Search Results (15,650)

γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA), a major inhibitory neurotransmitter, is known for its physiological functions in alleviating anxiety and improving sleep. Currently, high-yielding GABA food products are mainly obtained through screening wild-type high-producing strains (e.g., Saccharomyces cerevisiae isolated from Sichuan pickles yielding 0.67 g/L) or employing co-culture systems (e.g., Enterococcus faecium and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum reaching 6.35 g/L). While effective, these methods often rely on natural screening strains or multi-microbial interactions. This study employed CRISPR-Cas9 technology to knockout the UGA1 gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a key gene responsible for GABA degradation. Starting from the low higher alcohol Saccharomyces cerevisiae SY-LH, we successfully constructed the recombinant strain SY-LHU. Remarkably, this study discovered a significant upregulation of GAD1 gene expression following UGA1 knockout, which further enhanced GABA synthesis capacity. Under optimal fermentation conditions (inoculum size 4 × 10⁷ cells/mL, wort concentration 10 °P, sugar addition 60 g/L, 30 °C for 10 days, and mixing the malt broth every 48 h), the validation fermentation was performed and the GABA content in the wort beverage reached 280.36 mg/L, representing a 385.4% increase compared to the pre-optimization level. Furthermore, sensory evaluation by a trained panel yielded a mean score of 88, with no significant off-flavors detected, demonstrating the product’s high consumer acceptance. This pioneering work provides a novel and feasible technical pathway for developing functional alcoholic beverages with sleep-aiding properties. Full article

Fruit flesh thickness is one of the key factors affecting the yield and quality of bitter melon, and its regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. One thick-flesh germplasm (KF) and one thin-flesh germplasm (NF) with significantly different flesh thicknesses were screened from 70 bitter melon germplasms. Through phenotypic surveys, combined metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses, and exogenous sugar treatments, the regulatory mechanisms on flesh thickness were preliminary investigated. The results showed that flesh thickness of the two germplasms remained stable during different years and seasons. Metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses revealed that fructose and mannose metabolism pathway significantly enriched in both omics datasets. The expression of key enzyme encoding genes from this pathway exhibited various expression patterns. In KF, most genes showed significantly higher expression levels than NF, with synergistic expression predominating among genes. Soluble sugar content was positively correlated with gene expression, while HXK, SDH, and TPI activities were negatively correlated with most genes, and FBP activity was positively correlated with most genes. Genes affect carbon source metabolic flux distribution by promoting sugar synthesis and inhibiting sugar respiration consumption. Exogenous sugar treatment exhibited germplasm-specific and concentration-dependent influence of gene expression, with KF primarily showing negative feedback and NF predominantly activating expression. Fruit flesh thickness was significantly positively correlated with the synergistic high expression of sugar metabolism genes and soluble sugar accumulation. This study provides a theoretical basis for molecular improvement of bitter melon fruit flesh thickness. Full article

Drought stress severely restricts agricultural productivity. Effective drought mitigation requires both improved rhizosphere water retention and enhanced nutrient availability. Poly-γ-glutamic acid (PGA) was expected to enhance water retention, while residue after evaporation (RAE) of 2-keto-L-gulonic acid fermentation was expected to supply labile carbon and promote nutrient mobilization. We hypothesized that their combined application would synergistically optimize the rhizosphere environment and enhance maize seedlings’ resistance to drought. A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the growth of maize under simulated drought conditions, containing four treatments: control (C), RAE alone (R), PGA alone (P), and their combination (M). Results demonstrated that the M treatment synergistically promoted maize seedling growth, increasing the seedling growth index by 125% compared to the control. Co-application also synergistically enhanced the accumulation of osmotic adjustment substances (proline, soluble proteins, and soluble sugars) and ascorbic acid content, while reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) level. Furthermore, the M treatment markedly increased soil ammonium nitrogen and total organic carbon, thereby improving soil moisture and optimizing the rhizosphere conditions. Mantel analysis revealed that the M treatment restructured soil bacterial communities and enzyme activities by enhancing nutrient and organic carbon availability, which subsequently improved overall soil properties. These findings suggest that co-application of PGA and RAE improves maize seedling drought resilience and soil nutrient supply, offering a promising and economically viable strategy for sustainable agriculture in drought-prone regions by valorizing industrial by-products. Full article

