Grafting is widely used for asexual propagation and enhancing plant productivity; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying rootstock-scion interactions remain largely unclear. In this study, Populus × euramericana cv. 'Neva' (poplar 107) served as rootstock and Populus tomentosa 'Yixian' (P. tomentosa) as scion for grafting. By integrating physiological measurements, transcriptome sequencing [messenger RNA (mRNA) and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA)], widely targeted metabolomics, and mobile RNA identification revealed that heterografted scions had increased metabolites related to carbon fixation and metabolism, decreased metabolites associated with respiration and defense, and enhanced net photosynthetic rate, potentially promoting height growth; differential expression lncRNAs may represent an important molecular basis for accelerated scion growth; in scions, mobile mRNA-associated differential mRNAs primarily involved amino acid biosynthesis, while mobile lncRNA-associated ones focused on energy metabolism; no target mRNAs of mobile lncRNAs were found in the rootstock; both mRNAs and lncRNAs were transported in full-length and fragmented forms, and downward RNA transport showed a significant correlation with transcript abundance; in recipient tissues, mobile mRNAs were less abundant while mobile lncRNAs were more abundant than in donor tissues; the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway associated with mobile RNAs played an important role in rootstock-mediated scion growth, and kaempferol, as a key metabolite, reduced reactive oxygen species-induced damage, increased net photosynthetic rate, and promoted growth in Nicotiana benthamiana. This study provides an initial insight into the transport and regulatory patterns of mRNAs and lncRNAs in woody grafted plants, offering a theoretical basis for the rational application of grafting technology.
Due to their diverse phytochemical composition, medicinal plants belonging to the families Amaryllidaceae, Lamiaceae, and Myrtaceae possess antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. In this study, six ethanolic extracts of Allium ursinum, Allium sativum, Allium cepa, Salvia rosmarinus, Ocimum basilicum, and Syzygium aromaticum were analyzed by HS-SPME GC-MS and HPLC. Their chemical composition was evaluated and compared by chemometrics and their biological activity determined by an antimicrobial assay. A total of 72 compounds was detected (terpenoids, phenolic derivatives, fatty acids, and phytosterols). In Allium species, phytosterols were mainly abundant, whereas O. basilicum extracts were characterized by high contents of linalool and S. rosmarinus by 2-hydroxychalcone and 4-hydroxybutanoic acid lactone. Principal component analysis distinguished chemically species-specific chemical profiles, whilst the HPLC evaluation resulted in the highest quercetin content in S. rosmarinus extracts, which also displayed the best antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus. Despite the observed correlation between the quercetin content and antibacterial activity, no definitive relation could be established without biological replicates, MIC evaluation, and tests with isolated compounds.
Glycosylation is one of the most prevalent post-translational modifications of proteins. Synthetic glycopeptides give access to protein fragments with well-defined glycosylation sites, providing a unique route to obtain relevant biochemical information. Since glycosylation can be extremely abundant and appear in different patterns, the assembly of glycopeptide libraries that manifest this variety is required. Several limitations in state-of-the-art solid-phase peptide synthesis make these processes less appropriate for the accelerated preparation of glycopeptides. Our lab has developed a highly-efficient method for glycopeptide synthesis, which employs high-shear mixing at a high temperature to obtain glycopeptides within minutes with minimal waste of building blocks. The development of this new process was not trivial. It encountered synthetic difficulties associated with the complexity of glycan chemistry, which were met by expanding the traditional technological boundaries and challenging common practices. In this perspective, we describe the thought process that has guided us through the development of this method. We illustrate the key role diffusion properties hold for the optimization of reactions and for streamlining and expediting the protocol. We then elaborate on how the ability to question some conceptual bottlenecks associated with SPPS conceptions was pivotal to the success of this project. We compare the presented study with other techniques that aim to accelerate the synthesis of glycopeptides. Finally, we describe the present and future possibilities of the strategy and how they may contribute to expanding the scope of glycopeptide research.
