Concentrations Of Long-chain Fatty Acids Research Articles

Comprehensive lipid profile analysis of three fish roe by untargeted lipidomics using ultraperformance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry

Fish roe is a significant nutrition source from marine byproducts, containing rich contents of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (n 3-LC PUFAs). However, investigations focused on the nutritional values and lipid composition of various fish roe species are limited. This research aims to perform a high-throughput lipidomics analysis to comprehensively evaluate and compare the lipid profiles of three consumed marine fish roe using ultraperformance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC Q-TOF-MS/MS). Results showed notable differences in three fish roe species in terms of sphingolipids (SLs), phospholipids (PLs), and glycerolipids (GLs) compositions. Furthermore, the high percentages of n-3 PUFA-PLs in yellow croaker and mackerel roe indicate their significant nutritional value. In total, 449 lipid molecular species of 13 lipid subclasses were identified; of them, 31 lipid molecular species could serve as potential biomarkers for the differentiation of three fish roe. This study provides comprehensive lipid profiles of three fish roe, demonstrating their potential values in functional food industries.

Deciphering the inhibitory effects of trimetazidine on pulmonary hypertension development via decreasing fatty acid oxidation and promoting glucose oxidation

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a devastating disease characterized by vascular remodeling, resulting in right ventricular failure and death. Dysregulation of energy metabolism is linked to PH pathogenesis. Trimetazidine (TMZ), a selective long-chain 3-ketoacyl coenzyme A thiolase inhibitor, is critical in maintaining energy metabolism. Despite the indicated TMZ’s inhibitory effect on pulmonary vascular remodeling in PH development, the integrated evaluation of the changes in biomolecules, such as metabolites and transcripts, that TMZ induces in the lung and heart tissues is largely unknown in vivo. For an improved understanding of the molecular mechanism involving the effects of TMZ on PH development, we performed a comprehensive analysis of the changes in cardiac metabolites and pulmonary transcripts of SU5416-Hypoxia (Su/Hx) rats treated with TMZ. Metabolomic analysis of the Su/Hx-induced PH hearts demonstrated that TMZ reduced the long-chain fatty acid concentration. Additionally, TMZ alleviated PH degree and excessive strain on the right heart functions in rats with Su/Hx-induced PH. We identified the candidate target genes for TMZ treatment during PH development. Interestingly, the mRNA levels of the fatty acid transporters were substantially downregulated by TMZ administration in the lungs with Su/Hx-induced PH. Notably, TMZ suppressed excessive proliferation of human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells under hypoxic conditions. Our study suggests that TMZ ameliorates PH development by involving energy metabolism in the lungs and heart.

Linseed oil supplementation alters milk fatty acid profile, mitigates heat stress, and improves summer milk yield in grazing dairy cows.

Dietary supplementation of fat can be an important source of energy to compensate for the reduction in dry matter intake in dairy cows during heat stress periods. Studies have reported that supplementing dairy cow diets with linseed oil (LO) can increase milk yield and enhance the levels of beneficial fatty acids, such as omega-3 fatty acids, in the milk. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of LO supplementation on milk fatty acids profile, milk yield and composition, and physiological parameters of grazing cows. The study was conducted in two seasons, one in spring and one in summer. A 2 × 2 Latin square design was used in each experiment. Twelve Holstein and crossbred Holstein x Jersey cows were involved in each season. Cows were divided into two groups: control (TC) with no supplementation and treatment (TL) supplemented with 400g/day of LO. The results showed that LO supplementation altered the milk fatty acid profile: decreased concentrations of short and medium-chain fatty acids (C10:0 - C17:1) except for C13:0 and increased concentrations of long-chain fatty acids (C18, C18:1 (both trans and cis isomers), C18:2 (specific conjugated linoleic acid - CLA isomers), and C18:3 n3 (omega-3)). Additionally, milk yield increased by 1.5l per day during summer in LO-supplemented cows, while milk fat, protein, and casein content decreased. Milk stability increased by 2.2% in the LO-supplemented group. LO-supplemented cows reduced internal body temperature and heart frequency in the afternoon and increased daily rumination time by 20min. In conclusion, LO supplementation can be an effective strategy to improve the nutritional profile of milk by altering fatty acid composition towards potentially healthier fats, mitigate the negative effects of heat stress on grazing cows during summer, as evidenced by reduced body temperature and heart frequency and increase milk yield.

