Tyrosine Metabolism Research Articles

Comparison of the effects of Amomum tsaoko and its adulterants on functional dyspepsia rats based on metabolomics analysis

Amomum tsaoko (AT) is commonly used in clinical practice to treat abdominal distension and pain. It is also a seasoning for cooking, with the functions of appetizing, invigorating the spleen, and being digestive-promoting. Amomum tsaoko (AT) has three adulterants, Amomum paratsaoko (AP), Amomum koenigii (AK), and Alpinia katsumadai Hayata, because of the confusion in historical classics regarding recorded sources as well as the near geographic distribution and fruit morphological similarities. In this study, we established a functional dyspepsia (FD) rat model and then treated it with the corresponding medicinal solutions AT, AP, AK, and AKH. The gastric emptying rate, intestinal propulsion rate, serum biochemical indicators, histopathological changes, and fecal metabolism were measured. The efficacy and mechanism of AT, AP, AK, and AKH in the treatment of FD were compared. Fecal metabolomics revealed that 20 potential biomarkers were involved in seven significant metabolic pathways in FD rats. These pathways include ubiquinone and other terpenoid-quinone biosynthesis, glycerophospholipid metabolism, tyrosine metabolism, primary bile acid biosynthesis, purine metabolism, folate biosynthesis, and amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism. AP regulates 6 metabolic pathways, 5 metabolic pathways affected by AT, 4 metabolic pathways affected by AK, and 2 metabolic pathways affected by AKH.The above results suggest that the different effects of AT, AP, AK, and AKH on FD rats may be due to their different regulatory effects on the metabolome.

Effect of prebiotic fiber on physical function and gut microbiota in adults, mostly women, with knee osteoarthritis and obesity: a randomized controlled trial.

Obesity is a primary risk factor for knee osteoarthritis (OA). Prebiotics enhance beneficial gut microbes and can reduce body fat and inflammation. Our objective was to examine if a 6-month prebiotic intervention improved physical function in adults with knee osteoarthritis and obesity. We also measured knee pain, body composition, quality of life, gut microbiota, inflammatory markers, and serum metabolomics. Adults (n = 54, mostly women) with co-morbid obesity (BMI > 30kg/m2) and unilateral/bilateral knee OA were randomly assigned to prebiotic (oligofructose-enriched inulin; 16g/day; n = 31) or isocaloric placebo (maltodextrin; n = 21) for 6months. Performance based-tests, knee pain, quality of life, serum metabolomics and inflammatory markers, and fecal microbiota and short-chain fatty acids were assessed. Significant between group differences were detected for the change in timed-up-and-go test, 40m fast paced walk test, and hand grip strength test from baseline that favored prebiotic over placebo. Prebiotic also reduced trunk fat mass (kg) at 6months and trunk fat (%) at 3months compared to placebo. There was a trend (p = 0.059) for reduced knee pain at 6months with prebiotic versus placebo. In gut microbiota analysis, a total of 37 amplicon sequence variants differed between groups. Bifidobacterium abundance was positively correlated with distance walked in the 6-min walk test and hand grip strength. At 6months, there was a significant separation of serum metabolites between groups with upregulation of phenylalanine and tyrosine metabolism with prebiotic. Prebiotics may hold promise for conservative management of knee osteoarthritis in adults with obesity and larger trials are warranted. Clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04172688.

Skin proteomic screening and functional analysis of differential proteins associated with coat color in sheep (Ovis aries).

Coat color is an important characteristic and economic trait in domestic sheep. In this study, we explored the potential mechanisms and the signaling pathways involved in coat color regulation for sheep. Isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) technology was used to catalog global protein expression profiles in skin of sheep with black versus white coat color. Immunofluorescence was used to observe the expression localization of differential protein. Western blot and quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were used to evaluate their role in the coat color formation of sheep. A total of 136 differential proteins were obtained in different coat colors, including 101 up-regulated and 35 down-regulated. Pigmentation function entries were enriched through gene ontology annotation. Tyrosine metabolism and platelet activation signaling pathway were extracted by Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes analysis. Apolipoprotein A-1 (APOA1) and fibrinogen alpha chain (FGA) were found to be critical differential proteins by the interaction of differential proteins in the direct-interaction network diagram. Strikingly, twenty candidate differential proteins were screened, from which beta-actin (ACTB) protein showed higher expression in white sheep skin, while albumin (ALB), APOA1, MAOA (amine oxidase) and FGA proteins showed higher expression in black sheep skin, which was validated by immunofluorescence, western blot, and qRT-PCR. This study identified several novel proteins that may be involved in the coat color formation of sheep. The white and black sheep skin proteome profiles obtained provide a valuable resource for future research to understand the network of protein expression controlling skin physiology and melanogenesis in sheep.

