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Penaeus monodon is a crucial economic crustacean globally and a focal point of aquatic research. Germplasm resources provide a diverse food source for humans, meeting various nutritional needs; they also maintain plant and animal gene banks, enhancing resilience, adaptability, and promoting ecological balance in terms of genetic diversity. To accurately assess the germplasm resources of P. monodon, we conducted a comprehensive investigation. We analyzed muscle characteristics, nutrient content, amino acids, fatty acids, and genetic diversity using whole-genome sequencing in six P. monodon groups. The results showed that the crude protein content of the six groups of P. monodon was 21.17–24.60 g/100 g, crude fat content was 0.60–0.80 g/100 g, essential amino acid content was 5.44–6.41 g/100 g, total amino acid content was 15.68–18.63 g/100 g, and total fatty acid content was 354.78–587.43 mg/100 g. Genetic differentiation index (Fst) values ranged from 0.029 to 0.604 for six groups. PmSZ has a good genetic condition. There was no significant difference in crude fat in conventional nutrients, and the difference in biochemical indexes T-AOC, CAT, and SOD was not significant (P > 0.05). The noteworthy point is that the analysis of genetic diversity reveals a moderate level of genetic diversity. PmDF and PmZH exhibit the highest degree of differentiation, while PmRP and PmZH show the lowest degree of differentiation. Our survey results establish a critical foundation for comprehending and harnessing the germplasm resources essential for selectively breeding robust P. monodon populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global population growth and demographic restructuring are driving the food and agriculture sectors to provide greater quantities and varieties of food, of which protein resources are particularly important. Traditional animal-source proteins are becoming increasingly difficult to meet the demand of the current consumer market, and the search for alternative protein sources is urgent. Microbial proteins are biomass obtained from nonpathogenic single-celled organisms, such as bacteria, fungi, and microalgae. They contain large amounts of proteins and essential amino acids as well as a variety of other nutritive substances, which are considered to be promising sustainable alternatives to traditional proteins. In this review, typical approaches to microbial protein synthesis processes were highlighted and the characteristics and applications of different types of microbial proteins were described. Bacteria, fungi, and microalgae can be individually or co-cultured to obtain protein-rich biomass using starch-based raw materials, organic wastes, and one-carbon compounds as fermentation substrates. Microbial proteins have been gradually used in practical applications as foods, nutritional supplements, flavor modifiers, and animal feeds. However, further development and application of microbial proteins require more advanced biotechnological support, screening of good strains, and safety considerations. This review contributes to accelerating the practical application of microbial proteins as a promising alternative protein resource and provides a sustainable solution to the food crisis facing the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: To improve the utilisation of abomasum and explore the material basis of its antioxidant and hyaluronidase inhibitory activities, a homogeneous protein RDA4‐1 was isolated from the abomasum of cultured red deer by two‐step chromatography process for the first time in this study. It has a molecular weight of 15 kDa and comprises 43.56% essential amino acids. RDA4‐1 scavenged 50.97% of DPPH• and 88.37% of ABTS+· at 1.5 mg mL−1, and inhibited hyaluronidase by 79.23% at 1 mg mL−1. The CD and fluorescence spectroscopy was used to initiate explore the hyaluronidase inhibition reaction process. With an increase in the concentration of RDA4‐1 in the inhibition reaction, the wavelength of the negative peak of CD shifted from 208 to 218 nm, and the absorption of the positive peak of CD increased from 0.5 to 8.3 mdeg. Furthermore, fluorescence absorption at a wavelength of 340 nm rose from 248 to 762 au. These findings suggest that the interaction of RDA4‐1 with hyaluronidase induces alterations in the secondary structure of the protein complex, and RDA4‐1 binds reversibly to the enzyme in a non‐covalent manner. The results of this study indicate that RDA4‐1 could serve as a potential hyaluronidase inhibitor in the development of nutraceuticals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effects of different water temperatures (20, 23, 26 and 29°C) on the ovarian development and biochemical composition of Portunus trituberculatus (a swimming crab) after mating. The results showed that the higher the water temperature was, the faster the ovarian development, especially the GSI in the 29°C group was significantly higher than that in the 20°C and 23°C groups (P < 0.05). The hepatosomatic index (HSI) decreased with increasing water temperature, but there was no significant difference between the groups at different water temperatures (P > 0.05). The muscle yield (MY) was basically maintained at approximately 34%. The condition factor (CF) of the crab reached 0.62 in the 29°C group, which was significantly higher than that in the 20°C and 23°C groups (P < 0.05). Histological observation revealed that the number of lipid droplets and the degree of homogenization of yolk granules in ovarian oocytes gradually increased with the increase of the water temperature. From the perspective of conventional biochemical composition, the moisture and crude protein contents in muscle and the crude fat content in hepatopancreas did not change much among the groups, but the crude protein content in the ovary of the 29°C group was as high as 24.65%, which was significantly higher than that in the other three groups (P < 0.05). In terms of fatty acid composition, there was little difference in the fatty acid content in the ovaries of the different water temperature groups. The contents of C22 : 2n6 and C18 : 3n3 in polyunsaturated fatty acids were significantly higher in the 29°C group than in the other three groups (P < 0.05). In the hepatopancreas, the contents of C22 : 5n3 (DPA) and C22 : 6n3 (DHA) in the 20°C group were the lowest, 0.07% and 0.15%, respectively, which were significantly lower values than in the 29°C group (P < 0.05). The change of amino acid content is mainly reflected in ovarian tissues, showing a gradual upward trend as a whole. Furthermore, the essential amino acid score (EAAS) and average score of the two tissues in the 20°C and 23°C groups were relatively close, and both reached the highest score in the 29°C group. Overall, with increasing water temperature, the rate of ovarian development significantly accelerated, and the nutritional quality of the tissues improved in these swimming crabs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes a process based on the application of high-voltage pulsed electric field (PEF) in combination with pH shift for protein and solute release from fresh edible seaweed from Gracilaria sp.. The PEF was administered using a custom-made generator within and electroporation cell with sliding electrodes. The applied PEF parameters comprised 1000 V applied voltage, 50 µs pulse duration, 200 pulses delivered at 3 Hz frequency, and an inter-electrode gap ranging from 3.9 to 4.4 mm. The pH shift extraction was performed through a combination of fractions extracted sequentially at pH-shift steps spanning the pH range of 1 to 12. Both PEF and pH played pivotal roles in the fractionation of Gracilaria sp., enhancing protein release compared to water extraction, PEF pre-treatment, or pH shift alone. The combination of PEF and sequential pH washes (pH 1 to 12) resulted in a total solute release of 9.61 ± 0.04% and protein release of 28.02 ± 0.2% with essential amino acid (EAA) content of 63.6 ± 5.3%, and branched amino acids (BCAA) content of 3.47 ± 0.06%. It is noteworthy that PEF significantly increased the EAA and BCAA content of the protein extracts, irrespective of pH shifts. These findings underscore the promising potential of PEF pre-treatment in extracting proteins from edible seaweeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant-based protein sources as a sustainable alternative to animal sources are highly relevant for food and dietary supplements industries. Plant proteins are becoming popular as an eco-friendly source for meeting global protein requirements due to their importance in nutrition, management of metabolic diseases, biological activities, functionality in processed food products and their low carbon footprints. We applied biochemical protein extraction protocol and prepared protein concentrate from an underutilised cereal, foxtail millet, with plausible applications in foods and supplements. Herein efforts were utilised to obtain foxtail millet protein (FMP) concentrate by means of standardisation of processes of extraction cum isolation. The conditions including flour to solvent ratio, extraction-precipitation pH, dissolution time, etc. were optimised to significantly improve protein yield and recovery. The FMP concentrate prepared was also analysed for nutritional composition, bioactive compounds, amino acid content and digestion properties in comparison to