Foods
·
2024
·Vol. 13
·期 15
·2440
·
IF 4.7
Jingwen Yu,Xiangwei Xiao,Baiying Chen,Zeyuan Deng,Xuan Chen,Yawei Fan,Hongyan Li
The antioxidant activities of lycopene (LY), lutein (LU), chlorogenic acid (CA), and delphinidin (DP) were tested in vitro on H9c2 cell-based models. Some indicators, such as the generation of reactive oxygen (ROS), the quantification of cell antioxidant activity (CAA), and the expressions of SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT, were calculated to examine their antioxidant interactions. From our results, the phytochemical mixtures (M1: CA-LU: F3/10, M2: DP-CA: F7/10, M3: DP-LY: F5/10) displayed strong synergistic effects based on the generation of ROS and the quantification of CAA. However, great antagonistic bioactivities were seen in the combinations of LY-LU: F5/10 (M4), CA-LU: F9/10 (M5), and DP-LY: F7/10 (M6). Western blotting analysis indicated that the possible mechanism underlying the synergistic antioxidant interactions among phytochemical combinations was to enhance the accumulation of Nrf2 in the nucleus and the expression of its downstream antioxidant enzymes, HO-1 and GCLC. The combinations (M1–M3 groups) showed significant protection against the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential than individual groups to avoid excessive ROS production. The M4–M6 groups exerted antagonistic protective effects compared with the individual groups. In addition, lutein and lycopene absorption was improved more because of the presence of chlorogenic acid and delphinidin in the M1 and M3 groups, respectively. However, delphinidin significantly reduced the cellular uptake of lycopene in the M6 group. It appeared that antioxidant interactions of phytochemical combinations may contribute to the restoration of cellular redox homeostasis and lead to an improvement in diet quality and collocation.
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
·
2026
·
IF 8.2
Lijun Liu,Xiaoyu Shi,Fangyan Chen,Bao Chen,Jinzhong Tian,Nisha He,Baofu Xu
Engineered scaffold-assisted IUP in E. coli boosting terpene precursors. • Scaffold-IUP improved substrate tolerance and achieved 1.1 g/L diterpene. • Scaffold-IUP produced 729.7 mg/L lycopene, 9-fold higher than MVA pathway. • With varied PTs, scaffold-IUP efficiently generated C10–C35 terpene precursors. Terpenoids are valuable resources for pharmaceutical research, yet their natural supply remains constrained. While the artificial isoprenol utilization pathway (IUP) has emerged as a promising alternative for terpene precursor supply, its full potential is limited by suboptimal pathway flux and substrate tolerance. Here, we report an efficient scaffold-assisted IUP platform tailored for high-throughput terpenoid discovery and scalable production. By recruiting rate-limiting IUP enzymes and prenyltransferases (PTs) onto self-assembling PduA* protein scaffolds displaying CC-Di-B peptides that specifically interact with CC-Di-A-tagged enzymes, we achieved spatial organization of the biosynthetic machinery. Systematic optimization of promoter configuration, fermentation conditions, and enzyme fusion yielded the optimal system ScMKI4-GS, achieving gram- per -liter-scale production (1.1 g/L) of the eunicellane-type diterpene benditerpe-2,6,15-triene in simple shake-flask fermentation—substantially outperforming scaffold-free controls. The platform demonstrated broad applicability across five structurally distinct eunicellane synthases, with each exhibiting enhanced production upon scaffold incorporation. For lycopene biosynthesis, the scaffold-assisted system produced 729.7 mg/L—a 9-fold improvement over the canonical MVA pathway under identical conditions, representing the highest IUP-based lycopene titer reported in Escherichia coli to date. Finally, by systematic substitution of chain-length-specific PTs, we expanded the platform to efficiently generate C10–C35 terpene precursors, facilitating functional characterization of terpene-related genes. Collectively, this versatile scaffold-assisted IUP platform provides a robust tool to expand terpenoid structural diversity and accelerate their scalable overproduction. Download: Download high-res image (196KB) Download: Download full-size image
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
·
2026
·
IF 6.2
Jiaqi Miao,Xiaoyi Zou,Yanshan Ke,Qian He,Weizhu Zeng,Jingwen Zhou
β-Carotene is a fat-soluble terpenoid substance that is often used as a food additive. The use of microbial cell factories to synthesize β-carotene is a promising alternative to plant extraction methods. Ogataea parapolymorpha is a nonconventional yeast with thermotolerance, a broad substrate spectrum, and high-density fermentation, making it an excellent host for the biological production of β-carotene. Accordingly, we applied global metabolic engineering to O. parapolymorpha. First, a β-carotene biosynthetic pathway was constructed by screening and identifying the enzymes involved in its synthesis. Subsequently, β-carotene was produced by optimizing the mevalonate pathway and increasing the supply of precursor acetyl-CoA and cofactor NADPH. Finally, competing pathways were downregulated to increase β-carotene production. Our strategy culminated in a β-carotene titer of 3861.21 mg/L during fed-batch fermentation in a 5-L bioreactor. This study provides an alternative platform for the biosynthesis of carotenoids.
