Amino Acids Methionine Research Articles

Why Symptoms Linger in Quiescent Crohn's Disease: Investigating the Impact of Sulfidogenic Microbes and Sulfur Metabolic Pathways.

Even in the absence of inflammation, persistent symptoms in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) are prevalent and worsen quality of life. We previously demonstrated enrichment in sulfidogenic microbes in quiescent Crohn's disease patients with (qCD + S) vs without persistent GI symptoms (qCD-S). Thus, we hypothesized that sulfur metabolic pathways would be enriched in stool while differentially abundant microbes would be associated with important sulfur metabolic pathways in qCD + S. We performed a multicenter observational study nested within SPARC IBD. Quiescent inflammation was defined by fecal calprotectin level < 150 mcg/g. Persistent symptoms were defined by CD-PRO2. Active CD (aCD) and non-IBD diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) were included as controls. Thirty-nine patients with qCD + S, 274 qCD-S, 21 aCD, and 40 IBS-D underwent paired shotgun metagenomic sequencing and untargeted metabolomic profiling. The fecal metabolome in qCD + S was significantly different relative to qCD-S and IBS-D but not aCD. Patients with qCD + S were enriched in sulfur-containing amino acid pathways, including cysteine and methionine, as well as serine, glycine, and threonine. Glutathione and nicotinate/nicotinamide pathways were also enriched in qCD + S relative to qCD-S, suggestive of mitochondrial dysfunction, a downstream target of H2S signaling. Multi-omic integration demonstrated that enriched microbes in qCD + S were associated with important sulfur metabolic pathways. Bacterial sulfur metabolic genes, including CTH, isfD, sarD, and asrC, were dysregulated in qCD + S. Finally, sulfur metabolites with and without sulfidogenic microbes showed good accuracy in predicting the presence of qCD + S. Microbial-derived sulfur pathways and downstream mitochondrial function are perturbed in qCD + S, which implicate H2S signaling in the pathogenesis of this condition. Future studies will determine whether targeting H2S pathways results in improved quality of life in qCD + S.

TMET-28. RECIPROCAL LINKS BETWEEN METHIONINE METABOLISM, DNA REPAIR AND THERAPY RESISTANCE IN GLIOBLASTOMA

Abstract Glioblastoma (GBM) is uniformly lethal due to profound treatment resistance. Altered cellular metabolism is a key mediator of GBM treatment resistance. Uptake of the essential sulfur-containing amino acid methionine is drastically elevated in GBMs compared to normal cells, however, it is not known how this methionine is utilized or whether it relates to GBM treatment resistance.Here, we find that radiation acutely increases the levels of methionine-related metabolites in a variety of treatment-resistant GBM models. Stable isotope tracing studies further revealed that radiation acutely activates methionine to S-adenosyl methionine (SAM) conversion through an active signaling event mediated by the kinases of the DNA damage response. In vivo tumor SAM synthesis increases after radiation, while normal brain SAM production remains unchanged, indicating a tumor-specific metabolic alteration to radiation. Pharmacological and dietary strategies to block methionine to SAM conversion slowed DNA damage response and increased cell death following radiation in vitro. Mechanistically, these effects are due to depletion of DNA repair proteins and are reversed by SAM supplementation. These effects are selective to GBMs lacking the methionine salvage enzyme methylthioadenosine phosphorylase. Pharmacological inhibition of SAM synthesis hindered tumor growth in flank and orthotopic in vivo GBM models when combined with radiation. By contrast, methionine depletion does not reduce tumor SAM levels and fails to radiosensitize intracranial models, indicating depleting SAM, as opposed to simply lowering methionine, is critical for hindering tumor growth in intracranial models of GBM. These results highlight a new signaling link between DNA damage and SAM synthesis and define the metabolic fates of methionine in GBM in vivo. Inhibiting radiation-induced SAM synthesis slows DNA repair and augments radiation efficacy in GBM. Using MAT2A inhibitors to deplete SAM may selectively overcome treatment resistance in GBMs with defective methionine salvage while sparing normal brain.

