Palmitic Research Articles

Inhibition of the miR-1914-5p increases the oxidative metabolism in cellular model of steatosis by modulating the Sirt1-PGC-1α pathway and systemic cellular activity

Metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is considered an indicator of metabolic syndrome, which affects millions of people around the world and no effective treatment is currently available. MAFLD involves a wide spectrum of liver damage, that initiates from steatosis (fatty live) and may progress to more complex pathophysiology. Then, details in lipid metabolism controlling should be explored aiming to control the fatty liver. In this context, the miR-1914-5p can be considered a potential biotechnology tool to control lipid metabolism in hepatic cells. This miRNA finds potential mRNA binding sequences in more than 100 molecules correlated with energy production and lipid metabolism pointed in bioinformatic platforms. The present study addressed the miR-1914-5p effects in hepatic HepG2/LX-2 co-cultured cells in a in vitro steatotic environment stablished by the addition of 400 μM of a mixture of oleic and palmitic acids. The analyses demonstrated that the inhibition of the miRNA reduced energetic metabolites such as total lipids, triglycerides, cholesterol and even glucose. In addition, the miR-inhibitor-transfected cells did not present any deleterious effect in cellular environment by controlling reactive oxygen species production (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and even the pro-inflammatory environment. Moreover, the functional effect of the investigated miR, suggested its close connection to the modulation of Sirt-1-PGC1-α pathway, a master switch metabolic route that controlls cellular energetic metabolism. Our assays also suggested a synergistic effect of this miR-1914-5p in cell metabolism, which should be considered as a strong candidate to control steatotic environment in future clinical trials.

Estimation of the digestible energy value of fat obtained from black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) for growing pigs

ABSTRACT An experiment was conducted to determine the digestible energy (DE) of insect fat (IF) from black soldier fly larvae (BSLF) for growing pigs. Saturated fatty acids (SFA) were the dominant group of fatty acids in the IF, with lauric acid (C12:0) and palmitic acid (C16:0) comprising the greatest concentrations in this group. Linoleic acids (C18:2) and oleic acids (C18:1) were the main unsaturated fatty acids. The IF contained 37.63 MJ/kg gross energy and 2.55 g/kg nitrogen. During the experiment, a DE bioassay was performed wherein growing pigs were fed one of the two experimental diets (either a maize–wheat–barley–soy basal diet or a diet containing 50 g/kg IF plus 950 g/kg of the basal diet). The DE of the IF was calculated based on the differences between the DE values of basal and test diet (substitution method). The DE of the IF was determined to be 36.86 MJ/kg. The IF contains a DE level comparable to vegetable oils, including soybean, rapeseed, corn and palm oils. The results showed that the examined fat from BSLF is a good source of available energy and can be incorporated in pig diets as an alternative energy source.

Palmitic Acid Induced a Dedifferentiation Profile at the Transcriptome Level: A Collagen Synthesis but no Triglyceride Accumulation in Hepatocyte-Like Cells Derived From Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Cultivated Inside Organ on a Chip.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the main causes of critical liver diseases leading to steatosis, steatohepatitis, fibrosis, and ultimately to liver cirrhosis and hepatic carcinoma. In this study, the effect of palmitic acid (PA), one of the most abundant dietary fatty acids, was investigated using an organ-on-a-chip (OoC) technology on hepatocyte-like cells derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). After 1 week of hepatic maturation, followed by 1 week of exposure, the transcriptomic analysis showed lower liver transcription factor activity. It also revealed that 318 genes were differentially expressed between the control and 0.5-mM PA conditions. The 0.5-mM PA conditions were characterized by the downregulation of hepatic markers (liver transcription factors, phase I and phase II metabolism genes) of lipidic genes (metabolism and transport). In parallel, the 0.5-mM PA treatment upregulated several extracellular matrix genes (such as collagen genes). The physiopathological staining demonstrated no lipid accumulation in our model and confirmed the secretion of collagen in the 0.5-mM PA conditions. However, the production of albumin, the metabolic biotransformation by the cytochrome P450 enzymes, and the biliary acid concentrations were not altered by the PA treatments. Overall, our data illustrated the response to PA characterized by an early stage of dedifferentiation observed at the transcriptomic levels associated with a modification of the collagenic profile but without lipid accumulation. We believe that our model provides new insight of the onset of palmitic lipotoxicity in the early stage of NAFLD.

