Pub Date : 2026-01-13DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2026.113367
Hong Sun , Wenbo Xu , Maolin Huang , Jieyu Huang , Wenju Yang , Qianqian Zhang , Lijuan Zhao , Dawei Wang , Zhenlong Wang
Photoperiod changes serve as critical environmental signals for seasonally reproducing animals, with their decoding dependent on the precise functioning of endogenous circadian clocks. Here we conducted a comprehensive analysis of diurnal transcripts and metabolites profiles in the testes of Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii) under long photoperiod (LP) and short photoperiod (SP), to elucidate the role of circadian rhythms within peripheral testicular tissue in regulating reproduction. Phenotypic results demonstrated that LP promoted testicular development, whereas SP suppressed it. Then we observed relatively weaker transcriptional and metabolic rhythmicity in the testes under both photoperiods. The function of diurnal rhythmic genes was mainly related to homeostasis, developmental, reproductive behavior, motility and sperm flagellum assembly pathways, suggesting that diurnal clocks act as photoperiodic timekeeper for reproductive timing. In contrast, testosterone biosynthesis and key energy metabolism pathways essential for spermatogenesis were largely governed by non-rhythmic genes expression patterns. Together, these findings underscore the non-uniform pervasiveness of diurnal rhythmicity in testis, where reproductive initiation driven by the diurnal clock, while subsequent spermatogenic processes progressively deviate from 24 h rhythmicity.
{"title":"Photoperiod alters the diurnal rhythm pattern of testicular transcription and metabolism in Brandt's voles","authors":"Hong Sun , Wenbo Xu , Maolin Huang , Jieyu Huang , Wenju Yang , Qianqian Zhang , Lijuan Zhao , Dawei Wang , Zhenlong Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2026.113367","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2026.113367","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Photoperiod changes serve as critical environmental signals for seasonally reproducing animals, with their decoding dependent on the precise functioning of endogenous circadian clocks. Here we conducted a comprehensive analysis of diurnal transcripts and metabolites profiles in the testes of Brandt's voles (<em>Lasiopodomys brandtii</em>) under long photoperiod (LP) and short photoperiod (SP), to elucidate the role of circadian rhythms within peripheral testicular tissue in regulating reproduction. Phenotypic results demonstrated that LP promoted testicular development, whereas SP suppressed it. Then we observed relatively weaker transcriptional and metabolic rhythmicity in the testes under both photoperiods. The function of diurnal rhythmic genes was mainly related to homeostasis, developmental, reproductive behavior, motility and sperm flagellum assembly pathways, suggesting that diurnal clocks act as photoperiodic timekeeper for reproductive timing. In contrast, testosterone biosynthesis and key energy metabolism pathways essential for spermatogenesis were largely governed by non-rhythmic genes expression patterns. Together, these findings underscore the non-uniform pervasiveness of diurnal rhythmicity in testis, where reproductive initiation driven by the diurnal clock, while subsequent spermatogenic processes progressively deviate from 24 h rhythmicity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16772,"journal":{"name":"Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology","volume":"275 ","pages":"Article 113367"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145979924","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-13DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2026.113368
Andrey V. Belashov , Anna A. Zhikhoreva , Zhenlong Huang , Fangrui Lin , Irina V. Semenova , Oleg S. Vasyutinskii , Junle Qu
The paper presents time-resolved fluorescence analysis of methylene blue (MB) in solutions and in living cells in vitro. The analysis of MB fluorescence lifetime in solutions of different pH, viscosity and polarity revealed its independence on acidity and viscosity and linear rise with decreasing polarity. Moreover, MB binding to albumin and DNA did not affect its fluorescence lifetime. The obtained dependence of MB fluorescence lifetime on the Lippert-Mataga polarity parameter enabled analysis of polarity distributions in living cells. Fluorescence-lifetime images of MB fluorescence in cancerous HeLa and pseudo-normal bEnd.3 cells provided clear double-exponential signals, which were suggested to be due to diversity of polarity in different cell compartments. The longer fluorescence lifetime and its contribution were shown to differ in cells of different lines, that allowed us to suggest that polarity of low-polar structures and their amount differ in cells of these lines. In cells of both lines the fluorescence lifetimes in nuclei were shorter than those in cytoplasm. The combined analysis of fluorescence lifetimes and phasor plot coordinates allowed for segmentation of the intracellular area to regions of different polarity corresponding to nuclei and cytoplasm with the accuracy of about 90%, and to reveal differences in cells of the two lines.