PEMANFAATAN KACANG TANAH UNTUK PRODUKSI SELAI KACANG COKLAT SEHAT BERGIZI

Peanuts are one of the agricultural products developed in Borisallo village. Peanuts are rich in fat (non-cholesterol), protein, carbohydrates, vitamins E, A, K and B-complex, minerals Fe, F, Ca, contain lecithin and choline, amino acids lysine, methionine and threonine, the fat content is 50% unsaturated fat, contains phytosterols that help the absorption of cholesterol and has a low glycemic index value because of its high fiber content. This activity aims to teach partners how to process peanuts into healthy and nutritious chocolate peanut butter. This activity is carried out by providing a pre-test questionnaire, followed by providing materials and training. PkM partners are given material about the nutrients contained in peanuts and their health benefits and training on how to process peanuts into healthy and nutritious chocolate peanut butter. Based on the results of the pre- and post-material questionnaires, the results obtained were an increase in partner understanding of ......%. It can be concluded that the implementation of PkM in Borisallo village, Parangloe district, Gowa Regency provides benefits for partners in utilizing peanut agricultural products into healthy, nutritious and popular food products. Keywords : Borisallo; peanut, chocolate peanut butter

Temporal profile of amino acids and protein fractions in the developing kernel of maize germplasm

Maize, the most important source of animal and poultry feed, is deficient in essential amino acid methionine. Therefore, methionine is added to the poultry feed to meet its nutritional requirements. Keeping in view, an urgent requirement exists to develop high-methionine maize. The present study was designed to understand the synthesis and accumulation pattern of methionine, lysine, tryptophan, total protein, and protein fractions in the developing maize kernel. Results revealed that methionine accumulation starts before 15 DAP and increases towards maturity. Total protein, albumin, and globulin accumulation showed a declining trend, whereas, prolamin, prolamin-like, glutelin, and glutelin-like fractions increased with kernel maturity. Methionine showed a significant positive correlation with prolamin and a negative correlation with glutelin, indicating their use as markers to select high methionine lines. Higher level accumulation of lysine, tryptophan, and methionine, the three essential amino acids deficient in maize, was observed highest in lines 174705 and 194010 indicating their use as a potential donor for developing high methionine maize genotypes. The high methionine line identified in the present study can be used in breeding programs through introgressing maize germplasm of diverse genetic backgrounds to develop high-yielding methionine-rich maize genotypes to develop a sustainable nutritive feed supply chain.

Fluorescence sensor based on Methionine-Modified silver nanoparticles located on Fe-BTC metal–organic framework (Meth-AgNPs@Fe-BTC) for trace detection of fenitrothion pesticide in aqueous samples

This research introduces a new “turn-on mode” fluorescence sensor for the detection of fenitrothion (FNT) pesticide in various samples. The sensor is constructed using a porous metal–organic framework (Fe-BTC) as a template to locate silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and methionine amino acid (Meth). Methionine acts as a bridge, facilitating the interaction between FNT and AgNPs, which subsequently results in the release of AgNPs from the composite structure. The physicochemical properties of the synthesized Meth-AgNPs@Fe-BTC composite were analyzed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and elemental mapping (MAP) analysis. The sensing system is based on tracking the fluorescence of the synthetic composite in such a way that the intensity of the fluorescence of the composite increases in the presence of different concentrations of fenitrothion (FNT). The effective parameters on the sensor signal, including composite dosage, pH, sonication and reaction time were investigated and optimized. The calibration graph, under optimal conditions, exhibited linearity in the concentration range of 2–95 nM for FNT, with a limit of detection of 1.9 nM. The suggested sensor was successfully validated by analyzing FNT in several real water samples and fruit juices. This research presents a significant technical achievement in the development of a fluorescence sensor for the detection of FNT, offering a sensitive and reliable method for environmental monitoring and public health preservation.

