Search Results (663)

High carbonate alkalinity (CA) is a major constraint on shrimp culture in saline–alkaline waters. The hepatopancreas is central to shrimp immunity and metabolic regulation. Litopenaeus vannamei underwent a 7-day exposure period to 5 mmol/L CA, followed by a subsequent 7-day recovery phase after removal of the stressor. The physiological regulatory mechanism of the hepatopancreas during CA stress and recovery was investigated by integrating multiple biological levels including histomorphology, antioxidant and immune indices, energy metabolism, and metabolite profiles. Results showed that CA stress induced structural changes in the hepatopancreas and triggered stress responses. Specifically, a significant upregulation was observed in genes involved in antioxidation (romo1, nrf2, gpx, hsp70), apoptosis (casp-9, casp-3), endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress (ire1, xbp1), immune defense (alf, crus, pen-3, lys, propo), and detoxification (cyp450). CA stress also increased osmoregulatory genes (ccp, nhe, ca, aqp, vatp, nka-β, nka-α), whereas clc and tip4 were suppressed. CA stress reduced the levels of energy-metabolism-related biochemical indicators, including glucose (GLU), pyruvic acid (PYR), lactic acid (LAC) and triglycerides (TG), while markedly inducing the expression of genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism (ldh, pdh, hk, pk), lipid metabolism (ampk, srebp, fas), the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle (mdh, cs, idh, odh, sdh, fh), and the electron transport chain (ETC) (ndh, cytc, coi, cco, atph). Moreover, the hepatopancreatic metabolic profile was remodeled, especially “phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis” and the metabolism of β-alanine, arachidonic acid, linoleic acid, and sphingolipids being substantially altered during both the stress and recovery phases. Several functional metabolites linked to stress responses were further pinpointed. Following stress relief, some physiological parameters partially recovered, yet overall function failed to return to normal. Collectively, CA stress compromised hepatopancreatic homeostasis by damaging morphological integrity, eliciting stress and immune responses, and perturbing energy metabolism and metabolite homeostasis; these adverse effects were not readily reversible in the short term. Full article

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a leading cause of death worldwide, characterised by systemic inflammation and metabolic disorders. Tetrahydropalmatine (THP) and berberine (BBR) are major alkaloids derived from Corydalis yanhusuo and Coptis chinensis, respectively, both of which have been shown to be cardioprotective; however, whether their mechanisms differ remains unclear. In this study, we systematically compared THP and BBR in treating AMI using integrated spatial metabolomics (AFADESI-MSI), untargeted metabolomics, lipidomics, and molecular biology. The results showed that both compounds improved cardiac function, reduced fibrosis, and suppressed inflammation. Multi-omics revealed that although both regulate glycerophospholipid metabolism, their pathway preferences and functional roles diverge: THP primarily affects linoleic acid and acetylcholine metabolism with a greater propensity to restore membrane structural integrity, whereas BBR targets ether phospholipids and sphingolipids with preferential anti-inflammatory lipid modulation. At the enzymatic level, both downregulated CHKα, PEMT, ChAT, and PDHA1. A key difference is that THP uniquely upregulated acetylcholinesterase (AChE) mRNA expression, an effect absent with BBR. Spatial metabolomics directly visualised that both compounds reverse the accumulation of pro-inflammatory lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs) and restore structural phosphatidylcholines (PCs) in the infarct region, thereby re-establishing regional lipid homeostasis. To our knowledge, this is the first integrated multi-omics comparison to suggest shared and distinct mechanisms of THP and BBR in AMI. Notably, the differential regulation of AChE, as visualised by spatial omics, may serve as a molecular basis for understanding their distinct therapeutic features, although further validation at the protein and enzymatic activity levels is warranted. Full article

Farming models profoundly influence the biological traits of aquatic organisms. This study compared muscle nutrients, muscle transcriptome, and gut microbiota of Pelodiscus sinensis reared under rice-field and pond conditions. Compared with the pond group (Group P), the rice-field group (Group R) exhibited significantly lower linoleic acid (LA) and higher arachidonic acid (ARA), indicating an altered muscle fatty acid profile. Transcriptomic analysis further showed that differentially expressed genes were mainly involved in fatty acid metabolic processes. For gut microbiota, Group R had a higher relative abundance of Firmicutes_C at the phylum level, and Acidaminococcus was uniquely detected at the genus level. These findings reveal that rice-field culture drives distinct muscle fatty acid profiles and gut microbial characteristics in P. sinensis, providing a theoretical basis for understanding the effects of rice-field culture on turtle nutrition and intestinal health. Full article

