Changes in physio-biochemical metabolism, phenolics and antioxidant capacity during germination of different wheat varieties.

Changes in physio-biochemical metabolism, phenolics and antioxidant capacity during germination were studied in eight different wheat varieties. Results showed that germination enhanced sprout growth, and caused oxidative damage, but enhanced phenolics accumulation. Ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid were the main phenolic acids in wheat sprouts, and dihydroquercetin, quercetin and vitexin were the main flavonoids. The phenolic acid content of Jimai 44 was the highest on the 2th and 4th day of germination, and that of Bainong 307 was the highest on the 6th day. The flavonoid content of Hei jingang was the highest during whole germination. The enzymes activities of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase (C4H) and 4-coumarate coenzyme A ligase (4CL) were up-regulated. The activities of catalase, polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase were also activated. Antioxidant capacity of wheat sprouts was enhanced. The results provided new ideas for the production of naturally sourced phenolic rich foods.

Positive regulation of the Eucommia rubber biosynthesis-related gene EuFPS1 by EuWRKY30 in Eucommia ulmoides.

Eucommia rubber is a secondary metabolite from Eucommia ulmoides that has attracted much attention because of its unique properties and enormous potential for application. However, the transcriptional mechanism regulating its biosynthesis has not yet been determined. Farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase is a key enzyme in the Eucommia rubber biosynthesis. In this study, the promoter of EuFPS1 was used as bait, EuWRKY30 was screened from the cDNA library of EuFPS1 via a yeast one-hybrid system. EuWRKY30 belongs to the WRKY IIa subfamily and contains a WRKY domain and a C2H2 zinc finger motif, and the expressed protein is located in the nucleus. EuWRKY30 and EuFPS1 exhibited similar tissue expression patterns, and yeast one-hybrid and dual-luciferase experiments confirmed that EuWRKY30 directly binds to the W-box element in the EuFPS1 promoter and activates its expression. Moreover, the overexpression of EuWRKY30 significantly upregulated the expression level of EuFPS1, further increasing the density of the rubber particles and Eucommia rubber content. The results of this study indicated that EuWRKY30 positively regulates EuFPS1, which plays a critical role in the synthesis of Eucommia rubber, provided a basis for further analysis of the underlying transcriptional regulatory mechanisms.

The Pea Oligosaccharides Could Stimulate the In Vitro Proliferation of Beneficial Bacteria and Enhance Anti-Inflammatory Effects via the NF-κB Pathway.

The oligosaccharides extracted from the seeds of peas, specifically consisting of raffinose, stachyose, and verbascose, fall under the category of raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs). The effect of RFOs on intestinal microflora and the anti-inflammatory mechanism were investigated by in vitro fermentation and cell experiments. Firstly, mouse feces were fermented in vitro and different doses of RFOs (0~2%) were added to determine the changes in the representative bacterial community, PH, and short-chain fatty acids in the fermentation solution during the fermentation period. The probiotic index was used to evaluate the probiotic proliferation effect of RFOs and the optimal group was selected for 16S rRNA assay with blank group. Then, the effects of RFOs on the inflammatory response of macrophage RAW264.7 induced by LPS were studied. The activity of cells, the levels of NO, ROS, inflammatory factors, and the expression of NF-κB, p65, and iNOS proteins in related pathways were measured. The results demonstrated that RFOs exerted a stimulatory effect on the proliferation of beneficial bacteria while concurrently inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria. Moreover, RFOs significantly enhanced the diversity of intestinal flora and reduced the ratio of Firmicutes-to-Bacteroides (F/B). Importantly, it was observed that RFOs effectively suppressed NO and ROS levels, as well as inflammatory cytokine release and expression of NF-κB, p65, and iNOS proteins. These findings highlight the potential of RFOs in promoting intestinal health and ameliorating intestinal inflammation.

The Impact of High Temperature on Microbial Communities in Pork and Duck Skin.

