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PubMed2026

Genome-wide characterization of heat shock protein genes reveals thermal stress-responsive candidates in Litopenaeus vannamei.

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are conserved molecular chaperones involved in protein folding, refolding, aggregation prevention, and degradation of damaged proteins. However, the genomic organization and thermal responsiveness of HSP genes in the Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) remain incompletely understood. Here, we performed a genome-wide analysis of the HSP gene family and examined its phylogenetic relationships, structural features, duplication patterns, sequence variation, interaction networks, and transcriptional responses to acute heat stress. A total of 34 HSP genes were identified and classified into the HSP90, HSP70, HSP40/DNAJ, HSP60, and small HSP families. Phylogenetic, motif, gene structure, synteny, and subcellular localization analyses revealed evolutionary conservation and structural diversification among family members. Three duplicated gene pairs were identified, comprising two segmental duplications and one tandem duplication. All pairs exhibited Ka/Ks ratios below 1, consistent with purifying selection of varying strength. Sequence analysis identified 295 nonsynonymous single-nucleotide polymorphisms, of which 12 were consistently predicted to be deleterious by multiple algorithms. Protein-protein interaction analysis indicated enrichment of protein-folding and cellular stress-response functions. RT-qPCR analysis showed significant induction of HSPA4, HSP90AA1, TRAP1, BiP, and DNAJA1 after 6, 12, and 24 h of exposure to 34 °C, whereas DNAJC3 was significantly induced only at 12 h. All six genes reached their highest transcript abundance at 12 h. These findings may provide a genomic framework for HSP genes in L. vannamei and identify candidate genes and variants associated with thermal stress responses.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Innovation-related perception as a key driver of alternative protein acceptance: evidence from an early-stage model for cultivated meat and algae-/microalgae-based alternative protein products in Italy.

Alternative proteins are increasingly considered part of the transition toward more sustainable food systems, yet their diffusion depends critically on consumer acceptance. This study investigates the early-stage acceptance of two alternative protein categories in Italy-cultivated meat and algae-/microalgae-based alternative protein products. Focusing on the first three phases of acceptance, the analysis examines how innovation-related perception (IRP) shapes consumer perceived value (CPV), consumer perceived risk (CPR), and subsequent affective (AFF), cognitive (COG), and conative (CON) responses. Data were collected through an online survey administered to 238 Italian respondents and analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The results show that IRP is the main upstream driver of early-stage acceptance in both product domains: more favourable perceptions strongly increase perceived value and reduce perceived risk. In turn, CPV exerts a much stronger influence than CPR on both affective and cognitive attitudes. A tentative cross-model comparison suggests only a descriptive variation in the final transition toward conative acceptance: affective and cognitive responses were both significant in the two models, with a relatively larger affective coefficient for cultivated meat and more balanced coefficients for algae-/microalgae-based products. Overall, the findings support a process-based interpretation of alternative protein acceptance and highlight the central role of innovation-related perception in shaping early consumer responses. These results provide relevant implications for communication strategies, product positioning, and policy actions aimed at improving the acceptability of alternative proteins in food cultures characterised by strong culinary traditions.

Italy↗

PubMed2026

Elucidating the evolution of meat quality, water distribution, microstructure, and protein structure during sous-vide and micro-pressure cooking.

This study investigated the evolution of eating quality (colour, texture and volatile flavour compounds), water status, microstructure and protein structure of pork meat under different cooking methods. The methods analysed included traditional cooking (TC: 10, 20, 30 and 40 min, 100 °C), sous-vide cooking (SV: 1, 2, 3 and 4 h, 60 °C) and micro-pressure cooking (MC: 10, 20, 30 and 40 min, 120 °C). Across the three cooking processes, as cooking time increased, cooking loss, lightness, yellowness, P23, β-sheet, random coil and surface hydrophobicity of the meat samples increased. By contrast, redness, P22, hydrogen proton density, esters content, α-helix, β-turn and sulfhydryl group content decreased. Moreover, the Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), adhesiveness, hardness, springiness, gumminess, chewiness, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones and fluorescence intensity of the meat samples, initially increased and then decreased as cooking progressed. SV resulted in higher water-holding capacity (WHC), improved redness and increased alcohol and ester levels, whereas MC produced softer meat and greater water mobility. Furthermore, MC enhanced the degree of microstructural damage and protein structural unfolding in the meat. MC requires less time to achieve textures and flavours similar to those obtained using the TC and SV methods. Thus, MC is an efficient cooking method for the catering industry to obtain desired meat quality rapidly.

