Shuping Xu,Yaming Zhao,Yifan Lu,Mengyi Chen,Liyuan Wen,Shuaiqi Meng,Haiyang Cui
{"title":"SAM-Dependent Fluorinases: Structural Insights, Mechanisms, and Emerging Engineering Strategies","authors":"Shuping Xu,Yaming Zhao,Yifan Lu,Mengyi Chen,Liyuan Wen,Shuaiqi Meng,Haiyang Cui","doi":"10.1021/acs.jafc.6c11023","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.6c11023","url":null,"abstract":"Fluorinated compounds are indispensable in modern pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and functional materials, but conventional chemical fluorination typically relies on harsh reaction conditions and toxic reagents. In contrast, S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM)-dependent fluorinases catalyze selective biological C–F bond formation under mild and environmentally benign conditions, providing a unique platform for sustainable organofluorine synthesis. In this Review, we summarize recent advances in the discovery, catalytic mechanisms, and engineering of SAM-dependent fluorinases and examine their structural diversity, with particular emphasis on the evolutionary relationships among fluorinases, chlorinases, and hydroxyadenosyl transferase within the DUF62 superfamily. We then discuss the molecular basis of enzymatic fluorination, highlighting the mechanisms of substrate recognition, fluoride desolvation, halide selectivity, and C–F bond formation. Finally, we review recent progress in protein engineering, including strategies to enhance catalytic activity, substrate promiscuity, stability, and selectivity. Together, these advances provide a mechanistic framework for understanding biological fluorination and lay the foundation for developing next-generation fluorinases.","PeriodicalId":41,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry","volume":"15 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149359891","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}
Ruiqing Sun,Tong Zhou,Yujuan Xie,Linyan Deng,Haoran Fan,Shiyi Lu,Yangyang Wen,Hongyan Li,Jing Wang
{"title":"Cross-Reactive Fluorescence Fingerprinting: Discrimination of Alkylresorcinol Homologues Using a Graphene Quantum Dot Sensor Array","authors":"Ruiqing Sun,Tong Zhou,Yujuan Xie,Linyan Deng,Haoran Fan,Shiyi Lu,Yangyang Wen,Hongyan Li,Jing Wang","doi":"10.1021/acs.jafc.6c08454","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.6c08454","url":null,"abstract":"Alkylresorcinols (ARs) are biomarkers of whole-grain intake and food authenticity, but simultaneous discrimination of AR homologues remains challenging due to structural similarity and co-occurrence in complex food matrices. Herein, a three-channel fluorescent sensor array based on graphene quantum dots (GQDs) was developed to discriminate and quantify five AR homologues (C17:0, C19:0, C21:0, C23:0, and C25:0). Noncovalent interactions between GQDs and ARs, with distinct surface chemistries, induce differential interfacial charge redistribution and excited-state relaxation, generating cross-reactive fluorescence patterns. Using principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis, the array yields unique fingerprints separating low, medium, and high concentrations. Linear correlation between PC1 scores and AR concentrations (0–60 μg·mL–1) enabled quantification, with detection limits down to 1.1 ng·mL–1. Validation using commercial whole-wheat products distinguished all five ARs, with recoveries of 96.10–108.40% and relative standard deviations below 3.76%. This robust, low-cost, high-throughput platform shows potential for food authenticity evaluation and biosensing.","PeriodicalId":41,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149359937","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}
Meiqi Guan,Peiyao Wu,Xiaoyan Wu,Weijie Li,Yujia Liu,Yanhui Zhou,Fang Yang,Jie Liu
{"title":"The Release Mechanism of pH/Near-Infrared Dual-Triggered Core–Shell Nanopesticide and Inhibition of Sclerotinia Disease","authors":"Meiqi Guan,Peiyao Wu,Xiaoyan Wu,Weijie Li,Yujia Liu,Yanhui Zhou,Fang Yang,Jie Liu","doi":"10.1021/acs.jafc.6c09301","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.6c09301","url":null,"abstract":"Nanopesticides offer a promising strategy for sustainable crop protection through controlled delivery and stimuli-responsive release. Here, a core–shell nanopesticide, Pro@SDS-LDH@PDA (PSLD), was constructed by loading prochloraz (Pro) into SDS-modified layered double hydroxide (SDS-LDH), followed by polydopamine (PDA) coating. PSLD exhibited pH/NIR dual-responsive release, with Pro release increasing 2.7-fold under mildly acidic conditions and 2.6-fold under 808 nm NIR irradiation. PSLD showed stronger and more sustained antifungal activity against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum than free Pro. PDA coating improved foliar wettability and rainfastness, reducing contact angles on choy sum and chili pepper leaves by 12.2° and 12.8°, respectively. High-speed imaging further showed enhanced droplet spreading and reduced rebound on hydrophobic surfaces. Biosafety assays indicated good compatibility with wheat seeds, earthworms, and Escherichia coli. These results demonstrate the potential of PSLD for efficient and sustainable management of Sclerotinia disease.","PeriodicalId":41,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149359893","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":"Discovery and Preliminary Mechanistic