Journal Description
Metabolites
Metabolites
is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal of metabolism and metabolomics, published monthly online by MDPI.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SCIE (Web of Science), PubMed, PMC, Embase, CAPlus / SciFinder, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: JCR - Q2 (Biochemistry & Molecular Biology) / CiteScore - Q2 (Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism)
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 13.2 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 2.8 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2023).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
Impact Factor:
4.1 (2022);
5-Year Impact Factor:
4.5 (2022)
Latest Articles
Evaluating the Metabolomic Profile and Anti-Pathogenic Properties of Cannabis Species
Metabolites 2024, 14(5), 253; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14050253 - 26 Apr 2024
Abstract
The Cannabis species is one of the potent ancient medicinal plants acclaimed for its medicinal properties and recreational purposes. The plant parts are used and exploited all over the world for several agricultural and industrial applications. For many years Cannabis spp. has proven
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The Cannabis species is one of the potent ancient medicinal plants acclaimed for its medicinal properties and recreational purposes. The plant parts are used and exploited all over the world for several agricultural and industrial applications. For many years Cannabis spp. has proven to present a highly diverse metabolomic profile with a pool of bioactive metabolites used for numerous pharmacological purposes ranging from anti-inflammatory to antimicrobial. Cannabis sativa has since been an extensive subject of investigation, monopolizing the research. Hence, there are fewer studies with a comprehensive understanding of the composition of bioactive metabolites grown in different environmental conditions, especially C. indica and a few other Cannabis strains. These pharmacological properties are mostly attributed to a few phytocannabinoids and some phytochemicals such as terpenoids or essential oils which have been tested for antimicrobial properties. Many other discovered compounds are yet to be tested for antimicrobial properties. These phytochemicals have a series of useful properties including anti-insecticidal, anti-acaricidal, anti-nematicidal, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral properties. Research studies have reported excellent antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative multidrug-resistant bacteria as well as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Although there has been an extensive investigation on the antimicrobial properties of Cannabis, the antimicrobial properties of Cannabis on phytopathogens and aquatic animal pathogens, mostly those affecting fish, remain under-researched. Therefore, the current review intends to investigate the existing body of research on metabolomic profile and anti-microbial properties whilst trying to expand the scope of the properties of the Cannabis plant to benefit the health of other animal species and plant crops, particularly in agriculture.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolomics in Plant Natural Products Research)
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Nutritional Profiles and Their Links to Insulin Resistance and Anthropometric Variables in a Female Cohort
by
Katarzyna Wiśniewska-Ślepaczuk, Karolina Żak-Kowalska, Adrian Moskal, Sebastian Kowalski, Ahmed M. Al-Wathinani, Mousa Alhajlah, Krzysztof Goniewicz and Mariusz Goniewicz
Metabolites 2024, 14(5), 252; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14050252 - 26 Apr 2024
Abstract
This study investigates the relationship between dietary habits and metabolic health among women, emphasizing the role of anthropometric parameters as proxies for insulin resistance. We analyzed data from 443 women categorized into two groups based on the presence or absence of clinically diagnosed
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This study investigates the relationship between dietary habits and metabolic health among women, emphasizing the role of anthropometric parameters as proxies for insulin resistance. We analyzed data from 443 women categorized into two groups based on the presence or absence of clinically diagnosed insulin resistance. Our assessments included dietary quality, socio-demographic characteristics, and a series of anthropometric measurements such as body weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR), Abdominal Volume Index (AVI), and Body Adiposity Index (BAI). The results indicated significant disparities in these parameters, with the insulin-resistant group exhibiting higher average body weight (78.92 kg vs. 65.04 kg, p < 0.001), BMI (28.45 kg/m2 vs. 23.17 kg/m2, p < 0.001), and other related measures, suggesting a strong influence of dietary patterns on body composition and metabolic risk. The study underscores the importance of dietary management in addressing insulin resistance, advocating for personalized dietary strategies to improve metabolic health outcomes in women. This approach highlights the need for integrating dietary changes with lifestyle modifications and socio-demographic considerations to combat metabolic risks effectively.