Effect of Dietary Olive Leaf Integration on Qualitative Characteristics of Sheep Cheese During Ripening

Olive leaf by-products may be an important feed source for ruminants in the Mediterranean area, due to their nutritional value and high levels of functional metabolites. Additionally, their use can enhance the environmental and economic sustainability of the productions. To evaluate the effect of olive leaf supplementation on the fatty acid profile of sheep cheese, two farms with Comisana breed sheep with free access to pasture and fedwith 300 g/head/day of concentrate were considered. One farm supplemented the feed with clover hay ad libitum (NOL) and the other farm replaced hay with olive leaves (OLI) in the autumn period. Cheese analyses were performed at 15, 30, and 60 days of ripening. Saturated fatty acids were lower in OLI cheese than NOL cheese, while MUFA and PUFA n-3 and n-6 were higher in OLI cheese. Myristic acid (C14:0) and palmitic acid (C16:0) were lower in OLI cheese compared to NOL (8.31% vs. 8.90% and 21.52% vs. 24.95%, respectively), while oleic acid (C18:1 cis-9) was higher in OLI cheese (20.66% vs. 18.78%). Also, CLA cis-9 trans-11 (0.98% vs. 0.84%), and other isomers were higher in OLI cheese. Health indexes, such as the thrombogenic and atherogenic index, were lower in OLI than in NOL cheese (1.96 vs. 2.38 and 1.69 vs. 2.05, respectively) showing the improvement in the health quality of cheese due to olive leaf integration in directly on farm sheep feeding.

Exploring the lipids, carotenoids, and vitamins content of Rhodotorula glutinis with selenium supplementation under lipid accumulating and growth proliferation conditions

BackgroundRhodotorula glutinis, a specific type of yeast, has been recognised as a superior resource for generating selenium-enriched biomass that possesses exceptional nutritional and functional attributes. The purpose of this investigation was to assess the effect of sodium selenite at different concentrations on lipid and carotenoid synthesis, as well as the growth of R. glutinis.MethodsThe lipid’s fatty acid composition was determined using gas chromatography (GC). The vitamins were detected by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Transmission electron microscopy was used to detect the structural modification of yeast cells caused by the addition of sodium selenite to the growth medium, as well as the accumulation of elemental selenium in the yeast cells.ResultsThe yeast cells demonstrated the ability to endure high concentrations of sodium selenite under lipid accumulation (LAM) and growth-promoting (YPD) conditions. 25.0 mM and 30.0 mM, respectively, were published as the IC50 values for the LAM and YPD conditions. In both growth media, 1 mM sodium selenite boosted lipid synthesis. Lipid accumulation increased 26% in LAM to 11.4 g/l and 18% in YPD to 4.3 g/l. Adding 1 mM and 3 mM sodium selenite to YPD medium increased total and cellular carotenoids by 22.8% (646.7 µg/L and 32.12 µg/g) and 48.7% (783.3 µg/L and 36.43 µg/g), respectively. Palmitic acid was identified as the most abundant fatty acid in all treatments, followed by oleic acid and linoleic acid. The concentrations of water soluble vitamins (WSV) and fat soluble vitamins (FSV) were generally significantly increased after supplementation with 1.0 mM sodium selenite. TEM examination revealed a significant reduction in lipid bodies accumulation in the yeast cells when sodium selenite was added to lipid-promoting environments. This decline is accompanied by an augmentation in the formation of peroxisomes, indicating that selenium has a direct impact on the degradation of fatty acids. In addition, autophagy appears to be the primary mechanism by which selenium ions are detoxified. Additionally, intracellular organelles disintegrate, cytoplasmic vacuolization occurs, and the cell wall and plasma membrane rupture, resulting in the discharge of cytoplasmic contents, when a high concentration of sodium selenite (20.0 mM) is added. Also, the presence of numerous electron-dense granules suggests an intracellular selenium-detoxification pathway.ConclusionThis study proposes the use of YPD with 1 mM sodium selenite to cultivate selenium-enriched biomass from R. glutinis. This approach leads to heightened lipid levels with higher accumulation of oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids, carotenoids, and vitamins. Hence, this biomass has the potential to be a valuable additive for animal, fish, and poultry feed. Furthermore, explain certain potential factors that indicate the impact of selenium in reducing the accumulation of lipid droplets in R. glutinis during lipogenesis, as detected through TEM examination.