Cytokine Release Syndrome Associated With Immune-Modulating Chemotherapy: Potential Mitigating Role of Intravenous Omega-3 Fatty Acid Triglycerides.

Patient susceptibility to cytokine release syndrome (CRS) resulting from immune-modulating chemotherapy has profound implications for clinical outcome. This is particularly true for patients receiving CAR T-cell therapy. First-line pharmacotherapy for CRS includes the administration of the IL-6 receptor-binding monoclonal antibody tocilizumab, or tocilizumab and corticosteroids. Other agents, such as siltuximab, anakinra, and dasatinab are also being explored for refractory cases of CRS. This review summarizes the potential role of omega-3 fatty acids, that is, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) at ameliorating CRS in cancer patients receiving immune-modulating chemotherapy, and is compared with current treatment strategies to reduce the severity of the inflammatory response. Selective blockade of specific proinflammatory mediators (e.g., IL-6) is effective, but carries a significant risk of serious opportunistic infections. In contrast, omega-3 fatty acids affect multiple triggers underlying the inflammatory response (i.e., prostaglandins, leukotrienes, transcription factors, and specialized proresolving molecules), and its major limitation is avoidance of hypertriglyceridemia, which can be managed by reducing the rate of intravenous administration. This discussion proposes a novel approach by continuous infusion of omega-3 fatty acids to modulate the intensity of the severe systemic inflammatory response from CRS. The purpose of this review is to highlight the potential clinical benefits of a specialized omega-3 fatty acids dosage form to mitigate the severity of CRS as a hypothetical alternative to current treatment. Optimizing the formulation, for example, enriched fish oil that meets drug concentration standards for EPA and DHA, a continuous infusion rate, reductions in long-chain saturated fatty acids concentrations, and addition of medium-chain triglycerides to improve EPA + DHA utilization and physical stability are key pharmaceutical factors. This may result in a safer and more effective option than targeted abrogation of cytokines and consequent risks of adverse drug reactions, but will require formal study in randomized control trials in humans.

Methanogenic degradation of long-chain fatty acids associated with syntrophic microbial dynamics during thermophilic AnMBR treatment of lipid-rich dairy wastes

Anaerobic membrane reactors (AnMBRs) have been applied to effectively treat dairy wastes because they can address the drawbacks of sludge flotation and biomass washout. However, when dairy wastes contain considerable proportion of lipids, any anaerobic systems will likely encounter challenges with long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) inhibition. In this study, a thermophilic AnMBR was operated to treat dairy processing wastewater (DPW) plus ice cream waste (ICW). To evaluate the impact of LCFAs, the lipid-rich ICW was gradually introduced at different levels (0, 5, 10, and 20 %) into the AnMBR, along with a stepwise increase in lipid loading rate (LLR) from 0.22 to 11.24 g lipid/L/d. The results of biomethanation revealed that the AnMBR could be successfully operated when the LLR was maintained at 5.73 g lipid/L/d with a lipid/VS ratio of 50.22 % in the feedstock. However, at ultra-high LLR of 11.24 g lipid/L/d (20 % ICW added), a significant inhibitory effect on methane yields was observed, resulting in a reduction of 56.90 %. Dynamic analysis of the LCFAs profiled that a lower degradation rate was an important factor contributing to LCFA accumulation, and the inhibition concentration of various LCFAs was identified. Based on microbial evolution and co-occurrence network results, potential syntrophic partnerships between LCFA-degrading bacteria and methanogens were proposed. The responsible enzyme genes in the LCFA-degrading, acetoclastic, and hydrogenotrophic methanogenic pathways played crucial roles in LCFA inhibition and degradation. These findings offer practical insights for the efficient methanogenic treatment of lipid-rich wastes.

