Glyceride Levels Research Articles

Volatile, glycerides, tocopherol, phytosterols, and triterpene alcohol in 31 commercial walnut oils from three countries

Walnut oil, well-known for its nutritional value, is a promising source of healthy lipids. This study assessed the physicochemical properties and levels of volatile compounds, glycerides, tocopherol, phytosterols, and triterpene alcohol in 31 commercial walnut oil samples from different countries: China (with 27 samples), France (with 3 samples), and Germany (with 1 sample). The percentage content of unsaturated fatty acids in walnut oils exceeded 90 %. A total of 93 volatile compounds were identified, and the corresponding concentrations ranged from 28.02 to 528.37 mg/L, including 22 aldehydes, 14 acids, 22 alcohols, 10 alkanes, 13 ketones, 4 alkenes, 6 esters, and 2 pyrazines. 58 glycerides were identified, with concentrations of 568.59–2056.53 mg/kg. TG (54:2), TG (54:3), and TG (54:7) were the top three glycerides. Five types of phytosterols were identified, with levels of 568.48 mg/kg - 2364.68 mg/kg. γ-tocopherol was the most abundant tocopherol, ranging from 51.18 mg/kg to 1832.55 mg/kg. Total triterpene alcohol ranged from 106.73 to 717.64 mg/kg, including taraxerol, cycloartenol, and parkeol, etc. The results indicated that there were slight differences in the chemical composition of walnut oils among different regions or countries. Notably, walnut oil was a good source of unsaturated fatty acids, phytosterols, and tocopherols.

Lipidomic and transcriptomic analysis of triacylglycerol accumulation mechanism of pecan (Carya illinoinensis) nut

Pecan (Carya illinoinensis) holds significant prominence as an oil-seed nut, characterized by its high content of fatty acids and triacylglycerol (TG). The inclusion of TG in the C. illinoinensis nut is of paramount importance, not only contributing significantly to the nutritional value for human consumption but also serving as a reliable and eco-friendly resource for various industrial uses. The present study conducted a comprehensive analysis involving transcriptomics, lipidomics, and physiological assessments to explore the dynamic patterns and components of triacylglycerols (TG) in C. illinoinensis nuts throughout the ripening phase. Additionally, the investigation aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms governing TG metabolism. The physiological investigation conducted on the maturation progression of three cultivars of C. illinoinensis unveiled distinctive traits within each variety. Notably, ‘Mahan’ displayed elevated concentrations of oil and crude fat, in contrast to the contrasting trend observed in ‘Y-01’. Further lipidomic scrutiny exposed that ‘Mahan’ exhibited augmented levels of glycerides, specifically triglycerides (TG), monoacylglycerol (MG), and diacylglycerol (DG), compared to its counterparts during the ripening phase. The comparative analysis of RNA-Seq libraries uncovered a notable increase in unigenes associated with the ‘glycerolipid metabolism’ pathway. Moreover, the amalgamation of transcriptomic and lipidomic information indicated a heightened expression of genes implicated in TG metabolism in ‘Mahan’. Moreover, there was a strong association between CiGPAT3, CiDGAT1, CiTAGL2, and CiMAGL1 genes and TG metabolism during the ripening process of C. illinoinensis nuts. Utilizing weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) identified six distinct modules linked to various ripening stages, alongside the discovery of ten transcription factor families implicated in regulating TG metabolism. In summary, our research provides significant insights into the molecular framework that governs the accumulation mechanism of triglycerides (TG) in C. illinoinensis nuts throughout the ripening phase, which plays a pivotal role in optimizing the yield of C. illinoinensis oil and fostering progress in the molecular breeding.

Multiomics Analysis Revealed Colorectal Cancer Pathogenesis.

