Salsabeel N El Gendy,Amira K Elmotayam,Reham Samir,Marwa I Ezzat,Sameh Rabea,Basma M Eltanany,Laura Pont,Fernando Benavente,Aly M El Sayed
{"title":"Comparative LC-QTOF-MS/MS Metabolomics Applied for Valorization of Jojoba Extracts as Natural Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Agents Aided by Molecular Networking and Chemometrics.","authors":"Salsabeel N El Gendy,Amira K Elmotayam,Reham Samir,Marwa I Ezzat,Sameh Rabea,Basma M Eltanany,Laura Pont,Fernando Benavente,Aly M El Sayed","doi":"10.1021/acs.jafc.5c00890","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.5c00890","url":null,"abstract":"Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) seeds are broadly used worldwide for their valuable oil. The chemical composition of the other parts of the jojoba shrub remains largely unexplored. In this work, the metabolite profiles of aqueous and methanolic extracts from different jojoba plant organs were analyzed by liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS/MS) combined with molecular networking (MN), resulting in the assignment of 104 metabolites from different classes. All methanolic extracts evinced significant antibacterial activity against the examined bacterial strains. Subminimum inhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs) of the hull and leaf extracts successfully inhibited biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus with inhibition rates above 90%. The seed extract at 0.5 MIC effectively eradicated S. aureus and Enterococcus faecalis biofilms (>80%). Multivariate data analysis revealed the positively correlated biomarkers with bioactivity, primarily flavonoids, phenolic compounds, and simmondsins. These results present a ground for future research to valorize jojoba seed-derived products and byproducts from other organs.","PeriodicalId":41,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry","volume":"2 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144087707","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Copper-Induced DRP1 Activation Disrupts Mitochondrial-Lipid Droplet Contact to Promote Hepatic Steatosis.","authors":"Quanwei Li,Luna Su,Pan Guo,Jianzhao Liao,Zhaoxin Tang","doi":"10.1021/acs.jafc.5c02147","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.5c02147","url":null,"abstract":"Copper (Cu) is a vital dietary element for both humans and animals and is widely supplemented in food. However, excessive consumption of this trace element can adversely affect the overall well-being. Previous studies have demonstrated that long-term Cu intake can lead to severe hepatotoxicity. The underlying mechanism by which Cu induces disturbances in hepatic energy metabolism through modulation of mitochondria-lipid droplet (LD) contacts, however, is not known. In this study, we found that Cu exposure significantly disrupted the interaction between mitochondria and LDs, leading to the downregulation of perilipin 2 (PLIN2), perilipin 5 (PLIN5), synaptosomal-associated protein 23 (SNAP23), diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2), and caveolin-1 (Cav-1) proteins in chicken livers. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that Cu exposure-induced dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1) protein activation disrupted mitochondria-LD contacts by regulating PLIN2. DRP1 knockdown and PLIN2 overexpression efficiently promoted the mitochondria-LD contacts, alleviating Cu-induced LD accumulation in chicken primary hepatocytes. However, PLIN2 knockdown significantly exacerbated the mitochondria-LD contact disorder induced by Cu exposure. Moreover, PLIN2 knockdown dramatically reversed the ability of DRP1 knockdown to promote mitochondria-LD contacts, while overexpression of PLIN2 had the opposite effect. Overall, our study revealed that the DRP1-PLIN2 axis regulates the connections between mitochondria and LDs under Cu exposure, which may provide a new perspective on Cu exposure-induced lipid metabolism disorders in hepatocytes.","PeriodicalId":41,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry","volume":"21 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144087703","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Structural Basis and Recognition Mechanism of Host-Derived Volatiles by Olfactory Proteins in the Agricultural Pest Bactrocera correcta (Diptera: Tephritidae).","authors":"Tengda Guo,Yuan Zhang,Yumeng Huang,Yongjun Zhang,Zhihong Li,Yujia Qin","doi":"10.1021/acs.jafc.5c01709","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.5c01709","url":null,"abstract":"Host-derived volatiles play a critical role in mediating plant-insect interactions. Bactrocera correcta is a destructive pest of fruit crops. In this study, we investigated the recognition