Effect of dietary β-mannanase supplementation on growth performance and nutrient retention in broiler chickens fed corn-soybean meal-based diets with low energy and amino acid density

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of two different β-mannanases on growth performance and nutrient retention of broiler chickens fed a diet with low energy and amino acid density. A total of 312 one-day-old male broiler chickens (Ross 308) were placed in floor pens and fed a standard starter diet for 16 days. They were then randomly moved to stainless steel cages and distributed into three groups, with 13 replicates of 8 chickens each. The control group received a corn-soybean meal-based grower diet with reduced metabolizable energy by ∼100 kcal/kg and a 10-12% reduction of digestible amino acids (lysine, methionine, and threonine). Titanium oxide was added at 0.5% of diet as an indigestible marker. The other groups were fed the same diet supplemented with either β-mannanase A derived from Thermothelomyces thermophilus (100 g β-mannanase/MT grower diet) or β-mannanase B derived from Paenibacillus lentus (350 g β-mannanase/MT grower diet). The trial lasted for 7 days from d 17 to d 23, comprising 4 days of acclimatization followed by 3 days of sample collection. Final body weight (d 23), body weight gain (d 17-23), and feed intake (d 17-23) of broiler chickens did not differ among the groups. However, both β-mannanases significantly improved the feed conversion ratio during d 17-23 (P = 0.039) and nitrogen retention (P = 0.028) in broiler chickens compared to the control group. Moreover, dietary supplementation with β-mannanase A significantly increased dry matter retention (P = 0.050), organic matter retention (P = 0.028), and nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn; P = 0.033) compared to the control group. In conclusion, supplemental β-mannanase, regardless of the product, improved the growth performance of broiler chickens by improving nutrient retention and dietary AMEn.

Metabolic engineering of the serine/glycine network as a means to improve the nitrogen content of crops.

In plants, L-serine (Ser) biosynthesis occurs through various pathways and is highly dependent on the atmospheric CO2 concentration, especially in C3 species, due to the association of the Glycolate Pathway of Ser Biosynthesis (GPSB) with photorespiration. Characterization of a second plant Ser pathway, the Phosphorylated Pathway of Ser Biosynthesis (PPSB), revealed that it is at the crossroads of carbon, nitrogen, and sulphur metabolism. The PPSB comprises three sequential reactions catalysed by 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PGDH), 3-phosphoSer aminotransferase (PSAT) and 3-phosphoSer phosphatase (PSP). PPSB was overexpressed in plants exhibiting two different modes of photosynthesis: Arabidopsis (C3 metabolism), and maize (C4 metabolism), under ambient (aCO2) and elevated (eCO2) CO2 growth conditions. Overexpression in Arabidopsis of the PGDH1 gene alone or PGDH1, PSAT1 and PSP1 in combination increased the Ser levels but also the essential amino acids threonine (aCO2), isoleucine, leucine, lysine, phenylalanine, threonine and methionine (eCO2) compared to the wild-type. These increases translated into higher protein levels. Likewise, starch levels were also increased in the PPSB-overexpressing lines. In maize, PPSB-deficient lines were obtained by targeting PSP1 using Cas9 endonuclease. We concluded that the expression of PPSB in maize male gametophyte is required for viable pollen development. Maize lines overexpressing the AtPGDH1 gene only displayed higher protein levels but not starch at both aCO2 and eCO2 conditions, this translated into a significant rise in the nitrogen/carbon ratio. These results suggest that metabolic engineering of PPSB in crops could enhance nitrogen content, particularly under upcoming eCO2 conditions where the activity of GPSB is limited.

Metabolites and Metabolism in Vascular Calcification: Links Between Adenosine Signaling and the Methionine Cycle.

