Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
5.7
3.6
Journals
Biology
Special Issues
The Effect of Food- and Nutrient-Derived Molecules on Cells and...
share announcement

The Effect of Food- and Nutrient-Derived Molecules on Cells and Tissue

A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737). This special issue belongs to the section "Biochemistry and Molecular Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 10113

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Roberta Moschini

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via S. Zeno 51, 56127 Pisa, Italy
Interests: enzyme kinetic; enzyme inhibition assays; nutraceuticals; natural or synthetic bioactive compounds; proteins purification; oxidative stress; antioxidants; cellular biochemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Francesca Felice

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via S. Zeno 51, 56127 Pisa, Italy
Interests: resveratrol; endothelial cells; oxidative stress; cardiovascular risk factors; molecules from natural extracts; endothelial progenitor cells; biomarkers; cardiovascular disease; polyphenols; biomaterials; antioxidant enzymes

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nutrition and diet characterized by healthy components can exert positive effects at the cellular level.

Studies on molecular mechanisms modulated by natural extracts and the identification of biological effects are of great scientific interest.

The isolation and molecular characterization of these molecules from natural sources, associated with the study on cellular transport and proliferation, the regulation of enzyme activity, and pro- or anti-inflammatory effects, provides new knowledge in the biological field of nutrient-derived molecules.

In this Special Issue, we aim to provide new insights into naturally occurring molecules by encouraging authors to submit their research or reviews that will help to evaluate the nutraceutical role of naturally occurring molecules that could help to define the role of “functional foods”. In fact, the term “functional foods” should not only include their nutritional properties, but also their effects in terms of biological activity.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Roberta Moschini
Dr. Francesca Felice
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biology is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • natural products
  • molecules
  • nutrition
  • antioxidants
  • cell biology
  • metabolism

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

17 pages, 1242 KiB  
Article
Impacts of Whole-Grain Soft Red, Whole-Grain Soft White, and Refined Soft White Wheat Flour Crackers on Gastrointestinal Inflammation and the Gut Microbiota of Adult Humans
by Gigi A. Kinney, Eliot N. Haddad, Neha Gopalakrishnan, Kameron Y. Sugino, Linda S. Garrow, Perry K. W. Ng and Sarah S. Comstock
Biology 2024, 13(9), 677; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13090677 - 30 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1840
Abstract
Consumption of whole-grain wheat has been associated with positive health outcomes, but it remains unclear whether different types of wheat elicit varying effects on the gut microbiome and intestinal inflammation. The objectives of this research were to investigate the effect of two whole-grain [...] Read more.
Consumption of whole-grain wheat has been associated with positive health outcomes, but it remains unclear whether different types of wheat elicit varying effects on the gut microbiome and intestinal inflammation. The objectives of this research were to investigate the effect of two whole-grain wheat flours versus refined wheat flour on the diversity of the human gut microbiota, as well as on butyrate production capacity and gastrointestinal inflammation, using one-week dietary interventions. For this study, 28 participants were recruited, with ages ranging from 18 to 55 years and a mean BMI of 26.0 kg/m2. For four weeks, participants were provided 80 g daily servings of different wheat crackers: Week A was a run-in period of crackers made from soft white wheat flour, Week B crackers were whole-grain soft white wheat flour, Week C crackers were a wash-out period identical to Week A, and Week D crackers were whole-grain soft red wheat flour. At the end of each week, participants provided fecal samples that were analyzed for markers of intestinal inflammation, including lipocalin and calprotectin, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and quantitative real-time PCR. The primary outcome, gut bacterial community alpha and beta diversity, was similar across timepoints. Three taxa significantly differed in abundance following both whole-grain wheat flour interventions: Escherichia/Shigella and Acidaminococcus were significantly depleted, and Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 group was enriched. Secondary outcomes determined that protein markers of intestinal inflammation and genes related to putative butyrate production capacity were similar throughout the study period, with no significant changes. Lipocalin concentrations ranged from 14.8 to 22.6 ng/mL while calprotectin ranged from 33.2 to 62.5 ng/mL across all 4 weeks. The addition of wheat crackers to the adult human subjects’ usual diet had a minimal impact on their gastrointestinal inflammation or the gut microbiota. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effect of Food- and Nutrient-Derived Molecules on Cells and Tissue)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 1824 KiB  
Article
SLC16a6, mTORC1, and Autophagy Regulate Ketone Body Excretion in the Intestinal Cells
by Takashi Uebanso, Moeka Fukui, Chisato Naito, Takaaki Shimohata, Kazuaki Mawatari and Akira Takahashi
Biology 2023, 12(12), 1467; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12121467 - 26 Nov 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2911
Abstract
Ketone bodies serve several functions in the intestinal epithelium, such as stem cell maintenance, cell proliferation and differentiation, and cancer growth. Nevertheless, there is limited understanding of the mechanisms governing the regulation of intestinal ketone body concentration. In this study, we elucidated the [...] Read more.
Ketone bodies serve several functions in the intestinal epithelium, such as stem cell maintenance, cell proliferation and differentiation, and cancer growth. Nevertheless, there is limited understanding of the mechanisms governing the regulation of intestinal ketone body concentration. In this study, we elucidated the factors responsible for ketone body production and excretion using shRNA-mediated or pharmacological inhibition of specific genes or functions in the intestinal cells. We revealed that a fasting-mimicked culture medium, which excluded glucose, pyruvate, and glutamine, augmented ketone body production and excretion in the Caco2 and HT29 colorectal cells. This effect was attenuated by glucose or glutamine supplementation. On the other hand, the inhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin complex1 (mTORC1) recovered a fraction of the excreted ketone bodies. In addition, the pharmacological or shbeclin1-mediated inhibition of autophagy suppressed ketone body excretion. The knockdown of basigin, a transmembrane protein responsible for targeting monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs), such as MCT1 and MCT4, suppressed lactic acid and pyruvic acid excretion but increased ketone body excretion. Finally, we found that MCT7 (SLC16a6) knockdown suppressed ketone body excretion. Our findings indicate that the mTORC1–autophagy axis and MCT7 are potential targets to regulate ketone body excretion from the intestinal epithelium. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effect of Food- and Nutrient-Derived Molecules on Cells and Tissue)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