Pork skin and duck skin are highly favored by consumers in China, and high-temperature processing methods are widely employed in cooking and food preparation. However, the influence of high-temperature treatment on the microbial communities within pork skin and duck skin remains unclear. In this study, a high-temperature treatment method simulating the cooking process was utilized to treat samples of pork skin and duck skin at temperatures ranging from 60 °C to 120 °C. The findings revealed that high-temperature treatment significantly altered the microbial communities in both pork skin and duck skin. Heat exposure resulted in a decrease in microbial diversity and induced changes in the relative abundance of specific microbial groups. In pork skin, high-temperature treatment led to a reduction in bacterial diversity and a decline in the relative abundance of specific bacterial taxa. Similarly, the relative abundance of microbial communities in duck skin also decreased. Furthermore, potential pathogenic bacteria, including Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as aerobic, anaerobic, and facultative anaerobic bacteria, exhibited different responses to high-temperature treatment in pork skin and duck skin. These findings highlighted the substantial impact of high-temperature processing on the composition and structure of microbial communities in pork skin and duck skin, potentially influencing food safety and quality. This study contributed to an enhanced understanding of the microbial mechanisms underlying the alterations in microbial communities during high-temperature processing of pork skin and duck skin, with significant implications for ensuring food safety and developing effective cooking techniques.

Production of monoclonal antibody against tylosin and tilmicosin with homogeneous cross-reactivity and its application in lateral flow immunoassay.

To avoid false negative results due to the low cross-reactivity rate (CR) in rapid immunoassay, a group-specific antibody with homogeneous CR toward target compounds is needed for accuracy. In this study, tylosin (TYL) and tilmicosin (TM) were selected as model molecules. Firstly, two-dimensional similarity, electrostatic potential energy, spatial conformation and charge distribution of the haptens TYL-CMO, TYL-6-ACA, TYL-4-APA, TYL-CHO and DES-CMO and target compounds of TYL and TM were obtained using Gaussian 09W and Discovery Studio. The optimal hapten was DES-CMO because it is the most similar to TYL and TM. Subsequently, the mAb 14D5 cell line was obtained with IC50 values of 1.59 and 1.72 ng/mL for TYL and TM, respectively, and a CR of 92.44%. Finally, amorphous carbon nanoparticles (ACNPs) were conjugated with mAb 14D5 to develop an accurate lateral flow immunoassay (LFA) for detection of TYL and TM by the reflectance value under natural light. The recoveries of TYL and TM ranged from 77.18 to 112.04% with coefficient of variation < 13.43%. The cut-off value in milk samples was 8 ng/mL, and the limits of detection were 11.44, 15.96, 22.29 and 25.53 µg/kg for chicken muscle, bovine muscle, porcine muscle and porcine liver samples, respectively, and the results being consistent with HPLC-UV. The results suggest that the developed LFA is accurate and potentially useful for on-site screening of TYL and TM in milk and animal tissue samples.

Development of a monoclonal antibody-based lateral flow immunoassay for the detection of benzoic acid in liquid food.

To monitor benzoic acid (BA) residues in liquid food samples, a monoclonal antibody (mAb)-based lateral flow immunoassay (LFA) was developed in this study. First, 2-aminobenzoic acid (2-AA), 3-aminobenzoic acid (3-AA), and 4-aminobenzoic acid (4-AA) were conjugated to BSA and used as immunogens. After cell fusion, mAb 6D8 from 4-AA-BSA performed best with an IC50 value of 0.21 mg L-1 using 3-AA-OVA as a heterogeneous antigen, which represented a 3.4-fold improvement compared with the homogeneous antigen 4-AA-BSA. Subsequently, eight kinds of CGNPs with sizes varying from 20.94 nm to 90.00 nm were synthesized for screening the suitable size to develop a sensitive LFA. Finally, a sensitive LFA based on colloidal gold (23.27 nm) nanoparticles was developed for screening BA with a cut-off value of 4 mg L-1, which could meet the requirement of BA detection in milk, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola, and Smart samples.

Effect of 2'-Fucosyllactose on Beige Adipocyte Formation in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes and C3H10T1/2 Cells.

2'-Fucosyllactose (2'-FL), the functional oligosaccharide naturally present in milk, has been shown to exert health benefits. This study was aimed to investigate the effect of 2'-fucosyllactose (2'-FL) on the browning of white adipose tissue in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and C3H10T1/2 cells. The results revealed that 2'-FL decreased lipid accumulations with reduced intracellular triglyceride contents in vitro. 2'-FL intervention increased the mitochondria density and the proportion of UCP1-positive cells. The mRNA expressions of the mitochondrial biogenesis-related and browning markers (Cox7a, Cyto C, Tfam, Ucp1, Pgc1α, Prdm16, Cidea, Elovl3, Pparα, CD137, and Tmem26) were increased after 2'-FL intervention to some extent. Similarly, the protein expression of the browning markers, including UCP1, PGC1α, and PRDM16, was up-regulated in the 2'-FL group. Additionally, an adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibitor, compound C (1 µM), significantly decreased the induction of thermogenic proteins expressions mediated by 2'-FL, indicating that the 2'-FL-enhanced beige cell formation was partially dependent on the AMPK pathway. In conclusion, 2'-FL effectively promoted the browning of white adipose in vitro.

