Hydrogen sulfide restores sevoflurane postconditioning mediated cardioprotection in diabetic rats: Role of SIRT1/Nrf2 signaling-modulated mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress.

Diabetic hearts are vulnerable to myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI), but are insensitive to sevoflurane postconditioning (SPC), activating peroxiredoxins that confer cardioprotection. Previous studies have demonstrated that hydrogen sulfide (H2 S) can suppress oxidative stress of diabetic rats through increasing the expression of silent information regulator factor 2-related enzyme 1 (SIRT1), but whether cardioprotection by SPC can be restored afterward remains unclear. Diabetic rat was subjected to IRI (30 min of ischemia followed by 120 min reperfusion). Postconditioning treatment with sevoflurane was administered for 15 min upon the onset of reperfusion. The diabetic rats were treated with GYY4137 (H2 S donor) 5 days before the experiment. Myocardial infarct size, mitochondrial structure and function, ATP content, activities of complex I-IV, marker of oxidative stress, SIRT1, nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and NADPH Oxidase-2 (Nox-2) protein expression were detected after reperfusion, and cardiac function was evaluated by echocardiography at 24 h after reperfusion. After H2 S activated SIRT1 in the impaired myocardium of diabetic rats, SPC significantly upregulated the expression of Nrf2 and its downstream mediator HO-1, thus reduced the expression of Nox-2. In addition, H2 S remarkably increased cytoplasmic and nuclear SIRT1 which was further enhanced by SPC. Furthermore, H2 S combined with SPC reduced the production of reactive oxygen species, increased the content of ATP, and maintained mitochondrial enzyme activity. Finally, myocardial infarct size and myocardium damage were decreased, and cardiac function was improved. Taken together, our study proved that H2 S could restore SPC-induced cardioprotection in diabetic rats by enhancing and promoting SIRT1/Nrf2 signaling pathway mediated mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress.

Proton-Conductive Keggin-Type Clusters Decorated by the Complex Moieties of Cu(II) 2,2'-Bipyridine-4,4'-dicarboxylate/Diethyl Analogues.

Three proton-conductive decorated Keggin-type clusters, {[Cu(debpdc)(H2O)3][Cu(debpdc)(H2O)Cl][PMo12O40]} ·2CH3OH ·1.5CH3CN ·3H2O (1), {[Cu(H2bpdc)(H2O)2Cl0.5]2[PW12O40]}·10H2O (2), and {[Cu(H2bpdc)(H2O)2.5]2[SiW12O40]}·10H2O (3) (where debpdc is diethyl 2,2'-bipyridine-4,4'-dicarboxylate and H2bpdc is 2,2'-bipyridine-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid), were synthesized through electrostatic and coordination interactions between Keggin-type anions and Cu(II) H2bpdc/debpdc complex moieties. Interestingly, in the three complexes, both the H2bpdc/debpdc and the Keggin anion are covalently linked to the Cu2+ ions as polydentate organic and inorganic ligands, respectively. Notably, complexes 2 and 3 are the first examples of the functionalization of a Keggin-type cluster with Cu(II)-H2bpdc complex moieties, thereby providing a pathway to design and synthesize multifunctional hybrid materials with cluster structures based on two building units. In them, the free COOH groups of the H2bpdc ligand can act as both hydrogen bond acceptors and proton carriers. 1 has debpdc ligands with ethoxycarbonyl groups, while 2 and 3 have the H2bpdc ligands with free COOH groups; thus, the three complexes help us to understand the influence of the different substituents on the proton conductivity. The measurement results reveal that 2 and 3 have a high conductivity value of over 10-3 S cm-1 at 100 °C under 98% relative humidity, which is 2 orders of magnitude higher than that of 1 under the same conditions.

Proton-Conductive Cocrystals of Twin Isomers of Coordination Polymers in Situ Formed by Keggin Anions and Cu(II)-4,4'-Bis(hydroxymethyl)-2,2'-bipyridine Complex Moieties.