packaged brown rice protein concentrate. The protein concentrate prepared was found to have high digestibility, rich in essential amino acids with good phenolic and flavonoid content, thereby making it a potential sensory and antioxidant additive for food/pharmaceutical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A member of the Moringaceae family, Moringa Oleifera Lam is a perennial deciduous tropical tree known as the 'Miracle Tree' for its medicinal and nutritional benefits. Food and nutrition are crucial aspects of the development and maintenance of healthy health. Moringa oleifera is a multi-purpose herbal bush that is used as both human food and a medical alternative all over the world. Various parts of the tree are used to treat chronic diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, inflammation, oxidative stress, diabetes, and cancer. Moringa is an excellent source of essential nutrients and has been found to have a significant impact on improving nutritional deficiencies in populations with limited access to food. Moringa oleifera contains essential amino acids, carotenoids, minerals, fats, carbohydrates, proteins, phytochemicals, vitamins, and fibre. Moringa offers nutritional and economic advantages, medicinal and therapeutic uses, and future biological potential for human well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nutritional, structural and functional properties of proteins from tiger nut seed meal (TNPF) were investigated in this study. Four kinds of TNPF, albumin (ALB), globulin (GLO), glutelin (GLU), and prolamin (PRO) were obtained through Osborne extraction method, comprising 42.37%, 6.23%, 31.25%, and 5.10% of the total TNPF, respectively. The ratios of essential amino acids to total amino acids in ALB, GLO, GLU and PRO were 43.60%, 38.29%, 42.39%, and 42.82%, respectively. Our results revealed that GLO exhibited the highest in vitro protein digestibility (86.51%), followed by ALB (81.68%), PRO (75.73%), and GLU (60.52%). Further, the analysis of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, intrinsic fluorescence spectra, and surface hydrophobicity indicated that the secondary structure and ternary conformation of the four kinds of TNPF were significantly different. Moreover, four kinds of TNPF exhibited their highest solubility, foaming capacity and emulsifying stability under alkaline condition (pH = 12.0) and the lowest near the isoelectric points. Additionally, GLU exhibited the highest foaming ability, emulsification property, and water/oil holding capacity, while ALB showed the highest thermal stability. These findings suggested that GLU extracted from tiger nut seed meal demonstrated excellent nutritional and functional properties, making it a promising food additive to enhance food quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to realize the full processing and utilization of isolated protein from flaxseed meal. Flaxseed protein isolate and degummed and defatted flaxseed protein isolate (DD-FPI) were prepared from the cold-pressed flaxseed meal (FM) using ultrasound-assisted aqueous extraction. A comparison was also made on their physicochemical, structural and functional properties. The results showed that the protein mass fractions in the FM, and degummed and defatted flaxseed meal were (37.52 ± 0.04) % and (37.47 ± 0.02) %, respectively. The degumming and degreasing treatment of FM increased the protein purity by about 15% before protein extraction. The molecular weights of FPI and DD-FPI were determined to be 10–55 kDa, indicating the most outstanding protein bands. A total of 17 amino acids were identified in each of them, including the abundant essential and non-essential amino acids. FTIR spectroscopy showed that the secondary structures of FPI and DD-FPI were similarly the looser structure, withaverage stability. SEM observed that the FPI exhibited the lower microscopic porosity than DD-FPI. The XRD diffraction intensities and peak shapes showed that there was less crystallinity or orderly arrangement in the structures of both FPI and DD-FPI, where the crystallinity of DD-FPI was lower than that of FPI. The amphiphilicity, hydrophilicity and the lipophilicity of the two proteins were better than those of soybean protein isolate. Both FPI and DD-FPI presented the excellent alkali solubility at different pH and salt ion concentrations. The foaming ability, emulsification activity and emulsion stability of DD-FPI were better than those of FPI, while the foam stability was the opposite. Therefore, the two isolated proteins can be expected to apply into the field of functional food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corn (Zea mays L.) is the third most important staple cereal crop after wheat and rice, which is used for human consumption, biofuels, livestock feed and also as raw material in industry. It provides over 20% of total calories in human diet. The sh2 mutant in supersweet corn composites and hybrids leads to enhanced sugar and vitamin B3 content in developing grains and reduction of starch content in mature grains. The deficiency of essential amino acids lysine and tryptophan in maize proteins has been significantly improved with the use of opaque2 (o2) allele leading to the development of quality protein maize (QPM). In this study, the opaque2 allele was pyramided in a sweet corn composite with Shrunken 2 (sh2) allele to develop a sweet and quality protein maize composite with higher content of essential amino acids and vitamins. QPM inbred line VQL-2 was used as the donor parent for o2 allele having higher value of lysine (3.64 ± 0.1 g/100 g), tryptophan (1.91 ± 0.01 g/100 g) and vitamin B3 (1.97 ± 0.02 mg/100 g) and the Punjab sweetcorn-1 as the recurrent parent having higher values of vitamin B1 (0.1 ± 0.01 mg/100 g) and C (6.58 ± 0.82 mg/100 g). The EU-Sweetcorn QP composite was developed through marker-assisted backcross breeding using umc1066 marker linked to o2 mutant and selection of homozygous sh2sh2 plants was done phenotypically at maturity. The EU-Sweetcorn QP composite developed for the first time in India has superior nutritional quality, e.g., high essential amino acids lysine and tryptophan and vitamins B1, B3 and C as estimated using RP-HPLC–PDA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tryptophan (Trp) is an essential amino acid required by the body. It can only be consumed through daily food intake. Accurate determination of Trp in food and biological samples was crucial for safeguarding human health. Fluorescence analytical technique is one of the most promising methods for sensing Trp because of its high selectivity, good sensitivity and fast response-time. Most current reviews lack a summary of the detection of nutrients such as Trp. A review of Trp-responsive fluorescent sensors for food, pharmaceutical and biological samples (2017 onwards) was presented in this paper. The fluorescence mechanism, sensor types and practical applications of these sensors were discussed, and challenges and future perspective to the development of Trp-responsive fluorescent sensors were presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of supplementation with freeze-dried Clostridium butyricum (CB) powder on the growth, immune function and intestinal health of Litopenaeus vannamei after replacing fishmeal in the diet with cottonseed protein concentrate (CPC). Six treatment groups were designed, namely the control group (CON, 25% fish meal) and five alternative groups (CPC replacing 40% fishmeal protein in the control group). Based on the alternative group, 0%, 0.065%, 0.26%, 1.04%, and 4.16% of freeze-dried CB bacterial powder (4.6 × 108 CFU/g) were added, recorded as CB 0, CB 0.065, CB 0.26, CB 1.04, and CB 4.16, respectively. Each treatment had 3 replicates of 40 shrimps (0.29 ± 0.01 g) each and breeding for 8 weeks. After the experiment, serum enzyme activities, muscle amino acids, and intestinal parameters (short-chain fatty acids, digestive enzymes, gene expression, and microbiota) were tested to explore the effects of freeze-dried CB powder in shrimp aquaculture. The results showed that the CB1.04 group had the highest final body weight, weight gain rate, and specific growth ratio (P > 0.05). Freeze-dried CB powder increased the activity of serum superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, complement 3, and complement 4. Muscle tyrosine, proline, and total essential amino acids were remarkably increased in the CB 1.04 group (P < 0.05). Propionic acid levels were elevated in the CB 1.04 and CB4.16 groups (P < 0.001). The relative expression of Dorsal, Relish, and Target of Rapamycin (TOR) genes was significantly increased in the CB 1.04 group (P < 0.01). Actinobacteria and Demequina abundance was significantly higher in the CB 1.04 group (P < 0.01). The results of the Vibrio parahaemolyticus challenge test showed the highest cumulative mortality rate (43.33%) in the CB0 group and the lowest cumulative mortality rate (20%) in the CB1.04 group. This study confirmed that freeze-dried CB powder alleviated the negative effects of CPC replacement of fish meal protein in Litopenaeus vannamei, and the optimum additive level was 2.11% (9.71 × 109 CFU/kg) as indicated by binary regression analysis of specific growth ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for marine bioactive compounds as therapeutic agents in supplements or functional foods has increased. However, their instability, bitter