The selective hydrogenation of p-chloronitrobenzene (p-CNB) to p-chloroaniline (p-CAN) is of great importance for the production of dyes, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals, but it is often plagued by the undesired hydrodechlorination side reaction. In this work, we report a PtNi bimetallic catalyst supported on nano-sized LTL zeolite (PtNi/Nano-HL) for the selective hydrogenation of p-chloronitrobenzene under mild conditions. The catalyst was systematically characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen sorption (N2 sorption), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and ammonia temperature-programmed desorption (NH3-TPD). The results reveal abundant oxygen vacancies (RIR = 0.73) and an optimized distribution of medium-strong acid sites on the catalyst surface, as well as electronic interaction between Pt and Ni, which collectively enhance the catalytic performance. Remarkably, the PtNi/Nano-HL catalyst achieves 100% conversion and over 99% selectivity for p-chloroaniline under ambient conditions (30 °C, 0.1 MPa H2) using ethanol as a solvent. Even after 24 recycling runs, it retains 100% conversion and >93% selectivity, demonstrating excellent stability. Moreover, the catalyst requires an extremely low Pt loading (only 0.11 wt%) and exhibits good substrate universality for various substituted nitroarenes. This work provides a promising strategy for designing high-performance bimetallic catalysts on nano-zeolite supports for the selective hydrogenation of halonitrobenzenes.
Exhaled breath analysis, situated at the intersection of nanomaterial science, analytical chemistry, and clinical diagnostics, is a transformative noninvasive diagnostic technology. However, the ultratrace concentration (ppb-ppm scale) and complex matrix of biomarkers such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) in exhaled breath impose stringent challenges for detection technologies. In this work, we successfully synthesized In2O3-N nanorods with well-defined O-In-N asymmetric active sites via a hydrothermal method and subsequent calcination. The effects of nitrogen doping concentration on the microstructure and gas-sensing properties were systematically investigated, and the optimal doping content was determined. At 80 °C, the In2O3-N sensor exhibits excellent sensing performance toward nitrogen dioxide. Its response reaches 4.5-2 ppm of NO2, approximately 2.2 times that of pristine In2O3. Additionally, it displays excellent selectivity toward NOx (negligible response to non-NOx interfering gases) and good stability (response fluctuation <5% in five cycles). Considering the high humidity in practical detection environments, we further evaluated its humidity resistance. The sensor operates stably over a wide humidity range and possesses strong capability against humidity interference. DFT calculations reveal that the enhanced performances result from two key factors. One is that nitrogen treatment increases the concentration of oxygen vacancies, thereby providing abundant adsorption sites. The other is that in the O-In-N asymmetric sites, electrons transfer from the N atom to the In atom, strengthening the orbital interactions between the In atom in In2O3-N and the N atom in NO2. The In2O3-N-based sensors were further integrated into a portable device for noninvasive pneumonia detection. Clinical tests on 40 exhaled breath samples show that the sensor can effectively distinguish between the two groups of people, with 100% accuracy for pneumonia patients and 80% accuracy for healthy individuals, which is further verified by 3D principal component analysis (PCA) with good separation of sample points. This work not only provides a generalizable strategy for designing high-performance gas sensors via asymmetric active site engineering but also highlights the great potential of In2O3-N sensors in clinical noninvasive diagnosis bridging the gap between nanomaterial design and translational breath analysis.