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Open AccessArticle
Zonal Chemical Signal Pathways Mediating Floral Induction in Apple
by
Priyanka Reddy, Tim Plozza, Alessio Scalisi, Vilnis Ezernieks, Ian Goodwin and Simone Rochfort
Metabolites 2024, 14(5), 251; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14050251 - 25 Apr 2024
Abstract
Phytohormones that trigger or repress flower meristem development in apple buds are thought to be locally emitted from adjacent plant tissues, including leaves and fruitlets. The presence of fruitlets is known to inhibit adjacent buds from forming flowers and thus fruits. The resulting
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Phytohormones that trigger or repress flower meristem development in apple buds are thought to be locally emitted from adjacent plant tissues, including leaves and fruitlets. The presence of fruitlets is known to inhibit adjacent buds from forming flowers and thus fruits. The resulting absence of fruitlets the following season restores flower-promoting signalling to the new buds. The cycle can lead to a biennial bearing behaviour of alternating crop loads in a branch or tree. The hormonal stimuli that elicit flowering is typically referred to as the floral induction (FI) phase in bud meristem development. To determine the metabolic pathways activated in FI, young trees of the cultivar ‘Ruby Matilda’ were subjected to zonal crop load treatments imposed to two leaders of bi-axis trees in the 2020/2021 season. Buds were collected over the expected FI phase, which is within 60 DAFB. Metabolomics profiling was undertaken to determine the differentially expressed pathways and key signalling molecules associated with FI in the leader and at tree level. Pronounced metabolic differences were observed in trees and leaders with high return bloom with significant increases in compounds belonging to the cytokinin, abscisic acid (ABA), phenylpropanoid and flavanol chemical classes. The presence of cytokinins, namely adenosine, inosine and related derivatives, as well as ABA phytohormones, provides further insight into the chemical intervention opportunities for future crop load management strategies via plant growth regulators.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extraction, Characterization, Chemical Composition and Biological Activity of Natural Metabolites)
Open AccessArticle
Alterations in Plasma Lipid Profile before and after Surgical Removal of Soft Tissue Sarcoma
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Jae-Hwa Lee, Mi-Ri Gwon, Jeung-Il Kim, Seung-young Hwang, Sook-Jin Seong, Young-Ran Yoon, Myungsoo Kim and Hyojeong Kim
Metabolites 2024, 14(5), 250; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14050250 - 25 Apr 2024
Abstract
Soft tissue sarcoma (STS) is a relatively rare malignancy, accounting for about 1% of all adult cancers. It is known to have more than 70 subtypes. Its rarity, coupled with its various subtypes, makes early diagnosis challenging. The current standard treatment for STS
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Soft tissue sarcoma (STS) is a relatively rare malignancy, accounting for about 1% of all adult cancers. It is known to have more than 70 subtypes. Its rarity, coupled with its various subtypes, makes early diagnosis challenging. The current standard treatment for STS is surgical removal. To identify the prognosis and pathophysiology of STS, we conducted untargeted metabolic profiling on pre-operative and post-operative plasma samples from 24 STS patients who underwent surgical tumor removal. Profiling was conducted using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight/mass spectrometry. Thirty-nine putative metabolites, including phospholipids and acyl-carnitines were identified, indicating changes in lipid metabolism. Phospholipids exhibited an increase in the post-operative samples, while acyl-carnitines showed a decrease. Notably, the levels of pre-operative lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) O-18:0 and LPC O-16:2 were significantly lower in patients who experienced recurrence after surgery compared to those who did not. Metabolic profiling may identify aggressive tumors that are susceptible to lipid synthase inhibitors. We believe that these findings could contribute to the elucidation of the pathophysiology of STS and the development of further metabolic studies in this rare malignancy.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Endocrinology and Clinical Metabolic Research)
Open AccessReview
Metabolic Roles of HIF1, c-Myc, and p53 in Glioma Cells
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Cristina Trejo-Solís, Rosa Angélica Castillo-Rodríguez, Norma Serrano-García, Daniela Silva-Adaya, Salvador Vargas-Cruz, Elda Georgina Chávez-Cortéz, Juan Carlos Gallardo-Pérez, Sergio Zavala-Vega, Arturo Cruz-Salgado and Roxana Magaña-Maldonado
Metabolites 2024, 14(5), 249; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14050249 - 25 Apr 2024
Abstract
The metabolic reprogramming that promotes tumorigenesis in glioblastoma is induced by dynamic alterations in the hypoxic tumor microenvironment, as well as in transcriptional and signaling networks, which result in changes in global genetic expression. The signaling pathways PI3K/AKT/mTOR and RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK stimulate cell metabolism,
