XTP8 Promotes Ovarian Cancer Progression by Activating AKT/AMPK/mTOR Pathway to Regulate EMT.

Ovarian cancer (OC) ranks as the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death in women. The main contributors to the poor prognosis of ovarian cancer are the high rates of recurrence and metastasis. Studies have indicated a crucial role for hepatitis B virus X Ag-Transactivated Protein 8 (XTP8), a protein containing the DEP domain, in various cellular processes, including cell growth, movement, and differentiation, across several types of cancers. However, the role of XTP8 in ovarian cancer remains unclear. We observed elevated expression of XTP8 in ovarian cancer. Silencing XTP8 inhibited cell proliferation, promoted apoptosis, and yielded contrasting results in cells overexpressing XTP8. Furthermore, XTP8 facilitated ovarian cancer invasion and migration, triggering epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Mechanistically, XTP8 silencing led to reduced phosphorylation levels of AKT, increased p-AMPK levels, and decreased p-mTOR levels, while XTP8 overexpression exerted the opposite effects. Additionally, the activation of p-AMPK rescued the promoting effect of XTP8 on EMT in ovarian cancer cell lines, indicating that XTP8 acts as an oncogene by modulating the AKT/AMPK/mTOR pathway. Through transcriptome sequencing to identify downstream targets of XTP8, we found that XTP8 influences the expression of Caldesmon (CALD1) at both transcriptional and translational levels. CALD1 can be considered a downstream target of XTP8. The collaborative action of XTP8 and CALD1 activates the AKT/AMPK/mTOR pathway, regulating EMT to promote ovarian cancer progression. Inhibiting this signaling axis might represent a potential therapeutic target for ovarian cancer.

Association of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine with motoric cognitive risk in elderly Chinese people: RUGAO longevity and aging cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Motor cognitive risk syndrome (MCR) represents a critical pre-dementia and disability state characterized by a combination of objectively measured slow walking speed and subjective memory complaints (SMCs). This study aims to identify risk factors for MCR and investigate the relationship between plasma levels of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and MCR among Chinese community-dwelling elderly populations. METHODS: A total of 1312 participants were involved in this study based on the data of the Rugao Longevity and Aging Study (RuLAS). The MCR was characterized by SMCs and slow walking speed. The SCCs were defined as a positive answer to the question 'Do you feel you have more problems with memory than most?' in a 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale. Slow walking speed was determined by one standard deviation or more below the mean value of the patient's age and gender group. The plasma of 8-OHdG were measured by a technician in the biochemistry laboratory of the Rugao People's Hospital during the morning of the survey. RESULTS: The prevalence of MCR was found to be 7.9%. After adjusting for covariates, significant associations with MCR were observed in older age (OR 1.057; p = 0.018), history of cerebrovascular disease (OR 2.155; p = 0.010), and elevated 8-OHdG levels (OR 1.007; p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated the elevated plasma 8-OHdG is significantly associated with increased MCR risk in the elderly, suggesting its potential as a biomarker for early detection and intervention in MCR. This finding underscores the importance of monitoring oxidative DNA damage markers in predicting cognitive and motor function declines, offering new avenues for research and preventive strategies in aging populations.

ZNF146 regulates cell cycle progression via TFDP1 and DEPDC1B in ovarian cancer cells.

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the third most common kind of gynecological tumor, in addition to being the most lethal. Transcription factor Dp-1 (TFDP1) functions as a binding partner for E2F transcription factors, and its target genes include those involved in DNA synthesis, cell cycle, and apoptosis. However, the regulatory role of TFDP1 in OC remains incompletely understood. This study aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of TFDP1 in OC. TFDP1 was highly expressed in the ovarian epithelial tissues of OC patients, and the expression of TFDP1 in OC cells was higher than that in normal ovarian epithelial cells. Silencing of TFDP1 inhibited the biological activity of OC cells and hindered cell cycle entry. Zinc finger protein 146 (ZNF146) knockdown induced cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase and tumor growth by blocking TFDP1 transcription, which was overturned by ectopic expression of TFDP1. TFDP1 stimulated DEP domain-containing protein 1B (DEPDC1B) expression through transcriptional activation. DEPDC1B increased the proportion of OC cells in the G2/M phase and potentiated tumor malignant progression in nude mice inhibited by sh-ZNF146. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that ZNF146 participates in TFDP1/DEPDC1B activation and plays a vital role in the cell cycle in OC.

