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The consumption of fructose is increasing day by day. Understanding the impact of increasing fructose consumption on the small intestine is crucial since the small intestine processes fructose into glucose. ∆9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a key cannabinoid, interacts with CB1 and CB2 receptors in the gastrointestinal tract, potentially mitigating inflammation. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of the high-fructose diet (HFD) on the jejunum of rats and the role of THC consumption in reversing these effects. Experiments were conducted on Sprague–Dawley rats, with the experimental groups as follows: control (C), HFD, THC, and HFD + THC. The HFD group received a 10% fructose solution in drinking water for 12 weeks. THC groups were administered 1.5 mg/kg/day of THC intraperitoneally for the last four weeks. Following sacrification, the jejunum was evaluated for mucus secretion capacity. IL-6, JNK, CB2 and PCNA expressions were assessed through immunohistochemical analysis and the ultrastructural alterations via transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that fructose consumption did not cause weight gain but triggered inflammation in the jejunum, disrupted the cell proliferation balance, and increased mucus secretion in rats. Conversely, THC treatment displayed suppressed inflammation and improved cell proliferation balance caused by HFD. Ultrastructural examinations showed that the zonula occludens structures deteriorated in the HFD group, along with desmosome shrinkage. Mitochondria were found to be increased due to THC application following HFD. In conclusion, the findings of this research reveal the therapeutic potential of THC in reversing HFD-related alterations and provide valuable insights for clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality of amla fruits is greatly affected by post-harvest factors, especially storage temperature and time, which undergo rapid quality changes after harvest. Therefore, a detailed storage study was necessary for amla fruit. Hence, this study was conducted to determine the impact of different storage temperatures and durations on physicochemical, textural, bioactive, and microstructure properties of amla fruit. Storage analysis was performed at low (6 °C) and room temperature (25 °C) conditions. The results showed that fructose sugar significantly (p < 0.05) decreased by 15.79% during room temperature (RT) storage due to a higher respiration rate (14.32–45.98 mL kg− 1h− 1) in the RT environment, while it was non-significantly affected during low-temperature (LT) storage. Although, total soluble solid (TSS) of RT-stored amla increased by 76.67% due to moisture loss (7.82%). These results correlated that increased TSS is due to moisture loss, unrelated to ripening or starch degradation. In addition, total phenol content (TPC) of RT-amla was increased by 28.23%, while it slightly decreased by 6.58% for LT-amla. At the same time, variations in TSS, weight, and moisture were insignificant during LT storage, resulting in no significant changes in textural properties and SEM microstructures. Textural properties of RT and LT-stored amla exhibited opposite trends during storage, which can be correlated with reduced intercellular space and increased gumminess in SEM microstructure analysis. These findings provide new insights into governing amla fruit's characteristics during storage, which will be beneficial in enhancing shelf-life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fructose injection is occasionally used to dilute ademetionine 1,4-butanedisulfonate injection for patients who cannot receive glucose or sodium chloride injections in clinical settings. Since our PIVAS staff reported that discoloration occurred after ademetionine 1,4-butanedisulfonate dissolved with fructose injection, this study aims to investigate the stability of ademetionine 1,4-butanedisulfonate in fructose and glucose solutions. Ademetionine 1,4-butanedisulfonate was purchased and diluted with fructose or glucose injection for compatibility testing. The solutions were maintained under various conditions for different periods of time, after which the concentration of ademetionine 1,4-butanedisulfonate and other impurities was analyzed. The chemical structures of unknown impurities were further investigated by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The analytical method was validated and was deemed to be suitable for the analyses in this study. Compatibility tests indicated that ademetionine 1,4-butanedisulfonate is sensitive to temperature, illumination, and pH. When diluted with fructose or glucose, the concentration of ademetionine 1,4-butanedisulfonate decreased over time. The contents of impurities increased accordingly. Additionally, an unknown impurity was identified, speculated to be a hydroxyl oxidation product of ademetionine based on the LC-MS/MS results. Both fructose and glucose injections can be used as diluents for ademetionine 1,4-butanedisulfonate, and the resulting mixture remains stable for up to 8 h after preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have shown that high dietary fructose intake enhances intestinal tumor growth in mice. Our previous work indicated that glucose enables hypoxic colorectal cancer (CRC) cells to resist receptor-interacting protein (RIP)-dependent necroptosis. Despite having the same chemical formula, glucose and fructose are absorbed through different transporters yet both can enter the glycolytic metabolic pathway. The excessive intake of dietary fructose, leading to its overflow into the colon, allows colonic cells to absorb fructose apically. This study explores the mechanisms behind apical fructose-mediated death resistance in CRC cells under hypoxic stress. Utilizing three CRC cell lines (Caco-2, HT29, and T84) under normoxic and hypoxic conditions with varying fructose concentrations, we assessed lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, RIP1/3 complex formation (a necroptosis marker), and cell integrity. We investigated the role of fructose in glycolytic-mediated death resistance using glycolytic inhibitors iodoacetate (IA, a glycolytic inhibitor to glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase), and UK5099 (UK, an inhibitor to mitochondrial pyruvate carrier). Our findings reveal that apical fructose prevents the hypoxia-induced RIP-dependent necroptosis in Caco-2 and HT29 cells. Fructose exposure under hypoxia also preserved epithelial integrity. IA, but not UK, blocked fructose-mediated glycolytic metabolite production and necrosis, indicating that anaerobic glycolytic metabolites facilitate death resistance. Notably, fructose treatment upregulated pyruvate kinase (PK)-M1 mRNA in hypoxic Caco-2 and HT29 cells, while PKM2 upregulation was exclusive to HT29 cells. In conclusion, apical fructose utilization through glycolysis effectively inhibits hypoxia-induced RIP-dependent necroptosis in CRC cells, shedding light on potential metabolic adaptation mechanisms in the tumor microenvironment and suggesting novel targets for therapeutic intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Honey is known for its high nutritional value and is used both as a sweetener and as a medicine. However, owing to high demand and low supply, honey adulteration has become a global concern. Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is an important quality indicator that exists in trace amounts but accounts for a significant portion of the sugar content in honey. According to the International Honey Commission and Codex Alimentarius Commission of the World Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization, and European Union, HMF levels ≥ 40 mg/kg (≥ 80 mg/kg in tropical countries) are considered harmful to humans. This review investigated the levels of HMF in commercial acacia honey from various countries worldwide. I selected 28 studies reporting on acacia honey, the utilization of HMF as a quality indicator, range and mean values for HMF, mean values for reducing sugar (total fructose and glucose), and acidity and moisture results. Most studies reported that the levels of HMF and other important factors were within the legal limit—only a few samples in four of the 28 studies had HMF levels higher than the legal limit. In conclusion, current evidence indicates that commercial acacia honey undergoes limited adulteration and maintains a high quality, in accordance with regulatory guidelines. It is necessary to maintain honey quality during harvest and storage.Article Highlights: Hydroxymethylfurfural is a key quality parameter for commercial Acacia honey sold worldwide Most studies report good quality honey products, based on various factors Storge time, conditions, and adulteration are important drivers of HMF content [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inulin, a polysaccharide predominantly composed of fructose molecules, possesses a linear chain structure with β-(2 → 1) linkages between fructose units and usually has a glucose molecule at one end of the chain. It is not only an edible natural functional polysaccharide, but also a soluble dietary fiber, with a variety of physiological functions such as antioxidant, promoting the growth of gut flora and maintaining its homeostasis, enhancing gut immune function, promoting nutrient absorption, lowering glycemia, as well as providing anti-carcinogenic, weight loss and constipation relief. