Biphasic effects of ethanol consumption on N,N-dimethylformamide-induced liver injury in mice.

N,N-Dimethylformamide (DMF) is a well-documented occupational hazardous material, which can induce occupational liver injury. The current study was designed to investigate whether ethanol consumption can affect DMF-induced hepatotoxicity and the potential underlying mechanisms involved. We found that a single dose of ethanol (1.25, 2.5, or 5 g/kg bw by gavage) significantly repressed the increase in serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) activities and alleviated the liver histopathological changes in mice challenged with 3 g/kg DMF. In contrast, long-term moderate drinking (2.5 g/kg bw) significantly aggravated the repeated DMF (0.7 g/kg bw) exposure-induced increase in the serum ALT and AST activities. Mechanistically, acute ethanol consumption suppressed DMF-induced activation of the NLR family pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, while long-term moderate ethanol consumption promoted hepatocyte apoptosis in the mouse liver. Notably, cytochrome P4502E1 (CYP2E1) protein level and activity in mouse livers were not significantly affected by ethanol per se in the two models. These results confirm that regular drinking can increase the risk of DMF-induced hepatotoxicity, and suggest that DMF-handling workers should avoid consuming ethanol to reduce the risk of DMF-indued liver injury.

A 32-Month Follow-Up Study of the Effect of APOE ε4 on the Whole Brain Connection in Young Healthy Individuals.

APOE ε4 is risk for cognitive decline even in normal aging, but its effect on the whole-brain functional connectivity (FC) among time in young adults remain elusive. This study aimed to validate the time-by-APOE ε4 interaction on brain FC of this specific population. Longitudinal changes in neuropsychological assessments and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging in 26 ε4 carriers and 26 matched non-ε4 carriers were measured for about 3 years. Whole-brain FC was calculated, and a full factorial design was used to compare the difference among groups. Two-sample t test was used for post-hoc analysis. Pearson's correlation analysis was conducted to investigate the relationships between FC and cognitive tests. Of 26 specially appointed ROIs, left superior temporal gyrus (TG) was most sensitive to the effect of time-by-gene interaction. Specifically, the alteration of FC was distributed between the left TG and right TG with GRF correction (voxel-P < 0.001, cluster-P < 0.05), and decreased in ε4 carriers while increased in non-ε4. The main effect of gene showed ε4 carriers has lower FC between left TG and right middle frontal gyrus as compared with non-ε4 both at baseline and follow-up study; ε4 carriers has lower FC between left TG and right supramarginal as compared with non-ε4 at baseline, but no difference in follow-up study. The time-by-APOE ε4 interaction on brain FC was demonstrated at a young age, and left TG was the earliest affected brain regions. The young adult ε4 carriers experience decreased FC among time in the absence overt clinical symptoms.

Binary hydrogels constructed from lotus rhizome starch and different types of carrageenan for dysphagia management: Nonlinear rheological behaviors and structural characteristics.

This study focused on binary hydrogels constructed from lotus rhizome starch (LRS) and three types of carrageenan (κ-C, ι-C, and λ-C). The enthalpy of LRS gelatinization was reduced by 32.1%-88.4% with the incorporation of carrageenan. Compared with ι-C and λ-C, the conformations of κ-C more facilitated the development of the binary hydrogel network structure. The ability of the LRS/carrageenan binary hydrogel to immobilize water was mainly related to the effect of different types of carrageenan on starch molecular ordering. LRS-based hydrogels were recognized as level 4 in the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative (IDDSI) framework. Nevertheless, the incorporation of carrageenan significantly reduced the ability of the LRS hydrogel to resist stress under large deformations, which might be favorable to oral processing and swallowing. This research provides preliminary evidence for relevant industries to use carrageenan to adjust LRS hydrogel properties and improve the quality of starch-based foods for dysphagia management.

Ingenious fabrication of bamboo leaf-like ferric vanadate intertwined multi-walled carbon nanotubes nanocomposite as a sensitive sensor for determination of uric acid in fetal bovine serum.