Effects of supplementing a feedlot diet with microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris) on the performance, carcass traits and meat quality of lambs

This study evaluated the effect of different levels of fresh microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris) in a feedlot diet on the performance, carcass traits, and meat quality of lambs. Forty-five, four-month-old wether lambs were randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments: 1) CONTROL, without algae; 2) MEDIUM, with 0.5 % dry matter (DM) algae; or 3) HIGH, with 1 % DM algae added to a basal diet consisting of barley hay and commercial feedlot pellets in a 41:59 ratio. The lambs were fed for 98 days and then slaughtered. Microalgae supplementation did not affect (P ≥ 0.09) growth performance, wool quality, rumen fermentation parameters, carcass weight, dressing percentage, or subcutaneous fat thickness of the lambs. However, microalgae supplementation at 0.5 % DM increased (P ≤ 0.05) the concentration of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA; C18:3n-3), arachidic acid (C20:0), and total omega-3 long-chain (n-3 LC) fatty acids in the longissimus lumborum et thoracis (LTL) muscle of lambs, compared to the CONTROL. Intramuscular fat (%) was similar between the CONTROL and the MEDIUM group (av. 3.65 %), but was lower (P = 0.044) in the HIGH group (3.1 %). Therefore, our results indicate that adding 0.5 % DM microalgae to lamb diets can increase the levels of alpha-linolenic acid and total n-3 LC PUFA in fresh lamb meat without affecting lamb performance or carcass characteristics.

Multi-Omics Analysis Reveals Dietary Fiber's Impact on Growth, Slaughter Performance, and Gut Microbiome in Durco × Bamei Crossbred Pig.

Dietary fiber (DF) is an important nutrient component in pig's diet that remarkably influences their growth and slaughter performance. The ability of pigs to digest DF depends on the microbial composition of the intestinal tract, particularly in the hindgut. However, studies on how DF alters the growth and slaughter performance of pigs by shaping the gut microbial composition and metabolites are still limited. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of DF on microbial composition, functions, and metabolites, ultimately altering host growth and slaughter performance using Durco × Bamei crossbred pigs supplemented with 0%, 10%, 17%, and 24% broad bean silage in the basic diet. We found that the final weight, average daily gain, fat, and lean meat weight significantly decreased with increasing DF. Pigs with the lowest slaughter rate and fat weight were observed in the 24% fiber-supplemented group. Gut microbial communities with the highest alpha diversity were formed in the 17% fiber group. The relative abundance of fiber-degrading bacteria, bile acid, and succinate-producing bacteria, including Prevotella sp., Bacteroides sp., Ruminococcus sp., and Parabacteroides sp., and functional pathways, including the butanoate metabolism and the tricarboxylic acid [TCA] cycle, significantly increased in the high-fiber groups. The concentrations of several bile acids significantly decreased in the fiber-supplemented groups, whereas the concentrations of succinate and long-chain fatty acids increased. Our results indicate that a high-fiber diet may alter the growth and slaughter performance of Durco × Bamei crossbred pigs by modulating the composition of Prevotella sp., Bacteroides sp., Ruminococcus sp., Parabacteroides sp., and metabolite pathways of bile acids and succinate.

Metformin alleviates cryoinjuries in porcine oocytes by reducing membrane fluidity through the suppression of mitochondrial activity

Plasma membrane damage in vitrified oocytes is closely linked to mitochondrial dysfunction. However, the mechanism underlying mitochondria-regulated membrane stability is not elucidated. A growing body of evidence indicates that mitochondrial activity plays a pivotal role in cell adaptation. Since mitochondria work at a higher temperature than the constant external temperature of the cell, we hypothesize that suppressing mitochondrial activity would protect oocytes from extreme stimuli during vitrification. Here we show that metformin suppresses mitochondrial activity by reducing mitochondrial temperature. In addition, metformin affects the developmental potential of oocytes and improves the survival rate after vitrification. Transmission electron microscopy results show that mitochondrial abnormalities are markedly reduced in vitrified oocytes pretreated with metformin. Moreover, we find that metformin transiently inhibits mitochondrial activity. Interestingly, metformin pretreatment decreases cell membrane fluidity after vitrification. Furthermore, transcriptome results demonstrate that metformin pretreatment modulates the expression levels of genes involved in fatty acid elongation process, which is further verified by the increased long-chain saturated fatty acid contents in metformin-pretreated vitrified oocytes by lipidomic profile analysis. In summary, our study indicates that metformin alleviates cryoinjuries by reducing membrane fluidity via mitochondrial activity regulation.