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the latest research advances in the extraction, purification, structural characterization, and bioactivities. It is intended to lay the theoretical and research foundations to enable further exploration and effective progress in the advancement towards the production of inulin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial cellulose synthesis from defined media and waste products has attracted increasing interest in the circular economy context for sustainable productions. In this study, a glucose dehydrogenase-deficient Δgdh K2G30 strain of Komagataeibacter xylinus was obtained from the parental wild type through homologous recombination. Both strains were grown in defined substrates and cheese whey as an agri-food waste to assess the effect of gene silencing on bacterial cellulose synthesis and carbon source metabolism. Wild type K2G30 boasted higher bacterial cellulose yields when grown in ethanol-based medium and cheese whey, although showing an overall higher d-gluconic acid synthesis. Conversely, the mutant Δgdh strain preferred d-fructose, d-mannitol, and glycerol to boost bacterial cellulose production, while displaying higher substrate consumption rates and a lower d-gluconic acid synthesis. This study provides an in-depth investigation of two K. xylinus strains, unravelling their suitability for scale-up BC production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using halloysite clay and vitamin B1 hydrochloride, a novel acidic halloysite-dendrimer catalytic composite has been developed for conversion of fructose to 5-hydroxymthylfurfural. To grow the dendritic moiety on halloysite, it was first functionalized and then reacted with melamine, epichlorohydrin and vitamin B1 hydrochloride respectively. Then, the resulting composite was treated with ZnCl2 to furnish Lewis acid sites. Use of vitamin B1 as the cationic moiety of ionic liquid obviated use of toxic chemicals and resulted in more environmentally friendly composite. Similarly, dendritic moiety of generation 2 was also grafted on halloysite and the activity of both catalysts for conversion of fructose to 5-hydroxymthylfurfural was investigated to disclose the role of dendrimer generation. For the best catalytic composite, the reaction variables were optimized via RSM and it was revealed that use of 0.035 g catalyst per 0.1 g fructose at 95 °C furnished HMF in 96% yield in 105 min. Turnover numbers (TONs) and frequencies (TOFs) were estimated to be 10,130 and 5788 h−1, respectively. Kinetic studies also underlined that Ea was 22.85 kJ/mol. The thermodynamic parameters of Δ H ≠ , Δ S ≠ and Δ G ≠ , were calculated to be 23 kJ/mol, − 129.2 J/mol and 72.14 kJ/mol, respectively. Notably, the catalyst exhibited good recyclability and hot filtration approved heterogeneous nature of catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Diet-related factors are of great significance in the regulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad (HPG) axes. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of chronic exposure to a high fat diet (HFD), fructose or sucralose on the endocrine functions. Methods: Male, Sprague-Dawley rats received a normal chow diet, HFD, 10% fructose or 0.02% sucralose for 10 weeks. Behavioral changes were assessed by open field (OFT) and elevated plus-maze (EPM) tests at week 8. H&E staining was used to observe pathological changes in adrenal cortex, testis and perirenal adipose tissue. Serum hormone concentrations were quantified via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mRNA expression levels of genes along the HPA and HPG axes were determined using real-time PCR. Results: All types of dietary interventions increased body weight and disturbed metabolic homeostasis, with anxiogenic phenotype in behavioral tests and damage to cell morphology of adrenal cortex and testis being observed. Along the HPA axis, significantly increased corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone (CORT) concentrations were observed in the HFD or 0.02% sucralose group. For HPG axis, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and estradiol (E2) concentrations were significantly increased in all dietary intervention groups, while decreased concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone (T) were also detected. Moreover, transcriptional profiles of genes involved in the synthesis of hormones and corresponding hormone receptors were significantly altered. Conclusion: Long-term consumption of HFD, fructose or sucralose manifested deleterious effects on endocrine system and resulted in the dysregulation of HPA and HPG axes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of mild strategies to transform of fructose to prepare high-purity 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is of great significance for biomass valorization, and the design of an efficient catalytic approach is crucial. Herein, a mild catalytic strategy was developed to achieve the preparation of high-purity HMF from fructose over Amberlyst-15 catalyst in a water-methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) biphasic system under atmospheric pressure and lower temperature (90 °C). The catalytic system was optimized and analyzed by response surface methodology and kinetics study. Results indicated that a 46.6% yield of HMF could be obtained under optimal conditions: 80 wt% Amberlyst-15 catalyst, the mass ratio of MIBK to H2O 10, and the reaction time of 7 h. Furthermore, a simple and efficient purification strategy of HMF was established. High purity (99.0%) and recovery rate (65.5%) of HMF were obtained. This work provides an efficient catalytic strategy to produce high-purity HMF from fructose under atmospheric pressure and lower temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamics of nephropathy development in rats with type 2 diabetes mellitus, caused by a high-fat diet and the streptozotocin administration (25 mg/kg), and metabolic syndrome, caused by addition of 20% fructose solution to the diet, was evaluated during the experiment. Models with moderate severity of metabolic changes without significant changes in body weight were obtained after 24 weeks. To study neuropathy severity, the method of electroneuromyography was used; the velocities of motor and sensory excitation propagation along the caudal nerve fibers were measured. In modeled diabetes mellitus against the background of hyperglycemia, a marked decrease in motor and sensory propagation rates was observed, and an increase in the response durations was noted from week 12 to week 24, indicating pronounced neuropathy. In the fructose model, the motor response duration increased from week 12, which possibly indicates the development of peripheral neuropathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metabolic regulation occurs through precise control of enzyme activity. Allomorphy is a post-translational fine control mechanism where the catalytic rate is governed by a conformational switch that shifts the enzyme population between forms with different activities. β-Phosphoglucomutase (βPGM) uses allomorphy in the catalysis of isomerisation of β-glucose 1-phosphate to glucose 6-phosphate via β-glucose 1,6-bisphosphate. Herein, we describe structural and biophysical approaches to reveal its allomorphic regulatory mechanism. Binding of the full allomorphic activator β-glucose 1,6-bisphosphate stimulates enzyme closure, progressing through NAC I and NAC III conformers. Prior to phosphoryl transfer, loops positioned on the cap and core domains are brought into close proximity, modulating the environment of a key proline residue. Hence accelerated isomerisation, likely via a twisted anti/C4-endo transition state, leads to the rapid predominance of active cis-P βPGM. In contrast, binding of the partial allomorphic activator fructose 1,6-bisphosphate arrests βPGM at a NAC I conformation and phosphoryl transfer to both cis-P βPGM and trans-P βPGM occurs slowly. Thus, allomorphy allows a rapid response to changes in food supply while not otherwise impacting substantially on levels of important metabolites. A structural study shows that the enzyme βPGM uses an allomorphically controlled switch that accelerates proline isomerisation to alleviate the wastage of valuable metabolites while allowing the organism to react quickly to changes in food supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the positive feed-forward regulatory mechanism of nitrate uptake by rice, its responses to various light and carbohydrates were compared. In order to measure nitrate uptake in real time, the non-invasive method was used. The results showed that net nitrate uptake increased in the light and decreased in the dark, and finally reached a steady state after about 5 h. Based on it, carbohydrates effects could be investigated without