Search Results (6,021)

To clarify the effects of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) seed soaking on the germination and stress resistance of different edible bean seeds, seeds of mung bean (Vigna radiata L. ‘Keda Green No. 2’), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. ‘Keda Cowpea No. 1’), and red bean (Vigna umbellata Thunb. ‘Jihong 352’) were soaked in a 50 mmol/L H₂O₂ solution. The study examined the germination and growth-related physiological indices of seeds after soaking. The results showed that hydrogen-peroxide-primed seeds of mung bean (GBH), cowpea (CBH), and red bean (RBH) exhibited significant improvements in germination performance and physiological activity compared with their respective controls (GBCK, CBCK, and RBCK). The results indicated that H₂O₂ soaking significantly improved the germination ability of the seeds, with the germination rate of mung beans, cowpeas, and red beans increasing by 48.89%, 21.11%, and 18.89%, respectively, and the germination percentage increasing by 31.11%, 24.45%, and 17.77%. Additionally, H₂O₂ soaking enhanced the activity of α-amylase, protease, and the antioxidant enzymes peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT); increased the soluble sugar and soluble protein content in the seeds; and reduced the malondialdehyde (MDA) content. The experiment demonstrated that H₂O₂ promotes the germination of mung bean, cowpea, and red bean seeds by influencing antioxidant enzyme activity, the breakdown of storage substances, and the regulation of germination-related substances, thereby improving seedling adaptation to environmental stress. This study aims to improve the germination rate of legume seeds using H₂O₂ treatment, providing a theoretical basis for techniques to enhance seed vigor, especially for seeds that perform poorly in germination under normal conditions. Full article

The Zi goose is an excellent local goose breed in China, characterized by strong tolerance to roughage, high cold resistance, and high egg production. Anthocyanins are natural water-soluble pigments with numerous biological functions such as growth promotion, antioxidant activity, and immune regulation. However, there are few reports on whether anthocyanins have an improving effect on Zi goose semen. This study aimed to explore the effects of anthocyanins on semen quality, semen antioxidant capacity, and sperm apoptosis of Zi geese, so as to provide references for the large-scale breeding and industrial utilization of Zi geese. Sixty 12-month-old Zi geese were selected for the experiment, and their semen was collected by the massage method. Semen diluent containing different concentrations of anthocyanins was added to the mixed semen, which was then stored at 37 °C for detections. The results showed that the sperm survival rate of Zi geese was the highest when 30 mg/L of anthocyanins was added to the diluent. Compared with the control group, the anthocyanin group showed significantly higher sperm survival rate, sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity rate, acrosome integrity rate, mitochondrial activity, and DNA integrity (p < 0.05), while the sperm mortality rate was significantly decreased (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in semen pH value, sperm density, and sperm abnormality rate (p > 0.05). The contents of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were significantly increased (p < 0.05), while the levels of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde were significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in the anthocyanin group. Anthocyanins significantly increased the mRNA and protein expression of Bcl-2 (p < 0.05), and significantly decreased the mRNA and protein expression of Bax, Caspase-3, and P53 (p < 0.05). In conclusion, adding 30 mg/L anthocyanins to semen diluent can improve semen quality in Zi geese. Full article

Squaraine dyes are a class of organic compounds that exhibit some characteristics inherent to those of an “ideal photosensitizer”, such as high absorption at near-infrared-close wavelengths and to produce reactive oxygen species. The introduction of amines into their squaric ring, although known to increase the phototoxicity of squaraines, can improve dyes’ water solubility and induce bathochromic shifts compared to their unsubstituted derivatives, interesting effects in biological contexts. In this work, four new squaraines were synthesized and structurally, photophysically, and photochemically characterized (including absorption and aggregation, fluorescence, light stability, and singlet oxygen generation). Their potential as fluorescent probes for albumin detection was assessed through both in silico and in vitro approaches, as well as their suitability as potential photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy. For this last purpose, the 663 nm light-induced effects of the new dyes were evaluated against the PC-3 prostate cancer cell line, while their photocytotoxicity toward normal human dermal fibroblasts was also assessed using the MTT assay, to determine their potential tumor-selective effects. Low singlet oxygen quantum yields suggest that type I reactions predominate in generating cytotoxicity. Overall, the findings indicate that the designed squaraines exhibit moderate yet favorable interactions with albumin protein while demonstrating selective photodynamic effects toward prostate adenocarcinoma cancer cells, highlighting their potential as protein-assisted, tumor-targeted photosensitizers, providing a basis for further mechanistic studies. Full article

