Bitter Almond Albumin ACE-Inhibitory Peptides: Purification, Screening, and Characterization In Silico, Action Mechanisms, Antihypertensive Effect In Vivo, and Stability.

Almond expeller is an undeveloped reservoir of bioactive peptides. In the current study, a zinc ion ligand Arg-Pro-Pro-Ser-Glu-Asp-Glu-Asp-Gln-Glu (RPPSEDEDQE) offering a noncompetitive inhibitory effect on ACE (IC50: 205.50 µmol·L-1) was identified from almond albumin hydrolysates via papain and thermolysin hydrolysis, subsequent chromatographic separation, and UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS analysis. Molecular docking simulated the binding modes of RPPSEDEDQE to ACE and showed the formation of hydrogen bonds between RPPSEDEDQE and seven active residues of ACE. Moreover, RPPSEDEDQE could bind to fifteen active sites of ACE by hydrophobic interactions, and link with the His387 and zinc ions of the zinc tetrahedral coordination. Ultraviolet wavelength scanning and Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed that RPPSEDEDQE can provide multiple binding sites for zinc ions. However, RPPSEDEDQE cannot bind with any central pocket of ACE, which was evidenced by an inhibition kinetics experiment. Additionally, the zinc-chelating capacity and inhibiting ability against ACE of RPPSEDEDQE were both not significantly reduced by the hydrolysis of gastrointestinal enzymes. A moderate to high dose of RPPSEDEDQE (100-150 mg·kg bw-1) significantly reduced the systolic and diastolic blood pressure of spontaneous hypertensive rats, but chelation with zinc ions decreased its antihypertensive efficiency. These results indicate that bitter almond albumin peptides may be used for lowering blood pressure.

Association of maternal folic acid supplementation during pregnancy with newborn telomere length.

This study aimed to explore the associations between maternal folic acid (FA) supplementation during different trimesters of pregnancy and newborn telomere length (TL). Data were collected from a birth cohort study of 746 mother-newborn pairs conducted from November 2013 to March 2015 in Wuhan, China. After adjustment for potential confounders, maternal FA supplementation after the first trimester and throughout pregnancy were associated with longer newborn TL [ß = 0.29, 95 % confidence interval (CI): 0.20, 0.38 and ß = 0.24, 95 % CI: 0.16, 0.32, respectively]. No significant association was found between maternal FA supplementation in the first trimester and newborn TL. In conclusion, a possible association between maternal FA supplementation during pregnancy with longer newborn TL was suggested in the present study. This study provides insight into the benefit of newborn TL by maternal FA supplementation during pregnancy.

Effects of antibiotic treatment and phagocyte infiltration on development of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm-Insights from the application of a novel PF hydrogel model in vitro and in vivo.

Background and purpose: Bacterial biofilm infections are major health issues as the infections are highly tolerant to antibiotics and host immune defenses. Appropriate biofilm models are important to develop and improve to make progress in future biofilm research. Here, we investigated the ability of PF hydrogel material to facilitate the development and study of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms in vitro and in vivo. Methods: Wild-type P. aeruginosa PAO1 bacteria were embedded in PF hydrogel situated in vitro or in vivo, and the following aspects were investigated: 1) biofilm development; 2) host immune response and its effect on the bacteria; and 3) efficacy of antibiotic treatment. Results: Microscopy demonstrated that P. aeruginosa developed typical biofilms inside the PF hydrogels in vitro and in mouse peritoneal cavities where the PF hydrogels were infiltrated excessively by polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). The bacteria remained at a level of ~106 colony-forming unit (CFU)/hydrogel for 7 days, indicating that the PMNs could not eradicate the biofilm bacteria. ß-Lactam or aminoglycoside mono treatment at 64× minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) killed all bacteria in day 0 in vitro biofilms, but not in day 1 and older biofilms, even at a concentration of 256× MIC. Combination treatment with the antibiotics at 256× MIC completely killed the bacteria in day 1 in vitro biofilms, and combination treatment in most of the cases showed significantly better bactericidal effects than monotherapies. However, in the case of the established in vivo biofilms, the mono and combination antibiotic treatments did not efficiently kill the bacteria. Conclusion: Our results indicate that the bacteria formed typical biofilms in PF hydrogel in vitro and in vivo and that the biofilm bacteria were tolerant against antibiotics and host immunity. The PF hydrogel biofilm model is simple and easy to fabricate and highly reproducible with various application possibilities. We conclude that the PF hydrogel biofilm model is a new platform that will facilitate progress in future biofilm investigations, as well as studies of the efficacy of new potential medicine against biofilm infections.

Association between maternal urinary selenium during pregnancy and newborn telomere length: results from a birth cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Newborn telomere length is considered as an effective predictor of lifespan and health outcomes in later life. Selenium is an essential trace element for human health, and its antioxidation is of great significance for the prevention of telomere erosion. METHODS: We recruited 746 mother-newborn pairs in Wuhan Children's Hospital between 2013 and 2015. Urine samples were repeatedly collected at three time points during pregnancy, and umbilical cord blood samples were collected right after parturition. Urinary selenium concentration was detected using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and newborn telomere length was measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. We applied general estimating equations to examine the trimester-specific association between maternal urinary selenium during pregnancy and newborn telomere length. RESULTS: The median of creatinine-corrected selenium concentrations during pregnancy were 16.29, 18.08, and 18.35 µg/g·creatinine in the first, second, and third trimesters, respectively. Selenium concentrations in all the three trimesters were significantly associated with newborn telomere length. Per doubling of maternal urinary selenium concentrations was associated with 6.44% (95% CI: 0.92, 12.25), 6.54% (95% CI: 0.17, 13.31), and 6.02% (95% CI: 0.29, 12.09) longer newborn telomere length in the first, second, and third trimesters, respectively, after adjusting for potential confounders. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to provide evidence for the effect of maternal selenium levels on fetal telomere erosion. Findings from our study suggested that maternal urinary selenium was positively associated with newborn telomere length, indicating that intrauterine selenium exposure might have effect on initial setting of human telomere length.

ShCIGT, a Trihelix family gene, mediates cold and drought tolerance by interacting with SnRK1 in tomato.

Abiotic stress, such as drought and cold stress, have a major impact on plant growth and development. The trihelix transcription factor family plays important roles in plant morphological development and adaptation to abiotic stresses. In this study, we isolated a cold-induced gene named ShCIGT from the wild tomato species Solanum habrochaites and found that it contributes to abiotic stress tolerance. ShCIGT belongs to the GT-1 subfamily of the trihelix transcription factors. It was constitutively expressed in various tissues. Its expression was induced by multiple abiotic stresses and abscisic acid (ABA). Overexpression of ShCIGT in cultivated tomato enhanced cold and drought stress tolerance. In addition, the transgenic plants displayed a reduced sensitivity to ABA during post-germination growth. We found that ShCIGT interacts with SnRK1, an energy sensor in the metabolic signaling network, which controls plant metabolism, growth and development, and stress tolerance. Based on these data, we conclude ShCIGT may improve abiotic-stress tolerance in tomato by interacting with SnRK1.