Levels Of Essential Amino Acids Research Articles

Evolutionary Adaptation of Protein Turnover in White Muscle of Stenothermal Antarctic Fish: Elevated Cold Compensation at Reduced Thermal Responsiveness.

Protein turnover is highly energy consuming and overall relates to an organism's growth performance varying largely between species, e.g., due to pre-adaptation to environmental characteristics such as temperature. Here, we determined protein synthesis rates and capacity of protein degradation in white muscle of the cold stenothermal Antarctic eelpout (Pachycara brachycephalum) and its closely related temperate counterpart, the eurythermal common eelpout (Zoarces viviparus). Both species were exposed to acute warming (P. brachycephalum, 0 °C + 2 °C day-1; Z. viviparus, 4 °C + 3 °C day-1). The in vivo protein synthesis rate (Ks) was monitored after injection of 13C-phenylalanine, and protein degradation capacity was quantified by measuring the activity of cathepsin D in vitro. Untargeted metabolic profiling by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to identify the metabolic processes involved. Independent of temperature, the protein synthesis rate was higher in P. brachycephalum (Ks = 0.38-0.614 % day-1) than in Z. viviparus (Ks= 0.148-0.379% day-1). Whereas protein synthesis remained unaffected by temperature in the Antarctic species, protein synthesis in Z. viviparus increased to near the thermal optimum (16 °C) and tended to fall at higher temperatures. Most strikingly, capacities for protein degradation were about ten times higher in the Antarctic compared to the temperate species. These differences are mirrored in the metabolic profiles, with significantly higher levels of complex and essential amino acids in the free cytosolic pool of the Antarctic congener. Together, the results clearly indicate a highly cold-compensated protein turnover in the Antarctic eelpout compared to its temperate confamilial. Constant versus variable environments are mirrored in rigid versus plastic functional responses of the protein synthesis machinery.

Acute repeated cage exchange stress modifies urinary stress and plasma metabolic profiles in male mice.

Exposure to a novel environment is psychologically and physically stressful for humans and animals. The response has been reported to involve enhanced sympathetic nervous system activity, but changes in nutrient levels under stress are not fully understood. As a form of exposure to a novel environment, repeated cage exchange (CE, four times at 2-h intervals for 8 h from 08:00 h) during the light phase with no restraint on movement was applied to A/J mice, a strain particularly prone to stress. Body temperature was measured with a temperature-sensing microchip implanted in the interscapular region. The stress conditions and anxiety level were evaluated by measuring urinary catecholamines and corticosterone and by performing an anxiety-like behavior test, respectively. Major nutrients such as glucose, fatty acids, and amino acids in the plasma were also examined. CE mice showed a significant increase in body temperature with each CE. They also showed a significantly greater reduction of body weight change, more water intake, and higher levels of urinary catecholamines and corticosterone and anxiety-like behavior score than control mice. The model revealed a significantly lower plasma glucose level and higher levels of several essential amino acids, such as branched-chain amino acids and phenylalanine, than those of control mice. Meanwhile, free fatty acids and several amino acids such as arginine, aspartic acid, proline, threonine, and tryptophan in both sets of mice were significantly decreased from the corresponding levels at 08:00 h, while similar plasma levels were exhibited between mice with and without CE. In conclusion, repeated CE stress was associated with changes in glucose and amino acids in plasma. Although further study is needed to clarify how these changes are specifically linked to anxiety-like behavior, this study suggests the potential for nutritional intervention to counter stress in humans exposed to novel environments.

Sodium pyruvate improves the plasma amino acid profile in rats with L-arginine-induced acute pancreatitis.