Quantity and Quality Evaluation of Girardinia Diversifolia and Girardinia Bullosa Seed Oil

Kenya imports more than 65% of its edible oil requirements. This is due to low oil production and limited sources that cannot adequately meet the high demand by the ever-increasing population. This study aimed to determine the fatty acid profile and assess the quantity and quality of Girardinia diversifolia and Girardinia bullosa seed oil. Its quality was assessed in terms of iodine value (IV), saponification value (SV), acid value(AV), peroxide value(PV), unsaponifiable matter, refractive index (RI), specific gravity(SG) and moisture content and volatile matter. The percentage oil content (18.4 to 21.2/100g dry) was low relative to most common edible oil plants. The highest moisture content recorded was 39.60 with the lowest being 31.24g/ 100g air-dried seeds. The RI ranged from 1.4662-1.4704. The IV ranged from 166-192. The PV was in the range of 8.68 to 13.6. The SV (164-179) was comparable to that of corn oil (187-147). The AV varied from 4.58-7.22. The percent unsaponifiable matter of the oil varied from 2.14-4.10. The fatty acids detected in the oil were decanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, octadecanoic acid, 9-octadecaenoic acid, 9,12-octadecadienoic acid, eicosanoic acid and heneicosanoic acid. The results showed that Girardinia oil is stable in the first two hours of heating. The results indicated that the oil had a high content of long-chain unsaturated fatty acids, and this guarantees the possibility of using the oil in the food industry.

Insights on early response to acute heat shock of bovine mammary epithelial cells through a multimethod approach

Heat stress is a significant challenge in dairy cattle herds, affecting milk production and quality, and generating important changes at the cellular level. Most in vitro research on heat shock (HS) effects on dairy cow mammary cells was focused on medium-long-term effects. In recent years, Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) micro-spectroscopy has been increasingly used to study the effects of several external stresses on different cell lines, down to the level of single cellular components, such as DNA/RNA, lipids, and proteins. In this study, the possible changes at the biochemical and molecular level induced by acute (30 min-2 h) HS in bovine mammary epithelial (BME-UV1) cells were investigated. The cells were exposed to different temperatures, thermoneutral (TN, 37 °C) and HS (42 °C), and FT-IR spectra were acquired to analyse the effects of HS on biochemical characteristics of BME-UV1 cellular components (proteins, lipids, and DNA/RNA). Moreover, cell viability assay, reactive oxygen species production, and mRNA expression of heat shock proteins (HSPA1A, HSP90AA1, GRP78, GRP94) and antioxidant genes (SOD1, SOD2) by RT-qPCR were also analysed. The FT-IR results showed a change already at 30 min of HS exposure, in the content of long-chain fatty acids, which probably acted as a response to a modification of membrane fluidity in HS cells compared with TN cells. After 2 h of HS exposure, modification of DNA/RNA activity and accumulation of aggregated proteins was highlighted in HS cells. The gene expression analyses showed the overexpression of HSPA1A and HSP90AA1 starting from 30 min up to 2 h in HS cells compared with TN cells. At 2 h of HS exposure, also the overexpression of GRP94 was observed in HS cells. Acute HS did not affect cell viability, reactive oxygen species level, and SOD1 and SOD2 gene expression of BME-UV1 cells. According to the results obtained, cells initiate early defence mechanisms in case of acute HS and probably this efficient response capacity may be decisive for tolerance to heat stress of dairy cattle.

Fecal microbiota and concentrations of long-chain fatty acids, sterols, and unconjugated bile acids in cats with chronic enteropathy.

Feline chronic enteropathies (FCE) are common causes of chronic gastrointestinal signs in cats and include different diseases such as food-responsive enteropathy (FRE), inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), and low-grade intestinal T-cell lymphoma (LGITL). Although changes in intestinal microbiota and fecal metabolites have been reported in dogs and humans with chronic enteropathy, research in cats has been limited. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the fecal microbiota and lipid-related fecal metabolites in cats with FCE to a clinically healthy comparison group (CG). A total of 34 cats with FCE (13 FRE, 15 IBD, and 6 LGITL) and 27 cats in the CG were enrolled in this study. The fecal microbiota was evaluated by the qPCR-based feline Dysbiosis Index (DI). The feline DI in cats with CE (median: 1.3, range: -2.4 to 3.8) was significantly higher (p < 0.0001) compared to CG (median: - 2.3, Range: -4.3 to 2.3), with no difference found among the FCE subgroups. The fecal abundances of Faecalibacterium (p < 0.0001), Bacteroides (p < 0.0001), Fusobacterium (p = 0.0398), Bifidobacterium (p = 0.0004), and total bacteria (p = 0.0337) significantly decreased in cats with FCE. Twenty-seven targeted metabolites were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, including long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs), sterols, and bile acids (BAs). Fecal concentrations of 5 of 12 LCFAs were significantly increased in cats with FCE compared to CG. Fecal concentrations of zoosterol (p = 0.0109), such as cholesterol (p < 0.001) were also significantly increased in cats with FCE, but those of phytosterols were significantly decreased in this group. No differences in fecal BAs were found between the groups. Although no differences were found between the four groups, the fecal metabolomic pattern of cats with FRE was more similar to that of the CG than to those with IBD or LGITL. This could be explained by the mild changes associated with FRE compared to IBD and LGITL. The study showed changes in intestinal microbiota and alteration of fecal metabolites in FCE cats compared to the CG. Changes in fecal lipids metabolites suggest a dysmetabolism of lipids, including LCFAs, sterols, and unconjugated BAs in cats with CE.

