Grape pomaces have a wide and diverse antioxidant phenolics composition. Six Uruguayan red grape pomaces were evaluated in their phenolics composition, antioxidant capacity, and anti-inflammatory properties. Not only radical scavenging methods as DPPH^· and ABTS^·+ were employed but also ORAC and FRAP analyses were applied to assess the antioxidant potency of the extracts. The antioxidant reactivity of all extracts against hydroxyl radicals was assessed with ESR. The phenol profile of the most bioactive extract was analyzed by HPLC-MS, and a set of 57 structures were determined. To investigate the potential anti-inflammatory activity of the extracts, Nuclear Factor kappa-B (NF-κB) modulation was evaluated in the human colon cancer reporter cell line (HT-29-NF-κB-hrGFP). Our results suggest that Tannat grapes pomaces have higher phenolic content and antioxidant capacity compared to Cabernet Franc. These extracts inhibited TNF-alpha mediated NF-κB activation and IL-8 production when added to reporter cells. A molecular docking study was carried out to rationalize the experimental results allowing us to propose the proactive interaction between the NF-κB, the grape extracts phenols, and their putative anti-inflammatory bioactivity. The present findings show that red grape pomace constitutes a sustainable source of phenolic compounds, which may be valuable for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industry applications.

Carotenoids are isoprenoid pigments, and sources of vitamin A in humans. The first metabolic pathway for their synthesis is mediated by the enzymes β,β-carotene-15,15′-dioxygenase (BCO1) and β,β-carotene-9′,10′-dioxygenase (BCO2), which cleave carotenoids into smaller compounds, called apocarotenoids. The objective of this study is to gain insight into the interaction of BCO1 and BCO2 with carotenoids, adding structural diversity and importance in the agro-food and/or health sectors. Homology modeling of BCO1 and BCO2, and the molecular dynamics of complexes with all carotenoids were performed. Interaction energy and structures were analyzed. For both enzymes, the general structure is conserved with a seven beta-sheet structure, and the β-carotene is positioned at an optimal distance from the catalytic center. Fe²⁺ forms in an octahedral coordination sphere with four perfectly conserved histidine residues. BCO1 finds stability in a structure in which the β-carotene is positioned ready for enzymatic catalysis at the 15–15′ bond, and BCO2 in positioning the bond to be cleaved (C9–C10) close to the active site. In BCO1 the carotenoids interact with only seven residues with aromatic rings, while the interaction of BCO2 is much more varied in terms of the type of interaction, with more residues of different chemical natures.

Coloring is one of the most important characteristics in commercial flowers and fruits, generally due to the accumulation of carotenoid pigments. Enzymes of the CCD4 family in citrus intervene in the generation of β-citraurin, an apocarotenoid responsible for the reddish-orange color of mandarins. Citrus CCD4s enzymes could be capable of interacting with the thylakoid membrane inside chloroplasts. However, to date, this interaction has not been studied in detail. In this work, we present three new complete models of the CCD4 family members (CCD4a, CCD4b, and CCD4c), modeled with a lipid membrane. To identify the preference for substrates, typical carotenoids were inserted in the active site of the receptors and the protein–ligand interaction energy was evaluated. The results show a clear preference of CCD4s for xanthophylls over aliphatic carotenes. Our findings indicate the ability to penetrate the membrane and maintain a stable interaction through the N-terminal α-helical domain, spanning a contact surface of 2250 to 3250 Ų. The orientation and depth of penetration at the membrane surface suggest that CCD4s have the ability to extract carotenoids directly from the membrane through a tunnel consisting mainly of hydrophobic residues that extends up to the catalytic center of the enzyme.

Colorimetric techniques, such as tetrazolium salts and resazurin, are indicators of viability (respiratory activity) of fungi, bacteria, and seeds widely used in different areas of research. The objective of this study was to develop a protocol with two screening methods, qualitative and quantitative, to detect the viability of Fusarium semitectum in soybean seeds using 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TZ). The experimental design was completely randomized in a triple factorial arrangement (incubation times, TZ concentrations, and inoculum serial dilutions) with levels of 3, 5, and 5 of each factor, respectively, and 3 replications in both methods. For the qualitative method, sensitivity was more satisfactory at 72 hours, at the minimum TZ concentration of 0.1 mg mL^-1, and with the inoculum concentration of 10^-¹. In the quantitative method (spectrophotometry), it was not possible to quantify the colony forming units (CFU) on plates, with the Optical Density (OD) being interfered with by structure of the mecelium in the microtube. Although it is a reproducible methodology, it is conditioned by fungal morphology. The present study allowed easy visualization of the structures of F. semitectum in soybean seeds, based on the TZ. However, it was not possible to quantify the inoculum density, due to low spore production, requiring greater adjustments in the methodology.

Anthocyanidin 3-O-glucosyltransferase (UFGT) is a key determinant of anthocyanin stabilization in grape berries. Understanding the molecular basis underlying the distinctive deep-purple pigmentation of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Tannat requires a detailed characterization of the genes encoding this enzyme and their products. Here, we combined comparative genomics, berry-skin expression profiling, sequence and phylogenetic analyses, mutual information mapping, structural modelling, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to identify and functionally characterize UFGT candidate genes associated with Tannat berry colour development. From an initial set of 300 genomic hits, seven loci were retained based on sequence features and expression patterns during berry skin pigmentation. These putative Tannat UFGT genes clustered into multiple pre-existing paralogous lineages, mapping mainly to chromosomes 16 and 18, supporting functional diversification rather than a recent lineage-specific expansion. Comparative structural analyses revealed a conserved C-terminal Rossmann-like core and a more variable N-terminal region enriched in substitutions and indels, consistent with differential acceptor recognition. Mutual information analysis further identified co-evolving residue networks linking both domains. Binding free energy estimates, computed using the MM/PBSA method, revealed gene-dependent ligand preferences toward the major Tannat anthocyanidins, driven primarily by non-polar interactions and polar solvation. In this context, the intense coloration of Tannat grapes is likely explained by the coordinated “division of labour” of UFGT genes at veraison, exhibiting favourable affinities for delphinidin and petunidin as acceptor aglycones, consistent with the abundance of their derived anthocyanin in the berry skin. Overall, the typical appearance of this cultivar is not only a trait of oenological importance but also an indicator of the strong antioxidant potential conferred by the accumulation of these bioactive metabolites.