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Hazelnut is an important economic tree species. Too many sprout tillers seriously restrict the development of hazelnut industry. In this study, by spraying exogenous hormones or covering the soil, the effects of the treatments on the growth of hazelnut sprout tillers and the changes of sugar substances were explored. A flat-European hybrid hazelnut variety Kuixiang was used as the experimental material, and four treatments were set up in the experiment, namely spraying α -naphthylacetate sodium (N), covering soil+spraying clear water (M), covering soil+spraying sodium α -naphthylacetate (M+N), and spraying clear water as control (CK). Under the test period of 35 d, compared with CK treatment, N and M treatments effectively reduced the height and thickness of sprouting branches, the height decreased by 70.50% and 44.64%, and the thickness decreased by 48.71% and 2.58%, respectively. At the time of sprouting (10 th day after treatment), the contents of soluble sugar, fructose, and sucrose in sprouting branches treated with M+N decreased significantly, by 22.39%, 4.39% and 29.63% respectively. The activities of sucrose phosphate synthase, sucrose synthase, and neutral invertase in sprouting branches treated with M+N decreased significantly, by 12.16%, 24.26% and 58.24% respectively. The activity of acid invertase treated with M+N increased significantly, by 49.93%. In conclusion, by covering soil+spraying sodium α-naphthylacetate, the activities of sucrose phosphate synthase, sucrose synthase, and neutral invertase were reduced, the contents of soluble sugar, fructose, and sucrose were decreased, the process of sugar metabolism was effectively inhibited, and the growth of hazelnut sprout tillers was significantly inhibited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Invertase, a crucial enzyme involved in sucrose hydrolysis, finds extensive applications in various industrial processes, including food and biofuel production. This study focuses on the optimization of acido-thermophilic invertase production using a derepressed mutant strain of Pichia kudriavzevii in batch cultures. The development of an efficient and cost-effective process for invertase production is essential to meet the increasing demands of industrial applications. Notably, the maximum specific invertase production rate (qP) reached 247.3 IU/g cells h, with an invertase yield (YP/S) of 150 IU/g substrate utilized at 40 °C. A detailed exploration of temperature-dependent specific growth and product formation rates unveiled the organism's thermophilic characteristics. The determined Km and Vmax values were significantly lower compared to those of other yeast species and a reference P. kudriavzevii strain. The enzyme exhibited both acidophilic and thermophilic properties at optimized pH (3.0–5.0) and temperature (50 °C), respectively. Based on kinetic and thermodynamic attributes, the invertase derived from the mutant demonstrated comparability to acido-thermophilic enzymes previously documented in the literature. The study provides valuable insights into the genetic and environmental factors influencing acido-thermophilic invertase production in P. kudriavzevii. The application of a derepressed mutant offers a promising strategy for enhancing enzyme yields in batch cultures. This research contributes to the development of sustainable and economically viable processes for industrial-scale invertase production, addressing the growing demand for this enzyme in various biotechnological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Background Methods Key Results Conclusions and Inferences Evaluate the impact of Spondias mombin L. juice (SM), alone and in combination with Lactobacillus acidophilus, in an experimental model of intestinal mucositis.Swiss mice were orally administered with saline, SM, or SM combined with L. acidophilus NRRL B‐4495 at 1 × 109 colony‐forming unit (CFU/mL) for 15 days before the induction of intestinal mucositis by a single intraperitoneal injection of 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) at 450 mg/kg. On the 18th day, following euthanasia, tissue samples were collected for histopathological examination. Jejunum tissues were analyzed for MUC‐2 immunoexpression, concentrations of interleukin‐1‐beta (IL‐1β), interleukin 6 (IL‐6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, and invertase activity.5‐FU induced intestinal damage in all intestinal segments, and this damage involved villus blunting, flattened and vacuolated cells, crypt necrosis, inflammatory cell infiltration, and mucosa and submucosal edema compared to the control group. In contrast, SM or SM with L. acidophilus prevented these morphological alterations in all intestinal segments (p < 0.05). Both treatments reduced the intestinal concentration of IL‐1 beta (p < 0.05), IL‐6 (p < 0.05), and TNF‐alpha (p < 0.05). Notably, the combination of SM and L. acidophilus, but not SM alone, prevented the 5‐FU‐induced decrease in invertase activity and mucin expression (p < 0.05). Furthermore, SM combined with L. acidophilus resulted in an increased population of lactic acid bacteria in feces on the 7th and 18th days. Combining SM with L. acidophilus also decreased fecal excretion of γ‐Ergostenol and γ‐sitosterol.SM, alone and combined with Lactobacillus acidophilus demonstrated significant protective effects against 5‐FU‐induced intestinal mucositis, reducing inflammatory markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The sweetness of apple fruit is a key factor in the improvement of apple varieties, with fructose being the sweetest of the soluble sugars, playing a crucial role in determining the overall sweetness of the apple. Therefore, uncovering the key genes controlling fructose accumulation and deciphering the regulatory mechanisms of fructose are vitally important for the improvement of apple varieties.In this study, through BSA‐seq and transcriptome analysis of the 'Changfu 2' × 'Golden Delicious' F1 hybrid population, MdNAC5 was identified as a key regulatory gene for fructose content.MdNAC5 was shown to significantly influence fructose accumulation in both apples and tomatoes. Furthermore, we conducted a detailed identification of sugar transporters and metabolic enzymes in apples, discovering that MdNAC5 can enhance fructose accumulation in vacuoles and the conversion of sucrose to fructose by binding to and activating the promoters of the vacuolar sugar transporter MdTST2 and the neutral invertase MdNINV6. Additionally, MdNAC5 regulated the MdEIN3.4‐MdSWEET15a module, strengthening the unloading of sucrose in the phloem of the fruit.Our results reveal a new mechanism by which MdNAC5 regulates fructose accumulation in apples and provide theoretical foundations for improving apple sweetness through genetic modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invertase is an industrially significant enzyme that catalyses the hydrolysis of sucrose into glucose and fructose. The present work aimed to produce invertase from Penicillium spp. under solid-state fermentation, utilizing banana peel waste as the substrate, and to characterize and immobilize the enzyme using chitosan-coated magnetic nanoparticles. The partially purified invertase was obtained via ammonium sulfate precipitation. The stability of crude, partially purified, and immobilized invertase was assessed for various parameters such as pH, temperature, thermal stability, metal ions, and chemical inhibitors. Invert syrup was produced via continuous bioconversion. The optimal incubation period for invertase production was observed to be four days, resulting in a maximum invertase activity of 75 U/ml . The maximum activities of the crude and partially purified invertase were observed at pH 6, temperature 50°C, and metal ion KCl, while the chemical inhibitor EDTA enhanced the activity. Partial purification of the crude invertase with 70% ammonium sulfate yielded 49 U/ml, and immobilization on chitosan-coated magnetic nanoparticles resulted in a 59.01% immobilized yield. The maximum immobilized invertase activity was observed at 77°C. furthermore, thin-layer chromatography confirmed sucrose hydrolysis by Penicillium spp. derived invertase into glucose and fructose. Invert syrup production via continuous bioconversion was successfully achieved. The potential applications of invertase in the food industry, pharmaceuticals, confectionaries, and related fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The food enzyme β‐fructofuranosidase (β‐d‐fructofuranoside fructohydrolase; EC 3.2.1.26) is produced with the non‐genetically modified Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain CNCM I‐3399 by Kerry Ingredients & Flavours Ltd. The production strain qualifies for the qualified presumption of safety (QPS) approach for risk assessment. The food enzyme is intended to be used in four food manufacturing processes. Exposure was estimated to be up to 2.485 mg total organic solids/kg body weight (bw) per day in European populations. As the production strain qualifies for QPS, and in the absence of other concerns, the Panel considered that toxicological studies were not needed for the