Search Results (196)

Water-level fluctuation (WLF) is a key factor disturbing aquatic ecosystems, particularly aquatic plants (macrophytes in this review). These organisms are exceptionally sensitive to WLF as it profoundly governs their spatial distribution, productivity, species richness, community composition and successional trajectories. In this review, we synthesized recent advances regarding the impacts of WLF on the growth environment, survival strategies, and the integrated morphological, physiological, and reproductive responses of aquatic macrophytes. While existing research has predominantly focused on flooding-related WLF responses and freshwater macrophytes, the ecological consequences of drawdown and the responses of marine macrophytes remain comparatively underexplored. Despite the adverse alterations in sediment dynamics, light availability, hydrostatic pressure, pollutant concentrations, wind and wave exposure, dissolved oxygen levels and nutrient concentration conditions under WLF, aquatic macrophytes can demonstrate remarkable adaptive plasticity. This resilience was mediated through rapid adjustments in survival strategies, coupled with morphological traits, physiological processes and reproductive modifications. While their adaptive capacities were limited, and varied depending on life-forms, species or the WLF amplitudes, fluctuations in water level often precipitated rapid shifts in dominant species or even community succession over short timeframes. Consequently, while moderate WLF might confer ecological benefits, prolonged or extreme WLF posed substantial threats to aquatic vegetation. Synthesizing these findings, we developed a conceptual model diagram integrating the multifaceted responses of aquatic macrophytes to flooding-induced WLF. Future research should prioritize investigating the ecological consequences of drawdown-induced WLF and the responses of marine macrophytes—areas that remain comparatively underexplored. Furthermore, implementing refined water-level-management regimes could help optimize the good functions and services delivered by aquatic ecosystems. Full article

Bismuth oxybromide (BiOBr), a layered semiconductor with good photogenerated carrier separation, is valuable for visible-light organic pollutant degradation. However, traditional hydrolysis-synthesized BiOBr has uneven particles, agglomeration, and insufficient active sites, limiting performance. This study used a microwave–hydrothermal method (adjusting time, temperature, power, pH) to prepare nanosheet-assembled BiOBr, characterized via XRD, SEM, Raman, and XPS. Under light irradiation, BiOBr primarily degrades Rhodamine B through direct oxidation by highly oxidative photogenerated holes, supplemented by the auxiliary oxidation of superoxide radicals. While maintaining a consistent catalyst loading, the optimal experimental conditions were applied (140 °C, 400 W, 10 min); 50–60 nm thick BiOBr achieved 95.4% RhB degradation (k = 0.03174 min⁻¹) in 100 min, far better than traditional BiOBr (61.16%, k = 0.00917 min⁻¹). This proves the method optimizes BiOBr performance. Full article

Edible bird’s nest (EBN) is considered to moisten the lung and nourish yin in China. EBN from different geographical sources vary in morphology, material composition and commercial value. In this study, EBN samples with four different colors were collected, and their protein compositions were analyzed by proteomics technology. Combined with characterization analysis, the physicochemical properties and material composition were analyzed, including physical morphology, protein composition, and metal element composition. Proteomic analysis initially identified 73 differential peptide sequences, of which 59 showed significant abundance differences (p < 0.05). After removing redundant peptide assignments, these sequences corresponded to 51 non-redundant proteins exhibiting significant abundance changes among the four EBN color groups. Among them, the beige edible bird’s nest (BEBN) contained a large number of amino acids with iron-chelating ability, which was consistent with its high Fe content. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis revealed that the functions of the differential proteins in EBN were mainly related to glycoprotein hydrolysis. In conclusion, this study elucidated different expressed proteins and their potential functions in EBN with various colors, which provided a basis for production standardization and processing advances in EBN industry. Full article