Bitter phytochemicals, including alkaloids, terpenoids, and bitter glycosides, are abundant in medicinal food plants and exhibit well-documented anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, and other bioactivities relevant to human health. However, the inherent bitterness of these compounds presents a significant sensory barrier to patient compliance and limits their application as functional food ingredients. This review provides a comprehensive and interdisciplinary synthesis of current knowledge on bitter compounds in medicinal food plants, integrating perspectives from phytochemistry, molecular pharmacology, and sensory science. We summarize the major chemical classes of bitter phytochemicals, critically evaluate methods for their isolation and identification-from classical sensory-guided fractionation to modern computational approaches such as molecular docking and metabolomics-and analyze three principal strategies for bitterness regulation: physical removal, biological transformation, and sensory modulation (including molecular inclusion and TAS2R receptor blocking). We also briefly touch upon the extraoral expression of TAS2Rs and there suggested links to local immune responses and metabolic regulation, noting that this may be relevant to the concept of "taste-bioactivity homology." The review further highlights ongoing challenges, such as the identification of unknown bitter compounds and the lack of standardized sensory evaluation systems, and outlines possible directions for improving bitterness analysis and regulation in medicinal food plants.
The genus Sesamum (Pedaliaceae) comprises a wide range of cultivated and wild species. Sesame (Sesamum indicum) is recognized as one of the oldest oilseed crops cultivated worldwide, whereas S. schinzianum is a wild relative closely associated with the evolutionary history of cultivated sesame. Although the nuclear and chloroplast genomes of Sesamum species have been investigated in previous studies, mitochondrial genome evolution within the genus has received relatively limited attention. In this study, we assembled and comparatively analyzed the mitochondrial genomes of S. indicum and S. schinzianum by integrating BGI short-read sequencing and Oxford Nanopore long-read sequencing data. Genome assembly was performed using Flye and Unicycler, and annotation was conducted using PMGA together with manual curation. Comparative analyses were then carried out to examine genome organization, gene content, repetitive sequences, codon usage, RNA editing sites, chloroplast-derived sequences, phylogenetic relationships, and collinearity patterns. The mitochondrial genomes of S. indicum and S. schinzianum were assembled into one circular molecule and two major circular contigs, respectively, and both contained 36 conserved protein-coding genes. Abundant simple sequence repeats dominated by tetranucleotide motifs and notable repeat variation were detected. Codon usage showed moderate bias, and 478 and 455 RNA editing sites were predicted in S. indicum and S. schinzianum, respectively. Chloroplast-derived sequences accounted for 8.50% and 6.96% of the mitochondrial genomes, respectively. Phylogenetic and collinearity analyses supported a close relationship between the two Sesamum species and identified synteny-based structural differences between their mitogenomes. Comparative analysis of mitochondrial- and chloroplast-based phylogenies showed that the two datasets were largely congruent at the family level and consistently supported the close relationship between the two Sesamum species, although they differed in the placement of several deeper lineages. These results suggest that Sesamum mitogenomes retain conserved gene content while showing assembly- and synteny-supported structural differences. This study provides useful genomic resources for comparative and evolutionary studies of mitochondrial genomes in Pedaliaceae.
Quinoline derivatives constitute a privileged class of nitrogen-containing heterocycles with extensive applications in medicinal chemistry, agrochemicals, materials science, and functional organic materials. Owing to their broad biological and industrial relevance, the development of efficient, selective, and sustainable synthetic methodologies for quinoline construction remains an active area of research. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in quinoline synthesis, with particular emphasis on catalytic strategies aligned with the principles of green and sustainable chemistry. Classical transformations, including the Friedländer, Skraup, and Povarov reactions, are revisited in the context of modern catalytic developments that improve reaction efficiency, substrate scope, selectivity, and environmental compatibility. Special attention is devoted to homogeneous and heterogeneous catalytic systems based on both platinum-group and earth-abundant transition metals, highlighting the growing importance of borrowing-hydrogen and acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling methodologies. Recent progress in nanocatalysis, photocatalysis, multicomponent reactions, ionic-liquid-mediated transformations, and metal-free protocols is also critically discussed. Furthermore, solvent-free processes, microwave-assisted synthesis, and recyclable catalytic systems are examined as practical approaches toward minimizing waste generation and energy consumption. Mechanistic aspects, catalytic design principles, substrate limitations, and sustainability metrics are evaluated throughout the review to provide a critical perspective on current methodologies. Collectively, the advances summarized herein demonstrate the rapid evolution of quinoline synthesis toward more atom-economical, environmentally benign, and operationally efficient processes, while also identifying future opportunities for the development of next-generation catalytic platforms for quinoline-based heterocycle construction.