taste, and potential degradation during digestion have hindered their widespread use. To overcome these problems, a functional supplement powder was produced using the encapsulation technique of nanoliposomes containing shrimp lipid extract, fish oil (FO), and fish protein hydrolysate. Chitosan and whey protein concentrate (WPC) were used to coat the nanoliposomes in mono/bilayer and composite forms, followed by freeze‐drying for 72 h. The physicochemical characteristics, nutritional, in vitro release, and sensory evaluation were investigated. The WPC‐monolayer treatment exhibited the highest solubility (28.83 mg/100 g), encapsulation efficiency (97.67%), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Although the mono/bilayer treatments of whey protein showed lower docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid than FO, they presented a favorable amino acid profile. Compared to acidic stomach conditions, the release in the intestine was higher. Incorporating 1.5 g of the supplement powder per 100 g of milk can meet an individual's daily nutritional needs for essential amino acids and PUFAs. Therefore, encapsulating marine bioactive compounds in liposomal carriers could be a beneficial approach to their direct use as a nutritious powder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid-state fermentation (SSF) is a sustainable method to convert food waste and plant biomass into novel foods for human consumption. Surplus bread crusts (BC) have the structural capacity to serve as an SSF scaffold, and their nutritional value could be increased in combination with perennial ryegrass (PRG), a biorefining feedstock with high-quality protein but an unpleasant sensory profile. SSF with Rhizopus oligosporus was investigated with these substrates to determine if the overall nutritional value could be increased. The BC-PRG SSFs were conducted for up to 72 h, over which time the starch content had decreased by up to 89.6%, the total amino acid (AA) content increased by up to 141.9%, and the essential amino acid (EAA) content increased by up to 54.5%. The BC-PRG SSF demonstrated that this process could potentially valorise BC and PRG, both widely available but underexplored substrates, for the production of alternative proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compound 4,4′‐(1,4‐phenylenebis(thiazole‐4,2‐diyl))bis(1H‐pyrazol‐5‐amine) (5) was used in the preparation of novel pyrazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidines incorporating a thiazole moiety (6, 7b, 8, 9, and 13–18). the reactions were described via the following reactions: acetylacetone, acetanilide, diethyl malonate, ethyl cyanoacetate, 3‐(dimethylamino)‐1‐phenylprop‐2‐en‐1‐one, 2‐((dimethylamino)methylene)‐3‐oxopentane‐nitrile, 3‐(dimethylamino)‐1‐(thiophen‐3‐yl)prop‐2‐en‐1‐one, 2‐((dimethylamino)methylene)‐5,5‐dimethylcyclo‐hexane‐1,3‐dione, dimethylformamide‐dimethylacetal, and with a mixture of p‐nitro benzaldehyde/cyclohexanone, respectively. Gram‐positive bacteria B. subtilis and B. thuringiensis, as well as Gram‐negative bacteria E. coli and P. aeruginosa, were tested for the newly synthesized compounds' in vitro antibacterial activity. Their in vitro antifungal activity against fungus strains B. Fabae and F. oxysporum was also assessed. The compounds 16–18 had the strongest activity against Gram‐positive bacteria, with MIC values = 3.125 µg/mL against B. subtilis, which is equipotent to the drug reference Chloramphenicol, and MIC values = 6.25 µg/mL against B. thuringiensis, which is equipotent to the drug reference Cephalothin. Compounds (13–18) were shown to be superimposable to CNB based on their docking results, with the exception of derivative 18. Furthermore, they demonstrated a strong binding mode with DNA gyrase B's active pocket (PDB: 1KZN) by forming several contacts with the enzyme's essential amino acids in a way that was comparable to CNB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal infections are a serious threat to public health as they are becoming increasingly frequent. A major problem stems also from a rising fungal resistance to currently available antifungal therapies, therefore novel molecular targets are highly desirable. Exploration of enzymes participating in the biosynthesis pathways of essential amino acids such as L-methionine (L-Met) may provide new insights into pharmaceutical development. The MET15 gene from Candida albicans, encoding O-acetyl-L-homoserine sulfhydrylase (Met15p), an enzyme catalyzing the second step in that pathway, was cloned and expressed in two versions: as N and C-terminal oligo-His-tagged fusion proteins. The recombinant enzymes revealed appropriate activity, and catalyzed conversion of O-acetyl-L-homoserine and a sulfide ion to produce L-homocysteine. A new RP-HPLC-DAD method, using the enzymatic reaction product pre-column derivatization with 5,5'-dithio-bis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) was developed and used by us to determine Met15p activity. Newly synthesized compounds as well as two commercially available exhibited a Met15p inhibitory effect which was related to antifungal activity. Fungal cells' sensitivity to inhibitors depending on the presence or absence of L-Met in the medium clearly indicated Met15p targeting. Moreover, the synergistic effect of the first methionine biosynthetic enzyme affecting inhibitor and Met15p inhibitors indicate that methionine biosynthesis pathway enzymes are promising molecular targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tryptophan is an essential amino acid involved in critical cellular processes in vertebrates, serving as a precursor for serotonin and kynurenine, which are key neuromodulators to influence neural and immune functions. Systematic and quantitative measurement of tryptophan is vital to understanding these processes. Results: Here, we utilized a robust and highly responsive green ratiometric indicator for tryptophan (GRIT) to quantitatively measure tryptophan dynamics in bacteria, mitochondria of mammalian cell cultures, human serum, and intact zebrafish. At the cellular scale, these quantitative analyses uncovered differences in tryptophan dynamics across cell types and organelles. At the whole-organism scale, we revealed that inflammation-induced tryptophan concentration increases in zebrafish brain led to elevated serotonin and kynurenine levels, prolonged sleep duration, suggesting a novel metabolic connection between immune response and behavior. Moreover, GRIT's application in detecting reduced serum tryptophan levels in patients with inflammation symptoms suggests its potential as a high-throughput diagnostic tool. Conclusions: In summary, this study introduces GRIT as a powerful method for studying tryptophan metabolism and its broader physiological implications, paving the way for new insights into the metabolic regulation of health and disease across multiple biological scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research on low-protein-level diets has indicated that even though the profiles of essential amino acids (EAAs) follow the recommendation for a normal-protein-level diet, broilers fed low-protein diets failed to achieve productive performance compared to those fed normal diets. Therefore, it is imperative to reassess the optimum profile of EAAs in low-protein diets and establish a new ideal pattern for amino acid balance. Furthermore, identifying novel sensitive biomarkers for assessing amino acid balance will greatly facilitate the development of amino acid nutrition and application technology. In this study, 12 dietary treatments [Con(+), Con(-), L&A(-), L&A(+), M&C(-), M&C(+), BCAA (-), BCAA(+), Thr(-), Thr(+), Trp(-) and Trp(+)] were established by combining different EAAs including lysine and arginine, methionine and cysteine, branched-chain amino acid (BCAA), threonine, and tryptophan to observe the growth and development of the broiler chickens fed with low-protein-level diets. Based on the biochemical parameters and untargeted metabolomic analysis of animals subjected to different treatments, biomarkers associated with optimal and suboptimal amino acid balance were identified. Results: Growth performance, carcass characteristics, hepatic enzyme activity, serum biochemical parameters, and breast muscle mRNA expression differed significantly between male and female broilers under different dietary amino acid patterns. Male broilers exhibited higher sensitivity to the adjustment of amino acid patterns than female broilers. For the low-protein diet, the dietary concentrations of lysine, arginine, and tryptophan, but not of methionine, cystine, or threonine, needed to be increased. Therefore, further research on individual BCAA is required. For untargeted metabolomic analysis, Con(+) was selected as a normal diet (NP) while Con(-) represented a low-protein diet (LP). L&A(+) denotes a low-protein amino acid balanced diet (LPAB) and Thr(+) represents a low-protein amino acid imbalance diet (LPAI). The metabolites oxypurinol, pantothenic acid, and D-octopine in birds were significantly influenced by different dietary amino acid patterns. Conclusion: Adjusting the amino acid profile of low-protein diets is required to achieve normal growth performance in broiler chickens fed normal-protein diets. Oxypurinol, pantothenic acid, and D-octopine have been identified as potentially sensitive biomarkers for assessing amino acid balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pseudocereal proteins are attracting lot of attention due to the presence of high-quality essential amino acids. However, due to their limited functional profile, commercial use of these crucial protein sources is still a long way off which restricts their application in a number of food products. From a technological viewpoint, protein functional characteristics are very critical. Modification approaches alter the conformational characteristics of proteins and can impart desirable functional properties particularly required in different food systems. Knowledge about the functionality, structure and modification of pseudocereal proteins is very scarce. Herein, this review aims to provide an up-to-date information about the functionality and latest approaches used to alter the conformation which in turn can enhance the functionality of pseudocereal proteins thereby increasing their potential use in a number of food products. The research summarized in this review reveals that different modificational approaches like physical, chemical and enzymatic have subsequently altered the conformational characteristics followed by denaturation of different pseudocereal proteins which in turn have significantly improved their physicochemical, functional and nutritional characteristics of these proteins. Pseudocereal proteins having essential amino acid profile coupled with improved functional properties can be used in place of animal and cereal proteins in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world's growing population and evolving food habits have created a need for alternative plant protein sources, with pulses playing a crucial role as healthy staple foods. Dry beans are high-protein pulses rich in essential amino acids like lysine and bioactive peptides. They have gathered attention for their nutritional quality and potential health benefits concerning metabolic syndrome. This review highlights dry bean proteins' nutritional quality, health benefits, and limitations, focusing on recent eco-friendly emerging technologies for their obtaining and functionalization. Antinutritional factors (ANFs) in bean proteins can affect their in vitro protein digestibility (IVPD), and lectins have been identified as potential allergens. Recently, eco-friendly emerging technologies such as ultrasound, microwaves, subcritical fluids, high-hydrostatic pressure, enzyme technology, and dry fractionation methods have been explored for extracting and functionalizing dry bean proteins. These technologies have shown promise in reducing ANFs, improving IVPD, and modifying allergen epitopes. Additionally, they enhance the techno-functional properties of bean proteins, making them more soluble, emulsifying, foaming, and gel-forming, with enhanced water and oil-holding capacities. By utilizing emerging innovative technologies, protein recovery from dry beans and the development of protein isolates can meet the demand for alternative protein sources while being eco-friendly, safe, and efficient. HIGHLIGHTS: Dry beans are a source of lysine-rich proteins and high-quality AA for the diet. Physical treatments can reduce the ANFs of beans and increase protein digestibility. Eco-friendly technologies can treat, modify, extract, and separate bean proteins. Conformational changes with protein unfolding improve WHC, EA, and solubility. The combined use of emerging technologies allows for conveying advantages of each one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we quantified floral resources (nectar and pollen production) and their quality (nectar sugar composition, pollen protein content, pollen amino acid composition) in five Acer species (f. Sapindaceae) growing in forests and commonly planted in urban areas in the temperate zone. Acer trees provide high amounts of sugars and/or pollen. No nectar was produced by A. negundo flowers. The other species produced nectar in functionally female flowers. The floral nectar was composed of sucrose, glucose, and fructose and was classified as hexose-rich or sucrose-rich. The pollen of all the Acer species contained essential amino acids. Acer trees should be planted for improvement of cost-effective food resources in various landscape types (agroforestry, urban areas), with the exception of A. negundo (an invasive species with no nectar available). However, maple trees alone are not sufficient to support pollinators, and other plant species flowering before and after Acer spp. should be planted to ensure a continued supply of food for pollinators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Essential amino acid (EAA) and omega-3 fatty acid ingestion independently attenuate leg skeletal muscle disuse atrophy in uninjured persons. However, no data exist regarding the effectiveness of combined EAA and omega-3 fatty acid ingestion to mitigate skeletal muscle disuse atrophy in response to anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) surgery. This pilot trial will explore the feasibility of recruitment and retention of ACLR outpatients from a single center across 18 months to consume either a combination of omega-3 fatty acids and EAAs, or a placebo control, for 4 weeks before and 2 weeks after surgery. Methods: Thirty adult (≥ 18 years old) ACLR outpatients will be recruited for this single center, double-blind, two-arm randomized controlled feasibility pilot trial. Participants will consume either 5 g⋅day−1 of omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) and 40 g⋅day−1 of EAAs or 5 g⋅day−1 of a control fatty acid mixture (safflower oil) and 40 g⋅day−1 of non-essential amino acids (NEAAs). Fatty acid supplements will be consumed 4 weeks before and for 2 weeks after ACLR surgery, whereas the EAAs and NEAAs will be consumed 1 week before and for 2 weeks after ACLR surgery. The primary outcomes are feasibility of recruitment and retention, with the goal to recruit 30 outpatients across 18 months and retain 22 participants upon completion of the study protocol following 12 weeks of data collection. These results will be reported using descriptive statistics, along with reasons and timepoints for study dropout. Secondary exploratory outcomes will be reported using inferential statistics for purposes of hypothesis generation and elucidation of mechanistic targets for future work; no inferences to clinical efficacy will be made. These outcomes include integrated rates of skeletal muscle protein synthesis, skeletal muscle protein content and expression of translation factors, skeletal muscle and erythrocyte phospholipid composition, and measures of skeletal muscle mass, strength, and power. Impact: This work will set the foundation for a future randomized controlled trial powered to detect an effect of EAA + omega-3 fatty acid intake on skeletal muscle size or function in response to ACLR surgery. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT06233825. Registered 31 January 2024. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06233825?term=NCT06233825&rank=1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quinoa is a particularly nutrient-rich grain crop, which is abundant in micronutrients, fibre, and essential amino acids, making it an excellent staple food source. The current review provides an outline of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of quinoa and a critical evaluation of health benefits following its consumption focusing on diabetes and diabetes risk factors, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, hypertension, cancer risk, body weight regulation and obesity, and cardiovascular disease risk factors. Quinoa has been demonstrated to have as hypoglycaemic effect and inducing favourable changes in cholesterol, HDL and LDL levels, inflammatory markers as well as body weight in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study highlighted the nutritional importance of Catostylus perezi (an edible jellyfish) in Pakistan; a society where a large proportion of the population suffers from malnutrition, while C. perezi, a blessing of the sea, is wasted or exported. In the present study, the amino acid and fatty acid profiles of the oral arms and umbrella of C. perezi were determined by HPLC. The total amino acid concentration (ΣAA) in the oral arms was 151.19 mg/100g, while in the umbrella it was 100.17 mg/100g. The ratio of total essential amino acids to total non-essential amino acids (TEAA/TNEAA) was 0.72 in the oral arms, while it was 0.70 in the umbrella. Higher amount of ω-3 with lower ratio of ω-6/ω-3 in oral arms (0.52), rather umbrella (ω-6/ω-3 ratio; 0.62). The antimicrobial activity, MIC, MBC, and MFC of the whole body of the edible jellyfish were determined. On the basis of polarity, different solvents were used, e.g. water, methanol, dichloromethane, chloroform, and n-hexane. Among all the extracts, the water extract gave the highest ZOI against C. xerosis (29 mm), while the n-hexane extract gave the lowest ZOI against S. aureus (MRSA) ATCC 33591 (8.20 mm). The water extract of C. perezi had high potential against C. xerosis with the highest AMI and PAI (1.53 and 153, respectively), while the same extract had the highest TAI against E. coli (81.43 mL/g). For fungi/yeast, the methanolic extract had the highest ZOI (29.70 mm) against S. cerevisiae and the lowest MIC/MFC (2.40 µg/mL) against the same pathogen. The n-Hexane extract gave the lowest ZOI (11.10 mm) against P. variotii and the highest MIC/MFC (31.60 µg/mL) against Penicillium sp. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to analyse the disintegrating effect of the extracts (with the highest antimicrobial effect) on the cells of selected Gram-positive, Gram-negative and yeast species. The amino acid and fatty acid profiles and antimicrobial assessment showed that C. perezi has great nutritional importance, so the use of C. perezi as food is highly recommended for the Pakistani community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Less is known whether the amino acid composition of dietary protein sources effects on long-term health outcomes. We aimed to evaluate the association between dietary amino acid composition and all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Methods: This study used data from the Golestan Cohort Study, which was performed in the Golestan Province of Iran from January 2004 to June 2008. Mortality, which was the primary outcome, was ascertained through September 2022. The Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to determine the adjusted hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for mortality according to the quintiles of amino acid consumption, taking the third quintile as the reference. Results: A total of 47,337 participants (27,293 [57.7%] women) with a mean (standard deviation) age of 51.9 (8.9) years were included. During a median follow-up of 15 years, 9,231 deaths were documented. Regarding essential amino acid intakes, the HRs of all-cause mortality were 1.16 (95% CI, 1.07–1.26) in the first quintile, compared with the reference group (P for non-linear trend < 0.001). Similarly, non-linear associations were observed between risk of all-cause mortality and intake of branched-chain, aromatic, sulfur-containing, or non-essential amino acids (P for non-linear trend < 0.001 for all comparisons), with higher HRs for participants in the first quintiles. There was an age interaction for the associations between dietary amino acids and mortality (P for interaction ˂0.05). While high amino acid diets were detrimental in middle-aged adults (< 65 years), increased hazards of mortality were observed among older adults (≥ 65 years) with low amino acid intake. Conclusions: This study showed the non-linear trend between amino acids intake and risk of mortality in the middle-aged and older Iranian population. Overall, our findings suggest that diets lower in amino acids were associated with increased hazards of mortality, particularly among older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is an important food source and a primary source of high‐quality protein. Polyploid breeding is an effective approach to improving the nutritional quality of crops. Several stable tetraploid rice lines with both high seed setting rates and high protein content have been bred. In the present study, the protein quality of two tetraploid rice lines GD2‐4x and GD4‐4x with high protein content was analyzed in detail, and mechanisms associated with the high protein quality were explored from the perspective of endosperm structure. The results showed that the total protein content of GD2‐4x and GD4‐4x increased significantly by 40.27% and 35.15%, respectively, when compared to that of 9311‐2x (control). The content of each protein component also increased significantly, with a major increase being observed in glutelin content. The contents of 16 types of amino acids and total amino acids, as well as contents of nutrient limiting essential amino acids, such as lysine, threonine, and methionine, in tetraploid rice lines increased significantly when compared to those in the control. The thickness of the aleurone layer on the dorsal, lateral, and ventral positions of GD2‐4x and GD4‐4x seeds during different developmental days increased significantly when compared to that of 9311‐2x seeds. Amyloplasts were more regular and loosely arranged in GD2‐4x and GD4‐4x seeds. The tetraploid rice lines had higher total protein and amino acid contents, with glutelin accounting for the highest proportion of the increase. The tetraploid rice lines with high protein content had higher nutritional quality and value than the diploid rice line. The high protein quality of tetraploid rice lines could be associated with an increase in aleurone layer thickness, as well as changes in amyloplast morphology and distribution. This study demonstrates that polyploidization is an effective breeding approach to improving the nutritional quality and value of rice seeds. The results provide a theoretical basis for the utilization of tetraploid high protein rice lines and a reference for improving the nutritional quality of other crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finding a way to establish a sustainable cultivation system to produce celery as an important source of human being nutrition system due to its health and nutritional advantages is increasing by the day. Amino acids have a deep impact on plant metabolism; they improve mineral uptake and increase shoots and root growth, yield, chlorophyll biosynthesis, and photosynthesis rate as well as encouraging stimulation of several enzymes and coenzymes which lead to improved plant development and production besides quality. A two-year (2021/2022–2022/2023), trial was conducted to discuss two essential amino acids Glycine (GLY) and Tryptophan (TRP) effect on celery's growth, production, photosynthetic pigments, vitamin (C), total phenols, total flavonoids, total antioxidant activity, total indoles, nutritional status, and amino acids contents. During the winter season, three levels of each amino acid (0, 50, and 75 mg/l) were sprayed in two doses after 30 days of cultivation and 15 days from the first foliar. Results showed that the best performance of amino acids on plants vegetative growth characteristics, photosynthetic pigments, biochemical constituents, yield, and amino acids content was conducted by using (GLY + TRP) mix followed by TRP then GLY, while the best level of foliar applied amino acids was 75 mg/l in concentration. The best results on celery's vegetative growth, yield, chemical content, and amino acid content were recorded by using the (GLY + TRP) mix at the highest level of 75 mg/l in concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Practical Application Bee pollen is a nutrient‐rich super food, but its rigid dual‐layered structure limits nutrient release and absorption. The outer exine, composed of stress‐resistant sporopollenin, and the inner intine, consisting of cellulose and pectin, form a barrier to digestive breakdown. This study investigates the potential of green techniques, specifically supercritical fluid extraction and ultrasonication, to disaggregate pollen cell walls, enhancing its bioavailability and maximizing nutrient utilization. Ultrasonication treated pollen (USTP) and supercritical fluid extraction‐treated pollen (STP) demonstrated disruption, as evidenced by scanning electron microscopy imaging. In relation to scanning electron microscopy, techno‐functional, antioxidant, and compositional analysis displayed a positive outcome, with crude lipid, protein, antioxidant activity (2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl activity and 2,2′‐azino‐bis‐3‐ethylbenzthiazoline‐6‐sulphonic acid assay) and total phenolic content increased by 34.80%, 32.58%, 10.80%, 11.37%, and 83.94%, respectively. Based on the above properties, USTP for 4 h and STP at 400 bar for 40 min were identified as the optimal conditions for disintegration. Furthermore, optimized samples analyzed for amino acid and mineral release revealed a notable increase in composition of essential amino acid and minerals (Ca, Cu, Fe, etc.) by ∼1.5 and 1.2 times, respectively. Along with significant changes in composition, fractured pollen exhibited 1.4 folds increase in protein digestibility with minor differences in thermal stability, and crystallinity as established by differential scanning calorimetry, and X‐ray diffraction analysis. The study confirms that nutrient release and absorption remain restricted without pre‐treatment, highlighting the necessity of specific treatment to disintegrate bee pollen before its use as a functional food ingredient.Bee pollen is a rich source of all the essential nutrients required by the humans and recognised as a complete food. However, its tough cellular structure restricts its utilisation in numerous food applications. Therefore, to disintegrate bee pollen and release its nutrients, ultrasonication and super critical fluid extraction processes were employed to improve its utilization for human purposes. Both the treatment techniques, enhanced bee pollen's bioavailability and functional properties, making it more suitable for use in nutraceuticals and functional foods.These treatments proved to increase the antioxidant capacity, digestibility, and create high‐value ingredient for supplements, beverages, and fortified foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, albumin, globulin, and glutelin were extracted from white finger millet, and their amino acid content, functional and structural properties were investigated. The protein concentration of albumin, globulin, and glutelin were 76.01%, 74.32%, and 69.55%, respectively. The results showed that all the fractions had a significant amount of essential amino acids. Aqueous protein dispersions (10%, w/v) were treated for 12 min at different ultrasound power