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The metabolic reprogramming that promotes tumorigenesis in glioblastoma is induced by dynamic alterations in the hypoxic tumor microenvironment, as well as in transcriptional and signaling networks, which result in changes in global genetic expression. The signaling pathways PI3K/AKT/mTOR and RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK stimulate cell metabolism, either directly or indirectly, by modulating the transcriptional factors p53, HIF1, and c-Myc. The overexpression of HIF1 and c-Myc, master regulators of cellular metabolism, is a key contributor to the synthesis of bioenergetic molecules that mediate glioma cell transformation, proliferation, survival, migration, and invasion by modifying the transcription levels of key gene groups involved in metabolism. Meanwhile, the tumor-suppressing protein p53, which negatively regulates HIF1 and c-Myc, is often lost in glioblastoma. Alterations in this triad of transcriptional factors induce a metabolic shift in glioma cells that allows them to adapt and survive changes such as mutations, hypoxia, acidosis, the presence of reactive oxygen species, and nutrient deprivation, by modulating the activity and expression of signaling molecules, enzymes, metabolites, transporters, and regulators involved in glycolysis and glutamine metabolism, the pentose phosphate cycle, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation, as well as the synthesis and degradation of fatty acids and nucleic acids. This review summarizes our current knowledge on the role of HIF1, c-Myc, and p53 in the genic regulatory network for metabolism in glioma cells, as well as potential therapeutic inhibitors of these factors.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Cancer Cell Metabolism (2nd Edition))
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The Metabolic and Lipidomic Fingerprint of Torin1 Exposure in Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts Using Untargeted Metabolomics
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Rani Robeyns, Angela Sisto, Elias Iturrospe, Katyeny Manuela da Silva, Maria van de Lavoir, Vincent Timmerman, Adrian Covaci, Sigrid Stroobants and Alexander L. N. van Nuijs
Metabolites 2024, 14(5), 248; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14050248 - 25 Apr 2024
Abstract
Torin1, a selective kinase inhibitor targeting the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), remains widely used in autophagy research due to its potent autophagy-inducing abilities, regardless of its unspecific properties. Recognizing the impact of mTOR inhibition on metabolism, our objective was to develop a
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Torin1, a selective kinase inhibitor targeting the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), remains widely used in autophagy research due to its potent autophagy-inducing abilities, regardless of its unspecific properties. Recognizing the impact of mTOR inhibition on metabolism, our objective was to develop a reliable and thorough untargeted metabolomics workflow to study torin1-induced metabolic changes in mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cells. Crucially, our quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) protocols were designed to increase confidence in the reported findings by reducing the likelihood of false positives, including a validation experiment replicating all experimental steps from sample preparation to data analysis. This study investigated the metabolic fingerprint of torin1 exposure by using liquid chromatography—high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS)-based untargeted metabolomics platforms. Our workflow identified 67 altered metabolites after torin1 exposure, combining univariate and multivariate statistics and the implementation of a validation experiment. In particular, intracellular ceramides, diglycerides, phosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylethanolamines, glutathione, and 5′-methylthioadenosine were downregulated. Lyso-phosphatidylcholines, lyso-phosphatidylethanolamines, glycerophosphocholine, triglycerides, inosine, and hypoxanthine were upregulated. Further biochemical pathway analyses provided deeper insights into the reported changes. Ultimately, our study provides a valuable workflow that can be implemented for future investigations into the effects of other compounds, including more specific autophagy modulators.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mass Spectrometry-Based Metabolomics and Lipidomics for Biomarker Discovery and Drug Development)
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Open AccessArticle
Salivary Tryptophan as a Metabolic Marker of HER2-Negative Molecular Subtypes of Breast Cancer
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Elena A. Sarf, Elena I. Dyachenko and Lyudmila V. Bel’skaya
Metabolites 2024, 14(5), 247; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14050247 - 25 Apr 2024
Abstract
Changes in the concentration of tryptophan (Trp) indicate a serious metabolic restructuring, which is both a cause and a consequence of many diseases. This work examines the upward change in salivary Trp concentrations among patients with breast cancer. This study involved volunteers divided
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Changes in the concentration of tryptophan (Trp) indicate a serious metabolic restructuring, which is both a cause and a consequence of many diseases. This work examines the upward change in salivary Trp concentrations among patients with breast cancer. This study involved volunteers divided into three groups: breast cancer (n = 104), non-malignant breast pathologies (n = 30) and healthy controls (n = 20). In all participants, before treatment, the quantitative content of Trp in saliva was determined by capillary electrophoresis. In 20 patients with breast cancer, Trp was re-tested four weeks after surgical removal of the tumor. An increase in the Trp content in saliva in breast cancer has been shown, which statistically significantly decreases after surgical removal of the tumor. A direct correlation was found between increased Trp levels with the degree of malignancy and aggressive molecular subtypes of breast cancer, namely triple negative and luminal B-like HER2-negative. These conclusions were based on an increase in Ki-67 and an increase in Trp in HER2-negative and progesterone-negative subtypes. Factors under which an increase in Trp concentration in saliva was observed were identified: advanced stage of breast cancer, the presence of regional metastasis, low tumor differentiation, a lack of expression of HER2, estrogen and progesterone receptors and the high proliferative activity of the tumor. Thus, the determination of salivary Trp may be a valuable tool in the study of metabolic changes associated with cancer, particularly breast cancer.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Salivary Metabolomics for Oral and Systemic Diseases)
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Open AccessArticle