To develop a High-frequency ultrasound (HFUS)-based predictive nomogram integrating clinical and ultrasound features for distinguishing malignant from benign skin tumors. This retrospective study enrolled 185 patients who underwent preoperative HFUS examination for skin tumors. Patients were randomly divided into training (n=130; 73 malignant, 57 benign) and validation (n=55; 31 malignant, 24 benign) cohorts. Clinical characteristics and ultrasound features were systematically analyzed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify independent predictors of malignancy, which were incorporated into a nomogram. Model performance was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration plots, and decision curve analysis (DCA). Malignant tumors demonstrated significantly greater multilayer involvement, irregular margins, heterogeneous echogenicity, raised surface morphology, and abundant intralesional vascularity compared to benign tumors (all P<0.001). Multivariate analysis identified five independent predictors of malignancy: advanced age (OR = 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00 - 1.01), multilayer involvement (OR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.12 - 1.26), unclear margins (OR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.21 - 1.54), raised surface morphology (OR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.01 - 1.21), and heterogeneous echogenicity (OR = 1.09, 95% CI: 0.99 - 1.21). The nomogram achieved area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.98 (95% CI 0.95-1.00) in the training cohort and 0.98 (95% CI 0.95-1.00) in the validation cohort. HFUS provides valuable information for preoperative evaluation of skin tumors. The nomogram demonstrates good diagnostic performance and clinical utility for distinguishing malignant from benign skin tumors.
Lignin is an abundant aromatic biopolymer generated as a major by-product in lignocellulosic biorefineries, and its efficient valorization is essential for improving process sustainability and economic viability. Among current upgrading strategies, the conversion of lignin into lignin-derived biochar (LDB) has emerged as a promising route because of its high carbon yield, scalable production, and tunable physicochemical properties. This review examines the relationships between lignin structure, thermochemical conversion pathways, and the resulting properties of LDB materials within biorefinery systems. The influence of different technical lignins and conversion routes, including pyrolysis and hydrothermal carbonization, is critically discussed together with post-functionalization strategies. Particular attention is devoted to emerging applications in contaminant adsorption and controlled release systems for agrochemicals. The adsorption mechanisms governing pharmaceuticals, pesticides, microplastics, and PFAS removal are analyzed, while the dual role of LDB as both adsorbent and delivery platform is highlighted. Current limitations include lignin heterogeneity, lack of standardized evaluation protocols, and insufficient validation under realistic environmental conditions. Overall, LDB represents a versatile and scalable platform for lignin valorization and sustainable material design within circular bioeconomy frameworks.
High-entropy oxides (HEOs) represent a class of functional materials whose interfacial chemistry and colloidal behavior remain poorly understood, limiting their development for demanding applications. This work establishes how compositional complexity in multielement oxide systems governs both colloidal stability and functional performance through a systematic investigation of eight HEO compositions in pool boiling experiments, where thermal gradients and active nucleation simultaneously test these properties under demanding conditions. Results demonstrate that HEOs with five or more equimolar elements exhibit enhanced dispersion stability compared to lower-entropy oxide systems due to configurational entropy effects, providing thermodynamic resistance to particle aggregation. Configurational entropy values of 13.38-14.90 J/mol·K exceed the critical 1.5R threshold for entropy-stabilized phases. Y-HEO, featuring yttrium combined with equimolar Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, and Ni, achieved superior performance with a 63% critical heat flux enhancement and a 135% heat transfer coefficient improvement relative to the deionized water baseline at 0.05 wt % concentration. Comprehensive surface characterization revealed that multielement oxide composition creates unique interfacial properties: contact angle reduced from 96° to 62°, minimal hysteresis of ∼12° enabling rapid rewetting, and surface roughness increased by 170%, establishing abundant nucleation sites with dramatically reduced superheat requirements. These combined effectsenhanced colloidal stability from configurational entropy, superior interfacial chemistry from compositional heterogeneity, and optimized wettability from multielement cation coordinationsynergistically produced exceptional thermal performance. This work demonstrates that the precision design of multielement oxide composition directly translates fundamental materials chemistry principles into functional advantages in thermal applications.