mechanisms of three key volatiles─β-caryophyllene, ethyl decanoate, and hexyl hexanoate─derived from the host fruits of B. correcta. Using transcriptomic analysis, fluorescence binding assays, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations, we identified BcorOBP19d-2 as a key odorant-binding protein that binds multiple volatiles and facilitates their stabilization and transport. Odorant receptors (BcorOR7a-13, BcorOR74a-3, and BcorOR7a-3) selectively recognize these volatiles, with hydrophobic interactions as the primary driving force for binding. β-Caryophyllene exhibited the highest binding specificity with BcorOR7a-13, ethyl decanoate demonstrated the strongest binding affinity with BcorOR74a-3, and hexyl hexanoate showed moderate stability with BcorOR7a-3. These findings provide structural insights into volatile recognition in polyphagous insects and offer a basis for developing attractants or repellents for pest management.","PeriodicalId":41,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry","volume":"54 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144087702","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yanfang Zhang,Mingyan Chen,Ruiyan Niu,Dongguang Guo,Zilong Sun
{"title":"Mechanistic Insights into T-2 Toxin-Induced Thymic Epithelial Cell Injury and Immunotoxicity via the ROS-NF-κB-NLRP3 Signaling Axis.","authors":"Yanfang Zhang,Mingyan Chen,Ruiyan Niu,Dongguang Guo,Zilong Sun","doi":"10.1021/acs.jafc.5c00355","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.5c00355","url":null,"abstract":"Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) are critical for thymic structure and function, yet the impact of T-2 toxin (T-2) on TECs and related molecular pathways remains unclear. This study sheds light on the mechanisms of T-2-induced TEC damage, focusing on the ROS-NF-κB-NLRP3 signaling axis. The in vivo and in vitro analyses suggest that T-2 induces TEC injury through ROS-driven NLRP3 inflammasome activation, NF-κB signaling, inflammation, and apoptosis. Molecular docking analysis verified the binding of T-2 to critical components involved in oxidative stress, inflammatory signaling pathways, and apoptosis. These findings were further supported by therapeutic interventions targeting ROS and NLRP3. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) effectively reduced ROS levels, suppressed NF-κB signaling, inhibited NLRP3 activation, and mitigated inflammation and apoptosis, effects mirrored by the NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950, emphasizing the critical role of ROS-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation through NF-κB signaling in T-2-induced TEC damage. Concurrently, inhibition of the NF-κB signaling further suppressed ROS levels, NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and apoptosis in MTEC1 cells, emphasizing the pivotal function of the ROS-NF-κB-NLRP3 axis in the pathogenesis of T-2-induced thymic injury. Our study offers an in-depth insight into the mechanisms driving T-2-induced immunotoxicity and identifies potential therapeutic strategies targeting these pathways to mitigate thymic injury and preserve immune function.","PeriodicalId":41,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry","volume":"132 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144087705","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Soluble Dietary Fiber from Fermentation of Tea Residues by Eurotium cristatum and the Effects on DSS-Induced Ulcerative Colitis.","authors":"Maiquan Li,Wenlan Li,Manjun Kang,Wei Quan,Guoping Qiu,Tiantian Tao,Cui Li,Shujie Zhu,Baiyi Lu,Zhonghua Liu","doi":"10.1021/acs.jafc.5c03189","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.5c03189","url":null,"abstract":"Tea residues are rich in dietary fiber, most of which are insoluble dietary fiber (IDF). However, soluble dietary fiber (SDF) is reported to show a better health-promoting effect. In this paper, the Eurotium cristatum (E. cristatum) fermentation method was employed to prepare SDF from tea residues. The results showed that the yield of SDF in fermented SDF (FSDF) was higher than that in unfermented SDF (USDF). Meanwhile, an increased proportion of galactose and a looser microstructure were observed in FSDF. In addition, FSDF has more advantages than USDF in relieving colitis symptoms. FSDF is more effective in reversing weight loss, colon shortening, and tissue damage. Meanwhile, it has a better regulatory effect on the level of inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-10) and oxidative stress (CAT, T-SOD, and MDA). FSDF treatment more effectively restored gut microbiota composition toward normal parameters compared to USDF by upregulating Akkermanisa and Lachospiracae_NK4A136_group