total flavonoid content (TFC) increased by 37.35%, 20.28%, and 28.95%, respectively. Meanwhile, the pH, total soluble solids (TSS), and reducing sugars (RS) decreased by 16.87%, 23.36%, and 39.94%, respectively. Additionally, the DPPH radical scavenging capacity and ABTS radical scavenging capacity improved by 76.16% and 57.25% during fermentation process. A total of 37 volatile compounds were identified across the four fermentation stages of prune juice (PJ). These compounds included 14 esters, 8 alcohols, 7 aldehydes, 4 terpenoids, 3 ketones, and 1 amine. Considerable quantities of organic acids and free amino acids were detected in samples from all fermentation phases. Among these, lactic acid, citric acid, and D-glucuronic acid exhibited significant increases in their concentration (p < 0.05). In the free amino acid profile of fermented prune juice (FPJ), asparagine was the most abundant component, followed by glutamine and proline.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) may trigger oxidative stress, resulting in atherosclerotic plaques. This study investigated the effects of soft-shelled turtle-derived antioxidant peptides on glucose-related protein glycation. Our results indicate seven antioxidant peptides derived from soft-shelled turtle have inhibitory effects on the AGEs formation, especially for N-3-A. To study the potential protective impacts of N-3-A against AGEs-induced damage, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured. Interestingly, cells treated with N-3-A show significant upregulation of GSH-Px, SOD, and CAT activities while down-regulate the content of oxidative damage marker-MDA. Mechanistically, molecular docking analysis showed the interaction pattern between N-3-A and C-terminal domain of receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE). We identified five hydrogen bonds between the active peptides, highlighting arginine as the primary inhibitory site. It demonstrated N-3-A can protect against AGEs-induced health disorders through inhibiting the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway.

To explore how plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can enhance drought tolerance in walnut (Juglans regia L.) seeds, the seeds of the 'SS2 ' and 'Chandler' genotypes were inoculated with Bacillus velezensis strain ZM39 and B. amyloliquefaciens strain Cha43. The seeds were germinated under stress imposed by polyethylene glycol (PEG6000), corresponding to an osmotic potential (Psi s) of -1.50 MPa. This osmotic pressure caused significant decreases in plumule and radicle length, as well as in dry and fresh weight, especially in 'SS2 ' seedlings. 'Chandler' seedlings exhibited better germination following inoculation with either bacterial strain. The ability of 'ZM39 ' and 'Cha43 ' to ameliorate stress effects in walnut seedlings was confirmed. Phenolic components such as salicylic acid, rutin, and epicatechin in both radicle and plumule tissues showed a significant correlation with the germination stress-tolerance index and germination rate index. The first and second factors of the principal component analysis accounted for 74.75 % and 12.44 % of the total variance, respectively. These results reveal the ability of two new bacterial strains to ameliorate PEG6000-induced osmotic stress in walnut seedlings. Considering the interplay between walnut genotype characteristics and the selected bacterial strains, bio-priming walnut seeds with these PGPR strains could be a valuable approach for the seed industry to enhance walnut seedling resilience in the face of an increasingly unpredictable climate.

Moso bamboo possesses the features of fast growth, high mechanical strength and environmental friendliness, but its application is limited due to its susceptibility to fungal infection. In contrast, the reported anti-mildew strategies have the technical bottleneck of easy loss and high toxicity of anti-mildew agents. This work shows an efficient strategy for obtaining a stable, biological, non-toxic anti-mildew bamboo. Selective oxidation methods were used to obtain dialdehyde cellulose (DAC) on the bamboo surface, to achieve dialdehyde groups, which were efficient for anti-fungal infection. The modified bamboo's micro-structure, anti-mildew, stability and cytotoxicity were investigated by setting the ratios of NaIO4 to bamboo. The optimal mildew resistance achieved when the ratio of NaIO4 to bamboo was 5 % (B@5 %), displaying a durable anti-mildew performance, of which the Aspergillus niger control efficiency of 100 % after 30 days of anti-mildew test. The B@5 % can resist 200 times of mechanical friction and maintain 50 % anti-mildew efficiency, showing excellent chemical stability under different pH conditions. More importantly, B@5 % has no toxic damage to cells in vitro. The above outstanding properties show that the modified bamboo has great potential in industrial and food-grade mildew-proof bamboo.