Development of a Lateral Flow Immunoassay Based on a Highly Specific Monoclonal Antibody To Detect 4-Methylaminoantipyrine.

To avoid false-positive results in immunoassays due to cross-reactivity of antibodies with structural analogues, especially metabolites of target compounds, the preparation of highly specific antibodies is crucial. Preserving the characteristic structure of a target compound when designing a hapten is important when preparing highly specific antibodies. Here, we designed a novel hapten, 4-(((1,5-dimethyl-3-oxo-2-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4yl)amino)methyl)benzoic acid, named AA-BA, to improve the specificity of antibodies for detection of 4-methylaminoantipyrine (MAA), a residual marker of dipyrone, an important antipyretic-analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug. The structural features of the hapten remained almost the same as those of MAA. After experimental validation, monoclonal antibody 6A4 (mAb 6A4) was prepared with the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 4.03 ng/mL and negligible cross-reactivity with dipyrone metabolites and other antibiotics. In addition, a specific lateral flow immunoassay (LFA) strip based on colloidal gold was developed for screening MAA with a cutoff value of 25 ng/mL in milk. The developed LFA is a useful tool for rapid and accurate detection of MAA.

GABA Application Enhances Drought Stress Tolerance in Wheat Seedlings (Triticum aestivum L.).

In this study, the effects of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on physio-biochemical metabolism, phenolic acid accumulation, and antioxidant system enhancement in germinated wheat under drought stress was investigated. The results showed that exogenous GABA reduced the oxidative damage in wheat seedlings caused by drought stress and enhanced the content of phenolics, with 1.0 mM being the most effective concentration. Six phenolic acids were detected in bound form, including p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, and sinapic acid. However, only syringic acid and p-coumaric acid were found in free form. A total of 1.0 mM of GABA enhanced the content of total phenolic acids by 28% and 22%, respectively, compared with that of drought stress, on day four and day six of germination. The activities of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase (C4H) and 4-coumarate coenzyme A ligase (4CL) were activated by drought stress plus GABA treatment. Antioxidant enzyme activities were also induced. These results indicate that GABA treatment may be an effective way to relieve drought stress as it activates the antioxidant system of plants by inducing the accumulation of phenolics and the increase in antioxidant enzyme activity.

A self-assembled DNA double-crossover-based fluorescent aptasensor for highly sensitivity and selectivity in the simultaneous detection of aflatoxin M1 and aflatoxin B1.

Realizing the simultaneous speedy detection of multiple mycotoxins in contaminated food and feed is of great practical importance in the domain of food manufacturing and security. Herein, a fluorescent aptamer sensor based on self-assembled DNA double-crossover was developed and used for effective simultaneous quantitative detection of aflatoxins M1 and B1 by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). Fluorescent dye-modified aflatoxin M1 and B1 aptamers are selected as recognition elements and signal probes, and DNA double crosses are consistently locked by the aflatoxin aptamers, which results in a "turn-off" of the fluorescent signal. In the presence of AFM1 and AFB1, the aptamer sequences are more inclined to form Apt-AFM1 and Apt-AFB1 complexes, and the fluorescent probes are released from the DNA double-crossing platform, leading to an enhanced fluorescent signal (Cy3: 568 nm; Cy5: 660 nm). Under the optimal conditions, the signal response of the constructed fluorescent aptamer sensor showed good linearity with the logarithm of AFM1 and AFB1 concentrations, with detection limits of 6.24 pg/mL and 9.0 pg/mL, and a wide linear range of 0.01-200 ng/mL and 0.01-150 ng/mL, respectively. In addition, the effect of potential interfering substances in real samples was analyzed, and the aptasensor presented a good interference immunity. Moreover, by modifying and designing aptamer probes, the sensor can be applied to high-throughput simultaneous screening of other analytes, providing a new approach for the development of fluorescent aptamer sensors.

