Curcumin (Cur) exhibits low water solubility and insufficient dispersibility in food systems, and cannot exert its excellent antioxidant properties. In this work, Chitosan (CS) nanoparticles were ...prepared by ionic crosslinking method using chitosan as carrier and sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) as crosslinking agent, then Cur was loaded to obtain curcumin nanoparticles (CNPs). CNPs presented a spherical morphology with average size of 278.9 nm. Compared with the solubility of native Cur (0.017 μg/mL) at 25 °C, the water solubility of CNPs increased to 35.92 μg/mL of more than 2100 times. In addition, the antioxidant capacity of Cur was also studied based on DPPH free radical scavenging, the results showed that with the increase of the concentration, the antioxidant capacity of CNPs was significantly increased (p < 0.05), which was higher than that of Cur at the same concentration. The edible coating was prepared by adding CNPs into sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) to study the effects of CMC-CNPs coatings in improving the quality and shelf life of fresh pork stored at 4 ± 1 °C for 15 days. The results showed that CMC-CNPs edible coating could significantly inhibit lipid oxidation of fresh pork (p < 0.05) and could be further applied in lipid rich food packaging.
•Two loquat cultivars ‘ZH’ (S2S10) was self-compatible while ‘BY’ (S2S10) was self-incompatible.•The expression level of S10-RNase in ‘ZH’ was significantly lower than that in ‘BY’.•The promoter of ...S10-RNase in ‘ZH’ had a 52 bp deletion.•The deletion affected the promoter function of S10-RNase in ‘ZH’.
Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) is a typical gametophytic self-incompatible (GSI) subtropical evergreen fruit tree, but there are also some self-compatible varieties. In this study, the fruit set rate of ‘Zaohuang (S2S10)’ and ‘Baiyu (S2S10)’ loquats were investigated after self-pollination and cross-pollination, respectively. The analysis demonstrated that ‘Zaohuang’ (‘ZH’) was self-compatible (SC) and ‘Baiyu’ (‘BY’) was self-incompatible (SI), while they were cross-compatible. The expression levels of S-RNase in the pistils of ‘ZH’ and ‘BY’ were analyzed by qPCR, indicating that the expression of S2-RNase was similar in the two cultivars, but the expression of S10-RNase in the pistils of ‘ZH’ was significantly lower than that in ‘BY’. In addition, cloning of the full-length open reading frame (ORF) sequence and promoter of S10-RNase in ‘ZH’ and ‘BY’ by TAIL-PCR showed that the full-length ORF sequence of S10-RNase was completely consistent in two loquat cultivars. However, the promoter of S10-RNase in ‘ZH’ (ZH-S10-RNase-P) lacks 52 bp fragment comparing with that in ‘BY’ (BY-S10-RNase-P). The deletion fragment was located at 1755 bp upstream to the start code ATG of S10-RNase, containing a TGACG-motif and a CGTCA-motif. To detect the activities of ZH-S10-RNase-P and BY-S10-RNase-P, we constructed ZH-S10-RNase-P::GFP and BY-S10-RNase-P::GFP plasmids and introduced them into tobacco pistils by transient expression method. The fluorescence of GFP was much lower in ZH-S10-RNase-P::GFP transformed tobacco pistils than that in BY-S10-RNase-P::GFP transformed pistils. These results indicated that the 52 bp deletion in the promoter of S10-RNase results in reducing the expression of S10-RNase and eventually leads to self-compatibility of ‘ZH’ loquat. Our research provided a new direction for screening loquat SC varieties with S10-RNase promoter.
Areca catechu L., a monocot belonging to the palm family, is monoecious, with female and male flowers separately distributed on the same inflorescence. To discover the molecular mechanism of flower ...development in Areca, we sequenced different floral samples to generate tissue-specific transcriptomic profiles. We conducted a comparative analysis of the transcriptomic profiles of apical sections of the inflorescence with male flowers and the basal section of the inflorescence with female flowers. Based on the RNA sequencing dataset, we applied weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify sepal, petal, stamen, stigma and other specific modules as well as hub genes involved in specific floral organ development. The syntenic and expression patterns of AcMADS-box genes were analyzed in detail. Furthermore, we analyzed the open chromatin regions and transcription factor PI binding sites in male and female flowers by assay for transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing (ATAC-seq) assay. Heterologous expression revealed the important role of AcMADS17 and AcMADS23 in floral organ development. Our results provide a valuable genomic resource for the functional analysis of floral organ development in Areca.
•Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals the enrichment pathway of differentially expressed genes in areca flowers.•Sepal, petal, stamen, stigma and other specific modules as well as hub genes were identified by WGCNA.•Open chromatin regions and transcription factor PI binding sites in male and female flowers were identified by ATAC-seq.•Genome-wide identification of AcMADS-box gene family and the role of the AcMADS17 and AcMADS23 in transgenic Arabidopsis.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) rapidly becomes the leading cause of end-stage liver disease or liver transplantation. Nowadays, there has no approved drug for NAFLD treatment. Diosgenin as ...the structural analogue of cholesterol attenuates hypercholesterolemia by inhibiting cholesterol metabolism, which is an important pathogenesis in NAFLD progression. However, there has been no few report concerning its effects on NAFLD so far.
Using a high-fat diet & 10% fructose-feeding mice, we evaluated the anti-NAFLD effects of diosgenin. Transcriptome sequencing, LC/MS analysis, molecular docking simulation, molecular dynamics simulations and Luci fluorescent reporter gene analysis were used to evaluate pathways related to cholesterol metabolism.
Diosgenin treatment ameliorated hepatic dysfunction and inhibited NAFLD formation including lipid accumulation, inflammation aggregation and fibrosis formation through regulating cholesterol metabolism. For the first time, diosgenin was structurally similar to cholesterol, down-regulated expression of CYP7A1 and regulated cholesterol metabolism in the liver (p < 0.01) and further affecting bile acids like CDCA, CA and TCA in the liver and feces. Besides, diosgenin decreased expression of NPC1L1 and suppressed cholesterol transport (p < 0.05). Molecular docking and molecular dynamics further proved that diosgenin was more strongly bound to CYP7A1. Luci fluorescent reporter gene analysis revealed that diosgenin concentration-dependently inhibited the enzymes activity of CYP7A1.
Our findings demonstrated that diosgenin was identified as a specific regulator of cholesterol metabolism, which pave way for the design of novel clinical therapeutic strategies.
•Calcium fertilizer may be involved in the regulation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on root symbiosis of apple seedlings.•Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi symbiosis may activate plant hormones and Ca2+ ...signal transduction pathways.•The absorption and utilization of calcium can be increased in apple when symbiosis is formed between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and apple plants.
Utilization of plants-microbe's interactions to remediate calcium11Ca: calcium (Ca) deficiency soils is effective and practical. A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi22AMF: arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation and the synergy of AMF and Ca fertilizer on physiological and transcriptomic responses in apple rootstock (Malus robusta) roots. AMF and Ca fertilizer synergistically served to elongate root length, surface area, average stem diameter and biomass, such extended the surface area in contact with soil nutrients and water. Symbiosis of AMF with apple seedlings made significantly higher levels of Ca in root tissue and promoted Ca translocation from roots to shoot tissue. GO and KEGG pathway analysis disclosed that gene expression varies in several critical gene families, such as auxin response (MdAux/IAAs, MdGH3 and MdSAUR), TCA cycles (MdCS, MdMDH and MdACO), phosphate transporters (MdPHT1;1, MdPHT1;10 and MdPHT1;3) and Ca2+ signal transduction pathways (MdCa2+/ATPase, MdCML, MdTPC1 and MdCDPK), indicating that apple regulates the expression of genes related to auxin synthesis, organic acid secretion, and calcium transporters and channels, thereby increased the growth of apple roots and promoted the secretion of organic acids, resulting in the increase of calcium effectiveness in soil. AMF promoted the accumulation and utilization of Ca in plants by regulating the expression levels of genes related to these pathways. These results contribute to a better understanding of AMF symbiosis mechanism behind the Ca uptake of apple seedlings under exogenous Ca treatment.
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), as the aggressive form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), rapidly becomes the leading cause of end-stage liver disease or liver transplantation. ...Nowadays, there has no approved drug for NASH treatment. Diosgenin possesses multiple beneficial effects towards inhibition of lipid accumulation, cholesterol metabolism, fibrotic progression and inflammatory response. However, there has been no report concerning its effects on NASH so far. Using methionine and choline-deficient (MCD) feeding mice, we evaluated the anti-NASH effects of diosgenin. 16 S rDNA was used to investigate gut microbiota composition. Transcriptome sequencing, LC/MS and GC/MS analysis were used to evaluate bile acids (BAs) metabolism and their related pathway. Compared with the MCD group, diosgenin treatment improved the hepatic dysfunction, especially decreased the serum and hepatic TC, TG, ALT, AST and TBA to nearly 50%. Content of BAs, especially CA and TCA, were decreased from 59.30 and 26.00–39.71 and 11.48 ng/mg in liver and from 0.96 and 2.1–0.47 and 1.13 μg/mL in serum, and increased from 7.01 and 11.08–3.278 and 5.11 ng/mg in feces, respectively. Antibiotic and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) treatment further confirmed the therapeutic effect of diosgenin on gut microbiota, especially Clostridia (LDA score of 4.94), which regulated BAs metabolism through the hepatic FXR-SHP and intestinal FXR-FGF15 pathways. These data indicate that diosgenin prevents NASH by altering Clostridia and BAs metabolism. Our results shed light on the mechanisms of diosgenin in treating NASH, which pave way for the design of novel clinical therapeutic strategies.