To investigate the differences in pulp metabolites among four varieties of Pouteria caimito fruit (JZL1, JZL3, JZL5, and JZL6), ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) was employed for the separation and identification of metabolites. A total of 1285 metabolites were identified, including 648 in positive ion mode and 637 in negative ion mode. At the class level, carboxylic acids and derivatives (14.32%) and organooxygen compounds (11.83%) accounted for the highest proportions; at the subclass level, amino acids, peptides, and analogues (12.53%) as well as carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates (9.49%) were the main categories. PLS-DA analysis revealed significant differences in metabolite profiles among the four varieties, with numerous up-regulated and down-regulated metabolites in each comparison group, and some metabolites showed fold changes > 10 or <0.1. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis further indicated that differential metabolites were primarily enriched in pathways such as ABC transporters, citrate cycle (TCA cycle), starch and sucrose metabolism, and linoleic acid metabolism. This study provides an important metabolomic basis for variety identification, nutritional quality evaluation, and functional component development of Pouteria caimito fruit. Full article

Sheep milk and its fermented products are increasingly recognized as valuable functional foods due to their high nutritional value and the presence of biologically active compounds. The aim of this review was to summarize current knowledge on selected bioactive components of sheep milk and fermented sheep milk products, with particular emphasis on their potential application as functional food ingredients and the impact of technological processes on their biological properties. The review focuses on yogurts, kefirs, and cheeses, highlighting key bioactive compounds, including peptides, lactoferrin, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), polar lipids, orotic acid, and probiotic microorganisms. Fermentation and maturation processes contribute to the formation and transformation of bioactive compounds, which may exhibit antioxidant, antimicrobial, antihypertensive, and immunomodulatory activities, as well as support gut health and metabolic regulation. The functional potential of sheep milk products depends on milk composition, microbial activity, and processing conditions. Despite promising findings, their wider application remains limited due to seasonal availability, low production scale, and insufficient knowledge regarding bioavailability and physiological effects. Further in vivo and clinical studies are required to confirm the health-promoting potential and practical applications of fermented sheep milk products as functional food ingredients. Full article

Introduction: The study purpose was to identify possible key metabolites that determine the adaptation of the Endomyces magnusii yeast to long-term cultivation (four weeks) using glycerol as an “oxidative” and glucose as a “fermentative” substrate. Methods: The metabolic profile was assayed using gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry, followed by bioinformatic analysis (PARADISe, Golm metabolome database (GMD), MassBank, UniChrom). Results: PCA and PLS-DA analyses showed that the type of carbon source contributed significantly to the overall variability of the data, and the greatest variance was observed for the groups grown on different substrates for the first cultivation week. Growth on glycerol increased the chronological lifespan of E. magnusii due to the early launch of adaptive oxidative stress, the active use of lipids as an energy source, the accumulation of membrane sterols, osmo-protective polyols, organic acids (malic, methyl glycerinic, palmitic, linoleic), and some sugars (lyxose, galactose), which increased the overall resistance and maintained high cell survival. On the contrary, cultivation using glucose provoked a sharp substrate depletion, inducing passive storage of sugars (trehalose), diauxic shock, and less effective antioxidant protection, which provided lower cell survival upon prolonged growth. Conclusions: (1) Metabolic signs associated with prolonged culturing were identified in all the compounds classes tested (polyols, fatty acids, lactones); (2) some metabolites (in particular, dulcitol), being hypothetical biomarkers of aging, are at the same time protective agents involved in the adaptation of yeast cells to the deep stationary growth stages. Our data can serve as a basis for comparative studies of aging-related metabolism in other eukaryotic models. Full article

Background/Objectives: Clematis huchouensis Tamura, a genuine medicinal herb endemic to Huzhou, Zhejiang Province. However, its secondary metabolic profile and organ-specific distribution of bioactive constituents remain largely uncharacterized. This study aims to systematically characterize the metabolic profile of its roots, stems, and leaves, and to elucidate organ-specific accumulation patterns of pharmacologically relevant constituents, thereby providing a scientific basis for resource evaluation and quality control of this regional germplasm. Methods: A widely targeted metabolomics approach was employed to profile metabolites in the roots, stems, and leaves of C. huchouensis. Comprehensive annotation and relative quantification were performed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) combined with database matching. Cluster analysis and pathway enrichment were conducted to compare metabolic profiles across organs. Results: A total of 1561 metabolites were identified, exhibiting distinct organ-specific accumulation patterns. Flavonoids, alkaloids, and most phenolic acids were predominantly enriched in the aerial parts, whereas the roots accumulated high levels of glutathione and its related peptides, reflecting their significant antioxidant activity. Amino acids displayed complementary tissue-specific distribution, with peptides enriched in leaves and sulfur-containing amino acids such as L-methionine in stems. Organ-specific metabolic differences were significantly associated with pathways including flavonoid biosynthesis and linoleic acid metabolism. Notably, numerous pharmacologically active compounds, such as hispidulin, diosmetin, trigonelline, colchicoside, and oleanolic acid-3-O-xylosyl(1→3)glucuronide—exhibited marked tissue-selective accumulation. Conclusions: This first metabolomic study of C. huchouensis reveals organ-specific accumulation of bioactive compounds, providing a metabolic foundation for its quality control and rational utilization. Full article