safety assessment of this food enzyme. A search for homology of the amino acid sequence of the food enzyme to known allergens was made and one match with a tomato allergen was found. The Panel considered that the risk of allergic reactions upon dietary exposure to this food enzyme, particularly in tomato allergic individuals, cannot be excluded, but the likelihood is low. Based on the data provided, the Panel concluded that this food enzyme does not give rise to safety concerns, under the intended conditions of use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fine root decomposition is an important driver of forest carbon (C) and nutrient cycling. Harvesting operations may affect fine root decomposition rates by altering root properties and environmental conditions, but our understanding of root dynamics is limited. In this study, we investigated the chemistry, mass loss, element release (C, nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P)), and compound release (lignin and cellulose) of decaying fine roots in a 26 year-old Chinese fir plantation seven years after low- and high-intensity thinning (30% and 70% tree removal) using two root size classes (< 1 mm and 1–2 mm diameter). Low-intensity thinning (LIT) did not affect mass loss in either fine root class or the release of fine root elements or compounds during decomposition. Similarly, high-intensity thinning (HIT) had no effect on the decomposition of large fine roots. However, compared with LIT and no thinning, HIT reduced the decay rates and lignin and cellulose losses of small fine roots. This reduction was related to an increase in the root lignocellulose index (lignin/[lignin + cellulose]) and a decrease in soil invertase activity. Interestingly, thinning did not affect root C, N, or P loss during decomposition. In summary, our results suggest that thinning intensity as well as root size and chemistry should be considered when studying fine root dynamics in managed forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The content of nonstructural carbohydrates (glucose, fructose, sucrose, starch) and activities of sucrose-utilizing enzymes (vacuolar, apoplastic, and cytoplasmic invertases, as well as sucrose synthase) were examined in halophyte plants Triglochin maritima L. (sea arrowgrass), Tripolium vulgare Ness. (sea aster), and Glaux maritima L. (sea milkwort) inhabiting the littoral zone of the White Sea coast. Studies of plants growing in tidal cycle conditions revealed species-specific differences in sugar content and the activity of sucrose-metabolizing enzymes. T. maritima featured high concentrations of monosaccharides in leaves and elevated content of sucrose and storage starch in underground organs. T. vulgare was characterized by low monosaccharide content and the activated synthesis of sucrose that is deposited in stems and plays the main role in maintaining the plant osmotic balance. G. maritima occupies a special place: unlike other species, it accumulates abundant starch reserves in aboveground and underground organs. This species is a crinohalophyte. Its protection against ion toxicity is mediated by the release of excess toxic ions via salt-removing glands, while mineral nutrition is assisted by the mycorrhiza. The above differences show that various littoral species adapt to salinity conditions in different ways, depending on their origin and biological features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollen fertility is a primary regulator of grain yield and is highly susceptible to cold and other environmental stress. We revealed the roles of rice cell wall invertase gene PWIN1 in pollen development and chilling tolerance. We uncovered its preferential expression in microspores and bicellular pollen and identified its knock‐down and knock‐out mutants. pwin1 mutants produced a higher proportion of abnormal pollen than wild‐type plants. The contents of sucrose, glucose, and fructose were increased, while ATP content and primary metabolism activity were reduced in the mutant pollen. Furthermore, the loss of function of PWIN1 coincided with an increase in SnRK1 activity and a decrease in TOR activity. Under chilling conditions, pwin1 mutants displayed significantly reduced pollen viability and seed‐setting rate, while overexpressing PWIN1 notably increased pollen viability and seed‐setting rate as compared with the wild‐type, indicating that PWIN1 is essential for rice pollen development and grain yield under cold stress. This study provides insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying rice pollen fertility during chilling stress, and a new module to improve chilling tolerance of rice at the booting stage by molecular design. Summary Statement: The rice pollen‐preferential invertase gene PWIN1 was required for pollen chilling tolerance. PWIN1 deficiency reduced pollen viability and seed‐setting rate, while overexpression increased pollen viability and seed‐setting rate as compared with the wild‐type under chilling conditions. This study provides a new module to improve chilling‐tolerance of rice at the booting stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, climate changes induce deviations in the composition of honey varieties characteristic of a specific geographic region. Therefore, according to Codex Alimentarius for honey, the slight variations in values of determined parameters cannot be strictly regarded as a sign of its adulteration. Here, modified methods are presented for preparing honey samples for inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) analysis and the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method to use them as fast and reliable methods in the food industry. ICP-OES analysis suggested that all analysed honey samples are natural, and HPLC-DAD (diode-arrray detection) analysis on the flavonoids showed that one sample is probably not natural. Invertase activity showed an overlap with this HPLC-DAD finding but suggested more samples as possibly adulterated, which can be neglected due to possible thermal treatment of those natural samples, causing a decrease in invertase activity. Therefore, results obtained from the analyses of investigated honey samples based on the mineral content, number, and quantity of flavonoids, together with the invertase activity, indicated that the combination of analyses could be a reliable tool for determining the quality of honey samples.

Abstract Background Invertases (INVs) are key enzymes in sugar metabolism, cleaving sucrose into glucose and fructose and playing an important role in plant development and the stress response, however, the INV gene family in passion fruit has not been systematically reported. Results In this study, a total of 16 PeINV genes were identified from the passion fruit genome and named according to their subcellular location and chromosome position. These include six cell wall invertase (CWINV) genes, two vacuolar invertase (VINV) genes, and eight neutral/alkaline invertase (N/AINV) genes. The gene structures, phylogenetic tree, and cis-acting elements of PeINV gene family were predicted using bioinformatics methods. Results showed that the upstream promoter region of the PeINV genes contained various response elements; particularly, PeVINV2, PeN/AINV3, PeN/AINV5, PeN/AINV6, PeN/AINV7, and PeN/AINV8 had more response elements. Additionally, the expression profiles of PeINV genes under different abiotic stresses (drought, salt, cold temperature, and high temperature) indicated that PeCWINV5, PeCWINV6, PeVINV1, PeVINV2, PeN/AINV2, PeN/AINV3, PeN/AINV6, and PeN/AINV7 responded significantly to these abiotic stresses, which was consistent with cis-acting element prediction results. Sucrose, glucose, and fructose are main soluble components in passion fruit pulp. The contents of total soluble sugar, hexoses, and sweetness index increased significantly at early stages during fruit ripening. Transcriptome data showed that with an increase in fruit development and maturity, the expression levels of PeCWINV2, PeCWINV5, and PeN/AINV3 exhibited an up-regulated trend, especially for PeCWINV5 which showed highest abundance, this correlated with the accumulation of soluble sugar and sweetness index. Transient overexpression results demonstrated that the contents of fructose, glucose and sucrose increased in the pulp of PeCWINV5 overexpressing fruit. It is speculated that this cell wall invertase gene, PeCWINV5, may play an important role in sucrose unloading and hexose accumulation. Conclusion In this study, we systematically identified INV genes in passion fruit for the first time and further investigated their physicochemical properties, evolution, and expression patterns. Furthermore, we screened out a key candidate gene involved in hexose accumulation. This study lays a foundation for further study on INV genes and will be beneficial on the genetic improvement of passion fruit breeding.