Cocrystals and isomers, two well-known unique concepts in supramolecular chemistry, are rarely put together until now. For the first time, we report three unprecedented and interesting cocrystals of twin isomers of coordination polymers (CPs) in situ formed by typical Keggin anions and Cu(II)-4,4'-bis(hydroxymethyl)-2,2'-bipyridine (Cu(II)-H2L) complex moieties. In cocrystals 1-3, the Cu(II)-H2L complex moieties are quadrisupported on Keggin-type anions through W(Mo)-Ot-Cu-Ot-W(Mo) (Ot is the terminal O atom) links in the crystal to form two twin ionic/neutral CPs with a fixed chemical stoichiometry. Cocrystals 1-2 contain ionic isomers as {[Cu1(H2L)(H2O)2]2[P1W12O40]} n n+/{[Cu2(HL)(H2O)2]2[P2W12O40]} n n- for 1 and {[Cu1(H2L)(H2O)2]2[P1Mo12O40]} n n+/{[Cu2(HL)(H2O)2]2[P2Mo12O40]} n n- for 2. Cocrystal 3 contains neutral isomers as {[Cu1(H2L)(H2O)2]2[Si1W12O40]} n and {[Cu2(H2L)(H2O)2]2[Si2W12O40]} n. Cooperation of conformation and hydrogen bond network isomerism of Cu(II)-H2L fragments and tetracoordinated mode isomerism of Keggin anion is perfectly embodied in twin isomers. Moreover, based on hydrogen-bonding interactions, twin isomers are alternately arranged in a 1:1 stoichiometric ratio to give a cocrystal. Complicated accumulation of three types of hydrogen-bonding assemblies in the same crystal may be the reason that they give conductivity values over 10-4 S·cm-1 at 100 °C under 98% relative humidity.

Application of sodium silicate retards apple softening by suppressing the activity of enzymes related to cell wall degradation.

BACKGROUND: During the storage of apples, apple softening is one of the main problems. Sodium silicate has been used to enhance disease resistance and maintain quality of fruits. In the present study, apple fruit (cv. Golden delicious) were treated with 100 mmol L-1 sodium silicate for 10 min and stored at 20 °C to investigate its effects on weight loss, flesh firmness, and the activity of cell wall-degrading enzymes. RESULTS: The results indicated that 100 mmol L-1 of sodium silicate treatment delayed the increase of weight loss and decrease of the flesh firmness in apples. Sodium silicate treatment also suppressed the activity of polygalacturonic acid transeliminase and pectin methyltranseliminase, pectin methylgalacturonase, polygalacturonase, cellulase and ß-galactosidase in the fruit. CONCLUSIONS: Delaying apple softening by sodium silicate treatment is closely related to the inhibition of the activity of cell wall-degrading enzymes and weight loss. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Changes in the sucrose metabolism in apple fruit following postharvest acibenzolar-S-methyl treatment.

BACKGROUND: Apple (cv. Ralls) fruit were treated with 0.1 g L-1 acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM) for 10 min to evaluate the changes in enzyme activity and gene expression in the sucrose metabolism during storage at 20 °C with 30%-40% relative humidity. RESULTS: The results showed that sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) and sucrose synthase synthesis (SS-s) activity was enhanced by ASM in apple fruit during the entire storage period. Sucrose synthase-cleavage (SS-c) and neutral invertase (NI) activity was suppressed by ASM treatment but acid invertase (AI) activity was increased in the middle period after ASM treatment. Acibenzolar-S-methyl treatment also significantly inhibited SPS and NI gene expression in apple fruit during storage. However, SS gene expression increased in the ASM-treated apple fruit. High levels of expression of the fructokinase (FK) and hexokinase (HK) genes were observed during the middle storage period in the ASM-treated fruit. CONCLUSION: Taken together, these results suggest that ASM delays the senescence of apple fruit by regulating the sugar metabolism. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effects of trisodium phosphate treatment after harvest on storage quality and sucrose metabolism in jujube fruit.