Background/Objectives: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of developmental disorders featured by social dysfunction, for which there still lacks effective treatments. Our previous study demonstrated that XAV939, a tankyrase inhibitor, could alleviate social dysfunction in two ASD mouse models via suppressing Wnt and glycolytic signaling. However, its further application is limited by poor brain–blood barrier penetration and low bioavailability. Methods: XAV939 was structurally optimized by esterification. The effects of XAV939-derivatives on Wnt/glycolysis were assessed by Western blotting, Topflash luciferase assay, lactate levels and the extracellular acidification rate. Social behaviors were evaluated by a three-chamber test, a resident–intruder test and ultrasonic vocalization. Biomimetic brain targeting was achieved by neuron-astrocyte hybrid cell membrane encapsulation. Periphery toxicities were examined by biochemical and histological analysis. Results: Three esterified XAV939 were synthesized. Data from both 293FT cells and primary Shank3b^-/- neurons revealed that an alkyl ester prodrug of XAV939 (named XAV939-L1) exhibited dual inhibition of Wnt/glycolysis. Intravenous injection of XAV939-L1 effectively improved the social function of Shank3b^-/- mice but showed hepatic side effects. Further, we made brain-targeting XAV939-L1 (XAV939-L1-BT) by neuron–astrocyte hybrid cell membrane encapsulation, which greatly enhanced the accumulation of XAV939-L1-BT in the brain and reduced its distribution in peripheral tissues (liver and intestine). At a half-dose of XAV939-L1, XAV939-L1-BT exhibited significant social improvement effects without obvious hepatic and intestinal toxicity. Conclusions: Our data demonstrated an esterified XAV939 and its biomimetic brain-targeted formula as a potential drug candidate for treating ASD-associated social dysfunction. Full article

Arachidonic acid (ARA) is an essential long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid for infant growth and development, commonly added to infant formula and supplementary foods as ARA oil or ARA powder. Since December 2025, infant formula products have been recalled in several countries due to cereulide contamination in ARA ingredients. Cereulide, a heat-resistant emetic toxin produced by Bacillus cereus, presents a serious threat to infant health. However, specific analytical methods for cereulide detection in ARA raw materials remain scarce, hindering effective quality control and source prevention of food safety hazards. This study developed and validated a rapid ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for the quantitative determination of cereulide in ARA oil and powder. Sample pretreatment was optimized according to matrix characteristics: for microencapsulated ARA powder, water dissolution was performed to release cereulide before acetonitrile extraction, whereas direct extraction was applied to ARA oil. Subsequent HLB-P pass-through solid-phase extraction effectively eliminated matrix interference in both matrices. The method exhibited excellent linearity (R² > 0.999) from 0.1 to 20 μg·L⁻¹, with an LOD of 0.03 μg·kg⁻¹ and an LOQ of 0.1 μg·kg⁻¹, respectively. Spike recoveries reached 90.7–107.0% for ARA oil (RSDs ≤ 6.5%) and 88.5–107.9% for ARA powder (RSDs ≤ 7.0%). This rapid and reliable method provides a critical analytical tool to monitor cereulide in ARA raw materials and mitigate infant safety hazards at the source. Full article

Osteoporosis (OP) and osteoarthritis (OA) are two common degenerative musculoskeletal disorders associated with aging and are traditionally classified and managed as distinct disease entities. Emerging evidence suggests that OP and OA may share bidirectional associations and common biological mechanisms, and that under specific pathological conditions they may develop into a mutually reinforcing comorbid state. The comorbidity of osteoporosis and osteoarthritis (OP–OA) is not a simple superimposition of bone loss and cartilage degeneration; rather, it represents a disorder of the osteochondral unit centered on disruption of the subchondral bone microenvironment. Alterations in the structural strength, remodeling dynamics, vascular and neural status, and bone marrow lesions of subchondral bone collectively reshape the local microenvironment, thereby directly affecting mechanical signal transmission and cellular behavior within the joint. Focusing on the subchondral bone microenvironment as the central pathological nexus, this review systematically summarizes how mechanical imbalance, aberrant bone remodeling, inflammatory activation, metabolic dysregulation, and cellular senescence jointly remodel the local niche in OP–OA comorbidity. These microenvironmental changes further induce phenotypic remodeling and fate deviation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, bone remodeling-related cells, osteoimmune cells, and chondrocytes. On this basis, we integrate the regulatory roles of developmental signaling, mechanotransduction pathways, and inflammatory–immune signaling networks, and propose that microenvironment-driven cell fate plasticity may serve as a key mechanistic hub promoting the initiation and progression of OP–OA comorbidity as well as the persistent destabilization of the osteochondral unit. This perspective may help overcome the limitations of current studies that address OP and OA separately, and may provide a theoretical framework for early identification and stratification, biomarker discovery, and combined precision-targeted interventions for this comorbid condition. Full article