Antioxidant cyclic peptides were successfully identified from a corn protein hydrolysate. Hydrolysate by Alcalase + Flavourzyme showed the highest cyclic peptide purity (48.36 ± 1.81 %) and higher antioxidant activities compared with other hydrolysate. The success of peptide cyclization in hydrolysate was demonstrated by thermogravimetric analysis and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) analysis. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the thermal stability of hydrolysate after cyclization was significantly increased, which was related to the formation of cyclic peptides. Peptides with molecular weight less than 1000 Da accounted for more than 80 % in hydrolysate after cyclization. After separation using gel silica chromatography and semi-preparative reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), 22 novel antioxidant cyclic peptides were identified by ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) and orbitrap-tandem mass spectrometry (Orbitrap-MS/MS). Synthetic cyclic peptides with the same sequence were synthesized and characterized for their antioxidant activity. Molecular docking suggested that the free radical molecules could bind with the cyclic backbone and side chain of cyclic peptides through hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interaction as well as electrostatic interaction. This study has important implications for the high-value utilization of corn protein and new cyclic peptides drugs or functional food development.

After the ban on antibiotics, fermented herbs have become an alternative. In the experiment, 960 one - day - old green - footed chickens were divided into four groups: T1 (basal ration), T2 (1

Obesity is a growing global health concern associated with severe metabolic disorders, necessitating the development of safer and more effective therapeutic strategies. Soybean sprout peptides (SSPs), derived from germinated soybeans, are bioactive compounds with potential antiobesity effects. This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms of SSPs through an integrated approach combining network pharmacology, molecular docking, and in vivo experiments. SSP sequences were identified using UPLC-Orbitrap-MS/MS, and their bioactivity was predicted using PeptideRanker. Network pharmacology identified key SSP targets, including AKT1, SRC, STAT3, ESR1, FOS, and NFKB1, which are implicated in the PI3K-Akt and JAK-STAT pathways. Molecular docking validated strong interactions between SSPs and these targets. In vivo, SSP administration significantly reduced body weight gain, abdominal fat accumulation, and serum lipid abnormalities in high-fat-diet-induced obese mice while modulating gut microbiota composition by restoring the Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio and reducing pathogenic taxa. Fecal metabolomics revealed that SSP alleviated oxidative stress and improved amino acid metabolism, contributing to its antiobesity effects. These findings suggest that SSP holds promise as a functional food ingredient or nutraceutical for obesity prevention and management.

IntroductionThe effectiveness of ultra-high pressure (UHP) technology in retaining the flavor of fresh fruit and vegetable juices has been acknowledged in recent years. Along with previously hypothesized conclusions, the improvement in melon juice flavor may be linked to the reduction of its surface tension through UHP.MethodsIn this paper, the particle size, free-water percentage, and related thermodynamic parameters of melon juice were evaluated in a physical point for a deeper insight.ResultsThe results showed that the UHP treatment of P2-2 (200 MPa for 20 min) raised the free water percentage by 7,000 times than the other treatments and both the melting enthalpy, binding constant and Gibbs free energy of P2-2 were minimized. This significantly increased the volatility of characteristic aromatic compounds in melon juice, resulting in a 1.2-5 times increase in the content of aromatic compounds in the gas phase of the P2-2 group compared to fresh melon juice.