Dichloroacetate, a pyruvate dehydrogenase activator, alleviates high-fat-induced impairment of myogenic differentiation in skeletal muscles.

Obesity-induced impairment of myogenic differentiation leads to muscle loss and sarcopenia. Pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) plays a crucial role in glucose metabolism and is associated with muscle differentiation. However, the effect of dichloroacetate (DCA), a PDH activator, on obesity-induced impairment of myogenic differentiation remains unknown. Here, we evaluated the effects of DCA treatment on high-fat intake-induced impairment of myogenic differentiation in C2C12 cells and C57BL/6 mice. In C2C12 cells, DCA treatment improved PDH activity that was reduced by palmitate (PAL) and decreased the lactate concentrations in the media. Additionally, DCA reversed PAL- and high-fat diet (HFD)-induced decrease in the expression of myoblast determination protein 1 (MyoD), myogenin (MyoG) and myosin heavy chain (MyHC) in C2C12 cells and C57BL/6 mice. To explore the possible mechanism, DCA treatment restored the levels of p-Akt, p-FoxO1, p-FoxO3a and p-p38 MAPK levels in PAL-treated C2C12 cells. Moreover, the protective effects of DCA were reversed by treatment with the Akt inhibitor MK2206 in C2C12 cells. In summary, DCA treatment alleviated high-fat intake-induced impairment of myogenic differentiation via Akt signalling, suggesting its potential in treating obesity-associated muscle loss and sarcopenia.

Fatty Acid Profiling in Greek Wines by Liquid Chromatography–High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (LC-HRMS)

In recent years, the interest in lipids present in wines has increased, because these natural components, even at low or very low concentrations, play an important role in wine evolution and quality and contribute substantially to the taste and mouthfeel of wines. Herein, we present a liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) method for the profiling of free fatty acids (FFAs) in wines. The method is fast and allows the simultaneous determination of twenty-seven saturated and unsaturated FFAs in wine samples, avoiding any prior derivatization step. After validation, a variety of white and rose commercial wine samples from the Greek market, either sparkling or non-sparkling, were analyzed by the present method. The majority of wine FFAs are saturated long aliphatic, in particular palmitic (C16:0) and stearic (C18:0) acids, followed by myristic (C14:0) and pentadecanoic (C15:0) acids, while oleic (C18:1), palmitoleic (C16:1) and linoleic (C18:2) acids were quantified among the unsaturated FAs. The medium-chain C6:0 and the unsaturated C16:1 and C18:2 acids were found at higher concentrations in rose wines compared to white.

Growth performance and enzymatic activities in monosex tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) supplemented with Najas indica along with the compound identification of the extracts.

Recent research has looked at various macroalgae species as dietary components or feed additives for a variety of fish species due to their nutritional value. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of Najas indica, a macroalgae extract, on the growth performance, proximate composition, and metabolic activities of monosex tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), while also isolating the compounds present. Three distinct solvents (n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol) were used to extract bioactive compounds from a coarse powder of macroalgae after drying and grinding, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was used to detect bioactive compounds. The extracts were combined with commercial feed (0.4%) and applied to the treatment with three replications and a control containing 50 fingerlings per tank for 5 weeks. The findings indicated a significant increase in the final weight, weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), and survival rate among the treated fish, whereas the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was observed to decrease in comparison to the control group. Significantly higher levels of protein and lipids were found in treated fish, whereas moisture and ash levels were significantly lower compared to control fish. In treated fish, the digestive enzyme amylase was significantly higher, but the protease enzyme reduced significantly. The antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) was significantly higher in the treatment group, whereas the catalase (CAT) enzyme did not differ significantly. A total of 47 bioactive compounds were identified in N. indica, among which the prominent compounds included n-hexadecanoic acid, neophytadiene, phytyl palmitate, d-mannitol, and heptanoic acid. The results obtained from this study indicate that the utilization of N. indica macroalgae extract has the potential to serve as an additional dietary component, therefore, enhancing the growth performance and metabolic functions of fish.