Cooking↗

PubMed2026

Resistance versus concurrent training with three assigned protein targets in middle-aged and older women: a randomized 2 × 3 factorial trial.

BACKGROUND: Evidence is limited regarding whether assigned protein targets modify responses to resistance training (RT) alone or to the same RT program plus cycling (concurrent training [CT]) in middle-aged and older women. This randomized 2 × 3 factorial trial examined bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA)-derived skeletal muscle mass (SMM; primary outcome), other body composition outcomes, muscular and functional performance, and cycle-derived estimated VO₂max. METHODS: In this randomized 2 × 3 factorial trial, 108 women aged 40-77 years were assigned to 12 weeks of supervised RT or CT (identical RT followed by cycling) and protein targets of 0.8, 1.6, or 2.2 g·kg-1·d-1. Baseline-adjusted ANCOVA tested training × protein interactions and marginal training and protein effects. Complete-case analyses included 83 participants. RESULTS: For SMM, no training-condition × protein-target interaction (p = 0.856), marginal protein-target effect (p = 0.726), or marginal training-condition effect (p = 0.273) was detected. CT had a lower baseline-adjusted week-12 BFP than RT (adjusted difference, -2.04 percentage points; 95% CI, -2.94 to -1.14; p < 0.001). RT had a higher baseline-adjusted week-12 leg-press estimated 1-RM than CT (CT - RT: -6.68 kg; 95% CI, -8.32 to -5.04; p < 0.001), whereas CT had a higher baseline-adjusted week-12 cycle-derived estimated VO₂max (adjusted difference, 4.53 mL·kg-1·min-1; 95% CI, 3.80 to 5.25; p < 0.001). No detectable marginal protein-target effects or training-condition × protein-target interactions were observed for the key secondary outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: No detectable differences in SMM or key secondary outcomes were attributable to assigned protein target. Compared with RT, CT favored estimated aerobic fitness and BFP, whereas RT favored leg-press strength. Because CT included additional cycling and greater exercise exposure, these differences cannot be attributed solely to training modality. Null protein findings do not establish equivalence among doses.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

A conserved distal-tail helical extension defines a tailspike attachment architecture in Gram-negative siphophages.

Rapid growth of bacteriophage genome collections has outpaced functional annotation of tail-tip proteins, limiting comparative analysis of host-recognition structures. Starting from a shared distal-tail gene organization in the Salmonella phages 9NA and Jersey, I developed a morphogenetic bioinformatic framework integrating gene synteny, sequence comparison, profile hidden Markov model (HMM) screening, structural evidence, structure-aware searching, and AlphaFold modeling. Comparison with the experimentally characterized lambda and Sf11 tail assemblies identified a predominantly alpha-helical C-terminal extension of the distal-tail (DT) protein associated with tailspike attachment, termed the distal-tail helical extension (DT-helix). Screening 541,986 proteins from 5167 complete NCBI RefSeq tailed-phage genomes, followed by evidence-based evaluation of sequence, genomic context, and structural architecture, identified 165 curated DT-helical-extension-associated phages. Their DT proteins segregated into six sequence groups. In the four principal multi-member groups, cognate tailspikes showed group-specific conservation in proximal N-terminal regions but substantially greater downstream diversity, consistent with sequence constraint at the DT-tailspike attachment boundary. A complementary ProstT5/Foldseek search supported the established groups but revealed no convincing additional highly divergent family. Together with the experimentally characterized Sf11 attachment interface, these findings define a recurrent morphogenetic architecture linking conserved distal-tail scaffolds to more variable receptor-binding proteins across siphophages infecting Gram-negative bacteria. Although universal exchangeability is not established, the identified scaffold-receptor-binding boundaries provide a framework for molecular characterization and rational phage engineering. Accession-level information for the 165 curated phages is available through PhageTailDB.

Viral Tail Proteins↗

PubMed2026

Hippocampal teneurin-4 knockdown promotes depression-like behavioral phenotypes by disrupting oligodendrocyte differentiation in mice.