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Biology-Basel
·
2026
·Vol. 15
·期 4
·347
·
IF 4.3
Wael Ennab,Saber Y. Adam,Hao-Yu Liu,Ghaid J. Al-Rabadi,Ping Hu,Baiome Abdelmaguid Baiome,Kaiqi Li,Abdelkareem A. Ahmed,In Ho Kim,Madesh Muniyappan,Demin Cai
Simple SummaryT-2 toxin, a widespread mycotoxin, induces hepatotoxicity and gut dysbiosis, with limited mitigation strategies. This study demonstrates that lycopene protects against T-2 mycotoxicosis in mice by integrating microbiota restoration with hepatic metabolic reprogramming. Lycopene suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokines, alleviated oxidative stress, and enriched beneficial Muribaculum while suppressing pathogenic Escherichia. Mechanistically, lycopene de-repressed Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling and restored fatty acid oxidation and phase I detoxification gene expression. A hormetic dose–response was evident: low-dose lycopene outperformed high-dose lycopene, underscoring non-linear efficacy. These findings position lycopene as a candidate feed additive targeting the gut–liver–PPAR axis, though dose optimization remains critical for translation.Exposure to T2 toxin is known to induce hepatotoxicity and gut dysbiosis, yet effective dietary interventions remain underexplored. This study investigates the hepatoprotective and microbiota-modulating effects of lycopene against T2 toxin-induced toxicity in mice. Mice were exposed to T2 toxin with or without lycopene supplementation at low and high doses. The hepatic function, oxidative stress markers, inflammatory gene expression, detoxification pathway activity, and gut microbiota composition were assessed using histological, biochemical, and molecular analyses. T2 toxin exposure resulted in significant weight loss, oxidative liver damage, and gut dysbiosis—marked by a decline in beneficial phyla and an increase in pathogenic bacteria. Hepatic injury was accompanied by upregulated pro-inflammatory genes and downregulated PPAR pathway genes, leading to impaired lipid metabolism and disrupted liver histology. Lycopene supplementation effectively attenuated these effects: it reduced oxidative stress, enhanced antioxidant defense, lowered inflammatory markers, and restored gut microbial balance. Furthermore, lycopene upregulated PPAR pathway and phase I detoxification genes. Notably, the low-dose lycopene regimen demonstrated superior efficacy compared to the high-dose regimen. In conclusion, lycopene, particularly at a low dose, confers significant protection against T2 toxin-induced hepatotoxicity and gut dysbiosis, highlighting its potential as a dietary strategy for mitigating mycotoxin-induced health risks.
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
·
2026
·
IF 6.7
Chang Liu,Yanqi Cheng,Xiaohua Pan,Rongrong Ma,Yaoqi Tian
Fungal dysbiosis is increasingly recognized as a critical factor in gut-related diseases, yet natural antifungal agents remain scarce. Lycopene is known to influence gut health, but its effects on fungi also remain unclear. This study investigated the impact of lycopene on the gut microbiota, particularly gut fungi. In vivo, lycopene significantly promoted the growth of beneficial species such as Lactobacillus johnsonii and altered microbial vitamin B6 metabolism. Metabolomics analysis further confirmed that lycopene enhanced vitamin B6 metabolism. In vitro fermentation using human gut microbiota confirmed similar effects. Then, inhibition of bacteria and fungi, along with the antagonism of vitamin B6, confirmed significant changes in the abundance of L. johnsonii and Trichocladium, mediated through vitamin B6 metabolism. Further monoculture experiments with Trichocladium demonstrated that vitamin B6, rather than lycopene itself, significantly reduced the abundance of Trichocladium. Structural equation modeling revealed lycopene’s potential in modulating fungi within the gut ecosystem.