{"title":"Time-resolved fluorescence imaging of methylene blue reveals heterogeneous polarity in living cells","authors":"Andrey V. Belashov , Anna A. Zhikhoreva , Zhenlong Huang , Fangrui Lin , Irina V. Semenova , Oleg S. Vasyutinskii , Junle Qu","doi":"10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2026.113368","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2026.113368","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The paper presents time-resolved fluorescence analysis of methylene blue (MB) in solutions and in living cells in vitro. The analysis of MB fluorescence lifetime in solutions of different pH, viscosity and polarity revealed its independence on acidity and viscosity and linear rise with decreasing polarity. Moreover, MB binding to albumin and DNA did not affect its fluorescence lifetime. The obtained dependence of MB fluorescence lifetime on the Lippert-Mataga polarity parameter enabled analysis of polarity distributions in living cells. Fluorescence-lifetime images of MB fluorescence in cancerous HeLa and pseudo-normal bEnd.3 cells provided clear double-exponential signals, which were suggested to be due to diversity of polarity in different cell compartments. The longer fluorescence lifetime and its contribution were shown to differ in cells of different lines, that allowed us to suggest that polarity of low-polar structures and their amount differ in cells of these lines. In cells of both lines the fluorescence lifetimes in nuclei were shorter than those in cytoplasm. The combined analysis of fluorescence lifetimes and phasor plot coordinates allowed for segmentation of the intracellular area to regions of different polarity corresponding to nuclei and cytoplasm with the accuracy of about 90%, and to reveal differences in cells of the two lines.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16772,"journal":{"name":"Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology","volume":"275 ","pages":"Article 113368"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145979333","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-12DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2026.113366
Tanglin Liu , Biao Guo , Liying Tong , Hao Li , Caibing Wang , Kai Zang , Ruili Zhao , Xinyi Zhao , Chenglong Ye , Xiyun Ye , Yongyan Dang
Pearls have skin whitening and antioxidant properties, but their effects on skin barrier are less understood. This study investigated the reparative effects of saccharomyces/pearl ferment lysate filtrate (PFL) on UVB-induced skin barrier damage. In HaCaT cells, PFL restored proteins related to epidermal differentiation, tight junctions, and moisture retention, all reduced by UVB exposure, and lowered the expression of inflammatory factors. Similarly, in a UVB-induced skin damage mouse model, PFL significantly alleviated skin peeling, erythema, TWEL and epidermal thickening, while also suppressing UVB-induced skin inflammation. Mechanistically, PFL promoted Nrf2 nuclear translocation and upregulated antioxidant proteins NQO1 and HO-1, hereby decreasing ROS accumulation. It also inhibited the activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway in response to UVB-induced oxidative stress, likely due to the activation of Nrf2. These findings indicate that PFL may repair UVB-induced skin barrier damage through activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and inhibition of the JNK/MAPK pathway, offering potential as a therapeutic agent for skin barrier repair.
珍珠具有美白和抗氧化的特性，但它们对皮肤屏障的作用却鲜为人知。本研究探讨了酵母/珍珠发酵裂解液滤液（PFL）对uvb诱导皮肤屏障损伤的修复作用。在HaCaT细胞中，PFL恢复了与表皮分化、紧密连接和水分保持相关的蛋白质，这些蛋白质都因UVB暴露而减少，并降低了炎症因子的表达。同样，在uvb诱导的皮肤损伤小鼠模型中，PFL显著减轻了皮肤脱皮、红斑、TWEL和表皮增厚，同时也抑制了uvb诱导的皮肤炎症。机制上，PFL促进Nrf2核易位，上调抗氧化蛋白NQO1和HO-1，从而减少ROS积累。在uvb诱导的氧化应激反应中，它还抑制了c-Jun n -末端激酶（JNK）通路的激活，可能是由于Nrf2的激活。这些发现表明，PFL可能通过激活Nrf2/HO-1途径和抑制JNK/MAPK途径修复uvb诱导的皮肤屏障损伤，具有作为皮肤屏障修复治疗剂的潜力。
{"title":"Saccharomyces/pearl ferment lysate filtrate repairs UVB-induced skin barrier damage by regulating Nrf2/HO-1 and JNK/MAPK signaling pathways","authors":"Tanglin Liu , Biao Guo , Liying Tong , Hao Li , Caibing Wang , Kai Zang , Ruili Zhao , Xinyi Zhao , Chenglong Ye , Xiyun Ye , Yongyan Dang","doi":"10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2026.113366","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2026.113366","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pearls have skin whitening and antioxidant properties, but their effects on skin barrier are less understood. This study investigated the reparative effects of saccharomyces/pearl ferment lysate filtrate (PFL) on UVB-induced skin barrier damage. In HaCaT cells, PFL restored proteins related to epidermal differentiation, tight junctions, and moisture retention, all reduced by UVB exposure, and lowered the expression of inflammatory factors. Similarly, in a UVB-induced skin damage mouse model, PFL significantly alleviated skin peeling, erythema, TWEL and epidermal thickening, while also suppressing UVB-induced skin inflammation. Mechanistically, PFL promoted Nrf2 nuclear translocation and upregulated antioxidant proteins NQO1 and HO-1, hereby decreasing ROS accumulation. It also inhibited the activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway in response to UVB-induced oxidative stress, likely due to the activation of Nrf2. These findings indicate that PFL may repair UVB-induced skin barrier damage through activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and inhibition of the JNK/MAPK pathway, offering potential as a therapeutic agent for skin barrier repair.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16772,"journal":{"name":"Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology","volume":"275 ","pages":"Article 113366"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145979921","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-08DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2026.113362
Keisuke Naito , Akihiro Shirai
Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) irradiation is a promising approach for inactivating viruses and microorganisms. Germicidal mercury lamps emitting at 254 nm and krypton chloride (KrCl) excimer lamps emitting at 222 nm both possess sterilization properties, but the KrCl lamp is considered less harmful to humans. UV-C at 222 and 254 nm induces cyclobutene pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) in Escherichia coli (E. coli). Although E. coli irradiated at 254 nm can undergo photoreactivation, cells exposed to 222 nm cannot, as CPDs are not effectively repaired. This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying bacterial inactivation by UV-C irradiation at 222 and 254 nm. We measured the absorbance of key bacterial components–peptidoglycan (PG), membrane proteins, phospholipids, and DNA–in Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and confirmed the photodecomposition. At 222 nm, a substantial fraction of the light was absorbed by the membrane proteins, and the cleavage of peptide bonds resulted in structural damage and leakage of cellular contents, leading to cell death. In Gram-positive bacteria, which contain thick PG layers, part of the UV-C was absorbed by PG. Irradiation with 222-nm light of PG and proteins resulted in peptide bond cleavage, liberating amino acids. Degradation of the bacterial cell envelope increased the permeability and efflux of intracellular substances, leading to membrane rupture and, ultimately, bacterial cell death. These findings demonstrate that 222-nm irradiation exerts bactericidal effects through distinct mechanisms in Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.
Synopsis
The Gram-negative E. coli strain NBRC 106373 and the Gram-positive S. aureus strain NBRC 12732 undergo DNA mutations when irradiated at 222 nm. Simultaneously, they are killed by the leakage of cellular content. This is because the strong light absorption of peptidoglycan and membrane proteins damages the cell structure.
{"title":"Disinfection mechanisms of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria through multi-target damage under UV-C light at 222 and 254 nm","authors":"Keisuke Naito , Akihiro Shirai","doi":"10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2026.113362","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2026.113362","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) irradiation is a promising approach for inactivating viruses and microorganisms. Germicidal mercury lamps emitting at 254 nm and krypton chloride (KrCl) excimer lamps emitting at 222 nm both possess sterilization properties, but the KrCl lamp is considered less harmful to humans. UV-C at 222 and 254 nm induces cyclobutene pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) in <em>Escherichia coli</em> (<em>E. coli</em>). Although <em>E. coli</em> irradiated at 254 nm can undergo photoreactivation, cells exposed to 222 nm cannot, as CPDs are not effectively repaired. This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying bacterial inactivation by UV-C irradiation at 222 and 254 nm. We measured the absorbance of key bacterial components–peptidoglycan (PG), membrane proteins, phospholipids, and DNA–in Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and confirmed the photodecomposition. At 222 nm, a substantial fraction of the light was absorbed by the membrane proteins, and the cleavage of peptide bonds resulted in structural damage and leakage of cellular contents, leading to cell death. In Gram-positive bacteria, which contain thick PG layers, part of the UV-C was absorbed by PG. Irradiation with 222-nm light of PG and proteins resulted in peptide bond cleavage, liberating amino acids. Degradation of the bacterial cell envelope increased the permeability and efflux of intracellular substances, leading to membrane rupture and, ultimately, bacterial cell death. These findings demonstrate that 222-nm irradiation exerts bactericidal effects through distinct mechanisms in Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.</div></div><div><h3>Synopsis</h3><div>The Gram-negative <em>E. coli</em> strain NBRC 106373 and the Gram-positive <em>S. aureus</em> strain NBRC 12732 undergo DNA mutations when irradiated at 222 nm. Simultaneously, they are killed by the leakage of cellular content. This is because the strong light absorption of peptidoglycan and membrane proteins damages the cell structure.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16772,"journal":{"name":"Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology","volume":"275 ","pages":"Article 113362"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145952494","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-08DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2026.113365
Koffi Vincent Messanh, Mohammad Muhie Ddine, Veronica Ambrosini, Catherine Riou
Botrytis cinerea (B. cinerea) is a fungus with a high mutation rate and infects more than 200 plant species, causing significant yield losses. Therefore, new strategies to fight against this ubiquitous phytopathogen are highly sought after. In this context, antimicrobial Photodynamic Treatment (aPDT) using the natural chlorophyllin named E140 as a photosensitizer is considered to be a good and efficient approach to limit B. cinerea growth and its spore germination and viability while limiting its mutational power. In this study, we showed that E140 tested at 100 μM under a 16 h photoperiod significantly slowed down B. cinerea mycelium growth without affecting spore germination. Moreover, as E140 was localized in the hyphal cell wall structure, this could explain the reduced septal length and width under a 16 h photoperiod, leading to a global reduction in mycelial growth. Unexpectedly, E140 was shown to reduce the expression of two virulence genes (BcBac and BcBcg3) and, on detached grapevine leaves, to increase the expression of general defense genes such as PR1, PR3, and PR4. Stilbene synthase (STS) and heat shock hypersensitive response (HSR1). Furthermore, as we also showed in this study, E140 did not alter the development of grapevine plantlets and had no toxic effect on housefly maggots. Thus, water-soluble standalone E140 could be considered as a fungistatic molecule that is also able to alter Botrytis virulence and induce plant protection, suggesting a great new potential of E140 for further applications in viticulture and agriculture.
