Inhibition of mycotoxin deoxynivalenol generation by using selenized glucose

Molecular mapping and validation of quantitative trait loci for content of micronutrients in wheat grain

Manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and selenium (Se) are essential micronutrients for human health. However, the genetic basis for the content of Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Se in wheat grains remains unclear. A recombinant inbred lines (RIL) population derived from Yangmai 4/Yanzhan 1 (YM4/YZ1) with wheat 55K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays and micronutrient content of two environments was used to construct a genetic linkage map and dissect the quantitative trait loci (QTL) for the content of Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Se in wheat. A total of 8 QTL were detected and located on chromosomes 1A, 1B, 2D, 4D, 7A, and 7D, respectively. Among them, QFe.yaas-2D and QSe.yaas-2D were co-located on chromosome 2D, while QMn.yaas-4D and QZn.yaas-4D were co-located on chromosome 4D, which were in the dwarfing locus of Rht-D1 region. The positive alleles of QCu.yaas-1A, QMn.yaas-1B, and QZn.yaas-7D were contributed by YZ1 and explained 7.66-19.92% of the phenotypic variances, while the positive alleles of QFe.yaas-2D, QSe.yaas-2D, QMn.yaas-4D, QZn.yaas-4D, and QCu.yaas-7A were contributed by YM4 and explained 5.77-20.11% of the phenotypic variances. The positive alleles of QCu.yaas-1A, QMn.yaas-1B, and QMn/Zn.yaas-4D increased TGW by 3.52%, 3.45%, and 7.51% respectively, while the positive alleles of QFe/Se.yaas-2D decreased TGW by 6.45%. Six SNP markers flanked the target QTL were converted into Kompetitive allele specific PCR (KASP) markers, and their effects were validated in a panel of one hundred and forty-nine wheat advanced lines. Twenty-five advanced lines harboring at least five positive alleles were identified in the validation populations. A total of 60 and 51 high-confidence annotated genes for QFe/Se.yaas-2D and QMn/Zn.yaas-4D were identified using the International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium Reference Sequence v2.1 (IWGSC RefSeq v2.1), respectively. Some genes in these two regions were involved in stress tolerance, growth development, Zn synthesis in plants. These results provide the basis for fine-mapping the target QTL of micronutrient content and marker-assisted selection in grain quality breeding programs.

The Dual Effect of Selenium Application in Reducing Fusarium Wilt Disease Incidence in Banana and Producing Se-Enriched Fruits

Fusarium wilt disease severely constrains the global banana industry. The highly destructive disease is caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense, especially its virulent tropical race 4 (Foc TR4). Selenium (Se), a non-essential mineral nutrient in higher plants, is known to enhance plant resistance against several fungal pathogens. The experiments we conducted showed that selenium (≥10 mg/L) dramatically inhibited the growth of Foc TR4 mycelia and promoted plant growth. The further study we performed recorded a substantial reduction in the disease index (DI) of banana plants suffering from Foc TR4 when treated with selenium. The selenium treatments (20~160 mg/L) demonstrated significant control levels, with recorded symptom reductions ranging from 42.4% to 65.7% in both greenhouse and field trials. The DI was significantly negatively correlated with the total selenium content (TSe) in roots. Furthermore, selenium treatments enhanced the antioxidant enzyme activities of peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in banana. After two applications of selenium (100 and 200 mg/plant) in the field, the TSe in banana pulps increased 23.7 to 25.9-fold and achieved the Se enrichment standard for food. The results demonstrate that selenium applications can safely augment root TSe levels, both reducing Fusarium wilt disease incidence and producing Se-enriched banana fruits. For the first time, this study has revealed that selenium can significantly reduce the damage caused by soil-borne pathogens in banana by increasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes and inhibiting fungal growth.