Gut microbiota-derived microbial compounds may link to the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the role of the host-microbiome in the incidence and progression of CRC remains elusive. We performed 16S rRNA sequencing, metabolomics, and proteomic studies on samples from 85 CRC patients who underwent colonoscopy examination and found two distinct changed patterns of microbiome in CRC patients. The relative abundances of Catabacter and Mogibacterium continuously increased from intramucosal carcinoma to advanced stages, whereas Clostridium, Anaerostipes, Vibrio, Flavonifractor, Holdemanella, and Hungatella were significantly altered only in intermediate lesions. Fecal metabolomics analysis exhibited consistent increases in bile acids, indoles, and urobilin as well as a decrease in heme. Serum metabolomics uncovered the highest levels of bilin, glycerides, and nucleosides together with the lowest levels of bile acids and amino acids in the stage of intermediate lesions. Three fecal and one serum dipeptides were elevated in the intermediate lesions. Proteomics analysis of colorectal tissues showed that oxidation and autophagy through the PI3K/Akt-mTOR signaling pathway contribute to the development of CRC. Diagnostic analysis showed multiomics features have good predictive capability, with AUC greater than 0.85. Our overall findings revealed new candidate biomarkers for CRC, with potentially significant diagnostic and prognostic capabilities.

Vacuum promoted on-tissue derivatization strategy: Unravelling spatial distribution of glycerides on tissue

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) has shown its capability in visualizing the spatial distribution of various kinds of endogenous metabolites. Nevertheless, high quality mass imaging of low polar metabolites remains challenging. Herein, a platform for sensitive matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry imaging of cholesterol and glycerides has been proposed. In the platform, a vacuum promoted on-tissue derivatization strategy was proposed to constantly make the derivatization reaction proceed towards to the direction of products. Compared with traditional on-tissue derivatization procedure, the strategy improved the acquired intensity of derivatized glycerides about 50%. Additionally, the mass spectrometry image reflecting the signal ratio between 3 classes of glycerides was achieved to exploit the metabolic level of glycerides on tissue slice. Finally, the platform was applied to brain slices of Alzheimer's transgenic mice, type 2 diabetes mice and normal mice. Significant difference was found in mass spectrometry images reflecting the signal ratio of multiple endogenous metabolites. The work constructed a promising platform for mapping of glycerides in tissue by mass spectrometry imaging.

The effect of dietary eugenol nano-emulsion supplementation on growth performance, serum metabolites, redox homeostasis, immunity, and pro-inflammatory responses of growing rabbits under heat stress.

Heat stress (HS) is a main abiotic stress factor for the health and welfare of animals. Recently, the use of nano-emulsion essential oils exhibited a promising approach to mitigate the detrimental impacts of abiotic and biotic stresses, ultimately contributing to the global aim of sustainable livestock production. The current study was piloted to assess the impact of eugenol nano-emulsion (EUGN) supplementation on growth performance, serum metabolites, redox homeostasis, immune response, and pro-inflammatory reactions in growing rabbits exposed to HS. A total of 100 male weaning rabbits aged 35 days were divided into 4 treatments. Rabbits were fed the diet with EUGN at different concentrations: 0 (control group; EUGN0), 50 (EUGN50), 100 (EUGN100), and 150 (EUGN150) mg/kg diet for 8 weeks under summer conditions. Dietary EUGN levels significantly improved (p < 0.05) the body weight, body weight gain, carcass weights, and improved feed conversion ratio of rabbits. EUGN supplementation significantly increased Hb, platelets, and red blood cells , while the mean corpuscular hemoglobin and eosinophils were significantly decreased compared to the control one. Compared with EUGN0 stressed rabbits, all EUGN-experimental groups had a reduction in levels of total glycerides (p < 0.01), uric acid, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (p < 0.01). Total antioxidant capacity and glutathione peroxidase were significantly improved by EUGN treatment when compared to the control one (p < 0.01), while the EUGN100 exhibited the greatest levels of catalase. Lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde) was significantly decreased in EUGN-treated groups. All pro-inflammatory cytokines serum interleukin 4, Interleukin 1β, and tumor necrosis factor alpha were considerably decreased after dietary EUGN supplementation (p < 0.05). The serum concentrations of immunoglobulins (IgG and IgM) were significantly improved in rabbits of the EUGN150 group. This study shows that EUGN can be used as a novel feed additive to enhance the growth performance, immune variables, and antioxidants, and reduce the inflammatory response of growing rabbits exposed to thermal stress.