levels (100, 200, and 300 W). The solubility, emulsifying, and foaming properties of albumin and glutelin were significantly (p < 0.05) improved after ultrasound treatment (20 kHz) which indicates that ultrasound could unfold protein aggregates. A decrease in particle size, increase in surface hydrophobicity, and zeta potential correlated with improved functional properties. Ultrasound treatment reduced the size of all proteins except for fractions at 300 W and also sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed a significant change in the molecular weight of albumin and glutelin at 300 W. Scanning electron microscopy of treated protein fraction showed distinctive microstructure with irregular structure compared to untreated protein fraction. Although Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectra of proteins were similar after ultrasonication, a partial increase in the intensity of the Amide A band was observed. In conclusion, the ultrasound‐treated protein fraction can be used as a high‐value plant‐based emulsifier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edible mushroom proteins hold great potential for food applications, but those extracted using the alkaline extraction–acid precipitation method typically exhibit poor solubility in neutral water, with the structural changes during acid precipitation remaining unclear. In this study, Pleurotus geesteranus protein isolate (PGPI) with high water solubility was prepared with alkaline extraction, followed by dialysis and freeze‐drying, and the effects of pH on the structural and functional properties of PGPI were systematically investigated. PGPI was enriched in essential and aromatic amino acids, and the molecular weight of bands in the sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis profile was mainly distributed below 45 kDa. The zeta potential of PGPI changed from +16.84 to 17.58 mV when the pH increased from 2 to 9, with a pI of 4.3. At pH 7, PGPI showed a size of 232.7 nm. Away from pH 7, the particle size of PGPI increased. When the pH decreased from 7 to 2, PGPI exhibited a lower α‐helix structure content and a higher β‐sheet content and a gradual decrease in fluorescence intensity. In addition, as the pH approached 4, H0 and the content of SS group increased to a peak. These results indicated that lowering the pH induced the development of more ordered protein structure, which could be the primary reason for the poor water solubility of P. geesteranus protein obtained through alkaline extraction and acid precipitation. Additionally, these structural changes result in alterations to its functional properties, including water‐holding capacity, oil‐holding capacity, foaming capacity, foaming stability, emulsion activity index, and emulsion stability index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT This study investigated the effects of incorporating defatted rice bran (DRB) at different concentrations (0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2%) on the quality, microbiological, and sensory characteristics of probiotic low‐fat yogurt (LFY) during a 21‐day storage period at 4°C. DRB is rich in dietary fiber, essential amino acids, vitamins, and bioactive compounds, and its addition aimed to enhance the nutritional and functional properties of LFY. LFY samples were evaluated for proximate composition, hardness, viscosity, syneresis, color characteristics, rheology, and sensory evaluation. Also, microbiological analysis includes total bacterial counts (TBC), Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus, Streptococcus thermophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum counts. Results indicated that DRB addition significantly (p < 0.05) increased probiotic counts, especially at 1% and 1.5% concentrations, with these samples maintaining higher bacterial stability over the storage period. DRB‐added LFY also showed improved nutritional profiles, with increased TS, protein, ash, fiber, and antioxidant activity. Additionally, hardness, viscosity, and rheology (G′ and G″) values significantly (p < 0.05) increased with the addition of DRB, while syneresis significantly (p < 0.05) decreased. However, higher DRB concentrations negatively affected the color, with lightness decreasing and the browning index increasing. This also impacted sensory characteristics, resulting in lower scores for color, flavor, and overall acceptability, particularly in LFY with 2% DRB. To conclude, moderate DRB addition (up to 1.5%) optimally balances the enhancement of probiotic and nutritional properties with acceptable sensory quality offering a viable strategy for producing functional low‐fat yogurt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Burns are tissue damage or loss caused by contact with heat sources such as fire, hot water, chemicals, electricity and radiation. The grape plant has an activity of pharmacological effects, which are mainly present in its seeds and fruits. Grape seed extract containing proanthocyanidin can help wound healing by promoting neovascularization, extracellular matrix remodeling, fibrolastic cell migration and differentiation. Aloe vera leaves can be used to treat skin lesions, such as burns, irradiation damage and ischemic ulcers. In addition to being a hydrating and skinprotecting agent, this gel also has healing, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory activities because aloe vera contains vitamins C and E, essential amino acids, and polysaccharides that stimulate tissue growth and cell regeneration. The objective is to determine the effectivity of burn wound repair using grape seed extract and aloe vera. This research used 24 white rats weighing 150 to 200g that divided into 4 groups, positive control group, negative control group, 10% grape seed extract treatment group, and 10% aloe vera extract treatment group. This study used an experimental method with True Experimental design with Randomized Post-test only Control Group Design, by giving 10% concentration of grape seed extract and aloe vera extract with 10% concentration to rats that has been burnt. The statistical analysis result of burn wound cureness among rats that have given grape seed extract and aloe vera obtained from group K of 8.42 mm, followed by the P0 group of 13.07 mm, the P1 group of 10.1 mm, and the P2 group of 9.31 mm.. The data was analyzed using the One Way Anova test and showed that there was significant effect with a p value of 0.000. Grape seed extract and aloe vera with a concentration of 10% have the potential in healing burn wounds that have been shown at the examination graphic. The greatest potential for healing burns is the aloe vera extract group with 10% concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amino acids are essential building blocks for proteins, crucial energy sources for cell survival, and key signaling molecules supporting the resistant growth of tumor cells. In tumor cells, amino acid metabolic reprogramming is characterized by the enhanced uptake of amino acids as well as their aberrant synthesis, breakdown, and transport, leading to immune evasion and malignant progression of tumor cells. This article reviews the altered amino acid metabolism in tumor cells and its impact on tumor microenvironment, and also provides an overview of the current clinical applications of amino acid metabolism. Innovative drugs targeting amino acid metabolism hold great promise for precision and personalized cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mutations in the SLC1A4 transporter lead to neurodevelopmental impairments, spastic tetraplegia, thin corpus callosum and microcephaly in children. SLC1A4 catalyses obligatory amino acid exchange between neutral amino acids, but the physiopathology of SLC1A4 disease mutations and progressive microcephaly remain unclear. Here, we examined the phenotype and metabolic profile of three Slc1a4 mouse models: a constitutive Slc1a4-knockout mouse; a knock-in mouse with the major human Slc1a4 mutation (Slc1a4-K256E); and a selective knockout of Slc1a4 in brain endothelial cells (Slc1a4tie2-cre). We show that Slc1a4 is a bona fide L- serine transporter at the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and that acute inhibition or deletion of Slc1a4 leads to a decrease in serine influx into the brain. This results in microcephaly associated with decreased L- serine content in the brain, accumulation of atypical and cytotoxic 1-deoxysphingolipids, neurodegeneration, synaptic and mitochondrial abnormalities and behavioural impairments. Prenatal and early postnatal oral administration of L- serine at levels that replenish the serine pool in the brain rescued the observed biochemical and behavioural changes. Administration of L- serine until the second postnatal week also normalized brain weight in Slc1a4-E256K mice. Our observations suggest that the transport of 'non-essential' amino acids from the blood through the BBB is at least as important as that of essential amino acids for brain metabolism and development. We propose that SLC1A4 mutations cause a BBB aminoacidopathy with deficits in serine import across the BBB, required for optimal brain growth, leading to a metabolic microcephaly, which may be amenable to treatment with L- serine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research concerned the assessment of the utility value of new pea breeding materials intended for registration in the European Union. The