Cover crops are crucial in conservation agriculture for preventing soil erosion. For Citrus unshiu production, rattail fescue (Vulpia myuros (L.) C.C. Gmel) is a popular cover crop because its growth season differs from the citrus season, minimizing nutrient competition. However, no studies have examined its effects on the seasonal concentrations of flavonoids and monoterpenes in citrus peels, which are often used as medical ingredients. In this study, our aim is to determine the effects of cover crops on the sugar content and medicinal properties of unripe citrus fruit during the growing season. Samples collected in 2022 were examined for the effects of cover crops on the sugar concentration of fresh pulp. In addition, samples were taken from three randomly selected trees in each cover crop treatment (0, 50, and 100% area coverage) at the thinning (July, August, and September) of 2023 and 2024 to analyze hesperidin and d-limonene concentrations using standard methods. The results showed that cover crops reduced the sugar concentration of fresh pulp but had no impact on hesperidin concentrations across all thinning events and had inconsistent effects on the d-limonene concentration. Hence, while the use of rattail fescue might negatively affect the sugar concentration of mature Citrus unshiu, the use of premature fruits for medical ingredients could compensate for this loss. Full article

The field production of tomato faces challenges regarding abiotic stress factors, which unfavorably impact fruit quality traits. Hedgerows, a form of agroforestry, offer a climate-resilient strategy to buffer temperatures and reduce the impact of direct wind stress on crop production. This study assessed the impact of hedgerow microclimate modulation effects on open-field tomato fruit quality, employing three genotypes (Roma, Ace55, and Szentlőrinckáta). Key quality traits (Total Soluble Solids (TSS), Titratable Acidity (TA), Sugar–Acid Ratio (SAR), Ferric-Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), Total Phenolic Content (TPC), Chroma (C*), and Hue (h^o)) were measured over two harvests per season, in two consecutive years (2023–2024). Plots were positioned at five distances (3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 m from the hedge) on both windy and protected sides (W1–W5 and P1–P5, respectively, with 1 showing the closest position). We observed that the microclimate of the protected side was consistently warmer, with an average deviation from the reference temperature of +3.54 °C at mid-distances and +0.38 °C higher overall across both growing seasons. Results show that mid-distance zones (P3–P4, W3–W4) consistently exhibited the highest C* (up to 39.44) at W4 and TSS values at W1 (7.00 °Bx). Protected sides favored higher TA at P3 (0.70%) and Hue (h^o) values at P3 with (53.06 ± 0.30) with Ace55 and SAR at P3 (16.35) with Szentlőrinckáta. Windy sides significantly enhanced FRAP and TPC, with the Szentlőrinckáta genotype exhibiting the highest antioxidant capacity at W1 (23.67 mg AAE 100 g⁻¹, FRAP) and TPC (244.17 mg GAE 100 g⁻¹). At W4, Roma showed a 9.4% increase in TPC in the second harvest, while Ace55 showed the highest FRAP values during late-season sampling, highlighting genotype-specific antioxidant resilience under contrasting microclimates. These findings suggest that mid-distance zones and microclimatic variation between windy and protected sides remarkably influence fruit quality traits and antioxidant profiles. Full article

Background: Children and adults with Trisomy 21 are more likely to develop nutrition-related conditions and diseases. The nutrition-related health of Canadians with Trisomy 21 is unknown. We aimed to determine the nutrient intake and physical activity of school-aged children with Trisomy 21 in Manitoba, Canada. Methods: Mothers of 14 school-aged children (n = 7 female, average age 9 years old) with Trisomy 21 completed a 24 h dietary recall and a survey that included questions about their children’s nutrition and physical activity. Nutrient intake analysis was conducted to compare food and beverage consumption with dietary guidelines and nutrient recommendations. Data were analyzed descriptively. Results: Most children with T21 included in this study consumed an adequate average intake of daily protein, carbohydrate, and iron; an inadequate average intake of daily dietary fibre and calcium; and an excessive average daily intake of added sugars and saturated fat. Notably, all children consumed inadequate vitamin D and excessive sodium. Most children consumed a dietary supplement (10/14), engaged in moderate-intensity physical activity (10/14), and were active for more than 60 min per day (12/14). Conclusions: Most children with Trisomy 21 included in this study met daily physical activity recommendations. However, despite a variety of foods reportedly consumed across all food groups, nutrient intake among school-aged children with Trisomy 21 included in this study was mixed, as both deficiencies and excessive amounts of some nutrients were observed. There is a need to improve the nutrient intake of children with Trisomy 21 to reduce their risk of developing nutrition-related conditions and diseases. Full article

