Search Results (85)

Temperature strongly influences physiological processes in ectotherms, including digestion, yet its effects on digestive enzyme activity remain poorly understood. We examined the temperature dependence of digestive performance in eight Mediterranean wall lizard species (Podarcis spp.) from mainland and island populations. Under controlled laboratory conditions, we measured the activity of three key enzymes, protease, lipase, and maltase, across a temperature gradient (20–55 °C), alongside gastrointestinal (GI) morphology. Enzyme activity generally increased with temperature up to 50 °C and declined thereafter, reflecting typical thermal kinetics. Lipase activity was consistently higher in island species, while protease and maltase showed no significant geographic or phylogenetic trends. Island lizards also exhibited longer and heavier GI tracts relative to body size (SVL), suggesting enhanced nutrient absorption capacity. Phylogenetic signal analyses (Pagel’s λ and Abouheif’s C_mean) revealed no significant evolutionary constraints on digestive traits, indicating that observed differences reflect ecological adaptation rather than ancestry. Overall, island species appear to have evolved digestive traits that improve energy extraction under resource-limited conditions, but may be more sensitive to extreme heat. These findings highlight contrasting adaptive strategies between island and mainland reptiles and underscore the importance of digestive physiology in predicting the response of species to warming climates. Full article

Background: The synthesis and biological investigation of pyrrolidine (L-gulo) iminosugars bearing an organic boron pharmacophore in ortho and meta positions of an N-benzyl group is reported. This paper completes the structure–activity relationship data for this novel family of boron-bearing iminosugars. These can establish reversible intramolecular interactions via dative bonding from nucleophilic amino acid side chains to the empty p-orbital of the boron atom. Methods: Inhibitory activities against two panels of glycosidases and cancer cell lines were investigated to ascertain structure–activity relationship profiles for these novel iminosugar drug leads. Results: These iminosugars display selective, moderate-to-weak inhibitions (IC₅₀s = 116–617 μM) of β-D-galactosidase (bovine liver), and indications of inhibition of β-D-glucosidases (almond, bovine liver) (IC₅₀s = 633 and 710 μM) and α-D-glucosidases (rice, yeast, rat intestinal maltase) (IC₅₀s = 106–784 μM). The boronic acid group emerges as a useful pharmacophore for management of lysosomal storage disorders via the chaperone-mediated therapy approach. The cancer assays revealed that the A2780 ovarian carcinoma cell line is selectively inhibited by all compounds screened and the MIA-Pa-Ca2 pancreatic carcinoma cell line is selectively inhibited by most compounds. Growth inhibition and GI₅₀ values were most potent for the meta 7 side-product. Conclusions: Beyond the cancer cell line inhibition and dose-response capabilities, the real therapeutic potential of these borylated drugs lies in their switch on/switch off activation under boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) radiotherapeutic conditions, thus providing an important area of application for borylated monosaccharides. Full article

Wheat production and grain quality are adversely affected by drought stress. The deployment of wheat genotypes with improved grain yield and grain quality assists in achieving food security and maintaining a balanced diet. Therefore, this study is aimed at evaluating the phenotypic traits and grain quality responses of wheat genotypes to drought-stressed conditions. Two field trials were conducted to evaluate ten wheat genotypes under drought-stressed (DS) and non-stressed (NS) conditions in 2022 and 2023. The grains of the genotypes were further evaluated for their quality. The recorded phenotypic traits include grain yield (GY), shoot biomass (SB), root biomass (RB), and harvest index (HI). The grain quality traits recorded were grain carbon content (C), nitrogen (N), and crude protein (CP). Significant (p < 0.05) genetic variation were observed for the recorded phenotypic and grain quality traits. The highest grain yield was recorded in LM48 (495.83 g m⁻²), and the least was observed in BW141 (131.48 g m⁻²) under DS conditions. The N ranged from 1.76% recorded in LM75 to 3.16% (BW141) under DS conditions. The wheat genotypes, LM48 and BW140, presented high harvest index percentages, which indicates that the genotypes were efficient in partitioning their biomass to GY production even under DS conditions. The overall mean values of C and CP were lower under DS than NS conditions. Furthermore, GY was positively associated with SB (r = 0.50 under DS; r = 0.49 under NS) and RB (r = 0.38 under DS conditions; r = 0.32 under NS conditions). Amongst all the evaluated quality traits, only CP was negatively correlated with GY (r = −0.02) under DS conditions. Based on high GY production performance under DS conditions, the wheat genotypes LM48 and BW140 are recommended for further evaluation across diverse environments and production under limited water conditions. Full article