Untargeted Metabolomics Based on Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Quadrupole Orbitrap High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry for Differential Metabolite Analysis of Pinelliae Rhizoma and Its Adulterants.

The present study investigates the chemical composition variances among Pinelliae Rhizoma, a widely used Chinese herbal medicine, and its common adulterants including Typhonium flagelliforme, Arisaema erubescens, and Pinellia pedatisecta. Utilizing the non-targeted metabolomics technique of employing UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS, this research aims to comprehensively delineate the metabolic profiles of Pinelliae Rhizoma and its adulterants. Multivariate statistical methods including PCA and OPLS-DA are employed for the identification of differential metabolites. Volcano plot analysis is utilized to discern upregulated and downregulated compounds. KEGG pathway analysis is conducted to elucidate the differences in metabolic pathways associated with these compounds, and significant pathway enrichment analysis is performed. A total of 769 compounds are identified through metabolomics analysis, with alkaloids being predominant, followed by lipids and lipid molecules. Significant differential metabolites were screened out based on VIP > 1 and p-value < 0.05 criteria, followed by KEGG enrichment analysis of these differential metabolites. Differential metabolites between Pinelliae Rhizoma and Typhonium flagelliforme, as well as between Pinelliae Rhizoma and Pinellia pedatisecta, are significantly enriched in the biosynthesis of amino acids and protein digestion and absorption pathways. Differential metabolites between Pinelliae Rhizoma and Arisaema erubescens are mainly enriched in tyrosine metabolism and phenylalanine metabolism pathways. These findings aim to provide valuable data support and theoretical references for further research on the pharmacological substances, resource development and utilization, and quality control of Pinelliae Rhizoma.

Germination Increases the Glucomoringin Content in Moringa Sprouts via Transforming Tyrosine.

Moringa seeds are an excellent dietary source of phytochemicals (i.e., glucosinolates, GSLs; isothiocyanates, ITCs) with health-beneficial effects. Although numerous studies have been conducted on moringa seeds, the effect of germination on the regulation of GSLs remains scarcely explored. The present study investigated the dynamic changes of GSLs in moringa seeds during germination (at 25, 30, and 35 °C for 6 days in the dark) through an untargeted metabolomics approach and compared the antioxidant capacity of ungerminated and germinated moringa seeds. Our results showed that germination significantly increased the total GSL content from 150 (day 0) to 323 μmol/g (35 °C, day 6) on a dry weight (DW) basis, especially glucomoringin (GMG), the unique glucosinolate in moringa seeds, which was significantly upregulated from 61 (day 0) to 149 μmol/g DW (35 °C, day 4). The upregulation of GMG corresponded to the metabolism of tyrosine, which might be the initial precursor for the formation of GMG. In addition, germination enhanced the total ITC content from 85 (day 0) to 239 μmol SE/g DW (35 °C, day 6), indicating that germination may have also increased the activity of myrosinase. Furthermore, germination remarkably increased the total phenolic content (109-507 mg GAE/100 g DW) and antioxidant capacity of moringa seeds. Our findings suggest that moringa sprouts could be promoted as a novel food and/or ingredient rich in GMG.