A new model construction based on the knowledge graph for mining elite polyphenotype genes in crops.

Identifying polyphenotype genes that simultaneously regulate important agronomic traits (e.g., plant height, yield, and disease resistance) is critical for developing novel high-quality crop varieties. Predicting the associations between genes and traits requires the organization and analysis of multi-dimensional scientific data. The existing methods for establishing the relationships between genomic data and phenotypic data can only elucidate the associations between genes and individual traits. However, there are relatively few methods for detecting elite polyphenotype genes. In this study, a knowledge graph for traits regulating-genes was constructed by collecting data from the PubMed database and eight other databases related to the staple food crops rice, maize, and wheat as well as the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. On the basis of the knowledge graph, a model for predicting traits regulating-genes was constructed by combining the data attributes of the gene nodes and the topological relationship attributes of the gene nodes. Additionally, a scoring method for predicting the genes regulating specific traits was developed to screen for elite polyphenotype genes. A total of 125,591 nodes and 547,224 semantic relationships were included in the knowledge graph. The accuracy of the knowledge graph-based model for predicting traits regulating-genes was 0.89, the precision rate was 0.91, the recall rate was 0.96, and the F1 value was 0.94. Moreover, 4,447 polyphenotype genes for 31 trait combinations were identified, among which the rice polyphenotype gene IPA1 and the A. thaliana polyphenotype gene CUC2 were verified via a literature search. Furthermore, the wheat gene TraesCS5A02G275900 was revealed as a potential polyphenotype gene that will need to be further characterized. Meanwhile, the result of venn diagram analysis between the polyphenotype gene datasets (consists of genes that are predicted by our model) and the transcriptome gene datasets (consists of genes that were differential expression in response to disease, drought or salt) showed approximately 70% and 54% polyphenotype genes were identified in the transcriptome datasets of Arabidopsis and rice, respectively. The application of the model driven by knowledge graph for predicting traits regulating-genes represents a novel method for detecting elite polyphenotype genes.

Variations in surface area and biogeochemistry of subarctic-arctic lakes established through satellite and in-situ observations: An overview of published research from the past 30 years.

Human activities have strongly impacted the global climate, and during the last few decades the global average temperature has risen at a rate faster than at any time on record. High latitude lakes in the subarctic and arctic permafrost regions have particularly been vulnerable given the "Arctic amplification" phenomenon and acceleration in warming rate in the northern hemisphere (0.2-0.8 °C/decade). This paper presents a comprehensive overview of the last 30 years of research investigating how subarctic and Arctic lakes respond to climate warming. The review focused on studies where remote sensing technology was used to quantify these responses. The difference between summer lake water temperature and air temperature varied between 1.7 and 5.4 °C in subarctic lakes and 2.4-3.2 °C in Arctic lakes. Overall, the freezing date of lake ice is generally delayed and the date of lake thawing occurs earlier. Lake surface area (4-48.5 %), and abundance in the subarctic and Arctic region have increased significantly due to rising temperature, permafrost thawing, increased precipitation and other localized surface disturbances. However, in recent years, instances of lake shrinkage (between -0.4 % and -40 %) have also been reported, likely due to riparian overflow, groundwater infiltration and lateral drainage. Furthermore, in subarctic and Arctic lakes, climate change and permafrost thawing would release CO2 and CH4, and alter carbon dynamics in impacted lakes through various interconnected processes which could potentially affect the quality of carbon (terrestrial, algae) entering a lake system. The review also highlighted a potential intersection between permafrost melting and public health through human exposure to long-buried viruses. Subarctic and arctic ecosystems' responses to climate change will continue to be an area of intense research interest, and this review has highlighted priority areas for research and how remote sensing technologies can facilitate the pursuit of such a research agenda.

A three-dimensional network structure of metal-based nanozymes for the construction of colorimetric sensors for the detection of antioxidants.

Although many excellent nanozymes have been developed, designing and synthesizing highly active nanozymes is still challenging. Here, we developed a metal-based nanozyme (metal = Co, Fe, Cu, Zn) with a three-dimensional network structure. It possesses excellent peroxidase activity and catalyzes the reaction between H2O2 and TMB to produce blue oxTMB, while antioxidants have different reducing power on the oxidation product of TMB (oxTMB), which leads to different absorbance and color changes. Using these color reactions, different nanozymes were used to form a colorimetric sensor array with seven antioxidants, and seven antioxidants were sensitively identified. And the differences between the three nanozymes were compared by density functional theory calculations and enzyme kinetic curve results. In conclusion, the colorimetric sensor array based on metal-based nanozymes provides a good strategy for the identification and detection of antioxidants, which has a broad application prospect.