Developing high-yielding varieties of sunflower as oilseed staple crops requires knowledge of physiological and molecular mechanisms involved in yield formation. Source strength, sink demand, and their interactions play crucial roles in the yield formation of sunflowers. The persistence of assimilate flux to the developing grains mainly determines sink demand. There was no information on the molecular mechanism for assimilate flux to the sink organ of sunflowers. To shed light on molecular events engaging in assimilate flux to sink organs, two experiments were carried out on five sunflower inbred lines differing in their grain yields. Source-related parameters (such as leaf biomass, area, and number) and sink-associated attributes (such as floret number at the first anthesis and capitulum biomass and diameter, in addition to changes in biomass of capitulum and stem, at the first anthesis with those at physiological maturity) were evaluated across all the inbred lines. The Invertase gene expression level was measured on the receptacle base of three inbred lines, showing discrepancies in the source, sink, and grain yield performances. While no significant correlation was found between source strength and sink demand with grain yield, the results showed that higher grain yield was likely attributed to the persistence of assimilate flux to the capitulum base during grain filling. This phenomenon is discussed to be due to higher Invertase activity in the receptacle base. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] This article aimed to explore the effects of chitosan and ozone on the preservation of postharvest grape fruits. [Methods] ‘Shine Muscat' grapes were used as the test material, and the grape fruits were soaked in 10 g·L-1 chitosan for 60 seconds and treated with ozone at a concentration of 4.288 mg·L-1 for 1 h, respectively. The grapes without any treatment were used as the control, the physiological indicators and volatile aroma components of the fruit at different time were measured, as well as the expression levels of genes related to carotenoid, acid metabolism, and aroma metabolism. [Results] Chitosan and ozone treatment could maintain the hardness of the fruit, inhibit the increase of soluble solids, affect fruit coloring, and improve appearance quality. In the short term (0-20 days), chitosan and ozone treatment slowed down the decrease in sugar and acid content of ‘Shine Muscat', increased the content of lutein and maintained the contents of aldehydes, alcohols, and terpenes in fruits. The gene expression analysis results showed that chitosan and ozone treatment could up-regulate carotenoid related genes expression to varying degrees, such as zeta-carotene desaturase gene (ZDS), 1-deoxyxylulose-5-phosphate reductive isomerase gene (DXR) and 4-diphosphocytidine-2-C-methylerythritol kinase gene (CMK); aroma metabolism related genes 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase gene (HMGR1, HMGR2, HMGR3), 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-2- (E) -butenyl-4-diphosphate reductase gene (HDR); soluble sugar related genes such as acid invertase gene (AI), neutral invertase gene (NI), invertase gene (INV); as well as organic acid metabolism related genes such as malate dehydrogenase gene (MDH), isocitrate dehydrogenase gene (IDH) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase gene (PEPC) . [Conclusions] Chitosan and ozone treatment significantly increased the soluble sugar and organic acid content of grape fruits, while the chitosan maintained the postharvest aroma contents of ‘Shine Muscat', especially aldehydes, alcohols, and terpenes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest litter's biochemical activity was examined in iron-illuvial podzols and podzolized podburs (Albic Podzols and Entic Podzols), considering (1) variations in edaphic and climatic conditions, and (2) levels of anthropogenic pollution. In the first case, blueberry (BPF), lingonberry (LinPF), and lichen (LicPF) pine forests in the middle taiga subzone and LinPF in the northern taiga subzone and at the boundary with the forest-tundra zone were studied. In the second case, soils from pine forests at different distances from the impact zone of the Pechenganickel Mining and Metallurgical Combine were analyzed. The study examined how the "ground cover–litter" system affected soil enzymes and chemical properties (pH, C, N, P, K, S, Cu, Ni). The forest litter in the middle taiga's LicPF exhibited 1.5–1.8 times higher invertase and phosphatase activities compared to BPF and LinPF. The decrease in mean daily temperature by 2–3°C resulted in a corresponding decline in catalase activity by 58 and 69%, urease activity by 43 and 52%, and invertase activity by 51 and 28%. The activity of enzymes in the forest litter did not significantly vary with the level of copper and nickel contamination, suggesting a strong adaptive potential in the microorganisms-soil system. The discussion revolves around using soil biochemical activity for monitoring forest biogeocenoses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Maize stalk rot (MSR), caused by Fusarium graminearum, is the most serious soil borne disease in maize production, seriously affecting maize yield and quality worldwide. Microbial biocontrol agents are the best means of controlling MSR and reducing the use of chemical fungicides, such as Bacillus spp. Methods and results: In the study, a soil-isolated strain B105-8 was identified as B. velezensis (accession No. PP325775.1 and No. PP869695.1), demonstrated a broad spectrum against various pathogens causing maize diseases, which effectively controlled MSR, exhibited a high control efficacy of more than 60% and growth-promoting effect in the pot plant. B105-8 could effectively improve soil urease (S-UE), invertase (S-SC), and catalase (S-CAT) activities. S-NP activity showed an initial increase with a peak of 20,337  nmol/h/g, followed by a decrease, but activity remained significantly better than control treatment with chemical fungicides. The application of B105-8 repaired the damage caused by F. graminearum on soil activity. The antifungal compound B-1, extracted from B105-8, was purified using a protein purifier, revealing inhibitory effects against F. graminearum. Mass spectrometry analysis indicated the potential presence of C14 Bacillomycin, C15 Iturin, C15 Mycosubtilin, C17, and C15 fengycin in B-1. In pot experiments, a 5  μL/mL concentration of B-1 exhibited 69% control on MSR, enhancing maize root elongation, elevation, and fresh weight. At 10  μL/mL, B-1 showed 89.0 and 82.1% inhibition on spore production and mycelial growth, causing hyphal deformities. Discussion: This study presents the innovative use of B. velezensis, isolated from maize rhizosphere in cold conditions to effectively control MSR caused by F. graminearum. The findings highlight the remarkable regional and adaptive characteristics of this strain, making it an excellent candidate to fight MSR in diverse environments. In conclusion, B. velezensis B105-8 demonstrated potential as a biocontrol agent for MSR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

EkINV and BsINV are two invertases from Enterobacter kobei and Bacillus subtillis, respectively. The two enzymes were produced extracellularly at pH 3.0 and former at 45 °C while latter at 25 °C. The Km values were observed to be 1.7 mol/L (EkINV) and 1.9 mol/L (BsINV). Purification and characterization analysis revealed trimer structure EkINV having subunit molecular mass as 87.14, 42.98 and 29.0 kDa. Unlike, BsINV was monomer with molecular mass of 55.1 kDa. The invertases beside hydrolytic activity exhibited transfructolysation which is used in preparation of low calorie Ready To Serve mango juice and muffins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sucrose is a desirable component of processed soybean foods and animal feed, and thus, its content is used as an important characteristic for assessing the quality of soybean seeds. However, few studies have focused on the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with sucrose regulation in soybean seeds. This study aims to measure the sucrose content of 1014 soybean accessions and identify genes related to high sucrose levels using QTL analysis. Colorimetric analysis based on the enzymatic reaction of invertase (INV) and glucose oxidase (GOD) was employed to test the germplasms. A total of six high-sucrose genetic resources (IT186230, IT195321, IT263138, IT263276, IT263286, and IT276521) and two low-sucrose genetic resources (IT025668 and IT274054) were identified. Two F2:3 populations, IT186230 × IT025668 and Ilmi × IT186230, were then established from these germplasms. QTL analysis identified four QTLs (qSUC6.1, qSUC11.1, qSUC15.1, and qSUC17.1), explaining 7.3–27.6% of the phenotypic variation in the sugar content. Twenty candidate genes were found at the four QTLs. Notably, Glyma.17G152300, located in the qSUC17.1 QTL region, exhibited a 17-fold higher gene expression in the high-sucrose germplasm IT186230 compared to the control germplasm Ilmi, confirming its role as a major gene regulating the sucrose content in soybean. These results may assist in marker-assisted selection for breeding programs that aim to develop soybean lines with a higher sucrose content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Enzyme activity evaluation is useful for determining soil microbial activity that are responsible for important reactions such as soil mineralization and homogenization of soil organic matter. Enzyme activity affects the physicochemical properties of soil and supports the growth of plants. Therefore, enzyme activity is a sensitive index to evaluate the effect of soil conditioners. Biochar is one of these organic modifiers whose use in soil can affect the enzymatic activity of soil. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the effect of grape waste biochar, brown walnut shell and poultry manure on the enzymatic behavior of a clay loam soil. Materials and Methods: In order to conduct this research, a completely randomized experiment was conducted in three replications. Biochars were used in 10 percent by weight. The experimental treatments included control soil (CS), soil + grape waste biochar (GSB), soil + brown walnut shell biochar (NSB) and soil + poultry manure biochar (PMB). The samples were kept for about two months at a temperature of 25±3 degrees Celsius. During the incubation period, the humidity was maintained at 70% of the agricultural capacity by adding distilled water and mixing the samples. Soils were sampled after 5, 10, 30 and 60 days, and invertase, acid and alkaline phosphatase, and urease activities were measured in the samples. Results: The results showed that adding biochar to the soil increased the activity of invertase enzyme, which was 23, 15 and 8% higher in PMB, GSB and NSB treatments than the control treatment. The highest activity of alkaline phosphatase enzyme was observed in the control treatment and the lowest in the PMB treatment, and the activity of this enzyme in the PMB treatment was about 39% lower than the control soil. The order of alkaline phosphatase activity in different treatments was as follows: CS≥ GSB> NSB> PMB. Acid phosphatase activity in treated soils was completely opposite to invertase enzyme activity. The lowest activity was observed in the PMB treatment, which was about 67% less than the control treatment. The order of activity of this enzyme in different treatments was as follows: CS> NSB> GSB≥ PMB. The activity of urease enzyme in different treatments was similar to that of invertase enzyme. The peak activity of this enzyme was observed in the PMB treatment, which was about 71% more than the control treatment. Invertase enzyme activity in GSB and NSB treatment was 40% and 20% higher than the control treatment, respectively. On average, the geometric mean of enzyme activity increased during incubation in GSB treatment compared to the control. According to the enzyme resistance index, the lowest rate was related to PMB treatment and the highest rate was related to NSB treatment. Conclusion: Considering that GSB treatment has an increasing effect on enzyme activity, especially carbon and nitrogen cycle enzymes. This organic modifier can be used as a supplementary source for supplying carbon and nitrogen elements to improve soil quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fructooligosaccharides are prebiotic sugars that are widely used in the production of functional foods, which can be produced enzymatically by the transfructosylation reaction of sucrose. This work aimed to optimize the production of an invertase with high transfructosylation activity from Aspergillus carbonarius PC-4 using pineapple crown as the inducer substrate and evaluate its biochemical properties. The culture medium was optimized using a Plackett–Burman experimental design and a central composite rotatable design, resulting in a maximum transfructosylation activity of 65.33 U/mL at 72 h of cultivation. The cultivation parameters were Yp/s = 1070.75 U/g and PP = 2771.48 U/h, which showed an increase of 5.2-fold in the enzyme produced. The optimum temperature (50 °C) and pH (5.0) for the enzymatic activity were obtained by a CCR design. The enzyme showed a half-life of 60 min at 40 °C. In conclusion, the invertase produced from A. carbonarius PC-4 using agro-industrial waste (pineapple crown) and an inorganic nitrogen source (ammonium nitrate) exhibits high transfructosylation activity that can be used as a potential source for the production of fructooligosaccharides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Invertases (INVs) are key enzymes in sugar metabolism, cleaving sucrose into glucose and fructose and playing an important role in plant development and the stress response, however, the INV gene family in passion fruit has not been systematically reported. Results: In this study, a total of 16 PeINV genes were identified from the passion fruit genome and named according to their subcellular location and chromosome position. These include six cell wall invertase (CWINV) genes, two vacuolar invertase (VINV) genes, and eight neutral/alkaline invertase (N/AINV) genes. The gene structures, phylogenetic tree, and cis-acting elements of PeINV gene family were predicted using bioinformatics methods. Results showed that the upstream promoter region of the PeINV genes contained various response elements; particularly, PeVINV2, PeN/AINV3, PeN/AINV5, PeN/AINV6, PeN/AINV7, and PeN/AINV8 had more response elements. Additionally, the expression profiles of PeINV genes under different abiotic stresses (drought, salt, cold temperature, and high temperature) indicated that PeCWINV5, PeCWINV6, PeVINV1, PeVINV2, PeN/AINV2, PeN/AINV3, PeN/AINV6, and PeN/AINV7 responded significantly to these abiotic stresses, which was consistent with cis-acting element prediction results. Sucrose, glucose, and fructose are main soluble components in passion fruit pulp. The contents of total soluble sugar, hexoses, and sweetness index increased significantly at early stages during fruit ripening. Transcriptome data showed that with an increase in fruit development and maturity, the expression levels of PeCWINV2, PeCWINV5, and PeN/AINV3 exhibited an up-regulated trend, especially for PeCWINV5 which showed highest abundance, this correlated with the accumulation of soluble sugar and sweetness index. Transient overexpression results demonstrated that the contents of fructose, glucose and sucrose increased in the pulp of PeCWINV5 overexpressing fruit. It is speculated that this cell wall invertase gene, PeCWINV5, may play an important role in sucrose unloading and hexose accumulation. Conclusion: In this study, we systematically identified INV genes in passion fruit for the first time and further investigated their physicochemical properties, evolution, and expression patterns. Furthermore, we screened out a key candidate gene involved in hexose accumulation. This study lays a foundation for further study on INV genes and will be beneficial on the genetic improvement of passion fruit breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial secretions, such as metabolic enzymes, are often considered to be cooperative public goods as they are costly to produce but can be exploited by others. They create incentives for the evolution of non-producers, which can drive producer and population productivity declines. In response, producers can adjust production levels. Past studies suggest that while producers lower production to reduce costs and exploitation opportunities when under strong selection pressure from non-producers, they overproduce secretions when these pressures are weak. We challenge the universality of this trend with the production of a metabolic enzyme, invertase, by Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which catalyses sucrose hydrolysis into two hexose molecules. Contrary to past studies, overproducers evolve during evolutionary experiments even when under strong selection pressure from non-producers. Phenotypic and competition assays with a collection of synthetic strains - engineered to have modified metabolic attributes - identify two mechanisms for suppressing the benefits of invertase to those who exploit it. Invertase overproduction increases extracellular hexose concentrations that suppresses the metabolic efficiency of competitors, due to the rate-efficiency trade-off, and also enhances overproducers' hexose capture rate by inducing transporter expression. Thus, overproducers are maintained in the environment originally thought to not support public goods production. Microbial secretions can be costly to produce and exploited by others. Here, the authors use experimentally evolved yeasts to show that, in spite of exploitative non-producers, overproducers are maintained in the population, supporting public goods production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead (Pb) is one of the most common environmental pollutants. Lead has an acute toxic effect on soil biotas and the enzymatic system of soils. The objective of this study is to carry out enzymatic diagnostics of soil health in the European part of Russia after Pb contamination. As a part of the simulation experiment, Pb (at maximum permissible concentrations (MPCs) of 1, 10, and 100) was used to contaminate 12 types of soils in the south and center of the European part of Russia, which differed in their physical and chemical properties. To assess soil health, the activity of oxidoreductases (catalase, dehydrogenases, and cysteine reductase) and hydrolases (invertase, urease, and