The gel properties and molecular conformation of Spanish mackerel myofibrillar protein (MP) induced by soy protein isolate–inulin conjugates (SPI–inulin conjugates) were investigated. The addition of SPI–inulin conjugates significantly enhanced the quality of the protein gel. An analysis of different additives was conducted to assess their impact on the gel strength, texture, water-holding capacity (WHC), water distribution, intermolecular force, dynamic rheology, Raman spectrum, fluorescence spectrum, and microstructure of MP. The results demonstrated a substantial improvement in the strength and water retention of the MP gel with the addition of the conjugate. Compared with the control group (MP), the gel strength increased from 35.18 g·cm to 41.90 g·cm, and WHC increased from 36.80% to 52.67% with the inclusion of SPI–inulin conjugates. The hydrogen bond content was notably higher than that of other groups, and hydrophobic interaction increased from 29.30% to 36.85% with the addition of SPI–inulin conjugates. Furthermore, the addition of the conjugate altered the secondary structure of the myofibrillar gel, with a decrease in α-helix content from 62.91% to 48.42% and an increase in β-sheet content from 13.40% to 24.65%. Additionally, the SPI–inulin conjugates led to a significant reduction in the endogenous fluorescence intensity of MP. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) results revealed a substantial increase in the Rq value from 8.21 nm to 20.21 nm. Adding SPI and inulin in the form of conjugates is an effective method to improve the gel properties of proteins, which provides important guidance for the study of adding conjugates to surimi products. It has potential application prospects in commercial surimi products.

Maillard reaction occurs in bakery products during heating process, especially between reducing sugars carbonyls with amino compounds to produce pleasant aromas, favorable colors, and flavors. MR also produces toxic or harmful substances, including advanced glycosylation end products (AGEs) in the last stage of MR. Body AGEs can be divided into exogenous and endogenous sources. Food source AGEs inhibitors such as polyphenols can capture (or remove) active dicarbonyl groups and scavenging free radical, etc. New processing techniques and optimizing oven performance can also be applied to control AGEs. In this review, AGEs in bakery products were systematically described from the sources, formation mechanism, detection methods, influencing factors and inhibition mechanism and methods. Baking ingredients, processing conditions, types of ovens, process technologies (conduction, convection, radiation, vacuum-combined cooling), which contribute to AGEs generation and affect the AGEs content. This research provides new solution for AGEs control and its application in new processing technology.

Activation of the Antioxidant response element (ARE) pathway contributes to protecting cells against oxidative stress. In the previous study, Asn-Cys-Ala and Cys-Thr-Ala derived from soft-shelled turtles demonstrated potent ARE-luciferase inducer activity in the HepG2 cell model. In this study, the effects of Asn-Cys-Ala and Cys-Thr-Ala on the Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2/ Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Nrf2/Keap1) system in HepG2 cells were studied. The results showed that Asn-Cys-Ala and Cys-Thr-Ala regulated the Nrf2/ARE pathway by stabilizing the Nrf2 levels, which was achieved by decreasing the levels of Keap1. The EC50 values for the cellular antioxidant activity of Asn-Cys-Ala and Cys-Thr-Ala were 81.53 and 58.60 mu M, respectively. And the results also demonstrated that treatment with Asn-Cys-Ala and Cys-Thr-Ala could reduce the H2O2-induced changes in intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and antioxidant enzyme activity (Superoxide dismutase, SOD; Glutathione peroxidase, GSH-Px; Catalase, CAT) (p < 0.05).

Rice blast, caused by the fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae, is a destructive disease that affects rice (Oryzae sativa L.) on a global scale. Polyamines (PAs) play diverse roles in plant growth and development and responses to biotic and abiotic stimuli. Putrescine (PUT), spermidine (SPD), and spermine (SPM) are the primary forms of polyamines (PAs). In this study, we observed that the accumulation of apoplastic PAs significantly increased in rice plants after treatment with salt or M. oryzae. The salt-treated plants exhibited enhanced resistance to rice blast disease. RNA sequencing data indicate that S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (SAMDC), a key enzyme involved in the synthesis of polyamines, plays a significant role in enhancing plant resistance. Overexpression of rice SAMDC (OsSAMDC) led to a significant decrease of pathogen infection in the transgenic rice plants. Additionally, OsSAMDC overexpression plants accumulated polyamines in the cytosol and apoplast, particularly SPD and SPM. Conversely, the disease resistance and accumulation of PAs were reduced in OsSAMDC-silenced plants. Exogenous application of PAs inhibited the mycelium growth, spore germination, germ tube elongation, and appressorium formation in M. oryzae. These results demonstrated that OsSAMDC-mediated polyamine biosynthesis, especially SPD and SPM, plays an essential role in rice plants to resist biotic and abiotic stresses.

This study delves into the dynamics of dietary advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) on the absorption, accumulation, and gut microbiota metabolism.