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
·
2026
·Vol. 54
·期 5
·
IF 15
Zhao Huiwei,Zhou Tao,Zhang Ming,Wang Chengqiang,Wang Rui,Shu Xian,Cheng Feiyue,Xue Qiong,Liu Chao,Xu Jing,Cao Xinyue,Du Jun,Wang Liangliang,Liu Hongwei,Li Ming
Robust biocontainment is essential for the safe use of engineered microbes, but existing strategies suffer from genetic instability and/or laborious construction. Here, we present ATTACH, a kill switch that associates toxin–antitoxin with CRISPR-Cas to harness engineered microbes. Our approach employs a CRISPR-repressed toxin–antitoxin (CreTA) module to make microbes addicted to the type I-F Cas effector proteins, and places both the Cas3 nuclease and the chromosome-targeting guide RNA under inducible promoters, thereby improving the genetic stability and stringency of the CRISPR-based suicidal program. Additionally, we have developed a single-plasmid, antibiotic-independent ATTACH device, which shows robust, stringent containment of a microbial chassis in murine gut, and negligible impacts on culture growth or lycopene production during batch fermentation. Our data highlight the potential of CreTA to stabilize CRISPR-based kill switches, advancing their development into more portable and reliable biocontainment tools for engineered microbes.
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Journal of Food Measurement and Characterization
·
2026
·
IF 3.6
Yu Jingwen,Ba Wenxiu,Tang Xinru,Mueed Abdul,Zhang Bing,Deng Zeyuan,Li Hongyan
Lycopene predominantly exists as an all-E isomer, but its Z-isomers are more abundant in the human body and have greater bioaccessibility and antioxidant activity than the all-E-isomer. This study aimed to develop an efficient isomerization method for Z-lycopene production and to fabricate Pickering emulsions loaded with high Z-lycopene content (PEZL) to enhance its stability and bioaccessibility, ultimately evaluating its potential effect against benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in a mouse model. First, different methods to induce Z-isomerization of (all-E)-lycopene were investigated. Second, PEZL was fabricated and characterized for encapsulation efficiency, stability (under thermal, ionic, pH, and storage stress), in vitro digestion profile and bioaccessibility. Finally, its efficacy was assessed in a BPH mouse model by measuring the prostatic index (PI) and serum levels of acid phosphatase (ACP), testosterone (T), and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This study developed an efficient production method for Z-lycopene by microwave heating at 560 W for 5 min with supplementation of garlic and onion at a 1:1 ratio. The total Z-lycopene content increased to approximately 71%, and the isomerization efficiency was higher than that with other isomerization methods. The PEZL prepared by zein-chitosan at the ratio of 1:1 demonstrated high encapsulation efficiency and robust stability. PEZL provided a 1.76-fold increase in the relative bioaccessibility compared to lycopene dissolved in perilla seed oil during simulated digestion in vitro. In the BPH model, PEZL administration significantly reduced the PI and serum levels of ACP, T, and DHT compared to the model group. The PEZL significantly improved the stability and bioaccessibility of Z-lycopene and shows promising preventive effects against BPH in vivo, providing a solid foundation for developing Z-lycopene-based functional foods or nutraceuticals for prostate health.