A contribution to lipid digestion of Odobenidae family: Computational analysis of gastric and pancreatic lipases from walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens)

Triacylglycerols (TAGs) are a primary energy source for marine mammals during lipid digestion. Walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) consume prey with a high content of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids; however, their digestive physiology and lipid digestion remain poorly studied. The present study aims to model and characterize the gastric (PWGL) and pancreatic (PWPL) lipases of Pacific walruses using an in-silico approach. The confident 3D models of PWGL and PWPL were obtained via homology modeling and protein threading and displayed the structural features of lipases. Molecular docking analysis demonstrated substrate selectivity for long-chain TAG (Trieicosapentaenoin; TC20:5n-3) in PWGL and short-chain TAG (Trioctanoin; TC8:0) in PWPL. Molecular dynamics simulations demonstrate that PWGL bound to tridocosahexaenoin (TC22:6n-3), the protein is considerably stable at all three salinity conditions, but fluctuations are observed in the regions associated with catalytic sites and the lid, indicating the potential hydrolysis of the substrate. This is the first study to report on the digestion of TAGs in walruses, including modeling and lipases characterization and proposing a digestive tract for pinnipeds.

Effects of food waste hydrolysate as an external carbon source on defoaming in wastewater treatment with activated sludge process

The activated sludge process is the most widely used technology for treating municipal wastewater. However, thick foam often occurs in activated sludge process. Here, we reported for the first time the effect of food waste hydrolysate (FWH) as an external carbon source on defoaming in activated sludge process. The study found that FWH was effective in defoaming at a wide dose range of 50–1600 mg/L total solids, as exhibiting that the foaming tendency of FWH-added foam mixed liquor was reduced to 0 mL-foam/mL-air·min from initial 0.171 mL-foam/mL-air·min in the control without adding FWH with 100 % of defoaming efficiency. Fatty acids, oils, and solid particles in FWH jointly contributed to the deformation. Among these factors, the concentration of long-chain unsaturated fatty acids was mainly responsible for the defoaming. This work provides a cost-effective strategy to solve the foaming problem in activated sludge process as well as providing external carbon sources.

Synergizing meat Science and AI: Enhancing long-chain saturated fatty acids prediction

In the field of the food industry, establishing a global predictive model for the content of long-chain saturated fatty acids (LC-SFAs) in red meat is of profound significance. However, this work requires the accumulation of a large number of diverse samples for model calibration. To address these formidable challenges, the Generative Inference Adversarial Autoencoder (GI-AAE) was adopted to enhance the model training process. Through multiple iterations, GI-AAE successfully generated simulated samples of higher quality than traditional generative adversarial networks and autoencoders. After incorporating these generated samples into the training dataset, multiple sets of models showed significant improvements. These results clearly demonstrated that our approach can effectively overcome the challenges posed by generative models in the regression domain, greatly enhancing the model's generalization ability. This advancement holds significant potential for applications in the food industry.

Impact of FADS genotype on polyunsaturated fatty acid content in human milk extracellular vesicles: A genetic association study.