Plasma amino acid levels are altered upon many pathological conditions including acute pancreatitis. It is unclear whether amino acids can be used as specific biomarker of acute pancreatitis severity or recovery. Development of acute pancreatitis is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and decreased cytosolic ATP level. Sodium pyruvate is considered as a potential treatment of pancreatitis due to its ability to sustain mitochondrial oxidative and ATP-productive capacity in vitro. This study investigated the effect of sodium pyruvate on pancreatic morphology and plasma amino acid levels in rats with acute pancreatitis. Acute pancreatitis in rats was induced by administration of L-arginine (5g/kg) Experimental treatment group received sodium pyruvate (1g/kg) for 4days. On day 8 of the experiment, animals were killed, blood was collected and plasma amino acid concentration was determined with high-performance liquid chromatography. Histological examination showed large areas of fibrosis in the pancreas of animals treated with L-arginine irrespectively of sodium pyruvate administration. Sodium pyruvate improved the plasma amino acid levels. Rats with acute pancreatitis had significantly lower levels of most essential and non-essential amino acids and increased glutamate and aspartate in plasma. Administration of sodium pyruvate completely or partially restored the levels of methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, leucine, isoleucine, aspartate, asparagine and ornithine levels, while increasing glutamine and serine to levels significantly higher than control. Plasma lysine, alanine, arginine and taurine remained unaffected in all experimental groups. Sodium pyruvate may be considered for use as a maintenance therapy in acute pancreatitis.

Balancing the Growth Performance and Nutritional Value of Edible Farm-Raised Sago Palm Weevil (Rhynchophorus ferregineus) Larvae by Feeding Various Plant Supplemented-Sago Palm Trunk Diets.

Herein, the effect of supplementing ground sago palm trunk (GSPT) with varying concentrations of plant-based ingredients (PIs), including rice bran (RB), soybean meal (SM), and perilla seed (PS), on the nutritional profile of sago palm weevil larvae (SPWL) was investigated. Increased PS intake induced an increase in α-linolenic acid level and a reduction in the n-6/n-3 ratio in SPWL (p < 0.05). The presence of fatty acids in SPWL was determined predominantly by the fatty acid profile in the feed. The activities of Δ5 + Δ6 desaturases and thioesterase were not different among SPWL fed different diets (p < 0.05); however, PI intake resulted in low suppression of fads2 gene expression. RB, SM, and PS at the appropriate concentrations of 17.5%, 8.8%, and 7.0% in GSPT (F3 diet), respectively, boosted both protein quantity and quality of SPWL, as indicated by higher levels of essential amino acids, particularly lysine, than the FAO protein reference. Therefore, incorporating PIs into a regular diet is a viable method for enhancing the nutritional value and sustainability of farm-raised SPWL as a potential alternative source of high-quality lipid and protein.

Radish microgreens produced without substrate in a vertical multi-layered growing unit are rich in nutritional metabolites.

Growing microgreens on trays without substrate in a vertical multilayered growing unit offers several advantages over traditional agriculture methods. This study investigated the yield performance and nutritional quality of five selections of radish microgreens grown in sprouting trays, without a substrate using only water, in an indoor multilayer cultivation system using artificial light. Various parameters were measured, including fresh weight, dry matter, chlorophyll, minerals, amino acids, phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanins, vitamin C, glucosinolates, and antioxidant activity with four different in vitro assays. After ten days, the biomass had increased by 6-10 times, and the dry matter varied from 4.75-7.65%. The highest yield was obtained from 'Asia red', while the lowest was from 'Koregon red'. However, 'Koregon red' and 'Asia red' had the highest dry matter. 'Asia red' was found to have the highest levels of both Chls and vitamin C compared to the other cultivars, while 'Koregon red' exhibited the highest levels of total phenolics and flavonoids. Although variations in the levels of individual glucosinolates were observed, there were no significant differences in the total content of glucosinolates among the five cultivars. 'Asia purple' had the highest anthocyanin content, while 'Asia green 2' had the lowest. The K, Mg, and Na concentrations were significantly highest in 'Asia green 2', and the highest Ca was recorded in 'Asia purple'. Overall, 'Asia purple' and 'Koregon red' were the best cultivars in terms of nutritional quality among the tested radish microgreens. These cultivars exhibited high levels of dry weight, total phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanins, essential and total amino acids, and antioxidant activities. Moreover, the implementation of this vertical cultivation method for microgreens, which relies solely on water and seeds known for their tall shoots during the sprouting could hold promise as a sustainable approach. This method can effectively be utilized for cultivar screening and fulfilling the nutritional and functional needs of the population while minimizing the environmental impacts associated with traditional agriculture practices.