Low-temperature stress severely restricts the growth, development, and ornamental value of Osmanthus fragrans Lour. However, the molecular mechanisms by which brassinolide (BR) and melatonin (MT) alleviate low-temperature-induced damage remain unclear. Here, O. fragrans branches were exposed to low-temperature stress (5, 0, −5, −10, −15, and −20 °C for 12 h) and treated with exogenous MT (50, 100, and 200 μM) or BR (0.5, 1, and 2 μM). An integrated approach combining phenotypic observation, physiological measurements, transcriptomics, and metabolomics was employed to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms underlying BR- and MT-mediated cold tolerance. The results showed that low-temperature stress significantly increased electrolyte leakage (EL), malondialdehyde (MDA), and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) accumulation, while reducing superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) activities. Compared with the control, BR and MT treatments alleviated leaf chlorosis and wilting, reduced oxidative damage, and enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities. Integrated transcriptome–metabolome analyses demonstrated that BR and MT commonly activated phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis, thereby promoting antioxidant metabolite accumulation, while suppressing α-linolenic acid and linoleic acid metabolism associated with stress-induced lipid remodeling. Network-based transcriptomic analyses identified transcription factors, including ARF, EIL, bHLH, and GRAS, as potential regulators of cold-responsive pathways. Furthermore, BR primarily regulated hormone-responsive networks, whereas MT mainly maintained redox homeostasis and metabolic reprogramming. These findings reveal the coordinated regulatory mechanisms underlying BR- and MT-mediated cold tolerance, providing potential targets for improving cold resilience in O. fragrans. Full article

Rumen biohydrogenation is a microbial process that converts dietary unsaturated fatty acids into more saturated products and produces a range of intermediates that can affect animal products and rumen fermentation. This review summarizes current knowledge on the main biohydrogenation pathways, the microbial groups involved, and the nutritional and breeding strategies used to regulate this process. Particular attention is given to the transformation of C18 fatty acids, the formation of vaccenic acid and conjugated linoleic acid, the trans-10 shift, and the links between lipid metabolism, hydrogen use, and methane formation. Evidence indicates that diet composition, lipid source, plant secondary metabolites, rumen-protected fat technologies, microbial interventions, and host-related factors can all influence biohydrogenation outcomes. These strategies can improve the fatty acid profile of meat and milk, but their effects are context-dependent and vary with animal species, diet, and rumen microbial structure. Important gaps remain, including the identification of active microbial populations, the functions of many transient intermediates, and the extent to which changes in biohydrogenation directly contribute to methane mitigation. Clarifying these mechanisms is essential for improving the nutritional quality of ruminant products and the sustainability of production systems. Full article

Large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) is an economically important mariculture species in China, but marked individual variation in body weight reduces production uniformity. To explore molecular features underlying this phenotypic divergence, liver tissues from high-weight and low-weight fish from the Naozhou population were subjected to integrated transcriptomic and untargeted metabolomic analyses. A total of 3390 DEGs were identified in the high-weight group (HWG) compared with the low-weight group (LWG), including 1576 upregulated and 1814 downregulated genes. Functional annotation indicated that the DEGs were predominantly associated with pathways governing cell-cycle progression, DNA synthesis and replication, lipid turnover, and amino acid-related metabolic processes. Untargeted metabolomic profiling identified 2263 annotated metabolites, of which 241 were differentially accumulated between the two groups. Pathway enrichment indicated that these altered metabolites were primarily associated with lipid-related processes, amino acid turnover, and cellular energy metabolism. Integrated analysis further revealed significant correlations between DEGs and differential metabolites and highlighted several co-enriched pathways, including linoleic acid metabolism, biosynthesis of amino acids, carbon metabolism, and fatty acid biosynthesis. These findings provide preliminary evidence that body-weight differences in large yellow croaker may reflect coordinated changes at both the transcriptomic and metabolomic levels, with lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and energy-related pathways being particularly involved. As an exploratory study, these results should be regarded as candidate molecular associations that require further validation in larger populations before being applied to breeding or nutritional regulation. Full article