The emergence of membrane boundaries represents a decisive transition in the origin of life, yet the molecular nature of the earliest abiotic membranes remains uncertain. Existing models based on simple fatty acids, while experimentally tractable, often lack the environmental robustness required under fluctuating prebiotic conditions. Furthermore, the absence of clear pathways linking primitive amphiphiles to later phospholipid systems highlights the need for chemically continuous intermediate frameworks. Here, we explore borate-bridged amphiphile–carbohydrate conjugates as plausible intermediates between simple prebiotic surfactants and modern lipid bilayers. These conjugates arise from low-molecular-weight polyols—including glycerol, butane-1,2,3,4-tetraol, pentane-1,2,3,4,5-pentaol, and hexane-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexitol—reacting with long-chain alkyl ethers and borate species under alkaline conditions, enabling reversible coupling to ribose and other vicinal diol-containing sugars. This chemistry integrates three essential properties for early compartmentalization: hydrolytically robust ether-linked hydrophobic domains, multivalent and highly hydrated headgroups, and environmentally responsive borate coordination. Comparative physicochemical analysis suggests that single-tail alkylglycerol derivatives preferentially form micelles and interfacial films, while di- and tri-tail tetritol and pentitol conjugates favor lamellar assemblies and vesicle formation across realistic prebiotic pH and salinity ranges. Hexitol-based systems, particularly those bearing three hydrophobic chains, may act as membrane-stabilizing components that enhance rigidity and reduce permeability under extreme conditions. We propose that heterogeneous mixtures dominated by two-tail polyol diethers, supplemented by tri-tail stabilizers and surface-active alkylglycerols, could provide mechanically robust, pH-tunable, and sugar-decorated abiotic membranes. Such borate-mediated amphiphiles offer a chemically coherent framework linking carbohydrate stabilization, ether lipid persistence, and dynamic self-assembly, potentially representing a transitional stage in the evolutionary pathway from primitive amphiphilic films to biologically encoded membranes. Full article

Background/Objectives: This secondary and exploratory meta-analysis re-evaluated 30 randomized controlled trials on free and added sugars (FS) detailed in the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) report on the tolerable upper intake level for dietary sugars, focusing on the influence of food source (beverages, foods, or mixed) on cardiometabolic and anthropometric health. Methods: The EFSA’s method of analyzing the relative FS intake (difference between treatment and comparator arms, Δ%E^fs) was used, with further adjustment for the reported intake of all sources of FS and energy. The EFSA’s “high vs. low” random-effects meta-analysis comparing groups with the highest and lowest FS intake was replicated, and additional exploratory dose–response meta-regressions (linear and non-linear) were performed, stratified by food source. Given the secondary and observational nature of the analysis, all source-stratified findings should be interpreted as hypothesis-generating, rather than causal. Results: There were no interactions between Δ%E^fs and food source for any outcome, and within a source there were linearly positive and statistically significant regressions for body weight (mixed), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, foods), and uric acid (beverages). Across 13 outcomes, Δ%E^fs was positively and linearly related to greater fasting glucose, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and LDL-C, and non-linearly to body weight. However, the data were limited in their representation of FS intake at typical population levels, and there were insufficient data to investigate the effect of FS from foods on most anthropometric outcomes. Conclusions: Meta-regressive dose–responses revealed little relationship between Δ%E^fs from specific food sources and health outcomes, but such effects might be masked by confounding factors. Future trials that test realistic intakes of FS across diverse food matrices and account for dietary compensation would help to overcome limitations in the body of evidence. Full article

The rapid accumulation of genome-scale data has transformed plant biology from descriptive genetics to predictive and increasingly mechanistic genomics. Longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) is an economically important subtropical fruit tree in China and Southeast Asia, but compared with model plants and major temperate fruit crops, its genomic resources and functional studies have developed relatively late. Here, we review recent progress in longan genomics with emphasis on three interrelated areas: genome assembly and annotation, transcriptomic resources, and representative gene family studies associated with flowering, somatic embryogenesis, and transporter-mediated stress tolerance. The progression from the first draft genome of ‘Honghezi’ to the chromosome-scale assemblies of ‘Jidanben’ and ‘Shixia’ has substantially improved contiguity and gene annotation, thereby enabling population-genomic analysis, genome-wide gene family identification, and candidate-gene discovery. Available transcriptomic datasets further support studies of reproductive development, stress responses, and embryogenic competence, although cross-study integration remains limited. We also summarize how gene family analyses have advanced the current understanding of floral induction, continuous flowering, somatic embryogenesis, mineral transport, and sugar transport in longan. Importantly, the field is still dominated by cataloguing and expression-based inference, whereas causal validation, pan-genomic analysis, and multi-omics integration remain insufficient. We therefore argue that future progress in longan molecular breeding will depend on integrating high-quality genomic resources with functional validation, standardized comparative annotation, and improved transformation or regeneration systems. Full article