The global population of individuals with cardiovascular disease is expanding, and a key risk factor for major adverse cardiovascular events is vascular calcification. The pathogenesis of cardiovascular calcification is complex and multifaceted, with external cues driving epigenetic, transcriptional, and metabolic changes that promote vascular calcification. This review provides an overview of some of the lesser understood molecular processes involved in vascular calcification and discusses the links between calcification pathogenesis and aspects of adenosine signaling and the methionine pathway; the latter of which salvages the essential amino acid methionine, but also provides the substrate critical for methylation, a modification that regulates the function and activity of DNA and proteins. We explore the complex and dynamic nature of osteogenic reprogramming underlying intimal atherosclerotic calcification and medial arterial calcification (MAC). Atherosclerotic calcification is more widely studied however emerging studies now show MAC is a significant pathology independent from atherosclerosis. Further, we emphasize metabolite and metabolic-modulating factors that influence vascular calcification pathogenesis. While the contribution of these mechanisms are more well-define in relation to atherosclerotic intimal calcification, understanding these pathways may provide crucial mechanistic insights into MAC and inform future therapeutic approaches. Herein we highlight the significance of adenosine and methyltransferase pathways as key regulators of vascular calcification pathogenesis.

Speciation studies of binary and ternary complexes formed with fe(II) ion 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid and several amino acids

The chemical speciation of ternary systems involving Fe(II), 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid (H2Dipi), and various amino acids (glycine, β-alanine, α-alanine, leucine, methionine, lysine, phenylalanine, threonine, serine, proline, valine, and histidine) was investigated in this work. Potentiometric titrations were conducted for each system in aqueous solution at 25 °C using 1 mol dm−3 NaCl solution as the ionic medium. The resulting data were analyzed using the least-squares program LETAGROP. Additionally, the binary system of Fe(II)-2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid in aqueous solution at 25 °C with NaCl 1.0 mol dm−3 as the ionic medium was also examined. Species distribution diagrams were generated, and the relative stability parameter Δlog K was calculated.

Impact of Sulfur Deficiency and Excess on the Growth and Development of Soybean Seedlings.

Sulfur is a critical element for plant growth and development, serving as a component of amino acids (cysteine and methionine), iron-sulfur clusters, proteins, glutathione, coenzymes, and auxin precursors. Deficiency or low concentrations of sulfur in the soil can lead to significant growth retardation in plants. The objective of our study was to examine the effects of sulfur (S) deficiency and excess on morphological symptoms, sulfur and nitrogen (N) metabolism, as well as antioxidant activity in soybean. We found that S starvation decreased the fine root length, biomass, and activity, and the chlorophyll content was reduced, while excess sulfur promotes lateral root growth. In contrast to sulfur excess, sulfur deficiency inhibits N and S metabolism levels in both subsurface and above-ground parts, and induced the expression of some sulfur transporters (SULTRs). In this study, we created soybean hairy root lines overexpressing the SULTR gene (GmSULTR2;1a) to observe metabolic changes following sulfur deficiency treatment. The results showed that GmSULTR2;1a saved the sulfur-deficient phenotype, and the antioxidant enzyme activity was much higher than that of the wildtype in the absence of sulfur. Our study revealed the important role of sulfur element in soybean growth and development and the regulation of sulfur deficiency by GmSULTR2;1a.

Methionine supply during mid-gestation modulates the bovine placental mTOR pathway, nutrient transporters, and offspring birth weight in a sex-specific manner.

The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) predominantly regulates the expression and activity of placental nutrient transporters. The mTOR pathway can be activated by several nutrients, including the essential amino acid methionine. Additionally, previous research in nonruminant animals suggests that mTOR is influenced in a sexually dimorphic manner. In bovine, there is limited understanding of how maternal nutrition and offspring sexual dimorphism affect the placental transfer of nutrients. Thus, we investigated the effects of increasing the supply of dietary methionine to beef cattle heifers during mid-gestation on mTOR signaling, placental nutrient transporters, and fetal growth in male and female offspring. Forty purebred Angus heifers were used in a randomized complete block design experiment. From day 90 to 180 of gestation, heifers received a basal diet with no added methionine (CON, n = 20), or the basal diet plus 8.3g of rumen-protected methionine (MET, n = 20) per animal daily. All animals received a basal diet in the first and third trimesters of gestation. Cotyledonary tissue samples were collected at parturition and utilized to examine the mTOR pathway and nutrient transporters through protein and gene expression analysis. The offspring's body weight was measured at birth. Data were analyzed using a mixed model that included the fixed effect of treatment, offspring sex, their interactions, and the random effect of block. At day 170 of gestation, MET-supplemented heifers showed higher plasma concentrations of methionine and glutamate (P < 0.01) and lower glycine and proline levels (P ≤ 0.01) compared to the CON group. A treatment × sex interaction was observed for calf birth weight (P = 0.03). In heifers that delivered male calves, MET supplementation increased the birth weight of the calves (P < 0.01). However, the dietary treatments had no effect on the birth weight of female calves (P = 0.32). The increase in birth weight of male calves from MET-fed heifers resembles with the upregulation of placental mTOR and phosphorylated mTOR (P ≤ 0.03), as well as the amino acid transporters SLC1A5, SLC7A5, SLC38A6, and SLC38A11, and the glucose transporters SLC2A1 and SLC2A8 (P ≤ 0.05). Our findings suggest that increasing the supply of methionine to beef heifers during mid-gestation can modulate placental nutrient transport and fetal growth in a sex-dependent manner and that these effects are mediated, at least in part, by the mTOR pathway.