Twenty-nine samples of two cucumber types (Cucumis sativus L.) were evaluated to determine the amino acid, tannin, soluble protein, soluble sugar, Vc, nitrate nitrogen contents and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Cucumber variety differences in amino acid, tannin, soluble proteins, et al., were significant (p < 0.05). The VOCs were derived by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A total of 67 VOCs were identified, including 24 aldehydes, 13 alcohols, 12 ketones, 12 alkenes and 6 other compounds. (E, Z)-2,6-Nonadienal, (E)-2-Nonenal and (E)-6-Nonenal were the three most abundant volatiles. A total of 21 VOCs were present in all 29 cultivars. An average of 45 kinds of VOCs were identified in each cultivar. Principal component analysis (PCA) clustered the 29 cucumber cultivars into five groups. Partial least-squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) indicated that the European type was separated from the South China type across PLS1. Furthermore, 25 key differential volatiles for distinguishing 29 cultivars and 23 key differential volatiles for differentiating between South China and European types were identified, respectively. These results provide information for the development of new cultivars with high nutritional quality and intense flavor. Full article

5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is a natural and environmentally friendly plant growth regulator that plays an important role in enhancing plant tolerance to a wide range of environmental stresses. Exogenous application of ALA enables rapid and efficient physiological regulation. Additionally, methyl jasmonate (MeJA) enhances salt tolerance in tomato seedlings by regulating ALA to promote jasmonic acid (JA) accumulation and strengthening the antioxidant defense system. To investigate how exogenous ALA alleviates salt stress physiologically, this study used ‘Condine Red’ tomato as the experimental material and examined the effects of MeJA-mediated ALA on the growth characteristics and stress tolerance mechanisms of tomato seedlings under salt stress. The results indicated that salt stress significantly inhibited tomato seedling growth, leading to marked reductions in biomass, chlorophyll content, and the enzymatic activities of POD, CAT, and APX. In contrast, SOD activity, MDA content, NPQ, soluble protein content, proline content, endogenous JA levels, and the expression of related genes were significantly increased. Under salt stress, exogenous application of ALA and MeJA alleviated the inhibitory effects on tomato seedlings. However, SHAM (salicylhydroxamic acid) aggravated salt stress damage to plants. The addition of ALA significantly mitigated these salt stress-induced injuries. These findings suggest that ALA may enhance salt tolerance in tomato seedlings by promoting JA accumulation and bolstering the antioxidant defense system. Full article

Background/Objectives: The neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) is a heterodimeric protein composed of a heavy α-chain with an MHC class I-like fold and β₂-microglobulin. It plays a crucial role in maintaining the homeostasis and pharmacokinetics of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and albumin through pH-dependent recycling. The production of soluble recombinant FcRn is technically challenging due to its heterodimeric structure and the presence of a transmembrane domain. This study aimed to develop a polycistronic construct enabling the co-expression of FcRn subunits from a single transcript and to evaluate the functional activity of the resulting protein in CHO-K1 cells. Methods: Integration vectors (pComV-FcRn-B2M) were designed to encode FcRn and β₂-microglobulin linked via self-cleaving 2A peptides (P2A, E2A, F2A, T2A). Stable producer cell lines were generated using the Sleeping Beauty transposon system. The purified proteins were characterized by SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, and size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). Functional activity was assessed by ELISA and bio-layer interferometry (BLI). Results: Electrophoretic and chromatographic analyses confirmed the expected subunit composition and demonstrated that over 95% of the recombinant protein was monomeric. Functional assays revealed pH-dependent IgG binding, with strong interaction at pH 6.0 and negligible binding at pH 7.5. BLI measurements showed high affinity consistent with native FcRn function (KD = 3.15 nM at pH 6.0). Conclusions: The developed polycistronic construct containing a P2A peptide with a GSG linker enabled efficient production of functional FcRn in CHO-K1 cells (yield up to 2.23 mg/mL). The P2A variant demonstrated the highest efficiency and can serve as a reference system for screening Fc-engineered antibodies with optimized pharmacokinetic properties. Full article