considering light effects. After sucrose addition for 2 h, net nitrate uptake increased by about 80% without a lag, while glucose, fructose and raffinose had a slight effect with a lag and other sugars had no effect. It provided an evidence that sucrose was a positive feed-forward signal molecule of nitrate uptake by rice roots. To further analyze the effect of sucrose on the expression of high affinity nitrate transporter genes OsNRT2.1, OsNRT2.2, OsNRT2.3a and OsNRT2.3b, qRT-PCR was used to further verify after treated with 10 mM sucrose. The results revealed that these genes expression was immediately up-regulated, which indicated that these genes were post transcriptionally regulated. Further, 15N exchange dynamics analyzed N transport. It is benefit for increasing nitrate uptake by rice and improving its yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current work demonstrates the fabrication of cerium-aluminum oxide (CAO) catalysts for the dehydration of fructose to the platform chemical 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF). CAO materials with varying chemical compositions and textural properties were obtained through calcination at different temperatures. The fructose conversion and yield of 5-HMF of the catalysts were determined in a dimethyl sulfoxide system. The CAO catalysts were thoroughly characterized, and their catalytic performances evaluated to uncover the origins of their fructose conversion efficiency and product selectivity. The CAO catalyst obtained by calcination at 500 °C (CAO-500) registered remarkably high fructose conversions (~ 95%) and 5-HMF yields (~ 91%) with no side product generation which means that under the optimal process conditions (120 °C, 120 min) determined in the study, the catalyst produces 5-HMF almost exclusively. The exceptional catalytic performance of CAO-500 was intimately linked to the physical and chemical synergies emerging from the co-existence of crystalline (CeO2) and amorphous (Al(OH)3) components in its matrix resulting from the calcination process. This unique composition makes CAO-500 structurally robust and with the necessary abundance of Lewis and Bronsted acid sites that facilitate highly selective fructose conversion to 5-HMF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compared 2 models of metabolic syndrome in rats: high-fat diet (58% calories) with single streptozotocin injection at a dose of 25 mg/kg and replacement of water with 20% fructose solution. The model with fructose solution did not cause the main signs of metabolic syndrome over 24 weeks: concentrations of glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, weight, and BP did not significantly differ from the control group (standard diet). At the same time, single streptozotocin administration was followed by the development of persistent hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, and signs of visceral obesity. High-fat diet combined with injection of streptozotocin in a low dose can be considered a more representative model of metabolic syndrome in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary interventions that modulate the brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenic activity could represent a promising therapy for metabolic disorders. In order to examine if dietary walnuts intake regulates the expression of BAT thermogenic markers levels in healthy and metabolically challenged (fructose fed) animals, rats were initially divided into the control and fructose-fed groups. After nine weeks, these groups were subdivided into the one kept on the original regimens and the other supplemented with walnuts. High-fructose diet resulted in an increased relative BAT mass and no change in UCP1 content, while the walnut supplementation increased the amount of UCP1 in BAT, but did not affect 5-HT, NA, DHPG content and DHPG/NA ratio regardless of the diet. Moreover, the CD36 levels were increased following the walnut consumption, unlike FATP1, GLUT1, GLUT4, and glycogen content which remained unchanged. Additionally, the BAT levels of activated IR and Akt were not affected by walnut consumption, while ERK signaling was decreased. Overall, we found that walnut consumption increased UCP1 and CD36 content in the BAT of both control and metabolically challenged rats, suggesting that FFAs represent the BAT preferred substrate under the previously described circumstances. This further implies that incorporating walnuts into the everyday diet may help to alleviate some symptoms of the metabolic disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Candida tropicalis is a human pathogen and one of the most prevalent non-Candida albicans Candida (NCAC) species causing invasive infections. Azole antifungal resistance in C. tropicalis is also gradually increasing with the increasing incidence of infections. The pathogenic success of C. tropicalis depends on its effective response in the host microenvironment. To become a successful pathogen, cellular metabolism, and physiological status determine the ability of the pathogen to counter diverse stresses inside the host. However, to date, limited knowledge is available on the impact of carbon substrate metabolism on stress adaptation and azole resistance in C. tropicalis. In this study, we determined the impact of glucose, fructose, and sucrose as the sole carbon source on the fluconazole resistance and osmotic (NaCl), oxidative (H2O2) stress adaptation in C. tropicalis clinical isolates. We confirmed that the abundance of carbon substrates influences or increases drug resistance and osmotic and oxidative stress tolerance in C. tropicalis. Additionally, both azole-resistant and susceptible isolates showed similar stress adaptation phenotypes, confirming the equal efficiency of becoming successful pathogens irrespective of drug susceptibility profile. To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first on C. tropicalis to demonstrate the direct relation between carbon substrate metabolism and stress tolerance or drug resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Some glucoside drugs can be transported via intestinal glucose transporters (IGTs), and the presence of carbohydrate excipients in pharmaceutical formulations may influence the absorption of them. This study, using gastrodin as probe drug, aimed to explore the effects of fructose, lactose, and arabic gum on intestinal drug absorption mediated by the glucose transport pathway. Methods: The influence of fructose, lactose, and arabic gum on gastrodin absorption was assessed via pharmacokinetic experiments and single-pass intestinal perfusion. The expression of sodium-dependent glucose transporter 1 (SGLT1) and sodium-independent glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) was quantified via RT‒qPCR and western blotting. Alterations in rat intestinal permeability were evaluated through H&E staining, RT‒qPCR, and immunohistochemistry. Results: Fructose reduced the area under the curve (AUC) and peak concentration (Cmax) of gastrodin by 42.7% and 63.71%, respectively (P < 0.05), and decreased the effective permeability coefficient (Peff) in the duodenum and jejunum by 58.1% and 49.2%, respectively (P < 0.05). SGLT1 and GLUT2 expression and intestinal permeability remained unchanged. Lactose enhanced the AUC and Cmax of gastrodin by 31.5% and 65.8%, respectively (P < 0.05), and increased the Peff in the duodenum and jejunum by 33.7% and 26.1%, respectively (P < 0.05). SGLT1 and GLUT2 levels did not significantly differ, intestinal permeability increased. Arabic gum had no notable effect on pharmacokinetic parameters, SGLT1 or GLUT2 expression, or intestinal permeability. Conclusion: Fructose, lactose, and arabic gum differentially affect intestinal drug absorption through the glucose transport pathway. Fructose competitively inhibited drug absorption, while lactose may enhance absorption by increasing intestinal permeability. Arabic gum had no significant influence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inulin-type fructan (ITF) defined as a polydisperse carbohydrate consisting mainly of β-(2–1) fructosyl-fructose links exerts potential prebiotics properties by selectively stimulating the growth of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. This study reported the modulation of human gut microbiota in vitro by ITF from Codonopsis pilosula roots using 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. The microbiota community structure analysis at genus levels showed that 50 mg/mL ITF significantly stimulated the growth of Prevotella and Faecalibacterium. LEfSe analysis showed that ITF at 25 and 50 mg/mL primarily increased the relative abundance of genera Parabacteroides and Alistipes (LDA Score > 4), and genera Prevotella and Faecalibacterium (LDA Score > 4) as well as Acidaminococcus, Megasphaera, Bifidobacterium and Megamonas (LDA Score > 3.5), respectively. Meanwhile, ITF at 25 and 50 mg/mL exhibited the effects of lowering pH values of samples after 24 h fermentation (p < 0.05). The results indicated that ITF likely has potential in stimulating the growth of Prevotella and Faecalibacterium as well as Bifidobacterium of human gut