灰霉病菌（Botrytis cinerea， B. cinerea）是一种突变率高的真菌，侵染200多种植物，造成严重的产量损失。因此，对抗这种无处不在的植物病原体的新策略备受追捧。在这种情况下，利用天然叶绿素E140作为光敏剂进行抗菌光动力处理（aPDT）被认为是一种良好而有效的方法，可以限制灰绿杆菌的生长、孢子萌发和活力，同时限制其突变能力。在本研究中，我们发现E140在100 μM条件下，在16 h的光周期下显著减缓了灰葡萄球菌菌丝的生长，但不影响孢子的萌发。此外，由于E140定位于菌丝细胞壁结构，这可以解释在16 h光周期下，菌丝间隔长度和宽度减小，导致菌丝生长整体减少。出乎意料的是，E140降低了两个毒力基因（BcBac和BcBcg3）的表达，并且在离体葡萄叶片上，增加了一般防御基因（如PR1、PR3和PR4）的表达。二苯乙烯合成酶（STS）与热休克超敏反应（HSR1）。此外，正如我们在本研究中所表明的那样，E140不会改变葡萄藤植株的发育，对家蝇蛆也没有毒性作用。因此，水溶性E140可以被认为是一种能够改变葡萄孢毒力和诱导植物保护的抑菌分子，这表明E140在葡萄栽培和农业中的进一步应用具有巨大的新潜力。
{"title":"Bi-functional activity of chlorophyllin: Antifungal action against Botrytis cinerea and induction of grapevine defense genes","authors":"Koffi Vincent Messanh, Mohammad Muhie Ddine, Veronica Ambrosini, Catherine Riou","doi":"10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2026.113365","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2026.113365","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Botrytis cinerea (B. cinerea)</em> is a fungus with a high mutation rate and infects more than 200 plant species, causing significant yield losses. Therefore, new strategies to fight against this ubiquitous phytopathogen are highly sought after. In this context, antimicrobial Photodynamic Treatment (aPDT) using the natural chlorophyllin named E140 as a photosensitizer is considered to be a good and efficient approach to limit <em>B. cinerea</em> growth and its spore germination and viability while limiting its mutational power. In this study, we showed that E140 tested at 100 μM under a 16 h photoperiod significantly slowed down <em>B. cinerea</em> mycelium growth without affecting spore germination. Moreover, as E140 was localized in the hyphal cell wall structure, this could explain the reduced septal length and width under a 16 h photoperiod, leading to a global reduction in mycelial growth. Unexpectedly, E140 was shown to reduce the expression of two virulence genes (<em>BcBac</em> and <em>BcBcg</em>3) and, on detached grapevine leaves, to increase the expression of general defense genes such as <em>PR1</em>, <em>PR3,</em> and <em>PR4.</em> Stilbene synthase (<em>STS</em>) and heat shock hypersensitive response (<em>HSR1)</em>. Furthermore, as we also showed in this study, E140 did not alter the development of grapevine plantlets and had no toxic effect on housefly maggots. Thus, water-soluble standalone E140 could be considered as a fungistatic molecule that is also able to alter Botrytis virulence and induce plant protection, suggesting a great new potential of E140 for further applications in viticulture and agriculture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16772,"journal":{"name":"Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology","volume":"275 ","pages":"Article 113365"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145929215","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-07DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2026.113363
Bianca Borges de Alencar , Maria Laura Faleiros Ribeiro de Melo , Wanderson Zuza Cosme , Matheus Henrique Francisco Dias , Camila Cristina Baccetti Medeiros , Rodrigo Sorrechia , Rosemeire Cristina Linhari Rodrigues Pietro , Fabiano Guimarães Silva , Marcio Luís Andrade e Silva , Wilson Roberto Cunha , Patrícia Mendonça Pauletti , Regina Helena Pires , Ana Helena Januário
Physalis angulata L. (Solanaceae) is widely recognized for its therapeutic applications in traditional medicine. This study evaluated the antifungal activity of P. angulata (PA) and the influence of red LED–mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) on planktonic cells and biofilms of Candida albicans, Nakaseomyces glabratus, and Candida parapsilosis. The withanolide 4β-hydroxywithanolide E was isolated from PA, and UPLC–MS analysis of the active fraction (PA-F) in negative ion mode revealed the predominance of eleven withanolides, including aglycone and glycosylated forms belonging to the 5β,6β-epoxide and 5-ene classes. The crude PA extract showed no antifungal activity (MIC >2000 μg/mL) against the tested strains, whereas PA-F exhibited a MIC of 250 μg/mL against C. albicans and 2000 μg/mL against N. glabratus and C. parapsilosis. Notably, exposure of yeast biofilms to PA-F (250 μg/mL) followed by red LED irradiation resulted in a pronounced reduction in viable cells, reaching 4.88 ± 0.12, 4.29 ± 0.15, and 4.16 ± 0.06 log₁₀ CFU/mL for C. albicans, N. glabratus, and C. parapsilosis, respectively, indicating fungicidal activity. These findings demonstrate a light-dependent enhancement of antifungal efficacy, supporting the potential of P. angulata–derived withanolide fractions as photo-responsive agents in antifungal photodynamic strategies.