A novel nanocomposite material, ferric vanadate intertwined multi-walled carbon nanotubes (FeV/MWCNTs), has been designed which was drop-coated onto a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The constructed sensor was used for the sensitive determination of uric acid (UA) in fetal bovine serum (FBS) and human serum (HS). A series of characterization and electrochemical tests showed that the ultrasound-assisted assembly of FeV with MWCNTs not only overcame the disadvantages of low conductivity and easy (unwanted) aggregation, but also avoided the decrease in effective surface area due to the severe aggregation of each individual raw material. The fabricated FeV/MWCNTs nanocomposites exhibited higher conductivity, larger effective surface area, and better electrocatalytic activity. In addition, under optimized conditions, the developed electrochemical sensor FeV/MWCNTs/GCE has a lower limit of detection (LOD, 0.05 µM; Ep = 0.268 V vs. Ag/AgCl) and wider linear range (0.20-100 µM), which can satisfy the criteria of trace UA detection. The results of UA determination in FBS (recovery = 95.5-103%; RSD ≤ 3.1%) and HS (recovery = 95.5-103%; RSD ≤ 4.3%) further validated the feasibility of FeV/MWCNTs-based electrochemical sensors for the determination of UA in biological fluids.

Fat quantification: Imaging methods and clinical applications in cancer.

Recently, the study of the relationship between lipid metabolism and cancer has evolved. The characteristics of intratumoral and peritumoral fat are distinct and changeable during cancer development. Subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue are also associated with cancer prognosis. In non-invasive imaging, fat quantification parameters such as controlled attenuation parameter, fat volume fraction, and proton density fat fraction from different imaging methods complement conventional images by providing concrete fat information. Therefore, measuring the changes of fat content for further understanding of cancer characteristics has been applied in both research and clinical settings. In this review, the authors summarize imaging advances in fat quantification and highlight their clinical applications in cancer precaution, auxiliary diagnosis and classification, therapy response monitoring, and prognosis.

Efficient and Selective Removal of Organic Cationic Dyes by Peel of Brassica juncea Coss. var. gemmifera Lee et Lin-Based Biochar.

The design and preparation of cheaper, greener and more efficient adsorbents is essential for the removal of pollutants by adsorption. In this study, biochar was prepared from peel of Brassica juncea var. gemmifera Lee et Lin (PoBJ) using a facile, low-temperature and vacuum pyrolysis, and the adsorption mechanism toward organic dyes in aqueous solution was elucidated. The adsorbent was characterized by XPS, FT-IR and SEM, and zeta potential techniques. The adsorption ability of PoBJ biochar for cationic dyes (methylene blue, brilliant green, calcein-safranine, azure I, rhodamine B), anionic dyes (alizarin yellow R), and neutral dyes (neutral red) revealed that the biochar exhibited adsorption selectivity toward cationic dyes. The effects of different factors on the adsorption performance of PoBJ biochar, as well as the adsorption kinetics and thermodynamics, were further investigated by using methylene blue as the model adsorbate. These factors included temperature, pH, contact time and dye concentration. The experimental results showed that BJ280 and BJ160 (prepared at 280 °C and 160 °C, respectively) possessed relatively higher adsorption capacity of 192.8 and 167.40 mg g-1 for methylene blue (MB), respectively, demonstrating the possibility of utilization of PoBJ biochar as a superior bio-adsorbent. The experimental data of BJ160 toward MB were correlated with various kinetic and isothermal models. The results indicated that the adsorption process was consistent with the Langmuir isotherm model and nonlinear pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Thermodynamic parameters indicated that the adsorption of MB onto BJ160 was exothermic. Thus, the low-temperature prepared PoBJ biochar was an environmentally friendly, economic and efficient cationic dye adsorbent.

Direct growth of nano-worm-like Cu2S on copper mesh as a hierarchical 3D catalyst for Fenton-like degradation of an imidazolium room-temperature ionic liquid in water.