Cadmium disrupts spermatogenic cell cycle via piRNA-DQ717867/p53 pathway.

Cadmium (Cd) is a harmful environmental pollutant that disrupts public health, including respiratory, digestive, and reproductive systems. In this study, male rats were exposed to CdCl2 at a dose of 3 mg/kg by oral for 28 days to investigate the impact on spermatogenesis. Testis tissue samples were collected after sacrifice, and piRNA expression levels were measured using piRNA microarray and qPCR. PiRNAs, specialized molecules involved in spermatogenesis, were examined. CdCl2 exposure led to disrupted piRNA expression, particularly in piRNA-DQ759395 in rats. This piRNA was found to have a binding site with p53, and a similar piRNA-DQ717867 was discovered in mice. In GC-2spd cells, CdCl2 exposure increased piRNA-DQ717867 expression, which resulted in cell cycle arrest and abnormal expression of cell cycle-related proteins. The activation of p53-related pathways and disruptions in cell cycle regulation were also observed. Antagomir-717867 transfections and PFT-a pretreatment in GC-2spd cells supported the involvement of piRNA-DQ717867 in regulating cell cycle-related proteins. This study suggests that Cd exposure induces abnormal expression of piRNA-DQ759395 in rat testis and that piRNA-DQ717867 may regulate p53, causing cell cycle abnormalities in GC-2spd cells. These findings help understand the mechanisms of male reproductive toxicity caused by Cd exposure and emphasize the role of piRNAs in cell cycle regulation and male reproductive health.

The influence of cooperative fermentation on the structure, crystallinity, and rheological properties of buckwheat starch.

The effects of co-fermentation of yeast and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 104 on buckwheat starch physical properties were investigated by various analytical techniques. To investigate the regulations of starch modification during fermentation and to provide a foundation for improving the performance of modified properties of buckwheat starch food. The pasting properties were decreased by co-fermentation also resulted in a reduction in the relative crystallinity. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrated that more holes and a relatively rough granule surface were seen in the co-fermentation group. Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) results suggested that co-fermentation fermentation decreased the degree of short-range order (DO) and degree of t1he double helix (DD). The results demonstrated that co-fermentation altered these properties more rapidly than spontaneous fermentation. In conclusion, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 104 could be used for buckwheat fermentation to improve food quality.

The effects of a music intervention on the autonomic nervous system during recovery from strenuous exercise.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of music on heart rate recovery (HRR) and heart rate variability (HRV) after intense exertion. METHODS: Five hundred male students enrolled at Yongin University, Korea, underwent a cycling test to assess aerobic capacity; 180 students with equal scores were selected for a music intervention, which was conducted after vigorous exercise. The 180 participants were randomized into three music groups and a control group; the participants in each music group listened to music at three different tempos: slow (lento) (n = 45), moderate (moderato) (n = 45), and fast (allegretto) (n = 45). The control group did not listen to music (n = 45). After the test, data on cardiac recovery and HRV were gathered and modeled. RESULTS: The results revealed no significant variation in HRR and HRV indexes between the four cohorts (p > .05), and no significant differences were observed in the anaerobic power cycling indexes during strenuous exercise (p > .05). The music intervention had a significant impact on HR, low-frequency power (LF), high-frequency power (HF), normalized LF (LFnorm ), normalized HF (HFnorm ), and the LF/HF ratio during recovery (p < .05). CONCLUSION: After rigorous activity, listening to allegretto music improved HRR and restored HRV equilibrium, which is critical to preventing and minimizing arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death.

Succinylation proteomic analysis identified differentially expressed succinylation sites affecting porcine muscle fiber type function.

Muscle fiber type is a major factor in pork meat quality, however, the role of post-translational protein modifications, especially succinylation, in the regulation of muscle fiber type is not fully understood. Here we performed protein succinylation profiles of fast-type biceps femoris (BF) and slow-type soleus (SOL) muscles. A total of 4,221 succinylation sites were identified from these samples, of which 294 sites were differentially expressed. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses showed that these succinylated proteins were mainly involved in glycolysis, tricarboxylic acid cycle, and fatty acid metabolism. Succinylation modification of the CRAT and RAB10 proteins was verified by co-immunoprecipitation. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis unveiled the interactions of these succinylated proteins that regulate pig myofiber type conversion. This investigation offers fresh perspectives into the molecular roles of protein succinylation in the regulation of pig myofiber type transformation and meat quality.