BACKGROUND: Trisodium phosphate (TSP), generally recognized as safe (GRAS), could control postharvest diseases and maintain fruit quality. However, changes of fruit quality and sucrose metabolism in harvested jujube after TSP treatment remain largely unknown. In the current study, jujube fruit (cv. sanxing) was used to study the effects of TSP on storage quality and sucrose metabolism during storage at 20 ± 2 °C with 40-50% relative humidity (RH). RESULTS: The results showed that 0.5 g L-1 TSP treatment reduced weight loss and reduced sugar content, suppressed the reduction of fruit firmness, maintained ascorbic acid (AsA) content and inhibited respiratory rate of jujube fruit. In addition, TSP treatment also reduced acid invertase (AI) and neutral invertase (NI) activities in sucrose metabolism in jujube fruit. Sucrose synthase-cleavage (SS-c), sucrose synthase-synthesis (SS-s) and sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) activities were also suppressed by TSP treatment. CONCLUSION: Treatment with TSP could effectively reduce enzymes activities in sucrose metabolism and maintain storage quality of jujube fruit during storage. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Reactive oxygen species metabolism and phenylpropanoid pathway involved in disease resistance against Penicillium expansum in apple fruit induced by ϵ-poly-l-lysine.

BACKGROUND: Blue mould caused by Penicillium expansum comprises a notable disease of apple fruit during storage. ϵ-Poly-l-lysine (PL) consists of ϵ-amino and α-hydroxyl and has been used in food preservation. In the present study, apple fruits (cv. Fuji) were used to investigate the effects of PL dipping treatment, at different concentrations of PL, on the lesion diameter of fruit inoculated with P. expansum, aiming to screen the optimal concentration for controlling blue mould. The effects of PL at the optimal concentration on reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism and the phenylpropanoid pathway were also investigated. RESULTS: The results indicated that 25, 50, 100 and 200 µL L-1 PL treatment significantly decreased the lesion diameter in apple fruit inoculated with P. expansum and the smallest lesion diameter was determined for 50 µL L-1 PL-treated fruits. The results also indicated that 50 µL L-1 PL treatment increased the hydrogen peroxide content and the activities of enzymes involved in ROS metabolism, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase and peroxidase in apple fruit. The activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and the contents of lignin, total phenolic compounds and flavonoids were also enhanced by PL treatment. CONCLUSION: The disease resistance to P. expansum in apple fruits enhanced by PL treatment is related to activating ROS metabolism and the phenylpropanoid pathway and the accumulation of antifungal compounds. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

A Novel Interacting Protein SERP1 Regulates the N-Linked Glycosylation and Function of GLP-1 Receptor in the Liver.

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) exerts multiple effects on metabolism through its receptor, GLP-1R, in the liver. Activation and transduction of GLP-1R require complex interactions of largely unknown accessory proteins, and these processes are crucial to the response to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Using the membrane-based split ubiquitin yeast two-hybrid system (MYTH) and a human liver cDNA library, we obtained the human GLP-1R interactome and identified SERP1 as a potential interacting protein based on its ability to stabilize membrane proteins and facilitate N-linked glycosylation. GLP-1R and SERP1 were co-expressed in HEK-293 cells, and their interaction was confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation. We then found that overexpression of SERP1 could rescue GLP-1R glycosylation after application of tunicamycin to block N-linked glycosylation. SERP1 overexpression also attenuated exendin-4-stimulated cAMP accumulation and AMPK activation. However, the glycosylation and function of mutant GLP-1R, in which all three sites for N-linked glycosylation were mutated, were not increased with overexpression of SERP1. Moreover, as a GLP-1R interactor, SERP1 could also partly reverse the accumulation of tunicamycin-induced ER stress. Taken together, our findings identify a group of proteins that interact with GLP-1R and show that one specific interacting protein, SERP1, has an important role in facilitating the glycosylation of GLP-1R and rescuing its activities after ER stress induced by tunicamycin. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 3616-3626, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Association of Genetic Variants of SIRT1 With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