The increasing consumption of room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) inevitably releases RTILs into the water environment, posing serious threats to aquatic ecology due to the toxicities of RTILs. Thus, urgent needs are necessitated for developing useful processes for removing RTILs from water, and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (C4mimCl), the most common RTIL, would be the most representative RTIL for studying the removal of RTILs from water. As advanced oxidation processes with hydrogen peroxide (HP) are validated as useful approaches for eliminating emerging contaminants, developing advantageous heterogeneous catalysts for activating HP is the key to the successful degradation of C4mim. Herein, a hierarchical structure is fabricated by growing Cu2S on copper mesh (CSCM) utilizing CM as a Cu source. Compared to its precursor, CuO@CM, this CSCM exhibited tremendously higher catalytic activity for catalyzing HP to degrade C4mim efficiently because CSCM exhibits much more superior electrochemical properties and reactive sites, allowing CSCM to degrade C4mim rapidly. CSCM also exhibits a smaller Ea of C4mim elimination than all values in the literature. CSCM also shows a high capacity and stability for activating HP to degrade C4mim in the presence of NaCl and seawater. Besides, the mechanistic investigation of C4mim elimination by CSCM-activated HP has also been clarified and ascribed to OH and 1O2. The elimination route could also be examined and disclosed in detail through the quantum computational chemistry, confirming that CSCM is a useful catalyst for catalyzing HP to degrade RTILs.

Removal of Chromium Species by Adsorption: Fundamental Principles, Newly Developed Adsorbents and Future Perspectives.

Emerging chromium (Cr) species have attracted increasing concern. A majority of Cr species, especially hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)), could lead to lethal effects on human beings, animals, and aquatic lives even at low concentrations. One of the conventional water-treatment methodologies, adsorption, could remove these toxic Cr species efficiently. Additionally, adsorption possesses many advantages, such as being cost-saving, easy to implement, highly efficient and facile to design. Previous research has shown that the application of different adsorbents, such as carbon nanotubes (carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene oxide (GO) and its derivatives), activated carbons (ACs), biochars (BCs), metal-based composites, polymers and others, is being used for Cr species removal from contaminated water and wastewater. The research progress and application of adsorption for Cr removal in recent years are reviewed, the mechanisms of adsorption are also discussed and the development trend of Cr treatment by adsorption is proposed.

Hybrid Au-star@Prussian blue for high-performance towards bimodal imaging and photothermal treatment.

In recent years, branched or star-shaped Au nanostructures composed of core and protruding arms have attracted much attention due to their unique optical properties and morphology. As the clinically adapted nanoagent, prussian blue (PB) has recently gained widespread attention in cancer theranostics with potential applications in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. In this article, we propose a hybrid star gold nanostructure（Au-star@PB）as a novel theranostic agent for T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/ photoacoustic imaging（PAI） and photothermal therapy (PTT) of tumors. Importantly, the Au-star@PB nanoparticles function as effective MRI/PA contrast agents in vivo by increasing T1-weighted MR/PAI signal intensity and as effective PTT agents in vivo by decreasing the tumor volume in MCF-7 tumor bearing BALB / c mouse model as well as in vitro by lessening tumor cells growth rate. Interestingly, we found the main photothermal effect of Au-star@PB is derived from Au-star, but not PB. In summary, the hybrid structure of Au-star@PB NPs with good biological safety, significant photostability, dual imaging capability, and high therapeutic efficiency, might offer a novel avenue for the future diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Chemical Characterization and Atherosclerosis Alleviation Effects of Gypenosides from Gynostemma pentaphyllum through Ameliorating Endothelial Dysfunction via the PCSK9/LOX-1 Pathway.