Effect of body weight on the nutrient composition of the muscle and skin tissues of Oncorhynchus mykiss

To provide basic research data for the processing and comprehensive utilization of triploid rainbow trout, we studied the nutritional quality of muscle and skin tissue of different sizes of fish (1250.10 ± 1.22 g, 2555.31 ± 1.32 g, and 3823.10 ± 1.44 g). The results showed that the proportion of skin and muscle was the highest when fish body size was 2555.31 ± 1.32 g. In muscle, lysine content was the highest and methionine content was the lowest among the essential amino acids (EAAs). Glutamic acid content was the highest and glycine content was the lowest among all umami-related amino acids. With increasing size, EAA, D-aspartic acid (DAA), and total amino acid (TAA) levels first increased and then decreased. The Met + Cys group contained the most restricted amino acids in the skin and muscle, and 2555.31 ± 1.32 g triploid rainbow trout had better amino acid balance and the best nutritional value. Of the essential minerals, Na, Mg, and K were the most abundant. According to Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI), Mg, Fe, and Zn can provide higher nutritional quality. Finally, the results showed that nutritional quality was highest in the muscle of the intermediate-sized triploid rainbow trout.

Comparison of Growth Performance and Biochemical Components between Low-Salinity-Tolerant Hybrid and Normal Variety of Pacific White Shrimp (Penaeus vannamei).

Penaeus vannamei, a high-yield economical shrimp, is confronting germplasm degradation in the culture environments found in China, which results in a sharp drop in production. Genetic improvement by hybridization is an effective way to solve this problem. In this study, we selected the hybrid species adapted to low-salinity culture obtained by intraspecific crossing as the experimental group. The control group consisted of normal variety from the Hainan Lutai Company. The two groups of shrimps were cultured for three months under salinities of 1 PSU, 5 PSU, and 15 PSU. Growth-performance-related indicators, biochemical composition, and molting-related gene expression were examined. The results showed that at salinities of 1 PSU and 5 PSU, the survival rate and growth performance of the low-salt breeding group were better than those of the normal variety population. The digestive enzyme activity in the low-salt breeding group was higher, which was consistent with its better growth performance, and was also associated with higher triglyceride, total cholesterol, and glycogen content. Lower levels of lactic acid indicated less anaerobic metabolism and better adaptability to the environment. The amino acid and fatty acids analysis showed that levels of essential amino acids and high unsaturated fatty acids were both higher in the low-salt breeding group than in the normal variety shrimp cultured in a low-salinity environment. The expression levels of genes associated with molting (CHS, CaMKI, RXR, EcR, HSP60, and HSP70) were also higher in the low-salt breeding group than in the control group. The results indicated that the hybrid shrimp showed better growth performance and nutritional advantages compared with the normal shrimp under salinities of 1 PSU and 5 PSU. This research provides a valuable reference for subsequent genetic breeding and shrimp culture.

Extrusion processing improves rainbow trout digestibility of microalgal Nannochloropsis oculata co-product biomass for more sustainable aquaculture diets

Aquaculture feeds include fishmeal (FM) and fish oil (FO), derived from wild-caught marine fish such as anchovy and sardines, and pose ecological, food security, and economic drawbacks for sustainable aquaculture, the world's fastest-growing agricultural sector. Protein-rich microalgal co-product is a promising alternative to unsustainably sourced fishmeal in aquaculture diets. Microalgal co-product is a defatted biomass left over after extracting omega-3-rich oil for human nutraceuticals and crude oil for fuels. In this study, we report the first evaluations of nutritive values and digestibility of raw, extrusion- and enzymatic-processed co-product of the marine microalga Nannochloropsis oculata (N. oculata co-product). Results allowed us to evaluate the feasibility of using processed biomass in aquafeed for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), an important model for all salmonid aquaculture. Extrusion processing temperature (90 °C vs 127 °C) influenced the nutritional value of N. oculata. Protein and energy levels were significantly higher in co-product from both extrusion temperature treatments than in non-extruded raw co-product. Essential amino acid levels did not differ between extrusion temperatures, except that methionine was significantly lower in coproduct from 127 °C extrusion processing than from 90 °C extrusion processing. The protein level in extrusion processed co-product was not significantly influenced by pre-cooking. We detected the highest digestibility of crude protein, energy, most of the amino acids, and omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n3 PUFA) in extruded (90 °C) N. oculata co-product ingredient. Nutrient digestibility of enzymatic processed N. oculata co-product were mostly the same as extrusion processing or lower for certain nutrients. Overall, extrusion processing of N. oculata at 90 °C provided the best outcome for digestible protein, and yielded an excellent source of digestible protein, amino acids, and long chain omega-3 profile for rainbow trout and which could be an alternative to replace fishmeal in rainbow trout diets.

