Project description:Olive (Olea europaea L.) is one of the most economically relevant tree crops in the Mediterranean basin. In this study, a comparative proteomic along with metabolomic-wide investigation was carried out on drupes of Greek olive cultivar 'Chondrolia Chalkidikis', collected across six developmental stages (S), namely seed development (S1, S2), mesocarp development (S3, S4, S5) and full maturation (S6). These stages were first characterized through the dynamics of fruit weight, dimensions and color parameters such as lightness, redness and yellowness. Combined gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and reversed–phase liquid chromatography quadrupole–time–of–flight mass spectrometry (RPLC–QToF–MS) procedures quantified 47 primary (e.g. allose, galactose, quinic acid, sorbitol, stearic acid) and 21 secondary (e.g. elenolic acid, oleacin, rutin, luteolin, hydroxytyrosol) metabolites in mesocarp samples during development. Protein analysis via nano–LC coupled to HDAM Orbitrap mass spectrometer, identified 3258 proteins from which the 350 were differentially accumulated between the final maturation stages (S5 and S6). Olive genome-based functional annotation showed that the largest proportion of identified proteins were involved in primary metabolism [i.e. lipoxygenases (LOX1/5)], energy [i.e. ferredoxin NADP+ reductase (FNR)], signal transduction [i.e. serine/threonine kinases (SAPK2, SRK2A, STK), transcription [i.e. elongation factor 2 (EEF2)] and protein destination [i.e. serine carboxypeptidase (SCPL)]. This investigation provides a reference framework for further nutritional and breeding studies, also allowing cross comparison among other olive cultivars.
Project description:We explore whether a low-energy diet intervention for Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) improves liver disease by means of modulating the gut microbiome. 16 individuals were given a low-energy diet (880 kcal, consisting of bars, soups, and shakes) for 12 weeks, followed by a stepped re-introduction to whole for an additional 12 weeks. Stool samples were obtained at 0, 12, and 24 weeks for microbiome analysis. Fecal microbiome were measured using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Positive control (Zymo DNA standard D6305) and negative control (PBS extraction) were included in the sequencing. We found that low-energy diet improved MASH disease without lasting alterations to the gut microbiome.
Project description:The strictly monophagous olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae, represents the major pest of olive orchards worldwide. It has the unique ability to hydrolyze olive proteins as well as to overcome olive defenses, especially the high levels of phenolic compounds present in the green olive mesocarp. In this study, we aimed to identify specific genes potentially implicated in overcoming green olive defense and the utilization of the flesh, by examining larval responses to green olives on the transcript level. Focusing on the up-regulated gene set, we identified two putative serine proteases and one putative UDP-glycosyltransferase possibly associated with these traits. Serine proteases could be involved in the digestion of dietary proteins but also could represent a mechanism to overcome the effect of trypsin inhibitors induced by the olive fruit upon attack. UDP-glycosyltransferase may be implicated in the sequestration and/ or direct detoxification of phenolic compounds highly present in green olives.