Dietary saponins have the potential to ameliorate atherosclerosis (AS). Gypenosides of Gynostemma pentaphyllum (GPs) have been used as functional foods to exhibit antiatherosclerotic activity. The present study aimed to explore the protective effect, underlying mechanism and active substances of GPs on AS in vivo and in vitro. Results demonstrated GPs administration reduced the serum concentrations of TC and LDL-C, upregulated the plasma HDL-C content, inhibited the secretion of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and MCP-1, and alleviated vascular lesions in VitD3 plus high cholesterol diet-induced AS rats as well as reduced adhesion factors levels in ox-LDL-stimulated HUVECs, which was potentially associated with suppressing PCSK9/LOX-1 pathway. Further activity-guided phytochemical investigation of GPs led to the identification of five new dammarane-type glycosides (1-5) and ten known analogs (6-15). Bioassay evaluation showed compounds 1, 6, 7, 12, 13, and 14 observably reduced the expressions of PCSK9 and LOX-1, as well as the secretion of adhesion factors in injured HUVECs. Molecular docking experiments suggested that the active saponins of GPs might bind to the allosteric pocket of PCSK9 located at the catalytic and C-terminal domains, and 2α-OH-protopanaxadiol-type gypenosides might exert a higher affinity for an allosteric binding site on PCSK9 by hydrogen-bond interaction with ARG-458. These findings provide new insights into the potential nutraceutical application of GPs and their bioactive compounds in the prevention and discovery of novel therapeutic strategies for AS.

A Novel Low-Cost Bio-Sorbent Prepared from Crisp Persimmon Peel by Low-Temperature Pyrolysis for Adsorption of Organic Dyes.

In order to properly reuse food waste and remove various contaminants from wastewater, the development of green, sustainable and clean technologies has demonstrated potential in the efficient inhibition of secondary pollution to the environment. In this study, an economical and green method was used to prepare biochar from crisp persimmon peel (CPP) using flash-vacuum pyrolysis at different temperatures (200-700 °C; referred to as CPP200-CPP700). CPP200 has high polarity, low aromaticity and high oxygen-containing functional groups that exhibit superior MB adsorption capabilities. CPP200 that was prepared at a relatively low temperature of 200 °C exhibited a high adsorption capacity of 59.72 mg/g toward methylene blue (MB), which was relatively higher than that for alizarin yellow R (4.05 mg/g) and neutral red (39.08 mg/g), indicating that CPP200 possesses a higher adsorption selectivity for cationic dyes. Kinetics investigation revealed that the kinetic data of CPP200 for the adsorption of MB was better fitted by a linear pseudo-second-order model. Isothermal studies indicated that the linear Langmuir model was more suitable for describing the adsorption process. The adsorption thermodynamics illustrated that the adsorption of MB onto CPP200 was spontaneous and endothermic. EDS and IR analyses of CPP200 for both pre- and post-adsorption of MB showed that electrostatic interactions between oxygen-containing groups on biochar and target MB dominated the adsorption procedure, in addition to hydrogen bonding interactions. Reusability tests confirmed the excellent regeneration characteristics of CPP200, indicating that CPP200 may be used as a green, sustainable, highly efficient and recyclable adsorbent for the selective removal of cationic organic dyes.

Gel properties and interactions of scallop (Patinopecten yessoensis) male gonad hydrolysates and nonionic polysaccharide mixtures.

The involvement of hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions in a mixture of scallop (Patinopecten yessoensis) male gonad hydrolysates (SMGHs) and guar gum (GG) or locust-bean gum (LBG) was investigated using guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl) and urea treatments in this study. The addition of GG and LBG (5.56 mg/mL) increased the viscosity of SMGHs at 0.1 s-1 by almost 2.5-fold and 1.7-fold, respectively, reaching 254.8 and 177.0 Pa·s. After treatment with GuHCl or urea, the mixed gels (SMGHs/GG and SMGHs/LBG) became relatively transparent and more fluid, as the viscosity significantly reduced. Moreover, changes of moisture distribution and conformational characteristics suggested that hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions were the main intermolecular forces in the mixed gels of SMGHs and GG or LBG. Furthermore, the SMGHs/GG and SMGHs/LBG mixtures yielded strong gels with viscous network structures, indicating that these materials can be used as thickening agents in food systems.