Dietary Supplementation of Microalgae and/or Nanominerals Mitigate the Negative Effects of Heat Stress in Growing Rabbits

Heat stress (HS) is one of the most significant environmental factors that result in fluctuations and shrinkage in rabbit growth, health, and overall productivity. This study aims to investigate the effects of dietary mineral nanoparticles (selenium or zinc) and/or Spirulina platensis (SP) independently and in combination on stressed growing rabbits. A total of 180 weaned growing New Zealand White rabbits were included in this study and randomly divided into six dietary treatments. Rabbits received a basal diet (control group; CON group) or fortified with SP (1 g/kg diet), selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs, 50 mg/kg diet), zinc nanoparticles (ZnNPs, 100 mg/kg diet), and a mixture of SP and SeNPs (SPSeNPs) or SP and ZnNPs (SPZnNPs) groups for 8 weeks during summer conditions. The obtained results demonstrated a significant increase in the final body weight and weight gain (p < 0.05). Additionally, the feed conversion ratio was improved during the periods from 6 to 14 weeks in the treated rabbits compared to those in the CON group. Dietary supplements considerably improved (p < 0.05) the blood hematology (WBCs, Hb, RBCs, and Hct) and some carcass traits (liver weights and edible giblets). All dietary supplements significantly decreased serum levels of total glycerides (p < 0.0001), AST (p = 0.0113), ALT (p = 0.0013), creatinine (p = 0.0009), and uric acid (p = 0.0035) compared to the CON group. All treated groups (except ZnNPs) had lower values of total bilirubin and indirect bilirubin in a dose-dependent way when compared to the CON group. The values of IgA, IgG, and superoxide dismutase were significantly improved (p < 0.05) in all treated rabbits compared to the CON group. Compared with the CON group, the levels of T3 (p < 0.05) were significantly increased in all treated growing rabbits (except for the ZnNP group), while the serum cortisol, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), malondialdehyde, and protein carbonyl were significantly decreased in the treated groups (p < 0.05). Dietary supplements sustained the changes in hepatic, renal, and cardiac impairments induced by HS in growing rabbits. Adding SP (1 g/kg diet) or SeNPs (50 mg/kg diet) in the diet, either individually or in combination, improved growth performance, blood picture, and immunity-antioxidant responses in stressed rabbits. Overall, these feed additives (SP, SeNPs, or their mixture) can be applied as an effective nutritional tool to reduce negative impacts of summer stress conditions, thereby maintaining the health status and improving the heat tolerance in growing rabbits.

Effects of soda water on blood lipid and metabolic profiling of urine in hyperlipidemia rats using UPLC/Triple-TOF MS

The effects of a natural soda water (Shi Han Quan, SHQ) on hyperlipidemia and the changes of urine metabolic profiling by metabolomics techniques were investigate. Thirty six Wistar rats weighing 160–200 g were divided into control group, hyperlipidemia (HL) group, and hyperlipidemia + SHQ water (SHQ) group. The metabolites in urine were determined using ultra high performance liquid chromatography-triple-time of flight-mass spectrometry (UPLC/Triple-TOF MS). At the end of 1 month and 3 months, the total glyceride (TG) level was significantly lower in SHQ group compared to HL group. There was no significantly difference in total cholesterol (TC) levels in HL group compared with SHQ group. The results showed that dinking SHQ water can improve the TG, but with no effects on TC. After drinking SHQ water for 3 months, the rats in different groups could be classified into different clusters according to the metabolites in urine. Total 15 important metabolites were found and correlated with disturbance of amino acid, phospholipid, fatty acid and vitamin metabolism, which suggested the changes of metabolism in the body and possible mechanism by which SHQ improved the TG. These findings provide a new insight for the prevention and control of hyperlipidemia.

Dipterocarpus tuberculatus as a promising anti-obesity treatment in Lep knockout mice.