The Association between Macrosomia and Amino Acids' Levels in Maternal and Cord Sera: A Case-Control Study.

In the case-control study, 78 pairs of mothers and newborns were recruited from December 2016 to November 2019. Participants were divided into the macrosomia group (BW ≥ 4000 g, n = 39) and the control group (BW between 2500 g and 3999 g, n = 39) according to the birth weight (BW) of newborns. Maternal vein blood samples were collected before delivery and cord vein blood samples were collected after birth. The levels of amino acids in maternal and cord sera were measured by liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in the year 2021. The difference in amino acid levels in maternal and cord sera between the two groups was compared, and the contribution of each amino acid to the difference between the two groups was analyzed. Unconditional logistic regression analysis was used to test the relationship between macrosomia and amino acids. In maternal serum during the antepartum, the levels of asparagine, glutamine, methionine, alanine, and threonine in the macrosomia group were higher but arginine was lower than that in the control group (p < 0.05). In cord serum, the levels of lysine, histidine, phenylalanine, arginine, tryptophan, valine, isoleucine, glutamate, tyrosine, and total essential amino acid (EAA) in the macrosomia group were lower while glutamine was higher than that in the control group (p < 0.05). The ratios of EAA, valine, threonine, methionine, tryptophan, and alanine in maternal serum to those in cord serum were higher, while the ratio of glutamine was lower in the macrosomia group (p < 0.05). Arginine and threonine in maternal serum and glutamate, glutamine, and histidine in cord serum were associated with macrosomia (p < 0.05). Most of the amino acid levels in the maternal sera of the macrosomia group are higher than those in the control group, while most of the amino acids' levels in the cord sera of the macrosomia group are lower than those in the control group. The ratios of some amino acids in maternal serum to those in cord serum were different between the two groups. Arginine and threonine in maternal serum and glutamate, glutamine, and histidine in cord serum are closely related to macrosomia.

Probiotic supplementation of pea-derived protein alters the gut microbiome balance in favor of increased protein degradation, reflected in increased levels of essential amino acid in human plasma

Probiotic supplementation of pea-derived protein alters the gut microbiome balance in favor of increased protein degradation, reflected in increased levels of essential amino acid in human plasma

Essential Amino Acids in the Diet of Children and Adolescents.

The increasing requirement for energy and nutrients as a child grows older may result in nutritional deficiencies. The research was to assess the intake level of essential amino acids in the daily diet of children and adolescents living in rural areas. The research was conducted using a questionnaire that analysed food products consumed every day. The questionnaires were completed with the help of the researcher over a period of 7 d. Anthropometric measurements were carried out on every research participant. The participants' financial situation was calculated using a 5-degree scale, where 5 meant very good and 1 very bad. Insufficient body mass was recorded in the study group in 11.1% of boys and 14.7% of girls. Excessive body mass occurred more often among the girls (31%) than the boys (27.9%). Among boys aged 7-15 y old, protein provided 12.8% of the calorie requirement, while for the girls the figure was 13.6%. Among pupils aged 16-18 y old, the figures were 14.06% for boys and 14.33% for girls. Analysis of the results showed that irrespective of age or gender, no insufficient intake of amino acids was recorded among the study participants. In the study group of children and adolescents from rural areas, every third study participant suffered from excess body weight. Due to the fact that the intake of essential amino acids exceeded recommended RDA, it is vital that educational programmes are implemented on how to maintain a correctly balanced diet.

Dietary acetate promotes growth and nutrients deposition in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) through increasing acetyl-CoA-triggered energy production

