Deciphering key proteins of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) fruit mesocarp development by proteomics and chemometrics

Palm oil is an edible vegetable oil derived from lipid‐rich fleshy mesocarp tissue of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) fruit and is of global economic and nutritional relevance. While the understanding of oil biosynthesis in plants is improving, the fundamentals of oil biosynthesis in oil palm still require further investigations. To gain insight into the systemic mechanisms that govern oil synthesis during oil palm fruit ripening, the proteomics approach combining gel‐based electrophoresis and mass spectrometry was used to profile protein changes and classify the patterns of protein accumulation during these complex physiological processes. Protein profiles from different stages of fruit ripening at 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18 and 20 weeks after anthesis (WAA) were analysed by two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE). The proteome data were then visualised using a multivariate statistical analysis of principal component analysis (PCA) to get an overview of the proteome changes during the development of oil palm mesocarp. A total of 68 differentially expressed protein spots were successfully identified by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionisation‐time of flight (MALDI‐TOF/TOF) and functionally classified using ontology analysis. Proteins related to lipid production, energy, secondary metabolites and amino acid metabolism are the most significantly changed proteins during fruit development representing potential candidates for oil yield improvement endeavors. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD009579. This study provides important proteome information for protein regulation during oil palm fruit ripening and oil synthesis.     

In reply to “A query on the Mg2p of MgO”

Research on Chemical Intermediates -     

Olive-Derived Triterpenes Suppress SARS COV-2 Main Protease: A Promising Scaffold for Future Therapeutics

SARS CoV-2 pandemic is still considered a global health disaster, and newly emerged variants keep growing. A number of promising vaccines have been recently developed as a protective measure; however, cost-effective treatments are also of great importance to support this critical situation. Previously, betulinic acid has shown promising antiviral activity against SARS CoV via targeting its main protease. Herein, we investigated the inhibitory potential of this compound together with three other triterpene congeners (i.e., ursolic acid, maslinic acid, and betulin) derived from olive leaves against the viral main protease (M^pro) of the currently widespread SARS CoV-2. Interestingly, betulinic, ursolic, and maslinic acids showed significant inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ = 3.22–14.55 µM), while betulin was far less active (IC₅₀ = 89.67 µM). A comprehensive in-silico analysis (i.e., ensemble docking, molecular dynamic simulation, and binding-free energy calculation) was then performed to describe the binding mode of these compounds with the enzyme catalytic active site and determine the main essential structural features required for their inhibitory activity. Results presented in this communication indicated that this class of compounds could be considered as a promising lead scaffold for developing cost-effective anti-SARS CoV-2 therapeutics.     

Enhanced physical and chemical adsorption of carbon dioxide using bimetallic copper–magnesium oxide/carbon nanocomposite

Mixed Cu and Mg oxides on nitrogen-rich activated carbon (AC) from Nypha fruticans biomass were characterized and their CO₂ adsorption performance was measured. Highly dispersed CuO and MgO nanoparticles on AC was obtained using an ultrasonic-assisted impregnation method. The optimum adsorbent is 5%CuO–25%MgO/AC having good surface properties of high surface area, pores volume and low particles agglomeration. The higher content of MgO of 5%CuO–25%MgO/AC adsorbent contributes to less metal carbide formation which increases their porosity, surface area and surface basicity. XPS analysis showed some amount of nitrogen content on the surface of the adsorbent which increased their surface basicity towards selective CO₂ adsorption. The presence of moisture accelerated the CO₂ chemisorption to form a hydroxyl layer on the surfaces. The 5%CuO–25%MgO/AC adsorbent successfully adsorbed CO₂ via physisorption and chemisorption of 14.8 and 36.2 wt%, respectively. It was significantly higher than fresh AC with better selectivity to CO₂.     

Synthesis and structure determination of 7a-Aza-B-homostigmast-5-eno [7a, 7-d] tetrazole-3β-yl chloride (C29H47N4Cl)

7a-Aza-B-homostigmast-5-eno [7a, 7-d] tetrazole-3β-yl chloride (C₂₉H₄₇N₄Cl) was synthesized for its crystallographic analysis and to investigate the role of intra- and intermolecular interactions in steroids. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2 with unit cell parameters: a = 38.481(2), b = 6.661(3), c = 11.111 (6) ?, β = 94.49 (4)^o; λ( MoKα) = 0.71069 ?, V = 2839(2) ?³, and Z = 4. The structure has been solved by direct methods using X-ray diffraction techniques. The final reliability index for the computed structure is 0.0597 for 1252 observed reflections. Except the five-membered ring, all other rings of the steroid nucleus exist in non-planar conformations. The structure is stabilized by C–H···N intermolecular interaction.Supplementary material CCDC-267926 contains the supplementary crystallographic data for this paper. These data can be obtained free of charge at www.ccdc.cam.an.uk/uk/conts/retrieving.html or from the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre (CCDC), 12 Union Road, Cambridge CB2 1EZ, United Kingdom; Fax: $+$44(0) 1223-336033; e-mail: deposit@ccdc.cam.ac.uk.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the cleavage of phthalic anhydride in glacial acetic acid solvent containing aniline