microbiota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional methods for synthesising polyurethane hydrogels encompass toxic isocyanates and organic solvents, limiting their eco-friendliness and ease of synthesis. In response, this study introduces an innovative approach to synthesising fructose-based non-isocyanate polyurethane (NIPU) hydrogel (FNHG), eliminating the need for isocyanates. Initially, fructose-based NIPU (FNPU) was synthesised using dimethyl carbonate and hexamethylene diamine under mild reaction conditions, paving the way for a greener polyurethane variant. Subsequently, a free radical polymerization technique was employed in an aqueous medium. This process allowed for the integration of poly(sodium acrylate), and N, N-methylene bisacrylamide, leading to to the development of FNHG. Remarkably short gelation time of just 30 min at 60 ℃ was achieved, signifying a significant advancement in the synthesis process. The synthesized NIPU-based hydrogels exhibited outstanding efficiency in the removal of crystal violet (CV) and malachite green (MG) dyes from aqueous media. With an impressive removal efficiency of 96.87% for CV and an astounding 99.8% for MG, these hydrogels demonstrated high effectiveness in remediation efforts. The study's novelty lies in both the synthesis methodology, utilising FNPU, and the exceptional efficiency exhibited by these hydrogels in eliminating diverse dyes from contaminated water. Furthermore, the structure of FNPU was confirmed using FTIR and 1H NMR spectroscopy, adding robustness to our findings. This research not only presents a solution to the limitations of traditional polyurethane synthesis but also demonstrates the potential of fructose-based NIPU hydrogels (FNHG) as eco-friendly and efficient agents for water purification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A panel of 1,1-(phenylene)bis[3-chloro-4-(substituted phenyl)azetidin-2-ones] (4a-m) and 3,3′-(1,4-phenylene)bis[2-(substituted phenyl)thiazolidin-4-ones] (5a-m) were synthesized from Schiff base intermediates 3a-m, that were in turn prepared from reaction between p-phenylenediamine and substituted benzaldehydes. The structures of title compounds and intermediates were confirmed by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and mass spectral data. The compounds were screened for antibacterial, DPPH radical scavenging and antidiabetic activities. Compounds 4f and 4a exhibited good antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, but none showed appreciable activity against Gram-negative bacteria. In DPPH scavenging assay, compounds 5f, 5e and 5a exhibited good activity. Compound 5a displayed highly significant antidiabetic activity in fructose-induced diabetes in rats. The molecular docking studies of bis-thiazolidinones with PPAR-ã revealed the fit with high binding affinity and good interactions. Docking of compound 5a was comparable to the standard drug pioglitazone. The in silico physicochemical, drug-likeness and ADME properties of title compounds were also performed and the majority of them displayed satisfactory results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In pursuit of designing a bio-based catalyst for the dehydration of biomass (i.e., fructose) to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, a novel catalytic composite was prepared by in-situ formation of an Al-based metal–organic framework in the presence of chitosan. To enhance the acidity of the as-prepared catalyst, it was sulfonated with chlorosulfonic acid. Various characterization techniques, including XRD, XPS, FTIR, SEM/EDX, TGA, and elemental mapping analysis were applied to validate the formation of the acidic composite. Fructose dehydration conditions were also optimized using Response Surface Method (RSM) and it was found that reaction in the presence of catalyst (23 wt%) in DMSO, at 110 °C for 40 min led to the formation of HMF in 97.1%. Noteworthy, the catalyst was recyclable and stable up to five runs with a minor reduction in its activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a previous meta-analysis, we showed that long-term melatonin administration minimizes diet-induced changes in lipid profiles. The present work was aimed to use a meta-analysis to study the diet-denendent effect of melatonin monotherapy on body weight gain (BWG) and eating behavior in rats. We carried out a meta-analysis of 43 publications examining the effects of melatonin monotherapy on BWG, blood leptin levels, food and water intake in rats fed a standard diet (37 publications), as well as high-fructose (5 publications) and high-fat (9 publications) diets. Our findings suggest that although melatonin reduced triglyceride, total cholesterol and leptin levels in rats fed high-fructose and high-fat, but not a standard, diets, melatonin therapy prevented BWG in rats on either diet. Increasing the dose of melatonin did not enhance the effect of therapy on any diet. We did not obtain convincing evidence that the effect of melatonin depends on the initial body weight and age of rats. On a standard diet, melatonin has been found to reduce food and water intake. Melatonin did not reduce BWG with a standard diet when administered intraperitoneally. Our research suggests that melatonin may be beneficial in diet-induced metabolic disorders as it improves lipid profiles and prevents BWG. However, a decrease in appetite and BWG when taking melatonin may also be due to negative side effects of the drug, which requires further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold stress is a significant abiotic stress that profoundly impacts the quality of fruits and vegetables. This study parsed the effects of fermentation supernatant (CFS-R1) and bacterial suspension (CRS-R1) of antagonistic bacteria R1 on the physiological quality and sugar metabolism of 'Nanguo' pears under chilling stress. The results demonstrated that both CFS-R1 and CRS-R1 significantly reduced the browning and weight loss of the fruit and suppressed the chilling injury. The relative electrolyte leakage of CFS-R1 and CRS-R1 treated fruits were reduced by 9.4 % and 9.9 % respectively on day 7 of storage, indicating improved cell membrane stability. Furthermore, both CFS-R1 and CRS-R1 maintained the sucrose content of the fruits, with CFS-R1 also increasing the content of glucose and fructose. In conclusion, the antagonist R1 can serve as a biological preservative to enhance the cold tolerance of Nanguo pear fruit by regulating sugar metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over-consumption of fructose in adults and children has been linked to increased risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Recent studies have highlighted the effect of fructose on liver inflammation, fibrosis, and immune cell activation. However, little work summarizes the direct impact of fructose on macrophage infiltration, phenotype, and function within the liver. We demonstrate that chronic fructose diet decreased Kupffer cell populations while increasing transitioning monocytes. In addition, fructose increased fibrotic gene expression of collagen 1 alpha 1 (Col1a1) and tissue metallopeptidase inhibitor 1 (Timp1) as well as inflammatory gene expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (Tnfa) and expression of transmembrane glycoprotein NMB (Gpnmb) in liver tissue compared to glucose and control diets. Single cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) revealed fructose elevated expression of matrix metallopeptidase 12 (Mmp12), interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (Il1rn), and radical S-adenosyl methionine domain (Rsad2) in liver and hepatic macrophages. In vitro studies using IMKC and J774.1 cells demonstrated decreased viability when exposed to fructose. Additionally, fructose increased Gpnmb, Tnfa, Mmp12, Il1rn, and Rsad2 in unpolarized IMKC. By mass spectrometry, C13 fructose tracing detected fructose metabolites in glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). Inhibition of the PPP further increased fructose induced Il6, Gpnmb, Mmp12, Il1rn, and Rsad2 in nonpolarized IMKC. Taken together, fructose decreases cell viability while upregulating resolution and anti-inflammatory associated genes in Kupffer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High fructose (HFr) intake results in dyslipidemia with consequent insulin resistance through metabolic derangements. Inadequate mobilization of excess lipid into lipid droplets causes lipid accumulation with subsequent lipotoxicity in non-adipose tissues, thus contributing to cardiovascular disease. Short-chain fatty acid butyrate protects against cardiometabolic disorder (CMD). This study aimed at investigating the effect of sodium butyrate (NaB) on selected markers of endothelial function and aortic lipotoxicity in female Wistar rats. Twenty female Wistar rats with body weight 120–125 g were divided after a week of acclimatization into 4 groups of 5 rats each: control (CTR; normal chow), HFr drink: 10% fructose (w/v), NaB (200 mg/kg; po), and NaB + HFr. The administration was carried out for 6 weeks. The animals were euthanized with ketamine hydrochloride and blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture. Aortic tissue ring was excised and homogenized for biochemical parameters using standard assay methods. The results showed that HFr drink decreased plasma and aortic NO, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), while it increased plasma and aortic triglyceride (TG), free fatty acid (FFA), uric acid (UA), and C-reactive protein (CRP) compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Interestingly, administration of NaB attenuated these metabolic-related perturbations in rats exposed to HFr. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that NaB protects against aortic lipotoxicity and endothelial dysfunction associated with HFr drink by attenuating aortic lipid deposition and improving VEGF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient solvent mediated & use of metal-free catalyst strategy was developed for synthesis of FDCA over two steps. A simple & economical glucose-hydrothermally carbonized (Glu-HTC) catalyst was prepared and evaluated for synthesis of 2,5-Diformyl furan (DFF) from fructose & 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) in the 1st step. DFF was then converted to FDCA using Pinnick oxidation in the 2nd step. DFF was obtained in 82% & 86% yields from fructose & HMF respectively whereas FDCA was obtained in 94–95% yield from DFF. FDCA was thus formed in an overall yield of 78% and 81% from fructose & HMF respectively. This strategy eliminated use of expensive noble metals for FDCA synthesis and also intermediates such as HMFCA & FFCA were not observed after the reaction as DFF was completely oxidized to FDCA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugars will eventually be exported transporters (SWEETs) have been confirmed to be involved in the regulation of plant growth, development and stress response. SWEET gene families have already been identified in several plants. However, little is known about the characteristic of watermelon SWEET genes and their expression patterns in male sterile buds and under exogenous sugars. In this study, 23 ClaSWEET genes were identified and found unevenly distributed on eight chromosomes. A total of 15 out of 23 members contained seven transmembrane regions, which formed two complete MtN3-saliva domains. The motif distribution and gene structure were highly conservative between Arabidopsis and watermelon SWEET members. Segmental and tandem duplication events were the main reasons for the expansion of watermelon SWEET members. The published RNA-seq data showed that some ClaSWEET genes were expressed in apical point, carpopodium, fruit flesh, hypocotyl of scion, leaves or roots. RNA-seq and qRT-PCR analysis revealed that 10 ClaSWEET genes were significantly down-regulated, whereas five genes were up-regulated in male sterile buds. Gene ontology analysis showed that two up- and five down-expressed genes were involved in anther dehiscence and pollen exine formation, respectively. qRT-PCR expression analysis showed that 11 ClaSWEET genes exhibited variable expression patterns under exogenous sugar (sucrose, glucose and fructose) and abiotic stresses (salt, PEG and low temperature). These results lay a foundation for subsequent gene function analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fructose consumption has increased globally and has been linked to obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes. Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) can regulate glucose and lipid concentrations and have immunoregulatory properties. Four study groups (n = 7/group) of eight-week-old male mice (Balb/c) were formed for this investigation. One group received a standard diet (C), another standard diet plus SeNPs (C + SeNPs), a high fructose diet (F), and a group with a high fructose diet plus SeNPs (F + SeNPs). Weight, glucose, triglycerides, and cholesterol were evaluated. In the end, mice were sacrificed, blood samples were obtained to assess cytokine profile, and liver, kidney, and pancreas were removed for histological examination. The study was complemented with an in silico analysis where the CTD, STITCH, ToppGene Suite, ShinyGO 0.76.3 databases, and Cytoscape software were implemented. The results of in vivo analysis showed that SeNPs regulated biochemical parameters and showed anti-inflammatory effects by decreasing the concentrations of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IFN-gamma and increasing IL-10. No damage was observed in the studied organs. In addition, SeNPs regulate oxidative stress, preserve cell organelles, and regulate metabolic pathways to avoid the adverse effects of fructose consumption, according to bioinformatics analysis. In conclusion, SeNPs protect against the undesirable effects of a diet rich in fructose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution holds great promise for addressing critical energy and environmental challenges, making it an important area in scientific research. One of the most popular photocatalysts is graphitic carbon nitride (gCN), which has emerged as a noteworthy candidate for hydrogen generation through water splitting. However, ongoing research aims to enhance its properties for practical applications. Herein, we introduce a green approach for the fabrication of porous few-layered gCN with surface modifications (such as oxygen doping, carbon deposition, nitrogen defects) with promoted performance in the hydrogen evolution reaction. The fabrication process involves a one-step solvothermal treatment of bulk graphitic carbon nitride (bulk-gCN) in the presence of different sugars (glucose, sucrose, and fructose). Interestingly, the conducted time-dependent process revealed that porous gCN exfoliated in the presence of fructose at 180 °C for 6 h (fructose_6h) exhibits a remarkable 13-fold promotion of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution compared to bulk-gCN. The studied materials were extensively characterized by microscopic and spectroscopic techniques, allowing us to propose a reaction mechanism for hydrogen evolution during water-splitting over fructose_6h. Furthermore, the study highlights the potential of employing a facile and environmentally friendly fructose-assisted solvothermal process to improve the efficiency and stability of catalysts based on graphitic carbon nitride. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osmolytes are produced by various microorganisms as a defense mechanism to protect cells and macromolecules from damage caused by external stresses in harsh environments. Due to their useful stabilizing properties, these molecules are applied as active ingredients in a wide range of cosmetics and healthcare products. The metabolic pathways and biocatalytic syntheses of glycosidic osmolytes such as 2-O-α-d-glucosyl-d-glycerate often involve the action of a glycoside phosphorylase. Here, we report the discovery of a glucosylglycerate phosphorylase from carbohydrate-active enzyme family GH13 that is also active on sucrose, which contrasts the strict specificity of known glucosylglycerate phosphorylases that can only use α-d-glucose 1-phosphate as glycosyl donor in transglycosylation reactions. The novel enzyme can be distinguished from other phosphorylases from the same family by the presence of an atypical conserved sequence motif at specificity-determining positions in the active site. The promiscuity of the sucrose-active glucosylglycerate phosphorylase can be exploited for the high-yielding and rapid synthesis of 2-O-α-d-glucosyl-d-glycerate from sucrose and d-glycerate. Key points: • A Xylanimonas protaetiae glycoside phosphorylase can use bothd-glycerate and fructose as glucosyl acceptor with high catalytic efficiency • Biocatalytic synthesis of the osmolyte 2-O-α-d-glucosyl-d-glycerate • Positions in the active site of GH13 phosphorylases act as convenient specificity fingerprints [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is a high value-added platform compound, converted into bio-based polyesters and biofuels etc. In this paper, we used two commercially available hexamethylenimine and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as the structure-directing agents to synthesize HMWW zeolite nanosheets via one step. A series of HMWW zeolite nanosheets with different disorder index (DI) were controllably prepared by adjusting the amount of CTAB, operating also as an in situ exfoliating agent, converting fructose into HMF in the tetrahydrofuran/NaCl-H2O biphasic solvent with low boiling point. Successful construction of disordered HMWW zeolite nanosheets was verified by PXRD. Further characterizations by BET, SEM and TEM etc. show that HMWW4.0 with the optimum DI of 0.67 has a disordered network-like arrangement of layers with the external surface area of 224 m2/g and the mesoporous size of 3.5 nm. Catalytic evaluations showed that HMF selectivity was closely related to DI of the catalysts. Under the optimized DI, fructose molecules are readily accessible to acidic sites on the external surface while larger external surface area is exposed. The HMWW4.0 zeolite catalyzed fructose dehydration in the biphasic solvent, producing 90% HMF selectivity with 93% fructose conversion at 140 °C