Depression is one of the most prevalent mental disorders worldwide. The limited clinical efficacy of current antidepressants highlights identifying new therapeutic targets. Emerging evidence suggests that dysfunction of oligodendrocyte lineage cells contributes to the pathophysiology of depression. Teneurin-4 (Tenm4), a transmembrane protein that promotes oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelination, has been implicated in psychiatric disorders in genome-wide association studies; however, its causal role remains unclear. To determine whether Tenm4 contributes to depressive-like behavioral phenotypes, we examined Tenm4 protein expression in mice exposed to repeated forced swimming stress and generated hippocampal Tenm4 knockdown (Tenm4KD) mice. Chronic stress reduced Tenm4 expression levels in the hippocampus. Mice with hippocampus-specific Tenm4KD exhibited depressive-like behaviors, accompanied by reduced hippocampal myelin basic protein. Importantly, administration of clemastine, a myelin formation promoter, inhibited the reduction of myelin and attenuated depression-like behavioral phenotypes. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that Tenm4KD significantly decreased the number of mature oligodendrocyte cells and increased in the number of oligodendrocyte precursor cells, without changes in the total number of oligodendrocyte lineage cells. This study provides the first evidence that hippocampal Tenm4 deficiency induces depression-like behavior phenotypes through impaired oligodendrocyte differentiation and promoting demyelination. Our results identify Tenm4 as a molecular regulator of stress-induced behavioral phenotypes and suggest that it might represent a potential therapeutic target for mood disorders associated with demyelination.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Viral replication through phase separation: Cytosolic and nuclear condensates.

Replication of many RNA and DNA viruses occurs within specialized intracellular hubs organized as membraneless biomolecular condensates (BCs) driven by liquid-liquid phase separation. As obligate intracellular parasites, viruses depend on the host cell machinery to complete their replication cycles and therefore actively remodel the intracellular environment to favor viral genome replication, transcription, and assembly. Cytosolic and nuclear phase-separated replication compartments (RC) provide concentrated and dynamic platforms that promote efficient interactions between viral genomes and viral or host proteins essential for infection. The formation of viral replication BCs is typically facilitated by viral proteins enriched in intrinsically disordered regions and low-complexity domains, which enable multivalent interactions with viral nucleic acids and cellular factors. These interactions are mediated by diverse biophysical forces, including hydrophobic and π interactions, hydrogen bonding, molecular crowding, and osmotic effects. Throughout infection, viral BCs remain highly dynamic, allowing continuous exchange of components and functional maturation of replication hubs. Their properties and activities are further regulated by post-translational modifications of viral and host proteins, such as phosphorylation, acetylation, and methylation. In this review, we summarize current evidence supporting liquid-liquid phase separation as a central organizing principle of viral RCs. We focus on representative RNA and DNA viruses that replicate in the cytosol or nucleus, highlighting virus-specific strategies, conserved mechanisms, and the consequences of BC formation for viral replication efficiency, host antiviral responses, and therapeutic intervention.

Phase Separation↗

PubMed2026

A STORM-based protocol for nanoscale imaging and quantitative analysis of protein-associated and phospholipid-associated structures in natural rubber.

Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy (STORM) enables nanoscale mapping of molecular components beyond the diffraction limit; however, its reproducible implementation in hydrophobic polymer matrices remains challenging because fluorescence-labeling specificity, fluorophore photoswitching, three-dimensional localization, chromatic registration, and quantitative image analysis must be carefully controlled. This protocol presents a standardized experimental workflow for dual-color labeling, astigmatism-based three-dimensional STORM acquisition, and quantitative analysis of protein-associated and phospholipid-associated structures in natural rubber (NR). The workflow covers sample pretreatment, Cy5 NHS ester labeling of protein-associated primary amines, DiI labeling of phospholipid-rich domains, STORM imaging-buffer preparation, three-dimensional single-molecule localization, dual-channel registration, generation of standardized xy projections, aggregate-size analysis, and projected lateral spatial correlation assessment. Reproducibility is supported by defined acquisition and localization criteria, three independent sample preparations with at least five fields of view analyzed per condition, and unlabeled, single-color, dye-only matrix, and processing-associated Cy5 controls. Mean lateral localization precisions of 11.8 ± 2.3 nm for Cy5 and 13.5 ± 2.9 nm for DiI were obtained, while two-dimensional Fourier ring correlation analysis of the xy projections yielded effective lateral image resolutions of approximately 25 and 28 nm, respectively. Image-based particle segmentation and localization-coordinate-based density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN) were applied to standardized xy projections as complementary quantitative approaches. Application of the protocol to untreated, centrifuged, and protease-treated NR samples demonstrated treatment-associated changes in the detected abundance and projected size distributions of protein- and phospholipid-associated aggregates, together with a non-monotonic change in their projected lateral spatial correlation. These observations describe alterations in nanoscale organization but do not, by themselves, establish stable protein-phospholipid complex formation. Unlike previous studies that primarily demonstrated the feasibility of STORM imaging in rubber materials, the principal contribution of this work is an end-to-end, step-by-step protocol incorporating defined controls, three-dimensional localization, image-quality metrics, chromatic-registration procedures, and complementary quantitative-analysis pipelines for non-expert users. The workflow may be adaptable to other hydrophobic polymers and soft-material systems after appropriate optimization and validation.