The methionine cycle and its cancer implications.

The essential amino acid methionine is a crucial regulator of sulfur metabolism in a variety of interconnected biochemical pathways. The methionine cycle is intricately linked to the folate cycle, forming the one-carbon metabolism, a crucial regulator of S-adenosylmethionine, SAM. Recent work highlights methionine's critical role in tumor growth and progression, maintaining polyamine synthesis, and playing a crucial role in the regulation of SAM both in altered chromatin states, depending on p53 status, as well as facilitating m6A methylation of NR4A2 mRNA, hence regulating proliferation in esophageal carcinoma. Accordingly, Celecoxib, a specific NR4A2 inhibitor, is a potentially powerful inhibitor of tumor growth at least in this specific model. Additionally, formaldehyde, from endogenous or exogenous sources, can directly regulate both SAM steady-state-levels and the one-carbon metabolism, with relevant implication in cancer progression. These recent scientific advancements have provided a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in cancer development, and its potential therapeutic regulation.

Citric Acid by-Product Fermentation by Bacillus subtilis I9: A Promising Path to Sustainable Animal Feed

Citric acid by-products in animal feed pose a sustainability challenge. Bacillus species are commonly used for fermenting and improving the nutritional quality of feedstuffs or by-products. An experiment was conducted to enhance the nutritional value of citric acid by-products through fermentation with Bacillus subtilis I9 for animal feed. The experiment was carried out in 500 mL Erlenmeyer flasks with 50 g of substrate and 200 mL of sterile water. Groups were either uninoculated or inoculated with B. subtilis I9 at 107 CFU/mL. Incubation occurred at 37 °C with automatic shaking at 150 rpm under aerobic conditions for 0, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h. Inoculation with B. subtilis I9 significantly increased Bacillus density to 9.3 log CFU/mL at 24 h (p &lt; 0.05). CMCase activity gradually increased, reaching a maximum of 9.77 U/mL at 72 h. After 96 h of fermentation with inoculated B. subtilis I9, the citric acid by-product exhibited a significant decrease (p &lt; 0.05) in crude fiber by 10.86%, hemicellulose by 20.23%, and cellulose by 5.98%, but an increase in crude protein by 21.89%. Gross energy decreased by 4% after inoculation with B. subtilis in comparison to the uninoculated control (p &lt; 0.05). Additionally, the non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) degradation due to inoculation with B. subtilis I9 significantly reduced (p &lt; 0.05) NSP by 24.37%, while galactose, glucose, and uronic acid decreased by 22.53%, 32.21%, and 18.11%, respectively. Amino acid profile content increased significantly by more than 12% (p &lt; 0.05), including indispensable amino acids such as histidine, isoleucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, and valine and dispensable amino acids like alanine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, proline, and tyrosine. Furthermore, citric acid by-products inoculated with B. subtilis I9 exhibited changes in the cell wall structure under scanning electron microscopy, including fragmentation and cracking. These results suggest that fermenting citric acid by-products with B. subtilis I9 effectively reduces dietary fiber content and improves the nutritional characteristics of citric acid by-products for use in animal feed.