for 6 h. In the reuses of the HMWW4.0 catalyst, HMF selectivity was around 90% with fructose conversion decreasing by ca. 10% after six runs, indicating that it possesses the promising stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread use of bacterial cellulose (BC) in industrial processes increases the demand for this valuable biomaterial. Accordingly, research mainly focuses on investigating novel substrates for BC production with low cost and high productivity. In this respect, the optimization and physicochemical characterization of BC membranes by using Jasminum sambac and Camellia sinensis as low-cost substrates with Komagataeibacter intermedius strain were examined. BC production increased with these plants under optimized conditions: 20 g/100 mL J. sambac, 8% glucose, 10% inoculum and 30 g/100 mL C. sinensis, 8% fructose, 20% inoculum at pH = 6.0 for 7 days statically with yields of 12.16 and 14.58 g/L, respectively. In comparison with BC obtained from HS (5.59 g/L), the BC yield increased 2.17 and 2.61 times by using J. sambac and C. sinensis, respectively. Additionally, 40.71 and 37.87% of the total phenolics (31.49 and 43.67 mg/g), 14.17 and 48.4% of the total proteins (13.4 and 33 mg/g) and 73.57 and 79.85% of the reducing sugars (1.4 and 2.78 g/L) in J. sambac and C. sinensis, respectively were used. J. sambac and C. sinensis plant wastes can be used at least two and nine more times in BC production with a volumetric yield of 1.91 and 7.19 g/L, respectively. BC obtained from C. sinensis plant-based medium had the thinnest fibril size (0.10 − 0.07 μm), exhibited high water holding capacity (106.44%) when compared with BC obtained from HS (98%) and J. sambac plant-based medium (95.85%). Additionally, whereas the cost of BC obtained from HS broth was found to be 1.003 Euro/per g, the cost of BC significantly decreased by 0.27 and 0.39 Euro/g with J. sambac and C. sinensis plant-based media, respectively. BC membranes showed a nanoporous structure and depended on cellulose type 1. The results suggested J. sambac and C. sinensis plants as novel cost-effective substrates for BC production with enhanced volumetric yield, high water holding capacity and excellent physicochemical properties to be used in industrial applications and biotechnological research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Consumption of fructose has repeatedly been discussed to be a key factor in the development of health disturbances such as hypertension, diabetes type 2, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Despite intense research efforts, the question if and how high dietary fructose intake interferes with human health has not yet been fully answered. Results: Studies suggest that besides its insulin-independent metabolism dietary fructose may also impact intestinal homeostasis and barrier function. Indeed, it has been suggested by the results of human and animal as well as in vitro studies that fructose enriched diets may alter intestinal microbiota composition. Furthermore, studies have also shown that both acute and chronic intake of fructose may lead to an increased formation of nitric oxide and a loss of tight junction proteins in small intestinal tissue. These alterations have been related to an increased translocation of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) like bacterial endotoxin and an induction of dependent signaling cascades in the liver but also other tissues. Conclusion: In the present narrative review, results of studies assessing the effects of fructose on intestinal barrier function and their impact on the development of health disturbances with a particular focus on the liver are summarized and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Overconsumption of non-nutritive sweeteners is associated with obesity, whereas the underlying mechanisms remain controversial. This study aimed to investigate the effects of long-term consumption of nutritive or non-nutritive sweeteners with or without high fat diet on sweet taste receptor expression in nutrient-sensing tissues and energy regulation dependent on sweet-sensing. Methods: 50 Male Sprague–Dawley rats (140–160 g) were assigned to 10 groups (n = 5/group). All received fructose at 2.5% or 10%, sucralose at 0.01% or 0.015% or water with a normal chow diet or high fat diet for 12 weeks. Food and drink intake were monitored daily. Oral glucose tolerance test and intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test were performed at week 10 and 11 respectively. Serum was obtained for measurement of biochemical parameters. Tongue, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, colon and hypothalamus were rapidly removed to assess gene expression. Results: Long-term consumption of sweeteners impaired glucose tolerance, increased calorie intake and body weight. A significant upregulation of sweet taste receptor expression was observed in all the four intestinal segments in groups fed 0.01% sucralose or 0.015% sucralose, most strikingly in the ileum, accompanied by elevated serum glucagon-like peptide-1 levels and up-regulated expression of sodium-dependent glucose cotransporter 1 and glucose transporter 2. A significant down-regulation in the tongue and hypothalamus was observed in groups fed 10% fructose or 0.015% sucralose, with alterations in hypothalamic appetite signals. The presence of high fat diet differentially modulates sweet taste perception in nutrient-sensing tissues. Conclusions: Long-term consumption of whether nutritive sweeteners or non-nutritive sweeteners combined with high fat diet contribute to dysregulation of sweet taste receptor expression in oral, intestinal and central nervous tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the role of organic osmolytes in regulating substomatal apoplast water potential (ψwa) in the leaves of pea (Pisum sativum L.) plants grown under normal or doubled CO2 concentrations exposed to a 3-day drought. The sucrose content, the leading organic osmolyte, was higher in the leaves of drought-stressed plants grown under doubled CO2 concentration than in those grown under normal CO2 concentration. However, the content of proline and reducing sugars (glucose + fructose) was higher in the leaves of plants grown under normal CO2 concentration. Interestingly, the substomatal apoplast ψwa decreased 2-fold under normal CO2 concentration while remaining unchanged under doubled CO2 concentration. Similarity in the decline of ψwa and increase of proline and reducing sugars in leaves under drought indicates their specific role as apoplast osmotic agents that help diminish the turgor of guard cells by lowering ψwa, resulting in stomatal closure and diminish leaf water loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes-associated cognitive dysfunction is linked to chronic hyperglycemia, oxidative stress, inflammation, cholinergic dysfunction, and neuronal degeneration. We investigated the antidiabetic and neuroprotective activity of a mixture of Sclerocarya birrea, Nauclea latifolia, and Piper longum (SNP) in type 2 diabetic (T2D) rat model-induced memory impairment. Fructose (10%) and streptozotocin (35 mg/kg) were used to induce T2D in male Wistar rats. Diabetic animals received distilled water, metformin (200 mg/kg), or SNP mixture (75, 150, or 300 mg/kg). HPLC–MS profiling of the mixture was performed. Behavioral testing was conducted using the Y-maze, NORT, and Morris water mazes to assess learning and memory. Biochemical markers were evaluated, including carbohydrate metabolism, oxidative/nitrative stress, pro-inflammatory markers, and acetylcholinesterase activity. Histopathological examination of the pancreas and hippocampus was also performed. Fructose/STZ administration resulted in T2D, impaired short- and long-term memory, significantly increased oxidative/nitrative stress, pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE), hippocampal neuronal loss and degeneration in CA1 and CA3 subfields, and neuronal vacuolation in DG. SNP mixture at 150 and 300 mg/kg significantly improved blood glucose and memory function in diabetic rats. The mixture reduced oxidative/nitrative stress and increased endogenous antioxidant levels. It also reduced serum IL-1β, INF-γ and TNF-α levels and ameliorated AChE activity. Histologically, SNP protected hippocampus neurons against T2D-induced neuronal necrosis and degeneration. We conclude that the aqueous extract of SNP mixture has antidiabetic and neuroprotective activities thanks to active metabolites identified in the plant mixture, which consequently normalized blood glucose, protected hippocampus neurons, and improved memory function in diabetic rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to assess the physicochemical characteristics and final sensory quality of Yellow Catuai IAC 62 Arabica coffee fermented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae. For such a purpose, a Composite Central Rotational Design (CCRD) was performed to investigate how fermentation time,temperature and pH conditions, moisture content and concentration of sugars and organic acids affect its sensory quality on two different roast levels in accordance with Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) protocols. It was found that fructose concentration decreased from 12 g/L to around 5 g/L during fermentation, regardless of temperature condition. Furthermore, longer fermentation times and higher temperatures have lowered sucrose and glucose concentrations from 4 to 2 g/L and 7 g/L to zero, respectively. Glycerol concentration was higher as time and temperature increased, and optimal conditions ranged at temperatures between 24 °C and 32 °C from 35 to 45 h of fermentation time. pH decreased as fermentation time elapsed, but there was a more significant reduction due to higher temperatures, starting at around pH 5 and, lower than 4 under extreme conditions. Contents of organic acids such as acetic, propionic, succinic, and lactic acids, were measured at the final stage of each fermentation process under studied conditions. It was observed that coffee samples achieved final scores ranging from 81 to 85 (SCA score), even in longer times and extreme temperature conditions, thus all samples have been classified as specialty coffees. This work described the initial step towards parameterizing fermentation processes, given that the response variables of temperature and fermentation time, were optimal and enhanced the sensory quality of coffee as beverage. Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a commercial product which has already been made available for producers, can ensure an increase in the sensory quality of coffee. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Research on hydrogenases from Cupriavidus necator has been ongoing for more than two decades and still today the common methods for culture inoculation are used. These methods were never adapted to the requirements of modified bacterial strains, resulting in different physiological states of the bacteria in the precultures, which in turn lead prolonged and different lag-phases. Results: In order to obtain uniform and always equally fit precultures for inoculation, we have established in this study an optimized protocol for precultures of the derivative of C. necator HF210 (C. necator HP80) which is used for homologous overexpression of the genes for the NAD+-reducing soluble hydrogenase (SH). We compared different media for preculture growth and determined the optimal time point for harvest. The protocol obtained in this study is based on two subsequent precultures, the first one in complex nutrient broth medium (NB) and a second one in fructose –nitrogen mineral salt medium (FN). Conclusion: Despite having two subsequent precultures our protocol reduces the preculture time to less than 30 h and provides reproducible precultures for cultivation of C. necator HP80. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arginase, a manganese (Mn)-dependent enzyme, is indispensable for urea generation and ammonia disposal in the liver. The potential role of fructose in Mn and ammonia metabolism is undefined. Here we demonstrate that fructose overconsumption impairs hepatic Mn homeostasis and ammonia disposal in male mice. Fructose overexposure reduces liver Mn content as well as its activity of arginase and Mn-SOD, and impairs the clearance of blood ammonia under liver dysfunction. Mechanistically, fructose activates the Mn exporter Slc30a10 gene transcription in the liver in a ChREBP-dependent manner. Hepatic overexpression of Slc30a10 can mimic the effect of fructose on liver Mn content and ammonia disposal. Hepatocyte-specific deletion of Slc30a10 or ChREBP increases liver Mn contents and arginase activity, and abolishes their responsiveness to fructose. Collectively, our data establish a role of fructose in hepatic Mn and ammonia metabolism through ChREBP/Slc30a10 pathway, and postulate fructose dietary restriction for the prevention and treatment of hyperammonemia. Manganese is an essential trace element for the activity of arginase in the process of urea generation and ammonia disposal in the liver. Here, the authors show that fructose overconsumption impairs hepatic Mn homeostasis and ammonia disposal in male mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this study is to investigate the use of the deep eutectic solvent (DES) composed of choline chloride and sulfamic acid as a catalyst for the dehydration of fructose to produce 5-hydroxymethylfurfural in a two-phase solution of MIBK/H2O. The yield of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) was measured for fructose solutions with varying concentrations of DES. The results showed that under optimized conditions, a competitive yield of 90.44% 5-HMF was achieved in a biphasic system of water and methyl-isobutylketone (MIBK). The study also revealed that the yield of 5-HMF was influenced by the concentration of DES and the temperature of the system. The impact of these factors on the yield of 5-HMF was further discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucose metabolism and DNA repair are fundamental cellular processes frequently dysregulated in cancer. In this study, we define a direct role for the glycolytic Aldolase A (ALDOA) protein in DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair. ALDOA is a fructose biphosphate Aldolase that catalyses fructose-1,6-bisphosphate to glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate (G3P) and dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP), during glycolysis. Here, we show that upon DNA damage induced by ionising radiation (IR), ALDOA translocates from the cytoplasm into the nucleus, where it partially co-localises with the DNA DSB marker γ-H2AX. DNA damage was shown to be elevated in ALDOA-depleted cells prior to IR and following IR the damage was repaired more slowly. Consistent with this, cells depleted of ALDOA exhibited decreased DNA DSB repair via non-homologous end-joining and homologous recombination. In support of the defective repair observed in its absence, ALDOA was found to associate with the major DSB repair effector kinases, DNA-dependent Protein Kinase (DNA-PK) and Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM) and their autophosphorylation was decreased when ALDOA was depleted. Together, these data establish a role for an essential metabolic protein, ALDOA in DNA DSB repair and suggests that targeting ALDOA may enable the concurrent targeting of cancer metabolism and DNA repair to induce tumour cell death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid and efficient consumption of carbon and nitrogen sources by brewer's yeast is critical for the fermentation process in the brewing industry. The comparison of the growth characterizations of typical ale and lager yeast, as well as their consumption preference to carbon and nitrogen sources were investigated in this study. Results showed that the ale strain grew faster and had a more extended stationary phase than the lager strain. However, the lager strain was more tolerant to the stressful environment in the later stage of fermentation. Meanwhile, the ale and lager yeast strains possessed varying preferences for metabolizing the specific fermentable sugar or free amino acid involved in the wort medium. The lager strain had a strong capacity to synthesize the extracellular invertase required for hydrolyzing sucrose as well as a strong capability to metabolize glucose and fructose. Furthermore, the lager strain had an advantage in consuming Lys, Arg, Val, and Phe, whereas the ale strain had a higher assimilation rate in consuming Tyr. These findings provide valuable insights into selecting the appropriate brewer's yeast strain based on the wort components for the industrial fermentation process. Key points: • The lager strain is more tolerant to the stressful environment. • The lager strain has the great capability to synthesize the extracellular invertase. • The assimilation efficiency of free amino acid varies between ale and lager. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have confirmed that hepatic iron overload is one of the important factors causing liver damage in the metabolic syndrome (MS). As a special form of autophagy, ferritinophagy is involved in the regulation of iron metabolism. Our previous studies have shown that chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (CIHH) can improve the iron metabolism disorder. The aim of this study was to investigate how CIHH improves liver damage through ferritinophagy in MS rats. Male Sprague–Dawley rats aged 8–10 weeks were randomly divided into four groups: control (CON), CIHH (exposed to hypoxia at a simulated altitude of 5000 m for 28 days, 6 h daily), MS model (induced by a 16-week high-fat diet and 10% fructose water feeding), and MS + CIHH (exposed to CIHH after a 16-week MS inducement) groups. Liver index, liver function, iron content, tissue morphology, oxidative stress, ferritinophagy, ferroptosis, and iron metabolism-related protein expression were measured, and the ferritinophagy flux in the liver was further analyzed. Compared with CON rats, MS rats had an increased liver index, damaged liver tissue and function, increased iron content and iron deposition, disrupted iron metabolism, significantly increased oxidative stress indicators in the liver, significantly upregulated expression of ferroptosis-related proteins, and downregulated expression of nuclear receptor coactivator 4 (NCOA4) and ferritinophagy flux. After CIHH treatment, the degree of liver damage and various abnormal indicators in MS rats were significantly improved. CIHH may improve liver damage by promoting NCOA4-mediated ferritinophagy, reducing iron overload and oxidative stress, and thereby alleviating ferroptosis in MS rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Results of the antidiabetic activity of the low-molecular-weight NGF mimetic GK-2 [bis-(N-monosuccinylglutamyl-L-lysine) hexamethylenediamide] in a type 2 diabetes model induced by a high-carbohydrate diet (10% fructose solution) in combination with a subthreshold dose of streptozotocin (STZ, 35 mg/kg) in Wistar rats are described. Both preventive and therapeutic administrations of GK-2 (5 mg/kg perorally) were shown to attenuate the development of hyperglycemia. GK-2 reduced insulin resistance caused by fructose overload in combination with STZ. Morphological analysis of the pancreas confirmed the protective effect of GK-2 on pancreatic islets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the rampant rise in obesity and diabetes, consumers are desperately seeking for ways to reduce their sugar intake, but to date there are no options that are both accessible and without sacrifice of palatability. One of the most promising new ingredients in the food system as a non-nutritive sugar substitute with near perfect palatability is D-psicose. D-psicose is currently produced using an in vitro enzymatic isomerization of D-fructose, resulting in low yield and purity, and therefore requiring substantial downstream processing to obtain a high purity product. This has made adoption of D-psicose into products limited and results in significantly higher per unit costs, reducing accessibility to those most in need. Here, we found that Escherichia coli natively possesses a thermodynamically favorable pathway to produce D-psicose from D-glucose through a series of phosphorylation-epimerization-dephosphorylation steps. To increase carbon flux towards D-psicose production, we introduced a series of genetic modifications to pathway enzymes, central carbon metabolism, and competing metabolic pathways. In an attempt to maximize both cellular viability and D-psicose production, we implemented methods for the dynamic regulation of key genes including clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats inhibition (CRISPRi) and stationary-phase promoters. The engineered strains achieved complete consumption of D-glucose and production of D-psicose, at a titer of 15.3 g L-1, productivity of 2 g L-1 h-1, and yield of 62% under test tube conditions. These results demonstrate the viability of whole-cell catalysis as a sustainable alternative to in vitro enzymatic synthesis for the accessible production of D-psicose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly 13 C NMR method was developed and validated for the determination of sucrose, fructose, and glucose in aqueous extracts of the flesh, peel, and seed parts of pumpkin. The 13 C NMR method was validated to determine individual sugars using chemical shifts at δ 103.58, 98.07, and 96.45 ppm for sucrose, fructose, and glucose, respectively. The results showed a linear range, 1.08 to 83.3 g/L; R2, of 0.999 to 1.00; LOD, 0.06 to 0.29 g/L; LOQ, 0.21 to 0.97 g/L; RSD, 0.63 to 0.96%; and %recovery, 97.8 to 101.8%. Accordingly, the developed method can easily be applied for the quantitative determination of individual sugars in pumpkin flesh, peel, and seeds. The content of sucrose in the flesh, peel, and seed samples varied from 0.79 to 1.07%, 0.37–0.46%, and 0.14–0.18%, respectively. The amount of fructose was found to be 0.32–0.40% in pumpkin flesh and 0.08–0.18% in pumpkin peel. The pumpkin flesh and peel contained 0.14–0.20% and 0.06–0.08% glucose, respectively. Sucrose was found in higher amounts in all the samples. Fructose and glucose were not detected in the seed parts of pumpkin. Compared to sucrose and glucose, fructose content showed a better correlation between the flesh and peel parts of the pumpkin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In our previous study, we constructed a one-pot multi-enzyme system for rare ketoses synthesis based on L-rhamnulose-1-phosphate aldolase (RhaD) from accessible glycerol in vitro. To eliminate tedious purification of enzymes, a facile Escherichia coli whole-cell cascade platform was established in this study. Methods: To enhance the conversion rate, the reaction conditions, substrate concentrations and expressions of related enzymes were extensively optimized. Results: The biosynthetic route for the cascade synthesis of rare ketoses in whole cells was successfully constructed and three rare ketoses including D-allulose, D-sorbose and L-fructose were produced using glycerol and D/L-glyceraldehyde (GA). Under optimized conditions, the conversion rates of rare ketoses were 85.0% and 93.0% using D-GA and L-GA as the receptor, respectively. Furthermore, alditol oxidase (AldO) was introduced to the whole-cell system to generate D-GA from glycerol, and the total production yield of D-sorbose and D-allulose was 8.2 g l−1 only from the sole carbon source glycerol. Conclusion: This study demonstrates a feasible and cost-efficient method for rare sugars synthesis and can also be applied to the green synthesis of other value-added chemicals from glycerol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invertase is the key enzyme involved in several crucial biological processes by hydrolyzing sucrose for production of glucose and fructose. Invertase plays important roles in the fields of food, pharmacy, cosmetics, biofuels, and agriculture. Detection of invertase activity is urgently necessary for scientific research and industrial processes. Herein, a continuous fluorometric method was developed for real-time detection of invertase activity. 8-Isoquinolinylboronic acid responded to fructose by formation of a fluorescent complex in turn-on manner, and served as a fluorescent sensor to selectively recognize fructose in ternary enzymatic mixture containing sucrose and glucose. The limit of detection (LOD) for fructose was 0.07 mM. Progress curve for fructose production was established by directly and continuously monitoring the fluorescence for invertase reaction with sucrose as substrate. Initial velocity was obtained to characterize invertase activity. LOD for invertase assay was 0.10 U·mL−1. Km and υmax for invertase were determined as 7.70 mM and 0.86 mM·min−1, respectively. Copper ion was demonstrated to inhibit the invertase activity with IC50 of 33.61 mM. Applicability in high-throughput screening for inhibitor was demonstrated. The proposed method allows for real-time, simple, and rapidly monitoring the invertase activity. It has a broad range of potential applications for kinetics and screening inhibitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly efficient isomerization of glucose to fructose is essential for valorizing cellulose fraction of biomass to value-added chemicals. This work provided an innovative method for preparing Mg-biochar and Mg–K-biochar catalysts by impregnating either MgCl2 alone or in combination with different K compounds (Ding et al. in Bioresour Technol 341:125835, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2021.125835 and KHCO3) on cellulose-derived biochar, followed by hydrothermal carbonization and pyrolysis. Single active substance MgO existing in the 10Mg–C could give better catalytic effect on glucose isomerization than the synergy of MgO and KCl crystalline material present in 10Mg–KCl–C. But the catalytic effect of 10Mg–C was decreased when the basic site of MgO was overloaded. Compared to other carbon-based metal catalysts, 10Mg–KHCO3–C with 10 wt% MgCl2 loading had excellent catalytic performance, which gave a higher fructose yield (36.7%) and selectivity (74.54%), and catalyzed excellent glucose conversion (53.99%) at 100 °C in 30 min. Scanning electron microscope–energy dispersive spectrometer and X-Ray diffraction revealed that the distribution of Mg2+ and K+ in 10Mg–KHCO3–C was uniform and the catalytic active substances (MgO, KCl and K2CO3) were more than 10Mg–C (only MgO). The synergy effects of MgO and K2CO3 active sites enhanced the pH of reaction system and induced H2O ionization to form considerable OH− ions, thus easily realizing a deprotonation of glucose and effectively catalyzing the isomerization of glucose. In this study, we developed a highly efficient Mg–K-biochar bimetallic catalyst for glucose isomerization and provided an efficient method for cellulose valorization. Highlights: The bimetallic Brønsted catalyst designed in this study (10Mg–KHCO3–C) could achieve high fructose yield (36.7%) and selectivity (74.54%). The MgO could give obtain good catalytic effect on glucose isomerization, but the catalytic effect decreased when the Mg+ was overloaded. The synergy effects of MgO and K2CO3 could enhance the pH of reaction system and effectively catalyze the isomerization of glucose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]