Differential expression of SLC30A10 and RAGE in mouse pups by early life lead exposure.

BACKGROUND: SLC30A10 and RAGE are widely recognized as pivotal regulators of Aß plaque transport and accumulation. Prior investigations have established a link between early lead exposure and cerebral harm in offspring, attributable to Aß buildup and amyloid plaque deposition. However, the impact of lead on the protein expression of SLC30A10 and RAGE has yet to be elucidated. This study seeks to confirm the influence of maternal lead exposure during pregnancy, specifically through lead-containing drinking water, on the protein expression of SLC30A10 and RAGE in mice offspring. Furthermore, this research aims to provide further evidence of lead-induced neurotoxicity. METHODS: Four cohorts of mice were subjected to lead exposure at concentrations of 0 mM, 0.25 mM, 0.5 mM, and 1 mM over a period of 42 uninterrupted days, spanning from pregnancy to the weaning phase. On postnatal day 21, the offspring mice underwent assessments. The levels of lead in the blood, hippocampus, and cerebral cortex were scrutinized, while the mice's cognitive abilities pertaining to learning and memory were probed through the utilization of the Morris water maze. Furthermore, Western blotting and immunofluorescence techniques were employed to analyze the expression levels of SLC30A10 and RAGE in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. RESULTS: The findings revealed a significant elevation in lead concentration within the brains and bloodstreams of mice, mirroring the increased lead exposure experienced by their mothers during the designated period (P < 0.05). Notably, in the Morris water maze assessment, the lead-exposed group exhibited noticeably diminished spatial memory compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Both immunofluorescence and Western blot analyses effectively demonstrated the concomitant impact of varying lead exposure levels on the hippocampal and cerebral cortex regions of the offspring. The expression levels of SLC30A10 displayed a negative correlation with lead doses (P < 0.05). Surprisingly, under identical circumstances, the expression of RAGE in the hippocampus and cortex of the offspring exhibited a positive correlation with lead doses (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: SLC30A10 potentially exerts distinct influence on exacerbated Aß accumulation and transportation in contrast to RAGE. Disparities in brain expression of RAGE and SLC30A10 may contribute to the neurotoxic effects induced by lead.

Antioxidant, antihyperglycemic, and antihyperlipidemic properties of Chimonanthus salicifolius S. Y. Hu leaves in experimental animals: modulation of thioredoxin and glutathione systems, renal water reabsorption, and gut microbiota.

Introduction: Excessive calorie intake and physical inactivity have dramatically increased nutrient overload-associated disease, becoming a global public health issue. Chimonanthus salicifolius S. Y. Hu (CHI) is a homology plant of food and medicine in China and shows several health benefits. Methods: This work investigated the antioxidant activity, the alleviating effects, and the mechanism of action on diabetes and hyperlipidemia of CHI leaves. Results and discussion: Results showed that CHI leaves infusion displayed in vitro antioxidant activity measured by ABTS and ferric reducing antioxidant power methods. In wild-type Kunming mice, CHI leaves infusion consumption activated the hepatic antioxidant enzymes, including glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase and thioredoxin reductase as well as thioredoxin reductase 1. In alloxan-induced type 1 diabetic mice, CHI leaves infusion ameliorated diabetic symptoms, including polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia and hyperglycemia, in a dose-dependent and time-course manners. The mechanism involved CHI leaves up-regulating renal water reabsorption associated protein - urine transporter A1-and promoting the trafficking of urine transporter A1 and aquaporin 2 to the apical plasma membrane. Despite this, in high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemic golden hamsters, CHI leaves powder did not significantly effect on hyperlipidemia and body weight gain. This might be attributed to CHI leaves powder increasing the calorie intake. Interestingly, we found that CHI leaves extract containing a lower dose of total flavonoid than CHI leaves powder pronouncedly reduced the levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in serum in golden hamsters fed a high-fat diet. Furthermore, CHI leaves extract elevated the diversity of gut microbiota and the abundance of Bifidobacterium and Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014. It also decreased the abundance of Lactobacillus at the genus level in golden hamsters fed a high-fat diet. Overall, CHI leaves benefit oxidative stress prevention and metabolic syndrome amelioration in vivo.