{"title":"Red light–mediated enhancement of the antifungal activity of Physalis angulata against Candida species","authors":"Bianca Borges de Alencar , Maria Laura Faleiros Ribeiro de Melo , Wanderson Zuza Cosme , Matheus Henrique Francisco Dias , Camila Cristina Baccetti Medeiros , Rodrigo Sorrechia , Rosemeire Cristina Linhari Rodrigues Pietro , Fabiano Guimarães Silva , Marcio Luís Andrade e Silva , Wilson Roberto Cunha , Patrícia Mendonça Pauletti , Regina Helena Pires , Ana Helena Januário","doi":"10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2026.113363","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2026.113363","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Physalis angulata</em> L. (Solanaceae) is widely recognized for its therapeutic applications in traditional medicine. This study evaluated the antifungal activity of <em>P. angulata</em> (PA) and the influence of red LED–mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) on planktonic cells and biofilms of <em>Candida albicans</em>, <em>Nakaseomyces glabratus</em>, and <em>Candida parapsilosis</em>. The withanolide 4β-hydroxywithanolide E was isolated from PA, and UPLC–MS analysis of the active fraction (PA-F) in negative ion mode revealed the predominance of eleven withanolides, including aglycone and glycosylated forms belonging to the 5β,6β-epoxide and 5-ene classes. The crude PA extract showed no antifungal activity (MIC >2000 μg/mL) against the tested strains, whereas PA-F exhibited a MIC of 250 μg/mL against <em>C. albicans</em> and 2000 μg/mL against <em>N. glabratus</em> and <em>C. parapsilosis</em>. Notably, exposure of yeast biofilms to PA-F (250 μg/mL) followed by red LED irradiation resulted in a pronounced reduction in viable cells, reaching 4.88 ± 0.12, 4.29 ± 0.15, and 4.16 ± 0.06 log₁₀ CFU/mL for <em>C. albicans, N. glabratus</em>, and <em>C. parapsilosis</em>, respectively, indicating fungicidal activity. These findings demonstrate a light-dependent enhancement of antifungal efficacy, supporting the potential of <em>P. angulata</em>–derived withanolide fractions as photo-responsive agents in antifungal photodynamic strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16772,"journal":{"name":"Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology","volume":"275 ","pages":"Article 113363"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145928577","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-07DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2026.113361
Kinga Böde , Krisztina Sebők-Nagy , Ondřej Dlouhý , Gábor Steinbach , Aleš Benda , Győző Garab , Tibor Páli
The lipid composition of thylakoid membranes (TMs), the site of light reactions in oxygenic photosynthetic organisms, is dominated by the non-bilayer lipid species monogalactosyldiacylglycerol. It has been documented that plant TMs display strong lipid polymorphisms (Garab et al. 2022 Prog Lipid Res 86:101163). Recently, we have also shown that BBY membrane sheets, large, laterally fused photosystem-II (PSII) enriched membrane pairs, beside the lamellar phase, contain an intense isotropic phase, the lipid molecules of which mediate the fusion of membranes (Böde et al. 2024 Photosynth Res 161:127–140). To demonstrate the composite nature of BBY, we employed confocal laser scanning microscopy, using the lipid-label BODIPY-phosphatydilcholine and chlorophyll-a fluorescence emissions. To characterize the physico-chemical microenvironments of lipid molecules, we stained BBY membranes with the hydrophobic fluorescent dye DPH (1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene). DPH emission spectra from face- and edge-aligned BBY membranes indicated the existence of at least two distinct microenvironments. Fluorescence lifetime analyses revealed three components; the fastest one was sensitive to the enzymatic treatment with wheat germ lipase (WGL), which had earlier been shown to selectively eliminate the isotropic lipid phase of BBY and to disassemble the large sheets into its constituent membrane pairs of grana. Although the anisotropic fluorescence decay kinetics discerned no lifetime heterogeneity of the untreated DPH-stained BBY, WGL treatment led to the appearance of a second lifetime component. These data provide independent experimental evidence on the lipid polymorphism of BBY membranes and reveal that the bilayer lipids and the non-bilayer lipid arrays mediating the fusion of TMs possess distinct physico-chemical environments.