The therapeutic effects and mechanisms of Dipterocarpus tuberculatus (D. tuberculatus) extracts have been examined concerning inflammation, photoaging, and gastritis; however, their effect on obesity is still being investigated. We administered a methanol extract of D. tuberculatus (MED) orally to Lep knockout (KO) mice for 4 weeks to investigate the therapeutic effects on obesity, weight gain, fat accumulation, lipid metabolism, inflammatory response, and β-oxidation. In Lep KO mice, MED significantly reduced weight gains, food intake, and total cholesterol and glyceride levels. Similar reductions in fat weights and adipocyte sizes were also observed. Furthermore, MED treatment reduced liver weight, lipid droplet numbers, the expressions of adipogenesis and lipogenesis-related genes, and the expressions of lipolysis regulators in liver tissues. Moreover, the iNOS-mediated COX-2 induction pathway, the inflammasome pathway, and inflammatory cytokine levels were reduced, but β-oxidation was increased, in the livers of MED-treated Lep KO mice. The results of this study suggest that MED ameliorates obesity and has considerable potential as an anti-obesity treatment.

Association of serum metabolome profile with the risk of breast cancer in participants of the HUNT2 study.

The serum metabolome is a potential source of molecular biomarkers associated with the risk of breast cancer. Here we aimed to analyze metabolites present in pre-diagnostic serum samples collected from healthy women participating in the Norwegian Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT2 study) for whom long-term information about developing breast cancer was available. Women participating in the HUNT2 study who developed breast cancer within a 15-year follow-up period (BC cases) and age-matched women who stayed breast cancer-free were selected (n=453 case-control pairs). Using a high-resolution mass spectrometry approach 284 compounds were quantitatively analyzed, including 30 amino acids and biogenic amines, hexoses, and 253 lipids (acylcarnitines, glycerides, phosphatidylcholines, sphingolipids, and cholesteryl esters). Age was a major confounding factor responsible for a large heterogeneity in the dataset, hence age-defined subgroups were analyzed separately. The largest number of metabolites whose serum levels differentiated BC cases and controls (82 compounds) were observed in the subgroup of younger women (<45 years old). Noteworthy, increased levels of glycerides, phosphatidylcholines, and sphingolipids were associated with reduced risk of cancer in younger and middle-aged women (≤64 years old). On the other hand, increased levels of serum lipids were associated with an enhanced risk of breast cancer in older women (>64 years old). Moreover, several metabolites could be detected whose serum levels were different between BC cases diagnosed earlier (<5 years) and later (>10 years) after sample collecting, yet these compounds were also correlated with the age of participants. Current results were coherent with the results of the NMR-based metabolomics study performed in the cohort of HUNT2 participants, where increased serum levels of VLDL subfractions were associated with reduced risk of breast cancer in premenopausal women. Changes in metabolite levels detected in pre-diagnostic serum samples, which reflected an impaired lipid and amino acid metabolism, were associated with long-term risk of breast cancer in an age-dependent manner.

Autophagic degradation of LOX-1 is involved in the maintenance of vascular integrity injured by oxLDL and protected by Berberine.

Damage to vascular endothelial cells (VECs) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) caused by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) contributes to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Protection effects of Berberine (BBR) on the cardiovascular system have been reported, however, the molecular mechanism of vascular protection is still unclear. In this study, we established two hyperlipidemia models in zebrafish and VEC-VSMC co-culture using high-cholesterol food (HCF) and oxLDL, respectively. We demonstrated that HCF doubled total cholesterol and total glyceride levels, and BBR decreased these indices in a concentration-dependent manner. Lipid staining and hematoxylin-eosin staining revealed that BBR inhibited oxLDL-induced VSMC bulge-like proliferation and migration toward VECs and prevented the HCF-induced trunk vascular obstruction in zebrafish. Immunoblot analysis, cell immunofluorescence, co-immunoprecipitation assays, and transmission electron microscopy showed that oxLDL/HCF increased lectin-like oxLDL receptor-1 (LOX-1) expression at least 5-fold and significantly inhibited autophagolysosome formation in the blood vessel cells and in zebrafish. These observations were associated with endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in VECs and triggered VE-cadherin ectopic expression in VSMCs, and they were responsible for aberrant VSMC migration and vascular occlusion. However, BBR, by promoting autolysosome formation and degradation of LOX-1, reversed the above events and maintained intracellular homeostasis of vessel cells and vascular integrity. In conclusion, regulation of autophagy may be an effective approach to treating oxLDL-induced cardiovascular diseases by reducing LOX-1 protein level. BBR can protect blood vessels by adjusting the oxLDL-LOX-1-EMT-autophagy axis. This study is a step toward the development of new applications of BBR.