Investigation of 5-Aminoquinoline Hydrazone Derivatives as Antifungal Leads against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum","authors":"Rui Ruan,Xiaoli Ren,Fali Wang,Jianmei Yao,Rongmeng Lan,Qiuqiu Zhang,Wikum Harshana Jayasinghe,Linhong Jin,Xia Zhou","doi":"10.1021/acs.jafc.6c11129","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.6c11129","url":null,"abstract":"Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a destructive necrotrophic pathogen that causes severe yield losses in economically important crops. In this study, a series of 5-aminoquinoline-based hydrazone derivatives were designed and synthesized, and their antifungal activity was evaluated. Compound A16 exhibited superior activity against S. sclerotiorum (EC50 = 2.42 μg/mL) and Phomopsis sp. (EC50 = 5.32 μg/mL), outperforming the commercial fungicide oxine-copper. In-vivo tests demonstrated that A16 possessed excellent curative (94.5%) and protective (72.9%) efficacies. Preliminary mechanistic studies showed that A16 inhibited succinate dehydrogenase activity, perturbed membrane-associated physiological processes, and promoted the accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species accumulation, indicating substantial disruption of fungal energy and redox homeostasis. Moreover, A16 exhibited relatively low toxicity toward zebrafish under the tested conditions. These results suggest that A16 is a promising lead compound worthy of further optimization for the development of fungicidal agents for the management of Sclerotinia diseases.","PeriodicalId":41,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry","volume":"24 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149359890","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":"First Evidence of Isoflavone Production by the Oomycete Aphanomyces euteiches, the Causal Agent of Legume Root Rot","authors":"Mario González,Maria Michela Salvatore,Germán Escudero,Pierluigi Reveglia,Sara Rodriguez-Mena,Anna Andolfi,Alessio Cimmino,Diego Rubiales,Marco Masi","doi":"10.1021/acs.jafc.6c10054","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.6c10054","url":null,"abstract":"Aphanomyces euteiches is a destructive soilborne oomycete affecting legumes worldwide. Although its pathogenic mechanisms have been extensively investigated, its specialized metabolism remains largely unexplored. In this study, organic extracts of A. euteiches grown on two different media were tested across five legume species. The PDA-EtOAc extract induced the most severe yellowing and necrotic lesions on leaves, especially in pea and lentil, and markedly reduced root growth, with associated necrosis, in all legumes evaluated. GC-MS and 1H NMR profiling identified major fatty acids together with phenolic compounds and diketopiperazines potentially involved in microbial signaling. Daidzein and genistein, two plant isoflavones, were also identified in A. euteiches organic extracts for the first time. This finding challenges the current view that these metabolites detected during infection originate exclusively from legume hosts and suggests that they may also participate in pathogen biology and host–pathogen interactions.","PeriodicalId":41,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry","volume":"18 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149359895","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":"Rational Engineering of α-CGTase from Paenibacillus macerans for Enhanced Thermostability and Product Specificity","authors":"Xiaoya Chen,Jiaren Cao,Qisheng Fu,Shiheng Chen,Lingqia Su,Jing Wu,Lei Wang,Sheng Chen","doi":"10.1021/acs.jafc.6c11181","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.6c11181","url":null,"abstract":"Cyclodextrin glycosyltransferases are key biocatalysts for α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) production but are limited by insufficient thermostability and suboptimal product selectivity. Here, an α-CGTase from Paenibacillus macerans was modified via PROSS-aided design, Gibbs free-energy prediction and iterative combinatorial mutagenesis. M6 (G339D/I186L/N205P/E299 K/G268P/R146P) displayed improved thermostability and α-CD selectivity. Compared with the wild-type enzyme, M6 showed a 7.06 °C increase in melting temperature (Tm) and 9.41- and 4.90-fold longer half-lives (t1/2) at 50 and 55 °C respectively. Its optimal reaction temperature increased from 45 to 55 °C and the α-/β-CD activity ratio increased from 5.42 to 9.72, indicating a marked shift in product selectivity toward α-CD. In solvent process, M6 achieved an α-CD conversion of 58.48% and a total conversion rate of 72.00% at 55 °C. MD simulations suggested that reduced conformational flexibility and favorable electrostatic interactions underlay the improved thermostability. This work validates combining computational design and iterative engineering for enzyme optimization.","PeriodicalId":41,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149359892","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}
Hualian Wu,Huili Zhu,Xiaoling Li,Zumei Liu,Wenjie Zheng,Tianfeng Chen,Bo Yu,Ka-Hing Wong