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD MICROBIOLOGY
·
2026
·
IF 5.7
Yuke Liu,Yanping Cui,Lan Cheng,Yingying Wang,Yan Ding,Shuhong Ye
Red sour soup is a fermented food made mainly from tomatoes, chili peppers, and glutinous rice. It is commonly used as a sour and salty seasoning in everyday cooking by the Miao and Dong people in southwestern China, where it helps adapt to the humid climate. However, the quality of traditional naturally fermented red sour soup can be inconsistent, which may lead to safety issues. This study aimed to understand how inoculated fermentation affects the physical and chemical properties, bioactive substances, and flavor of red sour soup. The results showed that when specific strains— Lactiplantibacillus pentosus Y5 , Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Y9 and Meyerozyma guilliermondii H1 —were added, the lactic acid production was 3.61 times higher than in uninoculated fermentation. The inoculated group also had lower nitrite levels. Moreover, the inoculated fermentation contained more bioactive compounds and showed stronger antioxidant activity. Through single-factor experiments and response surface optimization, the optimal process parameters for red sour soup were determined as follows: fermentation time of 5 d, fermentation temperature of 28 °C, inoculum size of 2.5%, and strain ratio of 1:1:1. Inoculated fermentation resulted in faster acid production compared to uninoculated fermentation, with the pH reaching 3.21 and total acid content reaching 19.59 g/kg on day 5. In total, 901 differential metabolites were detected, predominantly organic acids and their derivatives, fatty acyls and organic oxygen compounds. Their related major metabolic pathways were biosynthesis of amino acids, aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis and ABC transporters. This study offers a useful reference for improving the production and research of red sour soup.
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
Biology-Basel
·
2025
·Vol. 14
·期 7
·752
·
IF 3.5
Kaixuan Ke,Yufeng Zhang,Xinyi Wang,Zhaoyan Luo,Yangyang Chen,Xianying Fang,Linguo Zhao
Simple Summaryβ-Ionone is a valuable aroma compound widely used in the fragrance, food, and pharmaceutical industries. In this study, we identify and characterize two carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase 1 (CCD1) genes fromOlea europaeaandIpomoea nil. By expressing these genes inE. coli, we evaluate their ability to produce β-ionone and analyze their biochemical properties. Our findings not only provide insights into the functional diversity of CCD1 enzymes across plant species, but also offer new genetic resources for the microbial biosynthesis of natural aroma compounds.The aromatic C13apocarotenoid β-ionone is a high-value natural-flavor and -fragrance compound derived from the oxidative cleavage of carotenoids. Carotenoid cleavage dioxygenases (CCDs) play a pivotal role in the biosynthesis of volatile apocarotenoids, particularly β-ionone. In this study, we report the identification, cloning, and functional characterization of two CCD1 homologs:OeCCD1fromOlea europaeaandInCCD1fromIpomoea nil. These two species, which, respectively, represent a woody perennial and a herbaceous annual, were selected to explore the potential functional divergence of CCD1 enzymes across different plant growth forms. These CCD1 genes were synthesized using codon optimization forEscherichia coliexpression, followed by heterologous expression and purification using a GST-fusion system. In vitro assays confirmed that both enzymes cleave β-carotene at the 9,10 (9′,10′) double bond to yield β-ionone, but onlyOeCCD1exhibits detectable activity on zeaxanthin;InCCD1shows no in vitro cleavage of zeaxanthin. Kinetic characterization using β-apo-8′-carotenal as substrate revealed, forOeCCD1, a Kmof 0.82 mM, Vmaxof 2.30 U/mg (kcat= 3.35 s−1), and kcat/Kmof 4.09 mM−1·s−1, whereasInCCD1displayed Km= 0.69 mM, Vmax= 1.22 U/mg (kcat= 1.82 s−1), and kcat/Km= 2.64 mM−1·s−1. The optimization of expression parameters, as well as the systematic evaluation of temperature, pH, solvent, and metal ion effects, provided further insights into the stability and functional diversity within the plant CCD1 family. Overall, these findings offer promising enzymatic tools for the sustainable production of β-ionone and related apocarotenoids in engineered microbial cell factories.
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF CROP AND HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE
·
2025
·
IF 1.5
Ziqi Wang,Maorun Fu,Haili Yang,Fei Sun,Xiaoqian Qu,Jingjing Liu,Qingmin Chen,Yan Yan
(E)-2-hexenyl acetate (E2HA) is the esterification product of (E)-2-hexenal (E2H), which is generated by lipoxygenase (LOX) during the degradation of polyunsaturated fatty acids. As a green leaf volatile, E2HA is released in large quantities during the ripening or stress of fruits, forming a unique aroma of fruits and helping to resist stress, however, its the effect on fruit quality is still unclear. In this study, E2HA significantly affected the colour change process in tomato by activating carotenoid synthesis pathways (PDS, ZDS, LCY-β), resulting in increased lycopene and β-carotene contents while maintaining chlorophyll levels. E2HA upregulated LOX expression and activity, thereby promoting polyunsaturated fatty acid degradation. As a downstream product of E2H, E2HA reduces hydroperoxide lyase (HPL) gene expression and enzyme activity, thereby decreasing the endogenous E2H content. Concurrently, E2HA activated the jasmonic acid (JA) synthesis pathway (AOS, AOC, OPR3, COI-1, MYC2), leading to elevated endogenous JA levels. By redirecting LOX pathway flux toward JA biosynthesis, E2HA increased carotenoid accumulation. These findings suggest that E2HA is a natural compound for improving fruit quality, with promising applications in preharvest horticulture.
