{"title":"Surface Charge Engineering Unlocks Dual Enhancement of Thermostability and Catalytic Efficiency in a Bacterial β-Glucosidase for Sustainable Resveratrol Production.","authors":"Lili Qi,Shun Zhang,Feiqiang Cao,Yuxiang Li,Zhijian Ke,Mengting Wang,Haiguang Mao,Wei Ma,Yong Yu,Jinbo Wang","doi":"10.1021/acs.jafc.5c08213","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.5c08213","url":null,"abstract":"Resveratrol production via enzymatic hydrolysis of polydatin is hindered by the thermal instability of β-glucosidases. This study employed rational design to engineer Bacillus sp. D1-derived BglD2 through surface charge optimization. The D156E mutant achieved a 42.7% increase in catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km = 49.76 s-1·mM-1) toward polydatin and a 2.1-fold longer half-life at 40 °C. The D411E mutant exhibited a 5.2-fold improvement in thermostability while retaining native activity. Structural analyses revealed that D156E formed a stabilizing salt bridge (2.7 Å) with Lys111 and a hydrogen bond with Pro112, while D411E established compensatory hydrogen bonds with Phe408. Both mutants maintained broad pH activity (pH 6.0-7.0), high glucose tolerance (Ki > 55 mM), and metal ion resilience. This work demonstrates that targeted surface charge engineering concurrently enhances thermostability and catalytic efficiency, enabling efficient resveratrol production with reduced enzyme consumption in industrial applications.","PeriodicalId":41,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry","volume":"35 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145203570","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}
Yuxuan Zhao,Xiaoqin Zeng,Juncheng Xiang,Yang Chen,Yang Zhang,Xiaoyong Xu,Zhong Li,Wu-Lin Yang
{"title":"Design, Synthesis, and Bioactivity Study of α-Thiocyanato-Substituted Spirocyclic Tetramic Acid Derivatives.","authors":"Yuxuan Zhao,Xiaoqin Zeng,Juncheng Xiang,Yang Chen,Yang Zhang,Xiaoyong Xu,Zhong Li,Wu-Lin Yang","doi":"10.1021/acs.jafc.5c06978","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.5c06978","url":null,"abstract":"To develop structurally novel spirocyclic tetramic acid insecticides and acaricides with high activity and low toxicity, a rational molecular modification was implemented by introducing a thiocyanato (SCN) group at the α-position of the spirocyclic tetramic acid bioactive intermediates. These new α-SCN-substituted tetramic acid derivatives were synthesized through an electrophilic thiocyanation reaction. Bioassays revealed that compounds C16 (LC50 = 0.379 mg/L) and C20 (LC50 = 0.410 mg/L) exhibited superior acaricidal activity against Tetranychus cinnabarinus compared to spirodiclofen (LC50 = 0.520 mg/L). Compound C1 exhibited insecticidal activity against Aphis craccivora (LC50 = 0.663 mg/L), which was similar to that of spirotetramat (LC50 = 0.503 mg/L). Compounds C16 and C28 displayed remarkable herbicidal activity at 500 g ai/ha against gramineous weeds (such as Digitaria sanguinalis, Echinochloa crusgalli, and Leptochloa chinensis) with broad-spectrum weed control potential. Embryotoxicity assessment in zebrafish (Danio rerio) indicated significantly reduced developmental toxicities for C1 (LC50 = 13.1 mg/L) and C16 (LC50 = 6.86 mg/L) compared to those for spirotetramat (LC50 = 2.73 mg/L) and spirodiclofen (LC50 = 0.334 mg/L). Systemic translocation bioassay demonstrated that highly bioactive compounds C1 and C16 have systemic translocation similar to that of spirotetramat. This study successfully developed a series of spirocyclic tetramic acid derivatives with high bioactivity and lower aquatic toxicity through the rational incorporation of the SCN group. The findings provide a valuable approach for the innovation of environmentally friendly pesticide molecules.","PeriodicalId":41,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry","volume":"93 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145195067","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":"FphA Positively Regulates Fungal Development and AFB1 Biosynthesis and Phosphorylates Ypd1 in Aspergillus flavus.","authors":"Yuanyuan Tian,Qiuhan Zhuo,Lu Sun,Xu Li,Gang Wang,Fuguo Xing","doi":"10.1021/acs.jafc.5c06667","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.5c06667","url":null,"abstract":"Aspergillus flavus is a ubiquitous fungus capable of producing aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), a potent carcinogen that threatens food safety and human