{"title":"Correction to “Induction of Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Arrest in A549 Human Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells by Surface-Capping Selenium Nanoparticles: An Effect Enhanced by Polysaccharide–Protein Complexes from Polyporus rhinocerus”","authors":"Hualian Wu,Huili Zhu,Xiaoling Li,Zumei Liu,Wenjie Zheng,Tianfeng Chen,Bo Yu,Ka-Hing Wong","doi":"10.1021/acs.jafc.6c11409","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.6c11409","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":41,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry","volume":"75 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149359936","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":"Biodegradation of Carbamate Insecticide Indoxacarb through a Lower-Risk Metabolic Pathway by a Novel Degrading Strain, Agrobacterium sp. DPX-5","authors":"Zechao Cheng,Yuehan Geng,Shengyang Li,Xin Ma,Rimao Hua,Liancheng Fang","doi":"10.1021/acs.jafc.6c10487","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.6c10487","url":null,"abstract":"Indoxacarb is considered a substitute for some highly toxic carbamate insecticides after their prohibition. However, it is easily hydrolyzed into the highly toxic N-decarbomethoxylated metabolite (DCJW) in the environment and nontarget organisms. In this study, an indoxacarb-degrading strain, Agrobacterium sp. DPX-5, was screened. It could degrade 57.8% of 10 mg/L indoxacarb within 24 h in LB medium with urea. Three degradation products M513, M469, and M455 were identified. The structures of the degradation products revealed a new low-risk hydrolysis metabolic pathway, which does not produce DCJW. Two novel functional indoxacarb-hydrolyzing enzymes InhA and InhB were found and characterized, with purified InhA showing higher degradation activity than InhB. Their key binding sites were further verified by molecular docking and point mutation. The research not only provides strain and enzyme resources but also discovers a lower-risk indoxacarb metabolic pathway to providing technical support for the bioremediation of carbamate insecticides.","PeriodicalId":41,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry","volume":"11 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149359897","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":"CRISPR-Mediated PABPC1 Upregulation via ELF5 Binding Disruption Enhances Milk Protein and Lipid Biosynthesis in Goat Mammary Epithelial Cells","authors":"Zhenliang Zhu,Haoxin Wang,Yayi Liu,Yangyi Jian,Yong Zhang,Rui Feng,Jun Liu,Yuanpeng Gao","doi":"10.1021/acs.jafc.6c10471","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.6c10471","url":null,"abstract":"Post-transcriptional control of milk protein and lipid production in goats remains poorly understood. Here we combined ONT full-length transcriptome sequencing with RNA pull-down coupled to LC–MS/MS to identify RNA-binding proteins associated with milk protein mRNAs, and uncovered poly(A)-binding protein cytoplasmic 1 (PABPC1) as a central regulator. PABPC1 bound the 3′UTRs of casein and lipid-related transcripts such as CSN2, CSN3, LALBA, and FASN, stabilizing these mRNAs and promoting their translation, while dose-dependently modulating alternative polyadenylation (APA) site selection to reshape 3′UTR isoform usage. ELF5 directly bound the PABPC1 promoter, repressing its transcription. CRISPR/Cas9 editing of this binding motif relieved this repression, elevating PABPC1 levels and increasing casein accumulation and triglyceride synthesis in goat mammary epithelial cells. Our findings define an ELF5–PABPC1–APA regulatory module and nominate a tractable target for molecular breeding to enhance goat milk protein and lipid content.","PeriodicalId":41,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149359933","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}
Jerry Lin,Annegret Cantu,Larry Lerno,Mireia Domenech-Lopez,Olivia Haley,Hildegarde Heymann,Susan E. Ebeler,Dario Cantu
{"title":"Allelic Variation at a Terpene Synthase Locus Shapes Wine Monoterpene Composition and Aroma","authors":"Jerry Lin,Annegret Cantu,Larry Lerno,Mireia Domenech-Lopez,Olivia Haley,Hildegarde Heymann,Susan E. Ebeler,Dario Cantu","doi":"10.1021/acs.jafc.6c06873","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.6c06873","url":null,"abstract":"The genetic basis of wine monoterpene variation and its sensory consequences remain poorly understood. We investigated how allelic variation at a chromosome 10 linalool QTL harboring a terpene synthase cluster, including VviTPS54, influences wine aroma in a Riesling × Cabernet Sauvignon mapping population. Twenty-six wines from progeny selected for contrasting genotypes were subjected to HS-SPME-GC-MS profiling and descriptive sensory analysis. Genotypes carrying the high-linalool Riesling allele produced substantially elevated monoterpene levels dominated by linalool. Berry and wine monoterpene profiles were significantly correlated, and berry monoterpene glycosides showed broad correlations with wine monoterpenes. High-monoterpene genotypes were more closely associated with Floral, Tropical Fruit, and Apricot/Peach attributes, though perception was modulated by matrix effects from berry pigmentation. These results demonstrate that allelic variation at a terpene synthase locus drives coordinated changes in wine monoterpene composition and linked sensory attributes, while underscoring the complexity of translating genetic variation into sensory outcomes.","PeriodicalId":41,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry","volume":"15 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149359388","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}