Daphnetin ameliorates hepatic steatosis by suppressing peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG) in ob/ob mice

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the predominant metabolic liver disorder and currently lacks effective and safe pharmaceutical interventions. Daphnetin (DA), a natural coumarin derivative with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, is a promising agent for NAFLD treatment. In this study, we evaluated the effects and mechanisms of DA on hepatic lipid metabolism in ob/ob mice. Our results showed that DA effectively ameliorates glucose metabolism and hepatic lipid accumulation in ob/ob mice. Metabolomics and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), combined with GEO data analysis, suggest that DA primarily modulates the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG) pathway, as validated in vivo in ob/ob mice. Mechanistically, DA selectively targets PPARG in hepatic cells by inhibiting PPARG promoter activity and downregulating its expression, resulting in decreased transcription of downstream lipid metabolism-related genes, including fatty acid binding protein 4 (Fabp4), cluster of differentiation 36 (Cd36), and fatty acid synthase (Fasn). This effect was abolished in PPARG-deficient HepG2 cells subjected to palmitic acid (PA) insult. Our findings provide evidence that DA acts as a selective suppressor of hepatic PPARG, suggesting an attractive strategy by targeting PPARG for the prevention of hepatic steatosis.

Activation of lysosomal Ca2+ channels mitigates mitochondrial damage and oxidative stress.

Elevated levels of plasma-free fatty acids and oxidative stress have been identified as putative primary pathogenic factors in endothelial dysfunction etiology, though their roles are unclear. In human endothelial cells, we found that saturated fatty acids (SFAs)-including the plasma-predominant palmitic acid (PA)-cause mitochondrial fragmentation and elevation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. TRPML1 is a lysosomal ROS-sensitive Ca2+ channel that regulates lysosomal trafficking and biogenesis. Small-molecule agonists of TRPML1 prevented PA-induced mitochondrial damage and ROS elevation through activation of transcriptional factor EB (TFEB), which boosts lysosome biogenesis and mitophagy. Whereas genetically silencing TRPML1 abolished the protective effects of TRPML1 agonism, TRPML1 overexpression conferred a full resistance to PA-induced oxidative damage. Pharmacologically activating the TRPML1-TFEB pathway was sufficient to restore mitochondrial and redox homeostasis in SFA-damaged endothelial cells. The present results suggest that lysosome activation represents a viable strategy for alleviating oxidative damage, a common pathogenic mechanism of metabolic and age-related diseases.

Isolation, identification, characterization and in vitro assay of saline tolerant endophytes against groundnut root rot caused by Rhizoctonia bataticola (Taub.) Butler

Groundnut, known as Arachis hypogaea L., is India's significant oil seed crop. Dry root rot, caused by Rhizoctonia bataticola, poses a substantial challenge to cultivating groundnuts. During the roving survey, 60.50% dry root rot disease incidence was recorded in Namakkal district, Tamil Nadu. This study aims to acquire salt-tolerant endophytic bacteria residing in groundnuts with significant antagonistic activity against R. bataticola. A total of 27 bacterial strains were isolated from groundnuts. Among these strains, RMV 3 and RMV 2 are the most effective isolates, exhibiting 60.1% and 50% inhibition zones, respectively. The effective isolates were characterized through morphological, biochemical and phytostimulation activities and 16S rDNA sequencing. Among the isolates, RMV 3 and RMV 2 showed positive results for siderophore, indole acetic acid (IAA) and cellulase test. The strain RMV 3 was identified as Bacillus subtilis through 16S rDNA sequencing. GC-MS analysis identified twenty bioactive compounds produced by B. subtilis RMV 3, such as pyrrolo [12-a] pyrazine-14-dione hexahydro-3 (2-methylpropyl) and hexadecanoic acid methyl ester. The crude metabolite assay demonstrated a 96.6% inhibition of R. bataticola by RMV 3. This study demonstrated that Bacillus subtilis RMV 3, which exhibits a robust antagonistic effect on R. bataticola, can potentially be an effective biocontrol agent for groundnut dry root rot.