Group-3 late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins are intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) that protect cellular components during desiccation. Their transition from disordered to ordered conformations is driven by reduced water availability. Here, we characterize and compare the conformational ensembles of the P1LEA-22 model peptide in TFE-water and glycerol-water mixtures that mimic distinct dehydration environments. Using Gaussian accelerated molecular dynamics (GaMD), we sampled the structural landscape of P1LEA-22 at 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80% cosolvent concentrations. The simulations provide an atomistic description of how solvent composition and water availability reshape peptide folding. We show that the conformational ensemble depends strongly on solvent identity and concentration. TFE acts as a helix-inducing cosolvent; at 80%, it stabilizes a compact helix-turn-helix motif through enhanced intrahelical electrostatic interactions, driven by hydrophobic shielding from TFE fluorine atoms. In contrast, glycerol promotes compaction through steric restriction and competitive solvation, leading to structurally heterogeneous ensembles that include β-sheet-like conformations and centrally localized helices. Although both solvents mimic dehydration, they modulate the peptide's energy landscape through distinct mechanisms: TFE couples hydrophobic association and electrostatic reinforcement to cooperative helix stabilization, whereas glycerol drives global compaction via excluded volume and hydrogen-bond redistribution. These findings provide molecular-level insight into how LEA proteins adapt structurally under water-deprived conditions.
Aqueous magnesium-ion batteries (AMIBs) are promising for next-generation energy storage technologies due to their high safety, low cost, high theoretical energy density, and environmental friendliness. In particular, manganese-based oxides have attracted much attention due to the abundant resources, high theoretical capacity, and environmental friendliness. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of manganese-based oxide cathode materials for AMIBs, including the crystal structure, electrochemical performance, optimization strategies, and electrode reaction mechanisms. Meanwhile, recent research progress of AMIB full cells based on Mn-based oxide cathode materials is summarized. Finally, the challenges and future perspectives of Mn-based oxide cathode materials for AMIBs are discussed. This review will provide a valuable reference and source of inspiration for future research of manganese-based oxide cathode materials for AMIBs.
Spiders are important arthropod predators in temperate forests. Their diversity depends on structurally heterogeneous habitats offering diverse microhabitats. Yet, modern silviculture has homogenized temperate forest structure at local and landscape scales. The consequences of this homogenization for landscape-level spider diversity, however, remain largely unknown. We sampled spiders using pitfall traps across 234 patches in a large-scale, replicated field experiment at 11 forest sites across Germany. At each site, one treatment district was experimentally heterogenized through canopy gap creation, thinning and deadwood enrichment, and a second homogeneous district remained untreated as a control. We applied a novel meta-analytic framework to compare α-, β- and γ-diversity of spiders between treatment and control districts, standardized for sample coverage along Hill numbers giving increasing weight to abundance and included taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity facets. We also investigated spider community assembly in response to deadwood enrichment, canopy openness and heterogeneous forest structure. Based on 18,540 spider individuals from 206 species, treatment districts exhibited significantly lower γ- and α-diversity across all diversity facets and Hill numbers, particularly when focusing on rare species (q = 0). In contrast, β-diversity increased in treatment districts for phylogenetic and functional diversity across Hill numbers (q = 0, 1, 2). The simultaneous decrease in α- and γ-diversity despite higher β-diversity renders the increase in compositional turnover insufficient to compensate for local diversity losses. Although spiders were more abundant in treatment patches, habitat filtering, rather than niche competition, shaped the community. Our findings corroborate previous results of high spider abundances but lower taxonomic and functional diversity in canopy gaps due to strong habitat filtering effects. However, we demonstrate for the first time that this lower α-diversity is linked to a lower γ-diversity despite increases in β-diversity. Homogenous forests support higher γ-diversity through greater three-dimensional canopy habitat availability. Yet, failure to account for species frequencies using Hill numbers and coverage standardization may result in a substantial underestimation of arboreal spider diversity in pitfall traps. Nonetheless, higher abundances in heterogeneous forests point towards increased prey availability and predator pressure.