类囊体膜（TMs）是含氧光合生物光反应的场所，其脂质组成主要由非双层脂质物质单半乳糖二酰基甘油组成。有文献表明，植物TMs显示出强烈的脂质多态性（Garab et al. 2022 Prog脂质Res 86:101163）。最近，我们也发现了BBY膜片，大的，侧向融合的光系统ii （PSII）富集膜对，除了片层相，包含一个强烈的各向同性相，脂质分子介导膜的融合（Böde et al. 2024 Photosynth Res 161:127-140）。为了证明BBY的复合性质，我们使用共聚焦激光扫描显微镜，使用脂质标记bodipy -磷脂二胆碱和叶绿素-a荧光发射。为了表征脂质分子的物理化学微环境，我们用疏水荧光染料DPH（1,6-二苯基-1,3,5-己三烯）对BBY膜进行了染色。正面排列和边缘排列的BBY膜的DPH发射光谱表明至少存在两种不同的微环境。荧光寿命分析揭示了三个组成部分；速度最快的一种对小麦胚芽脂肪酶（WGL）的酶处理敏感，该酶可以选择性地消除BBY的各向同性脂相，并将其大片分解成其组成膜对。虽然各向异性荧光衰减动力学发现未处理的dph染色的BBY没有寿命异质性，但WGL处理导致了第二寿命成分的出现。这些数据为BBY膜脂质多态性提供了独立的实验证据，揭示了介导TMs融合的双层脂质和非双层脂质阵列具有不同的物理化学环境。
{"title":"Lipid assemblies mediating the fusion of photosystem-II enriched membranes characterized by DPH (1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene) fluorescence and fluorescence anisotropy lifetimes","authors":"Kinga Böde , Krisztina Sebők-Nagy , Ondřej Dlouhý , Gábor Steinbach , Aleš Benda , Győző Garab , Tibor Páli","doi":"10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2026.113361","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2026.113361","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The lipid composition of thylakoid membranes (TMs), the site of light reactions in oxygenic photosynthetic organisms, is dominated by the non-bilayer lipid species monogalactosyldiacylglycerol. It has been documented that plant TMs display strong lipid polymorphisms (Garab et al. 2022 Prog Lipid Res 86:101163). Recently, we have also shown that BBY membrane sheets, large, laterally fused photosystem-II (PSII) enriched membrane pairs, beside the lamellar phase, contain an intense isotropic phase, the lipid molecules of which mediate the fusion of membranes (Böde et al. 2024 Photosynth Res 161:127–140). To demonstrate the composite nature of BBY, we employed confocal laser scanning microscopy, using the lipid-label BODIPY-phosphatydilcholine and chlorophyll-a fluorescence emissions. To characterize the physico-chemical microenvironments of lipid molecules, we stained BBY membranes with the hydrophobic fluorescent dye DPH (1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene). DPH emission spectra from face- and edge-aligned BBY membranes indicated the existence of at least two distinct microenvironments. Fluorescence lifetime analyses revealed three components; the fastest one was sensitive to the enzymatic treatment with wheat germ lipase (WGL), which had earlier been shown to selectively eliminate the isotropic lipid phase of BBY and to disassemble the large sheets into its constituent membrane pairs of grana. Although the anisotropic fluorescence decay kinetics discerned no lifetime heterogeneity of the untreated DPH-stained BBY, WGL treatment led to the appearance of a second lifetime component. These data provide independent experimental evidence on the lipid polymorphism of BBY membranes and reveal that the bilayer lipids and the non-bilayer lipid arrays mediating the fusion of TMs possess distinct physico-chemical environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16772,"journal":{"name":"Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology","volume":"275 ","pages":"Article 113361"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145979922","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-05DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2026.113354
Mukaddes Özçeşmeci , Seyma Isik , Taylan Samsunlu , Ekrem Kaplan , Göknur Yaşa Atmaca , Ayfer Kalkan Burat , Ali Erdoğmuş , Muge Serhatli , Esin Hamuryudan
This study reports the synthesis and characterization of an asymmetric zinc(II) phthalocyanine (5) containing three tetraethyleneglycol monomethyl ether groups and one isothiocyanatophenoxy group at its periphery. The isothiocyanate unit was selected to ensure selective bioconjugation under mild reaction conditions and to reduce side product formation, while tetraethyleneglycol monomethyl ether groups were incorporated to increase solubility and tailor photophysical and photochemical properties relevant to photodynamic therapy applications. The compound showed a singlet oxygen quantum yield (ΦΔ) of 0.38, confirming efficient photosensitizer performance. Photodynamic activity was evaluated across multiple cancer cell lines in both 2D monolayer and 3D spheroid cultures. In 2D models, compound 5 produced pronounced light-dependent cytotoxicity accompanied by increased intracellular ROS. Cell-death profiles varied among cancer types, with FaDu cells showing the highest sensitivity under the tested conditions, consistent with differences in cellular susceptibility to compound 5–mediated PDT. In 3D spheroids, efficacy was reduced, in line with known limitations of PDT in compact tumor-like structures, including restricted light propagation, oxygen gradients, and limited compound penetration. Minimal phototoxicity in non-malignant fibroblasts under the same conditions suggests preferential photodynamic activity in the tested cancer models. Overall, these results support the PDT potential of compound 5 and highlight the influence of cellular context and 3D architecture on treatment responses.