Corydalis ophiocarpa is a medicinally valuable plant, noted for its abundant alkaloid content. Despite its significance, the mitochondrial (mt) genome of this plant has not been characterized, which impedes both the phylogenetic understanding within the Corydalis genus and the comprehension of its full genetic potential. In this research, we successfully assembled the complete mitogenome of C. ophiocarpa by employing a hybrid method that integrates Oxford Nanopore long reads with Illumina short reads. The assembled genome forms a circular structure of 600,064 bp, with a GC content of 46.49%, and includes 63 genes, comprising 40 unique protein-coding genes (PCGs), 20 tRNAs, and three rRNAs. Through assembly and coverage analysis, we identified a 6383 bp forward repeat associated with a contig having approximately double the depth, indicating a repeat-mediated multipartite structure where the main circle may coexist with two smaller subgenomic forms. We discovered 775 C-to-U RNA editing sites across the 40 PCGs, with 95.4% being non-synonymous and favoring hydrophobic amino acid substitutions, particularly in Complex I subunits. Furthermore, we identified sixteen mt plastid DNA fragments constituting 2.43% of the mitogenome, a proportion more than double that found in the closely related C. saxicola. Phylogenetic analysis confirms that C. ophiocarpa is most closely related to C. saxicola, with C. pauciovulata as another close relative. This study presents the first complete mitogenome of C. ophiocarpa, providing a genomic basis for investigating the relationships between mt genome structure, post-transcriptional regulation, and specialized metabolism in the Corydalis genus. Full article

Neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) is a lethal subtype of prostate cancer (PCa) that emerges under androgen deprivation and is associated with therapeutic resistance. The contribution of volume-regulated anion channels (VRACs) to this process remains poorly understood. This study identified leucine-rich repeat-containing 8 subunit D (LRRC8D), a VRAC subunit, as the only family member consistently downregulated in NEPC and associated with neuroendocrine (NE)-like features. LRRC8D downregulation was accompanied by suppression of swelling-activated VRAC currents, increased synaptophysin (SYP) expression, decreased cisplatin sensitivity, and neurosecretory remodeling. Conversely, LRRC8D overexpression enhanced cisplatin-induced apoptosis, reduced colony formation, and suppressed tumor growth in xenograft models, including under cisplatin treatment. Consistent alterations in LRRC8D and SYP expression were also observed in enzalutamide-resistant patient-derived organoids. Mechanistically, RE1-silencing transcription factor (REST) promoted LRRC8D transcription. Functional analyses further demonstrated that CAV-1 acted upstream of LRRC8D, and LRRC8D negatively regulated STAT3 activation. Together, these findings indicate that LRRC8D influences PCa phenotype and platinum responsiveness, and implicate a regulatory axis involving LRRC8D and CAV-1/STAT3 signaling in NE-associated features of advanced PCa. Functional analyses further showed that CAV-1 acted upstream of LRRC8D, and LRRC8D negatively regulated STAT3 activation. Together, these findings indicate that LRRC8D influences PCa phenotype and platinum responsiveness and implicate a regulatory axis involving LRRC8D and CAV-1/STAT3 signaling in NE-associated features of advanced PCa. Full article