Fermented maize products are integral to the diets of many African communities. Despite their cultural significance and health benefits, little is known about the metabolic potential of their microbial populations. This study utilized 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing data from the NCBI to characterize the functional capabilities of microbiomes in six maize-based fermented foods. Quality assessment and taxonomic classification were performed using QIIME2 with the SILVA 138 database, while functional predictions were generated with PICRUSt2 and analyzed in R. Taxonomic profiling revealed that Firmicutes dominated all samples, reaching peak abundance in Mawe (94.9%) and S37_Fermented_Maize (91.4%). Proteobacteria were elevated in S19_Fermented_maize (up to 36.5%) and S38_Dehulled_Maize (16.0%). At the genus level, Lactobacillus was most abundant in S5_Mawe (82.2%) and S6_Mawe (79.6%), while Acetobacter peaked in S19_Fermented_maize (32.7%). Regarding functional predictions, Lactobacillus appeared to drive key KEGG Orthologs and pathways, specifically ABC transporters, transcriptional regulation, and DNA replication mechanisms. In contrast, Weissella and Streptococcus contributed notably to peptide/nickel transport, L-lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27), and nucleotide biosynthesis. Acetobacter was prominent in Ogi, showing a connection with site-specific methylation (EC 2.1.1.72) and phospholipid synthesis (PHOSLIPSYN-PWY). Notably, commercial Mawe samples exhibited higher predicted activities related to transposase activity (K07496), energy metabolism, and peptidoglycan maturation (PWY0-1586). These findings demonstrate that while traditional fermentation processes maintain a consistent set of metabolic functions predominantly driven by Lactobacillus, distinct variations exist depending on product type and production approach. These predicted functions provide a baseline for further experimental validation of the metabolic contributions of microbial communities in fermented maize products.
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a rare, immune-mediated inflammatory disease of the complex peripheral nervous system that often follows acute infections, and may also be associated with long-term 'silent infections'. Long-term "silent infections" can alter the gut microbiota, which in turn may contribute to immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Emerging evidence suggests that gut dysbiosis and altered serum metabolites are associated with GBS, but the causative link between GBS and gut microbiota remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the association between gut microbiota structure and serum metabolic profile in GBS. Untargeted metabolomics profiling of serum and metagenomics sequencing of stool samples were performed to capture the global metabolic and microbial differences between GBS subjects and healthy controls. Multivariate statistical analyses, including PLS-DA, were applied to identify distinct clustering patterns and differential abundances of metabolites and gut microbiota. Pearson's correlation analysis was used to estimate the correlations between abundance of gut microbiota and serum metabolic profile. Seven different media were used to isolate the potential pathogens from GBS stool samples. The metabolome data revealed that gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) metabolism and secondary cholic acid metabolism were perturbed in GBS. Specifically, GABA was increased significantly (approximately 14.3-fold), while multiple secondary cholic acids (methyl deoxycholate, glycodeoxycholic acid, glycolithocholic acid, taurolithocholic acid, and coprocholic acid) were decreased significantly in GBS subjects. Regarding the gut microbiota identified via metagenomic sequencing of stool samples, Ligilactobacillus salivarius, Enterocloster bolteae, and the opportunistic pathogenic Klebsiella pneumonia were notably more abundant in GBS subjects, while Bacteroides sp., Roseburia hominis and Paraprevotella xylaniphila were decreased significantly. In addition, pathogens such as K. pneumoniae were also isolated from GBS subjects. Further analysis of the metagenomic data revealed enrichment of prokaryotic genes involved in the GABA biosynthesis pathway, while genes associated with secondary cholic acid metabolism pathways were decreased in gut microbiome in GBS subjects. On this basis, correlation analysis revealed that changes in GABA were associated with altered levels of gut microbes including Enterococcus species, Ligilactobacillus salivarius and Enterocloster bolteae, whereas changes in secondary cholic acids were positively correlated with altered levels of Bacteroides species and Roseburia species. GABA metabolism and secondary cholic acid metabolism were significantly disturbed in GBS subjects, potentially resulting from the dysbiosis of the gut microbiota. K. pneumonia and other no gut microbes were significantly enriched and isolated in GBS and may contribute to the inflammatory response in this immune-mediated inflammatory disease. These findings also suggest that GABA may be a promising biomarker for the diagnosis of GBS and that modulation of gut microbiota might impact the clinical course of GBS.