Primary care physicians' work conditions and their confidence in managing multimorbidity: a quantitative analysis using Job Demands-Resources Model.

BACKGROUND: Multimorbidity is a global issue that presents complex challenges for physicians, patients, and health systems. However, there is a lack of research on the factors that influence physicians' confidence in managing multimorbidity within primary care settings, particularly regarding physicians' work conditions. OBJECTIVES: Drawing on the Job Demands-Resources Model, this study aims to investigate the level of confidence among Chinese primary care physicians in managing multimorbidity and examine the predictors related to their confidence. METHODS: Data were collected from 224 physicians working in 38 Community Healthcare Centres (CHCs) in Shanghai, Shenzhen, Tianjin, and Jinan, China. Work-family conflict (WFC) perceived organizational support (POS), self-directed learning (SDL), and burnout were measured. Physicians' confidence was assessed using a single item. Mediation effect analysis was conducted using the Baron and Kenny method. RESULTS: The results showed that the mean confidence score for physicians managing multimorbidity was 3.63 out of 5, only 20.10% rating their confidence level as 5. WFC negatively related physicians' confidence and POS positively related physicians' confidence in multimorbid diagnosis and treatment. Burnout fully mediated the relationship between WFC and physicians' confidence, and SDL partially mediated the relationship between POS and physicians' confidence. CONCLUSIONS: The confidence level of Chinese primary care physicians in managing multimorbidity needs improvement. To enhance physicians' confidence in managing multimorbid patients, CHCs in China should address WFC and burnout and promote POS and SDL.

Self-Organization of 1-Propanol at H-ZSM-5 Brønsted Acid Sites.

In situ Al K-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) and Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy in conjunction with ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations show that adsorption of 1-propanol alters the structure of the Brønsted acid site through changes in the associated aluminum-oxygen tetrahedron in zeolite H-MFI. The decreasing intensity of the pre-edge signal of the in situ Al K-edge XANES spectra with increasing 1-propanol coverage shows that Al T-sites become more symmetric as the sorbed alcohol molecules form monomers, dimers, and trimers. The adsorption of monomeric 1-propanol on Brønsted acid sites reduces the distortion of the associated Al T-site, shortens the Al-O distance, and causes the formation of a Zundel-like structure. With dimeric and trimeric alcohol clusters, the zeolite proton is fully transferred to the alcohols and the aluminum-oxygen tetrahedron becomes fully symmetric. The subtle changes in Al-K-edge XANES in the presence of sorbate structures, with the use of theory, are used to probe the local zeolite structures and provide a basis to predict the population and chemical state of the sorbed species.

Global histone H2B degradation regulates insulin/IGF signaling-mediated nutrient stress.

Eukaryotic organisms adapt to environmental fluctuations by altering their epigenomic landscapes and transcriptional programs. Nucleosomal histones carry vital epigenetic information and regulate gene expression, yet the mechanisms underlying chromatin-bound histone exchange remain elusive. Here, we found that histone H2Bs are globally degraded in Caenorhabditis elegans during starvation. Our genetic screens identified mutations in ubiquitin and ubiquitin-related enzymes that block H2B degradation in starved animals, identifying lysine 31 as the crucial residue for chromatin-bound H2B ubiquitination and elimination. Retention of aberrant nucleosomal H2B increased the association of the FOXO transcription factor DAF-16 with chromatin, generating an ectopic gene expression profile detrimental to animal viability when insulin/IGF signaling was reduced in well-fed animals. Furthermore, we show that the ubiquitin-proteasome system regulates chromosomal histone turnover in human cells. During larval development, C. elegans epidermal cells undergo H2B turnover after fusing with the epithelial syncytium. Thus, histone degradation may be a widespread mechanism governing dynamic changes of the epigenome.

Effect of regulating the different proportions of Zr to Mn elements on the hydrogen storage properties of titanium-iron-manganese-hydrogen storage alloys.