Direct Infusion Mass Spectrometry to Rapidly Map Metabolic Flux of Substrates Labeled with Stable Isotopes
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Nils W. F. Meijer, Susan Zwakenberg, Johan Gerrits, Denise Westland, Arif I. Ardisasmita, Sabine A. Fuchs, Nanda M. Verhoeven-Duif, Judith J. M. Jans and Fried J. T. Zwartkruis
Metabolites 2024, 14(5), 246; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14050246 - 25 Apr 2024
Abstract
Direct infusion–high-resolution mass spectrometry (DI-HRMS) allows for rapid profiling of complex mixtures of metabolites in blood, cerebrospinal fluid, tissue samples and cultured cells. Here, we present a DI-HRMS method suitable for the rapid determination of metabolic fluxes of isotopically labeled substrates in cultured
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Direct infusion–high-resolution mass spectrometry (DI-HRMS) allows for rapid profiling of complex mixtures of metabolites in blood, cerebrospinal fluid, tissue samples and cultured cells. Here, we present a DI-HRMS method suitable for the rapid determination of metabolic fluxes of isotopically labeled substrates in cultured cells and organoids. We adapted an automated annotation pipeline by selecting labeled adducts that best represent the majority of 13C and/or 15N-labeled glycolytic and tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates as well as a number of their derivatives. Furthermore, valine, leucine and several of their degradation products were included. We show that DI-HRMS can determine anticipated and unanticipated alterations in metabolic fluxes along these pathways that result from the genetic alteration of single metabolic enzymes, including pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDHA1) and glutaminase (GLS). In addition, it can precisely pinpoint metabolic adaptations to the loss of methylmalonyl-CoA mutase in patient-derived liver organoids. Our results highlight the power of DI-HRMS in combination with stable isotopically labeled compounds as an efficient screening method for fluxomics.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Metabolic Profiling of Biological Samples 2nd Edition)
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Open AccessArticle
Genetic Upregulation of Activated Protein C Mitigates Delayed Effects of Acute Radiation Exposure in the Mouse Plasma
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Shivani Bansal, Yaoxiang Li, Sunil Bansal, William Klotzbier, Baldev Singh, Meth Jayatilake, Vijayalakshmi Sridharan, José A. Fernández, John H. Griffin, Hartmut Weiler, Marjan Boerma and Amrita K. Cheema
Metabolites 2024, 14(5), 245; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14050245 - 24 Apr 2024
Abstract
Exposure to ionizing radiation, accidental or intentional, may lead to delayed effects of acute radiation exposure (DEARE) that manifest as injury to organ systems, including the kidney, heart, and brain. This study examines the role of activated protein C (APC), a known mitigator
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Exposure to ionizing radiation, accidental or intentional, may lead to delayed effects of acute radiation exposure (DEARE) that manifest as injury to organ systems, including the kidney, heart, and brain. This study examines the role of activated protein C (APC), a known mitigator of radiation-induced early toxicity, in long-term plasma metabolite and lipid panels that may be associated with DEARE in APCHi mice. The APCHi mouse model used in the study was developed in a C57BL/6N background, expressing the D168F/N173K mouse analog of the hyper-activatable human D167F/D172K protein C variant. This modification enables increased circulating APC levels throughout the mouse’s lifetime. Male and female cohorts of C57BL/6N wild-type and APCHi transgenic mice were exposed to 9.5 Gy γ-rays with their hind legs shielded to allow long-term survival that is necessary to monitor DEARE, and plasma was collected at 6 months for LC-MS-based metabolomics and lipidomics. We observed significant dyslipidemia, indicative of inflammatory phenotype, upon radiation exposure. Additionally, observance of several other metabolic dysregulations was suggestive of gut damage, perturbations in TriCarboxylic Acid (TCA) and urea cycles, and arginine metabolism. We also observed gender- and genotype-modulated metabolic perturbations post radiation exposure. The APCHi mice showed near-normal abundance for several lipids. Moreover, restoration of plasma levels of some metabolites, including amino acids, citric acid, and hypoxanthine, in APCHi mice is indicative of APC-mediated protection from radiation injuries. With the help of these findings, the role of APC in plasma molecular events after acute γ-radiation exposure in a gender-specific manner can be established for the first time.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges and Opportunities in Application of Mass Spectrometry for Metabolomics and Lipidomics)
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Transcriptomic and Lipidomic Analysis Reveals Complex Regulation Mechanisms Underlying Rice Roots’ Response to Salt Stress
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Yingbin Xue, Chenyu Zhou, Naijie Feng, Dianfeng Zheng, Xuefeng Shen, Gangshun Rao, Yongxiang Huang, Wangxiao Cai, Ying Liu and Rui Zhang
Metabolites 2024, 14(4), 244; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14040244 - 21 Apr 2024
Abstract
Rice (Oryza sativa L.), a crucial food crop that sustains over half the world’s population, is often hindered by salt stress during various growth stages, ultimately causing a decrease in yield. However, the specific mechanism of rice roots’ response to salt stress