Evaluation of the activity of trans-Resveratrol alone and in combination with Amlodipine and Pioglitazone against Fructose induced metabolic syndrome rats

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a cluster of conditions that cause an increase in the risk of diabetes, heart disorders, and stroke.The present research was completed in Wistar rats, in which Metabolic Syndrome (MS) was induced with a High Fructose Diet. Animals were randomly divided into 7 gatherings and the test group animals received Resveratrol (RSVT), Amlodipine (AML), Pioglitazone (PIO), Resveratrol+Amoldipine, and Resveratrol+Pioglitazone at different doses for 5 weeks. Various behavioral, biochemical, and histopathological parameters were estimated.AML alone and along with RSVT was found to reduce diastolic and systolic pressures, there was the reduction in BP in the remaining groups. There was a significant reduction in serum insulin and Fasting glucose level (FGL) in all the treatment groups. And there was a noticeable reduction in the levels of total glycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC) along with LDL, HDL, and VLDL when compared to the control group and HFD group. Histopathological study revealed that there was a reduction in the deposition of lipids in liver cells and aorta as compared to HFD group.The outcomes showed the defensive mechanism of Resveratrol against fructose-induced Metabolic Syndrome. The mechanism of protection may be due to an escalation of cellular antioxidants. The activity was found to increase in combination with amlodipine and pioglitazone.

Untargeted lipidomics reveals progression of early Alzheimer\u2019s disease in APP/PS1 transgenic mice

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is closely connected to aberrant lipid metabolism. However, how early AD-like pathology synchronously influences brain and plasma lipidome in AD mice remains unclear. The study of dynamic change of lipidome in early-stage AD mice could be of great interest for the discovery of lipid biomarkers for diagnosis and monitoring of early-stage AD. For the purpose, an untargeted lipidomic strategy was developed for the characterization of lipids (≤ 1,200 Da) perturbation occurring in plasma and brain in early-stage AD mice (2, 3 and 7 months) by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Significant changes were detected in the levels of several lipid species including lysophospholipids, phosphatidylcholines (PCs), phosphatidylethanolamines (PEs) and Ceramides (Cers), as well as other related lipid compounds such as fatty acids (FAs), diacylglycerols (DGs) and triacylglycerols (TGs) in AD mice. In this sense, disorders of lipid metabolism appear to involve in multiple factors including overactivation of phospholipases and diacylglycerol lipases, decreased anabolism of lysophospholipids in plasma and PEs in plasma and brain, and imbalances in the levels of PCs, FAs and glycerides at different ages. We revealed the changing panels of potential lipid biomarkers with the development of early AD. The study raises the possibility of developing lipid biomarkers for diagnosis of early-stage AD.

Sekikaic acid modulates pancreatic β-cells in streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetic rats by inhibiting digestive enzymes

The antioxidant and antidiabetic effects of sekikaic acid (SA) were investigated using in vitro and in vivo study models. SA possessed good antioxidant activity as assessed through hydroxyl radicals (IC50 value = 41.5 µg/mL) and ferric ions assay (IC50 value = 42.0 µg/mL). SA exhibited stronger α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition than that of aldose-reductase and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B. The hypoglycemic activity of SA caused significant reduction of plasma glucose levels in normal and glucose loaded rats. The anti-hyperglycemic activity of SA (2 mg/Kg body weight) was indicated by the reduction of blood glucose by 44.17 ± 3.78% in the third week in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The hypolipidaemic action of SA was evident by the significant decrease in the levels of low-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol, and total glycerides. Histologically, the pancreas of the treated groups showed significant regeneration of the pancreatic β-cells compared to diabetic control, possibly due to the inhibition of digestive enzymes.