Melatonin improved glucose homeostasis is associated with the reprogrammed gut microbiota and reduced fecal levels of short-chain fatty acids in db/db mice.

Accumulated evidence shows that melatonin possesses the potential to improve lipid metabolism by modifying gut microbiota and glucose metabolism via regulating the melatonin receptor signaling pathway. However, the contribution of melatonin consumption on glucose homeostasis by affecting gut microbiota has not been investigated in diabetes. In the current work, we investigated the effect of melatonin administration on gut microbiota and glucose homeostasis in db/db mice, a type 2 diabetes model with leptin receptor deficiency. Administration of melatonin through drinking water (at 0.25% and 0.50%) for 12 weeks decreased diabetic polydipsia and polyuria, increased insulin sensitivity and impeded glycemia. The accumulated fecal levels of total short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and acetic acid are positively correlated with diabetes-related parameters-homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index and fasting blood glucose (FBG) level. The reprogramming of gut microbiota structure and abundance and the reduction of fecal levels of SCFAs, including acetic acid, butyric acid, isovaleric acid, caproic acid, and isobutyric acid, by melatonin may be beneficial for enhancing insulin sensitivity and lowering FBG, which were verified by the results of correlation analysis between acetic acid or total SCFAs and HOMA-IR and FBG. In addition, the melatonin downregulated hepatic genes, including fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase 1, forkhead box O1 alpha, thioredoxin-interacting protein, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxy-kinase (PEPCK), PEPCK1 and a glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit, that responsible for gluconeogenesis support the result that melatonin improved glucose metabolism. Overall, results showed that the melatonin supplementation reduced fecal SCFAs level via reprogramming of gut microbiota, and the reduction of fecal SCFAs level is associated with improved glucose homeostasis in db/db mice.

A highly sensitive lateral flow immunoassay based on a group-specific monoclonal antibody and amorphous carbon nanoparticles for detection of sulfonamides in milk.

To meet high-throughput screening of the residues of sulfonamides (SAs) with high sensitivity toward sulfamethazine (SM2) in milk samples, a new highly sensitive lateral flow immunoassay (LFA) based on amorphous carbon nanoparticles (ACNs) was developed. First, a group-specific monoclonal antibody 10H7 (mAb 10H7) that could recognize 25 SAs with high sensitivity toward SM2 (IC50 value of 0.18 ng/mL) was prepared based on H1 as an immune hapten and H4 as a heterologous coating hapten. Then, mAb 10H7 was conjugated to ACNs as an immune probe for LFA development. Under the optimized conditions, the LFA could detect 25 SAs with the cut-off value toward SM2 of 2 ng/mL, which could meet the requirement for detection of SAs. In addition, the LFA developed was also used for screening SAs' residues in real milk samples, with results being consistent with HPLC-MS/MS. Thus, this LFA can be used as a high-throughput screening tool for detection of SAs.

Microsporogenesis in the triploid hybrid 'Beilinxiongzhu 1#' and detection of primary trisomy in 2x × 3 × Populus hybrids.

BACKGROUND: Primary trisomy is a powerful genetic tool in plants. However, trisomy has not been detected in Populus as a model system for tree and woody perennial plant biology. RESULTS: In the present study, a backcross between Populus alba × Populus glandulosa 'YXY 7#' (2n = 2x = 38) and the triploid hybrid 'Beilinxiongzhu 1#' (2n = 3x = 57) based on the observation of microsporogenesis and an evaluation of the variations in pollen was conducted to create primary trisomy. Many abnormalities, such as premature migration of chromosomes, lagging of chromosomes, chromosome bridges, asymmetric separation, micronuclei, and premature cytokinesis, have been detected during meiosis of the triploid hybrid clone 'Beilinxiongzhu 1#'. However, these abnormal behaviors did not result in completely aborted pollen. The pollen diameter of the triploid hybrid clone 'Beilinxiongzhu 1#' is bimodally distributed, which was similar to the chromosomal number of the backcross progeny. A total of 393 progeny were generated. We provide a protocol for determining the number of chromosomes in aneuploid progeny, and 19 distinct simple sequence repeat (SSR) primer pairs covering the entire Populus genome were developed. Primary trisomy 11 and trisomy 17 were detected in the 2x × 3 x hybrid using the SSR molecular markers and counting of somatic chromosomes. CONCLUSIONS: Nineteen distinct SSR primer pairs for determining chromosomal number in aneuploid individuals were developed, and two Populus trisomies were detected from 2x × 3 x hybrids by SSR markers and somatic chromosome counting. Our findings provide a powerful genetic tool to reveal the function of genes in Populus.