phosphatase) was studied. Most enzymes were inhibited with increased Pb dosage. The most sensitive soils to Pb contamination, assessed by enzyme activity, are soils of semi-deserts and dry steppes. Cysteine reductase is considered the most sensitive enzyme to Pb contamination. The most informative indicators for Pb contamination were phosphatase, cysteine reductase, and invertase. The P (phosphatase) cycle and the redox enzyme (catalase) also have instability in Pb-contaminated soils. The C (invertase and dehydrogenases) and N (urease) cycles do not change significantly when contaminated with lead. The results of this study can be used for the diagnostics of the condition of soils in different natural areas after Pb contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work was to optimize the application of an enzymatic blend produced by Aspergillus niger ATCC 1004 on the Pimenta dioica fruits for essential oil extraction. The enzyme blend was obtained from the fermentation of cocoa bean shells, an agro‐industrial residue. The effects of the enzymatic pre‐treatment on the extraction yield, the chemical composition of the oil through gas chromatography, and the fruit structure through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were assessed. A Doehlert design was used to optimize the process conditions, resulting in an extraction with 117 mL of enzyme during 77 min, which increased the extraction yield by 387.5%. The chemical composition was not altered, which proves that the enzyme blend preserves the quality of the essential oil extracted. The content of eugenol (70%), the major compound in the P. dioica essential oil, had a great increase in its concentration (560%). The enzyme activity analyses showed the presence of endoglucanase (0.4 U/mL), exoglucanase (0.25 U/mL), β‐glucosidase (0.19 U/mL), and invertase (135.08 U/mL). The microscopy analyses revealed changes in the morphology of fruit surface due to the enzymatic action. These results demonstrate the great potential of using enzyme blends produced by filamentous fungi from agro‐industrial residues for the essential oils extraction of interest for the pharmaceutical and food industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The large-scale biocatalytic application of oxidoreductases requires systems for a cost-effective and efficient regeneration of redox cofactors. These represent the major bottleneck for industrial bioproduction and an important cost factor. In this work, co-expression of the genes of invertase and a Baeyer–Villiger monooxygenase from Burkholderia xenovorans to E. coli W ΔcscR and E. coli BL21 (DE3) enabled efficient biotransformation of cyclohexanone to the polymer precursor, ε-caprolactone using sucrose as electron source for regeneration of redox cofactors, at rates comparable to glucose. E. coli W ΔcscR has a native csc regulon enabling sucrose utilization and is deregulated via deletion of the repressor gene (cscR), thus enabling sucrose uptake even at concentrations below 6 mM (2 g L−1). On the other hand, E. coli BL21 (DE3), which is widely used as an expression host does not contain a csc regulon. Results: Herein, we show a proof of concept where the co-expression of invertase for both E. coli hosts was sufficient for efficient sucrose utilization to sustain cofactor regeneration in the Baeyer–Villiger oxidation of cyclohexanone. Using E. coli W ΔcscR, a specific activity of 37 U gDCW−1 was obtained, demonstrating the suitability of the strain for recombinant gene co-expression and subsequent whole-cell biotransformation. In addition, the same co-expression cassette was transferred and investigated with E. coli BL21 (DE3), which showed a specific activity of 17 U gDCW− 1. Finally, biotransformation using photosynthetically-derived sucrose from Synechocystis S02 with E. coli W ΔcscR expressing BVMO showed complete conversion of cyclohexanone after 3 h, especially with the strain expressing the invertase gene in the periplasm. Conclusions: Results show that sucrose can be an alternative electron source to drive whole-cell biotransformations in recombinant E. coli strains opening novel strategies for sustainable chemical production. Highlights: Heterologous co-expression of an invertase gene improved the capacity of E. coli to utilize sucrose as an electron donor for whole-cell biotransformations. The invertase improved the efficiency of the Baeyer–Villiger oxidation of cyclohexanone catalyzed by a Baeyer–Villiger Monooxygenase both in the laboratory strain, E. coli BL21 (DE3) and in E. coli W ΔcscR, an E. coli strain bearing a deregulated sucrose operon. Periplasmic production of invertase for both hosts was prominent at a sucrose concentration of 10 mM. E. coli strains with invertase exported to the periplasm showed full conversion of 5 mM cyclohexanone within less than three hours using photosynthetically generated sucrose from Synechocystis S02. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the suitability of whey as an effective medium for the coproduction of inulinase and invertase by an oleaginous yeast Galactomyces geotrichum and to investigate the effects of some additional carbon and nitrogen sources. The nutritional factors and composition of the medium have a great impact on the production pathways of microbial enzymes. To deepen the research, a Taguchi design was employed to quickly scan the best conditions. First, the cheese whey was partly deproteinized and investigated as the sole medium for the yeast. The next step was performed to study the effects of inulin, sucrose and lactose as carbon sources and ammonium sulfate, yeast extract and casein as nitrogen sources. All analyses (Taguchi and ANOVA) were performed using Minitab software. Whey-based medium without any additional carbon and nitrogen sources gave inulinase and invertase activities as 54.6 U/mL and 47.4 U/mL, respectively. Maximum inulinase activity was obtained as 77.9 U/mL using inulin as the carbon source without any nitrogen source. The highest I/S ratio was found as 2.08. On the other hand, the highest invertase activity was carried out as 50.85 U/mL in whey-based medium using lactose as carbon source without any additional nitrogen source. This is the first report about partly deproteinized whey-based medium utilization for simultaneous inulinase and invertase production by G. geotrichum TS-61. Moreover, the effects of carbon and nitrogen sources were investigated in detail. Whey is a sufficient medium for inulinase and invertase production Inulin is an excellent carbon source for enhanced inulinase activity Taguchi orthogonal array presents an effective and quick screening method for the fermentation process [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sucrose invertase is an important catalytic enzyme that is widely distributed in plants and can irreversibly hydrolyze sucrose into fructose and glucose. Daylily is an important perennial flower worldwide and a traditional vegetable in East Asia. Previous studies have suggested that sucrose invertase is involved in the aging of daylily flowers. However, knowledge about the number, physicochemical properties, and expression patterns of daylily sucrose invertases is still lacking. Identifying the daylily sucrose invertase family genes in the genome is highly important for understanding phylogenetic evolution and determining the genetic function of sucrose invertase. Methods: To obtain basic knowledge about the number, classification, sequence composition, and physicochemical properties of sucrose invertases in daylily, bioinformatics software was used to analyze the genome of Hemerocallis citrina (H. citrina), and the basic properties of sucrose invertase genes and proteins were obtained. Then, combined with transcriptome data from flower organs at different developmental stages, the expression patterns of each gene were clarified. Finally, the reliability of the transcriptome data was verified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: Through software analysis, 35 sucrose invertases were identified from the H. citrina genome and named HcINV1-HcINV35; these enzymes belong to three subfamilies: cell wall invertases, vacuolar invertases, and chloroplast invertases. The amino acid composition, motif types, promoter composition, gene structure, protein physicochemical properties, gene chromosomal localization, and evolutionary adaptability of daylily invertases were determined; these results provided a comprehensive understanding of daylily invertases. The transcriptome expression profile combined with fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT‒PCR) analysis suggested that almost all daylily invertase genes were expressed in flower organs, but even genes belonging to the same subfamily did not exhibit the same expression pattern at different developmental stages, suggesting that there may be redundancy or dissimilation in the function of daylily sucrose invertases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orchids produce millions of dust-like and reserveless tiny seeds per capsule and are unable to germinate on their own in nature. Orchid seeds have developed strategies to exploit seed germination-promoting orchid