health. Here, we identified and characterized histidine kinase FphA as a positive regulator of fungal development and AFB1 biosynthesis. Deletion of fphA impaired mycelial growth and markedly reduced AFB1 production, accompanied by downregulation of cluster regulators aflR and aflS and multiple structural genes. Transcriptomic and phosphoproteomic analyses revealed significant transcriptional and phosphorylation changes in MAPK signaling components (e.g., Hog1 and SskA) in the ΔfphA strain. Although yeast two-hybrid assays showed no direct interaction between FphA and MAPK proteins, in vitro kinase assays demonstrated that FphA phosphorylates phosphotransfer protein Ypd1, suggesting regulation via the FphA-Ypd1-MAPK cascade. These findings establish FphA as a key regulator linking environmental sensing with fungal development and toxin biosynthesis, providing potential molecular targets for controlling aflatoxin contamination in agricultural products.","PeriodicalId":41,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry","volume":"100 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145203569","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}
Jiaxin Zhang,Shengjie Ma,Zhen Wang,Pai Wang,Heshi Liu,Quan Wang
{"title":"Licochalcone D Alleviates Radiation-Induced Intestinal Injury via SIRT3-Dependent Mitophagy: A Natural Phytochemical Strategy for Radioprotection.","authors":"Jiaxin Zhang,Shengjie Ma,Zhen Wang,Pai Wang,Heshi Liu,Quan Wang","doi":"10.1021/acs.jafc.5c05399","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.5c05399","url":null,"abstract":"Oxidative stress, a key mechanism in radiation-induced intestinal injury (RIII), is triggered by ionizing radiation. Licochalcone D (LCD), a bioactive compound derived from licorice, exhibits potent antioxidant properties, yet its role and mechanism in RIII remain unclear. In this study, in vitro experiments revealed that the pretreatment of intestinal epithelial cells with LCD significantly enhanced cell viability, reduced radiation-induced DNA breaks, and suppressed reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. In vivo, LCD administration mitigated radiation-induced body weight loss, preserved intestinal crypt integrity, and attenuated villous damage in irradiated mice. Mechanistically, LCD stabilizes SIRT3 protein to activate mitophagy, thereby eliminating radiation-generated ROS and subsequently alleviating DNA damage and preventing cell apoptosis. These findings broaden the potential applications of LCD in protecting against RIII and establish the SIRT3-mitophagy axis as a novel pharmacological target for preventing radiation-induced intestinal damage.","PeriodicalId":41,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry","volume":"71 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145195068","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":"On-Site Visualization and Sensing Platform for Detecting Genetically Modified Papaya \"55-1\" in Papaya-Derived Products.","authors":"Lili Zhu,Fengyue Wei,Caiyao Wu,Can Wang,Gongwen He,Guiqin Yang,Zhiwen Pan,Juan Yao,Dagang Jiang","doi":"10.1021/acs.jafc.5c07325","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.5c07325","url":null,"abstract":"Genetically modified (GM) papaya \"55-1\" is the world's first papaya cultivar resistant to Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV). To facilitate government regulation and protect consumers' rights to informed choices, scientists are expected to develop a rapid and straightforward method for detecting \"55-1\". In this study, we established an on-site visualization and sensing platform based on recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) to detect \"55-1\" in papaya-derived products. Amplified signals were generated exclusively in samples containing \"55-1\", with a detection limit of 20 copies, demonstrating high specificity and sensitivity. The entire process was completed within 40-60 min, indicating high efficiency. The platform was successfully applied to detect \"55-1\" in papaya leaves and derived products, producing results consistent with those obtained via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first platform enabling on-site visual detection of \"55-1\", and it provides a technical reference for the rapid detection of other GM plants.","PeriodicalId":41,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145195071","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":"Gallic Acid Improves the Emulsion