Comparative study on physicochemical hydrolysis methods for glycerides removal from rice bran acid oil for subsequent γ-oryzanol recovery

A comparative study on physicochemical hydrolysis methods, including acid-catalyzed, base-catalyzed, and subcritical water hydrolysis, for glycerides removal prior to subsequent γ-oryzanol purification from rice bran acid oil (RBAO), is presented. The effects of hydrolysis conditions on the residual levels of glycerides and γ-oryzanol in RBAO were first investigated for each method. It can be concluded that the acid-catalyzed hydrolysis was not a suitable hydrolysis method for this application as it provided a low glycerides conversion level of ca. 30% using 2 N H2SO4 at 80–100 °C, despite the long reaction time (> 60 min). For the base-catalyzed hydrolysis, 100% glycerides removal was achieved at the most suitable condition, which was suggested to be at 2.5 N NaOH, 90 °C and 5–10 min. At this condition, a relatively high residual level of γ-oryzanol of ca. 57–66% was obtained. For the subcritical water hydrolysis, the results suggested that γ-oryzanol was hydrolyzed more rapidly than glycerides, and the most suitable condition for subcritical water hydrolysis was at 220 °C for 10 min. At this condition, high glycerides removal of > 95% was achieved while the remaining amount of γ-oryzanol was still acceptable (50%).

Differences in Pregnancy Metabolic Profiles and Their Determinants between White European and South Asian Women: Findings from the Born in Bradford Cohort.

There is widespread metabolic disruption in women upon becoming pregnant. South Asians (SA) compared to White Europeans (WE) have more fat mass and are more insulin-resistant at a given body mass index (BMI). Whether these are reflected in other gestational metabolomic differences is unclear. Our aim was to compare gestational metabolic profiles and their determinants between WE and SA women. We used data from a United Kingdom (UK) cohort to compare metabolic profiles and associations of maternal age, education, parity, height, BMI, tricep skinfold thickness, gestational diabetes (GD), pre-eclampsia, and gestational hypertension with 156 metabolic measurements in WE (n = 4072) and SA (n = 4702) women. Metabolic profiles, measured in fasting serum taken between 26–28 weeks gestation, were quantified by nuclear magnetic resonance. Distributions of most metabolic measures differed by ethnicity. WE women had higher levels of most lipoprotein subclasses, cholesterol, glycerides and phospholipids, monosaturated fatty acids, and creatinine but lower levels of glucose, linoleic acid, omega-6 and polyunsaturated fatty acids, and most amino acids. Higher BMI and having GD were associated with higher levels of several lipoprotein subclasses, triglycerides, and other metabolites, mostly with stronger associations in WEs. We have shown differences in gestational metabolic profiles between WE and SA women and demonstrated that associations of exposures with these metabolites differ by ethnicity.

Consumption of lycopene-rich tomatoes improved glucose homeostasis in rats via an increase in leptin levels.

The lycopene content of tomatoes is important because of its effects on vital physiological functions such as improvement of glucose tolerance and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. To investigate the influence of the lycopene content of tomatoes on glucose tolerance and hepatic lipid content, homogenates of lycopene-rich (LR) or lycopene-free negative control (NC) tomato varieties were administrated to normal rats for 4weeks. At the end of the experiment, an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed. Rats were fed once and then dissected. According to the OGTT results, plasma glucose levels in the LR group were 10% and 9% lower at 15min and 30min, respectively, than those in the NC group, whereas plasma insulin levels did not differ between the groups at either time point. Upon dissection, plasma leptin levels in the LR group were higher than those in the NC group, while plasma adiponectin levels did not differ between groups. With the exception of retinol palmitate, no carotenoids were detected in the liver by HPLC analysis. Hepatic retinol palmitate levels and hepatic triacyl glyceride levels did not differ between the groups. We concluded that in normal rats, a lycopene-rich tomato variety improved glucose tolerance via an increase in plasma leptin levels that enhanced insulin sensitivity but did not affect carotenoid accumulation or lipid metabolism.

