Jun Li

Bitter taste receptors (TAS2Rs) are expressed beyond the oral cavity, and those in the intestine have been implicated in metabolic regulation. Selected natural bitter compounds (NBCs) increase glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) release in experimental enteroendocrine models, but predicted ligand binding, functional receptor activation, and receptor-dependent hormone secretion do not provide equivalent evidence. Intestinal TAS2Rs may thus provide a route to endogenous GLP-1 modulation distinct from receptor agonist therapy. Unlike broader reviews of extraoral chemosensing, this review maps these distinct endpoints for individual NBC-TAS2R pairs and separates measured GLP-1 release from changes in proglucagon expression. We define a receptor-supported enteroendocrine core and distinguish it from indirect evidence and testable hypotheses concerning microbiota-associated, immune–endocrine, and gut–brain interfaces. Receptor-directed perturbation supports selected compound-specific secretory responses, whereas the three proposed interfaces lack complete NBC-TAS2R-GLP-1 causal chains. We critically compare human-derived cell lines, animal models, primary tissues, and organoids, and summarize the experimental concentrations and GLP-1 assay endpoints where reported. Finally, we identify priorities for receptor-selective validation, measurement of intestinal target-site exposure, and prospective human studies. This evidence map clarifies what is experimentally supported and what must be demonstrated before intestinal TAS2Rs can be considered reliable targets for endogenous GLP-1 modulation.

Aspergillus niger , an industrial filamentous fungus recognized as GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) and vital for food fermentation and enzyme production, has an optimal fermentation temperature around 30 °C; however, heat stress in industrial systems impairs its cellular viability and reduces target product synthesis efficiency. This review systematically summarizes the multi-level coordinated heat stress response mechanisms of A. niger by integrating existing research findings, revealing that the fungus copes with heat stress via cell membrane remodeling, rapid accumulation of compatible solutes, cAMP/PKA-mediated metabolic reprogramming, protein quality control, and activation of antioxidant defense systems. These mechanisms synergistically enhance A. niger ’s heat resistance, while current research still lacks data on early stress signaling events, complete PKA downstream regulatory networks, and multi-omics integration. The review’s innovation lies in identifying potential adaptive strategies specific to eukaryotic filamentous fungi (e.g., non-classical membrane regulation) and providing a theoretical basis for improving A. niger ’s thermotolerance through metabolic engineering.

Quercetin (QC), a natural flavonoid, has shown potential in regulating glucose homeostasis by promoting glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) secretion. This study investigates the role of the bitter taste receptor TAS2R38 and the phospholipase C (PLC) signaling pathway in QC‐induced GLP‐1 secretion from enteroendocrine NCI‐H716 cells. Molecular docking revealed strong binding between QC and TAS2R38. QC significantly enhanced GLP‐1 secretion, which was attenuated by TAS2R38 siRNA and PLC inhibitors. These findings suggest that QC stimulates GLP‐1 release through TAS2R38‐mediated PLC signaling, offering a novel mechanism for QC's antidiabetic effects.

The molecular recognition elements utilized for antibiotic detection are presented, along with the interactions between them. The inner circle represents the five types of intermolecular forces, while the outer circle embodies the seven molecular recognition elements and direct recognition.

Anthocyanin is a type of flavonoid pigment widely present in fruits and vegetables. It can not only be used as natural pigment, but also has a variety of health functions, for instance, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and neuroprotective activities. Persistent proinflammatory status is a major factor in the development, progression, and complications of chronic diseases. Not surprisingly, there are thus many food ingredients that can potentially affect inflammation related diseases and many studies have shown that anthocyanins play an important role in inflammatory pathways. In this paper, the inflammation related diseases (such as, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer) of anthocyanins are introduced, and the anti-inflammatory effect of anthocyanins is emphatically introduced. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory mechanism of anthocyanins is elaborated from the aspects of NF-κB, toll like receptor, MAPKs, NO, and ROS and the main efficacy of anthocyanins in inflammation and related diseases is determined. In conclusion, this review aims to get a clear insight into the role of anthocyanins in inflammation related diseases.

Anthocyanins is a natural edible pigment with many health benefits. The aim of this work was the identification of anthocyanins present in Aronia melanocarpa using mass spectrometric features. The anthocyanins of the A. melanocarpa were analyzed by UVVis, HPLC‐DAD and LC‐EIS/MS methods. The four important anthocyanins were identified as follows: cyanidin‐3‐galactoside (68.68%), cyanidin‐3‐arabinoside (25.62%), cyanidin‐3‐glucoside (5.28%) and cyanidin‐3‐xyloside (0.42%). Among the four anthocyanin monomers, three anthocyanins with the highest content of A. melanocarpa were selected, and the antioxidant activity was studied with the total anthocyanins. The antioxidant capacity was cyanidin‐3‐galactoside > total anthocyanin > cyanidin‐3‐arabinoside > cyanidin‐3‐glucoside. The activity of the four anthocyanin samples was greater than ascorbic acid. The methodology described in this study will provide an effective tool for anthocyanins identification. Our results suggested that anthocyanins from A. melanocarpa exhibited effective antioxidant activity. These findings may be crucial in future research concerning chokeberry based functional food products.

β‐Glucosidase production by Aspergillus niger is accompanied by an inevitable temperature increase in the industrial fermentation environment. Hence, the synthetic process of β‐glucosidase is negatively affected. However, our understanding of the heat stress response (HSR) mechanism in A. niger is still incomplete. The current study explored the intracellular proteome profile of A. niger 3.316 in group T (50°C stress) and group C (30°C control) using two proteomic approaches (isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation [iTRAQ] and label‐free) and examined the expression of four proteins using a parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) approach. Based on the result of the iTRAQ proteomic analysis, 1,025 proteins were differentially expressed in group T compared to group C. Using the label‐free approach, we only focused on 77 proteins with significant changes in their protein expression levels. In addition, we performed bioinformatics analysis on all these proteins and obtained detailed gene ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway results. Under heat stress conditions, the relative expression levels of proteins with protection and repair functions were upregulated in A. niger 3.316. These proteins were involved in metabolic pathways, oxidative phosphorylation, porphyrin and chlorophyll metabolism, pyruvate metabolism, and the citrate cycle (TCA cycle). The insights obtained from the presented proteomics and bioinformatics analyses can be used to further explore the HSR mechanism of A. niger.