Project description:Passiflora mollissima commonly known as “banana passion fruit” is usually consumed as fresh food or processed products, being seeds and peel the main by-products of the industrial processing. The potentially bioactive metabolites from banana passion fruit PLE-extract seeds have been recently characterized by HPLC-HRMS after sequential pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) To apply a Foodomics approach to study the effects of a banana passion fruit seeds PLE-extract (with high antioxidant capacity and enriched in phenolic-type compounds) on the transcriptome and metabolome of HT-29 colon cancer cells.
Project description:Passiflora edulis, commonly known as passion fruit, is a crop with a fragrant aroma and refreshingly tropical flavor that is a valuable source of antioxidants. It offers a unique opportunity for growers because of its adaptability to tropical and subtropical climates. Passion fruit can be sold in the fresh market or used in value-added products, but its postharvest shelf life has not been well-researched, nor have superior cultivars been well-developed. Understanding the proteins expressed at the tissue level during the postharvest stage can help improve fruit quality and extend shelf life. In this study, we carried out comparative proteomics analysis on four passion fruit tissues, the epicarp, mesocarp, endocarp, and pulp, using multiplexed isobaric tandem mass tag (TMT) labeling quantitation. A total of 3,352 proteins were identified, including 295 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). Among the DEPs, there were proteins expressed with functions in oxygen scavenging, lipid peroxidation, response to heat stress, and pathogen resistance. This research provides insight into tissue-specific pathways that can be further studied within fruit physiology and postharvest shelf life to aid in implementing effective plant breeding programs. Knowing the tissue-specific function of fruit is essential for improving fruit quality, developing new varieties, identifying health benefits, and optimizing processing techniques.
Project description:microRNAs (miRNAs) are highly conserved, short (~?21-nucleotide), endogenous, non-coding RNA molecules that play major roles in post-transcriptional silencing by guiding target mRNA cleavage or translational inhibition. In this study, applying high-stringent genome-wide computational-based approaches, a total of 28 putative miRNAs belonging to 17 miRNA families were identified from an antioxidant-rich medicinal plant passion fruit (Passiflora edulis). Inter-tissue (leaves and fruits) and inter-varietal (yellow and purple fruit varieties) quantitative study of six putative passion fruit miRNAs (ped-miR160, ped-miR164, ped-miR166, ped-miR393, ped-miR394, and ped-miR398) showed differential expression. Using psRNATarget tool, a total of 25 potential target proteins of the characterized passion fruit miRNAs were also identified. Most of the target proteins identified in this study, including SQUAMOSA promoter binding, Class III HD-Zip, NAC, Scarecrow, APETALA2, Auxin response factor, MYB, and superoxide dismutase, were found to be involved in development, metabolism, and defense/stress response signaling.