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Rice (Oryza sativa L.), a crucial food crop that sustains over half the world’s population, is often hindered by salt stress during various growth stages, ultimately causing a decrease in yield. However, the specific mechanism of rice roots’ response to salt stress remains largely unknown. In this study, transcriptomics and lipidomics were used to analyze the changes in the lipid metabolism and gene expression profiles of rice roots in response to salt stress. The results showed that salt stress significantly inhibited rice roots’ growth and increased the roots’ MDA content. Furthermore, 1286 differentially expressed genes including 526 upregulated and 760 downregulated, were identified as responding to salt stress in rice roots. The lipidomic analysis revealed that the composition and unsaturation of membrane lipids were significantly altered. In total, 249 lipid molecules were differentially accumulated in rice roots as a response to salt stress. And most of the major phospholipids, such as phosphatidic acid (PA), phosphatidylcholine (PC), and phosphatidylserine (PS), as well as major sphingolipids including ceramide (Cer), phytoceramide (CerP), monohexose ceramide (Hex1Cer), and sphingosine (SPH), were significantly increased, while the triglyceride (TG) molecules decreased. These results suggested that rice roots mitigate salt stress by altering the fluidity and integrity of cell membranes. This study enhances our comprehension of salt stress, offering valuable insights into changes in the lipids and adaptive lipid remodeling in rice’s response to salt stress.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolic Responses of Plants to Abiotic Stress)
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A Data-Driven Approach to Sugarcane Breeding Programs with Agronomic Characteristics and Amino Acid Constituent Profiling
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Chiaki Ishikawa, Yasuhiro Date, Makoto Umeda, Yusuke Tarumoto, Megumi Okubo, Yasujiro Morimitsu, Yasuaki Tamura, Yoichi Nishiba and Hiroshi Ono
Metabolites 2024, 14(4), 243; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14040243 - 21 Apr 2024
Abstract
Sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrids) and its processed products have supported local industries such as those in the Nansei Islands, Japan. To improve the sugarcane quality and productivity, breeders select better clones by evaluating agronomic characteristics, such as commercially recoverable sugar and cane
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Sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrids) and its processed products have supported local industries such as those in the Nansei Islands, Japan. To improve the sugarcane quality and productivity, breeders select better clones by evaluating agronomic characteristics, such as commercially recoverable sugar and cane yield. However, other constituents in sugarcane remain largely unutilized in sugarcane breeding programs. This study aims to establish a data-driven approach to analyze agronomic characteristics from breeding programs. This approach also determines a correlation between agronomic characteristics and free amino acid composition to make breeding programs more efficient. Sugarcane was sampled in clones in the later stage of breeding selection and cultivars from experimental fields on Tanegashima Island. Principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis using agronomic characteristics revealed the diversity and variability of each sample, and the data-driven approach classified cultivars and clones into three groups based on yield type. A comparison of free amino acid constituents between these groups revealed significant differences in amino acids such as asparagine and glutamine. This approach dealing with a large volume of data on agronomic characteristics will be useful for assessing the characteristics of potential clones under selection and accelerating breeding programs.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolomic Technology in Quality and Safety of Agricultural Products and Foods)
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Open AccessArticle
Widely Targeted Metabolomic Analysis Provides New Insights into the Effect of Rootstocks on Citrus Fruit Quality
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Min Wang, Yang Chen, Shuang Li, Jianjun Yu, Lei Yang and Lin Hong
Metabolites 2024, 14(4), 242; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14040242 - 21 Apr 2024
Abstract
The use of different rootstocks has a significant effect on the content of flavor components and overall fruit quality. However, little information is available about the metabolic basis of the nutritional value of citrus plants. In this study, UPLC-MS/MS (ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass
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The use of different rootstocks has a significant effect on the content of flavor components and overall fruit quality. However, little information is available about the metabolic basis of the nutritional value of citrus plants. In this study, UPLC-MS/MS (ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry) was performed to analyze the metabolites of three late-maturing hybrid mandarin varieties (‘Gold Nugget’, ‘Tango’ and ‘Orah’) grafted on four rootstocks (‘Trifoliate orange’, ‘Carrizo citrange’, ‘Red tangerine’ and ‘Ziyang Xiangcheng’). A total of 1006 metabolites were identified through OPLS-DA (Orthogonal Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis) analysis. KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) analysis revealed the most critical pathways among the different pathways associated with genes grafted on the four rootstocks that were differentially activated, including tryptophan metabolism and sphingolipid metabolism in ‘Gold Nugget’; tryptophan metabolism, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and sphingolipid metabolism in ‘Tango’; and pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis- and photosynthesis-related biosynthesis in ‘Orah’. A considerable difference between the different rootstocks was also observed in the accumulation of lipids, phenolic acids and flavonoids; further analysis revealed that the rootstocks regulated specific metabolites, including deacetylnomylinic acid, sudachinoid A, amoenin evodol, rutaevin, cyclo (phenylalanine-glutamic acid), cyclo (proline-phenylalanine), 2-hydroxyisocaproic acid, and 2-hydroxy-3-phenylpropanoic acid. The results of this study provide a useful foundation for further investigation of rootstock selection for late-maturation hybrid mandarin varieties.