Plant-based proteins offer sustainable alternatives to animal sources, yet their lower digestibility remains a critical barrier to widespread applications. Current digestibility assessment methods require days of analysis and gram-scale samples, creating significant bottlenecks in protein optimization workflows. This study developed an ensembled deep learning framework that transforms digestibility prediction from a resource-intensive process to a rapid, minimal-sample assessment. By systematically characterizing 23 diverse plant protein isolates across multiple physicochemical dimensions, we trained a feedforward neural network based on augmented data. Our model identified α-helix content, random coil content, and solubility as key digestibility indicators. This insight enabled the construction of a streamlined three-feature model that reduced assessment time by 80% while requiring only one-hundredth of standard sample amounts. When validated against independent published datasets, the model achieved rational prediction accuracy, with an R² = 0.91. These findings establish a transformative framework for accelerating plant protein development, enabling rapid screening of novel sources and targeted modification strategies to enhance nutritional bioavailability, ultimately advancing sustainable food system transitions. Full article

This study represents the first evaluation of the effects of zinc–carbon dot nano-fertilizers (Nano-ZCDs) on the growth of Bok choy (Brassica chinensis L.) and soil health under multi-batch consecutive foliar spraying during three successive cultivation cycles. The results showed that relative to CK, Nano-ZCDs significantly elevated the fresh weight of Bok choy cultivation across three consecutive harvests, by 75.5 ± 1.8%, 75.1 ± 0.2%, and 74.6 ± 0.4%, respectively. Meanwhile, the nutritional value, including amino acids, vitamin C, soluble sugars, proteins, and Zn accumulation, was markedly enhanced by Nano-ZCDs. Additionally, Nano-ZCDs significantly improved soil water content, Eh, soil organic carbon, available potassium, and available phosphorus in the rhizosphere soil. It also enhanced the complexity, stability, and species richness of the bacterial community. Based on the Cornell Soil Health Assessment system, the soil health index of the Nano-ZCDs group was significantly 8.1% higher than that of the CK group. Therefore, multi-batch consecutive applying of Nano-ZCDs promoted Bok choy cultivation growth and improved its quality, without impairing soil health. This study suggests that Nano-ZCDs can be applied in agricultural production processes to promote the sustainable development of agricultural systems. Full article

Fecal sludge (FS) requires effective management to mitigate environmental and public health risks and enable resource recovery. This study evaluated the effects of microwave (MW) treatment on FS characteristics and subsequent anaerobic digestion (AD) performance. MW treatment raised FS temperatures to ~96 °C, reducing FS volume by 50% and inducing three thermal phases. Soluble chemical oxygen demand (sCOD) showed a multi-phase pattern, with a maximum solubilization of 29.8% during initial heating due to the solubilization of proteins and carbohydrates. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed morphological changes, while Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed that core functional groups remained unchanged. MW-pretreated FS enhanced AD performance, achieving a 17% increase in cumulative methane yield, alongside 18% and 33% improvements in organic loading and methane production rates, respectively. MW treatment influenced the phase distribution of digestate components, showing a shift in nutrient portioning towards the liquid fraction. These results suggest that integrating MW pretreatment into FS management systems can improve energy recovery, reduce treatment costs, and support resource-efficient sanitation solutions. Full article

