Nutritional, Textural, and Sensory Attributes of Protein Bars Formulated with Mycoproteins.

Research accumulated over the past decades has shown that mycoprotein could serve as a healthy and safe alternative protein source, offering a viable substitute for animal- and plant-derived proteins. This study evaluated the impact of substituting whey protein with fungal-derived mycoprotein at different levels (10%, 20%, and 30%) on the quality of high-protein nutrition bars (HPNBs). It focused on nutritional content, textural changes over storage, and sensory properties. Initially, all bars displayed similar hardness, but storage time significantly affected textural properties. In the early storage period (0-5 days), hardness increased at a modest rate of 0.206 N/day to 0.403 N/day. This rate dramatically escalated from 1.13 N/day to 1.36 N/day after 5 days, indicating a substantial textural deterioration over time. Bars with lower mycoprotein levels (10%) exhibited slower hardening rates compared with those with higher substitution levels (20% and 30%), pointing to a correlation between mycoprotein content and increased bar hardness during storage. Protein digestibility was assessed through in vitro gastric and intestinal phases. Bars with no or low-to-medium levels of mycoprotein substitution (PB00, PB10, and PB20) showed significantly higher digestibility (40.3~43.8%) compared with those with the highest mycoprotein content (PB30, 32.9%). However, digestibility rates for all mycoprotein-enriched bars were lower than those observed for whey-protein-only bars (PB00, 84.5%), especially by the end of the intestinal digestion phase. The introduction of mycoprotein enriched the bars' dietary fiber content and improved their odor, attributing a fresh mushroom-like smell. These findings suggest that modest levels of mycoprotein can enhance nutritional value and maintain sensory quality, although higher substitution levels adversely affect texture and protein digestibility. This study underscores the potential of mycoprotein as a functional ingredient in HPNBs, balancing nutritional enhancement with sensory acceptability, while also highlighting the challenges of textural deterioration and reduced protein digestibility at higher substitution levels.

Developing a xylanase XYNZG from Plectosphaerella cucumerina for baking by heterologously expressed in Kluyveromyces lactis.

BACKGROUND: Xylanase can replace chemical additives to improve the volume and sensory properties of bread in the baking. Suitable baking xylanase with improved yield will promote the application of xylanase in baking industry. The xylanase XYNZG from the Plectosphaerella cucumerina has been previously characterized by heterologous expression in Pichia pastoris. However, P. pastoris is not a suitable host for xylanase to be used in the baking process since P. pastoris does not have GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) status and requires large methanol supplement during the fermentation in most conditions, which is not allowed to be used in the food industry. Kluyveromyces lactis, as another yeast expression host, has a GRAS status, which has been successfully used in food and feed applications. No previous work has been reported concerning the heterologous expression of xylanase gene xynZG in K. lactis with an aim for application in baking. RESULTS: The xylanase gene xynZG from the P. cucumerina was heterologously expressed in K. lactis. The recombinant protein XYNZG in K. lactis presented an approximately 19 kDa band on SDS-PAGE and zymograms analysis. Transformant with the highest halo on the plate containing the RBB-xylan (Remazol Brilliant Blue-xylan) was selected for the flask fermentation in different media. The results indicated that the highest activity of 115 U/ml at 72 h was obtained with the YLPU medium. The mass spectrometry analysis suggested that the hydrolytic products of xylan by XYNZG were mainly xylobiose and xylotriose. The results of baking trials indicated that the addition of XYNZG could reduce the kneading time of dough, increase the volume of bread, improve the texture, and have more positive effects on the sensory properties of bread. CONCLUSIONS: Xylanase XYNZG is successfully expressed in K. lactis, which exhibits the highest activity among the published reports of the xylanase expression in K. lactis. The recombinant XYNZG can be used to improve the volume and sensory properties of bread. Therefore, the expression yield of recombinant XYNZG can be further improved through engineered strain containing high copy numbers of the XYNZG, and optimized fermentation condition, making bread-baking application possible.