Capacity of Pectin-Whey Protein Nanofiber Complexes by Altering the Mode of Fiber Entanglement.","authors":"Chaoran Yang,Caoyu Guo,Boyan Gao,Yuge Niu,Liangli Yu","doi":"10.1021/acs.jafc.5c08145","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.5c08145","url":null,"abstract":"Protein-polysaccharide-polyphenol ternary complexes could be used to prepare a food-grade Pickering emulsion. However, the mechanism by which polyphenols improve the emulsifying ability of fibrous proteins and polysaccharide complexes is still unclear. In this study, we prepared a complex of gallic acid (GA)-grafted pectin (pectin-GA) and whey protein nanofibers (WPF) to explore the mechanism of GA that improves the emulsification properties of the complex. The results indicate that GA hinders the orderly arrangement of pectin chains and exposes more hydrophobic groups of WPF in the complex. Under the action of GA groups, pectin and WPF transformed from a bundle-like fiber aggregation network to a disordered, intertwined network. These changes enhanced the interfacial wettability of the complex, forming a tighter continuous network around the oil droplets, thereby improving the stability of the emulsion. The findings provide new perspectives on the mechanism by which polyphenols regulate the emulsifying capacity of polysaccharide-protein complexes.","PeriodicalId":41,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry","volume":"24 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145203581","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}
Yunhui Zhang,Qinhong Jiang,Xiaoqian Wu,Xin Qian,Shiheng An,Jie Shen,Jianyu Meng,Shuo Yan
{"title":"Standardized Synergistic Strategy for Insect Growth Regulators: Incorporation of RNA Pesticides via a Co-Delivery Nanoplatform Achieves High Control Efficacy with Low-Dosage Application.","authors":"Yunhui Zhang,Qinhong Jiang,Xiaoqian Wu,Xin Qian,Shiheng An,Jie Shen,Jianyu Meng,Shuo Yan","doi":"10.1021/acs.jafc.5c08250","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.5c08250","url":null,"abstract":"Insect growth regulators (IGRs) face limitations of slow action and high dosage, while RNA pesticides are constrained by the scarcity of effective RNAi targets. Here, we propose a standardized strategy to develop multicomponent nanopesticides by combining IGRs with RNA pesticides via a co-delivery nanoplatform. The star polycation (SPc) nanocarriers and diflubenzuron (DFB) were assembled into nanoscale DFB/SPc complexes, enhancing toxicity against green peach aphids by disrupting chitin biosynthesis. RNA-seq analysis identified chitin synthase (CHS) as a synergistic RNAi target. The hpCHS/SPc complex effectively silenced CHS, inducing more than 50% aphid mortality. Co-loading dsCHS and DFB produced stable nanoparticles with improved leaf adhesion, plant uptake, aphid cuticle contact, and translocation, achieving up to 82.2% mortality at only LC20 of free DFB. This work establishes a generalizable, scalable approach for designing multicomponent nanopesticides with high efficacy and low dosage for sustainable pest control.","PeriodicalId":41,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry","volume":"35 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145203936","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}
Shuang Chen,Yixin Zhang,Di Gao,Wenxuan Cao,Xin Zou,Siying Xu,Ranhua Xiong,Chaobo Huang,Wenjing Ma
{"title":"Bioinspired Design and Functionalization of Pesticide Nanocarriers: From Synthesis Strategies to Foliar-Targeted Delivery Mechanisms.","authors":"Shuang Chen,Yixin Zhang,Di Gao,Wenxuan Cao,Xin Zou,Siying Xu,Ranhua Xiong,Chaobo Huang,Wenjing Ma","doi":"10.1021/acs.jafc.5c06765","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.5c06765","url":null,"abstract":"Traditional pesticide formulations suffer from poor adhesion and limited deposition efficiency, causing overuse and ecological risks. Functional nanocarriers present a promising solution by leveraging bioinspired adhesive and structural topographies tailored to hydrophobic foliar surfaces. This review investigates progress in adhesive nanocarrier systems for enhanced foliar retention. We analyze the physicochemical and micronano/architectural features of leaves, evaluating their influence on droplet spreading and interfacial binding strength. Design principles for nanocarriers are established through two complementary approaches: molecular-level affinity (e.g., polyphenol-assisted hydrogen bonding and cation-π coordination) and