Cotton adapts to Na2SO4 stress by regulating the metabolic intensity and distribution of metabolites in roots and leaves

Significant Na2SO4 stress severely restricts cotton production in Xinjiang. However, the tolerance mechanism of cotton to Na2SO4 stress is not yet fully understood. This study set up two treatments, normal soil (control, CK) and Na2SO4 stress (Na2SO4, SS), to explore the effects of Na2SO4 stress on the physiological metabolism of cotton leaves and roots. Compared with CK, the total biomass and net photosynthetic stress rate decreased significantly (P < 0.05) by 49.0 and 14.7%, respectively. Additionally, the relative conductivity, malondialdehyde content, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase activities of leaves increased significantly by 114.5, 99.8, 160, 16.8, and 117%, respectively. A tandem mass tag (TMT) proteomics analysis identified 319 and 583 differentially expressed proteins in roots and leaves, respectively. They mainly participate in amino acid metabolism, such as alanine, aspartic acid, and glutamate metabolism; histidine metabolism; tyrosine metabolism; tryptophan metabolism; energy metabolism, such as glycolysis; the tricarboxylic acid cycle; phosphorus oxide metabolism; lipid metabolism, such as fatty acid biosynthesis; glycerol phospholipid metabolism; steroid biosynthesis; and steroid hormone biosynthesis. Metabolomic data also showed significant changes in amino acid metabolism, organic acid metabolism, and carbohydrate metabolism in the roots and leaves. Na2SO4 stress inhibited metabolism in cotton roots but promoted metabolism in cotton leaves. Under Na2SO4 stress, cotton may prioritize the use of limited photosynthetic products to maintain the health and life activities of its leaves, while also transporting some organic matter from the leaves to the roots to maintain normal metabolic activity of the roots.

147 The interaction between growth and immunity: Insights into the immune response of finisher pigs with divergent feed efficiency

Abstract This work evaluated the immune response of finisher pigs with divergent feed efficiency to identify immune pathways that were associated with efficiency. Blood gene expression data from a previous trial (Liu et al., 2019) were re-analyzed with novel methods that quantified changes in biological pathways and associated them with animal performance. Data were quality control checked and aligned to the Sus scrofa reference genome (Sscrofa11.1) using Kallisto. The dataset had 32 samples from eight pigs with high efficiency (HE) or low efficiency (LE) that had been injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Blood samples were taken before challenge, and at 2, 6, and 24 h after challenge. After normalization and evaluation of differential gene expression, activation or inhibition of pathways was quantified using a topology-based pathway activation method and a customization of the Reactome database. Pathways were associated with feed efficiency using a regularized regression algorithm to identify immune pathways that were associated with efficiency. For statistical analysis, RNA integrity number, feed efficiency and time post LPS challenge were included in the model. At 2 h post LPS, HE pigs showed greater activation in pathways related to heat stress and creatine metabolism, but inhibition of pathways related to lysine and threonine catabolism, and immune resolving mediators (P-adj &amp;lt; 0.01), compared with the response in LE pigs. At 6 h post challenge there was a striking difference in cell cycle response, whereby cell cycle was activated in HE pigs but inhibited in LE pigs (P-adj &amp;lt; 0.01). The biggest difference in immune response was at 24h, with a strong response to LPS still evident in HE pigs, but a diminishing response in LE pigs. High efficiency pigs had activation in pathways related to oxidative stress, the metabolism of tryptophan, serine, tyrosine, threonine, glycogen, vitamin B5, and fibrin clot formation (P-adj &amp;lt; 0.01), which were not evident in LE pigs. The regression of pathways with feed efficiency showed that vitamin B5 metabolism was positively associated with gain:feed, whilst calcium-dependent signaling was negatively associated with gain:feed at multiple timepoints post-challenge. High efficiency pigs appeared to expand leukocyte populations at 6 h post LPS challenge, which was not evident in LE pigs. By 24 h, the response of LE pigs to LPS was minimal, but HE pigs still showed a strong response with greater utilization of energy, amino acids, and more oxidative stress. Low efficiency pigs appeared to recover faster from the LPS challenge, which was partially explained by differences in vitamin B5 utilization and calcium homeostasis. These findings confirm differences in the immune response of HE and LE pigs and provide insights related to amino acid, vitamin B5, and calcium homeostasis, which could help optimize the immune response of HE pigs. The novel analysis methods provided additional insights, which complement the original findings (T1).