This study investigates the degradation characteristics, pathways, and mechanisms of ochratoxin A (OTA) by Weizmannia coagulans CGMCC 9951 (W. coagulans CGMCC 9951), as well as its detoxification effect on Cornus officinalis pulp through fermentation. The strain efficiently degraded 300 ng/mL of OTA within 72 h (98% degradation) under optimal conditions of 37 °C, pH 5.0, and 180 rpm. Active degradation substances were primarily localized in the cell-free supernatant (CF). The degradation activity was significantly inhibited by heat treatment, proteinase K, EDTA, Cu²⁺, and organic reagents, suggesting an enzymatic mechanism. UHPLC-MS and MS/MS analysis indicated that OTA appears to be degraded to a product consistent with ochratoxin α (OTα). Based on homology to known OTA-degrading carboxypeptidases, the gene encoding WGU28473.1 was selected, expressed in E. coli, and confirmed to possess OTA-degrading activity. Molecular docking suggested potential interactions between the enzyme and OTA. Under optimal conditions, co-fermentation with Cornus officinalis pulp contaminated with 300 ng/mL OTA for 96 h resulted in a 74% degradation of OTA. The fermentation process increased the pulp’s sugar content and ABTS⁺ free radical scavenging capacity, reduced acidity, and improved the safety of the pulp. These findings demonstrate that W. coagulans CGMCC 9951 efficiently degrades OTA and improves pulp quality, highlighting its potential as a starter culture for detoxifying OTA-contaminated food. Full article

Dark fermentation is commonly used for producing biohydrogen as a green hydrogen, which can be used as an alternative to fossil fuels. Pilot-scale studies on continuous biohydrogen production from molasses are still limited. In this study, a 60 L pilot-scale up-flow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) dark fermentation system was operated continuously for biohydrogen production from molasses. The reactor achieved an average hydrogen production rate of 3.64 L H₂/L-d. Attention was paid to evaluating total sugar, rather than COD alone, as a more appropriate process indicator for substrate conversion and hydrogen production performance. In addition, metabolic pathway characteristics and microbial community structure were examined. The results provide useful pilot-scale operational data for the implementation of fermentative biohydrogen production technology. Full article

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are crucial biocontrol agents, yet optimizing the yield and quality of infective juveniles (IJs) during commercial liquid production remains challenging. This study utilized a central composite rotatable design to optimize liquid culture parameters (ascaroside, dimethyl sulfoxide, medium volume, IJ inocula) for Heterorhabditis bacteriophora H06 and Steinernema carpocapsae All. The results demonstrated that improving aeration (inferred from reduced media volume), combined with ascr#11 regulation, synergistically enhanced IJ yield and quality. Under optimized conditions, yields reached 3.35 × 10⁵ IJs/mL for H. bacteriophora H06 and 2.67 × 10⁵ IJs/mL for S. carpocapsae All. Crucially, the IJs from the high-yield flask exhibited significantly superior infectivity (24–26% single-IJ infection rate) compared to solid-culture controls (13–14%). Targeted metabolomics profiling of sugar, energy and fatty acids of H. bacteriophora H06 revealed upregulated tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediates (citrate, pyruvate) and the significant accumulation of stress-protectant trehalose and immune-modulating polyunsaturated fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid, arachidonic acid). These findings establish a fermentation strategy that simultaneously enhances IJ yield and biological quality by reducing media volume (used as a proxy for improved aeration) and supplementing ascr#11. Furthermore, the distinct metabolic profile enriched in energy, stress, and immune-modulating metabolites identified in H. bacteriophora provides a plausible explanatory framework for the parallel phenotypic improvements observed across both species. Full article