The NAC transcription factor family in Eucommia ulmoides: Genome-wide identification, characterization, and network analysis in relation to the rubber biosynthetic genes.

The NAC transcription factor family is a large plant gene family, participating in plant growth and development, secondary metabolite synthesis, biotic and abiotic stresses responses, and hormone signaling. Eucommia ulmoides is a widely planted economic tree species in China that can produce trans-polyisoprene: Eucommia rubber (Eu-rubber). However, genome-wide identification of the NAC gene family has not been reported in E. ulmoides. In this study, 71 NAC proteins were identified based on genomic database of E. ulmoides. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the EuNAC proteins were distributed in 17 subgroups based on homology with NAC proteins in Arabidopsis, including the E. ulmoides-specific subgroup Eu_NAC. Gene structure analysis suggested that the number of exons varied from 1 to 7, and multitudinous EuNAC genes contained two or three exons. Chromosomal location analysis revealed that the EuNAC genes were unevenly distributed on 16 chromosomes. Three pairs of genes of tandem duplicates genes and 12 segmental duplications were detected, which indicated that segmental duplications may provide the primary driving force of expansion of EuNAC. Prediction of cis-regulatory elements indicated that the EuNAC genes were involved in development, light response, stress response and hormone response. For the gene expression analysis, the expression levels of EuNAC genes in various tissues were quite different. To explore the effect of EuNAC genes on Eu-rubber biosynthesis, a co-expression regulatory network between Eu-rubber biosynthesis genes and EuNAC genes was constructed, which indicated that six EuNAC genes may play an important role in the regulation of Eu-rubber biosynthesis. In addition, this six EuNAC genes expression profiles in E. ulmoides different tissues were consistent with the trend in Eu-rubber content. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed that EuNAC genes were responsive to different hormone treatment. These results will provide a useful reference for further studies addressing the functional characteristics of the NAC genes and its potential role in Eu-rubber biosynthesis.

Complexation of a Nitrilotriacetate-Derived Triamide Ligand with Trivalent Lanthanides: A Thermodynamic and Crystallographic Study.

Non-heterocyclic N-donor nitrilotriacetate-derived triamide ligands are one of the most promising extractants for the selective extraction separation of trivalent actinides over lanthanides, but the thermodynamics and mechanism of the complexation of this kind of ligand with actinides and lanthanides are still not clear. In this work, the complexation behaviors of N,N,N',N',N″,N″-hexaethylnitrilotriacetamide (NTAamide(Et)) with four representative trivalent lanthanides (La3+, Nd3+, Eu3+, and Lu3+) were systematically investigated by using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) and fluorescence spectrophotometry, microcalorimetry, and single-crystal X-ray diffractometry. 1H NMR spectroscopic titration of La3+ and Lu3+ indicates that two species of 1:2 and 1:1 metal-ligand complexes were formed in NO3- and ClO4- media. The stability constants of NTAamide(Et) with Nd3+ and Eu3+ obtained by UV-vis and fluorescence titration show that the complexing strength of NTAamide(Et) with Nd3+ is lower than that with Eu3+ in the same anionic medium, while that of the same lanthanide complex is higher in ClO4- medium than in NO3- medium. Meanwhile, the formation reactions for all metal-ligand complexes are driven by both enthalpy and entropy. The structures of lanthanide complexes in the single ClO4- and NO3- medium and the mixed one were determined to be [LnL2(MeOH)](ClO4)3 (Ln = La, Nd, Eu, and Lu), [LaL2(EtOH)2][La(NO3)6], and [LaL2(NO3)](ClO4)2, separately. The average bond lengths of lanthanide complexes decrease gradually with the decrease in ionic radii of Ln3+, indicating that heavier lanthanides form stronger complexes due to the lanthanide contraction effect, which coincides with the trend of the complexing strength obtained by spectroscopic titration. This work not only reveals the thermodynamics and mechanism of the complexation between NTAamide ligands and lanthanides but also obtains the periodic tendency of complexation between them, which may facilitate the separation of trivalent lanthanides from actinides.