Abstract PO3-01-01: Dysregulation of Phenylalanine-tyrosine Metabolic Signaling Pathway and Neoadjuvant Response in HER2-positive Breast Cancer

Abstract Background: Although trastuzumab and tyrosine inhibitors combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy could significantly improve patients' pathological complete response (pCR) rate, nearly half of the patients could not achieve complete remission. Our objective was to explore the relationship between metabolic signaling pathway changes and therapeutic efficacy in patients receiving neoadjuvant therapy for HER2-positive breast cancer. Methods: Core needle biopsy specimens from HER2-positive breast cancer patients who underwent neoadjuvant therapy and radical mastectomy at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center between January 2017 and December 2021 were collected for RNA sequencing. According to pathological evaluation, samples (n=133) were divided into pCR and non-pCR groups. Gene differences between the two groups were further evaluated for KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) enrichment analysis. The TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas, n=1091) and the HAN ethnic GEO datasets (GSE162228, GSE206, GSE48391, n=305) were used to analyze the metabolic differences between tumors and normal tissues with patients’ prognosis. Consensus clustering analysis was performed to divide patients for low and high phenylalanine-tyrosine metabolism dysregulation to analyze patients’ outcomes. The IC50 value of cell lines was tested using CCK-8 experiments. Western blot was performed to analyze the protein level changes in mTOR and glycolysis pathway. Results: We found that phenylalanine-tyrosine metabolism was significantly enriched in HER2-positive breast cancer patients. Consensus clustering analysis of TCGA and the HAN ethnic GEO datasets showed that patients with low phenylalanine-tyrosine catabolism had a significantly worse survival outcome than patients with high tyrosine metabolism (P= 0.017). In our cohort, phenylalanine-tyrosine pathway metabolic enzyme DDC was upregulated while MAOA was downregulated in non-pCR patients compared to pCR patients, suggesting the increased production of dopamine and reduced catabolism of dopamine (DA) in non-pCR tumors. In vitro experiments showed that dopamine and the knockdown of MAOA decreased cell sensitivity to pyrotinib. In addition, dopamine and clorgyline- an MAOA inhibitor, promoted the proliferation of HER2-positive cell lines under the treatment of pyrotinib. The GSEA analysis of our neoadjuvant cohort and TCGA datasets revealed that MAOA expression was associated with an inverse enrichment of the mTORC1 and glycolysis pathways. Western blot experiment results showed that dopamine or the knockdown of MAOA could activate the mTOR and glycolysis pathway Conclusions: Phenylalanine-tyrosine metabolism was significantly enriched in HER2-positive breast cancer patients. The phenylalanine-tyrosine signaling pathway may be dysregulated in HER2-positive breast cancer and patients with low phenylalanine-tyrosine catabolism have a worse prognosis. Low expression of MAOA promotes tumor resistance to HER2-targeted drugs and could serve as a therapeutic biomarker in breast cancer. Citation Format: Chih Wan Goh, Bingqiu Xiu, Jingyan Xue, Yayun Chi, Jiong Wu. Dysregulation of Phenylalanine-tyrosine Metabolic Signaling Pathway and Neoadjuvant Response in HER2-positive Breast Cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO3-01-01.

Methodology for the determining aromatic monocarboxylic acids as products of phenylalanine and tyrosine metabolism: current advances and trends

A review on the quantitative determination of aromatic monocarboxylic acids (AMCAs), intermediates in the metabolism of the proteinogenic amino acids phenylalanine and tyrosine, in body fluids is presented. The importance of these compounds as potential diagnostic low-molecular-weight biomarkers of some human diseases is described. The main methodical features of current practical solutions in the field of highly sensitive screening of AMCAs in body fluids using chromatography-mass spectrometry and other methods actively used in clinical laboratory analysis are considered. Special attention is paid to the prospects of developing portable tools for therapeutic monitoring of the compounds of interest in biological fluids. &lt;br&gt; The bibliography includes 108 references.

Functional implications of NHR-210 enrichment in C. elegans cephalic sheath glia: insights into metabolic and mitochondrial disruptions in Parkinson's disease models.

