An AI-assisted microfluidic paper-based multiplexed surface-enhanced raman scattering (SERS) biosensor with electrophoretic removal and electrical modulation for accurate acute myocardial infarction (AMI) diagnosis and prognosis.

SERS detects single molecules with exceptional sensitivity. To counter the issue of selectivity faced by point-of-care, herein, an externally applied electric field that allows electrical modulation and electromigrates unbound SERS tags without multiple washing steps is successfully developed and demonstrated to improve the biosensor's selectivity and sensitivity in multiplexed detection of cTnI, HDL, and LDL in human serum at a low LoD. Ultra-sensitive detectors can detect signals from non-specifically absorbed species, and these species can cover up overlapping analyte peaks, amplifying the effect of non-specific binding.

Enabling chlorophyll photo-response for in-line real-time noninvasive direct probing of the quality of palm-oil during mill process.

During the milling process of palm oil, the degree of palm fruit ripeness is a critical factor that affects the quality and quantity of the oil. As the palm fruit matures, its chlorophyll level decreases, and since chlorophyll in oil has undesirable effects on hydrogenation, bleachability, and oxidative degradation, it's important to monitor the chlorophyll content in palm oil during the milling process. This study investigated the use of light-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (LICF) for non-invasive and real-time monitoring of chlorophyll content in diluted crude palm oil (DCO) located at the dilution and oil classification point in palm oil mill.

Palm oil supply chain factors impacting chlorinated precursors of 3-MCPD esters.

Chlorinated compounds such as sphingolipid-based organochlorine compounds are precursors for the formation of 3-monochlororopanediol (3-MCPD) esters in palm oil. This study evaluates the effects of several factors within the palm oil supply chain on the levels of sphingolipid-based organochlorine, which in turn may influence the formation of 3-MCPD esters during refining. These factors include application of inorganic chlorinated fertiliser in the oil palm plantation, bruising and degradation of oil palm fruits after harvest, recycling of steriliser condensate as water for dilution of crude oil during oil palm milling, water washing of palm oil and different refining conditions.

Diurnal biomarkers reveal key photosynthetic genes associated with increased oil palm yield.

To investigate limiters of photosynthate assimilation in the carbon-source limited crop, oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.), we measured differential metabolite, gene expression and the gas exchange in leaves in an open field for palms with distinct mesocarp oil content. We observed higher concentrations of glucose 1-phosphate, glucose 6-phosphate, sucrose 6-phosphate, and sucrose in high-oil content palms with the greatest difference being at 11:00 (p-value ≤0.

Natural Organochlorines as Precursors of 3-Monochloropropanediol Esters in Vegetable Oils.

During high-temperature refining of vegetable oils, 3-monochloropropanediol (3-MCPD) esters, possible carcinogens, are formed from acylglycerol in the presence of a chlorine source. To investigate organochlorine compounds in vegetable oils as possible precursors for 3-MCPD esters, we tested crude palm, soybean, rapeseed, sunflower, corn, coconut, and olive oils for the presence of organochlorine compounds. Having found them in all vegetable oils tested, we focused subsequent study on oil palm products.

Differential gene expression at different stages of mesocarp development in high- and low-yielding oil palm.

Background: The oil yield trait of oil palm is expected to involve multiple genes, environmental influences and interactions. Many of the underlying mechanisms that contribute to oil yield are still poorly understood. In this study, we used a microarray approach to study the gene expression profiles of mesocarp tissue at different developmental stages, comparing genetically related high- and low- oil yielding palms to identify genes that contributed to the higher oil-yielding palm and might contribute to the wider genetic improvement of oil palm breeding populations.

Amino Acid and Secondary Metabolite Production in Embryogenic and Non-Embryogenic Callus of Fingerroot Ginger (Boesenbergia rotunda).

Interest in the medicinal properties of secondary metabolites of Boesenbergia rotunda (fingerroot ginger) has led to investigations into tissue culture of this plant. In this study, we profiled its primary and secondary metabolites, as well as hormones of embryogenic and non-embryogenic (dry and watery) callus and shoot base, Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry together with histological characterization. Metabolite profiling showed relatively higher levels of glutamine, arginine and lysine in embryogenic callus than in dry and watery calli, while shoot base tissue showed an intermediate level of primary metabolites.

Hormones, polyamines, and cell wall metabolism during oil palm fruit mesocarp development and ripening.

Oil palm is one of the most productive oil-producing crops and can store up to 90% oil in its fruit mesocarp. Oil palm fruit is a sessile drupe consisting of a fleshy mesocarp from which palm oil is extracted. Biochemical changes in the mesocarp cell walls, polyamines, and hormones at different ripening stages of oil palm fruits were studied, and the relationship between the structural and the biochemical metabolism of oil palm fruits during ripening is discussed.