Complex characterization and formation mechanism of scallop (Patinopecten yessoensis) protein hydrolysates/κ-carrageenan/konjac gum composite gels.

The combination of κ-Carrageenan (KC) and konjac gum (KGM) were introduced to examine the impact on gelation and microstructural behaviors of scallop male gonads hydrolysates (SMGHs) and the involvement of intermolecular forces. In terms of G' response of SMGHs/KGM/KC, it obviously enhanced by 3.6- and 108.5-fold than controls of KGM/KC and SMGHs/KC at 0.1 Hz, accompanying increasing melting temperatures from 27.9 (KGM/KC) and 30.0 (SMGHs/KC) to 33.7°C (SMGHs/KGM/KC), respectively. Additionally, SMGHs/KGM/KC with decreasing relaxation time T23 and blue shift of hydroxyl group than controls suggested higher water retention capacity and ordered conformation. Moreover, SMGHs/KGM/KC formed compact networks with thick walls as reflected by cryo-SEM and showed rougher surface with more aggregation as reflected by AFM. Furthermore, electrostatic in couple with hydrophobic interactions were dominant interactions, while hydrogen bonds were involved in subordinately in SMGHs/KGM/KC. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Scallop (Patinopecten yessoensis) male gonads are always discarded during processing despite high-protein content and edibility. In the current research, scallop male gonad hydrolysates (SMGHs) exhibited gelation behavior, which have a potential role in developing marine source protein as a functional food base such as kamaboko gels, can, sausage and spread and even delivery vehicles for bioactive compounds.

Gelation and microstructural properties of ternary composite gel of scallop (Patinopecten yessoensis) protein hydrolysates/κ-carrageenan/xanthan gum.

The objective of this study was to investigate the properties of ternary composite gel of scallop (Patinopecten yessoensis) protein hydrolysates (SMGHs)/κ-carrageenan (KC)/xanthan gum (XG). The rheological properties, moisture-distribution, molecular structure, and microstructure of SMGNs/KC/XG gels were analyzed. The results showed that the G' value, melting temperature, and water holding capacity of SMGHs/KC/XG were higher than those of SMGHs, SMGHs/KC, and SMGHs/XG. FTIR spectrum showed the generation of hydrogen bonds between SMGHs and KC/XG, and the carboxylic acid group of XG interacts with SMGHs. Moreover, the cryo-SEM results showed that SMGHs/KC/XG exhibited a tighter, smoother, and more aggregated microstructure than those of SMGHs, SMGHs/KC, and SMGHs/XG. These results indicate that the gel and microstructural properties of SMGHs are significantly improved by addition of KC and XG, and SMGHs/KC/XG has potential to be used as functional hydrogels for food, pharmaceutical, and biomedical applications. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Scallop (Patinopecten yessoensis) male gonads are rich in protein and usually regarded as byproducts during adductor processing. Because of its gelation properties, scallop male gonads have potential to be used as functional hydrogels for food. The SMGHs/KC/XG ternary composite gel showed excellent gel properties, which would be potentially applied in delivery system in food and biological fields. Further study is undergoing to apply SMGHs/KC/XG to embed bioactive compounds, such as curcumin and ß-carotene.

Novel lanthanum vanadate-based nanocomposite for simultaneously electrochemical detection of dopamine and uric acid in fetal bovine serum.

The abnormal levels of two biological molecules, dopamine (DA) and Uric acid (UA), in human body are symptoms of diseases such as Parkinson's disease and arrhythmia. A novel lanthanum vanadate and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (LaV-MWCNTs) composite modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was developed and utilized as an efficient electrochemical sensor for the simultaneous detection of DA and UA. LaV-MWCNTs composite was successfully fabricated by a facile ultrasonic self-assembly method and identified by means of a series of successive measurements including XPS, XRD, FT-IR and FE-SEM. The LaV-MWCNTs modified GCE shows the concentration linear ranges of DA and UA are 2-100 µΜ using DPV. The limits of detection (LODs; signal-to-noise ratio of 3, S/N = 3) of the LaV-MWCNTs modified GCE sensor for DA and UA were calculated to be 0.046 µM and 0.025 µM, respectively. The feasibility of using the LaV-MWCNTs modified GCE sensor to detect DA and UA in a typical biological fluid, fetal bovine serum, was also evaluated by the standard addition method.