Glial cells constitute nearly half of the mammalian nervous system's cellular composition. The glia in C. elegans perform majority of tasks comparable to those conducted by their mammalian equivalents. The cephalic sheath (CEPsh)glia, which are known to be the counterparts of mammalian astrocytes, are enriched with two nuclear hormone receptors (NHRs)-NHR-210 and NHR-231. This unique enrichment makes the CEPsh glia and these NHRs intriguing subjects of study concerning neuronal health. We endeavored to assess the role of these NHRs in neurodegenerative diseases and related functional processes, using transgenic C. elegans expressing human alpha-synuclein. We employed RNAi-mediated silencing, followed by behavioural, functional, and metabolic profiling in relation to suppression of NHR-210 and 231. Our findings revealed that depleting nhr-210 changes dopamine-associated behaviour and mitochondrial function in human alpha synuclein-expressing strains NL5901 and UA44, through a putative target, pgp-9, a transmembrane transporter. Considering the alteration in mitochondrial function and the involvement of a transmembrane transporter, we performed metabolomics study via HR-MAS NMR spectroscopy. Remarkably, substantial modifications in ATP, betaine, lactate, and glycine levels were seen upon the absence of nhr-210. We also detected considerable changes in metabolic pathways such as phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis metabolism; glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism; as well as glyoxalate and dicarboxylate metabolism. In conclusion, the deficiency of the nuclear hormone receptor nhr-210 in alpha-synucleinexpressing strain of C. elegans, results in altered mitochondrial function, coupled with alterations in vital metabolite levels. These findings underline the functional and physiological importance of nhr-210 enrichment in CEPsh glia.

Hemolymph metabolism of black soldier fly (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), response to different supplemental fungi.

The black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens L. (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), is commonly used for organic waste recycling and animal feed production. However, the often inadequate nutrients in organic waste necessitate nutritional enhancement of black soldier fly larvae, e.g., by fungal supplementation of its diet. We investigated the amino acid composition of two fungi, Candida tropicalis (Castell.) Berkhout (Saccharomycetales: Saccharomycetaceae) and Pichia kudriavzevii Boidin, Pignal & Besson (Saccharomycetales: Pichiaceae), from the black soldier fly gut, and commercial baker's yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae Meyen ex E.C. Hansen (Saccharomycetales: Saccharomycetaceae), and their effects on larval growth and hemolymph metabolites in fifth-instar black soldier fly larvae. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to study the effect of fungal metabolites on black soldier fly larval metabolism. Amino acid analysis revealed significant variation among the fungi. Fungal supplementation led to increased larval body mass and differential metabolite accumulation. The three fungal species caused distinct metabolic changes, with each over-accumulating and down-accumulating various metabolites. We identified significant alteration of histidine metabolism, aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, and glycerophospholipid metabolism in BSF larvae treated with C. tropicalis. Treatment with P. kudriavzevii affected histidine metabolism and citrate cycle metabolites, while both P. kudriavzevii and S. cerevisiae treatments impacted tyrosine metabolism. Treatment with S. cerevisiae resulted in down-accumulation of metabolites related to glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism. This study suggests that adding fungi to the larval diet significantly affects black soldier fly larval metabolomics. Further research is needed to understand how individual amino acids and their metabolites contributed by fungi affect black soldier fly larval physiology, growth, and development, to elucidate the interaction between fungal nutrients and black soldier fly physiology.

Integrated non-targeted metabolomics and transcriptomics reveals the browning mechanism of scraped ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.).

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) possesses a rich nutritional profile, making it a valuable ingredient for a wide range of culinary applications. After removing its outer skin, ginger can be effectively utilized in the production of pickles and other processed food products. However, following scraping, ginger undergoes a series of physiological and biochemical changes during storage, which can impact its subsequent development and utilization in food. Thus, the current study aimed to investigate the browning mechanism of scraped ginger using non-targeted metabolomics and transcriptomics. The findings revealed 149 shared differential metabolites and 639 shared differential genes among freshly scraped ginger, ginger browned for 5 days, and ginger browned for 15 days. These metabolites and genes are primarily enriched in stilbenes, diarylheptane, and gingerol biosynthesis, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and tyrosine metabolism. Through the combined regulation of these pathways, the levels of phenolic components (such as chlorogenic acid and ferulic acid) and the ginger indicator component (6-gingerol) decreased, whereas promoting an increase in the content of coniferaldehyde and curcumin. Additionally, the activities of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) were significantly increased (p-adjust <0.05). This study hypothesized that chlorogenic and ferulic acid undergo polymerization under the catalysis of PPO and POD, thereby exacerbating the lignification of scraped ginger. These findings offer a theoretical foundation for understanding the browning mechanism of ginger after scraping. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Ginger's quality and nutrition can change when its skin is removed. This happens due to physical and biochemical reactions during scraping. The browning that occurs affects both the taste and health benefits of ginger, we can better understand how to prevent browning and maintain ginger's quality. This research sheds light on improving ginger processing techniques for better products.

