Infection of post-harvest peaches by Monilinia fructicola accelerates sucrose decomposition and stimulates the Embden–Meyerhof–Parnas pathway

To study the changes in sugar metabolism caused by fungal infection in post-harvest peaches,fruit from two cultivars(‘Baifeng’and‘Yulu’)was inoculated with Monilinia fructicola and stored at 10°C.During disease development,soluble sugar content was monitored,as well as the activities and expression of selected enzymes.Disease progression was accompanied by a decrease in sucrose content and increases in reducing sugars and soluble solids,consistent with higher enzyme activities for acid invertase,neutral invertase and sucrose synthase-cleavage,and lower activities for sucrose synthase-synthesis and sucrose phosphate synthase.Activities of phosphofructokinase,hexokinase,and pyruvate kinase,which are related to hexose metabolism,also increased.These changes stimulate the Embden–Meyerhof–Parnas(EMP)pathway.We conclude that the fungal disease in peach fruit accelerates the decomposition of sucrose,thereby providing more glucose as a substrate to the EMP pathway.

Mechanical properties of dredged soil reinforced by xanthan gum and fibers

Biopolymers have become popular in geotechnical engineering as they provide a carbon-neutral alternative for soil solidification.Xanthan gum(XG)and jute fiber(JF)were selected to solidify the Yellow River dredged soil.The mechanical behavior of solidified dredged soil(SDS)was investigated using a series of uniaxial compression and splitting tension tests at different XG and JF contents and fiber lengths.The results indicate that on the 28th day,the unconfined compressive strength(UCS)values of SDS samples reached 2.83 MPa and splitting tensile strength(STS)of 0.763 MPa at an XG content of 1.5%.When the JF content was greater than 0.9%,the STS of the SDS samples decreased.This is because that the large fiber content weakened the cementation ability of XG.The addition of JF can significantly increase the strain at peak strength of SDS samples.There is a linear relationship between the UCS and STS of the dredged soils solidified by XG and JF.Microanalysis shows that the strength of SDS samples was improved mainly via the cementation of XG itself and the network structure formed by JF with soil particles.The dredged soil reinforced by XG and JF shows better mechanical performance and has great potential for application.

Targeting lysosomes in human disease:from basic research to clinical applications

In recent years,accumulating evidence has elucidated the role of lysosomes in dynamically regulating cellular and organismal homeostasis.Lysosomal changes and dysfunction have been correlated with the development of numerous diseases.In this review,we interpreted the key biological functions of lysosomes in four areas:cellular metabolism,cell proliferation and differentiation,immunity,and cell death.More importantly,we actively sought to determine the characteristic changes and dysfunction of lysosomes in cells affected by these diseases,the causes of these changes and dysfunction,and their significance to the development and treatment of human disease.Furthermore,we outlined currently available targeting strategies:(1)targeting lysosomal acidification;(2)targeting lysosomal cathepsins;(3)targeting lysosomal membrane permeability and integrity;(4)targeting lysosomal calcium signaling;(5)targeting mTOR signaling;and(6)emerging potential targeting strategies.Moreover,we systematically summarized the corresponding drugs and their application in clinical trials.By integrating basic research with clinical findings,we discussed the current opportunities and challenges of targeting lysosomes in human disease.

Protein lipidation in health and disease:molecular basis,physiological function and pathological implication

Posttranslational modifications increase the complexity and functional diversity of proteins in response to complex external stimuli and internal changes.Among these,protein lipidations which refer to lipid attachment to proteins are prominent,which primarily encompassing five types including S-palmitoylation,N-myristoylation,S-prenylation,glycosylphosphatidylinositol(GPl)anchor and cholesterylation.Lipid attachment to proteins plays an essential role in the regulation of protein trafficking,localisation,stability,conformation,interactions and signal transduction by enhancing hydrophobicity.Accumulating evidence from genetic,structural,and biomedical studies has consistently shown that protein lipidation is pivotal in the regulation of broad physiological functions and is inextricably linked to a variety of diseases.Decades of dedicated research have driven the development of a wide range of drugs targeting protein lipidation,and several agents have been developed and tested in preclinical and clinical studies,some of which,such as asciminib and lonafarnib are FDA-approved for therapeutic use,indicating that targeting protein lipidations represents a promising therapeutic strategy.Here,we comprehensively review the known regulatory enzymes and catalytic mechanisms of various protein lipidation types,outline the impact of protein lipidations on physiology and disease,and highlight potential therapeutic targets and clinical research progress,aiming to provide a comprehensive reference for future protein lipidation research.