mycorrhizal fungi (sgOMFs) for acquisition of exogenous nutrients to fuel germination. Once colonized by sgOMFs, orchid seeds can digest intracellular sgOMF hyphae to acquire fungal nutrients, especially those for carbon nutrition. However, the underlying carbon delivery pathway from sgOMFs to orchid cells remains elusive. Clarification of the identities of fungally derived carbohydrates and the main molecular players responsible for the sgOMF-to-orchid carbon flow is of great significance for better understanding of symbiotic germination. To germinate in nature, orchid seeds strictly rely on seed germination-promoting orchid mycorrhizal fungi (sgOMFs) for provision of carbon nutrients. The underlying delivery pathway, however, remains elusive. We develop here a plausible model for sugar transport from sgOMFs to orchid embryonic cells to fuel germination. Orchids exploit sgOMFs to induce the formation of pelotons, elaborate intracellular hyphal coils in orchid embryos. The colonized orchid cells then obtain carbon nutrients by uptake from living hyphae and peloton lysis, primarily as glucose derived from fungal trehalose hydrolyzed by orchid-specific trehalases. The uptake of massive fungally derived glucose is likely to be mediated by two classes of membrane proteins, namely, sugars will eventually be exported transporters (SWEETs) and H+-hexose symporters. The proposed model serves as a launch pad for further research to better understand and improve orchid seed germination and conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Filamentous fungi are widely used in industry to produce enzymes, organic acids, and secondary metabolites. Neurospora crassa has gained attention due to its flexibility for easy genetic manipulation, fast growth, and non-pathogenic characteristics. This study evaluated the growth of N. crassa and invertase production in submerged culture (SC) and solid-state culture (SSC) using pine sawdust (SSC-PS) and polyurethane foam (SSC-PUF) as supports. Modified Vogel's medium with initial sucrose concentrations of 1.5%, 3%, and 5% was used. The specific and maximum CO2 production rates were higher in SSC than SC, particularly with SSC-PS. Protein and invertase production were higher in SSC, with SSC-PS demonstrating the highest sucrose concentration as the inducer and carbon source. The water-holding capacity (WHC) of SSC-PUF was approximately 25 times higher than that of SSC-PS, facilitating a more productive process. SSC-PUF enables higher biomass growth, protein, and invertase production than SC. Moreover, using inert supports, such as PUF, allows the correct substrates and product assessment without interferences due to the chemical composition and heterogeneity of conventional agroindustrial by-products, such as PS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was carried out on the effects of using sugar syrup inverted with commercially available confectionery invertase as a supplement bee feed on the quality of bee honey. The results revealed an increased level of absorption; an increased level of HMF (2-hydroxymethyl-2-fufuraldehide), as well as high levels of Cu. The blue colour, which was revealed when adding Carraz I (K4Fe(CN)6.3H2O) and Carraz II (Zn(CH3COO)2.2H2O) solutions was associated with high levels of Fe, contained in the beet sugar syrup, inverted with confectionery invertase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We carried out a circadian characterization of non-structural carbohydrate dynamics in the different organs of Erythrina velutina seedlings at late establishment. Seeds were incubated under controlled conditions for 9 days and then seedlings were hydroponically grown in a greenhouse for 8 days. Carbon dioxide uptake was measured in the cordiform leaves every 2 h during the daytime (12 h) and every 4 h during the night-time (12 h); seedlings were harvested every 4 h during the day-night cycle (24 h) to assess the contents of non-structural carbohydrates and the activities of amylases and invertases. Diel patterns of non-structural carbohydrate content were identified in the photosynthetic organs, in which the turnover of starch operated far from its depletion at dawn. In the heterotrophic organs, however, changes in the starch content over 24 h may have maintained the supply of soluble sugars, buffering transient fluctuations in carbon availability. Although it seems that amylase activity was not influenced by the circadian rhythm in the different seedling organs, diel patterns of invertase activity were recognized in the photosynthetic organs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Journal of Dalian Polytechnic University is the property of Journal of Dalian Polytechnic University Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Impact of diamides on structure and functional activities of soil microflora and soil health has not been well studied. Effect of chlorantraniliprole and cyantraniliprole on the activity of dehydrogenase, acidic, alkaline phosphatase, amylase, invertase and urease enzymes in chilli planted soil was assessed. Two applications of chlorantraniliprole @ 30, 37.5 and 60 g a.i. ha−1 and cyantraniliprole @ 60, 75 and 120 g a.i. ha−1resulted in adverse effect. Dehydrogenase activity was reduced by 21.34 and 22.07 per cent on 7thday, in double dose chlorantraniliprole and cyantraniliprole respectively. Activity of both acidic and alkaline phosphatase enzyme reduced by 4.98 and1.06 per cent at 5th day after application of chlorantraniliprole and cyantraniliprole @30 and 60 g a.i. ha−1 respectively. On the other hand, amylase and invertase activity showed non-significant reduction and urease enzyme activity was slightly reduced (0.02–3.44%). The recommended doses of these two diamides had short term adverse effect on these enzymes, while higher doses led to 20 -30 per cent reduction in enzyme activity). However, activity of enzymes was restored after some time which could be due to adaptive capacity of soil microbes and dissipation of the pesticide residues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invertases are involved in plant growth, development, and stress adaptation; however, invertase-encoding genes have not yet been reported in Allium species. In this study, we identified 23 invertase izogenes in garlic (Allium sativum L.): 11 encoding putative neutral/alkaline (AsN/AINV1–11) and 12 acid (6 cell-wall—AsCWINV1–6 and 6 vacuolar—AsVINV1–6) enzymes. Among them, AsN/AINV1, 3, 8–10, AsCWINV2–5, and AsVINV2–6 showed significant transcription in garlic organs (roots, bulbs, pseudostems, leaves, sprouts, and reproductive parts) in a tissue-specific manner, whereas the AsN/AINV4–6, 11, AsCWINV1, 6, and AsVINV1 genes had weak or no detectable expression. Gene promoters contained nine, nine, and sixteen hormone-, stress-, and light-responsive cis-regulatory elements, respectively, and fifteen sites related to transcription factor binding and plant development. Expression analysis revealed that 12 invertase genes strongly transcribed in the roots of A. sativum cv. Ershuizao showed differential expression in the roots and leaves of A. sativum cv. Sarmat exposed to abiotic stresses (low temperature, high salinity, and drought) and phytohormones (abscisic acid and methyl jasmonate), which was significantly correlated with glucose, fructose, and sucrose contents. Our results should further functional analysis of invertases from Allium crops and contribute to the breeding of stress-tolerant varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo, a renowned traditional Chinese orchid herb esteemed for its significant horticultural and medicinal value, thrives in adverse habitats and contends with various abiotic or biotic stresses. Acid invertases (AINV) are widely considered enzymes involved in regulating sucrose metabolism and have been revealed to participate in plant responses to environmental stress. Although members of AINV gene family have been identified and characterized in multiple plant genomes, detailed information regarding this gene family and its expression patterns remains unknown in D. officinale, despite their significance in polysaccharide biosynthesis. Results: This study systematically analyzed the D. officinale genome and identified four DoAINV genes, which were classified into two subfamilies based on subcellular prediction and phylogenetic analysis. Comparison of gene structures and conserved motifs in DoAINV genes indicated a high-level conservation during their evolution history. The conserved amino acids and domains of DoAINV proteins were identified as pivotal for their functional roles. Additionally, cis-elements associated with responses to abiotic and biotic stress were found to be the most prevalent motif in all DoAINV genes, indicating their responsiveness to stress. Furthermore, bioinformatics analysis of transcriptome data, validated by quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR), revealed distinct organ-specific expression patterns of DoAINV genes across various tissues and in response to abiotic stress. Examination of soluble sugar content and interaction networks provided insights into stress release and sucrose metabolism. Conclusions: DoAINV genes are implicated in various activities including growth and development, stress response, and polysaccharide biosynthesis. These findings provide valuable insights into the AINV gene amily of D. officinale and will aid in further elucidating the functions of DoAINV genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugar beet molasses is a low-value byproduct from the sugar industry. It contains significant amounts of sucrose (approx. 