Transcriptomic analyses provide new insights into immune response of the Procambarus clarkii intestines to Aeromonas hydrophila challenge

In recent years, the death rate of Procambarus clarkii increased sharply due to pathogenic bacterial infections, leading to huge economic losses. To determine the immune response of the intestinal tissues of P. clarkii to bacterial infections, we compared the immune indexes, histopathological damage, and transcriptome data of the control and Aeromonas hydrophila-infected P. clarkii. With the injection of A. hydrophila, it was found that intestinal mucosal folds increased, intestinal villi showed obvious vacuolation, and the tissue structure changed significantly. The results of non-specific immunoenzyme activity showed that the Total protein (TP) content was significantly lower than that of the control group at 24 h, and the Acid phosphatase (ACP) and Alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activities in the treatment group showed a significant increasing trend (p < 0.05). In terms of the transcriptome, an average of 22,927,523 clean reads and 27,866 genes were found in the control and treatment groups through gene assembly and annotation. Among these genes, 567 were identified as differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which 501 were up-regulated and 66 were down-regulated. Quantitative-polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis of six randomly selected genes was used to verify the RNA-sequencing results. The Gene Ontology enrichment analysis revealed that the DEGs were primarily involved in cell processes, metabolic processes, and biological regulation, while the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis showed that these DEGs were involved in tyrosine metabolism, glycosphingolipid biosynthesis—ganglionic series, and nitrogen metabolism. We studied the tyrosine metabolic pathway and found that it contributes to the immune defense mechanism of P. clarkii. The results of our study provide important insights into the intestinal immune response of P. clarkii to A. hydrophila infection.

The Effects of Lentinan on the Hematological and Immune Indices of Dairy Cows.

In this study, we investigated the effects of lentinan (LNT) on hematological parameters, immune indices, and metabolite levels in dairy cows. We randomly assigned forty Holstein cows to four treatment groups. The treatments consisted of 0, 5, 10, and 15 g/d of LNT. Compared with the control group, the addition of 10 g/d of LNT decreased the content of ALT and IL-8 but simultaneously increased the content of IL-4 in the cows' serum. Supplementation with 10 g/d of LNT decreased the levels of lymphocyte, RDW, ALT, AST, TC, IL-2, and IL-8, but, concurrently, in-creased the levels of granulocytes and IL-4 in their serum. In addition, supplementation with 15 g/d of LNT decreased the levels of RDW, TC, IL-2, and IL-8, but, at the same time, increased the levels of IL-4 and IgM in their serum. For the metabolomic analysis, cows fed with 0 and 10 g/d of LNT were selected. The results showed that 10 metabolites, including reduced nicotinamide riboside and trehalose, were upregulated in the 10 g/d group. These differential metabolites were enriched in tyrosine metabolism and trehalose degradation and altered two metabolic pathways of ubiquinone and other terpene quinone biosynthesis, as well as starch and sucrose metabolism. These findings provide evidence that LNT could be used to reduce the risk of inflammation in dairy cows.

A pseudo-targeted metabolomics for discovery of potential biomarkers of cardiac hypertrophy in rats

Cardiac hypertrophy (CH) is one of the stages in the occurrence and development of severe cardiovascular diseases, and exploring its biomarkers is beneficial for delaying the progression of severe cardiovascular diseases. In this research, we established a comprehensive and highly efficient pseudotargeted metabolomics method, which demonstrated a superior capacity to identify differential metabolites when compared to traditionaluntargeted metabolomics. The intra/inter-day precision and reproducibility results proved the method is reliable and precise. The established method was then applied to seek the potential differentiated metabolic biomarkers of cardiac hypertrophy (CH) rats, and oxylipins, phosphorylcholine (PC), lysophosphatidylcholine (LysoPC), lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LysoPE), Krebs cycle intermediates, carnitines, amino acids, and bile acids were disclosed to be the possible differentiate components. Their metabolic pathway analysis revealed that the potential metabolic alterations in CH rats were mainly associated with phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, phenylalanine metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, citrate cycle, glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, and tyrosine metabolism. In sum, this research provided a comprehensiveand reliable LC-MS/MS MRM platform for pseudo-targeted metabolomics investigation of disease condition, and some interesting potential biomarkers were disclosed for CH, which merit further exploration in the future.