SIRT1 has been demonstrated in nutrient-sensing and insulin-signaling pathways in in vivo and in vitro experiments, but there is minimal information concerning the association between gene polymorphisms of SIRT1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in a Chinese Han population. Using case-control design, we recruited 310 unrelated T2DM patients from inpatients at Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, while 301 healthy controls were volunteers from the community for regular medical checkup. All participants were genotyped within the SIRT1 region. The following five SNPs rs10509291, rs12778366, rs10997870, rs10823112, and rs4746720 cover 100% of common genetic variations (minor allele frequency≥0.05) within the SIRT1 gene (r2≥0.8). The genotypes of SIRT1 gene polymorphisms were analyzed by the Snapshot assay and DNA sequencing. The resulting data show that there was significant genetic differentiation in rs10823112 [p=0.003; OR (95% CI)=1.515 (1.152-1.994) for genotype], rs4746720 [p=0.024; OR (95% CI)=1.37 (1.037-1.674) for genotype], and rs10509291 [p=0.002; OR (95% CI)=1.551 (1.179-2.04) for genotype] between T2DM and control subjects. However, the result of rs4746720 was no longer significant after correction for multiple testing (p after Bonferroni correction=0.12); the results of rs10509291and rs10823112 were still significantly different between the two groups (p after Bonferroni correction=0.01 and 0.015, respectively). Linear regression analyses adjusting for age, gender, and body mass index (BMI) showed that HbA1c and HOMA-IR in subjects with rs10509291 AA genotype were higher than those with TT genotype in T2DM group (p=0.045, p=0.035, respectively). Together, our data show that genetic variation of the SIRT1 gene is related to insulin resistance and increase risk of T2DM in Chinese Han population. The risk allele A at SIRT1 rs10509291 was closely associated with T2DM, and subjects who were homozygous of the A allele were more likely to develop T2DM.

Regulating bile acids signaling for NAFLD: molecular insights and novel therapeutic interventions.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) emerges as the most predominant cause of liver disease, tightly linked to metabolic dysfunction. Bile acids (BAs), initially synthesized from cholesterol in the liver, undergo further metabolism by gut bacteria. Increasingly acknowledged as critical modulators of metabolic processes, BAs have been implicated as important signaling molecules. In this review, we will focus on the mechanism of BAs signaling involved in glucose homeostasis, lipid metabolism, energy expenditure, and immune regulation and summarize their roles in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. Furthermore, gut microbiota dysbiosis plays a key role in the development of NAFLD, and the interactions between BAs and intestinal microbiota is elucidated. In addition, we also discuss potential therapeutic strategies for NAFLD, including drugs targeting BA receptors, modulation of intestinal microbiota, and metabolic surgery.

Crystal structures and proton conductivities of a MOF and two POM-MOF composites based on Cu(II) ions and 2,2'-bipyridyl-3,3'-dicarboxylic acid.

We have succeeded in constructing a metal-organic framework (MOF), [Cu(bpdc)(H(2)O)(2)](n) (H(2) bpdc=2,2'-bipyridyl-3,3'-dicarboxylic acid, 1), and two poly-POM-MOFs (POM=polyoxometalate), {H[Cu(Hbpdc)(H(2)O)(2)](2) [PM(12)O(40)]·nH(2)O}(n) (M=Mo for 2, W for 3), by the controllable self-assembly of H(2) bpdc, Keggin-anions, and Cu(2+) ions based on electrostatic and coordination interactions. Notably, these three compounds all crystallized in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n, and the Hbpdc(-) and bpdc(2-) ions have the same coordination mode. Interestingly, in compounds 2 and 3, Hbpdc(-) and the Keggin-anion are covalently linked to the transition metal copper at the same time as polydentate organic ligand and as polydentate inorganic ligand, respectively. Complexes 2 and 3 represent new and rare examples of introducing the metal N-heterocyclic multi-carboxylic acid frameworks into POMs, thereby, opening a pathway for the design and the synthesis of multifunctional hybrid materials based on two building units. The Keggin-anions being immobilized as part of the metal N-heterocyclic multi-carboxylic acid frameworks not only enhance the thermal stability of compounds 2 and 3, but also introduce functionality inside their structures, thereby, realizing four approaches in the 1D hydrophilic channel used to engender proton conductivity in MOFs for the first time. Complexes 2 and 3 exhibit good proton conductivity (10(-4) to ca. 10(-3) S cm(-1)) at 100 °C in the relative humidity range 35 to about 98%.