Drought stress is a major constraint to cassava productivity, especially in drought-prone regions. Although cassava is considered drought-tolerant, prolonged or severe water scarcity significantly reduces tuber yield, carbon assimilation capacity and overall plant growth. The development, selection and deployment of cassava genotypes with enhanced drought tolerance and water use efficiency (WUE) will help to achieve food security. The ability of cassava genotypes to maintain productivity under drought stress is enhanced by drought-responsive genes that regulate stress-related proteins and metabolites, contributing to stomatal closure, osmotic adjustment, antioxidant defense, and efficient carbon assimilation. Therefore, this comprehensive review aimed to document: (i) the effects of drought stress on cassava’s physiological, biochemical and agronomic traits, and (ii) the mitigation strategies and breeding technologies that can improve cassava yield production, drought tolerance and WUE. The key traits discussed include stomatal regulation, chlorophyll degradation, source–sink imbalance, root system architecture and carbon allocation dynamics. In addition, the review presents advances in genomic, proteomic and metabolomic tools, and emphasizes the role of early bulking genotypes, drought tolerance indices, and multi-trait selection in developing cassava cultivars with enhanced drought tolerance, drought escape and drought avoidance mechanism. Therefore, the integration of these strategies will accelerate the development, selection and deployment of improved cassava varieties, which contribute to sustainable productivity and global food security under climate change. Full article

Although the pancreas is the organ that produces the most critical digestive enzymes, there are other important contributors to the cleavage of food into absorbable units. Pre-pancreatic digestion of carbohydrates occurs through the action of salivary amylase. Pre-pancreatic digestion of fats is mediated by lingual and gastric lipases, and their action may be important as a signal for coordinated digestion. Pepsin, which is present in the stomach, initiates the digestion of dietary proteins into peptides and amplifies distal proteolysis. The major post-pancreatic intestinal carbohydrate-digesting enzymes are sucrase-isomaltase, maltase-glucoamylase and lactase-phlorizin hydrolase. There are no post-pancreatic mucosal enzymes that act on dietary triglycerides; however, the complete digestion of phospholipids depends on several brush border phospholipases. Intestinal processing is an important contributor to digestion of proteins, although mucosal proteases may serve as signaling proteins rather than as primary adjuncts to dietary protein digestion and absorption. This review describes the role of these non-pancreatic digestive enzymes in supporting nutritional health. Full article

This study investigates the Enzyme Biofilm Method (EBM), a biological wastewater treatment technology previously developed by the authors. EBM employs microbial-derived hydrolytic enzyme groups in the initial treatment stage to break down high-molecular-weight organic matter—such as starch, proteins, and fats—into low-molecular-weight compounds. These compounds enhance the growth of native microorganisms, promoting biofilm formation on carriers and improving treatment efficiency. Over the past decade, EBM has been practically applied in food factory wastewater facilities handling high organic loads. The enzyme groups used in EBM are derived from cultures of Bacillus mojavensis, Saccharomyces cariocanus, and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei. To clarify the system’s mechanism and ensure its practical viability, this study focused on starch—a prevalent and recalcitrant component of food wastewater—using two evaluation approaches. Verification 1: Field testing at a starch factory showed that adding enzyme groups to the equalization tank effectively reduced biological oxygen demand (BOD) through starch degradation. Verification 2: Laboratory experiments confirmed that the enzyme groups possess both amylase and maltase activities, sequentially breaking down starch into glucose. The resulting glucose supports microbial growth, facilitating biofilm formation and BOD reduction. These findings confirm EBM’s potential as a sustainable and effective solution for treating high-strength food industry wastewater. Full article