An Estimation of the Requirements of the Standardized Ileal Digestible Tryptophan, Valine, Isoleucine and Methionine on Young Pigs’ (Up to 50 kg) Feed Efficiency: A Meta-Regression Analysis

Currently, the NRC amino acid (AA) requirements for pigs published in 2012 are used as a reference in variable swine industries. However, recent results in several articles suggest that the standardized ileal digestible (SID) AA–lysine (Lys) ratio significantly evolved over the last two decades, while some publications report inconsistent outcomes. Therefore, the present study used a meta-regression analysis to assess the relative ratio to lysine to maximize the feed efficiency of four essential amino acids (tryptophan, valine, isoleucine, and methionine) in pig diets. According to the PRISMA guidelines, articles examining the target AA requirement using a basal diet supplemented with varying levels of crystalline AA (tryptophan, valine, isoleucine, or methionine) were identified across Scopus, PubMed, and Science Direct. As a result, 23, 22, 16, and 9 articles using tryptophan, valine, isoleucine, and methionine were selected and categorized into experiments for inclusion in our meta-analysis. The results suggested that the requirements of tryptophan, valine, isoleucine, and methionine in our meta-regression analysis were superior to NRC recommendations, regardless of the regression models and the growth phases with significant RSQ values (RSQ ≈ 1). Also, the QUAD and CLP regression models emphasized higher requirements than the LP model for the great majority of amino acids and growth phases. The results of the QUAD and CLP models were selected as estimations of the amino acid requirements for pigs under challenged conditions, whereas the LP model was chosen to estimate the amino acid requirements of genetically improved pigs under a modern housing system. The results of this meta-regression analysis could be used to refresh the information on the NRC amino acids (AA) requirements for swine.

Assembly and functional profile of rhizosphere microbial community during the Salix viminalis-AMF remediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon polluted soils

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are positive to the phytoremediation by improving plant biomass and soil properties. However, the role of AM plants to the remediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is yet to be widely recognized, and the impact of AM plants to indigenous microbial communities during remediation remains unclear. In this work, a 90-day study was conducted to assess the effect of AMF-Salix viminalis on the removal of PAHs, and explore the impact to the microbial community composition, abundance, and function. Results showed that AMF-Salix viminalis effectively enhanced the removal of benzo[a]pyrene, and enriched more PAH-degrading bacteria, consisting of Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi, Sphingomonas, and Stenotrophobacter, as well as fungi including Basidiomycota, Pseudogymnoascus, and Tomentella. For gene function, AM willow enhanced the enrichment of genes involved in amino acid synthesis, aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, and cysteine and methionine metabolism pathways. F. mosseae inoculation had a greater effect on alpha- and beta-diversity of microbial genes at 90 d. Additionally, AMF inoculation significantly increased the soil microbial biomass carbon and organic matter concentration. All together, the microbial community assembly and function shaped by AM willow promoted the dissipation of PAHs. Our results support the effectiveness of AM remediation and contribute to reveal the enhancing-remediation mechanism to PAHs using multi-omics data.

BioMOF@PAN Mixed Matrix Membranes as Fast and Efficient Adsorbing Materials for Multiple Heavy Metals' Removal.