and downregulating Helicobacter and Alisitipes. In conclusion, fermentation treatment with E. cristatum contributed to the preparation efficiency and bioactive effect of SDF from tea residues. This study will provide a theoretical basis for the development and utilization of tea residues.","PeriodicalId":41,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry","volume":"128 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144087701","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Identification and Taste Characteristics of Six Novel Umami Peptides from Mytilus coruscus and Their Interaction with the T1R1/T1R3 Receptor.","authors":"Jian Chen,Yuhan Li,Yanbin Lu,Zhiyuan Dai,Huan Li","doi":"10.1021/acs.jafc.5c03722","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.5c03722","url":null,"abstract":"Mytilus coruscus is a commercially significant shellfish, highly regarded for its umami taste. In this study, umami taste peptides in M. coruscus were isolated and characterized through virtual screening, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, sensory evaluation, and electronic tongue assessment. In silico enzymatic hydrolysis of M. coruscus myosin was performed, enabling the selection of six potential umami peptides (CR, ACR, GAR, PDL, PDPN, and SDADCF) based on predictions of umami taste, biological activity, toxicity, and water solubility. The interaction mechanisms between these peptides and the umami receptor T1R1/T1R3 were analyzed through molecular docking and dynamics simulations, revealing that SDADCF exhibited the most stable binding with T1R1/T1R3. The key residues of Asp, His, Glu, and Ser in T1R1 and T1R3 were identified as crucial active sites for umami peptide binding. Hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions were found to be the primary forces driving this binding. Furthermore, the umami taste of these peptides was validated using sensory evaluation, indicating that SDADCF had the most intense umami taste (umami score of 5.8) and a threshold of 0.25-0.99 mmol/L for the six peptides. Electronic tongue analysis further recognized the umami taste of the peptides. The identification of these six umami peptides contributes to a deep molecular basis of the strong umami taste within M. coruscus.","PeriodicalId":41,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry","volume":"40 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144087704","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Artemisinin Alleviates Alcohol-Induced Cardiotoxicity by Inhibiting Ferroptosis via the Nrf2/NQO1 Pathway In Vivo and In Vitro.","authors":"Chunpu Song,Ling Huang,Dongjie Li,Xiaoyan Zhao","doi":"10.1021/acs.jafc.4c08388","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.4c08388","url":null,"abstract":"The present study was designed to explore the protective effects of artemisinin on alcohol-induced cardiac injuries and its mechanisms. In H9c2 cells, cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS), labile iron pool (LIP), and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were measured. In the mouse model of alcohol-induced cardiomyopathy, body weight and electrocardiogram (ECG) were recorded every day. Heart tissue creatine kinase (CK), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), iron, glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), and histological examination were measured. Western blot assay was performed to evaluate the expression of ferroptosis-related proteins in vitro and in vivo. The results in vitro showed that cell viability was increased, ROS and LIP contents were decreased, and the level of MMP was increased in artemisinin-treated H9c2 cells. Tissues CK, LDH, and GSH were improved after being treated with artemisinin. The ferroptosis biomarkers, including MDA and tissue iron, were attenuated after artemisinin treatment. Artemisinin protected the heart from alcohol damage by ECG and histological examination. Additionally, artemisinin down-regulated the expression of TfR and P53 and up-regulated Nrf2, HO-1, NQO1, and GPX4 expressions in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that both Fer-1 and artemisinin abolished ferroptosis. The data presented here showed that artemisinin had the potential to protect alcohol-induced cardiotoxicity through the inhibition of Nrf2/NQO1-dependent ferroptosis.","PeriodicalId":41,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry","volume":"56 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144087727","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Structural Optimization of Aphid Repellents Based on the Low-Energy Conformation of (E)-β-Farnesene.","authors":"Yiming Lu,Weihong Shen,Zhong Li,Xusheng Shao,Peter