Background: Reducing postprandial blood glucose (PBG) is a crucial strategy for treating diabetes and minimizing the risk of complications. Developing efficient and safe α-glycosidase inhibitors from natural products to lower PBG has attracted much attention. Silphium perfoliatum L. (SP), a traditional herbal medicine of North American Indigenous tribes, has efficacy of treating metabolic diseases, but its hypoglycemic activity and bioactive components have not been fully studied. Methods: In vitro α-glucosidase inhibition and in vivo sucrose/maltose/starch tolerance assays were performed to assess the hypoglycemic effects of SP extracts, and UPLC-Triple-TOF-MS/MS analysis was used to tentatively identify its chemical structure composition. In vitro enzyme inhibition and molecular docking were used to verify the effective ingredients. Results: In vitro hypoglycemic activities of four extracts of SP (SP-10/SP-40/SP-60/SP-C) showed that SP-10 exhibited strong α-glucosidase (sucrase and maltase) inhibitory effects with IC₅₀ of 67.81 μg/mL and 62.99 μg/mL, respectively. Carbohydrate tolerance assays demonstrated that SP-10 could significantly reduce the PBG levels of diabetic mice, with a significant hypoglycemic effect at a dosage of 20 mg/kg. A total of 26 constituents, including 11 caffeoylquinic acids (CQAs) and 15 flavonol glycosides, were tentatively identified by mainly analyzing secondary MS fragmentation. Moreover, three CQAs rich in SP-10, namely chlorogenic acid (CGA), neochlorogenic acid (NCGA), and cryptochlorogenic acid (CCGA), may be the main hypoglycemic substances, as evidenced by their inhibitory effects on sucrase and maltase. Conclusions: The α-glucosidase inhibitory effects of SP extract both in vitro and in vivo and its active ingredients were systematically studied for the first time. Results indicated that SP extract, rich in CQAs, had significant hypoglycemic activity, supporting the considerable potential of SP as hypoglycemic functional food or cost-effective therapeutic agents for diabetes treatment. Full article

Fermented vegetables are highly valued by consumers for their distinct flavors and rich nutritional content. Microbial fermentation imparts distinct flavors to these vegetables, with red yeast being a common microorganism involved in the fermentation process. However, studies on the impact of red yeast on flavor development in fermented vegetables remain scarce. This study employed multi-omics to analyze the effect of glycosidase produced by Rhodotorula mucilaginosa on the release of bound flavor compounds in vegetables. The results indicate that the yeast possesses multiple glycosidase-encoding genes, with the activities of α-galactosidase, β-glucosidase, and α-mannosidase being detected. Following the inoculation of yeast into fermented vegetable juice, a significant increase was observed in the expression of the β-glucosidase gene (bglX) and the α-glucosidase maltase gene (malL), alongside an increase in the content of flavor compounds correlated with the enzymatic activity detected. The application of commercial glycosidase to vegetable juice resulted in increased levels of cis-2-pentenol, hyacinthin, geranylacetone, and 1-dodecanol, consistent with findings from yeast-fermented vegetable juice. Thus, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa can secrete glycosidases that hydrolyze and release endogenous bound flavor compounds in vegetables, thereby enhancing the flavor quality of the final product. Full article