Rubber↗

PubMed2026

Bioprospecting microbial genomes to expand the biocatalytic toolbox of rubber oxygenases.

A set of rubber oxygenases was discovered through phylogenetic analysis and AI-based structural modeling of complexes of the putative enzymes with a substrate mimicking cis-1,4-polyisoprene. Sixteen candidate proteins were selected from thermophilic microorganisms, all sequence-related to the Latex clearing protein from Streptomyces sp. K30 (LcpK30). Sequence truncation and solubility tags were then evaluated to enhance protein expression, with the SUMO tag proving to be the most effective. Including LcpK30, nine heme-containing oxygenases were successfully expressed in E. coli NEB 10-beta cells, purified (35-157 mg L-1 yield) and characterized. Steady-state kinetics revealed significant rubber latex-degrading properties for six of them, with the truncated SUMO-fused LcpK30 (SUMO-LcpK30T) showing activity in agreement with literature. Notably, the catalytic efficiencies of all the expressed homologs lay within one order of magnitude and the oxygenase from Thermomonospora echinospora was found to be particularly promising in terms of activity, especially at high latex concentrations (more than 1% w/v). The analysis of reaction mixtures by both HPLC and HPLC-MS confirmed the oxidation of cis-1,4-polyisoprene to form the expected isoprenoid oligomers (n = 2-12), whose distribution was consistent with the usual endo-type cleavage pattern in all but one case. This bioprospecting effort afforded a platform of new rubber-degrading enzymes with diverse efficiencies and product profiles, capable of adapting to targeted applications.

Oxygenases↗

PubMed2026

Early hepatic protein responses to dietary restriction-refeeding in Japanese quail: A proteomic investigation.

Feed intake and refeeding after nutrient scarcity induce rapid metabolic adaptations in the poultry liver; however, hepatic proteomic recovery pathways in the early hours post-refeeding remain poorly defined. This study aimed to characterize early liver protein signatures in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) recovering from nutritional stress under two refeeding conditions. Eighteen 12-week-old male quails (245.20 ± 0.213 g) were assigned to three groups (n = 6): control fed ad libitum (12.13 MJ/kg), 24 h feed deprivation followed by 6 h refeeding, and 24 h low metabolizable energy (6.30 MJ/kg) diet followed by 6 h refeeding. In total, 854 proteins were identified, of which 515 met the filtering criteria. The low metabolizable energy refeeding showed higher abundance of proteins linked to ATP binding and carbohydrate/carboxylic acid metabolism, alongside detoxification-related proteins, while suppressing translation/RNA-binding machinery and antioxidant pathways. Feed-deprived refeeding enriched in oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial complex I assembly with reduced cytoplasmic translation, NMD-related components, and sulfur compound metabolism. A direct comparison indicated divergent recovery strategies: low metabolizable energy refeeding mainly reflected oxidoreductase activity and translation initiation, whereas feed-deprived refeeding potentially enriched mitochondrial ATP production and glutathione-based defenses. Our analysis indicate that 6 h of refeeding initiates an early, incomplete recovery toward hepatic homeostasis, with the severity of prior nutritional restriction dictating distinct liver metabolic priorities. Collectively, these findings might provide a preliminary understanding of the hepatic mechanisms involved in recovery from nutrient deprivation and may help in the development of feeding strategies for managing metabolic recovery in poultry. However, these findings should be considered hypothesis-generating pending further validation.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Deciphering S-nitrosylation-regulated metabolic networks in postmortem beef based on label-free modificomics: Identification of ferroptosis as a novel quality-related pathway.