Heavy metal ions are a common source of water pollution. In this study, two novel membranes with biobased metal-organic frameworks (BioMOFs) embedded in a polyacrylonitrile matrix with tailored porosity were prepared via nonsolvent induced phase separation methods and designed to efficiently adsorb heavy metal ions from oligomineral water. Under optimized preparation conditions, stable membranes with high MOF loading up to 50 wt % and a cocontinuous sponge-like morphology and a high water permeability of 50-60 L m-2 h-1 bar-1 were obtained. The tortuous flow path in combination with a low water flow rate guarantees maximum contact time between the fluid and the MOFs, and thus a high heavy metal capture efficiency in a single pass. The performances of these BioMOF@PAN membranes were investigated in the dynamic regime for the simultaneous removal of Pb2+, Cd2+, and Hg2+ heavy metals from aqueous environments in the presence of common interfering ions. The new composite adsorbing membranes are capable of reducing the concentration of heavy metal pollutants in a single pass and at much higher efficiency than previously reported membranes. The enhanced performance of the mixed matrix membranes is attributed to the presence of multiple recognition sites which densely decorate the BioMOF channels: (i) the thioether groups, deriving from the S-methyl-l-cysteine and (S)-methionine amino acid residues, able to recognize and capture Pb2+ and Hg2+ ions and (ii) the oxygen atoms of the oxamate moieties, which preferentially interact with Cd2+ ions, as revealed by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The flexibility of the pore environments allows these sites to work synergically for the simultaneous capture of different metal ions. The stability of the membranes for a potential regeneration process, a key-factor for the effective feasibility of the process in real life applications, was also evaluated and confirmed less than 1% capacity loss in each cycle.

Why Symptoms Linger in Quiescent Crohn's Disease: Investigating the Impact of Sulfidogenic Microbes and Sulfur Metabolic Pathways.

Even in the absence of inflammation, persistent symptoms in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) are prevalent and worsen quality of life. We previously demonstrated enrichment in sulfidogenic microbes in quiescent Crohn's disease patients with ( qCD+S ) vs. without persistent GI symptoms ( qCD-S ). Thus, we hypothesized that sulfur metabolic pathways would be enriched in stool while differentially abundant microbes would be associated with important sulfur-metabolic pathways in qCD+S. We performed a multi-center observational study nested within SPARC IBD. Quiescent inflammation was defined by fecal calprotectin level <150 mcg/g. Persistent symptoms were defined by CD-PRO2. Active CD ( aCD ) and non-IBD diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome ( IBS-D ) were included as controls. Thirty-nine patients with qCD+S, 274 qCD-S, 21 aCD, and 40 IBS-D underwent paired shotgun metagenomic sequencing and untargeted metabolomic profiling. The fecal metabolome in qCD+S was significantly different relative to qCD-S and IBS-D but not aCD. Patients with qCD+S were enriched in sulfur-containing amino acid pathways, including cysteine and methionine, as well as serine, glycine, and threonine. Glutathione and nicotinate/nicotinamide pathways were also enriched in qCD+S relative to qCD-S, suggestive of mitochondrial dysfunction, a downstream target of H 2 S signaling. Multi-omic integration demonstrated that enriched microbes in qCD+S were associated with important sulfur-metabolic pathways. Bacterial sulfur-metabolic genes, including CTH , isfD , sarD , and asrC , were dysregulated in qCD+S. Finally, sulfur metabolites with and without sulfidogenic microbes showed good accuracy in predicting presence of qCD+S. Microbial-derived sulfur pathways and downstream mitochondrial function are perturbed in qCD+S, which implicate H 2 S signaling in the pathogenesis of this condition. Future studies will determine whether targeting H 2 S pathways results in improved quality of life in qCD+S. What is Already Known Even in the absence of inflammation, persistent gastrointestinal symptoms are common in Crohn's disease.The microbiome is altered in quiescent Crohn's disease patients with persistent symptoms, but the functional significance of these changes is unknown. What is New Here Sulfur metabolites and sulfur metabolic pathways were enriched in stool in quiescent Crohn's disease patients with persistent symptoms.Multi-omic integration showed enriched microbes were associated with important sulfur metabolic pathways in quiescent Crohn's disease patients with persistent symptoms. How Can This Study Help Patient Care Strategies to decrease sulfidogenic microbes and associated sulfur metabolic pathways could represent a novel strategy to improve quality of life in quiescent Crohn's disease with persistent GI symptoms.

