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International Journal of Molecular... May 2024The synapses between inner hair cells (IHCs) and spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) are the most vulnerable structures in the noise-exposed cochlea. Cochlear synaptopathy...
The synapses between inner hair cells (IHCs) and spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) are the most vulnerable structures in the noise-exposed cochlea. Cochlear synaptopathy results from the disruption of these synapses following noise exposure and is considered the main cause of poor speech understanding in noisy environments, even when audiogram results are normal. Cochlear synaptopathy leads to the degeneration of SGNs if damaged IHC-SGN synapses are not promptly recovered. Oxidative stress plays a central role in the pathogenesis of cochlear synaptopathy. C-Phycocyanin (C-PC) has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities and is widely utilized in the food and drug industry. However, the effect of the C-PC on noise-induced cochlear damage is unknown. We first investigated the therapeutic effect of C-PC on noise-induced cochlear synaptopathy. In vitro experiments revealed that C-PC reduced the HO-induced generation of reactive oxygen species in HEI-OC1 auditory cells. HO-induced cytotoxicity in HEI-OC1 cells was reduced with C-PC treatment. After white noise exposure for 3 h at a sound pressure of 118 dB, the guinea pigs intratympanically administered 5 μg/mL C-PC exhibited greater wave I amplitudes in the auditory brainstem response, more IHC synaptic ribbons and more IHC-SGN synapses according to microscopic analysis than the saline-treated guinea pigs. Furthermore, the group treated with C-PC had less intense 4-hydroxynonenal and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 staining in the cochlea compared with the saline group. Our results suggest that C-PC improves cochlear synaptopathy by inhibiting noise-induced oxidative stress and the inflammatory response in the cochlea.
Topics: Animals; Oxidative Stress; Guinea Pigs; Phycocyanin; Cochlea; Synapses; Noise; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced; Reactive Oxygen Species; Male; Spiral Ganglion; Hydrogen Peroxide; Hair Cells, Auditory, Inner; Antioxidants; Cell Line; Hearing Loss, Hidden
PubMed: 38791192
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105154 -
Toxins Apr 2024Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs) occur in fresh water globally. These can degrade water quality and produce toxins, resulting in ecological and economic...
Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs) occur in fresh water globally. These can degrade water quality and produce toxins, resulting in ecological and economic damages. Thus, short-term management methods (i.e., algaecides) are necessary to rapidly mitigate the negative impacts of cyanoHABs. In this study, we assess the efficacy of a hydrogen peroxide-based algaecide (PAK 27) on a dominated bloom which occurred within the Pahokee Marina on Lake Okeechobee, Florida, USA. We observed a significant reduction in chlorophyll (96.81%), phycocyanin (93.17%), and cell counts (99.92%), and a substantial reduction in microcystins (86.7%) 48 h after treatment (HAT). Additionally, there was a significant shift in bacterial community structure 48 HAT, which coincided with an increase in the relative abundance of photosynthetic protists. These results indicate that hydrogen peroxide-based algaecides are an effective treatment method for cyanoHAB control and highlight their effects on non-target microorganisms (i.e., bacteria and protists).
Topics: Harmful Algal Bloom; Florida; Hydrogen Peroxide; Lakes; Microcystis; Cyanobacteria; Microbiota; Microcystins; Phycocyanin; Chlorophyll A
PubMed: 38787058
DOI: 10.3390/toxins16050206 -
Marine Drugs Apr 2024Red phycoerythrin (R-PE) is a highly valuable protein found in an edible seaweed, . It is used extensively in biotechnological applications due to its strong...
Red phycoerythrin (R-PE) is a highly valuable protein found in an edible seaweed, . It is used extensively in biotechnological applications due to its strong fluorescence and stability in diverse environments. However, the current methods for extracting and purifying R-PE are costly and unsustainable. The aim of the present study was to enhance the financial viability of the process by improving the extraction and purification of R-PE from dried and to further enhance R-PE value by incorporating it into a tandem dye for molecular biology applications. A combination of ultrafiltration, ion exchange chromatography, and gel filtration yielded concentrated (1 mg·mL) R-PE at 99% purity. Using purified PE and Cyanine5 (Cy5), an organic tandem dye, phycoerythrin-Cy5 (PE-Cy5), was subsequently established. In comparison to a commercially available tandem dye, PE-Cy5 exhibited 202.3% stronger fluorescence, rendering it suitable for imaging and analyzes that require high sensitivity, enhanced signal-to-noise ratio, broad dynamic range, or shorter exposure times to minimize potential damage to samples. The techno-economic analysis confirmed the financial feasibility of the innovative technique for the extraction and purification of R-PE and PE-Cy5 production.