{"title":"PEGylated isothiocyanate-functionalized zinc(II) phthalocyanine exhibits cell-type dependent photodynamic activity in 2D and 3D tumor models","authors":"Mukaddes Özçeşmeci , Seyma Isik , Taylan Samsunlu , Ekrem Kaplan , Göknur Yaşa Atmaca , Ayfer Kalkan Burat , Ali Erdoğmuş , Muge Serhatli , Esin Hamuryudan","doi":"10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2026.113354","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2026.113354","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study reports the synthesis and characterization of an asymmetric zinc(II) phthalocyanine (<strong>5</strong>) containing three tetraethyleneglycol monomethyl ether groups and one isothiocyanatophenoxy group at its periphery. The isothiocyanate unit was selected to ensure selective bioconjugation under mild reaction conditions and to reduce side product formation, while tetraethyleneglycol monomethyl ether groups were incorporated to increase solubility and tailor photophysical and photochemical properties relevant to photodynamic therapy applications. The compound showed a singlet oxygen quantum yield (Φ<sub>Δ</sub>) of 0.38, confirming efficient photosensitizer performance. Photodynamic activity was evaluated across multiple cancer cell lines in both 2D monolayer and 3D spheroid cultures. In 2D models, compound 5 produced pronounced light-dependent cytotoxicity accompanied by increased intracellular ROS. Cell-death profiles varied among cancer types, with FaDu cells showing the highest sensitivity under the tested conditions, consistent with differences in cellular susceptibility to compound 5–mediated PDT. In 3D spheroids, efficacy was reduced, in line with known limitations of PDT in compact tumor-like structures, including restricted light propagation, oxygen gradients, and limited compound penetration. Minimal phototoxicity in non-malignant fibroblasts under the same conditions suggests preferential photodynamic activity in the tested cancer models. Overall, these results support the PDT potential of compound 5 and highlight the influence of cellular context and 3D architecture on treatment responses.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16772,"journal":{"name":"Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology","volume":"275 ","pages":"Article 113354"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145928576","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-03DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2025.113352
Jiaqi Zhang , Xueli Jia , Qitian Fu , Xiaofeng Bai , Jun Wang , Yi Qin , Jie Yang , Fengwei Qi , Yao Pan
Background
Skin aging arises from both intrinsic processes and extrinsic factors, with ultraviolet (UV) radiation being the primary extrinsic cause of photoaging. However, the molecular mechanisms that differentiate these processes across the human lifespan remain incompletely characterized.
Objective
This study aimed to comprehensively compare the dynamic transcriptomic profiles of photoaged (neck, high UV exposure) and intrinsically aged (chest, low UV exposure) skin across three age groups (young, middle-aged, elderly), and to integrate these findings with biophysical skin measurements.
Methods
We performed transcriptomic analysis on skin biopsies from the neck and chest of 30 healthy female volunteers (n = 10 per age group). This was followed by differential gene expression, Gene Ontology (GO), and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses. The molecular findings were then correlated with an extensive panel of biophysical skin parameters assessing barrier function, elasticity, pigmentation, and microstructure.
Results
Photoaged neck skin exhibited accelerated age-dependent transcriptomic dysregulation, marked by enrichment in pathways related to DNA damage response (e.g., CHEK1), stress signaling (e.g., MAPK/STK3), metabolic reprogramming (e.g., AMPK/PPARG), and oncogenic transformation (e.g., WNT10B). A persistent pseudo-inflammatory state, mirrored by herpes simplex virus 1 infection pathway enrichment, was also observed. Notably, sirtuin expression (SIRT1, SIRT5) was severely depleted in photoaged skin, with SIRT1 specifically linked to attenuated AMPK signaling in middle age. In contrast, intrinsic aging in chest skin involved a more gradual decline in homeostatic processes like metabolism and immune vigilance. Comparative analysis further revealed UV-specific disruption in gap junction assembly and cytoskeletal organization, and in elderly skin, activation of pathways associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Finally, canonical correlation analysis (CCA) confirmed strong links between key gene expression patterns (e.g., FGFBP1 with erythema, CHEK1 with age) and clinical skin aging phenotypes.
