Browsing by Author "Wang A"

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A Study of the Interaction, Morphology, and Structure in Trypsin-Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Complexes
(MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2021-07-28) Liu J; Ghanizadeh H; Li X; Han Z; Qiu Y; Zhang Y; Chen X; Wang A; Tresserra-Rimbau A; Bresciani L
Understanding the interaction between proteins and polyphenols is of significance to food industries. The aim of this research was to investigate the mode of aggregation for trypsin-EGCG (Epigallocatechin-3-gallate) complexes. For this, the complex was characterized by fluorescence spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD) spectra, small-angel X-ray scattering (SAXS), and atomic force microscope (AFM) techniques. The results showed that the fluorescence intensity of trypsin-EGCG complexes decreased with increasing the concentration of EGCG, indicating that the interaction between trypsin and EGCG resulted in changes in the microenvironment around fluorescent amino acid residues. The results of CD analysis showed conformational changes in trypsin after binding with EGCG. The results from SAXS analysis showed that the addition of EGCG results in the formation of aggregates of trypsin-EGCG complexes, and increasing the concentration of EGCG resulted in larger aggregates. AFM images showed that the trypsin-EGCG complex formed aggregates of irregular ellipsoidal shapes with the size of about 200 × 400 × 200 nm, with EGCG interconnecting the trypsin particles. Overall, according to these results, it was concluded that the large aggregates of trypsin-EGCG complexes are formed from several small aggregates that are interconnected. The results of this study shed some light on the interaction between digestive enzymes and EGCG.
Clonostachys rosea Promotes Root Growth in Tomato by Secreting Auxin Produced through the Tryptamine Pathway
(MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2022-11-04) Han Z; Ghanizadeh H; Zhang H; Li X; Li T; Wang Q; Liu J; Wang A; Feng M-G
Clonostachys rosea (Link) Schroers is a filamentous fungus that has been widely used for biological control, biological fermentation, biodegradation and bioenergy. In this research, we investigated the impact of this fungus on root growth in tomato and the underlying mechanisms. The results showed that C. rosea can promote root growth in tomato, and tryptophan enhances its growth-promoting impacts. The results also showed that tryptophan increases the abundance of metabolites in C. rosea, with auxin (IAA) and auxin-related metabolites representing a majority of the highly abundant metabolites in the presence of tryptophan. It was noted that C. rosea could metabolize tryptophan into tryptamine (TRA) and indole-3-acetaldehyde (IAAId), and these two compounds are used by C. rosea to produce IAA through the tryptamine (TAM) pathway, which is one of the major pathways in tryptophan-dependent IAA biosynthesis. The IAA produced is used by C. rosea to promote root growth in tomato. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on IAA biosynthesis by C. rosea through the TAM pathway. More research is needed to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying IAA biosynthesis in C. rosea, as well as to examine the ability of this fungus to boost plant development in the field.
The relationships between sporadic and repetitive non-suicidal self-injury and mental disorders among first-year college students: results from the World Mental Health International College Student Initiative
(Cambridge University Press, 2025-09-25) Hasking P; Kiekens G; Petukhova MV; Albor Y; Al-Hadi A; Alonso J; Al-Saud N; Altwaijri Y; Andersson C; Atwoli L; Muaka CA; Báez-Mansur P; Ballester L; Bantjes J; Baumeister H; Bendtsen M; Benjet C; Berman A; Bruffaerts R; Carrasco P; Chan S; Cohut I; Couder MCD; Cristóbal-Narvaez P; Cuijpers P; David O; Dong D; Ebert D; Gaete J; Forero CG; Gutiérrez-García R; Haro J; Hunt X; Hurks P; Husky M; Jaguga F; Jansen L; Jiménez-Pérez A; Kählke F; Klinkenberg E; Langer Á; Lee S; Lima RA; Liu Y; Lochner C; Mac-Ginty S; Martínez V; Mason A; McLafferty M; Mori T; Murray E; Musyoka C; Nedelcea C; Núñez D; O’Neill S; Piqueras J; Popescu C; Rapsey C; Robinson K; Roca M; Rodriguez-Jimenez T; Salemink E; Sampson N; Scarf D; Siu O-L; Stein D; Struijs SY; Tomoiaga C; Valdés-García K; van der Heijde C; Vigo D; Voorspoels W; Wang A; Wong S; Nock M; Kessler R; World Mental Health - International College Student collaborators
Background. Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is associated with mental disorders, yet work regarding the direction of this association is inconsistent. We examined the prevalence, comorbidity, time–order associations with mental disorders, and sex differences in sporadic and repetitive NSSI among emerging adults. Methods. We used survey data from n = 72,288 first-year college students as part of the World Mental Health-International College Student Survey Initiative (WMH-ICS) to explore time–order associations between onset of NSSI and mental disorders, based on retrospective age-of-onset reports using discrete-time survival models. We distinguished between sporadic (1–5 lifetime episodes) and repetitive (≥6 lifetime episodes) NSSI in relation to DSM-5 mood, anxiety, and externalizing disorders. Results. We estimated a lifetime NSSI rate of 24.5%, with approximately half reporting sporadic NSSI and half repetitive NSSI. The time–order associations between onset of NSSI and mental disorders were bidirectional, but mental disorders were stronger predictors of the onset of NSSI (median RR = 1.94) than vice versa (median RR = 1.58). These associations were stronger among individuals engaging in repetitive rather than sporadic NSSI. While associations between NSSI and mental disorders generally did not differ by sex, repetitive NSSI was a stronger predictor for the onset of subsequent substance use disorders among females compared to males. Most mental disorders marginally increased the risk for persistent repetitive NSSI (median RR = 1.23). Conclusions. Our findings offer unique insights into the temporal order between NSSI and mental disorders. Further work exploring the mechanism underlying these associations will pave the way for early identification and intervention of both NSSI and mental disorders.