Overexpression of MdTGA1 enhances the adaptability to nitrogen and phosphorus deficiency in apple (Malus domestica Borkh.).

High quality and yield in apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) require adequate nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) nutrients. To address N and P deficiencies in soil and the excessive application of chemistry fertilizers in production, it is critical to explore regulators for efficient N-P coordinated utilization.

Thermo-responsive liquid crystalline phases of cellulose nanocrystals with polymer brushes.

Hypothesis: Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) offer the potential for control over their contour length, aspect ratio, surface chemistry, and the resulting colloidal, thermal, and optical properties. They have garnered significant attention in the sustainable manufacturing of nanocomposites for applications in structural coloration, smart security tags, and colorimetric sensors. The underlying phase behavior including the complex interplay of surface-modified CNCs on the molecular interactions is still unclear and needs to be addressed prior the design of new functional materials.

Clade 2.3.4.4b highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza viruses from birds in China replicate effectively in bovine cells and pose potential public health risk.

In February 2024, H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) of clade 2.3.4.

Anti-hypoxia polyacetylenes and sesquiterpenoids from (Franch.) Nannf.

A new polyacetylene, codonopsisylene (), has been extracted from the roots of , along with 14 previously reported compounds, including two polyacetylenes () and twelve sesquiterpenoids (). The chemical structures of these compounds were thoroughly characterised using a variety of spectroscopic techniques, combined with calculated NMR and ECD data. Anti-hypoxia activities of all isolated compounds were conducted using a CCK-8 assay.

Photonics of Hydrothermally Treated β-Lactoglobulin Amyloids.

Increased temperature and high pressure are applied to β-lactoglobulin fibrils in the autoclave, resulting in the acquisition of a composite material comprised of partially disassembled amyloid fibrils and carbon dots. Confirmation of the preservation of the β-sheet motif attributed to amyloids in the hydrothermally treated fibrils is obtained through wide-angle X-ray scattering and ThT assay. -scan analysis reveals a two-photon absorption (2PA) enhancement in the low-lying transition band ( ) of tyrosine, while quantum chemical calculations demonstrate a correlation between the yield of 2PA and the interspace distance between aromatic residues.

Protease-Mediated Synthesis of Zein Nanofibrils: From Structural Elucidation to Functional Application.

The fibrillization of plant-based proteins enhances their functionality, enabling potential applications in food and sustainable materials. Zein, a highly hydrophobic protein from corn, is a versatile industrial ingredient, but its functionality is limited to environments containing high levels of organic solvents. This study aims to develop a protease-assisted approach for synthesizing zein nanofibrils as functional building blocks, eliminating the need for organic solvents in the conventional process.

An inulin-type fructan CP-A from Codonopsis pilosula combined with 5-Fluorouracil alleviates colitis-associated tumorigenesis via inhibition of EGFR/AKT/ERK signaling pathway and regulation of intestinal flora.

Inulin-type fructan CP-A, the main component of Codonopsis pilosula polysaccharides, has been found to have therapeutic effects on ulcerative colitis (UC). Herein, we established a colitis-associated cancer (CAC) mouse model by azomethane (AOM) and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) and selected mouse colon cancer cells CT-26 to explore the therapeutic effects of the combined administration of CP-A and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in vivo and in vitro. High-throughput transcriptomics sequencing technology was used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the mouse colon and enrich related pathways.

Transcriptome Profiling Reveals the Effects of Rootstocks on Scion Architecture in Borkh Var. 'Harlikar'.

Rootstocks largely determine the tree architecture of the grafted scions, significantly affects yield, suitability for mechanical harvesting, and planting pattern of apple orchards. It is thus important to reveal the mechanisms behind the rootstocks influence on the tree architecture of scions in apple trees. This study analyzed the grafting survival rate, the physiological parameters including plant growth, photosynthesis and nutrient accumulation in the apple variety 'Harlikar' with eight apple rootstocks.