Topics: Phycoerythrin; Carbocyanines; Seaweed; Fluorescent Dyes; Chromatography, Ion Exchange; Chromatography, Gel; Ultrafiltration; Rhodophyta; Pigments, Biological; Edible Seaweeds; Porphyra
PubMed: 38786588
DOI: 10.3390/md22050197 -
Current Research in Structural Biology 2024Orange carotenoid proteins (OCPs) are unique photoreceptors that are critical for cyanobacterial photoprotection. Upon exposure to blue-green light, OCPs are activated... (Review)
Review
Orange carotenoid proteins (OCPs) are unique photoreceptors that are critical for cyanobacterial photoprotection. Upon exposure to blue-green light, OCPs are activated from a stable orange form, OCP, to an active red form, OCP, which binds to phycobilisomes (PBSs) and performs photoprotective non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). OCPs can be divided into three main families: the most abundant and best studied OCP1, and two others, OCP2 and OCP3, which have different activation and quenching properties and are yet underexplored. Crystal structures have been acquired for the three OCP clades, providing a glimpse into the conformational underpinnings of their light-absorption and energy dissipation attributes. Recently, the structure of the PBS-OCP complex has been obtained allowing for an unprecedented insight into the photoprotective action of OCPs. Here, we review the latest findings in the field that have substantially improved our understanding of how cyanobacteria protect themselves from the toxic consequences of excess light absorption. Furthermore, current research is applying the structure of OCPs to bio-inspired optogenetic tools, to function as carotenoid delivery devices, as well as engineering the NPQ mechanism of cyanobacteria to enhance their photosynthetic biomass production.
PubMed: 38736459
DOI: 10.1016/j.crstbi.2024.100141 -
Communications Biology May 2024Photosynthetic cryptophytes are eukaryotic algae that utilize membrane-embedded chlorophyll a/c binding proteins (CACs) and lumen-localized phycobiliproteins (PBPs) as...
Photosynthetic cryptophytes are eukaryotic algae that utilize membrane-embedded chlorophyll a/c binding proteins (CACs) and lumen-localized phycobiliproteins (PBPs) as their light-harvesting antennae. Cryptophytes go through logarithmic and stationary growth phases, and may adjust their light-harvesting capability according to their particular growth state. How cryptophytes change the type/arrangement of the photosynthetic antenna proteins to regulate their light-harvesting remains unknown. Here we solve four structures of cryptophyte photosystem I (PSI) bound with CACs that show the rearrangement of CACs at different growth phases. We identify a cryptophyte-unique protein, PsaQ, which harbors two chlorophyll molecules. PsaQ specifically binds to the lumenal region of PSI during logarithmic growth phase and may assist the association of PBPs with photosystems and energy transfer from PBPs to photosystems.
Topics: Photosystem I Protein Complex; Cryptophyta; Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes; Chlorophyll; Chlorophyll Binding Proteins; Photosynthesis; Phycobiliproteins
PubMed: 38734819
DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06268-5 -
Nutrients Apr 2024Natural products from mushrooms, plants, microalgae, and cyanobacteria have been intensively explored and studied for their preventive or therapeutic potential. Among... (Review)
Review
Natural products from mushrooms, plants, microalgae, and cyanobacteria have been intensively explored and studied for their preventive or therapeutic potential. Among age-related pathologies, neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases) represent a worldwide health and social problem. Since several pathological mechanisms are associated with neurodegeneration, promising strategies against neurodegenerative diseases are aimed to target multiple processes. These approaches usually avoid premature cell death and the loss of function of damaged neurons. This review focuses attention on the preventive and therapeutic potential of several compounds derived from natural sources, which could be exploited for their neuroprotective effect. Curcumin, resveratrol, ergothioneine, and phycocyanin are presented as examples of successful approaches, with a special focus on possible strategies to improve their delivery to the brain.
Topics: Neuroprotective Agents; Humans; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Curcumin; Resveratrol; Ergothioneine; Biological Products; Phycocyanin; Animals; Cyanobacteria; Agaricales; Microalgae
PubMed: 38732545
DOI: 10.3390/nu16091298 -
International Journal of Molecular... Apr 2024In recent years, marine natural products have become one of the most important resources of novel lead compounds for critical diseases associated with age. , a dietary...
In recent years, marine natural products have become one of the most important resources of novel lead compounds for critical diseases associated with age. , a dietary supplement made from blue-green algae (cyanobacteria: scientific name ), is particularly rich in phycocyanin, a phycobiliprotein, which accounts for up to 20% of this cyanobacterium's dry weight and is considered responsible for its anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Although the anti-aging activity of phycocyanin has been investigated, how exactly this compound works against aging remains elusive. The aim of our research is to use the yeast as a model organism to investigate the anti-aging properties of phycocyanin from . Our results show that phycocyanin has a powerful anti-aging effect, greatly extending the chronological life span of yeast cells in a dose-dependent way, as the effect was also pronounced when cells were grown in SD medium under calorie restriction conditions (0.2% glucose). Both ROS and accumulation of dead cells were followed by staining chronologically aged cells with dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR123) and propidium iodide (PI). Interestingly, we found that most of the aged phycocyanin-treated cells, which were unable to form colonies, were actually ROS+/PI-. Finally, we show that the moment in which phycocyanin is added to the culture does not substantially influence its effectiveness in counteracting chronological aging.