The nephrotoxic potential of polystyrene microplastics at realistic environmental concentrations.

As microplastics (MPs) dispersed into the environment, people might be exposed to MPs. Most pollutants either pass through or concentrate in the kidney. Therefore, nephrotoxicity tests are needed to verify the toxic potential of MPs. Here we used human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells to determine the association between nephrotoxicity and round-shape polystyrene MPs (PSMPs) (3.54 ± 0.39 µm) under realistic environmental exposure concentrations. Results revealed that PSMPs can adhere to the cell membrane and get entirely engulfed by HEK293 cells. PSMPs can induce cytotoxicity by oxidative stress via inhibition of the antioxidant haem oxygenase-1. Depolarisation of the mitochondrial membrane potential and formation of autophagosomes confirmed that apoptosis and autophagy can be simultaneously induced by PSMPs. The inflammatory factor was only activated (33 cytokines) by noncytotoxic concentration of PSMPs (3 ng/mL); however, the cytotoxic concentration (300 ng/mL) of PSMPs induced autophagy, which might further reduce NLRP3 expression, thus contributing to dampening inflammation (35 cytokines) in HEK293 cells. PSMPs (300 ng/mL) can impair kidney barrier integrity and increase the probability of developing acute kidney injury through the depletion of the zonula occludens-2 proteins and α1-antitrypsin. Altogether, our results demonstrated that environmental exposure to PSMPs may lead to an increased risk of renal disease.

Structural characteristics and improved in vitro hepatoprotective activities of Maillard reaction products of decapeptide IVTNWDDMEK and ribose.

Here, a novel decapeptide IVTNWDDMEK with Maillard reactivity derived from scallop Chlamys farreri mantle was identified. The structural characteristics and in vitro hepatoprotective effects of IVTNWDDMEK conjugated with ribose were further investigated. The changes in decapeptide structures were determined by ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and atomic force microscopy (AFM), and the modification sites induced by Maillard reaction of IVTNWDDMEK and ribose were monitored by high performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). Maillard reaction products (MRPs) of IVTNWDDMEK-ribose demonstrate hepatoprotective benefits through the suppression of DNA damage and apoptosis induced by oxidative stress in human HepG2 cells in addition to enhancing the antioxidant activities. Moreover, after treatment with decapeptide-ribose MRPs, the activities of cellular antioxidative enzymes, such as catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and glutathione reductase (GSH-Rx) were remarkably increased, while the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) was decreased compared with H2 O2 - treated group, thereby enhancing the intracellular antioxidant defenses. These findings demonstrate the potential utilization of decapeptide IVTNWDDMEK-ribose MRPs as food antioxidants to suppress oxidative damage. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: In recent years, several food-derived bioactive peptides and their derivatives are regarded as good dietary antioxidants for reducing oxidative stress and improving liver function. Here, a novel Maillard reactive decapeptide IVTNWDDMEK, identified from scallop mantle hydrolysates by peptidomics in the previous study was synthesized. Then, the correlation between intercellular antioxidant activities and chemical structure changes of IVTNWDDMEK-ribose Maillard reaction conjugates was further studied. The preferable hepatoprotective activities of decapeptide IVTNWDDMEK-ribose MRPs indicated that these MRPs could be potentially utilized as food antioxidants or additives in the production of nutritional foods.

Rational assembly of GO-based heterocyclic sulfur- and nitrogen-containing aerogels and their adsorption properties toward rare earth elementals.