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Alleviate Cadmium Phytotoxicity by Regulating Cadmium Mobility, Physiological Responses, and Gene Expression Patterns in Rehd.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) affect cadmium (Cd) accumulation and tolerance in host plants. However, the effects of AMF on Cd accumulation and phytotoxicity and their underlying mechanism in apples remain uncharacterized. In this study, the comprehensive physiological and molecular responses of uninoculated and -inoculated Rehd.

Amyloid-Templated Ceria Nanozyme Reinforced Microneedle for Diabetic Wound Treatments.

Amyloid fibrils have emerged as excellent templates and building blocks for the development of ordered functional materials with considerable potential in biomedical applications. Here, lysozyme amyloid fibrils (Lys-AFs) are employed as templates for the in situ synthesis of ceria nanozymes (Lys-AFs-Ceria) with ultrafine dimensions, an optimized Ce/Ce ratio, and uniform distribution on the fibril surface, addressing the challenges of low catalytic efficiency and high susceptibility to aggregation typical of traditional methods. As a proof of concept, it is further applied Lys-AFs-Ceria to develop hydrogel/microneedle for treating bacteria-infected diabetic wounds via non-covalent interactions between polyphenols and amyloid fibrils incorporating glucose oxidase (GOX).

Dietary phytosterol supplementation mitigates renal fibrosis activating mitophagy and modulating the gut microbiota.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) poses a significant global health challenge, primarily driven by renal fibrosis, with limited treatment options. Addressing this condition necessitates either targeted medical treatments or dietary interventions. Phytosterols (PS) are cholesterol-like bioactive compounds in various plant-based foods with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Investigating the Effect and Potential Mechanism of Rhamnetin 3--α-Rhamnoside on Acute Liver Injury In Vivo and In Vitro.

: Rhamnetin 3--α-rhamnoside (ARR) is a major flavonoid of the herb Franch. & Sav., which has been used for treating liver diseases in China.

Beyond CO Storage: Enzyme-Amyloid Fibril Catalytic Hybrids for Long Cascade Reactions Converting CO into Fructose.

Enzyme immobilization is an efficient and cost-effective approach to recovering, stabilizing, and enhancing enzyme catalytic properties. It is a challenge, however, for coimmobilized multiple enzymes to perform consecutive reactions without being inactivated under similar conditions. Here, we present a facile enzyme immobilization platform using β-lactoglobulin amyloid fibril hydrogels.

Associations between 25-hydroxyvitamin D/calcium/alkaline phosphatase levels and the risk of developing kidney stones: Results from NHANES (2013-2018)-based and Mendelian randomization studies.

This study explores the relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D/calcium/alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels and kidney stone development via cross-sectional and Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses. We used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013 to 2018 to explore the associations of 25(OH)D metabolite, calcium, and ALP levels with kidney stone development, LDSC analysis to determine the associations between their genetically predicted levels and kidney stone development, and MR analysis to determine the causality of those relationship via genome-wide association studies (GWASs). The cross-sectional study revealed a relationship between ALP levels and kidney stone development (Model 1: OR = 1.

The Influence of Protein Components on Quinoa Protein-Xanthan Gum Complex Gels at Different pH Levels.

The study aimed to prepare complex gels of sonicated quinoa protein (QP) and polysaccharides, comparing the effects of different protein components and pH on gel properties. FTIR analysis demonstrated that the β-structure in protein at pH 7.0 was enhanced by ultrasonic treatment, which could promote the formation of a gel network.

Sustainable Smart Packaging from Protein Nanofibrils.

Smart packaging technologies are revolutionizing the food industry by extending shelf life and enhancing quality monitoring through environmental responsiveness. Here, a novel smart packaging concept is presented, based on amyloid fibrils (AM) and red radish anthocyanins (RRA), to effectively monitor food spoilage by color change. A protein nanofibrils biofilm is developed from whey protein, which is functionalized with RRA to endow the resulting films with advanced monitoring capabilities.

