Development of an enzyme-assisted three-phase partitioning process for simultaneous extraction of oil, peptide, and polysaccharide from Acer truncatum Bunge kernels.

Dietary supplementation with Acer truncatum seed modulates lipid profiles and enriches unsaturated fatty acids in egg yolk of laying hens.

Size-dependent lipidomics and fatty acid profiles of fat globules in buffalo milk.

Serum free fatty acids mediate the association between metal elements and cardiometabolic diseases.

Breastfeeding promotes improved growth and development in preterm infants, yet the mechanisms underlying these benefits remain unclear. This study explored the interplay of breast-milk nutritional, microbiological, and environmental chemical exposure on early preterm infant growth. In the prospective LACTACOL-cohort, growth was assessed in 137 exclusively breastfed preterm infants (including 40 twins) using Z-scores of discharge weight and fat-free mass (FFM, by air-displacement plethysmography). Breast-milk samples were analyzed for their nutriome (targeted and untargeted metabolomic and lipidomic profiling), exposome (targeting persistent organic pollutants, POPs), and microbiome (16s rDNA-sequencing). Correlation analysis and sequential random forest modeling were applied to integrate multi-omics datasets and identify determinants of discharge weight Z-score (36 observations) and FFM (21 observations). The nutriome emerged as the primary contributor to the postnatal growth in preterm infants. Choline-containing lipids (sphingolipids, phosphatidylcholines and their plasmalogen forms), positively contributed to weight Z-score. Sphingomyelin enriched in nervonic acid supported positively FFM Z-score, whereas oxylipins had a negative effect. The exposome exhibited complex effects: the dioxin-like compound 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD negatively impacted weight, while the polychlorinated biphenyl 123 positively influenced both weight and lean mass gains. Brominated flame retardants were associated with a lower FFM Z-score. Although the microbiome showed an overall minor impact, it varied with POPs and postnatal growth terciles, highlighting the co-dependencies between milk components. This integrative hypothesis-generating pilot study provides novel evidence on the richness of breast-milk composition and the interplay of nutriome, exposome, microbiome in breast-milk and their joint influence on postnatal growth in preterm infants. Clinical Trial Registry: LACTACOL, ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT NCT01493063 https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT01493063.

The gastrointestinal microbiota and fecal fatty acids (FA) of cats with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) have not been studied.Objectives-To identify differences in fecal analytes (i.e., microbiota, FA) in cats with EPI compared to healthy controls, and describe clinical signs at baseline and short-term follow-up.Methods-Cross-sectional, observational study. 55 client-owned cats with EPI, 37 healthy client-owned blood donor control cats. Eligible cases had a feline trypsin-like immunoreactivity (fTLI) consistent with EPI. Fecal samples were analyzed for fecal microbiota dysbiosis index (DI) and FAs. Serum and fecal analytes from controls were compared to EPI cats using parametric and nonparametric methods including general linear models to adjust for potential confounding by signalment differences. Clinical signs were described for cats with EPI at enrollment and for one short-term follow-up time point.Results-Fecal DI and FAs were abnormal in EPI cases compared to controls. Cats with EPI had a higher median DI (1.5; range -2.6 to 3.8), total FAs (74.1 µg/g; range 4.7 to 162), arachidonic acid (2.54 µg/g; range 0.03 to 17), and nervonic acid (0.37 µg/g; range 0.02 to 1.5) than controls (-3 [-4.4 to -0.6], 19.7 µg/g [9.4 to 75.2], 0.57 µg/g [0.32 to 1.51], and 0.17 µg/g [0.09 to 0.54], respectively), and a lower median Peptacetobacter hiranonis (4.8 log DNA; range 0.1 to 6.1) compared to controls (5.9 log DNA; range 3.2 to 6.8). The most common clinical signs were weight loss and appetite disturbances.Conclusions and relevance-Cats with EPI have alterations in fecal microbiota and FA, and clinical signs in this population of cats were similar to those previously reported.