Topics: Phycocyanin; Spirulina; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Reactive Oxygen Species; Aging; Antioxidants
PubMed: 38673801
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084215 -
Marine Drugs Apr 2024The nutritional and bioactive value of seaweeds is widely recognized, making them a valuable food source. To use seaweeds as food, drying and thermal treatments are...
The nutritional and bioactive value of seaweeds is widely recognized, making them a valuable food source. To use seaweeds as food, drying and thermal treatments are required, but these treatments may have a negative impact on valuable bioactive compounds. In this study, the effects of dehydration, rehydration, and thermal treatment on the bioactive compounds (carotenoids, phycobiliproteins, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoids content (TFC)), antioxidant (ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activities) and anti-Alzheimer's (Acetylcholinesterase (AchE) inhibitory activities, and color properties of and seaweeds were evaluated. The results revealed significant reductions in carotenoids, TPC, TFC, and antioxidant activities after the seaweeds' processing, with differences observed between species. Thermal treatment led to the most pronounced reductions in bioactive compound contents and antioxidant activity. AchE inhibitory activity remained relatively high in all samples, with showing higher activity than Changes in color (ΔE) were significant after seaweeds' dehydration, rehydration and thermal treatment, especially in Overall, optimizing processing methods is crucial for preserving the bioactive compounds and biological activities of seaweeds, thus maximizing their potential as sustainable and nutritious food sources or as nutraceutical ingredients.
Topics: Antioxidants; Carotenoids; Cholinesterase Inhibitors; Desiccation; Edible Seaweeds; Flavonoids; Hot Temperature; Phenols; Phycobiliproteins; Porphyra; Seaweed
PubMed: 38667783
DOI: 10.3390/md22040166 -
Scientific Reports Apr 2024This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of dielectric barrier discharge treatment (DBD) combined with phycocyanin pigment (PC) in extending the shelf life of...
This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of dielectric barrier discharge treatment (DBD) combined with phycocyanin pigment (PC) in extending the shelf life of Oncorhynchus mykiss rainbow fillets stored at 4 ± 0.1 °C. Microbiological, physicochemical, sensory and antioxidant properties were assessed over an 18-day storage period. The combined DBD and PC treatment significantly inhibited total viable counts and Psychrotrophic bacteria counts compared to the rest of the samples throughout storage. While Total Volatile Nitrogen concentrations remained below international standard until day 18, they exceeded this threshold in control sample by day 9. DBD treatment notably reduced Trimethylamine levels compared to controls (p < 0.05). PC and DBD combined inhibited DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging capacities by 80% and 85%, respectively, while demonstrating heightened iron-reducing antioxidant activity compared to controls. Analysis of 24 fatty acids indicated that PC mitigated DBD's adverse effects, yielding superior outcomes compared to controls. The ratio of n-3 to n-6 fatty acids in all samples met or fell below international standard. Thus, the combined use of DBD and PC shows promise in extending fillet shelf life by over 15 days at 4 °C.
Topics: Animals; Food Storage; Oncorhynchus mykiss; Food Preservation; Phycocyanin; Antioxidants; Plasma Gases; Seafood; Food Packaging
PubMed: 38649495
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59904-9 -
International Journal of Biological... May 2024Phycocyanin (PC), a protein derived from algae, is non-toxic and biocompatible. Due to its environmental and sustainable properties, it has been studied as an...
Phycocyanin (PC), a protein derived from algae, is non-toxic and biocompatible. Due to its environmental and sustainable properties, it has been studied as an alternative stabilizer for food emulsions. In this sense, the main objective of this work is to evaluate the effectiveness of PC and its use in combination with diutan gum (DG), a biological macromolecule, to prepare emulgels formulated with avocado oil. Z-potential measurements show that the optimum pH for working with PC is 2.5. Furthermore, the system exhibited a structured interface at this pH. The surface tension did not decrease further above 1.5 wt% PC. Interestingly, emulsions formulated with >1.5 wt% PC showed recoalescence immediately after preparation. Although 1.5 wt% had the smallest droplet size, this emulsion underwent creaming due to the low viscosity of the system. DG was used in combination with PC to increase viscosity and reduce creaming. As little as 0.1 wt% DG was sufficient to form an emulgel when incorporated into the previous emulsion, which exhibited pseudoplastic behaviour and viscoelastic properties with very low creaming rates. However, the use of PC in combination with DG resulted in a non-aggregated and stable emulgel with 1.5 wt% PC and 0.1 wt% DG.
Topics: Phycocyanin; Emulsions; Viscosity; Biocompatible Materials; Gels; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Drug Delivery Systems; Plant Gums; Rheology; Surface Tension
PubMed: 38626840
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131599