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(This article belongs to the Section Plant Metabolism)
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Salicylic Acid and Water Stress: Effects on Morphophysiology and Essential Oil Profile of Eryngium foetidum
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Sabrina Kelly dos Santos, Daniel da Silva Gomes, Vanessa de Azevedo Soares, Estephanni Fernanda Oliveira Dantas, Ana Flávia Pellegrini de Oliveira, Moises Henrique Almeida Gusmão, Elyabe Monteiro de Matos, Tancredo Souza, Lyderson Facio Viccini, Richard Michael Grazul, Juliane Maciel Henschel and Diego Silva Batista
Metabolites 2024, 14(4), 241; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14040241 - 21 Apr 2024
Abstract
The exogenous application of bioregulators, such as salicylic acid (SA), has exhibited promising outcomes in alleviating drought stress. Nevertheless, its impact on culantro (Eryngium foetidum L.) remains unexplored. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess how SA impacts the growth,
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The exogenous application of bioregulators, such as salicylic acid (SA), has exhibited promising outcomes in alleviating drought stress. Nevertheless, its impact on culantro (Eryngium foetidum L.) remains unexplored. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess how SA impacts the growth, morphophysiology, and essential oil composition of culantro when subjected to drought. To achieve this, culantro plants were grown under three different watering regimes: well-watered, drought-stressed, and re-watered. Additionally, they were either treated with SA (100 µM) or left untreated, with water serving as the control. SA application did not mitigate the effects of drought in biomass production but increased biomass, leaf number, leaf area, and photosynthetic pigments under well-irrigated and re-watered conditions. After a drought period followed by re-watering, plants recovered membrane integrity independently of SA application. Water stress and the exogenous application of SA also modulated the profile of essential oils. This is the first report about SA and drought affecting growth and essential oil composition in culantro.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolic Responses of Plants to Abiotic Stress)
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Comparative Lipidomics of Oral Commensal and Opportunistic Bacteria
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Paul L. Wood, Annie Le and Dominic L. Palazzolo
Metabolites 2024, 14(4), 240; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14040240 - 20 Apr 2024
Abstract
The oral cavity contains a vast array of microbes that contribute to the balance between oral health and disease. In addition, oral bacteria can gain access to the circulation and contribute to other diseases and chronic conditions. There are a limited number of
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The oral cavity contains a vast array of microbes that contribute to the balance between oral health and disease. In addition, oral bacteria can gain access to the circulation and contribute to other diseases and chronic conditions. There are a limited number of publications available regarding the comparative lipidomics of oral bacteria and fungi involved in the construction of oral biofilms, hence our decision to study the lipidomics of representative oral bacteria and a fungus. We performed high-resolution mass spectrometric analyses (<2.0 ppm mass error) of the lipidomes from five Gram-positive commensal bacteria: Streptococcus oralis, Streptococcus intermedius, Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus sanguinis, and Streptococcus gordonii; five Gram-positive opportunistic bacteria: Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus epidermis, Streptococcus acidominimus, Actinomyces viscosus, and Nanosynbacter lyticus; seven Gram-negative opportunistic bacteria: Porphyromonas gingivalis. Prevotella brevis, Proteus vulgaris, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Veillonella parvula, Treponema denticola, and Alkermansia muciniphila; and one fungus: Candida albicans. Our mass spectrometric analytical platform allowed for a detailed evaluation of the many structural modifications made by microbes for the three major lipid scaffolds: glycerol, sphingosine and fatty acyls of hydroxy fatty acids (FAHFAs).
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lipidomics in Health and Disease)
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HMOs Impact the Gut Microbiome of Children and Adults Starting from Low Predicted Daily Doses
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Danica Bajic, Frank Wiens, Eva Wintergerst, Stef Deyaert, Aurélien Baudot and Pieter Van den Abbeele
Metabolites 2024, 14(4), 239; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14040239 - 20 Apr 2024
Abstract
Recent studies suggest that the dietary intake of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) provides health benefits from infancy up to adulthood. Thus far, beneficial changes in the adult gut microbiome have been observed at oral doses of 5–20 g/day of HMOs. Efficacy of lower
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Recent studies suggest that the dietary intake of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) provides health benefits from infancy up to adulthood. Thus far, beneficial changes in the adult gut microbiome have been observed at oral doses of 5–20 g/day of HMOs. Efficacy of lower doses has rarely been tested. We assessed four HMO molecular species—2′Fucosyllactose (2′FL), Lacto-N-neotetraose (LNnT), 3′Sialyllactose (3′SL), and 6′Sialyllactose (6′SL)—at predicted doses from 0.3 to 5 g/day for 6-year-old children and adults (n = 6 each), using ex vivo SIFR® technology (Cryptobiotix, Ghent, Belgium). This technology employing bioreactor fermentation on fecal samples enables us to investigate microbial fermentation products that are intractable in vivo given their rapid absorption/consumption in the human gut. We found that HMOs significantly increased short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), acetate, propionate (in children/adults), and butyrate (in adults) from predicted doses of 0.3–0.5 g/day onwards, with stronger effects as dosing increased. The fermentation of 6′SL had the greatest effect on propionate, LNnT most strongly increased butyrate, and 2′FL and 3′SL most strongly increased acetate. An untargeted metabolomic analysis revealed that HMOs enhanced immune-related metabolites beyond SCFAs, such as aromatic lactic acids (indole-3-lactic acid/3-phenyllactic acid) and 2-hydroxyisocaproic acid, as well as gut–brain-axis-related metabolites (γ-aminobutyric acid/3-hydroxybutyric acid/acetylcholine) and vitamins. The effects of low doses of HMOs potentially originate from the highly specific stimulation of keystone species belonging to, for example, the Bifidobacteriaceae family, which had already significantly increased at doses of only 0.5 g/day LNnT (adults) and 1 g/day 2′FL (children/adults).