Scientific investigation into the water sensitivity of twentieth century oil paints

In order to develop a better understanding at the molecular level of water sensitivity in twentieth century oil paintings, water sensitive Winsor & Newton oil paint swatches and twentieth century oil paintings were characterised using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and direct injection electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), and the data were analysed using principal component analysis. Liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry based on quadrupole and time of flight mass detectors and electrospray interface (HPLC-ESI-Q-ToF) was also used to obtain a better insight into the molecular composition of a selection of samples. The study highlights a strong relationship between the molecular composition of the binding medium and the type of pigment present in the paint, which relates to water sensitivity. Consistently non-water sensitive lead white, titanium white, and zinc white paints [all containing zinc oxide] contained a relatively low proportion of extractable diacids, and a relatively high proportion of extractable short chain monoacids. These paints also contained a relatively low level of unsaturated and hydroxylated glycerides. Water sensitive iron oxide and ultramarine paints are associated with both a relatively high degree of oxidation and a high proportion of extractable diacids, as well as a relatively high content of unsaturated and hydroxylated glycerides. Water sensitive cadmium red, yellow and orange paints were generally not highly oxidised, but they also contained a relatively high content of unsaturated and hydroxylated glycerides. It is hypothesised that water sensitivity relates to a low degree of saponification and crosslinking and possibly, on the relative content of dicarboxylic acids.

UHPLC/Q-TOFMS-based plasma metabolomics of polycystic ovary syndrome patients with and without insulin resistance

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), characterized with menstrual irregularities, hyperandrogenism and ovulatory abnormalities, is usually companied with insulin resistance (IR) and accounts for one of the most prevalent reproductive dysfunction of premenopausal women. Despite accumulating investigations, diagnostic standards of this pathological condition remain obscure. The aim of present study is to characterize the plasma metabolic characteristics of PCOS patients with and without IR, and subsequently identify the potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of PCOS and its IR complication. A total of 59 plasma samples from eligible healthy controls (CON, n=19), PCOS patients without IR (non-IR PCOS, n=19) and PCOS patients with IR (IR PCOS, n=21) were profiled by an ultra high-performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC/Q-TOFMS) followed by multivariate statistical analysis. Compared to the healthy controls, significant decrease in the levels of phosphocholines (PCs) and lyso PC (18:2), and increase in trilauric glyceride level were observed in the plasma of IR PCOS. Meanwhile, the significant increase in the levels of saturated fatty acids (palmitic acid and stearic acid) and decanoylcarnitine, and decrease in PC (36:2) and PS (36:0) were found in non-IR PCOS patients. Trilauric glyceride and decanoylcarnitine were identified as the potential biomarkers with the highest sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of PCOS patients with and without IR, respectively. Furthermore, based on these alterations of metabolites, MetPA network pathway analysis suggested a profound involvement of the abnormalities of glycerophospholipid, glycerolipid and fatty acid metabolisms in the pathogenesis of PCOS and IR complications. Collectively, LC–MS-based metabolomics provides a promising strategy for complementary diagnosis of PCOS and its IR complication and offers a new insight to understand their pathogenesis mechanisms.