The effect of regulating the different proportions (0, 1 : 3, 1 : 2 and 1 : 1) of Zr to Mn elements on the hydrogen storage properties of TiFe0.85-x Mn0.15Zr x (x = 0, 0.05, 0.075 and 0.15) alloys was systematically studied in this work. The results showed that all alloys mainly showed TiFe and MgZn2 type phases. The MgZn2 type phase went up with the proportion of Zr to Mn elements. At the same time, increasing the proportion of Zr to Mn elements enhanced the first hydrogenation properties. In addition, the x = 0.15 alloy showed the highest hydrogen storage capacity during the first hydrogenation process. This was because the MgZn2 type phase could improve the penetration of hydrogen atoms and enhance the diffusion of hydrogen atoms. During the test of prolonged air exposure, it was clear that the oxidation resistance also increased with the proportion of Zr to Mn elements. In addition to this, the effect of the starting particle size was also studied. When the length of the starting particle size was around 0.5 cm, the x = 0.05 alloy did not absorb any hydrogen within 1500 seconds. However, the x = 0.15 alloy could be activated in only around 100 seconds. Finally, the rate limiting step of the first hydrogenation and PCT properties were also investigated.

Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Glycolytic and Oxidative Muscle in Pigs.

The quality of meat is highly correlated with muscle fiber type. However, the mechanisms via which proteins regulate muscle fiber types in pigs are not entirely understood. In the current study, we have performed proteomic profiling of fast/glycolytic biceps femoris (BF) and slow/oxidative soleus (SOL) muscles and identified several candidate differential proteins among these. We performed proteomic analyses based on tandem mass tags (TMTs) and identified a total of 26,228 peptides corresponding to 2667 proteins among the BF and SOL muscle samples. Among these, we found 204 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) between BF and SOL muscle, with 56 up-regulated and 148 down-regulated DEPs in SOL muscle samples. KEGG and GO enrichment analyses of the DEPs revealed that the DEPs are involved in some GO terms (e.g., actin cytoskeleton, myosin complex, and cytoskeletal parts) and signaling pathways (PI3K-Akt and NF-kappa B signaling pathways) that influence muscle fiber type. A regulatory network of protein-protein interaction (PPI) between these DEPs that regulates muscle fiber types was constructed, which demonstrates how three down-regulated DEPs, including PFKM, GAPDH, and PKM, interact with other proteins to potentially control the glycolytic process. This study offers a new understanding of the molecular mechanisms in glycolytic and oxidative muscles as well as a novel approach for enhancing meat quality by transforming the type of muscle fibers in pigs.

Influence of 1-Butene Adsorption on the Dimerization Activity of Single Metal Cations on UiO-66 Nodes.

Grafting metal cations to missing linker defect sites in zirconium-based metal-organic frameworks, such as UiO-66, produces a uniquely well-defined and homotopic catalytically active site. We present here the synthesis and characterization of a group of UiO-66-supported metal catalysts, M-UiO-66 (M = Ni, Co, Cu, and Cr), for the catalytic dimerization of alkenes. The hydrogen-deuterium exchange via deuterium oxide adsorption followed by infrared spectroscopy showed that the last molecular water ligand desorbs from the sites after evacuation at 300 °C leading to M(OH)-UiO-66 structures. Adsorption of 1-butene is studied using calorimetry and density functional theory techniques to characterize the interactions of the alkene with metal cation sites that are found active for alkene oligomerization. For the most active Ni-UiO-66, the removal of molecular water from the active site significantly increases the 1-butene adsorption enthalpy and almost doubles the catalytic activity for 1-butene dimerization in comparison to the presence of water ligands. Other M-UiO-66 (M = Co, Cu, and Cr) exhibit 1-3 orders of magnitude lower catalytic activities compared to Ni-UiO-66. The catalytic activities correlate linearly with the Gibbs free energy of 1-butene adsorption. Density functional theory calculations probing the Cossee-Arlman mechanism for all metals support the differences in activity, providing a molecular level understanding of the metal site as the active center for 1-butene dimerization.

Public expectations of good primary health care in China: a national qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: China is currently making efforts to transform the current hospital-centric service delivery system to people-centred primary health care (PHC)-based delivery system, with service delivery organized around the health needs and expectations of people. To help direct China's PHC reform efforts, a profile of high-quality PHC from the public's perspective is required. OBJECTIVES: To profile high-quality PHC from the perspective of the Chinese public. METHODS: Semistructured interviews were conducted in 6 provinces (Henan, Shandong, Zhejiang, Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Heilongjiang) in China. In total, 58 interviewees completed the recorded interview. For transcription, trained research assistant listened to the recording of the interviews, summarizing each 30-s segment in English. Next, thematic analysis was performed on the narrative summaries to identify thematic families. RESULTS: Seven themes and 16 subthemes were generated from the analysis of our interview data. In order of their frequency, the interviewees expressed a high expectation for interpersonal communication and technical quality; followed by access, comprehensive care, cost, continuity, and coordination. CONCLUSIONS: Using qualitative data from 6 provinces in China, knowledge was generated to reveal the public's views and expectations for high-quality PHC. Our results confirm the urgent need for quality improvement efforts to improve patient experience and technical quality. The government also needs to further improve the delivery system and medical training programme to better meet public expectation in these areas, especially in establishing an innovative integrated primary care model, and strengthening interpersonal and clinical competency training for family doctors.