Metabolic imprinting in beef calves supplemented with creep feeding on performance, reproductive efficiency and metabolome profile

This experiment evaluated the influence of creep feeding supplementation on productive and reproductive performance and on serum metabolome profile in Nelore (Bos indicus) heifers. Female calves were assigned to treatments: Creep (n = 190), with ad libitum access to a nutritional supplement from 70 to 220 days after birth, or Control (n = 140), without supplementation. After weaning (Day 220), both groups followed the same pasture and nutritional management. Body weight (BW) and backfat thickness (BFAT) were measured over time. Blood samples were collected at 220 and 360 days for LC–MS/MS targeted metabolomics. On day 408, during the synchronization timed artificial insemination (TAI) protocol, reproductive status (RS: diameter of uterine horn and largest follicle, and presence of CL) was assessed. Creep feeding increased BW and BFAT at weaning, but no differences in BW, BFAT, or RS after weaning were observed. Nonetheless, the pregnancy per AI (P/AI) for 1st service was 28.9% higher in the Creep group. On day 220, 11 significant metabolites influenced five metabolic pathways: Glucose-alanine cycle, alanine, glutathione, phenylalanine and tyrosine metabolism, and urea cycle. On day 360, 14 significant metabolites influenced eight metabolic pathways: Malate-aspartate shuttle, arginine and proline metabolism, urea cycle, aspartate, beta-alanine, glutamate metabolism, ammonia recycling and citric acid cycle. In conclusion, creep feeding supplementation improved calf performance and induced metabolic changes at weaning and 360 days of age. Although heifers had similar productive performance and reproductive status, when submitted to TAI, those supplemented with creep feeding had greater P/AI.

Interaction of acetamiprid, Varroa destructor, and Nosema ceranae in honey bees

Health of honey bees is threatened by a variety of stressors, including pesticides and parasites. Here, we investigated effects of acetamiprid, Varroa destructor, and Nosema ceranae, which act either alone or in combination. Our results suggested that interaction between the three factors was additive, with survival risk increasing as the number of stressors increased. Although exposure to 150 μg/L acetamiprid alone did not negatively impact honey bee survival, it caused severe damage to midgut tissue. Among the three stressors, V. destructor posed the greatest threat to honey bee survival, and N. ceranae exacerbated intestinal damage and increased thickness of the midgut wall. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that different combinations of stressors elicited specific gene expression responses in honey bees, and genes involved in energy metabolism, immunity, and detoxification were altered in response to multiple stressor combinations. Additionally, genes associated with Toll and Imd signalling, tyrosine metabolism, and phototransduction pathway were significantly suppressed in response to different combinations of multiple stressors. This study enhances our understanding of the adaptation mechanisms to multiple stressors and aids in development of suitable protective measures for honey bees. Environmental ImplicationWe believe our study is environmentally relevant for the following reasons: This study investigates combined effects of pesticide, Varroa destructor, and Nosema ceranae. These stressors are known to pose a threat to long-term survival of honey bees (Apis mellifera) and stability of the ecosystems. The research provides valuable insights into the adaptive mechanisms of honey bees in response to multiple stressors and developing effective conservation strategies. Further research can identify traits that promote honey bee survival in the face of future challenges from multiple stressors to maintain the overall stability of environment.

Insights into the mechanism of color formation of the freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) revealed by de novo assembly transcriptome analysis