This study elucidated the molecular mechanisms of S-nitrosylation on postmortem beef metabolism and quality based on the label-free modificomics. Varying degrees of S-nitrosylation were exogenously induced in beef semimembranosus (SM) muscle. Results indicated that a high S-nitrosylation level significantly increased beef pH and Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) while reducing centrifugal loss (P < 0.05). A total of 828 S-nitrosylated proteins and 1458 modification sites were identified, of which 114 sites on 81 proteins (DSNPs) exhibited differential modification abundance, representing an increase of 125% compared with previous proteomics studies. DSNPs were mainly involved in glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, calcium signaling, cell structure, and ferroptosis. Notably, this study provides the first evidence in postmortem muscle that S-nitrosylation regulates key ferroptosis-related proteins, including ACSL, CP, and TF, offering new insights into the link between S-nitrosylation and the ferroptosis pathway in meat. Correlation analysis demonstrated that TF was significantly negatively correlated with pH and WBSF, but positively correlated with centrifugal loss (P < 0.05). Collectively, protein S-nitrosylation critically modulates postmortem beef quality through the coordinated regulation of multiple metabolic processes. More importantly, the identification of ferroptosis as a S-nitrosylation-sensitive pathway provides a new perspective for regulating meat quality through protein post-translational modifications.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Ramu stunt virus genome reveals previously unreported segments and nucleocapsid domain duplication in Mechlorovirus.

Ramu stunt virus (RmSV), a member of the genus Mechlorovirus within the family Phenuiviridae, was previously described as a six-segmented RNA virus infecting sugarcane. In this study, we re-examined type material and additional isolates using high-throughput sequencing and RT-PCR validation, revealing that RmSV possesses a nine-segmented genome, making it the largest reported in the Phenuiviridae. This expanded architecture includes duplicated RNA segments (RNA 2a and RNA 2b) encoding nucleocapsid-like proteins and two novel segments (RNA 7 and RNA 8). Comparative analysis showed that RNA 2a and 2b share about 84% amino acid identity, while RNA 5 encodes a third nucleocapsid homolog, indicating unprecedented domain redundancy. Structural modeling confirmed that all three nucleocapsid proteins maintain a conserved fold despite low sequence identity, with electrostatic mapping suggesting differential RNA-binding potential. Additionally, RNA 6 encodes a hypothetical protein structurally similar to the rice stripe virus disease-specific S-protein, implicating a role in symptom development. Transcript abundance analysis revealed RNA 6 as the most highly expressed segment across isolates. These findings revise the genomic composition of RmSV, highlight mechanisms of genome plasticity and adaptive evolution in plant-infecting bunyaviruses, and underscore practical implications for diagnostic assay design, resistance breeding, and biosecurity surveillance.

Genome, Viral↗

PubMed2026

UNCX/SIN3A-Mediated H4K8 decrotonylation suppresses FOXO3 to drive TNBC progression and docetaxel resistance.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains a clinically challenging subtype characterized by aggressive behavior and limited treatment options. Though docetaxel remains a cornerstone chemotherapy for TNBC, the frequent emergence of resistance highlights the urgent need to identify novel therapeutic targets. In this study, we report that uncoordinated homeobox (UNCX) is upregulated in docetaxel-resistant breast cancer cells, genomically amplified in breast cancer, and associated with poor survival in breast carcinoma patients. Functional studies revealed that UNCX promotes breast cancer cell proliferation, migration and reduces the docetaxel sensitivity. Mechanistically, UNCX functions as a transcriptional repressor by recruiting the SIN3A complex. Genome-wide profiling indicated that the UNCX/SIN3A complex directly binds to the promoters of tumor-suppressor genes including FOXO3, and represses their transcription by removing histone H4K8 crotonylation (H4K8cr). Additionally, the UNCX/SIN3A complex enhances FOXO3 phosphorylation and inhibits its nuclear translocation, further inhibiting its activity. Notably, SIN3A knockdown, FOXO3 overexpression, or crotonylation restoration effectively reverses UNCX-induced malignant phenotypes. These findings collectively establish the UNCX/SIN3A-H4K8cr-FOXO3 axis as a pivotal epigenetic regulator of TNBC progression and chemoresistance, revealing new avenues for targeted therapeutic development against this aggressive breast cancer subtype.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Proteomic insights into hepatic responses to high soybean meal inclusion with citric acid supplementation in hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus × Epinephelus lanceolatus) juveniles.