Effect of Wheat and Barley-Based Combined Forage Non-Starch Polysaccharides and Enzymatic Preparations on the Major Sanguine Indices in Broiler Chickens

SUMMARY The objective of our experiment was to determine th e utilization protocol of enzymatic preparations in concordance with the wheat and barl ey proportion in the combined forages for broiler chickens and the effect exerted by them on sanguine indices. The experiment was performed during six weeks, on a number of 150 chickens, distributed in five experimental groups (LE1, LE2 and LE3, LE4, LE5), as follows: the experimental group LE1, fed with forage without wheat in its structure, the experime ntal group LE2, fed with combined forage including wheat in proportion of 60%, the experimental group LE3, fed with forage including 60 % wheat, with addition of 100 ppm xylanase, the experimental group LE4, with 30% wheat and barley in the same proportion, and the ex perimental group LE5, fed with wheat and barley like LE4 and with addition of 50 ppm xylanas e and 50 ppm beta glucanase. At the age of 6 weeks, successive to chicken killing, we sampl ed the blood and determined its content in cholesterol and triglycerides. Successive to our de terminations, we could observe that the triglyceride level in LE2 was smaller with 17.76% t han in LE1, and the cholesterol level was bigger with 4.26%, when compared with the same group. The addition of the wheat-specific enzyme in the case of LE3 does not cause major changes of the triglyceride (1.43%) and cholesterol (0.9%) levels. Wheat substitution with barley determines changes of the triglyceride and cholesterol levels; the triglyceri des increase with 33.81%, and the cholesterol with 16.36%. In LE5, the supplementation with the t wo enzymes specific to wheat- and barley- NSP determines a slight increase of the tri glyceride level, with 1.07%, and of cholesterol with 6.64%. LE4 and LE5 represent exceptions, because cholesterol levels correspond to the limits mentioned by the literatur e of specialty. Consequently, we may draw the conclusion that wheat utilization in a big prop ortion, respectively 60% of forage structure, determines a decrease of the triglyceride level (17 .24%) and a slight increase of the cholesterol level (4.26 %). The enzyme supplementation does not change the level of these sanguine constants. The relationships between visco sity, nutrient absorption and plasmatic cholesterol require further studies, with various p olysaccharide sources. REFERENCES

Type II Diacylglycerol Acyltransferase fromClaviceps purpureawith Ricinoleic Acid, a Hydroxyl Fatty Acid of Industrial Importance, as Preferred Substrate

Claviceps purpurea, the fungal pathogen that causes the cereal disease ergot, produces glycerides that contain high levels of ricinoleic acid [(R)-12-hydroxyoctadec-cis-9-enoic acid] in its sclerotia. Recently, a fatty acid hydroxylase (C. purpurea FAH [CpFAH]) involved in the biosynthesis of ricinoleic acid was identified from this fungus (D. Meesapyodsuk and X. Qiu, Plant Physiol. 147:1325-1333, 2008). Here, we describe the cloning and biochemical characterization of a C. purpurea type II diacylglycerol acyltransferase (CpDGAT2) involved in the assembly of ricinoleic acid into triglycerides. The CpDGAT2 gene was cloned by degenerate RT-PCR (reverse transcription-PCR). The expression of this gene restored the in vivo synthesis of triacylglycerol (TAG) in the quadruple mutant strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae H1246, in which all four TAG biosynthesis genes (DGA1, LRO1, ARE1, and ARE2) are disrupted. In vitro enzymatic assays using microsomal preparations from the transformed yeast strain indicated that CpDGAT2 prefers ricinoleic acid as an acyl donor over linoleic acid, oleic acid, or linolenic acid, and it prefers 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycerol over 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycerol as an acyl acceptor. The coexpression of CpFAH with CpDGAT2 in yeast resulted in an increased accumulation of ricinoleic acid compared to the coexpression of CpFAH with the native yeast DGAT2 (S. cerevisiae DGA1 [ScDGA1]) or the expression of CpFAH alone. Northern blot analysis indicated that CpFAH is expressed solely in sclerotium cells, with no transcripts of this gene being detected in mycelium or conidial cells. CpDGAT2 was more widely expressed among the cell types examined, although expression was low in conidiospores. The high expression of CpDGAT2 and CpFAH in sclerotium cells, where high levels of ricinoleate glycerides accumulate, provided further evidence supporting the roles of CpDGAT2 and CpFAH as key enzymes for the synthesis and assembly of ricinoleic acid in C. purpurea.