Honeybees are of economic importance not only for honey production, but also for crop pollination, which amounts to USD 20 billion per year in the United States. However, the number of honeybee colonies has declined more than 40% during the last few decades. Although this decline is attributed to a combination of factors (parasites, diseases, pesticides, and nutrition), unlike other factors, the effect of nutrition on honeybee health is not well documented. In this study, we assessed the differential expression of seven genes linked to honeybee health under three different diets. These included immune function genes [Cactus, immune deficiency (IMD), Spaetzle)], genes involved in nutrition, cellular defense, longevity, and behavior (Vitellogenin, Malvolio), a gene involved in energy metabolism (Maltase), and a gene associated with locomotory behavior (Single-minded). The diets included (a) commercial pollen patties and sugar syrup, (b) monofloral (anise hyssop), and (c) polyfloral (marigold, anise hyssop, sweet alyssum, and basil). Over the 2.7-month experimental periods, adult bees in controls fed pollen patties and sugar syrup showed upregulated Cactus (involved in Toll pathway) and IMD (signaling pathway controls antibacterial defense) expression, while their counterparts fed monofloral and polyfloral diets downregulated the expression of these genes. Unlike Cactus and IMD, the gene expression profile of Spaetzle (involved in Toll pathway) did not differ across treatments during the experimental period except that it was significantly downregulated on day 63 and day 84 in bees fed polyfloral diets. The Vitellogenin gene indicated that monofloral and polyfloral diets significantly upregulated this gene and enhanced lifespan, foraging behavior, and immunity in adult bees fed with monofloral diets. The expression of Malvolio (involved in sucrose responsiveness and foraging behavior) was upregulated when food reserves (pollen and nectar) were limited in adult bees fed polyfloral diets. Adult bees fed with monofloral diets significantly upregulated the expression of Maltase (involved in energy metabolisms) compared to their counterparts in control diets to the end of the experimental period. Single-Minded Homolog 2 (involved in locomotory behavior) was also upregulated in adult bees fed pollen patties and sugar syrup compared to their counterparts fed monofloral and polyfloral diets. Thus, the food source significantly affected honeybee health and triggered an up- and downregulation of these genes, which correlated with the health and activities of the honeybee colonies. Overall, we found that the companion crops (monofloral and polyfloral) provided higher nutritional benefits to enhance honeybee health than the pollen patty and sugar syrup used currently by beekeepers. Furthermore, while it has been reported that bees require pollen from diverse sources to maintain a healthy physiology and hive, our data on nuclear colonies indicated that a single-species diet (such as anise hyssop) is nutritionally adequate and better or comparable to polyfloral diets. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report indicating better nutritional benefits from monofloral diets (anise hyssop) over polyfloral diets for honeybee colonies (nucs) in semi-large-scale experimental runs. Thus, we recommend that the landscape of any apiary include highly nutritious food sources, such as anise hyssop, throughout the season to enhance honeybee health. Full article

Early weaning in intensive pig production induces stress, compromising gastrointestinal health. Poor fat digestion results from the piglets’ underdeveloped digestive system. Dietary emulsifiers can enhance fat utilization, and glyceryl polyethylene glycol ricinoleate (GPGR) has been shown to improve pig performance. This study evaluated GPGR’s effects on intestinal health in weaned piglets in a commercial production farm. A total of 380 just weaned (21 days old) piglets were divided in two groups of 190 animals each (in four replicates) that received either a basal diet (control) or a basal diet + 350 g/ton GPGR pharmaceutical formulation as top dress. Blood samples were collected at pre-established days, and intestinal sampling occurred 15 days post-weaning. Plasma cortisol, citrulline, intestinal morphology, mucus quality, enzymatic activity, volatile fatty acids (VFAs), and cecal microbiota were analyzed. GPGR did not alter plasma cortisol but increased citrullinemia (P: 0.024), suggesting greater enterocyte functional mass. GPGR piglets showed improved intestinal morphology (greater villus height, villus height:crypt depth ratio, and intestinal absorption area, p < 0.05) and higher enzymatic maltase activity (p ≤ 0.014). VFAs, bacterial adherence to mucus, and goblet cell counts were unaffected. Dietary GPGR increased Firmicutes and Actinobacteria (P: 0.014 and P: 0.045, respectively) while reducing Proteobacteria (p < 0.001). In conclusion, dietary GPGR promotes intestinal health in weaned piglets by improving epithelial structure, digestive function, and microbiota balance, representing a promising strategy to support piglets in overcoming the early nursery phase. Full article

Obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are major health concerns worldwide, often managed with treatments that have significant limitations and side effects. This study examines the potential of sodium alginates, extracted from Ecklonia radiata and Sargassum elegans, to inhibit digestive enzymes involved in managing these conditions. We chemically characterized the sodium alginates and confirmed their structural integrity using FTIR, NMR, and TGA. The focus was on evaluating their ability to inhibit key digestive enzymes relevant to T2DM (α-amylase, α-glucosidase, sucrase, maltase) and obesity (pancreatic lipase). Enzyme inhibition assays revealed that these sodium alginates moderately inhibit α-glucosidase, maltase, and lipase by up to 43%, while showing limited effects on sucrase and α-amylase. In addition, the sodium alginates did not affect glucose uptake in human colorectal cells (HCT116), indicating they do not impact cellular glucose absorption. In summary, while the observed enzyme inhibition was moderate, the targeted inhibition of α-glucosidase, maltase, and lipase suggests that sodium alginates could be beneficial for managing postprandial hyperglycemia and lipid absorption in the context of T2DM and obesity. Full article

Malondialdehyde (MDA) is a reactive carbonyl compound produced through lipid peroxidation during feed storage, which poses a significant threat to fish health. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary MDA on the growth rate, gastrointestinal health, and muscle quality of striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus). A basal diet (M0) containing 34% crude protein and 10.5% crude lipid was formulated. Each group was sprayed with malondialdehyde solution (0, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg, on dietary crude lipid basis; 0, 0.53, 1.07, 2.13, 4.26, and 8.52 mg/kg, on dietary basis) before feeding, respectively. Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicates of 30 striped catfish (initial weight 31.38 g) per net cage. After 8 weeks, dietary inclusion of MDA regardless of level significantly depressed the growth rate and feed utilization. The extent of structural damage to the gastrointestinal tract increased progressively with increasing dietary MDA levels. The extent of damage to the intestinal biological barrier (intestinal microbial structure), chemical barrier (trypsin, lipase, amylase, and maltase activity), physical barrier (zonula occludent-2, occludin, claudin 7α, and claudin 12 relative expression), and immune barrier (contents of complement 4, complement 3, immunoglobulin M, and lysozyme activity) was dose-related to dietary MDA. Moreover, a linear decline in the activities of intestinal antioxidant enzymes (catalas, superoxide dismutase, et al.) and anti-inflammatory factor (transforming growth factor beta1, interleukin 10) relative expression was noted alongside an increase in dietary MDA content. In contrast, the relative expression levels of intestinal inflammatory factor (interleukin 8, transcription factor p65, tumor necrosis factor alpha) relative expression displayed an opposing trend. Additionally, dietary MDA exerted a linear influence on muscle color and texture characteristics. In conclusion, high doses of MDA (5–80 mg/kg) reduced the growth performance of striped catfish, attributed to linear damage to the gastrointestinal tract, a linear decrease in antioxidant function, and the occurrence of an inflammatory response. High doses of MDA (>40 mg/kg) were observed to significantly increase dorsal muscle b-value and induce muscle yellowing. Full article

Pruning is a common forest-tending method; its purpose is to promote growth and improve the overall stand quality. Poplar is a fast-growing, broad-leaved tree species with high ecological and economic value. It is a common management method to promote its growth by pruning and adjusting the spatial structure of the stand, but its potential regulatory mechanism remains unclear. In this study, transcriptome and metabolome data of different parts at all pruning intensities were determined and analyzed. The results showed that 7316 differentially expressed genes were identified in this study. In the plant hormone signal transduction pathway, candidate genes were found in eight kinds of plant hormones, among which the main expression was gibberellin, auxin, and brassinosteroid. Some candidate gene structures (beta-glucosidase, endoglucanase, hexokinase, glucan endo-1, 3-beta-D-glucosidase, beta-fructofuranosidase, fructokinase, maltase-glucoamylase, phosphoglucomutase, and sucrose) were specifically associated with starch and sucrose biosynthesis. In the starch and sucrose biosynthesis pathway, D-fructose 6-phosphate, D-glucose 1,6-bisphosphate, and glucose-1-phosphate were the highest in stems and higher in the first round of pruning than in no pruning. The bHLH plays a key role in the starch and sucrose synthetic pathway, and AP2/ERF-ERF is important in the plant hormone signal transduction pathway. These results laid a foundation for understanding the molecular mechanism of starch and sucrose biosynthesis and provided a theoretical basis for promoting tree growth through pruning. Full article