A structural rationale for reversible vs irreversible amyloid fibril formation from a single protein.

Reversible and irreversible amyloids are two diverging cases of protein (mis)folding associated with the cross-β motif in the protein folding and aggregation energy landscape. Yet, the molecular origins responsible for the formation of reversible vs irreversible amyloids have remained unknown. Here we provide evidence at the atomic level of distinct folding motifs for irreversible and reversible amyloids derived from a single protein sequence: human lysozyme.

Pathogenicity and transmission of novel highly pathogenic H7N2 variants originating from H7N9 avian influenza viruses in chickens.

The H7 subtype avian influenza viruses are circulating widely worldwide, causing significant economic losses to the poultry industry and posing a serious threat to human health. In 2019, H7N2 and H7N9 co-circulated in Chinese poultry, yet the risk of H7N2 remained unclear. We isolated and sequenced four H7N2 viruses from chickens, revealing them as novel reassortants with H7N9-derived HA, M, NS genes and H9N2-derived PB2, PB1, PA,NP, NA genes.

Hierarchical Protofilament Intertwining Rules the Formation of Mixed-Curvature Amyloid Polymorphs.

Amyloid polymorphism is a hallmark of almost all amyloid species, yet the mechanisms underlying the formation of amyloid polymorphs and their complex architectures remain elusive. Commonly, two main mesoscopic topologies are found in amyloid polymorphs characterized by non-zero Gaussian and mean curvatures: twisted ribbons and helical fibrils, respectively. Here, a rich heterogeneity of configurations is demonstrated on insulin amyloid fibrils, where protofilament packing can occur, besides the common polymorphs, also in a combined mode forming mixed-curvature polymorphs.

Continued evolution of H10N3 influenza virus with adaptive mutations poses an increased threat to mammals.

The H10 subtype avian influenza virus (AIV) poses an ongoing threat to both birds and humans. Notably, fatal human cases of H10N3 and H10N8 infections have drawn public attention. In 2022, we isolated two H10N3 viruses (A/chicken/Shandong/0101/2022 and A/chicken/Shandong/0603/2022) from diseased chickens in China.

An evolutionarily conserved mechanism controls reversible amyloids of pyruvate kinase via pH-sensing regions.

Amyloids are known as irreversible aggregates associated with neurodegenerative diseases. However, recent evidence shows that a subset of amyloids can form reversibly and fulfill essential cellular functions. Yet, the molecular mechanisms regulating functional amyloids and distinguishing them from pathological aggregates remain unclear.

Single-site iron-anchored amyloid hydrogels as catalytic platforms for alcohol detoxification.

Constructing effective antidotes to reduce global health impacts induced by alcohol prevalence is a challenging topic. Despite the positive effects observed with intravenous applications of natural enzyme complexes, their insufficient activities and complicated usage often result in the accumulation of toxic acetaldehyde, which raises important clinical concerns, highlighting the pressing need for stable oral strategies. Here we present an effective solution for alcohol detoxification by employing a biomimetic-nanozyme amyloid hydrogel as an orally administered catalytic platform.

Cation Triggered Self-Assembly of α-Lactalbumin Nanotubes.

Metal ions play a dual role in biological systems. Although they actively participate in vital life processes, they may contribute to protein aggregation and misfolding and thus contribute to development of diseases and other pathologies. In nanofabrication, metal ions mediate the formation of nanostructures with diverse properties.

An inulin-type fructan CP-A from Codonopsis pilosula attenuates experimental colitis in mice by promoting autophagy-mediated inactivation of NLRP3 inflammasome.

Inulin-type fructan CP-A, a predominant polysaccharide in Codonopsis pilosula, demonstrates regulatory effects on immune activity and anti-inflammation. The efficacy of CP-A in treating ulcerative colitis (UC) is, however, not well-established. This study employed an in vitro lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced colonic epithelial cell model (NCM460) and an in vivo dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model to explore CP-A's protective effects against experimental colitis and its underlying mechanisms.