Intraventricular injection of human dental pulp stem cells improves hypoxic-ischemic brain damage in neonatal rats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of intraventricular injection of human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) on hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) in neonatal rats. METHODS: Thirty-six neonatal rats (postnatal day 7) were assigned to control, HIBD, or HIBD+DPSC groups (n = 12 each group). For induction of HIBD, rats underwent left carotid artery ligation and were exposed to 8% to 10% oxygen for 2 h. Hoechst 33324-labeled human DPSCs were injected into the left lateral ventricle 3 days after HIBD. Behavioral assays were performed to assess hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), and on postnatal day 45, DPSC survival was assessed and expression of neural and glial markers was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. RESULTS: The HIBD group showed significant deficiencies compared to control on T-maze, radial water maze, and postural reflex tests, and the HIBD+DPSC group showed significant improvement on all behavioral tests. On postnatal day 45, Hoechst 33324-labeled DPSC nuclei were visible in the injected region and left cortex. Subsets of DPSCs showed immunostaining for neuronal (neuron-specific enolase [NSE], Nestin) and glial markers (glial fibrillary acidic protein [GFAP], O4). Significantly decreased staining/expression for NSE, GFAP, and O4 was found in the HBID group compared to control, and this was significantly increased in the HBID+DPSC group. CONCLUSION: Intraventricular injection of human DPSCs improves HIBD in neonatal rats.

Branched-chain higher alcohols.

China's energy requirements and environmental concerns have stimulated efforts toward developing alternative liquid fuels. Compared with fuel ethanol, branched-chain higher alcohols (BCHAs), including isopropanol, isobutanol, 2-methyl-1-butanol, and 3-methyl-1-butanol, exhibit significant advantages, such as higher energy density, lower hygroscopicity, lower vapor pressure, and compatibility with existing transportation infrastructures. However, BCHAs have not been synthesized economically using native organisms, and thus their microbial production based on metabolic engineering and synthetic biology offers an alternative approach, which presents great potential for improving production efficiency. We review the current status of production and consumption of BCHAs and research progress regarding their microbial production in China, especially with the combination of metabolic engineering and synthetic biology.

[Effect of hyperbaric oxygenation on neural stem cells and myelin in neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage].

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effect of hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) on neural stem cells (NSCs) and myelin in neonatal rats following hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) and aimed to explore the possible mechanism of the protective effect of HBO on HIBD. METHODS: Seven-day-old Sprague-Dawley rat pups were randomly assigned into 4 groups: Normal control, HIBD, hyperbaric air (HBA), and HBO groups (n=30 each). The HIBD model was produced by permanent occlusion of the left common carotid artery and 2 hrs hypoxemia exposure (8% O2 at 37 degrees C). HBA and HBO treatment was administered (2 ATA, once daily for 7 days) in the HBA and HBO groups respectively 1 hr after HIBD. BrdU immunohistochemistry was used to detect the NSCs in the sub-ventricle zone (SVZ) of the lateral ventricle and the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus. The myelin damage was assessed by myelin basic protein (MBP) immunostaining. RESULTS: The BrdU-positive cells in the SVZ and the DG of the ischemic hemisphere in the HIBD group were dramatically decreased compared with those of the Normal control group at 3 weeks post-HIBD (P < 0.01). The HBO treatment resulted in an increase of BrdU-positive cells in the DG from 153.7 +/- 37.0 to 193.7 +/- 38.8 (P < 0.05). The nestin expression in the HIBD and HBA groups was reduced compared with that in the Normal control group. There was no difference in the nestin expression between the HBO and the Normal control groups. Hypoxia-ischemia (HI) led to marked myelin damage at 1 week post-HIBD. HBO or HBA treatment alleviated the damage. CONCLUSIONS: The HBO treatment can result in the proliferation of BrdU-positive cells and alleviate the myelin damage following HIBD in neonatal rats, thereby offering neuroprotectivity against HI insults.

C-terminus mutations of Acremonium chrysogenum deacetoxy/deacetylcephalosporin C synthase with improved activity toward penicillin analogs.

Deacetoxy/deacetylcephalosporin C synthase (acDAOC/DACS) from Acremonium chrysogenum is a bifunctional enzyme that catalyzes both the ring-expansion of penicillin N to deacetoxycephalosporin C (DAOC) and the hydroxylation of the latter to deacetylcephalosporin C (DAC). Three residues N305, R307 and R308 located in close proximity to the C-terminus of acDAOC/DACS were each mutated to leucine. The N305L and R308L mutant acDAOC/DACSs showed significant improvement in their ability to convert penicillin analogs. R308 was identified for the first time as a critical residue for DAOC/DACS activity. Kinetic analyses of purified R308L enzyme indicated its improved catalytic efficiency is due to combined improvements of K(m) and k(cat). Comparative modeling of acDAOC/DACS supports the involvement of R308 in the formation of substrate-binding pocket.

Effect of adenovirus-mediated p27 gene expression on the proliferation and apoptosis of HL-60 and Raji cell lines.