Extracellular vesicles in human milk are critical in supporting newborn growth and development. Bioavailability of dietary extracellular vesicles may depend on the composition of membrane lipids. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the fatty acid desaturase gene cluster impact the content of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in human milk phospholipids. This study investigated the relation between variation in FADS1 and FADS2 with the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids in extracellular vesicles from human milk. Milk was obtained from a cohort of mothers (N = 70) at 2-4 weeks of lactation. SNPs in the FADS gene locus were determined using pyrosequencing for rs174546 in FADS1 and rs174575 in FADS2. Quantitative lipidomic analysis of polyunsaturated fatty acids in human milk and extracellular vesicles from human milk was completed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The rs174546 and rs174575 genotypes were independent predictors of the arachidonic acid content in extracellular vesicles. The rs174546 genotype also predicted eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid in extracellular vesicles. The reduced content of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in extracellular vesicles in human milk may be due to lower fatty acid desaturase activity in mothers who are carriers of the A allele in rs174546 or the G allele in rs174575. The polyunsaturated fatty acid composition of milk extracellular vesicles is predicted by the FADS genotype. These findings yield novel insights regarding extracellular vesicle content and composition that can inform the design of future research to explore how lipid metabolites impact the bioavailability of human milk extracellular vesicles.

The Maternal Omega-3 Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Concentration in Early Pregnancy and Infant Neurodevelopment: The ECLIPSES Study.

Omega-3 Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (n-3 LCPUFAs) play a key role in early neurodevelopment, but evidence from observational and clinical studies remains inconsistent. This study investigates the association between maternal n-3 LCPUFA, Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA), and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) concentrations during pregnancy and infant development functioning at 40 days. This study includes 348 mother-infant pairs. Maternal serum concentrations were assessed in the first and third trimesters alongside sociodemographic, clinical, nutritional, psychological, and obstetrical data. At 40 days, the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (BSID-III) was administered. An adjusted analysis revealed that lower first-trimester n-3 LCPUFA and DHA concentrations are associated with better infant motor development. These results underscore the potential significance of the maternal n-3 LCPUFA status in early pregnancy for influencing fetal neurodevelopment. However, the complexity of these associations necessitates further investigation, emphasizing the urgent need for additional studies to comprehensively elucidate the nuanced interplay between the maternal n-3 LCPUFA status and infant neurodevelopment.

Dietary long-chain fatty acids promote colitis by regulating palmitoylation of STAT3 through CD36-mediated endocytosis

The Western diet, characterized by its high content of long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs), is widely recognized as a significant triggering factor for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). While the link between a high-fat diet and colitis has been observed, the specific effects and mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Our study provides evidence that the diet rich in LCFAs can disrupt the integrity of the intestinal barrier and exacerbate experimental colitis in mice. Mechanistically, LCFAs upregulate the signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3) pathway in the inflammatory model, and STAT3 knockout effectively counters the pro-inflammatory effects of LCFAs on colitis. Specifically, palmitic acid (PA), a representative LCFA, enters intestinal epithelial cells via the cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) pathway and participates in the palmitoylation cycle of STAT3. Inhibiting this cycle using pharmacological inhibitors like 2-Bromopalmitate (2-BP) and ML349, as well as DHHC7 knockdown, has the ability to alleviate inflammation induced by PA. These findings highlight the significant role of dietary LCFAs, especially PA, in the development and progression of IBD. Diet adjustments and targeted modulation offer potential therapeutic strategies for managing this condition.Model of LCFAs involvement in the palmitoylation cycle of STAT3 upon internalization into cells. Following cellular uptake through CD36, LCFAs are converted to palmitoyl-CoA. In the presence of DHHC7, palmitoyl-CoA binds to STAT3 at the C108 site, forming palmitoylated STAT3. Palmitoylation further promotes phosphorylation at the Y705 site of STAT3. Subsequently, palmitoylated STAT3 undergoes depalmitoylation by APT2 and translocates to the nucleus to exert its biological functions.

Land use alters cross-ecosystem transfer of high value fatty acids by aquatic insects