Effect of different nitrogen source and Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain on volatile sulfur compounds and their sensory effects in chardonnay wine

Three commercial Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains with low, medium, and high H2S-producing capacity were chosen to investigate the effect of yeast assimilable nitrogen (YAN) levels and composition on volatile compounds in a chemically defined medium, specifically high, medium, and low initial YAN levels with varying proportions of DAP or sulfur-containing amino acids (cysteine and methionine). The results revealed that the initial YAN containing a larger proportion of diammonium phosphate resulted in a higher YAN consumption rate during the early stages of fermentation. The yeast strain had a greater effect on the volatiles than the YAN level and composition. Keeping the total YAN constant, a higher proportion of sulfur-containing amino acids resulted in a considerably higher production of 3-methylthiopropanol. The sensory impact of three key volatile sulfur compounds was investigated in a Chardonnay wine matrix, indicating that 3-methylthiopropanol at subthreshold or greater concentrations was effective in enhancing the cantaloupe aroma.

Heat of Dilution and Racemization of Chiral Amino Acid Solutions

Chiral interactions play a crucial role in both chemistry and biology. Understanding the behavior of chiral molecules and their interactions with other molecules is essential, and chiral interactions in solutions are particularly important for studying chiral compounds. Chirality influences the physical and chemical properties of molecules, including solubility, reactivity, and biological activity. In this work, we used isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), a powerful technique for studying molecular interactions, including chiral interactions in solutions. We conducted a series of ITC measurements to investigate the heat of dilution and the heat of racemization of several amino acids (Asparagine, Histidine, Serine, Alanine, Methionine, and Phenylalanine). We also performed ITC measurements under different solute concentrations and temperatures to examine the effects of these parameters on chiral interactions, as well as the heat of dilution and racemization. The results of our measurements indicated that the heat of dilution, specifically the interactions between the solvent (water) and solute (chiral molecules), had a significant impact compared to the chiral interactions in the solution, which were found to be negligible. This suggests that the interactions between chiral molecules and the solvent play a more dominant role in determining the overall behavior and properties of the system. By studying chiral interactions in solutions, we can gain valuable insights into the behavior of chiral compounds, which can have implications in various fields, including drug design, chemical synthesis, and biological processes.

Analysis of genetic variability for nutritional quality traits among maize inbreds adapted to Punjab: A North‐Western province of India

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesThe deficiency of essential amino acids such as methionine, lysine, and tryptophan in maize protein presents a significant challenge in meeting nutritional demand. Comprehensive evaluation of maize germplasm for variability of essential amino acids, protein content, starch content, and β‐carotene contents in grains, along with their relationships with yield and its associated traits, is a prerequisite for strengthening genetic enhancement for nutritional traits. Thus, the current study presents the profiling of 60 maize inbred lines across 11 nutritional quality and yield, aiming to identify variability in these traits and potential donor candidates for commercial breeding.FindingsThe test inbreds exhibited significant variations in the content of grain methionine (0.04%–0.28%), tryptophan (0.019%–0.069%), lysine (0.063%–0.318%), protein (9.31%–11.80%), starch (58.32%–70.88%), and β‐carotene (2.38 ppm–6.79 ppm). Additionally, variations were noted in grain yield (0.87–2.52 t ha−1). Inter‐relationship analyses suggested the feasibility of simultaneous selection of essential amino acids (methionine, tryptophan, lysine) and β‐carotene. The germplasm stock was clustered, and potential diverse donors identified were recommended for utilization in breeding programs. Furthermore, the use of Attenuated Total Reflectance‐Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR‐FTIR) spectroscopy for screening high methionine and high lysine lines in large germplasm based on differences in peak intensity at 2922 cm−1 and 1110 cm−1 was reported, respectively.ConclusionsThe multilocation experiment revealed genetic diversity in both nutritional quality and yield across the 60 inbreds. The absence of a negative correlation between the amino acids and β‐carotene indicates the possibility of the development of hybrids with elevated essential amino‐acid levels combined with high β‐carotene content.Significance and NoveltyThis is the first holistic report on the variability of nutritional quality traits coupled with yield in maize germplasm. Identified nutrient‐rich inbreds will serve as valuable germplasm in maize biofortification programs. AT‐FTIR is proposed as an easy screening technique and the first report, which can be employed for the initial screening of a large set of germplasm for methionine and lysine content.