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies
·
2026
·
IF 6.8
Gongshuai Song,Ziming Xu,Zhen Xu,Mingwei Zeng,Mengna Zhang,Jinyan Gong
Cold plasma (CP) treatment can alter the structure of proteins and modify the physicochemical property. However, the mechanism of CP-assisted acidic-thermal protein fibrillation during different fibrillation degrees is essential to explore. This study aimed to investigate the effect of CP-assisted acidic-thermal fibrillation on the structural, physicochemical, and emulsifying characteristics of whey protein isolate (WPI) and its ability to stabilize high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs). Results indicated CP exhibited significant potential for promoting the formation of WPI fibrils (WFs), as evidenced by a 1.84-fold increase in Thioflavin T fluorescence intensity and enhanced β-sheet content from 13.72% to 43.77%. FTIR and SEM analyses confirmed that CP induced unfolding of the WPI structure and the formation of highly ordered, filamentous aggregates. The fibrils induced by CP exhibited superior emulsifying activity index (32.66 m 2 /g) and emulsion stability index (89.24 min), representing 2.1- and 1.8-fold increases over the native WPI, respectively. Moreover, the CP-induced WF stabilized HIPEs with the smaller droplet sizes, higher apparent viscosity, and enhanced storage stability. The driving force of CP-assisted self-assembly fibrillation mainly involved hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions. The HIPEs stabilized by PWFs exhibited the superior thermal and ultraviolet stability of encapsulated lycopene. The highest retention rate (56.10%) was obtained in the HIPEs. This work revealed that CP-assisted fibrillation provided an efficient, green, and controllable strategy to tailor the structure and interfacial functionality of proteins, revealing the important role of CP in regulating the protein fibrillation process.
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
FOOD RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
·
2026
·
IF 8
Gongshuai Song,Tian Zhao,Yingcong Yang,Yangcheng Ge,Wei Tang,Taijiao Xiang,Danli Wang,Tinglan Yuan,Ling Li,Yong Cheng,Mengna Zhang,Jinyan Gong
The structural conversion of β-lactoglobulin (β-LG) into amyloid fibrils offers an effective strategy for developing functional biomaterials with enhanced physicochemical properties and functionalities. This study investigated the effect of cold plasma (CP) and ultrasound pretreatments on β-LG fibril (β-LGF) under acid-heat conditions (pH 2.0, 90 °C, 10 h) and explored the relationship between fibril structure and functional performance. Compared with the control, CP pretreatment significantly increased ThT fluorescence intensity by 1.9-fold, indicating enhanced fibril formation. Dynamic light scattering revealed that CP-treated fibrils (P-β-LGF) exhibited a reduced average particle size (183.6 ± 4.7 nm) and narrower distribution (PDI = 0.21) compared with ultrasound-treated (243.1 ± 6.5 nm) and control samples (278.4 ± 7.8 nm). FTIR and CD spectra confirmed the structural transition from α-helix to β-sheet, while SEM micrographs showed elongated, uniformly dispersed fibrils after CP pretreatment. Functionally, P-β-LGF exhibited the highest emulsifying activity index (51.2 m 2 /g), emulsion stability index (87.3%), and antioxidant activities, the emulsions stabilized by P-β-LGF-Dextran complex exhibited the superior thermal and ultraviolet stability of encapsulated lycopene. The highest retention rate (91.6%) was obtained in the emulsion. These findings demonstrated that CP treatment is an effective, green, and tunable strategy to regulate protein conformation and fibrillation kinetics, thereby enhancing the structural and functional properties of β-LG, providing new insights into the design of protein-based delivery systems for bioactive compounds.
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
危险品化学品经营许可证（带存储）