Aggregation-Induced Emission CN-Based Nanoparticles to Alleviate Hypoxic Liver Fibrosis via Triggering HSC Ferroptosis and Enhancing Photodynamic Therapy

Hypoxia can lead to liver fibrosis and severely limits the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT). Herein, carbon nitride (CN)-based hybrid nanoparticles (NPs) VPSGCNs@TSI for light-driven water splitting were utilized to solve this problem. CNs were doped with selenide glucose (Se-glu) to enhance their red/NIR region absorption. Then, vitamin A-poly(ethylene glycol) (VA-PEG) fragments and aggregation-induced emission (AIE) photosensitizers TSI were introduced into Se-glu-doped CN NPs (VPSGCNs) to construct VPSGCNs@TSI NPs. The introduction of VA-PEG fragments enhanced the targeting of the NPs to activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and reduced their toxicity to ordinary liver cells. VPSGCN units could trigger water splitting to generate O2 under 660 nm laser irradiation, improve the hypoxic environment of the fibrosis site, downregulate HIF-1α expression, and activate HSC ferroptosis via the HIF-1α/SLC7A11 pathway. In addition, generated O2 could also increase the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production of TSI units in a hypoxic environment, thereby completely reversing hypoxia-triggered PDT resistance to enhance the PDT effect. The combination of water-splitting materials and photodynamic materials showed a 1 + 1 > 2 effect in increasing oxygen levels in liver fibrosis, promoting ferroptosis of activated HSCs and reversing PDT resistance caused by hypoxia.

The use of selenium for controlling plant fungal diseases and insect pests

The selenium (Se) applications in biomedicine, agriculture, and environmental health have become great research interest in recent decades. As an essential nutrient for humans and animals, beneficial effects of Se on human health have been well documented. Although Se is not an essential element for plants, it does play important roles in improving plants' resistances to a broad of biotic and abiotic stresses. This review is focused on recent findings from studies on effects and mechanisms of Se on plant fungal diseases and insect pests. Se affects the plant resistance to fungal diseases by preventing the invasion of fungal pathogen through positively affecting plant defense to pathogens; and through negative effects on pathogen by destroying the cell membrane and cellular extensions of pathogen inside plant tissues after invasion; and changing the soil microbial community to safeguard plant cells against invading fungi. Plants, grown under Se enriched soils or treated with Se through foliar and soil applications, can metabolize Se into dimethyl selenide or dimethyl diselenide, which acts as an insect repellent compound to deter foraging and landing pests, thus providing plant mediated resistance to insect pests; moreover, Se can also lead to poisoning to some pests if toxic amounts of Se are fed, resulting in steady pest mortality, lower reproduction rate, negative effects on growth and development, thus shortening the life span of many insect pests. In present manuscript, reports are reviewed on Se-mediated plant resistance to fungal pathogens and insect pests. The future perspective of Se is also discussed on preventing the disease and pest control to protect plants from economic injuries and damages.

Different dietary sources of selenium alter meat quality, shelf life, selenium deposition, and antioxidant status in Hu lambs

Thirty-two male Hu lambs (32.31 ± 3.31 kg; 4-months-old) were randomly assigned to four treatments: (1) control (CON), (2) selenium-enriched yeast (SeY, 0.8 mg/kg), (3) selenized glucose (SeGlu, 0.8 mg/kg), and (4) sodium selenite (SS, 0.8 mg/kg) to evaluate their effects on Hu lamb production and slaughter performance, antioxidant capacity, hematological parameters, meat quality and shelf-life. The production and slaughter performances were not different (P > 0.05) among treatments. SeGlu and SeY increased (P < 0.05) the total antioxidant capacity in serum and muscle selenium content while decreasing (P < 0.05) the malondialdehyde (MDA) contents both in serum and muscle. SeGlu extended muscle shelf-life by 7.7 h compared with CON and decreased (P < 0.05) yellowness (b*) and lightness (L*) in meat stored for 24 h. In summary, the effects of SeGlu were similar to those of SeY and better than those of SS in improving serum and muscle antioxidant status, prolonging muscle shelf-life, and increasing selenium deposition in muscle.

PhSe(O)OH/Al(NO3)3-Catalyzed selectivity controllable oxidation of sulphide owing to the synergistic effect of Se, Al3+ and nitrate

Catalyzed by PhSe(O)OH/Al(NO3)3, selective oxidation of sulphides to produce sulfoxides or sulphones could be achieved under mild conditions. The synergistic effect of Se, Al3+ and nitrate is the key factor for the reaction.

On-water synthesis of glycosyl selenocyanate derivatives and their application in the metal free organocatalytic preparation of nonglycosidic selenium linked pseudodisaccharide derivatives

Glycosyl selenocyanate derivatives were prepared in very good yield by the treatment of glycosyl halide or triflate derivatives with potassium selenocyanate in water. A variety of selenium linked pseudodisaccharide derivatives were prepared in excellent yield using glycosyl selenocyanates as stable building blocks in the presence of hydrazine hydrate under metal-free organocatalytic reaction conditions.