The performance of an atomically dispersed oxygen reduction catalyst prepared by γ-CD-MOF integration with FePc.

Here, a series of Fe/N/C catalysts with different proportions and pyrolysis temperatures are prepared by co-pyrolysis of melamine with a γ-cyclodextrin metal-organic framework (γ-CD-MOF) containing iron(ii) phthalocyanine (FePc). Due to the restriction effect of the host and guest at the molecular level, γ-CD-MOF can effectively avoid the π-π stacking of FePc and restrain the agglomeration of Fe atoms during pyrolysis. The phases and structures of the catalysts are characterized, which proves that the obtained catalyst has a three-dimensional porous and internal cavity structure with abundant surface area (1055.317 m2 g-1) and Fe is atomically dispersed in nitrogen-doped carbon. The onset potential (0.988 V vs. RHE) and half-wave potential (0.846 V vs. RHE) of FePc@CD/M (1 : 20)-1000 are superior to those of a commercial 20% Pt/C catalyst. FePc@CD/M (1 : 20)-1000 also exhibits an approximately four-electron (3.84) transfer process, good stability and excellent methanol tolerance.

Therapeutic mechanisms of mulberry leaves in type 2 diabetes based on metabolomics.

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is considered as one of the most significant metabolic syndromes worldwide, and the long-term use of the drugs already on the market for T2D often gives rise to some side effects. The mulberry leaf (ML), Morus alba L., has advantages in terms of its comprehensive therapeutic efficacy, which are characterized as multicomponent, multitarget, multipathway, and matching with the complex pathological mechanisms of diabetes. Methods: T2D rats were established by a high-fat diet combined with an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin; an evaluation of the hypoglycemic effects of the ML in combination with fasting blood glucose and other indicators, in addition to the utilization of metabolomics technology, was performed to analysis the metabolite changes in serum of rats. Results: MLs significantly reduced the fasting blood glucose of T2D rats, while improving the symptoms of polyphagia and polyuria. ML treatment altered the levels of various metabolites in the serum of T2D rats, which are involved in multiple metabolic pathways (amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and lipid metabolism), played a role in antioxidative stress and anti-inflammation, modulated immune and gluconeogenesis processes, and improved obesity as well as insulin resistance (IR). Conclusion: The ML contains a variety of chemical components, and metabolomic results have shown that MLs regulate multiple metabolic pathways to exert hypoglycemic effects, suggesting that MLs may have great promise in the development of new hypoglycemic drugs.

Comparative analysis of differentially abundant proteins between high and low intramuscular fat content groups in donkeys.

Intramuscular fat (IMF) is an important regulator that determines meat quality, and its content is closely related to flavor, tenderness, and juiciness. Many studies have used quantitative proteomic analysis to identify proteins associated with meat quality traits in livestock, however, the potential candidate proteins that influence IMF in donkey muscle are not fully understood. In this study, we performed quantitative proteomic analysis, with tandem-mass-tagged (TMT) labeling, with samples from the longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle of the donkey. A total of 585,555 spectra were identified from the six muscle samples used in this study. In total, 20,583 peptides were detected, including 15,279 unique peptides, and 2,540 proteins were identified. We analyzed differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) between LD muscles of donkeys with high (H) and low (L) IMF content. We identified 30 DAPs between the H and L IMF content groups, of which 17 were upregulated and 13 downregulated in the H IMF group. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) functional enrichment analysis of these DAPs revealed many GO terms (e.g., bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) receptor binding) and pathways (e.g., Wnt signaling pathway and Hippo signaling pathway) involved in lipid metabolism and adipogenesis. The construction of protein-protein interaction networks identified 16 DAPs involved in these networks. Our data provide a basis for future investigations into candidate proteins involved in IMF deposition and potential new approaches to improve meat quality in the donkey.