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•Diosgenin ameliorated hepatic dysfunction and inhibited NASH formation.•The anti-NASH effect of diosgenin depended on the gut microbiota, especially Clostridia.•Diosgenin also regulated BAs synthesis through the hepatic FXR-SHP and intestinal FXR-FGF15 pathways.•Diosgenin treatment increased propionate and butyrate acid in feces.
Rhizoma Paridis saponins (RPS) as the mainly active components of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis (Franch.) Hand.-Mazz., possess tumor therapeutic potential. However, the anti-tumor material basis ...of RPS in liver cancer pulmonary metastasis remains poorly understood. The objective of this study was to identify the distribution and anti-cancer effects of RPS in liver cancer pulmonary metastatic model.
In this study, a mouse liver cancer pulmonary metastasis model was established to determine the distribution of different saponins in the tissues by UPLC-MS and plasma protein binding rate.
As a result, RPS prolonged the survival time and inhibited the pulmonary metastasis in H22 injected mice through its underlying mechanism. UPLC-MS identified saponins from RPS such as PVII, PH, PVI, PII, gracillin and PI in tissues, which may be regarded as the Q-markers in RPS. Surprisingly, the concentration of PI, PII and gracillin as diosgenyl saponins was higher than that of pennogenyl saponins in the liver and lung. Besides, plasma protein binding rate of PII was higher than that of PVII.
These findings suggested that PVII, PH, PVI, PI, PII and gracillin are regarded as the Q-markers of RPS in liver cancer pulmonary metastasis. The concentration of PI, PII and gracillin as diosgenyl saponins was higher than that of pennogenyl saponins in the liver and lung. It would be helpful for understanding the importance of RPS with anticancer activities in the future.
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•Virtual water use of five energy sectors in Chinese provinces are quantified.•Virtual energy-water flows between each pair of provinces are visualized.•The domestic interprovincial trade of energy ...caused 8.6%∼15.6% of virtual water outsourcing.•There are a general north-to-south flow and a west-to-east flow of virtual energy-water within China.•Inner Mongolia and Shanxi are the largest outsourcers of virtual energy water mainly due to the north region’s consumption.
The energy industry in China is responsible for the largest water withdrawal and consumption in the secondary industry. In addition to the large quantities, another important feature of energy-water use in China is a critical spatial mismatch between water consumption and water availability. We used a multiregional input-output model to investigate virtual water of the energy industry in the Chinese provinces, and to determine virtual water flows embedded in energy-related trade among the provinces. The domestic interprovincial trade of energy in China has caused virtual water being used outside of the energy production province, including 8.6% of the virtual water withdrawal and 15.6% of the virtual water consumption. The results demonstrate there are a general north-to-south flow and a west-to-east flow of virtual energy-water within China. This flowing pattern indicates the energy consumption in the more-developed provinces, such as Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Guangdong, are supported by water use from the less-developed provinces where water scarcity is severe. Particularly, Shanxi and Inner Mongolia are two major exporters of virtual energy-water because more than half of the water resources in these two provinces outflow mainly to the north region, imposing huge pressure on the scarce domestic water resources in these two provinces. This study has proved the great importance of and also provided an approach to integrating water-energy nexus into energy industry planning and management in China.
In this paper, we describe a tunable perfect absorber based on a graphene metamaterial. It consists of a square split graphene ring and a round split graphene ring. Using silicon as the base, gold, ...silicon dioxide, and graphene are placed layer by layer in sequence. The results of simulations performed using CST Microwave Studio indicate that the double split-ring structure possesses two absorption peaks at 10.96 THz and 12.71 THz, with absorption efficiencies of 99.7% and 99.4%, respectively, which approach perfect absorption. The permittivity of graphene can be controlled by the plus gate voltage, which results in dynamic control over the absorption peaks. Furthermore, owing to the small impact on the resonance frequency, the relaxation time may be applied to manipulate the absorption peaks. In addition, we also discuss how different structural parameters affect absorption. Lastly, we conclude that the proposed graphene-based absorber has a wide-angle incoming characteristic and great potential in infrared, filter, and terahertz detection.
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