Evaluating the Potential Safety Risk of Plant-Based Meat Analogues by Analyzing Microbial Community Composition.

Plant-based meat analogues offer an environmentally and scientifically sustainable option as a substitute for animal-derived meat. They contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, freshwater consumption, and the potential risks associated with zoonotic diseases linked to livestock production. However, specific processing methods such as extrusion or cooking, using various raw materials, can influence the survival and growth of spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms, resulting in differences between plant-based meat analogues and animal meat. In this study, the microbial communities in five different types of plant-based meat analogues were investigated using high-throughput sequencing. The findings revealed a diverse range of bacteria, including Cyanobacteria, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, Actinobacteriota, and Chloroflexi, as well as fungi such as Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Phragmoplastophyta, Vertebrata, and Mucoromycota. Additionally, this study analyzed microbial diversity at the genus level and employed phenotype prediction to evaluate the relative abundance of various bacterium types, including Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, aerobic, anaerobic, and facultative anaerobic bacteria, as well as potential pathogenic bacteria. The insights gained from this study provide valuable information regarding the microbial communities and phenotypes of different plant-based meat analogues, which could help identify effective storage strategies to extend the shelf-life of these products.

Effects of folic acid on oxidative damage of kidney in lead-exposed rats.

Introduction: Lead (Pb) has many applications in daily life, but in recent years, various problems caused by lead exposure have aroused people's concern. Folic acid is widely found in fruits and has received more attention for its antioxidant function. However, the role of folic acid in lead-induced kidney injury in rats is unclear. This study was designed to investigate the effects of folic acid on oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress in the kidney of rats caused by lead exposure. Methods: Forty specific pathogen-free male Rattus norvegicus rats were randomly divided into control, lead, intervention, and folic acid groups. The levels of SOD, GSH-Px, GSH, and MDA were measured by biochemical kits. The protein levels of Nrf2, HO-1, CHOP, and GRP78 were measured by immunofluorescence. Results: This study showed that lead exposure increased the blood levels of lead in mice. However, the intervention of folic acid decreased the levels of lead, but the difference was not statistically significant. Lead exposure causes oxidative stress by decreasing kidney SOD, GSH-Px, and GSH levels and increasing MDA levels. However, folic acid alleviated the oxidative damage caused by lead exposure by increasing the levels of GSH-Px and GSH and decreasing the levels of MDA. Immunofluorescence results showed that folic acid intervention downregulated the upregulation of kidney Nrf2, HO-1, GRP78, and CHOP expression caused by lead exposure. Discussion: Overall, folic acid alleviates kidney oxidative stress induced by lead exposure by regulating Nrf2 and HO-1, while regulating CHOP and GRP78 to mitigate apoptosis caused by excessive endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Mechanism of mitigating effect of wheat germ peptides on lead-induced oxidative damage in PC12 cells.

It is well known that lead-induced neurotoxicity is closely related to oxidative stress. According to previous reports, wheat germ peptides (WGPs) isolated from wheat germ have been shown to have potent antioxidant capacity. This study hypothesized that WGPs could protect PC12 cells from lead-induced oxidative stress. Here, the protecting-efficacies of WGPs were investigated in PC12 cells that were pretreated with WGPs (200 µM, 4 h) and exposed to lead (10 µM, 24 h). The antioxidant capacity was assessed by cell viability, ROS, MDA, SOD, CAT, GR, GPx, GSH, and GSSG. The experimental results showed that WGP3, WGP8, and WGP9 could reverse the reduction of cell viability caused by lead exposure. Lead exposure causes oxidative stress by increasing the levels of ROS and MDA. Moreover, the decrease in the levels of SOD, CAT, GPx, GR, and GSH/GSSG could be observed. However, WGP3, WGP8, and WGP9 can protect PC12 cells against lead-induced oxidative stress by reversing these phenomena. The protein expression of TXNIP, Keap1, and Nrf2 was characterized by western blotting, and the results illustrated that lead exposure up-regulated the expression of TXNIP and Keap1 and down-regulated the expression of Nrf2, and WGP3, WGP8, and WGP9 could improve the antioxidant capacity of PC12 cells by reversing this phenomenon. Therefore, the present study demonstrated that WGP3, WGP8, and WGP9 may protect against lead-induced oxidative stress in PC12 cells by regulating the TXNIP/Keap1/Nrf2 pathway.