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease with limited therapeutic options, highlighting the urgent need to explore alternative mechanisms and agents. Chlorogenic acid (CGA), a dietary polyphenol, exhibits anti-asthmatic properties, but its precise molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanistic basis of CGA’s anti-asthmatic effects, hypothesizing a central role in regulating polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism and ferroptosis. An ovalbumin-induced murine asthma model was established in female BALB/c mice to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of CGA through inflammatory cell counts, cytokine levels (ELISA), and lung histopathology. Integrated lung lipidomics (LC-MS/MS) was employed to profile lipid mediators and phospholipids. The underlying mechanism was investigated in erastin-induced ferroptosis in BEAS-2B cells and validated in mouse lung tissue using qPCR, immunofluorescence, and assays for reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Fe²⁺. CGA treatment significantly attenuated airway inflammation, reduced Th2 cytokine (IL-4, IL-5) and IgE levels, and ameliorated lung pathology in a dose-dependent manner. Lipidomics revealed that asthma was associated with dysregulated docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) metabolism, characterized by elevated pro-inflammatory lipid peroxidation products (e.g., 11-HDoHE, 14-HDoHE), a profile reversed by CGA intervention. Mechanistically, molecular docking and subsequent validation identified CGA as an activator of the Nrf2 antioxidant pathway, leading to upregulation of the key ferroptosis defense genes SLC7A11 and GPX4 both in vitro and in vivo. Consequently, CGA treatment suppressed erastin-induced ROS production and Fe²⁺ accumulation in BEAS-2B cells. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that CGA exerts anti-asthmatic effects by reprogramming DHA metabolism to suppress ferroptosis while enhancing antioxidant pathways. These findings reveal a novel mechanistic axis for CGA and establish that targeting lipid peroxidation-driven ferroptosis represents a promising therapeutic strategy for asthma. Full article

To investigate the differences in reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism and signal transduction between the illuminated and non-illuminated surfaces of mangoes exposed to red light, this study used “Tainong No.1” mangoes as the test material, setting up three groups: mango exposed to red light, mango without red light and mango in darkness. The study measured maturity physiological indicators, ROS content, antioxidant enzyme activity, non-enzymatic substances, and combinations with DIA proteomics analysis. The results showed that red light exposure promoted the overall ripening of mangoes, and there was almost no difference in ripening between mango exposed to red light and mango without red light. Red light mainly induced rapid accumulation of hydrogen peroxide in the peel of the irradiated area and stimulated the synthesis of superoxide anion in the pulp. The antioxidant capacity of both the irradiated and non-irradiated areas was enhanced. Key proteins in the ROS signaling pathways such as Rab11, LRK-RLK, and PIN3 were significantly upregulated. In summary, red light promotes synchronous ripening of mango fruits by coordinately regulating the ROS homeostasis of the tissue, and provides new insights into the use of light signals for regulating fruit metabolism. Full article

Cereulide is a heat-stable cyclic depsipeptide toxin produced by Bacillus cereus and is responsible for foodborne emetic syndrome. Recent reports of Bacillus cereus contamination and cereulide occurrence in infant formula have raised increasing food safety concerns. Due to the immature immune and metabolic systems of infants, exposure to cereulide through contaminated formula may lead to potential health risks. However, direct application of existing cereulide analytical methods to infant formula remains challenging because of the unique processing technologies, encapsulated nutrients, and variable matrix composition of this product category, which may hinder toxin release and cause significant matrix interference. In practical analysis, inter-laboratory comparisons revealed that existing methods exhibited relatively large deviations and insufficient sensitivity, making them not specifically optimized for infant formula matrices. The present study was motivated by the need for a matrix-specific, sensitive, and reliable analytical method for cereulide determination in infant formula. In this study, a method based on solid-phase extraction coupled with ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (SPE–UPLC–MS/MS) was developed and validated. To improve the applicability of cereulide analysis to infant formula, this method incorporates a hydration-assisted extraction step tailored to infant formula, which increased the detected cereulide response by approximately fourfold, together with optimized SPE clean-up and improved chromatographic conditions to reduce matrix effects and enhance quantitative reproducibility. The method showed good linearity (0.1–10 μg·L⁻¹, R² > 0.999), low values for limit of detection (LOD) (0.03 μg·kg⁻¹) and limit of quantification (LOQ) (0.1 μg·kg⁻¹), and acceptable recoveries (94.4–110.3%) with RSDs below 3.7%. The developed method was successfully applied to commercial infant formula samples, and cereulide-positive samples were identified. This method provides a reliable analytical tool for the monitoring of cereulide in infant formula and contributes to improved food safety surveillance and exposure risk assessment. Full article