research material consisted of sixteen breeding lines and four reference pea varieties. The evaluation was carried out based on the chemical composition of seeds and its variability within the studied genotypes. The contents of protein, starch, lipids, ash and dietary fiber (DF) were determined. The nutritional value of the protein was assessed in vitro using the value of the limiting amino acid index chemical score (CS) and the integrated essential amino acid index (EAAI). The analyzed pea genotypes were characterized by significant diversity in terms of the content of the tested components. The obtained results combined with the PCA analysis were used to select pea genotypes of the highest quality, having the potential as a raw material for the production of food with health-promoting properties. The effect of the conducted research was the identification of three pea genotypes with the greatest potential in terms of protein content and dietary fiber complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential of the green macroalga Ulva lactuca is increasingly recognized, not only for its environmental benefits, but also for its applications in various industries, including food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Given this insight, a comprehensive analysis of the chemical profile of U. lactuca from the Adriatic Sea was carried out. The hydrodistillate, rich in (Z,Z,Z)-hexadeca-7,10,13-trienal and hexadecanoic acid, underlines its importance for health-related uses, particularly in lipid metabolism and cellular integrity. Fatty acid analysis showed a predominance of palmitic acid and a favorable n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio, suggesting that U. lactuca can make a valuable contribution to a balanced diet. In addition, essential amino acids, including leucine, valine, and isoleucine, support its use as a functional ingredient for muscle repair and metabolic health. The ethanol extract contained 56 compounds, including derivatives of fatty acids, phenolic acids, pigments, flavonoids, and steroids. Many of them, such as hexadecasphinganine, azelaic acid, 5-sulfosalicylic acid, and pheophytin a, have proven roles or potentials in promoting human health. These results confirm that U. lactuca is a rich source of bioactive compounds, emphasizing its potential in scientific research and its expanding industrial applications in health, nutrition, and cosmetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Exploration of under-utilized Bambara groundnut as a potential source of protein for novel functional products. • Its isolation, characterization and utilization in food matrices also provides complete overview to enhance its functionality. • Future prospects in utilizing potential of BG proteins. Bambara groundnut (BG) is a particularly valuable underutilized crop indigenous to Africa that has gained popularity due to its high adaptation to climate change, drought tolerance and pest and disease resistance. It is chiefly cultivated as a plant-based protein alternative (containing 18–30 % protein) to meat in rural cuisines rather than an oil-producing seed, as commonly seen with other legumes. BG contains all the essential and non-essential amino acids in sufficient quantities to fulfil dietary and functional requirements in diverse food systems. This review delves into the techniques employed for the extraction/ isolation of BG proteins and their characterization. Different methods for the hydroxylation of BG proteins have been comprehensively reviewed and the relation between biological activity of BG peptides and amino acid composition has also been established. Comprehensive insights are given into the diverse techno-functional attributes of legume proteins, covering aspects like solubility, water and oil absorption capacity, emulsification, foaming, and gelling ability. The text also emphasizes the practical applications of these proteins across a range of products, viz. , bakery items, extruded snacks, therapeutic foods and desserts. New developments in BG protein research have been outlined along with recommendations for future research and applications, encouraging its widespread utilization across the food sector and facilitating a successful transition toward more sustainable plant-based diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research examines different techniques for isolating proteins from Cordyceps militaris fruiting body powder (COR), namely ammonium sulfate precipitation (ASP), organic solvent precipitation (OSP), and isoelectric precipitation (IEP). ASP yielded the highest protein content (78.90 %), effectively concentrating proteins, while OSP and IEP also produced substantial yields (57.41 % and 69.06 %, respectively). Color analysis revealed differences among isolates, with ASP resulting in a darker hue. ASP and IEP showed higher red and yellow components, respectively. Essential amino acid content was significantly higher in ASP isolate compared to COR, indicating effective amino acid concentration. Thermal analysis revealed different decomposition temperatures and enthalpy values among isolates. OSP displayed the highest phenolic content, while IEP exhibited the highest flavonoid content. Antioxidant assays showed ASP to have the highest DPPH-RSA and ABTS-RSA, while IEP showed the highest FRAP value. ASP demonstrated anticancer activity against HT-29 colon cancer cells inducing cell death apoptosis and inhibiting cell migration, with an IC 50 of 360.63 µg/mL, comparable to Paclitaxel. These findings suggest that Cordyceps militaris protein isolate, particularly from ASP, has significant antioxidant and anticancer potential, supporting its potential as a natural alternative to synthetic drugs with fewer side effects. [Display omitted] • ASP yields a higher protein (78.90 %) than OSP (57.41 %), and IEP (69.06 %). • ASP has a higher dark colour and essential amino acid content. • OSP has the highest total phenolic content, but IEP has the highest flavonoids. • ASP shows superior antioxidant and anticancer effects on HT-29 cells. • ASP emerges as a promising natural extract for health applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This study investigates the impact of germination and ozone treatment on the nutritional and bioactive properties of grains of two amaranth varieties. The study focused on the proximate composition, antioxidant activity, phenolic and flavonoid content, and amino acid profile of untreated and treated grains of two amaranth varieties. Germination significantly increased the protein content by 18.5%, crude fibre by 25.7%, and total phenolic content by 34.2% compared to the control. Ozone treatment further enhanced these properties, with a notable increase in antioxidant activity by 41.8% and total flavonoid content by 29.6%. The amino acid profile analysis revealed a significant rise in essential amino acids, particularly lysine, which increased by 22.4% following the combined treatment. These findings suggested that the combined application of germination and ozone treatment significantly enhances the nutritional quality and bioactive properties of amaranth, making it a superior ingredient for functional food products. The results indicated that these processes could be effectively utilised to boost the health benefits of amaranth, contributing to the development of nutrient‐rich food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapeseeds (Brassica napus), cultivated widely as a source of oil, generate substantial by-products after oil extraction. Unfortunately, rapeseed meal is considered a waste product and as such is discharged into environment as compost or used as animal feed. However, this meal is rich in bioactive compounds (proteins, minerals, fibers and polyphenols), indicating its potential for the development of value-added products. The meal shows a higher content of minerals, total dietary fibers and proteins. Rapeseed meal contains a proportion of oil rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, predominately linoleic and α-linolenic acid. The amino acid proportion in the meal is higher than that in the seeds and contains essential amino acids, predominately valine. The analyses show the presence of valuable components in the cake, which makes it suitable for use in obtaining value-added products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adding edible fungal polysaccharides to animal diets improves growth performance, meat quality, intestinal health, and immunity without adverse effects. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of Pleurotus citrinopileatus polysaccharide (PCP, including PCP250, PCP500, PCP750, and PCP1000 mg/kg) on the growth performance, meat quality, and microbial composition of Arbor Acre (AA) broilers (total 180) by metabolomics and high-throughput sequencing. The results showed that adding PCP enhanced chicken meat tenderness, redness (a*), and water retention and raised essential amino acids and flavor amino acids (such as umami and sweet amino acids) content. The metabolomics revealed that IMP, creatine, betaine, sarcosine, and taurine were related to improving meat quality in broilers by PCP addition. In addition, amino acid, purine, and lipid metabolism were the main metabolic pathways. Moreover, PCP could regulate muscle metabolism by increasing the relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae and Lactobacillus and the content of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Therefore, PCP may become a promising new dietary supplement in the future, which may improve the yield and quality of broiler chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable diets, as defined by the Food and Agriculture Organisation, aim to be nutritionally adequate, safe, and healthy, while optimising natural and human resources. Teff (Eragrostis tef), a gluten-free grain primarily grown in Ethiopia, has emerged as a key contender in this context. Widely regarded as a "supergrain", teff offers an outstanding nutrition profile, making it an excellent choice for people with gluten-related disorders. Rich with protein, essential amino acids, polyunsaturated fats, and fibre, and abundant in minerals like calcium and iron, teff rivals other popular grains like quinoa and durum wheat in promoting human health. Beyond its nutritional benefits, teff is a hardy crop that thrives in diverse climates, tolerating both drought and waterlogged conditions. Due to its resilience and rich nutrient content, teff holds the potential to address nine of the 17 United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 1 (no poverty), SDG 2 (zero hunger), and SDG 3 (good health and wellbeing), which are tied to improving food and nutrition security. However, teff production in Ethiopia faces significant issues. Traditional farming practices, insufficient storage infrastructure, and food safety challenges, including adulteration, hinder teff's full potential. This review explores teff's dual role as a nutritious, sustainable food source and outlines the key challenges in its production to conclude on what needs to be done for its adoption as a golden crop to address global food and nutrition security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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ABSTRACT Leucyl‐tRNA synthetase (LeuRS) is clinically validated molecular target for antibiotic development. Recently, we have reported several classes of small‐molecular inhibitors targeting aminoacyl‐adenylate binding site of Mycobacterium tuberculosis LeuRS with antibacterial activity. In this work, we performed in silico site‐directed mutagenesis of M. tuberculosis LeuRS synthetic site in order to identify the most critical amino acid residues for the interaction with substrate and prove binding modes of inhibitors. We carried out 20‐ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and used umbrella sampling (US) method for the calculation of the binding free energy (ΔGb) of leucyl‐adenylate with wild‐type and mutated forms of LeuRS. According to molecular modeling results, it was found that His89, Tyr93, and Glu660 are essential amino acid residues both for aminoacyl‐adenylate affinity and hydrogen bond formation. We have selected His89 for experimental site‐directed mutagenesis since according to our previous molecular docking results this amino acid residue was predicted to be important for inhibitor interaction in adenine‐binding region. We obtained recombinant mutant M. tuberculosis LeuRS H89A. Using aminoacylation assay we have found that the mutation of His89 to Ala in the active site of M. tuberculosis LeuRS results in significant decrease of inhibitory activity for compounds belonging to three different chemical classes—3‐phenyl‐5‐(1‐phenyl‐1H‐[1,2,3]triazol‐4‐yl)‐[1,2,4]oxadiazoles, N‐benzylidene‐N′‐thiazol‐2‐yl‐hydrazines, and 1‐oxo‐1H‐isothiochromene‐3‐carboxylic acid (4‐phenyl‐thiazol‐2‐yl)‐amide derivatives. Therefore, the interaction with His89 should be taken into account during further M. tuberculosis LeuRS inhibitors development and optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

lysine is an essential amino acid with significant importance, widely used in the food, feed, and pharmaceutical industries. To meet the increasing demand, microbial fermentation has emerged as an effective and sustainable method for L-lysine production. Escherichia coli has become one of the primary microorganisms for industrial L-lysine production due to its rapid growth, ease of genetic manipulation, and high production efficiency. This paper reviews the recent advances in E. coli strain engineering and fermentation process optimization for L-lysine production. Additionally, it discusses potential technological breakthroughs and challenges in E. coli-based L-lysine production, offering directions for future research to support industrial-scale production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

A large amount of poultry blood is annually generated, and currently underutilized or largely disposed of as waste, resulting in environmental pollution and waste of protein resources. As one of the main by-products during the poultry slaughter process, the produced poultry blood can serve as a promising food ingredient due to its excellent functional properties and abundant source of essential amino acids, bioactive peptides and functional components. This work provides a comprehensive summary of recent research progress in the composition, functional and bioactive properties, as well as the functional components of poultry blood. Furthermore, the main preparation methods of poultry blood-derived peptides and their bioactivities were reviewed. In addition, their potential applications in the food industry were discussed. Overall, poultry blood is characterized by excellent functionalities, including solubility, gelation, foaming, and emulsifying properties. The major preparation methods for poultry blood-derived peptides include enzymatic hydrolysis, ultrasound-assisted enzymatic methods, macroporous adsorbent resins, and subcritical water hydrolysis. Poultry blood-derived peptides exhibit diverse bioactivities. Their metallic off-flavors and bitterness can be improved by exopeptidase treatment, Maillard reaction, and plastein reaction. In addition, poultry blood is also abundant in functional components such as hemoglobin, superoxide dismutase, immunoglobulin, and thrombin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Currently, there is an irrational use of drugs in the treatment of hypoproteinemia. This study evaluates the value of 12 injections to provide a basis for drug selection for the treatment of hypoproteinemia. Methods: The content of the first restrictive amino acid, the comprehensive quality of the total essential amino acid, and the closeness to the whole egg protein or FAO/WHO model were evaluated to compare their value in the amino acid synthesis of human serum albumin. A comparison was made between the matching degree of HA and therapeutic amino acids with the human plasma amino acid profile. Furthermore, the value and safety of synthetic human serum albumin were compared. Results: The lowest synthetic value of human serum albumin was 18AA-V, and the highest was 18AA-II. The CS values of HA, 18AA-V, 18AA-II, 18AA-Ip, 18AA-IIp, and 19AA-Ip were 0.18, 0.58, 0.78, 0.55, 0.54, and 0.59, respectively. The similarity to egg protein was 0.81, 0.92, 0.94, 1.00, 1.18, and 1.18, respectively. The proximity values to FAO/WHO standards were 0.81, 0.85, 0.90, 1.36, 1.54, and 1.54, respectively. The changes in 3AA and the amino acid profile were matched when liver function was abnormal. When the renal function was abnormal, 9AA was matched. During trauma, 18AA-VII was matched. The amino acid profile of HA did not correspond. Conclusion: Patients with normal liver and kidney function should choose compound balanced amino acid injection, while patients with abnormalities should choose 3AA. Patients with renal dysfunction should choose 9AA. Trauma patients should choose 18AA-VII. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Method Results Interpretation To evaluate whether serum metabolomics differ between ambulatory individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) compared with individuals with typical development and whether functional capacity is associated with metabolite abundance.Thirty‐eight adolescents and young adults were enrolled (CP: n = 19; typical development: n = 19). After functional capacity testing (10‐meter walk, sit‐to‐stand, and peak knee flexion/extension torques), blood was drawn. Targeted serum metabolomics on hydrophilic metabolites were performed by high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with high‐resolution and tandem mass spectrometry. Metabolite dimensionality reduction, pathway analysis, fold change, and t‐tests evaluated changes in metabolite abundance. Associations were tested between functional measures and metabolite abundance.Individuals with CP had a significant increase in the abundance of essential amino acids, catabolic products of protein metabolism, and tricarboxylic acid cycle substrates, such as valine, tryptophan, kynurenic acid, and pyruvate (p < 0.05). Importantly, the abundance of numerous metabolites was only highly associated with functional capacity in individuals with CP such that greater abundance was associated with greater capacity, but not in those with typical development.Our findings show clear increases in serum metabolites in individuals with CP, which are associated with functional capacity for movement. The altered metabolite profile measured after exercise might reflect increased energy production needed for movement. Appropriate nutritional intake during exercise might be needed given increased energy requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]