Decoding comparative taste and nutrition regulation in Chinese cabbage via integrated metabolome and transcriptome analysis.

Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis) is a widely consumed leafy vegetable known for its various health-beneficial nutrients.

Comparing the differences in quality profiles and antioxidant activity in seven pumpkin cultivars ( and ) at harvest and during postharvest storage.

Pumpkin, nutritious vegetable, is renowned for its extended shelf life. In this study, seven pumpkin cultivars from and were comparatively characterized for 25 physiochemical quality factors, starch granule structures, antioxidant activity, and correlations at 0-60 days of postharvest (dop). The findings revealed that sucrose and carotenoid contents increased in , while they initially increased and then decreased in .

Transcriptomic analysis reveals the molecular basis of photoperiod-regulated sex differentiation in tropical pumpkins (Cucurbita moschata Duch.).

Background: Photoperiod, or the length of the day, has a significant impact on the flowering and sex differentiation of photoperiod-sensitive crops. The "miben" pumpkin (the main type of Cucurbita moschata Duch.) is well-known for its high yield and strong disease resistance.

A time-course transcriptome analysis of wax gourd fruit development reveals predominant genes regulating taste and nutrition.

Wax gourd, which belongs to Cucurbitaceae, is an excellent plant resource with the concomitant function of both medicine and foodstuff. Its unique taste and rich nutrition are deeply accepted by consumers. However, the main flavor and nutrients are still unclear, which restricts the quality breeding process of wax gourd.

Zbtb34 promotes embryonic stem cell proliferation by elongating telomere length.

Zbtb34 is a novel zinc finger protein, which is revealed by biological software analysis to have 3 zinc fingers, but its functions remain unknown. In this study, mouse cDNA was amplified by PCR and inserted into the plasmid pEGFP-N1 to generate Zbtb34-EGFP fusion protein. The upregulation of Zbtb34 in mouse embryonic stem cells promoted telomere elongation and increased cell proliferation.

Caffeic acid dimethyl ether alleviates alcohol-induced hepatic steatosis via microRNA-378b-mediated CaMKK2-AMPK pathway.

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD), with its increasing morbidity and mortality, has seriously and extensively affected the health of people worldwide. Caffeic Acid Dimethyl Ether (CADE) significantly inhibits alcohol-induced hepatic steatosis through AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway, but its in-depth mechanism remains unclear. This work aimed to clarify further mechanism of CADE in improving hepatic lipid accumulation in ALD through the microRNA-378b (miR-378b)-mediated Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase 2 (CaMKK2)-AMPK signaling pathway.

microRNA-378b regulates ethanol-induced hepatic steatosis by targeting CaMKK2 to mediate lipid metabolism.

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) has seriously harmed the health of people worldwide, but its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aims to clarify the biological function of microRNA-378b (miR-378b) in ethanol (EtOH)-induced hepatic lipid accumulation. Here, we report miR-378b is over-expressed in EtOH-induced cells and EtOH-fed mice and finally accelerates lipid accumulation.

Methyl ferulic acid ameliorates alcohol-induced hepatic insulin resistance via miR-378b-mediated activation of PI3K-AKT pathway.

A previous study indicated that microRNA-378b (miR-378b) plays a critical role in controlling hepatic insulin resistance by targeting insulin receptor (IR) and p110α in alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Methyl ferulic acid (MFA), a bioactive ingredient in Securidaca inappendiculata Hassk rhizomes, exhibits multiple pharmacological activities. It has been reported that MFA ameliorates insulin resistance in ALD, whereas the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear.

Characterization of Starch in Germplasms throughout Fruit Development.

Pumpkins (; Cucurbitaceae) are the rich source of nutrients and valued for their biologically active substances to be used for the treatment of several diseases. The contents, composition, and conformation of starch are the significant quality traits of . Two germplasms were targeted for analysis regarding the taste difference.

miR-378b Regulates Insulin Sensitivity by Targeting Insulin Receptor and p110α in Alcohol-Induced Hepatic Steatosis.

Insulin resistance has been implicated in alcoholic liver disease. A previous study has shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) play a major role in the production, secretion, and function of insulin. MiRNAs are capable of repressing multiple target genes that in turn negatively regulate various physiological and pathological activities.

Metabolic and transcriptomic analysis of two Cucurbita moschata germplasms throughout fruit development.

Background: Pumpkins (Cucurbita moschata; Cucurbitaceae) are valued for their fruits and seeds and are rich in nutrients. Carotenoids and sugar contents, as main feature of pumpkin pulp, are used to determine the fruit quality.

Results: Two pumpkin germplasms, CMO-X and CMO-E, were analyzed regarding the essential quality traits such as dry weight, soluble solids, organic acids, carotenoids and sugar contents.

A high-density genetic map developed by specific-locus amplified fragment (SLAF) sequencing and identification of a locus controlling anthocyanin pigmentation in stalk of Zicaitai (Brassica rapa L. ssp. chinensis var. purpurea).

Background: Caixin and Zicaitai (Brassica rapa) belong to Southern and Central China respectively. Zicaitai contains high amount of anthocyanin in leaf and stalk resulting to the purple color. Stalk is the major edible part and stalk color is an economically important trait for the two vegetables.

Methyl ferulic acid attenuates liver fibrosis and hepatic stellate cell activation through the TGF-β1/Smad and NOX4/ROS pathways.

Liver fibrosis is a pathological wound-healing response caused by chronic liver damage due to a virus, autoimmune disorder, or drugs. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) play an essential role in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. Methyl ferulic acid (MFA), a biologically active monomer, has a protective effect on liver injury.

RNA-Seq analysis of gynoecious and weak female cucumber revealing the cell cycle pathway may regulate sex determination in cucumber.