Maple (Acer spp.) seeds are potential sources of fat-soluble nutrients and bioactive compounds, yet they remain comparatively understudied. This study compared six market-derived Acer seed types by quantifying phospholipids (PLs), fatty acids, carotenoids, and phytosterols, and by evaluating total phenolic content (TPC) and DPPH radical scavenging activity in methanolic extracts. Total phospholipid contents varied markedly among samples (17.94-295.87 mg/100 g), with phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and phosphatidylinositol (PI) as the predominant classes. Fatty acid profiles were dominated by oleic acid (C18:1) and linoleic acid (C18:2), and nervonic acid (NA; C24:1) was consistently detected in all samples at 0.17-1.88 g/100 g (4.55-7.89% of total fatty acids). β-Sitosterol ranged from 16.58 ± 1.41 to 37.46 ± 1.62 mg/100 g. Carotenoid composition varied among the tested samples, and Jeju red maple showed the highest provitamin A potential, including the exclusive detection of α-carotene and the highest retinol activity equivalent. Antioxidant indices also differed significantly among samples (TPC: 317.89-897.12 mg GAE/100 g; DPPH: 81.37-93.27%), but TPC was not consistently proportional to DPPH activity, suggesting contributions from non-phenolic constituents. Pearson correlation analysis further showed exploratory co-variation patterns among the measured variables across the tested samples. Overall, the tested market-derived Acer seed materials exhibited marked compositional diversity and antioxidant potential, supporting their further evaluation as candidate functional food, nutraceutical, and value-added plant lipid resources.

Excessive acidity restricts the utilization of citrus pulp, a major by-product of the dried tangerine peel industry. To overcome this bottleneck, a functional microbial consortium (BsHpMrF) comprising Bacillus subtilis L4, Hanseniaspora pseudoguilliermondii B4, and Monascus ruber CGMCC 10910 was constructed for efficient biological deacidification. The consortium exhibited a synergistic effect, achieving an 88.23% reduction in total acidity and converting the acidic pulp into a neutral, bio-stabilized substrate. Untargeted metabolomics analysis revealed that this efficiency was driven by the concurrent activation of the TCA cycle and glyoxylate shunt for organic acid mineralization, coupled with membrane lipid remodeling (increased unsaturation) to enhance acid tolerance. Notably, the fermentation process functioned as a "metabolic factory", significantly enriching the matrix with bioactive lipids (e.g., 10-HDA, nervonic acid) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA, 414.28 mg/L). Application assays demonstrated that the fermentation products acted as a potent biostimulant for soybean sprouts, significantly promoting lateral roots and eliciting the accumulation of antioxidant phenolics and flavonoids. This study provides a sustainable "waste-to-treasure" strategy, valorizing acidic citrus pulp into a functional biostimulant for high-quality edible sprout production, thereby achieving a sustainable "waste-to-food" circular loop.

Nervonic acid supplementation mitigates disease severity biomarkers in adrenoleukodystrophy.

A combined TLC-GC approach for the regiospecific analysis of triacylglycerols in Yarrowia lipolytica.

Comparative assessment of MP effects on pigment composition and lipid profiles in three marine microalgae.

The Aceraceae family has ecological, ornamental and economical importance in plants. However, the genetic variations, evolution, and domestication of Aceraceae species are not well understood. Pan-genomes provide a framework for capturing genetic diversity across a genus and for a comprehensive understanding of genomic variation during evolution. Here, we construct a graph-based pan-genome from 13 Aceraceae species, revealing evolutionary dynamics driven by long-terminal repeat retrotransposons. Sequencing of 134 cultivated Acer palmatum accessions identifies 2,160 single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with10 fatty acid traits through genome wide association study. We further characterize 1,064,183 structural variation loci impacting fatty acid accumulation. By multi-omics analysis, we also identify ActKCS as a key candidate gene required for nervonic acid biosynthesis. Transgenic overexpression of ActKCS in Arabidopsis thaliana and Brassica napus enhances seed nervonic acid content, with increases ranging from 0.05% to 0.12% and 0.25% to 1.05%, respectively. We find that the transcription factor ActMYB95 directly regulates ActKCS. These findings decipher the genetic architecture underlying fatty acid synthesis and enable sustainable production of high value nervonic acid rich oils for neurological therapeutics and bio industrial applications. This study provides insights into the genetic and molecular mechanisms that underpin fatty acid biosynthesis. The resources and findings will accelerate the utilization and improvement of Aceraceae genetic diversity.