50% (w/w)), which can be used for many different applications, for example, as feedstock for the production of fuel (as ethanol) and biobased chemicals such as 5-hydoxymethyl furfural (HMF). To produce platform chemicals, sucrose is hydrolyzed into its monomeric C6 sugars: glucose and fructose. When comparing the hydrolysis rates of molasses with a pure sucrose solution, the specific reaction rate is much slower (Qp/x,60min = 93 and 70 gprod L−1 h−1 gcell−1 for pure sucrose and crude molasses, respectively) at the same sucrose concentration (300 g/L) and process conditions. To clarify why molasses inhibits the enzymatic hydrolysis rate, the influence of its viscosity and inorganic and organic composition was investigated. Also, the effects of molasses and treated molasses on pure enzymes, invertase (from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, 0.05 mg/mL), compared with hydrolysis using whole cells of Baker's yeast (3 mg/mL), were tested. The results indicate an inhibitory effect of potassium (Qp/x,60min = 76 gprod L−1 h−1 gcell−1), generally at high salt concentrations (Qp/x,60min = 67 gprod L−1 h−1 gcell−1), which could be correlated to the solution's high salt concentrations and possibly the synergistic effects of different ions when applying concentrations that were four times that in the molasses. Also, the viscosity and sucrose purity seem to have an effect, where pure sucrose solutions and thick juice from the sugar mill yielded higher hydrolysis rates (Qp/x,60min = 97 gprod L−1 h−1 gcell−1) than molasses-type solutions with a higher viscosity (Qp/x,60min = 70–74 gprod L−1 h−1 gcell−1). Attempting to further understand the effects of different components on the invertase activity, an in silico investigation was performed, indicating that high salt concentrations affected the binding of sucrose to the active site of the enzyme, which can result in a lower reaction rate. This knowledge is important for future scale-up of the hydrolysis process, since reduced hydrolysis rates require larger volumes to provide a certain productivity, requiring larger process equipment and thereby higher investment costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ecotoxicity of Ag particles of different size has been assessed by microbiological, biochemical, and phytotoxic indicators for the upper layer (0–20 cm) of ordinary chernozem (Haplic Chernozem) in a laboratory model experiment. The effect has been studied of nano- (10 and 100 nm) and microparticles (1000 nm) of Ag at concentrations of 1, 10, and 100 mg/kg on the biological parameters of ordinary chernozem 30 days after contamination: the activity of catalase, dehydrogenases, ferrireductase, urease, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, invertase, phosphatase, the total number of bacteria, the abundance of bacteria of Azotobacter genus, the number of germinated seeds and the length of radish roots. It was found that the ecotoxicity of Ag particles depended on their size: in most cases, Ag particles 10 nm in size had a stronger ecotoxic effect on the biological parameters than particles 100 and 1000 nm in size. There were no significant differences in the ecotoxicity of 100 and 1000 nm Ag particles. The difference in the effects of Ag particles of different sizes increased with increasing Ag concentration in the soil: the higher the Ag concentration was in the soil (from 1 to 100 mg/kg), the more pronounced the difference was in ecotoxicity between 10 nm Ag particles and 100 and 1000 nm Ag particles. Phytotoxic indicators were more sensitive to contamination by Ag nanoparticles at all concentrations studied (1, 10 and 100 mg/kg); the total number of bacteria, invertase and phosphatase activity at 10 and 100 mg/kg; the abundance of bacteria of Azotobacter genus and the activity of dehydrogenases at 100 mg/kg. It is advisable to use these indicators in biodiagnostics of the ecotoxicity of Ag nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, an acid invertase isolated from Lathyrus aphaca seedlings is purified, and its thermal properties are investigated. Acid invertase was purified through salt fractionation, CM-cellulose, and Ultrogel ACA-44 chromatography. Using SDS-PAGE, the consistency of the isolated enzyme was verified. The enzyme weighs 29 kDa at the molecular level. Acid invertase functions best at a pH of 3.0 and a temperature of 45 °C. Activation energy of 29.5 kJ mol−1 and K m and V max values of 0.5 mM and 119.7 µmol. min−1. mg−1 of protein was found for the isolated enzyme. It was shown that the mercaptide-forming agent p -chloromercuribenzoic acid (PCMB; 0.5 mM) and the enzyme's activity were both modestly increased by Ca2+, Mn2+, and Mg2+ ions but inhibited by Hg2+, Cd2+, and Pb2+ ions. At elevated temperatures, the invertase exhibited an increase in thermostability due to an increase in activation entropies (∆Sº) and a decrease in activation enthalpies (∆Hº). The interactions between 4 M urea and α-chymotrypsin were tetraphasic, causing periodic increases and decreases in invertase activity. It also suggests a potential explanation for acid-invertase thermal inactivation at high temperatures. This enzyme might be a catabolite-resistant invertase to produce high-gravity ethanol or fructose syrup. [Display omitted] • Acid invertase was purified from Lathyrus aphaca seedlings with molecular weight 29 kDa. • Acid invertase free in a solution of 5% (w/v) sucrose, pH 3.0, is stable up to 50 °C for a period of 4 h. • The K m and V max values for acid invertase was 0.5 mM and 119.7 µmol. min-1.mg−1 of protein. • The acid invertase is more stable and their energy of deactivation are 107 kJ/mol (25 kcal/mol), respectively. • The effects of α-chymotrypsin and 4 M urea were tetraphasic with periodic gain and loss of enzyme activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is the third most important food crop in the world. Potato tubers must be stored at cold temperatures to minimize sprouting and losses due to disease. However, cold temperatures strongly induce the expression of the potato vacuolar invertase gene (VInv) and cause reducing sugar accumulation. This process, referred to as "cold-induced sweetening," is a major postharvest problem for the potato industry. We discovered that the cold-induced expression of VInv is controlled by a 200 bp enhancer, VInvIn2En, located in its second intron. We identified several DNA motifs in VInvIn2En that bind transcription factors involved in the plant cold stress response. Mutation of these DNA motifs abolished VInvIn2En function as a transcriptional enhancer. We developed VInvIn2En deletion lines in both diploid and tetraploid potato using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated nuclease 9 (Cas9)-mediated gene editing. VInv transcription in cold-stored tubers was significantly reduced in the deletion lines. Interestingly, the VInvIn2En sequence is highly conserved among distantly related Solanum species, including tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and other non-tuber-bearing species. We conclude that the VInv gene and the VInvIn2En enhancer have adopted distinct roles in the cold stress response in tubers of tuber-bearing Solanum species. An intronic enhancer is responsible for cold-induced expression of the vacuolar invertase gene in potato. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the biomarkers of coagulation system-related diseases, the detection of thrombin is of practical importance. Thus, this study developed a portable biosensor based on a personal glucometer for rapid detection of thrombin activity. Fibrinogen was used for the detection of thrombin, and the assay principle was inspired by the blood coagulation process, where thrombin hydrolyzes fibrinogen to produce a fibrin hydrogel, and the amount of invertase encapsulated in the fibrin hydrogel fluctuates in accordance with the activity of thrombin in the sample solution. The quantitative assay is conducted by measuring the amount of unencapsulated invertase available to hydrolyze the substrate sucrose, and the signal readout is recorded using a personal glucometer. A linear detection range of 0–0.8 U/mL of thrombin with a limit of detection of 0.04 U/mL was obtained based on the personal glucometer sensing platform. The results of the selectivity and interference experiments showed that the developed personal glucometer sensing platform is highly selective and accurate for thrombin activity. Finally, the reliability of the portable glucometer method for rapid thrombin detection in serum samples was investigated by measuring the recovery rate, which ranged from 92.8% to 107.7%. In summary, the fibrin hydrogel sensing platform proposed in this study offers a portable and versatile means