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Metabolomics and Techniques for Metabolic Disorders in Intestinal Microbiota)
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Open AccessArticle
Anaplerotic Therapy Using Triheptanoin in Two Brothers Suffering from Aconitase 2 Deficiency
by
Maximilian Penkl, Johannes A. Mayr, René G. Feichtinger, Ralf Reilmann, Otfried Debus, Manfred Fobker, Anja Penkl, Janine Reunert, Stephan Rust and Thorsten Marquardt
Metabolites 2024, 14(4), 238; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14040238 - 20 Apr 2024
Abstract
Citric acid cycle deficiencies are extremely rare due to their central role in energy metabolism. The ACO2 gene encodes the mitochondrial isoform of aconitase (aconitase 2), the second enzyme of the citric acid cycle. Approximately 100 patients with aconitase 2 deficiency have been
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Citric acid cycle deficiencies are extremely rare due to their central role in energy metabolism. The ACO2 gene encodes the mitochondrial isoform of aconitase (aconitase 2), the second enzyme of the citric acid cycle. Approximately 100 patients with aconitase 2 deficiency have been reported with a variety of symptoms, including intellectual disability, hypotonia, optic nerve atrophy, cortical atrophy, cerebellar atrophy, and seizures. In this study, a homozygous deletion in the ACO2 gene in two brothers with reduced aconitase 2 activity in fibroblasts has been described with symptoms including truncal hypotonia, optic atrophy, hyperopia, astigmatism, and cerebellar atrophy. In an in vivo trial, triheptanoin was used to bypass the defective aconitase 2 and fill up the citric acid cycle. Motor abilities in both patients improved.
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(This article belongs to the Topic Bioactive Compounds and Therapeutics: Molecular Aspects, Metabolic Profiles, and Omics Studies)
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Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry as a Tool for the Untargeted Study of Hop and Their Metabolites
by
Glaucimar A. P. Resende, Michelle S. S. Amaral, Bruno G. Botelho and Philip J. Marriott
Metabolites 2024, 14(4), 237; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14040237 - 19 Apr 2024
Abstract
Since hop secondary metabolites have a direct correlation with the quality of beer and other hop-based beverages, and the volatile fraction of hop has a complex composition, requiring effective separation, here we explore the application of headspace solid-phase microextraction as a sample preparation
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Since hop secondary metabolites have a direct correlation with the quality of beer and other hop-based beverages, and the volatile fraction of hop has a complex composition, requiring effective separation, here we explore the application of headspace solid-phase microextraction as a sample preparation method, coupled with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC×GC–MS) analysis. The methodology involved the use of a DVB/PDMS fibre with 500 mg of hop cone powder, extracted for 40 min at 50 °C, for both GC–MS and GC×GC–MS. The varieties Azacca, Cascade, Enigma, Loral, and Zappa were studied comprehensively. The results demonstrate that GC×GC–MS increases the number of peaks by over 300% compared to classical GC–MS. Overall, 137 compounds were identified or tentatively identified and categorised into 10 classes, representing between 87.6% and 96.9% of the total peak area. The composition revealed the highest concentration of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons for Enigma, whilst Zappa showed a relatively significant concentration of monoterpene hydrocarbons. Principal component analysis for all compounds and classes, along with hierarchical cluster analysis, indicated similarities between Zappa and Cascade, and Azacca and Loral. In conclusion, this method presents an optimistic advancement in hop metabolite studies with a simple and established sample preparation procedure in combination with an effective separation technique.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Meeting the Challenge of Metabolomics Analysis by Using Multidimensional Gas Chromatography with Mass Spectrometry)
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High Starch Induces Hematological Variations, Metabolic Changes, Oxidative Stress, Inflammatory Responses, and Histopathological Lesions in Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)
by
Yuanyuan Xie, Xianping Shao, Penghui Zhang, Hao Zhang, Jiaxing Yu, Xinfeng Yao, Yifan Fu, Jiao Wei and Chenglong Wu
Metabolites 2024, 14(4), 236; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14040236 - 19 Apr 2024
Abstract
This study evaluated effects of high starch (20%) on hematological variations, glucose and lipid metabolism, antioxidant ability, inflammatory responses, and histopathological lesions in largemouth bass. Results showed hepatic crude lipid and triacylglycerol (TAG) contents were notably increased in fish fed high starch. High