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as acetate render multiple beneficial biological effects in living organisms. However, the systematic effects of acetate in fish energy metabolism are still lacking. This study explored the effects of dietary sodium acetate on energy metabolism by determining growth performance, acetate and macro nutrients metabolism, and liver health in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Thirty fingerlings (5.0 ± 0.30 g) were fed with a control (CN) or control containing 1800 mg/kg sodium acetate diet (NAAC) in triplicate for eight weeks. The results showed that NAAC increased significantly weight gain, carcass ratio, condition factor, and feed efficiency of Nile tilapia. Correspondingly, the NAAC significantly enhanced insulin sensitivity, activated the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) pathway, and increased glycogen, lipid and protein content in fish. Contrastingly, the fish fed with NAAC had lower of serum glucose and liver essential amino acid levels and liver fatty acid catabolism level than those fed with CN. However, the NAAC increased significantly the levels of acetyl-CoA, acetylcarnitine, β-hydroxybutyric acid and overall proteins acetylation. Moreover, the fish fed with NAAC had higher levels of NADH/NAD+, ATP, and expression of key genes related to NADH, and ATP production than those fed with CN. Additionally, the NAAC treatment upregulated significantly the antioxidant-related genes expression and downregulated the apoptotic genes expression, accompanied by reduced serum AST activity and apoptosis level. Taken together, dietary sodium acetate inhibited catabolism of protein, lipid and carbohydrate but increased dietary sodium acetate-sourced acetyl-CoA catabolic energy supply and activated the mTORC1 pathway, and finally increased macro nutrients deposition and promoted growth in fish. This study suggests that SCFAs such as acetate could be used as potential feed additives to promote feed utilization and exert protein-sparing effects.

Involvement of insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) and activation of insulin/IGF-like signaling (IIS)-target of rapamycin (TOR) signaling cascade in pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei exposed to acute low-salinity

Acute low-salinity induces multiple stress responses and significantly impact the health of aquatic animals. However, the molecular regulation network and metabolic adaptation of low salinity stress in aquatic organisms remain unclear. The insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) and insulin/IGF-like signaling (IIS)-target of rapamycin (TOR) signaling cascade are evolutionarily conserved regulators known to play crucial roles in response to various stressors. In this study, we used the euryhaline Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) as a model organism to investigate the involvement of IGFBP and IIS-TOR signaling cascade in acute low-salinity response. We found seven LvIGFBPs and evaluated 18s as one of most stable internal reference genes under acute low salinity stress. The expression of LvIGFBP4, LvSIBD1, and LvSIBD2 was significantly increased after 6-hours 5‰ salinity treatment. LvSIBD2 was specifically expressed on the surface of gill branch axis. Acute low-salinity significantly induced the phosphorylation of Akt and S6K in the gill but not in the muscle. We found acute low-salinity increased the levels of total essential amino acids, including leucine and arginine, while decreasing the total non-essential amino acid levels in the gill. Furthermore, glucose and key metabolites in glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA cycle) were increased, indicating remodeling of energy metabolism occurred. These results demonstrate the involvement of IGFBP and IIS-TOR signaling cascade in acute low-salinity response and provide new insights into understanding the mechanism of osmoregulation in euryhaline crustacean species.

Changes in phytochemical compositions and antioxidant activity of Schisandra sphenathera fruit during ripening

The present study explored the changes in phytochemical profiles (proximate, amino acids, fatty acids, and lignans) and antioxidant activity of Schisandra sphenathera fruit with three maturity stages (un-ripen, semi-ripen and fully-ripen). The results showed that the whole fruit contained high levels of essential amino acids and unsaturated fatty acids (linoleic and oleic acids), whose content slightly reduced with maturity. Meanwhile, the contents of total phenolics, total flavonoids, and total tannins were generally decreased in the extractable, free, conjugated, and bound phenolic fractions, while the total anthocyanin content in these phenolic fractions were increased during ripening. Furthermore, the lignan profiling of these fractions indicated an increased content of schisandrol A and gomisin J, but a decreased content of schisandrin B and schisandrin C in the extractable phenolic fractions during fruit maturation. It was noted that schisantherin B and schisandrin A were recorded in all phenolic fractions, alongside schisandrin B and schisandrin C detected only in extractable form. Additionally, the extractable phenolic fractions exerted considerable antioxidant activity with little or low significance at three maturity stages. Therefore, the whole fruit of S. sphenathera abound with unsaturated fatty acids and antioxidant lignans, boosting its chances of being fully utilized as a versatile and economical crop in pharmaceutical and food industries for different purposes.

Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum N-1 and Its Synergies with Oligomeric Isomaltose on the Growth Performance and Meat Quality in Hu Sheep.