Analysis of Different Strains Fermented Douchi by GC×GC-TOFMS and UPLC–Q-TOFMS Omics Analysis

Douchi is a kind of soybean-fermented food in China. To explore the common and differential compounds in different Douchi, Douchi was fermented by Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus arrhizus, and Bacillus circulans, respectively, and co-fermented by the three strains in this study. The common and characteristic flavor compounds and common and characteristic non-volatile components of different strains of fermented Douchi were explored through GC×GC-TOFMS and UPLC–Q-TOFMS omics analysis. The result suggested that Pyrazines, ketones, and alkenes such as tetramethyl-pyrazine, 2,5-dimethyl pyrazine, furaneol, 2,3-butanedione, gamma-terpinene might contribute to the basic flavor of the Douchi fermented by A. niger, R. arrhizus, and B. circulans. Peptides, amines, and flavonoids, such as N–acetylhistamine, 7,3′,4′–trihydroxyflavone, (3S,8As)-3-isobutylhexahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine-1,4-dione might contribute to the basic function of the above three Douchi. The common metabolic pathways involved in the fermentation were isoflavonoid biosynthesis, flavonoid biosynthesis, etc. Ketones and esters such as 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-4H-pyran-4-one, 3-octanone, 5-methylfurfural and nonanal contributed to the unique flavor, while betaine, oleanolic acid, saikosaponin D and leucine might contribute to the unique function of A. niger fermented Douchi. Alkenes, pyrazine, and ketones such as α-terpinene, ethyl-pyrazine, dihydro-3-methyl-2(3H)-furanone, and linalool might contribute to unique flavor, while cordycepin, 2-Phenylacetamide might contributed to the unique function of R. arrhizus fermented Douchi. The unique flavor of B. circulans fermented Douchi might derived from ketones and esters such as 3-acetyl-2-butanone, 2-tridecanone, propionic acid-2-phenylethyl ester, while vitexin, astragalin, and phenethylamine might contribute to the unique function. Compared with single-strain fermented Douchi, the flavor substances and non-volatile components in multi-strain fermented Douchi were more abundant, such as hexadecanoic acid methyl ester, benzeneacetic acid ethyl ester, 9,12-octadecadienoic acid ethyl ester, nuciferine, and erucamide. It was speculated that there were common and differential substances in Douchi fermented by Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus arrhizus, and Bacillus circulans, which might contribute to the basic and unique flavor and function. Compared with single-strain fermented Douchi, the flavor substances and metabolites in multi-strain fermented Douchi were more abundant. This study provided a reference for the research of flavor and functional substances of Douchi.

Causal Effects of Gut Microbiota on Gout and Hyperuricemia: Insights from Genome-Wide Mendelian Randomization, RNA-Sequencing, 16S rRNA Sequencing, and Metabolomes.