Lignin is the most abundant renewable source of aromatic carbon, and yet it remains a mostly underutilized byproduct of the biorefinery and paper industries. Factors such as complexity and a heterogeneous structure make lignin recalcitrant to conventional valorization, the utility of which often requires harsh conditions and expensive catalysts. Electrochemical conversion has emerged as a highly promising, sustainable alternative due to the use of electricity produced by renewable sources to drive depolymerization under mild, ambient conditions. This review summarizes recent progress in this field and provides a comprehensive overview of the primary electrochemical pathways used to promote the valorization of lignin. Herein, we critically examine oxidative strategies that include both direct electrooxidation at the anode surface and indirect oxidation using redox mediators, and provide details of the key challenges of electrode deactivation and product overoxidation. We then discuss reductive strategies with a focus on electrocatalytic hydrogenolysis for C-O bond cleavage. Furthermore, we explore advanced integrated systems that combine electrochemistry with microbial, enzymatic, and photochemical processes to enhance selectivity and efficiency. Finally, this review addresses persistent challenges and offers future perspectives and suggests opportunities with an emphasis on the critical need for innovations in electrocatalyst design, green electrolytes, and integrated reactor engineering to unlock the full potential of lignin as a renewable feedstock for a circular carbon economy.
In this article, we illustrate the value of combining ecological theory and silviculture through the example of continuous cover forestry in mixed stands and the use of a forest dynamics model that addresses research questions in ecology and biogeography (MATREEX). In a context where diversification is a strategy promoted for the adaptation of forests to climate change, we explore how different species coexistence mechanisms (negative frequency dependence, relative nonlinearity, recruitment-survival trade-off) can be translated into silvicultural actions and test their effectiveness in terms of species coexistence. Our study focuses on two types of mixed stands known to be difficult to manage between sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) and common beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), on the one hand, and silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), on the other hand.We show that preferential selection of the most abundant species (negative frequency dependence), which is easy to implement and already used in forest management, is very effective in favouring the least competitive species in the stand. The other mechanisms tested have only a limited influence on species proportions. Although these results must be interpreted with caution, taking into account the limitations of the model used, they provide initial findings that can be explored further using other approaches and give rise to hypotheses that can be tested in situ. Dans cet article, nous illustrons l’intérêt de coupler théorie écologique et sylviculture au travers de l’exemple de la sylviculture mélangée à couvert continu et de l’utilisation d’un modèle de dynamique forestière essentiellement mobilisé pour aborder des questions de recherche en écologie et biogéographie (MATREEX). Dans un contexte où la diversification représente une stratégie promue pour l’adaptation des forêts au changement climatique, nous explorons comment différents mécanismes de coexistence des espèces (fréquence-dépendance négative, non-linéarité relative, compromis recrutement-survie) peuvent être traduits en actions sylvicoles et testons leur efficacité en termes de maintien de mélanges. Notre étude porte sur deux mélanges connus pour être difficiles à conduire en sylviculture : entre chêne sessile (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) et hêtre commun (Fagus sylvatica L.) d’une part, et entre sapin pectiné (Abies alba Mill.) et pin sylvestre (Pinus sylvestris L.) d’autre part. Nous montrons que la sélection préférentielle de l’espèce la plus abondante (fréquence-dépendance négative), par ailleurs aisée à mettre en œuvre et déjà appliquée en gestion forestière, s’avère très efficace pour le maintien de l’espèce la moins compétitive dans le mélange. Les autres mécanismes testés n’exercent qu’une influence limitée sur les taux de mélange. Bien que ces résultats doivent être interprétés avec précautions en tenant compte des limites du modèle utilisé, ils permettent de dégager de premiers éléments à approfondir avec d’autres approches et de faire émerger des hypothèses à tester in situ.
Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is the major polyphenol in green tea and is frequently used in food supplements. In recent years, numerous studies have highlighted the bioactivity of polyphenols beyond their established role as radical scavengers. However, EGCG is highly unstable in slightly basic solutions such as cell culture medium. It therefore remains unclear whether the biological effects attributed to EGCG are caused by the parent compound itself or by its oxidation products, including the dimers examined here. In this study, the effects of EGCG focusing on apoptosis induction and histone deacetylases (HDAC) were compared with those of its major oxidation products, theasinensin A (TSA), theasinensin D (TSD), and oolongtheanin digallate (OTDG), in the human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2. The induction of cellular pathways involved in apoptosis was investigated using several in vitro biochemical approaches. Transcriptional analysis of apoptosis-associated genes revealed distinct expression profiles, and caspase activities were differentially affected by the test compounds. HDAC activity in nuclear protein extracts was significantly reduced after incubation with the stabilized oxidation products, whereas no comparable HDAC-inhibitory effect was observed after direct incubation of HepG2 cells. Nevertheless, HDAC gene expression, particularly of class I isoforms, was modulated by the test compounds in the low micromolar range. These effects diminished at concentrations associated with the onset of apoptosis. Furthermore, untargeted proteomics identified ribosomal proteins as additional cellular targets. Overall, these findings help to clarify the contribution of abundant EGCG oxidation products to the antiproliferative and HDAC modulating effects commonly attributed to the parent compound under cell culture conditions, underscoring the importance of investigating these oxidation products.
Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide, with more than 90% patients dying from metastasis due to limited treatment options. Although miRNA-based therapeutics represent a promising strategy, their clinical application has been hindered by poor stability in vivo and the lack of efficient organ-specific delivery systems. Methods: In this study, we developed a lung-targeted lipid nanoparticle (LuT-LNP) platform for the delivery of a chemically modified miRNA, AM22, which demonstrated enhanced tumor-suppressive activity. By replacing cholesterol and helper lipids with 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC), the most abundant lipid in pulmonary surfactant, and systematically optimizing the ratios of ionizable and cationic lipids, we obtained a LuT-LNP formulation with superior lung tropism. Results: The resulting LuT-LNPs exhibited excellent stability, biocompatibility, and efficient encapsulation and protection of AM22. Both in vitro and in vivo, AM22-loaded LuT-LNP (AM22@LuT-LNP) significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration of CRC cells and markedly suppressed lung metastasis in a mouse model. Mechanistic studies revealed that AM22 acts by targeting Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1), inducing DNA damage, and inhibiting the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. Conclusions: These findings established a lung-targeted delivery platform for miRNA-based therapy, offering a promising strategy for the treatment of colorectal cancer pulmonary metastasis (CRPM).