Owing to the high altitude and short frost-free period of the Tibetan Plateau, potato plants are frequently exposed to cold stress (CS), which severely restricts their growth and productivity. Thus, understanding the mechanisms underlying cold tolerance in potato varieties is crucial for breeding improvement. This study aims to investigate the role of caffeic acid in potato cold tolerance and to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the CS response. To achieve this, we conducted comprehensive metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses of KY130 (cold-tolerant) and KY140 (cold-sensitive) potato cultivars under CS at the seedling stage. ELISA results showed that caffeic acid levels were higher in KY130 than in KY140, while CS-KY130 exhibited higher levels than those of CS-KY140. Across all treatments, KY130 showed significantly higher activities of antioxidant enzymes (CAT and SOD) and higher contents of osmolytes (proline, soluble protein, and soluble sugar) than those of KY140. Caffeic acid and naringenin* were identified as candidate metabolites potentially involved in the direct and indirect cold resistance of potatoes. StPAL(Soltu.Atl.03_2G004060, Soltu.Atl.03_2G004070, Soltu.Atl.03_2G008130) and StCSE(Soltu.Atl.04_1G006370 and Soltu.Atl.04_3G005440), identified as upstream regulators of caffeic acid, were associated with the direct and indirect cold resistance of potatoes. KEGG pathway analysis of differentially accumulated metabolites and differentially expressed genes revealed several key metabolic pathways, including “flavonoid-related metabolism,” “lipid metabolism,” and “amino acid metabolism.” This research enhances our understanding of caffeic acid and the molecular mechanisms involved in the response of potatoes to CS, and supports future efforts in potato screening and breeding programs. Full article

In recent years, oleosome-associated proteins (OPs) have gained increasing attention in the food and nutrition sectors due to their balanced amino acid composition and excellent functional properties. However, their low extraction yield, high hydrophobicity, and poor solubility hinder broader application in food systems. This review provides a concise overview of OPs’ structural features, current extraction strategies, and the impact of modification techniques on their structural and functional attributes. Special emphasis is placed on hybrid extraction methods that integrate physical treatments (e.g., ultrasound, heating, colloid milling) with traditional chemical approaches to enhance yield while preserving protein functionality. Furthermore, the review discusses how physical and chemical modifications effectively regulate OPs’ solubility, emulsifying capacity, aggregation behavior, and self-assembly characteristics. The regulatory mechanisms of different processing conditions on protein conformation and intermolecular interactions are summarized to guide functional optimization. Finally, the current technical challenges are outlined and future research directions are proposed, including the industrial scaling of hybrid extraction, precise control of structural modification, and application of OPs in emulsified and gel-based delivery systems. This work offers theoretical insight and practical guidance for the high-value utilization of OPs in food and related industries. Full article

Coconut yield and quality are significantly affected by multiple female inflorescences (MFF), which disrupt flower differentiation balance. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms, we compared MFF with normal female inflorescences (NFF) using phenotypic, morphological, physiological, and multi-omics approaches. The results revealed that MFF exhibited altered flower structures. MFF showed elevated iron (Fe), nitrogen (N), sulfur (S), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), zinc (Zn), proline (Pro), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), abscisic acid (ABA), and jasmonic acid (JA), but reduced molybdenum (Mo), soluble sugar (SS), soluble protein (SP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), indole acetic acid (IAA), zeatin riboside (ZR), and gibberellic acid (GA). We detected 445 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) mainly enriched in ABA, ETH, BR, and JA pathways in MFF compared to NFF. We identified 144 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) primarily in lipids and lipid-like molecules, phenylpropanoids and polyketides, as well as organic acids and derivatives in the comparison of MFF and NFF. Integrated analysis linked these to key pathways, e.g., “carbon metabolism”, “carbon fixation in photosynthetic organisms”, “phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis”, “glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism”, “glycolysis/gluconeogenesis”, “pentose and glucuronate interconversions”, “flavonoid biosynthesis”, “flavone and flavonol biosynthesis”, “pyruvate metabolism”, and “citrate cycle (TCA cycle)”. Based on our results. the bHLH137, BHLH062, MYB (CSA), ERF118, and MADS2 genes may drive MFF formation. This study provides a framework for understanding coconut flower differentiation and improving yield. Full article