This study investigated the causal relationship between gut microbiota (GM), serum metabolome, and host transcriptome in the development of gout and hyperuricemia (HUA) using genome-wide association studies (GWAS) data and HUA mouse model experiments. &#160;Methods: Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis of GWAS summary statistics was performed using an inverse variance weighted (IVW) approach to determine predict the causal role of the gut microbiota on gout. The HUA mouse model was used to characterize changes in the gut microbiome, host metabolome, and host kidney transcriptome by integrating cecal 16S rRNA sequencing, untargeted serum metabolomics, and host mRNA sequencing.</p> &#160;Results: Our analysis demonstrated causal effects of seven gut microbiota taxa on gout, including genera of Ruminococcus, Odoribacter, and Bacteroides. Thirty-eight, immune cell traits were associated with gout. Dysbiosis of Dubosiella, Lactobacillus,Bacteroides, Alloprevotella, and Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group genera were associated with changes in the serum metabolites and kidney transcriptome of the HUA model mice. The changes in the gut microbiome of the HUA model mice correlated significantly with alterations in the levels of serum metabolites such as taurodeoxycholic acid, phenylacetylglycine, vanylglycol, methyl hexadecanoic acid, carnosol, 6-aminopenicillanic acid, sphinganine, p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, pyridoxamine, and de-o-methylsterigmatocystin, and expression of kidney genes such as CNDP2, SELENOP, TTR, CAR3, SLC12A3, SCD1, PIGR, CD74, MFSD4B5, and NAPSA.</p> &#160;Conclusion: Our study demonstrated a causal relationship between GM, immune cells, and gout. HUA development involved alterations in the vitamin B6 metabolism because of gut microbiota dysbiosis that resulted in altered pyridoxamine and pyridoxal levels, dysregulated sphingolipid metabolism, and excessive inflammation.</p>.

Neuroprotective effect of neuron-specific deletion of the C16 ceramide synthetic enzymes in an animal model of multiple sclerosis.

Ceramide C16 is a sphingolipid detected at high levels in several neurodegenerative disorders, including multiple sclerosis (MS). It can be generated de novo or from the hydrolysis of other sphingolipids, such as sphingomyelin or through the recycling of sphingosine, in what is known as the salvage pathway. While the myelin damage occurring in MS suggests the importance of the hydrolytic and salvage pathways, the growing interest on the importance of diet in demyelinating disorders, prompted us to investigate the involvement of de novo ceramide C16 synthesis on disease severity. A diet rich in saturated fats such as palmitic acid, as found in many highly processed foods, provides substrates for the ceramide C16 synthetic enzymes ceramide synthase 6 (CERS6) and 5 (CERS5), which are expressed in the central nervous system. Using the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model of inflammatory demyelination, we show here that mice with CamK2a+ neuronal specific deletion of both CerS6 and CerS5 show a milder course of EAE than wild type mice, even when fed a diet enriched in palmitic acid. At a cellular level, neurons lacking both CerS6 and CerS5 are protected from the mitochondrial dysfunction arising from exposure to oxidative stress and palmitic acid in the medium. These data underscore the importance of a healthy diet avoiding processed foods for demyelinating disorders and identifies endogenous neuronal synthesis of ceramide C16 as an important determinant of disease severity.

Deterrence and behavioral mode of coconut oil-derived free fatty acids on Zeugodacus cucurbitae oviposition.

Previous studies have shown oviposition deterring properties of 8 coconut free fatty acid (CFFA) compounds on fruit flies with different key deterrent components for different species. Here we evaluated oviposition deterrence of CFFA using laboratory 2-choice bioassays against Zeugodacus cucurbitae, determined key-bioactive deterrent compounds, and evaluated their behavioral mode. Unlike other reported fruit fly species, CFFA mixture increased Z. cucurbitae oviposition when directly applied on an oviposition substrate. When tested individually in subsequent tests, 4 compounds (caprylic, capric, oleic, and linoleic acids) significantly reduced the oviposition ("negative-compounds"), 1 compound (stearic acid) had no effect ("neutral-compound"), and 3 compounds (lauric, myristic, and palmitic acids) stimulated the oviposition ("positive-compounds"). The 4-component negative-compound blend was effective at reducing oviposition. However, adding stearic acid to the 4-component blend (5-component blend, 5c) further reduced oviposition. Adding any of the positive-compounds to the 5c resulted in loss of oviposition deterrence, suggesting the 5c as the key deterrent component blend. The blend was also effective in no-choice assays and when applied on cucumbers, a preferred host of Z. cucurbitae. When given a choice, Z. cucurbitae made 48.5% fewer visits, spent 39% less time, and oviposited 88.2% fewer eggs per min on 5c treated pumpkin agar than on control agar, suggesting that the 5c blend has both spatial repellency and contact deterrence. Given that all compounds are registered food additives and generally regarded as safe, this blend has potential application in behavioral control strategies, such as push-pull, to protect host fruit against Z. cucurbitae.