Sustainable and efficient method utilizing N-acetyl-L-cysteine for complete and enhanced ochratoxin A clearance by antagonistic yeast.

With the increasing global climate change, ochratoxin A (OTA) pollution in food and environment has become a serious and potential risk element threatening food safety and human health. Biodegradation of mycotoxin is an eco-friendly and efficient control strategy. Still, research works are warranted to develop low-cost, efficient, and sustainable approaches to enhance the mycotoxin degradation efficiency of microorganisms. In this study, the activities of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) against OTA toxicity were evidenced, and its positive effects on the OTA degradation efficiency of antagonistic yeast, Cryptococcus podzolicus Y3 were verified. Co-culturing C. podzolicus Y3 with 10 mM NAC improved 100% and 92.6% OTA degradation rate into ochratoxin α (OTα) at 1 d and 2 d. The excellent promotion role of NAC on OTA degradation was observed even at low temperatures and alkaline conditions. C. podzolicus Y3 treated with OTA or OTA+NAC promoted reduced glutathione (GSH) accumulation. GSS and GSR genes were highly expressed after OTA and OTA+NAC treatment, contributing to GSH accumulation. In the early stages of NAC treatment, yeast viability and cell membrane were reduced, but the antioxidant property of NAC prevented lipid peroxidation. Our finding provides a sustainable and efficient new strategy to improve mycotoxin degradation by antagonistic yeasts, which could be applied to mycotoxin clearance.

[Corrigendum] High glucose and high insulin conditions promote MCF­7 cell proliferation and invasion by upregulating IRS1 and activating the Ras/Raf/ERK pathway.

Subsequently to the publication of this paper, an interested reader drew to the authors' attention that, in the wound­healing assays portrayed in Fig. 2A on p. 6692, in the 0 h row, the 'NG + LI' and 'HG + HI' panels contained overlapping data, such that they appeared to have been derived from the same original source. After having examined their original data, the authors have realized that this figure was inadvertently assembled incorrectly. The corrected version of Fig. 2. showing the correct data for the 'HG + HI' panel, is shown on the next page. Note that this error did not significantly affect the results or the conclusions reported in this paper, and all the authors agree with the publication of this Corrigendum. Furthermore, the authors apologize to the readership for any inconvenience caused. [Molecular Medicine Reports 16: 6690­6696, 2017; DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2017.7420].

Targeting the gut microbiota and its metabolites for type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia and insulin resistance. The incidence of T2DM is increasing globally, and a growing body of evidence suggests that gut microbiota dysbiosis may contribute to the development of this disease. Gut microbiota-derived metabolites, including bile acids, lipopolysaccharide, trimethylamine-N-oxide, tryptophan and indole derivatives, and short-chain fatty acids, have been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of T2DM, playing a key role in the host-microbe crosstalk. This review aims to summarize the molecular links between gut microbiota-derived metabolites and the pathogenesis of T2DM. Additionally, we review the potential therapy and treatments for T2DM using probiotics, prebiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation and other methods to modulate gut microbiota and its metabolites. Clinical trials investigating the role of gut microbiota and its metabolites have been critically discussed. This review highlights that targeting the gut microbiota and its metabolites could be a potential therapeutic strategy for the prevention and treatment of T2DM.