Probiotics have gained tremendous attention as an alternative to antibiotics, while synbiotics may exhibit a greater growth promoting effect than their counterpart probiotics due to the prebiotics' promotion on the growth and reproduction of probiotics. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum N-1 and its synbiotic with oligomeric isomaltose on the growth performance and meat quality of Hu sheep. Hu sheep (0-3 days old) were fed with water, probiotics of N-1, or synbiotics (N-1 and oligomeric isomaltose) daily in three pens for 60 days and regularly evaluated to measure growth performance and collect serum (five lambs per group). Longissimus thoracis (LT) and biceps brachii (BB) muscle tissues were collected for the analysis of pH value, color, texture, nutrients, mineral elements, amino acids, volatile compounds, and antioxidant capacity. The results showed that dietary supplementation of N-1 tended to improve growth performance and meat quality of Hu sheep, while the synergism of N-1 with oligomeric isomaltose significantly improved their growth performance and meat quality (p < 0.05). Both the dietary supplementation of N-1 and synbiotics (p < 0.05) increased the body weight and body size of Hu sheep. Synbiotic treatment reduced serum cholesterol and improved LT fat content by increasing the transcription level of fatty acid synthase to enhance fat deposition in LT, as determined via RT-qPCR analysis. Moreover, synbiotics increased zinc content and improved LT tenderness by decreasing shear force and significantly increased the levels of certain essential (Thr, Phe, and Met) and non-essential (Asp, Ser, and Tyr) amino acids of LT (p < 0.05). Additionally, synbiotics inhibited the production of carbonyl groups and TBARS in LT and thus maintained antioxidant stability. In conclusion, it is recommended that the use of synbiotics in livestock breeding be promoted to improve sheep production and meat quality.

Influence of amino acid profile and secondary structure on nutritional and functional properties of Trichilia emetica and Trichilia dregeana protein concentrates

SummaryThe high prevalence of protein energy malnutrition (PEM) is a major concern in Africa. This problem could be resolved through the nutritional use of locally available underutilized tree seeds such as those from Trichilia species. This study determined and compared the amino acid profile, functional properties, and secondary structure of the proteins from Trichilia emetica and Trichilia dregeana oilseeds. The results showed that the essential amino acid levels of the two Trichilia seed proteins were above the recommended Food and Agricultural Organisation standard for adults, with essential‐to‐total (E/T) amino acid ratios (T. dregeana 52.8%; T. emetica 53.4%) and chemical scores of 100% for both species, which were not significantly different (P &gt; 0.05) from those of soy proteins (53.0% and 100%, respectively). The amino acid profile results indicated that Trichilia oilseeds can serve as candidates for addressing protein malnutrition in economically disadvantaged communities of sub‐Saharan Africa. The secondary structure showed that the Trichilia oilseed proteins had significantly (P &lt; 0.05) more β‐conformations compared to soybean proteins. Further, the functional properties suggested that Trichilia oilseed proteins can be used as ingredients in food and feed formulations due to their versatile functional properties.

Variations in Total Protein and Amino Acids in the Sequenced Sorghum Mutant Library.

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is the fifth most important cereal crop worldwide; however, its utilization in food products can be limited due to reduced nutritional quality related to amino acid composition and protein digestibility in cooked products. Low essential amino acid levels and digestibility are influenced by the composition of the sorghum seed storage proteins, kafirins. In this study, we report a core collection of 206 sorghum mutant lines with altered seed storage proteins. Wet lab chemistry analysis was conducted to evaluate the total protein content and 23 amino acids, including 19 protein-bound and 4 non-protein amino acids. We identified mutant lines with diverse compositions of essential and non-essential amino acids. The highest total protein content in these lines was almost double that of the wild-type (BTx623). The mutants identified in this study can be used as a genetic resource to improve the sorghum grain quality and determine the molecular mechanisms underlying the biosynthesis of storage protein and starch in sorghum seeds.

Dietary Dried Jujube Fruit Powder (DJFP) Supplementation Improves Growth Performance, Antioxidant Stability, and Meat Composition in Broilers.