Apparent second-order rate constants (k(n)(app)) for the nucleophilic reaction of aniline (Ani) with phthalic anhydride (PAn) vary from 6.30 to 7.56 M(-1) s(-1) with the increase of temperature from 30 to 50 degrees C in pure glacial acetic acid (AcOH). However, the values of pseudo-first-order rate constants (k(s)) for the acetolysis of PAn in pure AcOH increase from 16.5 x 10(-4) to 10.7 x 10(-3) s(-1) with the increase of temperature from 30 to 50 degrees C. The values of k(n)(app) and k(s) vary from 5.84 to 7.56 M(-1) s(-1) and from 35.1 x 10(-4) to 12.4 x 10(-4) s(-1), respectively, with the increase of CH(3)CN content from 1% to 80% v/v in mixed AcOH solvents at 35 degrees C. The plot of k(s) versus CH(3)CN content shows a minimum (with 10(4) k(s) = 4.40 s(-1)) at 50% v/v CH(3)CN. Similarly, the variations of k(n)(app) and k(s) with the increasing content of tetrahydrofuran (THF) in mixed AcOH solvent reveal respective a maximum (with k(n)(app) = 17.5-15.6 M(-1) s(-1)) at 40-60% v/v THF and a minimum (with k(s) = approximately 0-1.2 x 10(-4) s (-1)) at 60-70% v/v THF. The respective values of DeltaH* and DeltaS* are 15.3 +/- 1.2 kcal mol(-1) and -20.1 +/- 3.8 cal K(-1) mol(-1) for k(s) and 1.1 +/- 0.5 kcal mol(-1) and -51.2 +/- 1.7 cal K(-1) mol(-1) for k(n)(app), while the values of k(n) (= k(n)(app)/f(b) with f(b) representing the fraction of free aniline base) are almost independent of temperature within the range 30-50 degrees C. A spectrophotometric approach has been described to determine f(b) in AcOH as well as mixed AcOH-CH(3)CN and AcOH-THF solvents. Thus, the observed data, obtained under different reaction conditions, have been explained quantitatively. An optimum reaction condition, within the domain of present reaction conditions, has been suggested for the maximum yield of the desired product, N-phenylphthalamic acid.     

Study of Antibacterial and Anticancer Properties of bioAgNPs Synthesized Using Streptomyces sp. PBD-311B and the Application of bioAgNP-CNC/Alg as an Antibacterial Hydrogel Film against P. aeruginosa USM-AR2 and MRSA

Here, we report the extracellular biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and determination of their antibacterial and anticancer properties. We also explore the efficacy of bioAgNPs incorporated in cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and alginate (Alg) for the formation of an antibacterial hydrogel film. Streptomyces sp. PBD-311B was used for the biosynthesis of AgNPs. The synthesized bioAgNPs were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, TEM, XRD, and FTIR analysis. Then, the bioAgNPs’ antibacterial and anticancer properties were determined using TEMA and cytotoxicity analysis. To form the antibacterial hydrogel film, bioAgNPs were mixed with a CNC and Alg solution and further characterized using FTIR analysis and a disc diffusion test. The average size of the synthesized bioAgNPs is around 69 ± 2 nm with a spherical shape. XRD analysis confirmed the formation of silver nanocrystals. FTIR analysis showed the presence of protein capping at the bioAgNP surface and could be attributed to the extracellular protein binding to bioAgNPs. The MIC value of bioAgNPs against P. aeruginosa USM-AR2 and MRSA was 6.25 mg/mL and 3.13 mg/mL, respectively. In addition, the bioAgNPs displayed cytotoxicity effects against cancer cells (DBTRG-0.5MG and MCF-7) and showed minimal effects against normal cells (SVG-p12 and MCF-10A), conferring selective toxicity. Interestingly, the bioAgNPs still exhibited inhibition activity when incorporated into CNC/Alg, which implies that the hydrogel film has antibacterial properties. It was also found that bioAgNP-CNC/Alg displayed a minimal or slow release of bioAgNPs owing to the intermolecular interaction and the hydrogel’s properties. Overall, bioAgNP-CNC/Alg is a promising antibacterial hydrogel film that showed inhibition against the pathogenic bacteria P. aeruginosa and MRSA and its application can be further evaluated for the inhibition of cancer cells. It showed benefits for surgical resection of a tumor to avoid post-operative wound infection and tumor recurrence at the surgical site.     

Utilization of saffron (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Crocus sativus L.</Emphasis>) as sensitizer in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs)

Photoelectrodes of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have been prepared using nanosized titanium dioxide that have soaked in a solution of different saffron (Crocus sativus L.) spice content in ethanol. The optimized polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based gel polymer electrolyte with 40.93 wt.% ethylene carbonate, 37.97 wt.% propylene carbonate, 4.37 wt.% tetrapropylammonium iodide, 9.86 wt.% PAN, 1.24 wt.% 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide, 4.35 wt.% lithium iodide and 1.28 wt.% iodine has been used as the electrolyte for DSSC. The electrolyte has conductivity of 2.91 mS cm^?1 at room temperature (298 K). DSSCs were also sensitized with saffron solution that has been added with 30 wt.% chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) co-adsorbent and designated as DSSC P4. The solar cell converts light-to-electricity at an efficiency of 0.31%. This is 29% enhancement in efficiency for the DSSC without addition of CDCA in the saffron-ethanol solution. The DSSC exhibits current density at short-circuit (J _sc ) of 1.26 mA cm^?2, voltage at open circuit (V _oc ) of 0.48 V and 51% fill factor. DSSC P4 also exhibits the highest incident photon-to-current density of more than 40% at 340 nm wavelength.