Conclusion
Our study provides a high-resolution molecular map of human skin aging, demonstrating that UV radiation does not merely accelerate but fundamentally rewires the aging network, driving pathways distinct from intrinsic aging. Key identified drivers include sirtuin depletion, aberrant stress signaling, and a chronic pseudo-inflammatory response, offering novel targets for anti-photoaging interventions.
{"title":"Ultraviolet radiation reshapes the transcriptomic landscape of human skin aging: Insights from a multi-age comparative study","authors":"Jiaqi Zhang , Xueli Jia , Qitian Fu , Xiaofeng Bai , Jun Wang , Yi Qin , Jie Yang , Fengwei Qi , Yao Pan","doi":"10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2025.113352","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2025.113352","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Skin aging arises from both intrinsic processes and extrinsic factors, with ultraviolet (UV) radiation being the primary extrinsic cause of photoaging. However, the molecular mechanisms that differentiate these processes across the human lifespan remain incompletely characterized.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study aimed to comprehensively compare the dynamic transcriptomic profiles of photoaged (neck, high UV exposure) and intrinsically aged (chest, low UV exposure) skin across three age groups (young, middle-aged, elderly), and to integrate these findings with biophysical skin measurements.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We performed transcriptomic analysis on skin biopsies from the neck and chest of 30 healthy female volunteers (<em>n</em> = 10 per age group). This was followed by differential gene expression, Gene Ontology (GO), and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses. The molecular findings were then correlated with an extensive panel of biophysical skin parameters assessing barrier function, elasticity, pigmentation, and microstructure.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Photoaged neck skin exhibited accelerated age-dependent transcriptomic dysregulation, marked by enrichment in pathways related to DNA damage response (e.g., CHEK1), stress signaling (e.g., MAPK/STK3), metabolic reprogramming (e.g., AMPK/PPARG), and oncogenic transformation (e.g., WNT10B). A persistent pseudo-inflammatory state, mirrored by herpes simplex virus 1 infection pathway enrichment, was also observed. Notably, sirtuin expression (SIRT1, SIRT5) was severely depleted in photoaged skin, with SIRT1 specifically linked to attenuated AMPK signaling in middle age. In contrast, intrinsic aging in chest skin involved a more gradual decline in homeostatic processes like metabolism and immune vigilance. Comparative analysis further revealed UV-specific disruption in gap junction assembly and cytoskeletal organization, and in elderly skin, activation of pathways associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Finally, canonical correlation analysis (CCA) confirmed strong links between key gene expression patterns (e.g., FGFBP1 with erythema, CHEK1 with age) and clinical skin aging phenotypes.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Our study provides a high-resolution molecular map of human skin aging, demonstrating that UV radiation does not merely accelerate but fundamentally rewires the aging network, driving pathways distinct from intrinsic aging. Key identified drivers include sirtuin depletion, aberrant stress signaling, and a chronic pseudo-inflammatory response, offering novel targets for anti-photoaging interventions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16772,"journal":{"name":"Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology","volume":"275 ","pages":"Article 113352"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145897903","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2025.113344
Hao Yang , Lulu Chen , Yanmin Wang , Meimei Zhang , Yanru Fan , Yu Huang , Qipeng Zhao
Ectoine (2b), a derivative of diamino acids, is widely acknowledged for its solute compatibility and finds extensive application in the formulation of cleaning products and cosmetics. At present, the production of ectoine predominantly depends on costly biotechnological fermentation methods. This study explores a novel method for the chemical synthesis of ectoine and its derivatives (2a-2e), employing diamino acid derivatives as starting materials, which achieved an impressive maximum yield of 98.18 %. The biological activities of these compounds, encompassing antioxidant, skin-whitening, and UV-protective effects, were systematically assessed. The results indicate that compounds 2a and 2b demonstrate comparable skin-whitening, antioxidant, and UV-protect.
{"title":"Chemical synthesis and biological evaluation of Ectoine and its derivatives for skin-whitening, antioxidant, and UV-protective activities","authors":"Hao Yang , Lulu Chen , Yanmin Wang , Meimei Zhang , Yanru Fan , Yu Huang , Qipeng Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2025.113344","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2025.113344","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ectoine (<strong>2b</strong>), a derivative of diamino acids, is widely acknowledged for its solute compatibility and finds extensive application in the formulation of cleaning products and cosmetics. At present, the production of ectoine predominantly depends on costly biotechnological fermentation methods. This study explores a novel method for the chemical synthesis of ectoine and its derivatives (<strong>2a</strong>-<strong>2e</strong>), employing diamino acid derivatives as starting materials, which achieved an impressive maximum yield of 98.18 %. The biological activities of these compounds, encompassing antioxidant, skin-whitening, and UV-protective effects, were systematically assessed. The results indicate that compounds <strong>2a</strong> and <strong>2b</strong> demonstrate comparable skin-whitening, antioxidant, and UV-protect.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16772,"journal":{"name":"Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology","volume":"274 ","pages":"Article 113344"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145863214","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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