This study evaluated the growth performance and hepatic proteomic responses of juvenile hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus × Epinephelus lanceolatus) juveniles fed diets containing 30% or 40% soybean meal (SBM), with or without 3% citric acid supplementation, and compared with a fishmeal (FM) control diet over a 10-week feeding trial. Fish fed 30% SBM (LSBM) showed a final body weight comparable to the FM group, whereas fish fed 40% SBM (HSBM) recorded significantly reduced growth and net protein utilization (NPU) (p < 0.05). Supplementation of citric acid in the 40% SBM diet (HSBM + CA) significantly improved NPU and partially restored growth relative to HSBM. LC-MS/MS based quantitative proteomics identified 1544 hepatic proteins and showed clear dietary segregation. Differentially expressed proteins were predominantly associated with reduced abundance of proteins involved in lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, pyruvate metabolism, and the tricarboxylic cycle across all SBM diets, suggesting a shift in oxidative metabolic capacity. In contrast, LSBM induced upregulation of spliceosome-associated proteins and RNA processing components, suggesting adaptive post-transcriptional regulation under moderate SBM inclusion. In contrast, HSBM exhibited greater reduction in metabolic protein abundance without comparable upregulation of adaptive regulatory components, coinciding with reduced nutrient retention. Protein-protein interaction analysis further confirms the correlation between the regulation of spliceosomal clusters and mitochondrial lipid-catabolic modules. Citric acid supplementation did not markedly reverse hepatic metabolic protein changes but improved protein retention. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD081994. These findings suggest a tolerance limit between 30% and 40% SBM inclusion, with 30% inducing adaptive hepatic proteomic responses compatible with maintained growth performance.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Proteomic characterization of the acquired enamel pellicle under acidic challenges at early and mature formation stages.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to characterize acquired enamel pellicle (AEP) proteomic changes after exposure to citric acid (CA) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) under different pellicle formation times (3 and 120 min) in the same volunteers. DESIGN: Nine healthy volunteers participated in this randomized crossover in vivo study. The AEP was allowed to form for 3 or 120 min and subsequently exposed for 10 s to deionized water (control), 1% CA (pH 2.5), or 0.01 M HCl (pH 2.0). Pellicle samples were collected, followed by protein extraction, tryptic digestion, and analysis by nanoliquid chromatography (nanoLC) coupled to mass spectrometry (MS) with MSE (data-independent acquisition; nanoLC-MSᴱ). Label-free quantitative proteomics were performed for relative quantification using t-test (p < 0.05). RESULTS: At 120 min, CA exposure markedly reduced several typical AEP proteins, especially acidic proline-rich proteins (PRPs). Conversely, basic PRPs were upregulated, suggesting acid-resistance protein signature. At 3 min, basal-layer proteins (PRPs, cystatins, histatins and mucins) were more abundant. Hemoglobins increased 6-8-fold (up to 150-fold in 3 min control), suggesting association with early pellicle formation and an acid-resistant protein signature. CA exposures for 120 min also upregulated typical AEP proteins (PRPs, mucins, cystatins, immunoglobulins), while HCl exposure depleted albumins and lactotransferrin. CONCLUSION: Intrinsic and extrinsic acids induce distinct proteomic signatures in the AEP. Hemoglobin and PRPs appear consistently enriched in the early pellicle layer, reflecting an initial acid-resistant protein signature. These findings provide new insights into the molecular remodeling of the AEP following intrinsic and extrinsic acid exposure, highlighting proteins potentially involved in early-stage pellicle formation.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Molecular characterization of 16 MAPK genes in silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and the differences of their mRNA expression between Qiandao Lake and Taihu Lake.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), a serine-threonine protein kinase, is involved in a variety of stress-induced responses and also plays an important regulatory role in cell metabolism. In the study the open reading frames (ORFs) of 16 MAPK genes in silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) were obtained and verified, with the evaluations of their taxonomy, structures, conserved motifs, and evolutionary linkages. And the expression patterns of these genes in the silver carp from Qiandao Lake and Taihu Lake were explored for better understanding the response of MAPK genes to different water environment. MAPK genes of silver carp were divided into three subfamilies, including extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) subfamily, p38 subfamily and C-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) subfamily. All these genes possessed similar structures and conserved motifs of MAPK family. Realtime qPCR revealed that the expression patterns of 10 MAPK genes (ScMAPK1, ScMAPK3, ScMAPK4, ScMAPK7, ScMAPK15, ScMAPK8a, ScMAPK8b, ScMAPK9, ScMAPK10 and ScMAPK11) in head kidney, spleen and gill of silver carp in Taihu Lake and Qiandao Lake were different. These findings provide a basis for further research on the function of MAPK in silver carp.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Apoptosis protein markers in comorbid type 2 diabetes mellitus and depression; relationships with cognitive performance, incident dementia, and white matter hyperintensities.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and major depressive disorder (MDD) are reciprocal risk factors, and both elevate dementia risk. Dysregulation of programmed cell death is implicated in T2DM, MDD, and neurodegeneration, but proteomic markers of apoptosis have yet to be studied as dementia predictors in people with T2DM and/or MDD. This study examines apoptosis markers in comorbid T2DM and MDD, and their associations with cognitive, dementia, and neuroimaging outcomes. The retrospective sample (n = 15,765) consisted of UK Biobank participants (MDD only n = 1230; T2DM only n = 3644; comorbid T2DM + MDD n = 721). Individuals with T2DM + MDD comorbidity had poorer cognitive performance, and a higher 15-year dementia incidence (HR = 4.44, 95% CI = [3.23,6.11]). Among 60 apoptosis-related proteins identified by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment, 41 were significantly up-regulated in comorbid T2DM + MDD relative to controls, and 4 were higher in the comorbid group than both T2DM alone and MDD alone. Tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 10 (TNFSF10), growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible protein GADD45 beta, tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 6, and RAC-gamma serine/threonine-protein kinase were associated with dementia risk. Nine proteins (e.g. apoptosis-inducing factor 1, mitochondrial, caspase-2, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 5, TNFSF10), were associated with white matter hyperintensity volumes in comorbid T2DM + MDD after FDR correction, but none were associated with cognitive performance, atrophy, or white matter microstructural changes. These findings identify peripheral apoptosis markers that were further elevated in comorbid T2DM + MDD compared to either alone, pointing to an important pathophysiological element underlying adverse outcomes in the context of mood and metabolic comorbidity.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Occupationally relevant vibrations and the brain: frequency-dependent proteomics signatures in a rat model.