Raw and fermented Astragalus membranaceus (AM) serve promising herbal additives for small ruminants, yet their integrated regulatory functions across lactating ewes and suckling lambs are insufficiently characterized. This study aimed to elucidate how dietary supplementation with raw and fermented Astragalus membranaceus modulates ruminal microbial communities, circulating metabolites, redox homeostasis, and lactation performance in postpartum Turpan black ewes, and to characterize the consequent effects on immune development and body weight gain in their offspring. The findings are intended to inform evidence-based strategies for herbal supplementation in sheep production. Forty-five postpartum Turpan black ewes were randomly allocated to three groups (n = 15): control (basal diet), AM and FAM groups. Ewe plasma, rumen fluid, milk yield, milk composition and serum antioxidant indices were sampled periodically. Lamb body weight, plasma antioxidants, immunoglobulins, growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were measured every 15 days. Rumen 16S rRNA sequencing and untargeted plasma metabolomics were performed on day 45 post-partum. The group of FAM significantly increased milk yield (p < 0.05) and markedly improved total antioxidant capacity in ewes (p < 0.01). In the AM group, metabolites such as linoleic acid were significantly downregulated (p < 0.05), with enrichment in the linoleic acid metabolism pathway, while flavonoid metabolites, including quercetin 4′-isobutyrate, were strongly upregulated (p < 0.01). In the FAM group, tetradecanoic acid, palmitoleic acid, and related metabolites were significantly reduced (p < 0.05), and these differential metabolites showed significant enrichment in fatty acid biosynthesis (p < 0.05). Flavonoid compounds represented by melilotocarpan E were also significantly upregulated (p < 0.05). Rumen microbial diversity was significantly higher in the FAM group (p < 0.05). At the genus level, the FAM group showed enrichment of fiber-degrading bacteria, including Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, unclassified_Muribaculaceae, and unclassified_F082. In newborn lambs, plasma GH and IGF-1 levels increased markedly in both the FAM and AM groups (p < 0.01). In the FAM group, immunoglobulin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations were also markedly elevated (p < 0.01). In addition, lambs in the FAM group exhibited substantially higher plasma catalase (CAT) activity and nitric oxide (NO) concentration (p < 0.01), whereas plasma total antioxidant capacity was significantly lower (p < 0.01). In conclusion, AM and FAM supplementation increased the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, regulated fatty acid synthesis through modulation of plasma metabolites, enhanced antioxidant capacity in ewes, increased milk fat percentage, and improved immune function, antioxidant status, and growth performance in lambs. To provide a theoretical basis and data support for its application in ewes after lambing and for improving the growth and development of lambs. Overall, FAM produced superior effect. Full article

This study characterized lipid accumulation in force-fed mule duck foie gras (fatty liver) and evaluated its association with hepatic physiological status. Thirty-six healthy male mule ducks (67 ± 2 days of age) were randomly assigned to a control group (CON) or force-fed group (O-F). Serum and liver samples were collected for further analysis on days 6, 12, and 18. Compared with the CON group, force-feeding markedly increased liver weight on days 6, 12, and 18, with average increases of 100 g, 200 g, and 430 g, respectively (p < 0.01). No significant differences were observed in hepatic oxidative stress markers, inflammatory cytokines, and biochemical indicators of liver injury on days 6, 12, and 18 between the control and force-fed groups (p > 0.05). Furthermore, both untargeted lipidomic Orthogonal Partial Least Squares—Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA) and targeted fatty acid analysis revealed clear metabolic separation between the two groups on day 18. Compared with CON, total hepatic unsaturated fatty acids increased by 60.7% in O-F ducks on day 18 (p < 0.01), with oleic acid, linoleic acid, α-linolenic acid, and eicosapentaenoic acid increasing by approximately 400%, 100%, 300%, and 35%, respectively (p < 0.01). These results indicate that short-term force-feeding alters the hepatic fatty acid profile through lipid accumulation, while circulating markers of liver injury remain unaffected. Full article