19 pages, 687 KiB  
Review
Exploring Trimethylaminuria: Genetics and Molecular Mechanisms, Epidemiology, and Emerging Therapeutic Strategies
by Antonina Sidoti, Rosalia D’Angelo, Andrea Castagnetti, Elisa Viciani, Concetta Scimone, Simona Alibrandi and Giuseppe Giannini
Biology 2024, 13(12), 961; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13120961 - 22 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2342
Abstract
Trimethylaminuria (TMAU) is a rare metabolic syndrome caused by the accumulation of trimethylamine in the body, causing odor emissions similar to rotten fish in affected patients. This condition is determined by both genetic and environmental factors, especially gut dysbiosis. The multifactorial nature of [...] Read more.
Trimethylaminuria (TMAU) is a rare metabolic syndrome caused by the accumulation of trimethylamine in the body, causing odor emissions similar to rotten fish in affected patients. This condition is determined by both genetic and environmental factors, especially gut dysbiosis. The multifactorial nature of this syndrome makes for a complex and multi-level diagnosis. To date, many aspects of this disease are still unclear. Recent research revealed the FMO3 haplotypes’ role on the enzyme’s catalytic activity. This could explain why patients showing only combined polymorphisms or heterozygous causative variants also manifest the TMAU phenotype. In addition, another research hypothesized that the behavioral disturbances showed by patients may be linked to gut microbiota alterations. Our review considers current knowledge about TMAU, clarifying its molecular aspects, the therapeutic approaches used to limit this condition, and the new therapies that are under study. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effect of Food- and Nutrient-Derived Molecules on Cells and Tissue)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

31 pages, 2280 KiB  
Review
Bioactive Peptides from Corn (Zea mays L.) with the Potential to Decrease the Risk of Developing Non-Communicable Chronic Diseases: In Silico Evaluation
by Caroline Cagnin, Bianca de Fátima Garcia, Thais de Souza Rocha and Sandra Helena Prudencio
Biology 2024, 13(10), 772; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13100772 - 27 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1931
Abstract
Studies have shown that corn (Zea mays L.) proteins, mainly α-zein, have the potential to act on therapeutic targets related to non-communicable chronic diseases, such as high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. Enzymatic hydrolysis of proteins present in foods can result [...] Read more.
Studies have shown that corn (Zea mays L.) proteins, mainly α-zein, have the potential to act on therapeutic targets related to non-communicable chronic diseases, such as high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. Enzymatic hydrolysis of proteins present in foods can result in a great diversity of peptides with different structures and possible bioactivities. A review of recent scientific research papers was performed to show evidence of the bioactive properties of corn peptides by in vitro assays. The α-zein amino acid sequences were identified in the UniProtKB protein database and then analyzed in the BIOPEP database to simulate enzymatic digestion and verify the potential biological action of the resulting peptides. The peptides found in the BIOPEP database were categorized according to the probability of presenting biological action using the PeptideRanker database. The aim was to use existing data to identify in silico the potential for obtaining biologically active peptides from α-zein, the main storage protein of corn. The analysis showed that the majority of peptide fragments were related to the inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme, followed by the inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase IV and dipeptidyl peptidase III. Many drugs used to treat high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes work by inhibiting these enzymes, suggesting that corn peptides could be potential alternative agents. In vitro studies found that the primary bioactivity observed was antioxidative action. Both in vitro and in silico approaches are valuable for evaluating the bioactive properties resulting from protein hydrolysis, such as those found in α-zein. However, conducting in vitro studies based on prior in silico evaluation can be more efficient and cost-effective. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effect of Food- and Nutrient-Derived Molecules on Cells and Tissue)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-4
Back to TopTop