for detecting thrombin using a personal glucometer. This approach not only simplifies the detection process, but also eliminates the need for large instruments and skilled operators, and substantially reduces detection costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bamboo shoots are considered as a healthy food and are popular in Asian cooking. The distribution of nutrients and their dynamics during the growth of bamboo shoots play a crucial role in guiding the harvesting and processing of bamboo shoots. In this study, Dendrocalamus brandisii (Munro) Kurz, an important bamboo species for harvesting fine edible shoots in southern China and Southeast Asia, was used to measure several indicators related to the edibility and nutritional value of fresh shoots across five height grades (H1: 20~30 cm; H2: 31~40 cm; H3: 41~50 cm; H4: 51~60 cm; and H5: 61~70 cm). The results indicated that, although the nutrient and mineral elements showed an increasing (crude fiber content, CFC), decreasing (total soluble sugars content, TSSC; ash content, AC; Fe; Zn), or fluctuating (soluble protein content, SPC; P; K; Ca) pattern with the growth of bamboo shoots, both the CFC and TSSC showed the highest values in the lower part at five growth heights, indicating that carbohydrates were mainly enriched in the bases of bamboo shoots. The SPC, AC, and other mineral elements were higher in the upper part, especially in H1–H3. Combined with the relatively high activity of metabolic enzymes (sucrose-phosphate synthase, SPS; neutral invertase, NI) in the upper part of bamboo shoots (although not statistically significant), it can be inferred that the shoot tip may be the main tissue for early nutrient synthesis and metabolism. Compared with the shoot height, different parts of a D. brandisii bamboo shoot are more indicative of its nutrient properties. Although all heights of bamboo shoots showed an abundance of nutrients and mineral elements, bamboo shoots with a height of less than 40 cm had a higher TSSC, AC, Fe, and Zn, and a lower CFC, thus having a better balance between nutrients and edibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims Extrafloral nectaries are nectar-secreting structures present on vegetative parts of plants which provide indirect defences against herbivore attack. Extrafloral nectaries in Clerodendrum chinense are patelliform-shaped specialized trichomatous structures. However, a complete understanding of patelliform extrafloral nectaries in general, and of C. chinense in particular, has not yet been established to provide fundamental insight into the cellular physiological machinery involved in nectar biosynthesis and secretory processes. Methods We studied temporal changes in the morphological, anatomical and ultrastructural features in the architectures of extrafloral nectaries. We also compared metabolite profiles of extrafloral nectar, nectary tissue, non-nectary tissue and phloem sap. Further, both in situ histolocalization and normal in vitro activities of enzymes related to sugar metabolism were examined. Key Results Four distinct tissue regions in the nectar gland were revealed from histochemical characterization, among which the middle nectariferous tissue was found to be the metabolically active region, while the intermediate layer was found to be lipid-rich. Ultrastructural study showed the presence of a large number of mitochondria along with starch-bearing chloroplasts in the nectariferous region. However, starch depletion was noted with progressive maturation of nectaries. Metabolite analysis revealed compositional differences among nectar, phloem sap, nectary and non-nectary tissue. Invertase activity was higher in secretory stages and localized in nectariferous tissue and adjacent region. Conclusions Our study suggests extrafloral nectar secretion in C. chinense to be both eccrine and merocrine in nature. A distinct intermediate lipid-rich layer that separates the epidermis from nectary parenchyma was revealed, which possibly acts as a barrier to water flow in nectar. This study also revealed a distinction between nectar and phloem sap, and starch could act as a nectar precursor, as evidenced from enzymatic and ultrastructural studies. Thus, our findings on changing architecture of extrafloral nectaries with temporal secretion revealed a cell physiological process involved in nectar biosynthesis and secretion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the production of bakery and sweet paste products containing the prebiotic fructooligosaccharide (FOS) using an in situ method with invertase. The FOS formation method was optimized for each product to ensure high quality and appropriate sweetness. The method effectively decreased the sugar content in the final product by 12.7–68.4% while maintaining quality. The FOS content was 3.8–4.8% in castella, 0.6–3.6% in sweet dough bread, and 7.5–8.5% in sweet chickpea paste. By contrast, the commercial method of adding FOS decreased product quality; castella product height decreased by 20.8%, and hardness increased by 79%. The specific volume of the sweet dough bread decreased by 17.4% and hardness increased by 59%. Therefore, we developed a commercially feasible method to efficiently utilize FOS in sugar-containing foods while maintaining their quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strigolactones (SLs) were recently defined as a novel class of plant hormones that act as key regulators of diverse developmental processes and environmental responses. Much research has focused on SL biosynthesis and signaling in roots and shoots, but little is known about whether SLs are produced in early developing seeds and about their roles in ovule development after fertilization. This study revealed that the fertilized ovules and early developing pericarp in Xanthoceras sorbifolium produced minute amounts of two strigolactones: 5-deoxystrigol and strigol. Their content decreased in the plants with the addition of exogenous phosphate (Pi) compared to those without the Pi treatment. The exogenous application of an SL analog (GR24) and a specific inhibitor of SL biosynthesis (TIS108) affected early seed development and fruit set. In the Xanthoceras genome, we identified 69 potential homologs of genes involved in SL biological synthesis and signaling. Using RNA-seq to characterize the expression of these genes in the fertilized ovules, 37 genes were found to express differently in the fertilized ovules that were aborting compared to the normally developing ovules. A transcriptome analysis also revealed that in normally developing ovules after fertilization, 12 potential invertase genes were actively expressed. Hexoses (glucose and fructose) accumulated at high concentrations in normally developing ovules during syncytial endosperm development. In contrast, a low ratio of hexose and sucrose levels was detected in aborting ovules with a high strigolactone content. XsD14 virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) increased the hexose content in fertilized ovules and induced the proliferation of endosperm free nuclei, thereby promoting early seed development and fruit set. We propose that the crosstalk between sugar and strigolactone signals may be an important part of a system that accurately regulates the abortion of ovules after fertilization. This study is useful for understanding the mechanisms underlying ovule abortion, which will serve as a guide for genetic or chemical approaches to promote seed yield in Xanthoceras. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enzymatic activity of soils is the most important diagnostic indicator of the ecological state of soils affected by various types of anthropogenic impact. The aim of the study was to evaluate the enzymatic activity of ordinary chernozem (Haplic Chernozem) contaminated with Ag, Bi, Te, and Tl. Ten enzymes (catalase, dehydrogenase, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, ascorbate oxidase, ferrireductase, protease, phosphatase, invertase, and urease) were analyzed. According to the degree of inhibition of enzymes, heavy metals formed the following sequence: Tl > Ag > Bi > Te. With an increase in the concentration of heavy metals, the toxic effect on the activity of enzymes increased. The oxidoreductases showed greater sensitivity to Ag, Bi, Te, and Tl contamination than hydrolases. Among oxidoreductases, the highest sensitivity was found for ferrireductase, and the lowest one for ascorbate oxidase. According to the activity of enzymes of the hydrolase class, invertase was the most sensitive, and urease was the least sensitive. When contaminated with Ag, Bi, and Te, invertase had the highest informative value, and when contaminated with Tl, urease and polyphenol oxidase were the most informative. Among the enzymes of the oxidoreductase class, the highest information value was found for peroxidase, and the lowest one for ascorbate oxidase. Among the enzymes of the hydrolase class, invertase was the most sensitive, and phosphatase was the least sensitive. The results of the study can be used to assess the ecological state of soils contaminated with Ag, Bi, Te and Tl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]