This study aims to investigate key genes involved in molecular regulatory networks of cucumber sex determination. Genome-wide high-throughput RNA sequencing was performed for young apical buds of gynoecious and weak female cucumber at three growth stages (one-leaf one-bud, three-leaf one-bud, and five-leaf one-bud). Seven comparisons from the same cultivar at three different stages and at the same stage between the two cultivars were analyzed, and the results revealed that compared with differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in weak female cucumber, more genes were upregulated at the one-leaf one-bud stage and downregulated at the three-leaf one-bud stage in gynoecious cucumber.

Methyl ferulic acid attenuates ethanol-induced hepatic steatosis by regulating AMPK and FoxO1 Pathways in Rats and L-02 cells.

Methyl ferulic acid (MFA) is a biologically active monomer extracted and purified from the Chinese herbal medicine Securidaca inappendiculata hasskarl. The previously studies showed that MFA improved acute liver injury induced by ethanol. However, the effect of MFA on ethanol-induced hepatic steatosis in alcoholic liver disease (ALD) still remains unclear.

Methyl ferulic acid exerts anti-apoptotic effects on L-02 cells via the ROS-mediated signaling pathway.

The present study aimed to investigate the anti-apoptotic effects of methyl ferulic acid (MFA) on L-02 cell apoptosis induced by ethanol, and to elucidate the possible underlying mechanisms. L-02 cells were examined after being soaked in ethanol (400 mM) to allow the ethanol to permeate into the cells for 24 h. Cell survival was measured by MTT assay.

Hepatoprotective effect of methyl ferulic acid against carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver injury in rats.

The present study aimed to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of methyl ferulic acid (MFA) against oxidative stress and apoptosis in acute liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl) in rats, as well as the underlying mechanisms. Sprague Dawley rats were treated with CCl after oral administration of MFA (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) or dimethyl diphenyl bicarboxylate (200 mg/kg) for 7 days. The hepatoprotective effects of MFA were determined by analyzing serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities as well as changes of oxidant parameters.

NOX4/ROS mediate ethanol‑induced apoptosis via MAPK signal pathway in L‑02 cells.

The aim of the present study was to assess the molecular mechanism of ethanol‑induced oxidative stress‑mediated apoptosis in L‑02 liver cells in order to elucidate novel pathways associated with alcoholic liver disease. L‑02 cells were treated with 400 mM ethanol with or without inhibitors. The cell viability was measured by an MTT assay.

A high-density linkage map and QTL mapping of fruit-related traits in pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duch.).

Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) is an economically worldwide crop. Few quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were reported previously due to the lack of genomic and genetic resources. In this study, a high-density linkage map of C.

Hepatoprotective effects of Methyl ferulic acid on alcohol-induced liver oxidative injury in mice by inhibiting the NOX4/ROS-MAPK pathway.

Aims: The present study aimed to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of Methyl ferulic acid (MFA) against oxidative stress and apoptosis as well as inflammation in mice with liver injury induced by alcohol and its underlying mechanisms.

Methods: C57BL/6 mice were divided into a control group,a model group, and Methyl ferulic acid with high dosage (20 mg/kg), moderate dosage (10 mg/kg) and low dosage (5 mg/kg) groups. The general condition and organ index of each group were investigated.

Cucumis sativus L-type lectin receptor kinase (CsLecRK) gene family response to Phytophthora melonis, Phytophthora capsici and water immersion in disease resistant and susceptible cucumber cultivars.

L-type lectin receptor kinase (LecRK) proteins are an important family involved in diverse biological processes such as pollen development, senescence, wounding, salinity and especially in innate immunity in model plants such as Arabidopsis and tobacco. Till date, LecRK proteins or genes of cucumber have not been reported. In this study, a total of 25 LecRK genes were identified in the cucumber genome, unequally distributed across its seven chromosomes.

Metabolic engineering of tomato for high-yield production of astaxanthin.

Dietary carotenoids have been shown to be beneficial to health by decreasing the risk of many diseases. Attempts to enhance carotenoids in food crops have been successful although higher plants appear to resist big changes of carotenoid biosynthesis by metabolic engineering. Here we report the generation of a more nutritious tomato by modifying the intrinsic carotenes to astaxanthin, a high-value ketocarotenoid rarely found in plants.

Stearoyl-acyl carrier protein desaturase gene from the oleaginous microalga Chlorella zofingiensis: cloning, characterization and transcriptional analysis.

The green alga Chlorella zofingiensis can accumulate high level of oleic acid (OA, C18:1â–³(9)) rich oils in response to stress conditions. To understand the regulation of biosynthesis of fatty acid in particular OA at the molecular level, we cloned and characterized the stearoyl acyl carrier protein (ACP) desaturase (SAD) responsible for OA formation through desaturation of stearic acid (C18:0) from C. zofingiensis.

Cloning and selection of carotenoid ketolase genes for the engineering of high-yield astaxanthin in plants.

β-Carotene ketolase (BKT) catalyzes the rate-limiting steps for the biosynthesis of astaxanthin. Several bkt genes have been isolated and explored to modify plant carotenoids to astaxanthin with limited success. In this study, five algal BKT cDNAs were isolated and characterized for the engineering of high-yield astaxanthin in plants.

Functional characterization of various algal carotenoid ketolases reveals that ketolating zeaxanthin efficiently is essential for high production of astaxanthin in transgenic Arabidopsis.

Extending the carotenoid pathway to astaxanthin in plants is of scientific and industrial interest. However, expression of a microbial β-carotene ketolase (BKT) that catalyses the formation of ketocarotenoids in transgenic plants typically results in low levels of astaxanthin. The low efficiency of BKTs in ketolating zeaxanthin to astaxanthin is proposed to be the major limitation for astaxanthin accumulation in engineered plants.