Background: Soybean is an important crop with multiple uses for oil, food, and feed, providing 50% of the vegetable protein and 20% of the edible oil in the world. The WD40 family genes play crucial regulatory roles in growth, development, secondary metabolism, and stress responses. However, the definition of WD40 family genes in soybean remained unclear, which limited their application potential in genetic improvement. Methods: To identify soybean WD40 family members and screen candidate genes for breeding improvement, this study performed genome-wide identification of the soybean WD40 gene family via bioinformatic approaches based on the latest Williams 82 reference genome (Wm82.a6.v1). Meanwhile, the function of the family gene GmWD40-257 regulating seed quality was analyzed. Results: The results showed that a total of 458 GmWD40 genes were identified, which were distributed on the 20 chromosomes. Subcellular localization showed that most members were mainly concentrated in the nucleus, chloroplast, and cytoplasm. Phylogenetic tree analysis divided the 458 GmWD40 genes into eight groups. Synteny analysis identified 160 syntenic genes between soybean and Arabidopsis thaliana. Conserved motif analysis identified ten core motifs. The promoter regions of GmWD40 contained 19 types of cis-acting elements. Functional analysis revealed that the nonsense mutation of GmWD40-257 significantly reduced the content of oil, palmitic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, α-linolenic acid and soluble sugar, while significantly increasing the contents of protein, γ-tocopherol and δ-tocopherol. Conclusions: A total of 458 members of the WD40 gene family were identified in soybean. Among these, GmWD40-257 was found to positively regulate the contents of soybean oil, palmitic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, α-linolenic acid and soluble sugar, while negatively regulating the contents of soybean protein, γ-tocopherol and δ-tocopherol. Full article

The peripartum period in prolific ewes is associated with increased metabolic demands, and dietary lipid supplementation may increase the energy density of the prepartum diet. This study evaluated the effects of prepartum supplementation with alternative lipid matrices on the physicochemical characteristics and comprehensive fatty acid (FA) profiles of mature and transitional sheep milk. Thirty-two pregnant Olkuska ewes were randomly assigned to four cohorts (n = 8/group): Control (basal diet), flaxseed oil (low n-3/high n-6 variety; FO), black soldier fly larvae oil (BSFL oil), and Mix oil (2:1 ratio of FO to BSFL oil). Dietary treatments exerted no significant effects (p > 0.05) on transitional milk composition or lipid quality indices. In contrast, in mature milk, BSFL oil supplementation significantly increased milk fat content (6.09%) compared to the Control group (4.70%; p < 0.01). Furthermore, all oil treatments significantly reduced total saturated FAs (p < 0.01), while the BSFL oil and Mix oil supplementation significantly increased the monounsaturated FA fraction (p < 0.01). The differences, particularly the increase in cis-9, trans-11 CLA concentration and the significant reduction in both the atherogenic and thrombogenic indices (p < 0.01), were observed exclusively in mature milk. These findings suggest that the combination of sustainable insect lipids with high-linoleic plant oils may represent a viable strategy to transform sheep milk into a functional food with potential cardiovascular health benefits for consumers. These findings additionally indicate that prepartum lipid supplementation may exert a persistent carry-over effect into early lactation, influencing the fatty acid composition of mature sheep milk. Full article

Background/Objectives: Taste perception has emerged as a key determinant of eating behavior and metabolic regulation, but its relationship with body mass index (BMI) remains incompletely understood. We investigated the relationships among global, sweet, and lipid taste sensitivity; sweet- and lipid-taste-related polymorphisms; caloric intake; and BMI. Methods: Taste sensitivity was assessed using taste strips (overall and sweet) and detection thresholds for fatty acids (oleic, linoleic, and palmitic acids). Genotyping of polymorphism genes was conducted. Pearson correlation analyses examined bivariate associations between taste variables and BMI. Multiple regression models were performed to identify independent predictors of BMI and to evaluate the mediating role of caloric intake. Results: A strong inverse correlation was found between total and sweet taste sensitivity and BMI, particularly in super-tasters (STs) and participants with the sensitive genotype of sweet-taste-related polymorphisms. Similarly, greater sensitivity to fatty acids was associated with lower BMI, specifically in non-tasters (NTs) and participants with the insensitive genotype of CD36 polymorphisms. In multiple regression models, overall and lipid sensitivity were the most significant predictors of BMI, which were inversely associated with it. TAS1R2 and TAS1R3 also showed independent effects. Importantly, caloric intake was not retained in the final model. Conclusions: Taste sensitivity is inversely associated with BMI independently of caloric intake. These findings suggest that the gustatory system could influence body weight through mechanisms beyond energy consumption, probably involving food choice and extra-oral receptor-mediated metabolic regulation. Taste perception and related genetic factors may represent important targets for personalized nutrition and obesity prevention strategies. Full article