Determination of Biological Activity and Biochemical Content of Ethanol Extract from Fruiting Body of Tricholoma bufonium (Pers.) Gillet

The current study investigates the biochemical composition and biological activities of ethanol extract from the fruit body of Tricholoma bufonium, marking the first detailed examination of this species. The primary goal was to assess the antimicrobial, anti-biofilm, and antioxidant properties of ethanol extract from the fruit body of T. bufonium against a range of bacterial strains. Conventional microbiological and biochemical techniques were employed to assess the antimicrobial efficacy of the extract and to determine its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values. Furthermore, a GC-MS analysis identified bioactive compounds, such as palmitic acid and oleic acid, which are likely contributors to the observed antimicrobial activity. The anti-biofilm activity was tested using glucose monohydrate-modified environments for biofilm formation, while the antioxidant potential was measured using the DPPH radical scavenging assay, CUPRAC (cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity) assay, and FRAP (ferric ion reducing antioxidant power) assay. The ethanol extract exhibited potent antimicrobial activity, particularly against Enterococcus faecium, Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus aureus MRSA, with MIC values as low as 0.0338 mg/mL for several pathogens. Additionally, the extract exhibited significant anti-biofilm activity against Bacillus cereus and antioxidant activity with an EC50 value of 11.745 mg/mL. These results suggest that ethanol extract from the fruit body of T. bufonium may be a potent candidate for developing novel antimicrobial agents, particularly against resistant strains such as MRSA, while also providing antioxidant benefits.

MRG15 promotes cell apoptosis through inhibition of mitophagy in hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis.

Hyperlipidemia is a common cause of acute pancreatitis (AP), often leading to more severe clinical symptoms. The mortality factor 4-like protein 1 (MORF4L1, also called MRG15) plays a crucial role in regulating lipid metabolism. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the mechanism of MRG15 in hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis (HAP). Mendelian randomization, transcriptome analysis, and single-cell analysis were employed to explore the association between MRG15 and AP by utilizing publicly available databases. In vivo, hypertriglyceridemia mouse models were created by intraperitoneal injection of P407 or using APOE-deficient mice. Subsequently, the HAP model was induced by cerulean. In vitro, a cell model of HAP was established by initially exposing cells to palmitic acid to simulate a high-fat environment, followed by cerulein treatment. Subsequently, MRG15-related indicators were measured. Through Mendelian randomization, it was discovered that there is a positive correlation between genetic expression of MRG15 and the risk of AP. Transcriptome and single-cell analysis revealed that elevated MRG15 expression in AP contributes to lipid metabolism disorders and the activation of apoptosis pathways in pancreatic acinar cells. MRG15 is found to be significantly upregulated in cases of HAP. Knocking down MRG15 led to an increase in mitophagy and a decrease in apoptosis in pancreatic cells, and this effect was reversed when the mitochondrial Tu translation elongation factor (TUFM) was simultaneously knocked down. MRG15 inhibits mitophagy by degrading TUFM, ultimately promoting cell apoptosis and worsening the progression of HAP.

Lipotoxicity of palmitic acid is associated with DGAT1 downregulation and abolished by PPARα activation in liver cells