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This study evaluated effects of high starch (20%) on hematological variations, glucose and lipid metabolism, antioxidant ability, inflammatory responses, and histopathological lesions in largemouth bass. Results showed hepatic crude lipid and triacylglycerol (TAG) contents were notably increased in fish fed high starch. High starch could increase counts of neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils and serum contents of TAG, TBA, BUN, and LEP (p < 0.05). There were increasing trends in levels of GLUT2, glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, and LDH in fish fed high starch through the AKT/PI3K signal pathway. Meanwhile, high starch not only triggered TAG and cholesterol synthesis, but mediated cholesterol accumulation by reducing ABCG5, ABCG8, and NPC1L1. Significant increases in lipid droplets and vacuolization were also shown in hepatocytes of D3–D7 groups fed high starch. In addition, high starch could decrease levels of mitochondrial Trx2, TrxR2, and Prx3, while increasing ROS contents. Moreover, high starch could notably increase amounts of inflammatory factors (IL-1β, TNF-α, etc.) by activating NLRP3 inflammasome key molecules (GSDME, caspase 1, etc.). In conclusion, high starch could not only induce metabolic disorders via gluconeogenesis and accumulation of glycogen, TAG, and cholesterol, but could disturb redox homeostasis and cause inflammatory responses by activating the NLRP3 inflammasome in largemouth bass.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolism in Aquatic Products)
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Development of New Predictive Equations for the Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) of Women with Lipedema
by
Małgorzata Jeziorek, Jakub Wronowicz, Łucja Janek, Krzysztof Kujawa and Andrzej Szuba
Metabolites 2024, 14(4), 235; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14040235 - 19 Apr 2024
Abstract
This study aimed to develop a novel predictive equation for calculating resting metabolic rate (RMR) in women with lipedema. We recruited 119 women diagnosed with lipedema from the Angiology Outpatient Clinic at Wroclaw Medical University, Poland. RMR was assessed using indirect calorimetry, while
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This study aimed to develop a novel predictive equation for calculating resting metabolic rate (RMR) in women with lipedema. We recruited 119 women diagnosed with lipedema from the Angiology Outpatient Clinic at Wroclaw Medical University, Poland. RMR was assessed using indirect calorimetry, while body composition and anthropometric measurements were conducted using standardized protocols. Due to multicollinearity among predictors, classical multiple regression was deemed inadequate for developing the new equation. Therefore, we employed machine learning techniques, utilizing principal component analysis (PCA) for dimensionality reduction and predictor selection. Regression models, including support vector regression (SVR), random forest regression (RFR), and k-nearest neighbor (kNN) were evaluated in Python’s scikit-learn framework, with hyperparameter tuning via GridSearchCV. Model performance was assessed through mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and cross-validation, complemented by Bland–Altman plots for method comparison. A novel equation incorporating body composition parameters was developed, addressing a gap in accurate RMR prediction methods. By incorporating measurements of body circumference and body composition parameters alongside traditional predictors, the model’s accuracy was improved. The segmented regression model outperformed others, achieving an MAPE of 10.78%. The proposed predictive equation for RMR offers a practical tool for personalized treatment planning in patients with lipedema.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology, Nutrition and Metabolism)
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Comparison of the Effect of Two Different Handling Conditions at Slaughter in Saliva Analytes in Pigs
by
María Botía, Damián Escribano, Alba Ortín-Bustillo, María J. López-Martínez, Pablo Fuentes, Francisco J. Jiménez-Caparrós, Juan L. Hernández-Gómez, Antonio Avellaneda, José J. Cerón, Camila P. Rubio, Asta Tvarijonaviciute, Silvia Martínez-Subiela, Marina López-Arjona and Fernando Tecles
Metabolites 2024, 14(4), 234; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14040234 - 18 Apr 2024
Abstract
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In this report, different handling conditions at slaughterhouse were studied to assess changes in salivary biomarkers. For this purpose, finishing pigs were divided into two groups, one in which handling was improved to minimize stress (Group A, n = 24, transported and stabled
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In this report, different handling conditions at slaughterhouse were studied to assess changes in salivary biomarkers. For this purpose, finishing pigs were divided into two groups, one in which handling was improved to minimize stress (Group A, n = 24, transported and stabled at the slaughterhouse at low density without mixing with unfamiliar animals throughout the whole process) and another one in which animals had a more stressful handling process (Group B, n = 24, transported and stabled at high density with unfamiliar animals). Saliva samples were taken the day before transport to the slaughterhouse at 8:00 a.m. (B0) and 12:00 a.m. (B4), and the day of slaughter just after unloading animals at the slaughterhouse at approximately 8:00 a.m. (S0) and after 4 h of lairage at approximately 12:00 a.m. (S4). Group B showed significantly higher cortisol, total esterase activity, oxytocin, adenosine deaminase and haptoglobin levels than the Group A at both S0 and S4 sampling times, and higher levels of calprotectin and creatine kinase at S4 sampling time. This report indicates that differences in the way in which the pigs are handled at the slaughterhouse can lead to changes in salivary biomarkers and opens the possibility of the use of biomarker at slaughter to monitor handling conditions.
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