Identification of Key Biomarkers in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus by a Multi-Cohort Analysis.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that affects multiple body systems with heterogeneous clinical manifestations. Since gene expression analyses have been accomplished on diverse types of samples to specify SLE-related genes, single-cohort transcriptomics have not produced reliable results. Using an integrated multi-cohort analysis framework, we analyzed whole blood cells from SLE patients from three transcriptomics cohorts (n=1222) and identified a five-gene signature that distinguished SLE patients from controls. We validated the diagnostic performance of this five-gene signature in six independent validation cohorts (n= 469), with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.88 [95% CI 0.7 - 0.96]. This five-gene signature may be associated with the proportion of SLE immune cells, and generalizable across ages and sample types with real diagnostic value for clinical application.

Association of Septic Shock with Mortality in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients in Wuhan, China.

Purpose: Septic shock is a severe complication of COVID-19 patients. We aim to identify risk factors associated with septic shock and mortality among COVID-19 patients. Methods: A total of 212 COVID-19 confirmed patients in Wuhan were included in this retrospective study. Clinical outcomes were designated as nonseptic shock and septic shock. Log-rank test was conducted to determine any association with clinical progression. A prediction model was established using random forest. Results: The mortality of septic shock and nonshock patients with COVID-19 was 96.7% (29/30) and 3.8% (7/182). Patients taking hypnotics had a much lower chance to develop septic shock (HR = 0.096, p=0.0014). By univariate logistic regression analysis, 40 risk factors were significantly associated with septic shock. Based on multiple regression analysis, eight risk factors were shown to be independent risk factors and these factors were then selected to build a model to predict septic shock with AUC = 0.956. These eight factors included disease severity (HR = 15, p < 0.001), age > 65 years (HR = 2.6, p=0.012), temperature > 39.1°C (HR = 2.9, p=0.047), white blood cell count > 10 × 109 (HR = 6.9, p < 0.001), neutrophil count > 75 × 109 (HR = 2.4, p=0.022), creatine kinase > 5 U/L (HR = 1.8, p=0.042), glucose > 6.1 mmol/L (HR = 7, p < 0.001), and lactate > 2 mmol/L (HR = 22, p < 0.001). Conclusions: We found 40 risk factors were significantly associated with septic shock. The model contained eight independent factors that can accurately predict septic shock. The administration of hypnotics could potentially reduce the incidence of septic shock in COVID-19 patients.

Gut microbiota-bile acid crosstalk contributes to the rebound weight gain after calorie restriction in mice.

Calorie restriction (CR) and fasting are common approaches to weight reduction, but the maintenance is difficult after resuming food consumption. Meanwhile, the gut microbiome associated with energy harvest alters dramatically in response to nutrient deprivation. Here, we reported that CR and high-fat diet (HFD) both remodeled the gut microbiota with similar microbial composition, Parabacteroides distasonis was most significantly decreased after CR or HFD. CR altered microbiota and reprogramed metabolism, resulting in a distinct serum bile acid profile characterized by depleting the proportion of non-12α-hydroxylated bile acids, ursodeoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid. Downregulation of UCP1 expression in brown adipose tissue and decreased serum GLP-1 were observed in the weight-rebound mice. Moreover, treatment with Parabacteroides distasonis or non-12α-hydroxylated bile acids ameliorated weight regain via increased thermogenesis. Our results highlighted the gut microbiota-bile acid crosstalk in rebound weight gain and Parabacteroides distasonis as a potential probiotic to prevent rapid post-CR weight gain.

Targeting the alternative bile acid synthetic pathway for metabolic diseases.