Lipotoxicity refers to the harmful effects of excess fatty acids on metabolic health, and it can vary depending on the type of fatty acids involved. Saturated and unsaturated fatty acids exhibit distinct effects, though the precise mechanisms behind these differences remain unclear. Here, we investigated the lipotoxicity of palmitic acid (PA), a saturated fatty acid, compared with oleic acid (OA), a monounsaturated fatty acid, in the hepatic cell line HuH7.Our results demonstrated that PA, unlike OA, induces lipotoxicity, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and autophagy inhibition. Compared with OA, PA treatment leads to less lipid droplet (LD) accumulation and a significant reduction in the mRNA and protein level of diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1), a key enzyme of triacylglycerol synthesis. Using modulators of ER stress and autophagy, we established that DGAT1 downregulation by PA is closely linked to these cellular pathways. Notably, the ER stress inhibitor 4-phenylbutyrate can suppress PA-induced DGAT1 downregulation. Furthermore, knockdown of DGAT1 by siRNA or with A922500, a specific DGAT1 inhibitor, resulted in cell death, even with OA. Both PA and OA increased the oxygen consumption rate; however, the increase associated with PA was only partially coupled to ATP synthesis. Importantly, treatment with GW7647 a specific PPARα agonist mitigated the lipotoxic effects of PA, restoring PA-induced ER stress, autophagy block, and DGAT1 suppression. In conclusion, our study highlights the crucial role of DGAT1 in PA-induced lipotoxicity, broadening the knowledge of the mechanisms underlying hepatic lipotoxicity and providing the basis for potential therapeutic interventions.

Effect of electron beam irradiation pretreatment on the structural, physicochemical properties of potato starch-fatty acid complexes and the proliferation of Bifidobacterium adolescentis

The effects of different electron beam irradiation doses (5 KGy, 10 KGy, 20 KGy) on the complexation of potato starch with four saturated fatty acids with different chain lengths, i.e., lauric acid (LA), myristic acid (MA), palmitic acid (PA), and stearic acid (SA), were investigated, including structural properties, physicochemical properties, digestive properties, and the effect of Bifidobacteria proliferation. The complexing index increased significantly with increasing irradiation dose and showed the following order: 20 KGy > 10 KGy > 5 KGy > native starch. At irradiation dose of 20 KGy, PA (88.75 %) showed the highest complexing index, followed by MA (87.40 %), SA (82.95 %) and LA (72.33 %). The results of microstructure, relative crystallinity, gelatinization enthalpy, contact angle, and resistant starch content in starch-fatty acid complexes were consistent with the complexing index. In vitro digestion indicated that at irradiation dose of 20 KGy, the addition of PA yielded the highest content of resistant starch (50.35 %), followed by MA (49.25 %), SA (47.05 %) and LA (44.72 %). The four complexes were eventually assessed for their effects on Bifidobacteria's proliferation, with PA exerting the strongest proliferative effects, followed by MA, SA and LA. Overall, electron beam irradiation exhibited good application prospects in the field of starchy food processing and functional foods development.

Physicochemical properties of lard oil and rubber seed oil blends and their comprehensive characterization

This research investigates the potential of blending complementary lard oil with rubber seed oil as feedstock for biodiesel production. Rubber seed oil, obtained through hexane extraction using the Soxhlet method, contains the major fatty acids of oleic acid (C18:1), palmitic acid (C16:0), linoleic acid (C18:2), and stearic acid (C18:0), while rubber seed oil primarily consists of linoleic acid (C18:2), oleic acid (C18:1), linolenic acid (C18:3), palmitic acid (C16:0), and stearic acid (C18:0). Th least acid value of lard oil (0.55 mg KOH/g) can benefit of reducing soap formation of rubber seed oil during transesterification process in biodiesel production due to its substantial-high acid value (16.28 mg KOH·g–1). Blending at ratios below 80:20 v/v produced biodiesel exceeding 85%, utilizing CaO as a catalyst. Lard oil demonstrated a higher reaction rate constant (11.88×10–3 min–1) than rubber seed oil (2.11×10–3 min–1), indicating a significant difference in performance. High acid value and free fatty acids in rubber seed oil correlated with lower reaction rates. Maintaining a mixture ratio below 80:20 v/v optimized reaction rates during biodiesel production. Biodiesel obtained from blends below 80:20 v/v met ASTM D6751 and EN 14214 standards, demonstrating suitability for bio-auto fuel. The drawbacks of using rubber seed oil as a raw material for biodiesel production are overcome by blending with lard oil, giving rise to expanding renewable energy options for rural communities, community enterprises, and large-scale biodiesel production.