Nowadays, broiler production is faced with great challenges due to intensive culture modes, and chickens are more susceptible to oxidative stress. Consequently, synthetic antioxidants have been used to reduce this process, but their use has shown potential health risks. Thus, the use of natural ingredients has been suggested as a strategy to prevent oxidative stress. This study investigated how dietary dried jujube fruit powder (DJFP) supplementation influences the growth performance, antioxidant stability, meat composition, and nutritional quality of Cobb broilers. A total of 360 unsexed broilers (1-day-old) were randomly assigned to treatments that varied in DJFP levels: a basal diet without DJFP (control) and diets supplemented with 50 g/kg DJFP (P1), 100 g/kg DJFP (P2), and 150 g/kg DJFP (P3), with 9 replicates per treatment (90 broilers/treatment or 10 broilers/replicate). The results demonstrated improvement in the growth performance of broilers in terms of body weight (BW), body weight gain (WG), average daily body weight gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) following dietary DJFP supplementation. In addition, the antioxidant stabilities in the DJFP-treated broilers were improved and inhibited the production of lipid oxidation products compared with the control, with those in the P2 group showing the most marked effect. Moreover, dietary DJFP supplementation significantly increased (p < 0.05) the activity of antioxidant enzymes in broilers. Furthermore, the breast meat of the broilers displayed an increased protein content with a simultaneous reduction in the fat content after DJFP treatment (p < 0.05). Essential amino acid levels were higher in the DJFP-supplemented groups (p < 0.05). The sum of saturated fatty acids was lower, and that of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and the polyunsaturated fatty acid/saturated fatty acid ratio (PUFA/SFA) were higher in the DJFP-supplemented groups (p < 0.05). Together, these results indicate that up to 100 g/kg of dietary DJFP supplementation can enhance the growth performance and antioxidant capacity, meat composition, and amino acid and fatty acid composition in broiler breast meat. In conclusion, dietary DJFP supplementation is a healthy alternative to the use of synthetic antioxidants in broiler production, especially in regions rich in jujube resources.

Ratios of Essential-to-Nonessential Amino Acids in Plasma from Rats Fed Different Kinds and Amounts of Proteins and Amino Acids

Weanling rats fed diets containing amounts of proteins and amino acids that were suboptimal for growth showed a reduction in the plasma ratio of essential-to-nonessential amino acids (EN ratio) when this ratio was compared with that of rats fed 18% casein diets. For young adult rats fed 18, 8 and 4% casein, there was a decreased plasma EN ratio in rats fed the low casein diets. Glycine supplements in the diet also decreased the EN ratio in the plasma of both weanling and young adult rats. Glutamic acid supplements fed to young adult rats did not have this effect. The decreased plasma EN ratios were the net result of a decrease in essential amino acids and, in most instances, an increase in nonessential amino acids. The limiting essential amino acid in the diet was reduced in the plasma to the greatest degree, but the levels of other essential amino acids were also affected.

The influence of dietary protein concentration on digestive enzyme activities, growth, and body composition in juvenile bullseye snakehead (Channa marulius).

The bullseye snakehead (Channa marulius) is considered as an affordable and robust freshwater fish for farming in Asia. However, there is limited knowledge on the species' full nutritional requirements to date with extensive gaps in our knowledge and particularly in precision aspects of protein requirements. Therefore, a three-month feeding trial was conducted under semi-intensive farming conditions to determine the protein requirement of bullseye snakehead using test diets containing 40 (P40), 45 (P45), 50 (P50), and 55% (P55) crude protein levels. The growth performance results revealed that the 55% dietary protein group (P55) had the highest final mean weight (14.09 g fish-1), and net weight gain (12.82 g fish-1). When compared to other dietary treatments, the final weight (R2 = 0.921), and weight gain (R2 = 0.913), displayed a linear increasing trend as dietary protein is raised. The lowest FCR was observed in 50% (1.94±0.01) and 55% (1.97±0.01) CP diet groups compared to dietary treatments. Further analysis has shown that the body protein content also significantly increased as dietary protein was raised to 55%. Although, a reverse trend was found in body lipid levels with increasing protein in the diet. The incremental dietary protein also elevated proximal intestinal protease activity but decreased amylase and lipase activity. The overall essential and non-essential amino acids levels of snakehead fillet muscle reflected an increase in dietary protein. Overall, this study has shown that the fish fed a diet with 55% crude protein attained the highest growth performance and nutrient profile of the whole fish when compared to other dietary treatments tested. It would appear we did not obtain the maximum potential for growth under the present experimental conditions due to the upper protein constraint of 55% in the diet. Further quantitative studies are suggested.