BackgroundMany aquatic insects emerge as adults from water bodies to complete parts of their life cycle in terrestrial ecosystems and are potential prey for riparian predators. The benefits of riparian predators from aquatic insects include higher contents of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) compared to terrestrial insects. Aquatic insects are therefore considered a high-quality food. Food containing high levels of PUFA can enhance growth and immune response of spiders. However, agricultural stressors like nutrient increase, pesticides and habitat degradation can affect the biomass of aquatic insects and in turn the diet of spiders. Studies quantifying the influence of land use on fatty acid (FA) profiles of emergent aquatic insects and riparian predators are lacking. We quantified differences in exports of FA, saturated FA, monounsaturated FA, and PUFA, FA profiles of aquatic insects and spiders between forested and agricultural sites over the primary emergence period within one year. The FA export to the riparian food web is crucial to understand energy fluxes between ecosystems. Furthermore, we monitored environmental variables to identify associations between agricultural stressors and FA profiles of aquatic insects and spiders.ResultsWe found differences in FA export and profiles of aquatic insects between land-use types. The quantity of total FA export via aquatic insects was lower in agricultural sites (95% CI 1147–1313 µg m−2) in comparison to forested sites (95% CI 1555–1845 µg m−2), while the biomass export was higher in agricultural sites. Additionally, in spring the PUFA export was significantly lower (up to 0.06 µg d−1 m−2) in agricultural than forested sites. Agricultural stressors explained only little variation in the FA profiles of aquatic insects, e.g., 4% for caddisflies and 12% for non-biting midges. Percentage of shading and pool habitats were identified as most important variables explaining the variation in FA profiles.ConclusionThe quality of aquatic insects as food source for riparian spiders was smaller in agricultural than forested sites, which can decrease the fitness of riparian predators. To improve our capacity to predict potential adverse effects in the riparian food web, future studies should identify the mechanisms underlying a lower PUFA content.

Inhibitory effects of long chain fatty acids on anaerobic sludge treatment: Biomass adaptation and microbial community assessment

The study investigated the effects of long-chain fatty acids (LCFA) on anaerobic sludge treating lipid-rich wastewater. It involved batch experiments with three sludge samples: two acclimated to lipids and one non-acclimated. The experiments aimed to observe the degradation of LCFA, specifically oleate and palmitate, by dosing them at concentrations ranging from 50 to 600 mg/L. Measurements of the cumulative methane production and the LCFA concentration, quantified as fat, oil, and grease (FOG) were performed. To ensure the sludge was free from other biodegradable substrates, part of the samples was pre-incubated without feed. The tests were conducted with both pre-incubated and non-incubated inoculum sludge. The findings revealed that oleate was degraded more efficiently than palmitate across all sludge samples, with a greater conversion rate to methane. Sludge samples acclimated to lipids showed a superior capacity to degrade LCFA compared to non-acclimated ones. It was noted that at concentrations above 400 mg/L, the conversion of LCFAs to intermediate compounds was inhibited, although this did not affect the subsequent methane production. The study concludes with a recommendation for sludge adaptation strategies to boost the efficiency of anaerobic wastewater treatment systems dealing with lipid-rich waste. The presence of LCFA-degrading bacteria families like Kosmotogaceae, Petrotogaceae, and Synergistaceae in the acclimated sludge samples underscores the adaptation and potential for improved degradation performance.

Selection on the promoter regions plays an important role in complex traits during duck domestication

BackgroundIdentifying the key factors that underlie complex traits during domestication is a great challenge for evolutionary and biological studies. In addition to the protein-coding region differences caused by variants, a large number of variants are located in the noncoding regions containing multiple types of regulatory elements. However, the roles of accumulated variants in gene regulatory elements during duck domestication and economic trait improvement are poorly understood.ResultsWe constructed a genomics, transcriptomics, and epigenomics map of the duck genome and assessed the evolutionary forces that have been in play across the whole genome during domestication. In total, 304 (42.94%) gene promoters have been specifically selected in Pekin duck among all selected genes. Joint multi-omics analysis reveals that 218 genes (72.01%) with selected promoters are located in open and active chromatin, and 267 genes (87.83%) with selected promoters were highly and differentially expressed in domestic trait-related tissues. One important candidate gene ELOVL3, with a strong signature of differentiation on the core promoter region, is known to regulate fatty acid elongation. Functional experiments showed that the nearly fixed variants in the top selected ELOVL3 promoter in Pekin duck decreased binding ability with HLF and increased gene expression, with the overexpression of ELOVL3 able to increase lipid deposition and unsaturated fatty acid enrichment.ConclusionsThis study presents genome resequencing, RNA-Seq, Hi-C, and ATAC-Seq data of mallard and Pekin duck, showing that selection of the gene promoter region plays an important role in gene expression and phenotypic changes during domestication and highlights that the variants of the ELOVL3 promoter may have multiple effects on fat and long-chain fatty acid content in ducks.