Two-dimensional SnO2 anchored biomass-derived carbon nanosheet anode for high-performance Li-ion capacitors

Lithium-ion capacitors (LICs) combine the advantages of both batteries and supercapacitors; they have attracted intensive attention among energy conversion and storage fields, and one of the key points of their research is the exploration of suitable battery-type electrode materials. Herein, a simple and low-cost strategy is proposed, in which SnO2 particles are anchored on the conductive porous carbon nano-sheets (PCN) derived from coffee grounds. This method can inhibit the grain coarsening of Sn and the volume change of SnO2 effectively, thus improving the electrochemical reversibility of the materials. In the lithium half cell (0-3.0 V vs. Li/Li+), the as-prepared SnO2/PCN electrode yields a reversible capacity of 799 mA h g-1 at 0.1 A g-1 and decent long-term cyclability of 313 mA h g-1 at 1 A g-1 after 500 cycles. The excellent Li+ storage performance of SnO2/PCN is beneficial from the hierarchical structure as well as the robust carbonaceous buffer layer. Besides, a LIC hybrid device with the as-prepared SnO2/PCN anode exhibits outstanding energy and power density of 138 W h kg-1 and 53 kW kg-1 at a voltage window of 1.0-4.0 V. These promising results open up a new way to develop advanced anode materials with high rate and long life.

Preparation and catalytic behavior of antioxidant cassava starch with selenium active sites and hydrophobic microenvironments

The preparation of antioxidant starch with the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) for scavenging free radicals can not only enrich the types of modified starch but also alternate native GPx to overcome its drawbacks.

Synergetic catalysis of Se and Cu allowing diethoxylation of halomethylene ketones using O2 as the mild oxidant

Catalyzed by PhSe(O)OH/Cu(OAc)₂, sp³-C–H alkylation of bromomethylene ketones produced useful α-carbonyl acetals under mild conditions. Bromo-containing substrates could release HBr during the reaction, avoiding the use of acidic additives.

Catalytic epoxidation of β-ionone with molecular oxygen using selenium-doped silica materials

Se-doped silica could catalyze the β-ionone epoxidation reaction. Interestingly, by doping with fluorine in the catalyst, the reaction selectivity was significantly enhanced. The metal-free process is suitable for pharmaceutical synthesis.

Me3SI-promoted chemoselective deacetylation: a general and mild protocol

A catalytic and practical approach for the selective removal of acetyl groups using various substrates bearing orthogonal moieties has been demonstrated under ambient conditions.

The Effects of Selenium on Wheat Fusarium Head Blight and DON Accumulation Were Selenium Compound-Dependent

Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by Fusarium graminearum not only results in severe yield losses, but also contaminates wheat grains with deoxynivalenol (DON) toxins. Prevention and control of FHB and DON contamination rely mainly on resistant varieties and fungicides. Selenium (Se) is an essential element for humans and animals, and also a beneficial element for plants. In this work, four Se compounds, i.e., sodium selenite (Na₂SeO₃), sodium selenate (Na₂SeO₄), selenomethionine (SeMet) and selenocysteine (SeCys₂), were supplemented in a trichothecene biosynthesis induction (TBI) solid medium at different dosages in in vitro experiments. The four Se compounds at the dosage of 20 mg∙L⁻¹ were sprayed onto wheat spikes immediately after inoculation at anthesis. All four of the Se compounds significantly inhibited the mycelial growth and DON production in the in vitro experiment; however, in planta, their effects on FHB severity and toxin accumulation in grains were compound-dependent. SeMet consistently negatively regulated fungal growth and DON accumulation both in vitro and in planta, which could be a novel and proconsumer strategy for reducing the detriment of wheat FHB disease and DON accumulation.

Synthesis of selenated isochromenones by AgNO3-catalyzed three-component reaction of alkynylaryl esters, selenium powder and ArB(OH)2

Reported is the AgNO₃-catalyzed three-component reaction of alkynylaryl esters, selenium powder and ArB(OH)₂, providing a facile entry to selenated isochromenones. This work highlights the use of selenium powder as a selenium reagent in the synthesis of selenated isochromenones for the first time.

We reported AgNO₃-catalyzed three-component reaction of alkynylaryl esters, selenium powder and ArB(OH)₂, providing an efficient synthetic route to selenated isochromenones.