An aromatic heterocyclic compound, 2-aminobenzothiazole (ABT), was used to decorate graphene oxide (GO) by a facile hydrothermal self-assembly procedure. The developed three-dimensional (3D) GO-ABT composite aerogels could be utilized as high-powered and sustainable adsorbents for the enrichment and recovery of low concentration rare earth elements (REEs) from aqueous solutions. The composition and microstructure of GO-ABT composites were explored various characterization methods. The enrichment properties of GO-ABT composites for REEs were investigated in detail, revealing the existence of S-, N- and -NH2 in ABT, as well as the carboxyl and hydroxyl groups of GO which might act as the major REE binding sites. The adsorption of GO-ABT composites for low concentration REEs could reach equilibrium in 30 min. Our investigations confirmed that the optimal pH value of GO-ABT composites for REEs was pH 4.0-5.0. For the adsorbent regeneration study, 50.0 mg of GO-ABT15:1/120 °C/6 h composite was used toward 20.0 mL of Er3+ solutions. After ten regeneration cycles, the adsorption rates of GO-ABT composites for Er3+ remained around 100%, and the desorption rates maintained over 90%. The long-term storage of the adsorbent did not affect its adsorption ability, while desorption rates increased, indicating it possessed relatively higher stability.

In silico-screened cationic dipeptides from scallop with synergistic gelation effect on ι-carrageenan.

In this paper, some cationic dipeptides from scallop (Patinopecten yessoensis) male gonads (SMGs), which can synergistically gel with ι-carrageenan (ι-C), were screened by the in silico approach. Fourteen protein sequences of SMGs were obtained by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and nano liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (nanoLC-MS/MS) analysis and were then hydrolyzed via in silico simulation. A total of 414 sequences were obtained with 56 duplicates, half of which were positively charged at pH 7. Among the cation sequences, 171 had good water solubility, including two amino acids (Lys and Arg). The molecular weight analysis of the cationic water-soluble sequences showed that 0.2-0.3 kDa accounted for the highest proportion. Based on the obvious synergistic effect of Lys and ι-C, 11 Lys-containing dipeptides, including Ser-Lys (SK), Thr-Lys (TK), Trp-Lys (WK), Ala-Lys (AK), Leu-Lys (LK), Gly-Lys (GK), Val-Lys (VK), Cys-Lys (CK), Asn-Lys (NK), Phe-Lys (FK), and Met-Lys (MK), were finally screened out to study gelation with ι-C. It was found that the dipeptides/ι-C formed firm gels except WK/ι-C. The values of the storage modulus (G') of 11 dipeptides/ι-C were investigated by a rheometer. The G' of 8 dipeptides/ι-C was higher than 1000 Pa. These results indicated that the in silico-screened dipeptides from SMGs can form composite gels with ι-C, which can be used for the design and development of functional hydrogels.

Conjugation of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate and protein isolate from large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea) roe: improvement of antioxidant activity and structural characteristics.

BACKGROUND: Large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea) roe is the main by-product in the processing of large yellow croaker. Previous studies have found that its protein isolates are composed of vitellogenin, as well as vitellogenin B and C, having good functional properties. (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a natural antioxidant component that can be combined with protein to improve antioxidant activity and structural characteristics of protein. RESULTS: EGCG was bound with the P. crocea roe protein isolate (pcRPI) by the free radical method to prepare the conjugate. The formation of pcRPI-EGCG conjugates was confirmed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and gel permeation chromatography, which showed that the calculated weight-average molar masses of native-pcRPI and pcRPI-EGCG conjugates were 86.9 and 215.3 kDa, respectively. The results of fluorescence, ultraviolet, circular and infrared spectra indicated that the conjugation of EGCG with native-pcRPI changed the secondary and tertiary structure of native-pcRPI. The pcRPI-EGCG conjugates exhibited higher thermal stability than native-pcRPI. The radical scavenging and reducing power of native-pcRPI were increased by 2.0-2.5- and 1.4-fold, respectively, after the EGCG-grafting reaction. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the binding of pcRPI and EGCG effectively improved the antioxidant properties and structural characteristics of the pcRPI. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.