Differential metabolite profiles during fruit development in high-yielding oil palm mesocarp.

To better understand lipid biosynthesis in oil palm mesocarp, in particular the differences in gene regulation leading to and including de novo fatty acid biosynthesis, a multi-platform metabolomics technology was used to profile mesocarp metabolites during six critical stages of fruit development in comparatively high- and low-yielding oil palm populations. Significantly higher amino acid levels preceding lipid biosynthesis and nucleosides during lipid biosynthesis were observed in a higher yielding commercial palm population. Levels of metabolites involved in glycolysis revealed interesting divergence of flux towards glycerol-3-phosphate, while carbon utilization differences in the TCA cycle were proven by an increase in malic acid/citric acid ratio.

Profiling of metabolites in oil palm mesocarp at different stages of oil biosynthesis.

Oil palm is one of the most productive oil producing crops and can store up to 90% oil in its fruit mesocarp. However, the biosynthetic regulation and drivers of palm mesocarp development are still not well understood. Multiplatform metabolomics technology was used to profile palm metabolites during six critical stages of fruit development in order to better understand lipid biosynthesis.

Femtomol SPR detection of DNA-PNA hybridization with the assistance of DNA-guided polyaniline deposition.

The inability of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy to detect extremely small refractive index changes has hindered its applications in ultrasensitive DNA analysis. In this study we report a signal amplification strategy that uses DNA-templated polyaniline deposition, suitable for DNA hybridization analysis with charge neutral peptide nucleic acid (PNA) being probes. Under acidic conditions, protonated aniline monomers are adsorbed on DNA backbones through electrostatic interaction.

Enzyme-based colorimetric detection of nucleic acids using peptide nucleic acid-immobilized microwell plates.

The development of label-free or nonlabeling assays for nucleic acids is important in basic biological research and biomedical diagnosis. In this study, we have developed an enzyme-based colorimetric assay for nucleic acids, which combines the robustness of nonlabeling of DNA and RNA samples and the adequate sensitivity of enzymatic reactions. The core of this assay is the use of neutral peptide nucleic acid (PNA) as capture probe and the electrostatic adsorption of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) on hybridized, negatively charged nucleic acids to report the hybridization events, through HRP-catalyzed color reactions of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine and H(2)O(2).

Understanding ligand binding effects on the conformation of estrogen receptor alpha-DNA complexes: a combinational quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation and surface plasmon resonance study.

Estrogen receptors are ligand-activated transcription factors that regulate gene expression by binding to specific DNA sequences. To date, the effect of ligands on the conformation of estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha)-DNA complex remains a poorly understood issue. In our study, we are introducing the quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) as a new alternative to study the conformational differences in protein-DNA complexes.

Characterization of protein--DNA interactions using surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy with various assay schemes.

Specific protein-DNA interactions play a central role in transcription and other biological processes. A comprehensive characterization of protein-DNA interactions should include information about binding affinity, kinetics, sequence specificity, and binding stoichiometry. In this study, we have used surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy (SPR) to study the interactions between human estrogen receptors (ER, alpha and beta subtypes) and estrogen response elements (ERE), with four assay schemes.

Multiplatform genome-wide identification and modeling of functional human estrogen receptor binding sites.

Background: Transcription factor binding sites (TFBS) impart specificity to cellular transcriptional responses and have largely been defined by consensus motifs derived from a handful of validated sites. The low specificity of the computational predictions of TFBSs has been attributed to ubiquity of the motifs and the relaxed sequence requirements for binding. We posited that the inadequacy is due to limited input of empirically verified sites, and demonstrated a multiplatform approach to constructing a robust model.

Combinational application of surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy and quartz crystal microbalance for studying nuclear hormone receptor-response element interactions.

Conventional methodologies for studying protein-DNA complexes, such as electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs), lack the real-time sensitivity and precision to accurately characterize the complex dynamics of interactions between transcription factors and their binding sites. To better understand the interactions between estrogen receptor (ER) subtypes and the estrogen response elements (EREs), we employed surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy and quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation measurement (QCM-D) and made the following observations: (1) base substitutions in ERE half-sites reduced binding affinity for both ERalpha and ERbeta, (2) ERalpha has a higher sequence specificity than ERbeta or there were more nonspecific interactions between ERbeta and control DNA, and (3) ERalpha bound ERE as dimers and ERbeta bound as tetramers. These findings highlight intrinsic differences in DNA-binding properties between receptor subtypes, which are not apparent based on the high degree of conservation (96% identity) in their DNA-binding domains and results from EMSA studies.