INTRODUCTION: Occupational exposure to whole-body vibration (WBV), particularly in agricultural environments, has been associated with adverse cognitive and physiological effects. This study examined the neurophysiological impact of WBV in a rat model at 4 Hz and 30 Hz, frequencies representative of off-road and on-road vehicle operation. METHODOLOGY: Forty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to control (0 Hz), low-frequency (4 Hz), or high-frequency (30 Hz) vibration conditions. After three days of exposure, brain tissues were collected and analyzed using mass spectrometry-based proteomics to identify differentially expressed proteins. RESULTS: Proteomic profiling revealed distinct, frequency-dependent alterations in brain protein expression. Compared with controls, 32 cognition-related proteins were differentially regulated at 4 Hz and 29 at 30 Hz, with 13 differing between the two vibration conditions. Principal component analysis showed clear separation among groups, indicating unique proteomic signatures for each exposure frequency. Functional enrichment and protein-protein interaction analyses demonstrated involvement of synaptic plasticity, cytoskeletal organization, calcium regulation, and neurotransmitter release. Exposure to 4 Hz was associated with the upregulation of proteins involved in calcium homeostasis and synaptic integrity, suggesting potential disruption of cognitive processes. In contrast, 30 Hz increased the expression of proteins related to axonal guidance and neuroprotection, indicating a less clearly adverse response that may reflect adaptive or potentially beneficial effects. DISCUSSION: These findings provide new insight into biological mechanisms underlying WBV-induced cognitive changes and underscore the importance of vibration frequency in shaping neurophysiological outcomes. They also establish a foundation for future studies integrating proteomics with behavioural assessments in animals and humans.

Animals↗