Body color is an important visual indicator of crustacean quality and plays a major role in consumer acceptability, perceived quality, and the market price of crustaceans. The freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) has two distinct phenotypic variations, characterized by dark blue and light yellow body colors. However, the underlying mechanisms regulating the body color of M. rosenbergii remain unclear. In this study, the composition of shell color parameters and pigment cells of raw and cooked dark blue and light yellow M. rosenbergii was investigated and the mechanisms associated with body color were elucidated by transcriptome analysis. The results showed significant differences in the raw shells of the dark blue and light yellow M. rosenbergii (L: 26.20 ± 0.53 vs. 29.25 ± 0.45; a: −0.88 ± 0.19 vs. 0.35 ± 0.18; b: 1.73 ± 0.20 vs. 3.46 ± 0.37; dE: 70.33 ± 0.53 vs. 67.34 ± 0.45, respectively, p = 0.000) as well as the cooked shells (L: 58.14 ± 0.81 vs. 55.78 ± 0.55; a: 19.30 ± 0.56 vs. 16.42 ± 0.40; b: 23.60 ± 0.66 vs. 20.30 ± 0.40, respectively, p < 0.05). Transcriptome differential gene analysis obtained 39.02 Gb of raw data and 158,026 unigenes. Comprehensive searches of the SwissProt, Nr, KEGG, Pfam, and KOG databases resulted in successful annotations of 23,902 (33 %), 40,436 (25.59 %), 32,015 (20.26 %), 26,139 (16.54 %), and 22,155 (14.02 %) proteins, respectively. By KEGG pathway analysis, numerous differentially expressed genes were related to pigmentation-related pathways (MAPK signaling pathway, Wnt signaling pathway, melanin production, tyrosine metabolism, and cell-cell communication process). Candidate DEGs that may be involved in body color included apolipoprotein D, crustacyanin, cytochrome P450, and tyrosinase, as verified by quantitative real-time PCR. The results of this study provide useful references to further elucidate the molecular mechanisms of color formation of M. rosenbergii and other crustaceans.

Comparative physiological and transcriptomic analysis reveals an improved biological control efficacy of Sporidiobolus pararoseus Y16 enhanced with ascorbic acid against the oxidative stress tolerance caused by Penicillium expansum in pears

Sporidiobolus pararoseus Y16, a species of significant ecological importance, has distinctive physiological and biological regulatory systems that aid in its survival and environmental adaptation. The goal of this investigation was to understand the complex interactions between physiological and molecular mechanisms in pear fruits as induced by S. pararoseus Y16. The study investigated the use of S. pararoseus Y16 and ascorbic acid (VC) in combination in controlling blue mold decay in pears via physiological and transcriptomic approach. The study results showed that treatment of S. pararoseus Y16 with 150 μg/mL VC reduced pears blue mold disease incidence from 43% to 11%. Furthermore, the combination of S. pararoseus Y16 and VC significantly inhibited mycelia growth and spore germination of Penicillium expansum in the pear's wounds. The pre-treatment did not impair post-harvest qualities of pear fruit but increased antioxidant enzyme activity specifically polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) activities as well as phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) enzyme activity. The transcriptome analysis further uncovered 395 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and pathways involved in defense mechanisms and disease resistance. Notable pathways of the DEGs include plant-pathogen interaction, tyrosine metabolism, and hormone signal transduction pathways. The integrative approach with both physiological and transcriptomic tools to investigate postharvest pathology in pear fruits with clarification on how S. pararoseus Y16 enhanced with VC, improved gene expression for disease defense, and create alternative controls strategies for managing postharvest diseases.

Identification of differentially expressed genes and metabolism signaling pathway in the spleen of broilers supplemented with probiotic Bacillus spp.

Probiotics are essential in the body’s nutrients, improving the ratio of meat to meat, immune response, and preventing diseases. In this study, RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) was used to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs), enriched related pathways, and Gene Ontology (GO) terms among blank negative control (NC), supplemented with Bacillus spp. (BS) and commercial probiotic (PC) groups after a 42-day fed supplementation. The results showed that 2005, 1356, and 2189 DEGs were significantly altered in BS vs. NC, PC vs NC, and BS vs PC groups, respectively. On the other hand, 9 DEGs were further validated by qRT-PCR, indicating that the qRT-PCR and RNA-Seq results were more consistent. Therefore, the GO and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses of DEGs showed that the DEGs were mainly enriched to metabolism signalling pathways (alpha-linolenic acid metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism, tryptophan metabolism, tyrosine metabolism, ether lipid metabolism, and metabolic pathway, etc) and immune response pathways (cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, MAPK signalling pathway, and intestinal immune network for IgA production, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction etc). These results will provide a better understanding of the role of probiotics in chicken development and provide basic information on the genetic development of chickens.