multiscale structural matching (e.g., size-conforming geometries and hierarchical surface replication). Innovative methodologies, including environmental-triggered release, biohybrid engineering, and adaptive covalent bonding, are examined for enhanced deposition and controlled delivery. Furthermore, we evaluated the environmental and economic viability, considering scalability, field stability, and biodegradability. Future directions propose intelligent nanocarriers with machine-learning-assisted design, multimechanistic adhesion, and integration with precision agricultural platforms, bridging bioadhesion research with sustainable agrochemical applications.","PeriodicalId":41,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry","volume":"126 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145203990","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 Characterization of a Branched Polysaccharide Isolated from Thesium chinense Turcz. and Its Ameliorative Effects on Ulcerative Colitis.","authors":"Guangdong Hu,Taili Shao,Jiapeng Wang,Haoyu Zhang,Xiaolong Shang,Chunyan Liu,Jiangping Wu,Qiuyue Lv,Yuyan Zhou,Lingwu Chen,Jun Han,Guodong Wang","doi":"10.1021/acs.jafc.5c09659","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.5c09659","url":null,"abstract":"Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic, complex inflammatory condition with a high global prevalence. Thesium chinense Turcz. is renowned for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, a novel branched polysaccharide (TP1) was isolated from Thesium chinense Turcz., primarily composed of fructose, glucose, and galactose with a molecular weight of 5377 Da. Its backbone includes →1)-β-D-Fruf-(2→, →1,6)-β-D-Fruf-(2→, →4)-α-D-Glcp-(1→, and →3,6)-β-D-Galp-(1→ residues, and the side chain is Fruf-(2→6)-β-D-Fruf-(2→ linked to the O-6 of the →1,6)-β-D-Fruf-(2→ residue, while β-D-Galp-(1→ linked to the O-6 of the →3,6)-β-D-Galp-(1→ residue. In DSS-induced UC mice, TP1 significantly ameliorated weight loss, colon shortening, and the intestinal barrier damage. Mechanistically, TP1 reestablished the gut microbiota, increased SCFAs concentrations, activated GPR41/43 receptors, and downregulated proteins expression in the IL-17/NF-κB/JAK2/STAT3 signaling axis. TP1 maintained Th17/Treg homeostasis may through the SCFAs-mediated GPR41/43 pathway and IL-17/NF-κB/JAK2/STAT3 pathway, thereby inhibiting intestinal inflammation to alleviate UC. This study provides new insights into therapeutic strategies for UC.","PeriodicalId":41,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry","volume":"34 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145203582","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":"Exploring the Mechanism of Benzyl Isothiocyanate in the Prevention and Control of Ceratocystis fimbriata and the Role of Its Response Protein PRX1.","authors":"Shan Wang,Qingru Geng,Qiuhan Zhuo,Yan Ye,Shuolong Li,Ninghui Zhang,Bo Wang,Kunlong Yang,Jun Tian","doi":"10.1021/acs.jafc.5c06528","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.5c06528","url":null,"abstract":"Sweetpotato, a vital global crop, cash, and fodder crop, faces significant threats from black rot disease caused by Ceratocystis fimbriata (C. fimbriata). Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) is a biologically active essential oil derived from cruciferous plants, widely used for food preservation and exhibiting antimicrobial and antitumor properties. In this study, BITC significantly inhibited C. fimbriata growth and induced cellular damage. Furthermore, through proteomics and bioinformatics analyses, mitochondrial peroxiredoxin PRX1 (PRX1) was identified as a potential target protein of BITC in C. fimbriata, confirming its role in regulating the response of BITC-treated C. fimbriata to oxidative damage. Finally, sweetpotato storage simulation experiments demonstrated that BITC effectively prevents and controls the growth of C. fimbriata during sweetpotato storage. These results provide the basis for using BITC to control sweetpotato black rot, offering insights into developing highly selective and low-negative-impact antisweetpotato black rot disease compounds, and presenting a new strategy for controlling C. fimbriata contamination in sweetpotatoes.","PeriodicalId":41,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry","volume":"3 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145194977","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}