The formation of atroposelective biaryl compounds in plants and fungi is well understood; however, polyketide aglycone synthesis and dimerization in bacteria remain unclear. Thus, the biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) responsible for antibacterial setomimycin production from Streptomyces nojiriensis JCM3382 was examined in comparison with the BGCs of spectomycin, julichromes, lincolnenins, and huanglongmycin. The setomimycin BGC includes post-polyketide synthase (PKS) assembly/cycling enzymes StmD (C-9 ketoreductase), StmE (aromatase), and StmF (thioesterase) as key components. The heterodimeric TcmI-like cyclases StmH and StmK are proposed to aid in forming the setomimycin monomer. In addition, StmI (P-450) is predicted to catalyze the biaryl coupling of two monomeric setomimycin units, with StmM (ferredoxin) specific to the setomimycin BGC. The roles of StmL and StmN, part of the nuclear transport factor 2 (NTF-2)-like protein family and unique to setomimycin BGCs, could particularly interest biochemists and combinatorial biologists. α-Glucosidase, a key enzyme in type 2 diabetes, hydrolyzes carbohydrates into glucose, thereby elevating blood glucose levels. This study aimed to assess the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of EtOAc extracts of JCM 3382 and setomimycin. The JCM 3382 EtOAc extract and setomimycin exhibited greater potency than the standard inhibitor, acarbose, with IC₅₀ values of 285.14 ± 2.04 μg/mL and 231.26 ± 0.41 μM, respectively. Molecular docking demonstrated two hydrogen bonds with maltase-glucoamylase chain A residues Thr205 and Lys480 (binding energy = −6.8 kcal·mol⁻¹), two π–π interactions with Trp406 and Phe450, and one π–cation interaction with Asp542. Residue-energy analysis highlighted Trp406 and Phe450 as key in setomimycin’s binding to maltase-glucoamylase. These findings suggest that setomimycin is a promising candidate for further enzymological research and potential antidiabetic therapy. Full article

The experiment aimed to investigate the effects of plant polysaccharides combined with boric acid on digestive function, immune function and harmful gas and heavy metal contents in the faeces of fatteners. For this study, 90 healthy crossbred fatteners were selected and randomly divided into five groups: the control group was fed with a basal diet (Con); experimental group I was fed with basal diet + 40 mg/kg boric acid (BA); experimental group II was fed with basal diet + 40 mg/kg boric acid + 400 mg/kg Astragalus polysaccharides (BA+APS); experimental group III was fed with basal diet + 40 mg/kg boric acid + 200 mg/kg Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (BA+GLP); and experimental group IV was fed with basal diet + 40 mg/kg boric acid + 500 mg/kg Echinacea polysaccharides (BA+EPS). Compared with Con, the average daily gain (ADG), the trypsin activities in the duodenum and jejunum, the IL-2 levels in the spleen, the T-AOC activities and GSH-Px contents in the lymph node of fattening were increased in the BA group (p < 0.05), but malondialdehyde content in the lymph and spleen, and the contents of NH₃, H₂S, Hg, Cu, Fe and Zn in the feces and urine were decreased (p < 0.05). Compared with the BA, the ADG, gain-to-feed ratio (G/F), the trypsin and maltase activities in the duodenum and jejunum were increased in the BA+APS (p < 0.05), and the T-SOD activities in the spleen and T-AOC activities in the lymph node were also increased (p < 0.05), but the H₂S level was decreased in the feces and urine (p < 0.05). Compared with the BA, the ADG, G/F and the trypsin and maltase activities in the duodenum were increased in the BA+GLP and BA+EPS (p < 0.05), the activities of maltase and lipase in the duodenum of fatteners in the BA+GLP and the activities of trypsin, maltase and lipase in the BA+EPS were increased (p < 0.05). Gathering everything together, our findings reveal that the combined addition of boric acid and plant polysaccharides in the diet of fatteners synergistically improved their growth performance and immune status. That may be achieved by regulating the activity of intestinal digestive enzymes, improving the antioxidant function and then promoting the digestion and absorption of nutrients. Furthermore, the above results reduce the emission of harmful gases and heavy metals in feces and urine. Full article