BACKGROUND: p27 is an essential mediator of cell cycle control, which plays a key negative role in the proliferation and tumorigenesis of certain cell types. Here, we designed this study to explore the possible effects of p27 on the proliferation and apoptosis of HL-60 and Raji cell lines. METHODS: HL-60 and Raji cells were transfected with p27 via an adenovirus-mediated approach. The efficiency of Adp27 infection and the expression of p27 mRNA and protein were evaluated by X-gal staining, RT-PCR, and flow cytometry. The proliferation and apoptosis of HL-60 and Raji cells were estimated by means of trypan blue staining, MTT assay, Annexin V/PI, and DNA ladder electrophoresis. RESULTS: The infection efficiencies in HL-60 and Raji cells were 40.3% and 32.0%, respectively. RT-PCR and flow cytometry showed that there was significant expression of p27 mRNA and protein in HL-60 and Raji cells infected with Adp27; on the other hand, uninfected HL-60 cells showed faint traces of p27 mRNA and protein and Raji cells showed nearly no signs of p27 mRNA and protein. As demonstrated by a cell growth curve and by an MTT assay, strong time-dependent proliferation inhibition was apparent in HL-60 and Raji cells infected by Adp27. After 72 hours of infection, the Annexin V+/PI- apoptotic cell rates in HL-60 and Raji cell lines were 46.9% and 35.7%, respectively, significantly higher than in the control groups (4.7% and 5.6%, respectively). Typical DNA ladder bands were detectable in HL-60 and Raji cells after 48 hours of Adp27 infection. CONCLUSIONS: Adenoviral vector-mediated p27 gene transfection of HL-60 and Raji cells leads to the inhibition of cellular proliferation and the promotion of cell apoptosis. This technique may provide an approach to gene therapy for leukemia or lymphoma.

[Effect of HMBA on differentiation and apoptosis of HL-60 and U937 cells and its mechanism].

OBJECTIVES: To explore the effect of hexamethylene bisacetamide (HMBA) on the differentiation and apoptosis of HL-60 and U937 cells, and its mechanism. METHODS: Flow cytometry was used to evaluate the expressions of cellular surface antigen CD(11b), CD(14), apoptotic marker Annexin V, cell cycle distribution and endocytic antigen cyclin D, cyclin E and p27. Changes of c-myc, Rb, Bcl-2 gene mRNA levels were detected by RT-PCR. RESULTS: After 72 hours of HMBA treatment, CD(11b) expressions increased significantly, apoptosis increased under high-dose HMBA, cells were arrested in G(0)/G(1) phase and reduced cyclin E, increased cyclin D and p27 were significant in a dose-dependent manner in HL-60 and U937 cells. RT-PCR showed that c-myc and bcl-2 mRNA was significantly down-regulated and Rb mRNA up-regulated in HL-60 and U937 cells. CONCLUSION: HMBA can induce the differentiation of HL-60 and U937 cells, while apoptosis of these cell is induced only by high dose of HMBA. The possible mechanism of HMBA inducing differentiation might be related to the changes of cell cycle regulators and certain proliferation and differentiation related genes.

[Effects of hexamethylene bisacetamide on cell cycle and expression of its regulatory proteins in HL-60 cells].

Hexamethylene bisacetamide (HMBA) is referred as a differentiation-inducer for the clinical treatment of acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome. However, the molecular mechanism of the effects of HMBA on myeloid leukemic cells remains unknown. In this study, the effects of HMBA on cell cycle and expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins in HL-60 cell were investigated in order to explore its pharmacological mechanism. The altered distribution of cell cycle and expression of its regulatory proteins (cyclin D, cyclin E and p27) in HL-6 0 cell induced by HMBA were analyzed by flow cytometry. The effects on transcription for mRNA of CKI p15, p16 and p27 in HL-60 cell were further studied by RT-PCR. The results showed that HMBA could mainly commit HL-60 cell to G0/G1 arrest and the significantly decreased endocytic cyclin E protein and increased cyclin D/p27 protein after HMBA treatment were found. There was no expression of p15, p16 mRNA in untreated HL-60 cell and 3 mmol/L of HMBA could make them expressed after exposed for 24 h or 48 h respectively. The expression of p27 mRNA was positive and no obviously different in untreated HL-60 cells exposed for 24 h, 48 h and 72 h. These results suggested that one of the pharmacological mechanisms of HMBA was to elevate the expression of p27 and reduce the cyclin E expression as well as to activate the expression of p15, p16 gene mRNA, that arrested cell at G0/G1 and exerted its effects of anti-proliferation.