The presence of antioxidants in food contributes to the preservation of its taste and technological qualities, preventing its spoilage for a longer time, which is important at all stages of production and storage. The major antioxidants are vitamins, proteins (primarily, enzymes), peptides, amino acids, fatty acid residues of lipids, etc. There is currently an explosive growth in the development of methods for assessing the content and effectiveness of particular antioxidants but not the total antioxidant activity (AOA) in raw milk and food systems. This article provides a critical overview of the most important AOA methods, their mechanisms and applicability, advantages, and limitations (primarily, for antioxidants of milk and dairy products). Among all the antioxidant indicators of milk, the simplest and sufficiently informative is the detection of the total amount of water-soluble antioxidant (TAWSA), which is confirmed by comparison of numerous publications and practical results of various methods (as summarized in this review). It is important to emphasize that the TAWSA of milk is an “integral characteristic” of the most valuable biosubstances (possessing AOA) together. Therefore, the TAWSA method is recommended for assessing AOA in raw milk as an “integrated indicator” in dairy husbandry. Full article

Bovine parainfluenza virus type 3 (BPIV3) is a significant pathogen implicated in bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC), leading to lung tissue destruction, immunosuppression, and subsequent bacterial infections in cattle, hence incurring considerable economic losses globally. Notwithstanding its importance, a limited number of commercial vaccinations are presently accessible. The fusion (F) protein and hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein, as protective antigens of the Paramyxoviridae family, can elicit neutralizing antibodies and are regarded as optimal candidates for the creation of genetically modified vaccines. A multi-epitope-based peptide vaccine (MEBPV) was developed by immunoinformatics methodologies by choosing epitopes from the F and HN proteins characterized by high antigenicity, moderate toxicity, and limited allergenic potential. The epitopes were combined with suitable linkers and adjuvants to produce the vaccine, whose physicochemical qualities, immunological attributes, solubility, and structural stability were improved and evaluated using computational methods. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations demonstrated the strong potential binding affinity and stability of the vaccination with TLR2, TLR3, and especially TLR4 receptors. Immune simulations forecasted strong humoral and cellular responses, accompanied by a significant elevation in interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production. The vaccine sequence was later cloned into the pET-28a (+) vector for possible expression in Escherichia coli. Despite in silico predictions suggesting a favorable immunogenic potential, additional in vitro and in vivo studies are necessary to confirm its protective efficacy and safety. This research establishes a solid foundation for the creation of safe and efficacious subunit vaccines targeting BPIV3 and presents novel perspectives for the formulation of vaccinations against additional viral infections. Full article

To investigate the effects of different treatment methods on soybean protein amyloid fibrils (SPAF), this study examined the effects of ultrasonication, cold plasma, heat, and NaCl treatment on the formation, structure, and functional properties of SPAF. SPAF structural analyses indicated that all treatments promoted SPAF assembly, with the order of effectiveness being: heat treatment > ultrasonication > cold plasma treatment > NaCl treatment. Regarding functional properties, the heat treatment group also demonstrated superior overall performance, including the highest solubility (88.15%), optimal emulsifying activity (79.63 m²/g) and foaming capacity (169.44%), and the highest thermal denaturation temperature (107.49 °C). Conversely, ultrasonication and cold plasma treatments, which generated shorter fibrils, offered moderate functional improvements. In contrast, NaCl treatment provided limited functional enhancement due to the formation of coarse aggregates. Consequently, heat treatment was identified as the most effective approach to promote SPAF formation and enhance functional properties. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the process optimization of SPAF in the food industry. Full article