Maienfisch","doi":"10.1021/acs.jafc.5c01913","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.5c01913","url":null,"abstract":"Aphids cause significant agricultural damage, prompting the search for eco-friendly control methods. Although pheromones offer a natural alternative to synthetic insecticides, the low stability of aphid alarm pheromones limits their use. To develop more stable repellents, we computed the low-energy conformations of (E)-β-farnesene (EBF), revealing five conformations with a conserved spatial region, and used these insights to modify the para-pheromone IV-30. Molecular superimposition confirmed that IV-30 mimics EBF's conformations. A series of analogues were synthesized, and experiments showed that an ester group on the six-membered ring's left side is crucial for repellent activity, while electron-rich groups on the right side enhance it. Notably, compound V-9 demonstrated repellent efficacy comparable to EBF, deepening the understanding of structure-activity relationships and supporting the development of novel aphid repellents for integrated pest management.","PeriodicalId":41,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry","volume":"34 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144087706","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pengfei Zhang, Xuerui Wang, Lei Liu, Yao Meng, Zhijia Gai, Cong Wang, Yubo Wang, Shengwei Zhang, Wanrong Gu
{"title":"Jasmonic Acid Signaling Pathway Mediates Decabromodiphenyl Ethane (DBDPE) Tolerance by Modulating Photosynthesis and Oxidative Stress in Sugar Beet: Insights from Integrative Physiological and Multiomics Analyses","authors":"Pengfei Zhang, Xuerui Wang, Lei Liu, Yao Meng, Zhijia Gai, Cong Wang, Yubo Wang, Shengwei Zhang, Wanrong Gu","doi":"10.1021/acs.jafc.4c11778","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.4c11778","url":null,"abstract":"Decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), an emerging ubiquitous contaminant, enters the food chain through crop bioaccumulation, threatening food safety. This study investigated the bioaccumulation, toxicity, and tolerance mechanisms of DBDPE in sugar beet. The results showed that DBDPE was absorbed by roots and transported to leaves in a constant proportion, with greater toxicity in leaves than in roots. Physiological analyses revealed that DBDPE induced chloroplastic dysfunction and oxidative stress in a concentration-dependent manner. The antioxidant system in response to DBDPE varied with exposure levels. Integrated transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic analyses revealed that remodeling of jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis and consequent activation of JA signaling were critical for DBDPE tolerance. Exogenous JA and JA-Ile (active JA) maintained photosynthetic activity by protecting chloroplasts and mitigated oxidative damage by enhancing antioxidant system activity, thereby improving DBDPE tolerance. This study provides an insight into the development of effective mitigation strategies against DBDPE toxicity in crops.","PeriodicalId":41,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry","volume":"18 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144067467","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Effects of Cereal-Derived Proteins and Peptides on Blood Glucose Levels","authors":"Kazumi Ninomiya, Yusuke Yamaguchi, Nao Matsubara, Hitomi Kumagai","doi":"10.1021/acs.jafc.4c13168","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.4c13168","url":null,"abstract":"Some cereal proteins and their digestive peptides exhibit the potential to regulate blood glucose levels, which is important for the management of diabetes and its complications. Proteins in common grains, such as wheat and buckwheat, and in legumes, such as kidney beans and soybeans, contain proteinaceous α-amylase inhibitors (α-AIs) that inhibit the breakdown of starch into reducing sugars, thereby mitigating postprandial glucose spikes. Indigestible cereal proteins function similarly to dietary fibers by adsorbing glucose and facilitating its excretion and stabilizing blood glucose levels. Moreover, peptides derived from these proteins can suppress glucose transporter expression in the intestine, thereby reducing glucose absorption. They also promote insulin secretion by inhibiting dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV), an enzyme that breaks down incretin hormones. Collectively, these properties highlight the potential of cereal proteins and peptides in functional foods for blood glucose management.","PeriodicalId":41,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry","volume":"54 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144067468","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}