The gut microbiota is profoundly involved in glucose and lipid metabolism, in part by regulating bile acid (BA) metabolism and affecting multiple BA-receptor signaling pathways. BAs are synthesized in the liver by multi-step reactions catalyzed via two distinct routes, the classical pathway (producing the 12α-hydroxylated primary BA, cholic acid), and the alternative pathway (producing the non-12α-hydroxylated primary BA, chenodeoxycholic acid). BA synthesis and excretion is a major pathway of cholesterol and lipid catabolism, and thus, is implicated in a variety of metabolic diseases including obesity, insulin resistance, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Additionally, both oxysterols and BAs function as signaling molecules that activate multiple nuclear and membrane receptor-mediated signaling pathways in various tissues, regulating glucose, lipid homeostasis, inflammation, and energy expenditure. Modulating BA synthesis and composition to regulate BA signaling is an interesting and novel direction for developing therapies for metabolic disease. In this review, we summarize the most recent findings on the role of BA synthetic pathways, with a focus on the role of the alternative pathway, which has been under-investigated, in treating hyperglycemia and fatty liver disease. We also discuss future perspectives to develop promising pharmacological strategies targeting the alternative BA synthetic pathway for the treatment of metabolic diseases.

Crystal structures and properties of large protonated water clusters encapsulated by metal-organic frameworks.

A large ionic water cluster H(H(2)O)(28)(+), consisting of a water shell (H(2)O)(26) and an encaged species H(H(2)O)(2)(+) as a center core, was trapped in the well-modulated cavity of a porous metal-organic framework (MOF) {[Co(4)(dpdo)(12)(PMo(12)O(40))(3)](-)}(infinity) and structurally characterized. Degeneration of the protonated water cluster H(H(2)O)(28)(+) into a smaller cluster H(H(2)O)(21)(+) and recovery of H(H(2)O)(28)(+) from the resulting H(H(2)O)(21)(+) cluster in a reversible way demonstrated the unusual stability of the protonated water clusters H(H(2)O)(28)(+) and H(H(2)O)(21)(+) in the robust crystal host. Proton transport and proton/potassium ion exchange through the channels of the crystal host have been investigated by a well-established fluorometry method. X-ray fluorescence experiments and X-ray structural analyses of the exchanged crystals confirmed the occurrence of the proton/potassium ion-exchange reaction and the transformation of the protonated water cluster H(H(2)O)(28)(+) to an ionic cluster K(H(2)O)(27)(+). Comparison of the H(+)/K(+) exchange of H(H(2)O)(28)(+) with that of its neighboring protonated water cluster H(H(2)O)(27)(+) suggested that the abundance of hydrogen bonds associated with the hydronium/water cluster in the H(H(2)O)(28)(+) cluster was essential for proton transport through the Grotthuss mechanism. On the basis of the results, our porous network could be described as a synthetic non-peptide ion channel, in terms of not only structural features but also the functions addressed. Direct observation of the structures of various large ionic water clusters trapped by porous MOFs, coupled with the proton/ion-exchange processes and the reversible dehydration/rehydration, provided valuable insights into the aqueous proton transfer and its mobility pertaining to the large protonated water clusters in the condensed phase.

Postharvest acibenzolar-S-methyl treatment maintains storage quality and retards softening of apple fruit.

"Golden delicious" apples were dipped in 100 mg/L acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM) to investigate the fruit quality and softening during 12 days of storage. Weight loss, flesh firmness, ethylene release, respiratory rate, content of total soluble solids and titratable acid, the activity of pectinase, cellulase, and ß-glucosidase, and water-insoluble pectin and water-soluble pectin contents were investigated. The results demonstrated that ASM treatment inhibited ethylene release and respiratory rate, reduced titratable acidity, and enhanced total soluble solids content in apples. Moreover, application of ASM suppressed the reduction of flesh firmness, activity of pectin methylesterase, and polygalacturonase. Cellulase, ß-glucosidase, and degradation of protopectin in apple fruit were also suppressed by ASM treatment during storage. In conclusion, ASM could maintain fruit quality by regulating cell wall-degrading enzymes during storage. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Application of acibenzolar-S-methyl after harvest has the potential of delaying fruit softening by regulating cell wall-degrading enzymes, thus retain fruit quality.