Potato early blight (EB), caused by Alternaria, is an economically devastating fungal disease affecting global potato production. Using a hybrid population derived from distantly related varieties, we combined resistance evaluation, histological analysis, Bulked Segregant Analysis sequencing, RNA sequencing and molecular dynamics simulation, which successfully identified key candidate resistance genes. Genetic mapping localized three major resistance-associated regions on chromosome 8 spanning positions 25.07–29.20 Mb, 38.05–38.80 Mb, and 39.40–40.78 Mb. Through candidate gene analysis, we identified CND41, encoding an aspartic protease, as the prime candidate. This gene exhibited significantly higher basal expression levels and stronger pathogen-induced upregulation in resistant genotypes. Molecular dynamics simulations further identified six crucial non-synonymous mutations in the TAXI-N domain that likely contribute to enhanced resistance by destabilizing the susceptibility-associated protein conformation. Transient overexpression of CND41 provided functional evidence supporting its likely involvement in early blight resistance (EBR). These findings contribute valuable genetic resources and a strong candidate gene for molecular breeding toward EBR potato varieties. Full article

Electronics evolution drives SMMs as a frontier, overcoming conventional magnetic material limits via molecular spin coupling. Two relevant Co(II) mononuclear complexes, [Co(MOP)₄(N₃)₂] (1) and [Co(MSP)₄(N₃)₂] (2) (MOP = 4-methoxypridine and MSP = 4-methylthiopyridine) were synthesized through changing the substituents of ligands. The Co(II) ions in the two complexes show octahedron coordination geometries. The replacement of the O to S in the equatorial plane leads to different Jahn–Teller effect because of the shorter Co(II)-N in the equatorial plane, resulting in the significantly different slow relaxation process confirmed by ab initio calculation. The results confirm the Co(II) ion is sensitive to ligand field. Full article

Peroxisomes are ubiquitous organelles that play vital roles in various physiological and biochemical processes, including fatty acid β-oxidation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism. These organelles have been implicated in the pathogenicity of many plant fungal pathogens. In this study, CaPex8, a homolog of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Pex8, was identified and characterized in Colletotrichum aenigma. CaPEX8 was found to localize to peroxisomes, and its deletion impaired the mutant’s ability to utilize fatty acids as a carbon source. Using a green fluorescent protein (GFP) fused to the peroxisomal targeting signal PTS1, the import of peroxisomal matrix proteins was shown to be defective in ΔCapex8 mutants. Additionally, the mutants exhibited elevated conidiation, increased sensitivity to osmotic stress and oxidative stress, and impaired cell wall integrity. Peroxisome biogenesis was also disrupted in the absence of CaPEX8. Taken together, these results demonstrate that CaPex8 is essential for maintaining peroxisomal structure and function, and it significantly influences fungal growth, development, and pathogenicity in C. aenigma. Full article

Novel duck reovirus encodes a new nucleus-localized protein, p18. We aimed to investigate whether the nuclear entry of p18 is dependent on viral replication, identify the cellular proteins that interact with p18, and determine the transporters involved in the nuclear import. The subcellular localization of p18 was observed by confocal microscopy. Cellular proteins interacting with p18 were identified through data-independent acquisition qualitative proteomics. The interaction between p18 and importin α was determined by confocal microscopy, co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) and molecular docking. We observed that p18 was localized to the nucleus in transfected cells. Importin α1, α3, α4, α5, and α7 were colocalized and co-immunoprecipitated with p18. The importin α/β1 pathway inhibitor reduced the nuclear distribution of p18. The truncated form of p18, lacking the C-terminal region, was predominantly distributed in the cytoplasm. Collectively, our research suggests that the nuclear entry of p18 is independent of viral infection, importin α is implicated in the nuclear import of p18, and the C-terminal region of p18 is crucial for nuclear localization. Full article