Production of linseed diacylglycerol-rich oil by combined glycerolysis and esterification

Therapeutic targeting of microtubule affinity-regulating kinase 4 in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases

Microtubule affinity-regulating kinase 4 (MARK4) is a member of the Ser/Thr protein kinase family, phosphorylates the microtubule-connected proteins and plays a vital role in causing cancers and neurodegenerative diseases. This kinase modulates multiple signaling pathways, including mammalian target of rapamycin, nuclear factor-κB, and Hippo-signaling, presumably responsible for cancer and Alzheimer's. MARK4 acts as a negative controller of the Hippo-kinase cassette for promoting YAP/TAZ action, and the loss of MARK4 detains the tumorigenic properties of cancer cells. MARK4 is involved in tau hyperphosphorylation that consequently affects neurodegeneration. MARK4 is a promising drug target for cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer's. Developing the potent and selective inhibitors of MAKR4 are promising in the therapeutic management of associated diseases. Despite its great significance, a few reviews are available to discuss its structure, function and clinical significance. In the current review, we aimed to provide detailed information on the structural features of MARK4 targeted in drug development and its role in various signaling pathways related to cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. We further described the therapeutic potential of MARK4 inhibitors in preventing numerous diseases. Finally, the updated information on MARK4 will be helpful in the further development of effective therapeutic molecules.

Fabrication, characterization, and purification of nutraceutical diacylglycerol components from Camellia oil

Converting triacylgycerols (TAGs) from edible oils and fats into structured diacylglycerols (DAGs) is meaningful for reducing obesity. Camellia oil, rich in linoleic acid, has the potential to form structured linoleic acid-1,3-diacylglycerol (LA-1,3-DAG) nutrients in the industry. In this research, the physicochemical properties of modified Camellia oil (MCO) by enzymatic esterification were analyzed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Evaporative Light Scattering Detection (HPLC-ELSD), and Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The relationship between reaction conditions and the DAG compositions is disclosed using multiple factors. It is found that high constituents of DAG increase the melting and crystallization temperature of MCO, lipase Novozym 435 gives the best yield of targeted nutrients (DAG, 1,3-DAG, LA-DAG), and the mixture of lipases, Lipozyme TL IM and Lipozyme RM IM, shows a synergistic effect in the synthetic process of DAG. Subsequently, MCO containing 65.4% DAG, 54.7% LA-DAG, and 47.6% 1,3-DAG content at optimal conditions (2% enzyme dosage, 4 h reaction time, 2.4:1 substrate molar ratio, 25.8% t-butanol as solvent, 60°C temperature) has been obtained and purified using silica column to obtain the final DAG oil containing 96.1% DAG, 64.7% 1,3-DAG, and 78.4% LA-DAG. High constituents of structured DAG oil rich in LA-1,3-DAG can be obtained by enzymatic esterification for industrial production.

Enzymatic Synthesis of Diacylglycerol-Enriched Oil by Two-Step Vacuum-Mediated Conversion of Fatty Acid Ethyl Ester and Fatty Acid From Soy Sauce By-Product Oil as Lipid-Lowering Functional Oil

Soy sauce by-product oil (SSBO), a by-product of the soy sauce production process, is the lack of utilization due to an abundance of free fatty acid (FFA) and fatty acid ethyl ester (EE). The utilization of low-cost SSBO to produce value-added diacylglycerol (DAG)-enriched oil and its applications are promising for the sustainability of the oil industry. The objective of this study was to utilize SSBO containing a high content of EE and FFA as raw material to synthesize DAG-enriched oil and to evaluate its nutritional properties in fish. Based on different behaviors between the glycerolysis of EE and the esterification of FFA in one-pot enzymatic catalysis, a two-step vacuum-mediated conversion was developed for the maximum conversions of EE and FFA to DAG. After optimization, the maximum DAG yield (66.76%) and EE and FFA conversions (96 and 93%, respectively) were obtained under the following optimized conditions: lipase loading 3%, temperature 38°C, substrate molar ratio (glycerol/FFA and EE) 21:40, a vacuum combination of 566 mmHg within the initial 10 h and 47 mmHg from the 10th to 14th hour. Further nutritional study in fish suggested that the consumption of DAG-enriched oil was safe and served as a functional oil to lower lipid levels in serum and liver, decrease lipid accumulation and increase protein content in body and muscle tissues, and change fatty acid composition in muscle tissues. Overall, these findings were vital for the effective utilization of SSBO resources and the development of future applications for DAG-enriched oil as lipid-lowering functional oil in food.