Pyranose oxidases (POXs, EC 1.1.3.10) are a class of fungal FAD-dependent oxidoreductases with potential for lignocellulosic bioconversion because they generate H₂O₂ during sugar oxidation. Despite their known catalytic properties, the role of these enzymes in promoting lignocellulose enzymatic saccharification remains largely unexplored. In this study, POXs from Phanerochaete chrysosporium (PcPOX) and Trametes versicolor (TvPOX) were comparatively evaluated through biochemical characterization, kinetic analysis, molecular simulation, and supplementation for lignocellulose hydrolysis. PcPOX exhibited a broader substrate spectrum and a slightly higher optimum temperature, whereas TvPOX demonstrated greater stability under acidic and hydrolysis-relevant conditions and a longer half-life at 50 °C. TvPOX also showed a numerically lower apparent K_m toward D-glucose, while the apparent catalytic efficiencies were comparable between the two enzymes. Molecular simulation results suggested more stable glucose binding in TvPOX. Accordingly, TvPOX was selected for hydrolysis experiments and was shown to increase the measured glucan conversion of phosphoric acid-swollen cellulose, Avicel, and corncob residue. Mixture design analysis further indicated that this positive effect depended on balanced peroxide regulation, with low catalase supplementation providing better performance. These results identify TvPOX as a promising auxiliary enzyme for cellulase-based lignocellulosic saccharification. Full article

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have numerous applications in science and industry. Therefore, their potential phytotoxicity should be investigated. Garden cress (Lepidium sativum L.) is a useful model plant for assessing the effects of chemicals released into the environment. The aim of this study was to prepare alginate gels containing AuNPs for plant exposure experiments, evaluate their physicochemical properties, and determine their effects on selected biochemical parameters of garden cress seedlings. Gold nanoparticles were synthesized in sodium alginate at an initial concentration of 50 mg/L, using xylose and maltose as reducing agents. The gels were diluted with distilled water to obtain AuNP concentrations of 5 and 25 mg/L. Garden cress seeds were placed on filter paper soaked with the tested formulations, while distilled water and sodium alginate solutions without AuNPs served as controls. After 5 days of incubation at 20 °C under light conditions, the plant material was collected and selected bioactive compounds were determined. AuNP-containing gels significantly affected the biochemical status of the seedlings. In particular, AuNPs synthesized with xylose at 25 mg/L significantly increased the contents of photosynthetic pigments and total polyphenolic compounds. All tested AuNP formulations increased the antioxidant activity of seedlings, suggesting the activation of abiotic stress-related defense responses, however, direct markers of oxidative damage were not assessed in the present study. Overall, the results indicate that alginate-based AuNPs can modify selected biochemical parameters in garden cress seedlings, and these effects depend on nanoparticle concentration and reducing sugar used during synthesis, which may be relevant for the future development of plant-targeted nanomaterials for agricultural applications. Full article

Galeruca daurica (Joannis) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is an oligophagous pest in which both adults and larvae prefer to feed on Allium forage grasses of the Liliaceae family. In this study, we identified gustatory receptor (GR) genes based on the transcriptome data of G. daurica; analyzed the expression profiles of these GR genes across different larval instars and various tissues of male and female adults using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR); detected the electrophysiological responses of the mouthparts of male and female G. daurica adults to flavonoids and carbohydrates using single sensillum recording (SSR); and recorded the changes in food consumption of G. daurica adults after feeding on six host plant-derived metabolites. A total of 26 GR genes were identified from the transcriptome data of adult and larval of G. daurica. Phylogenetic analysis was performed to screen candidate functional gustatory receptor genes, including four sugar receptors (GdauGR7, GdauGR10, GdauGR14 and GdauGR28), seven bitter receptors (GdauGR11, GdauGR16~17, GdauGR22, GdauGR25~26 and GdauGR30), and two CO₂ receptors (GdauGR15 and GdauGR20). Larval expression profiling of GdauGRs in G. daurica revealed that the relative expression levels of 17 genes exhibited dynamic changes during larval growth and development. GdauGRs were expressed to varying degrees in the antennae, mouthparts, brain, gut, and forelegs of adult G. daurica, with sex-specific differences. Notably, the expression levels of GdauGR4, GdauGR9 and GdauGR16 in the gut were extremely significantly higher than those in other tissues. In the SSR test, the six tested flavonoids and one carbohydrate were able to induce robust electrophysiological responses in the gustatory sensilla on the antennae and mouthparts of adult G. daurica at specific concentrations. In addition, the supplementation of several host-derived metabolites altered the food consumption of adult G. daurica. These findings lay a solid foundation for elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying gustatory recognition and host adaptation in G. daurica. Full article