Xanthoceras sorbifolium (Yellowhorn) is an underutilized, multipurpose, climate-resilient oilseed with emerging food and industrial potential. This review consolidates current knowledge on its botany, agronomy, kernel composition, extraction technologies, protein and bioactive functionality, food uses, regulatory considerations, and sustainability challenges. Yellowhorn offers high-quality oil with ≈94% unsaturated fatty acids (notably 3.5–4% nervonic acid), while defatted kernel meal contains 31–37% protein (w/w). The matrix also carries bioactives such as tocopherols in the oil (70–530 mg/kg), phytosterols (1420–2970 mg/kg), and saponins (up to 11.62%), alongside flavonoid extracts that show promising antioxidant activity (DPPH EC50 ≈ 10.7 µg/mL). Extraction methods, including cold pressing, solvent systems, and supercritical CO2, present trade-offs in yield (≈87.8%, ≈60.4–98.04%, and ≈56.5–89.63% respectively), bioactive retention, and scalability, while co-product valorization can improve economic and environmental performance. Regulatory acceptance in the U.S. will likely depend on a refined-oil, specification-driven Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) pathway supported by compositional and toxicological evidence. Sustainability priorities include breeding improvements and supply-chain development on marginal lands, valorization of co-products, and integration of life cycle assessment (LCA), both of which are currently under-reported for Yellowhorn. Future directions emphasize process optimization for simultaneous oil-protein recovery, selective purification of functional lipids, encapsulation for stability, and human studies to substantiate claims. Collectively, Yellowhorn represents a promising climate-ready ingredient system requiring targeted research to enable safe, scalable, and sustainable adoption.

Nervonic acid (NA), a very-long-chain monounsaturated fatty acid, is known for its benefits in treating neurological diseases and promoting brain health. In this study, we utilized two different receptors, Brassica juncea (B. juncea, rich in erucic acid, C22:1) and Brassica napus (B. napus, high in oleic acid, C18:1), to overproduce NA through systematic metabolic engineering. Two multi-gene vector constructs, Napin-3 and Napin-5 (CgKCS::SLC1-1::DGAT1; CgKCS::SLC1-1::BnFAE1::LdLPAAT::DGAT1), are driven by seed-specific napin promoters. In B. juncea, Napin-3 and Napin-5 expression elevated NA levels to 48.7% and 46.3% in seed oil, respectively, compared to 2.5% in wild types. In B. napus, Napin-3 and Napin-5 expression achieved NA levels of 45% and 39.6%, respectively, while NA is absent in wild types. To our knowledge, this represents the highest NA production in plants to date, with stable oil content and yield, enabling cost-effective NA production. In B. juncea, a significant increase in NA is observed alongside a decrease in C18:1, C20:1, and C22:1 levels; in B. napus, the rise in NA is accompanied by a decrease in C18:1, and an increase in C20:1 and C22:1. These patterns reflect the dynamic equilibrium of fatty acids following NA conversion, influenced by the Dynamic Substrate Tugging (DST) Mechanism, in the form of either an EA-tugging mode or C18:1-tugging mode mechanism, depending on the cellular context. NA is an elongation product derived from C18:1, catalyzed by CgKCS with broad substrate specificity, indicating that plants with high levels of C18:1, similarly to those rich in C22:1, serve as excellent candidates for NA production. This "green factory" for NA production provides strong support for its pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and industrial applications. The exogenous and the endogenous enzymes coordinate function remodeling of the intra-seed fatty acid elongation flux through the DST strategy, thereby systematically enhancing the synthesis and accumulation efficiency of the target fatty acid.

Nervonic acid (NA) is of great significance in repairing damaged nerve fibers and promoting the regeneration of neural cells. This study aimed to construct a Yarrowia lipolytica strain capable of producing NA. The β-oxidation pathway was first disrupted and evaluated β-ketoacyl-CoA synthases (KCSs) with different substrate specificities. The substrate specificity of KCS was further optimized through semi-rational design. Oleic acid biosynthesis and the desaturation of tetracosanoic acid (C24:0) were enhanced to increase precursor availability. Furthermore, organelle compartmentalization and dynamic promoter coordination were implemented to synergistically improve NA accumulation. Finally, an orthogonal malonyl-CoA biosynthetic route was introduced together with an NADPH regeneration system to boost reducing power supply, leading to a substantial increase in production. The engineered strain achieved a titer of 451.80 mg/L in shake-flask culture, and reached 6.55 g/L during fed-batch fermentation in a 5-L bioreactor, where NA accounted for 29.81% of TFAs. This study presents an integrated metabolic engineering strategy providing novel insights into the microbial biosynthesis of NA.

Malania oleifera Chun & S.K. Lee is a rare and endangered tree species endemic to the karst forests of southwestern China. Its seeds are rich in nervonic acid, a compound of significant ecological and economic value. However, habitat fragmentation, overharvesting, and climate change have imposed severe survival pressures on this species, leading to a risk of genetic diversity loss. In this study, we employed genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) to investigate the genome-wide genetic diversity and population structure of 89 individuals from 16 natural populations. A total of 332,551 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were obtained. The results showed moderate genetic diversity, with populations in Guangxi exhibiting significantly higher nucleotide diversity than those in Yunnan. Population structure analyses identified six genetic clusters that corresponded closely to their geographic distribution, indicating that geographic isolation is the main driver of genetic differentiation. Mantel tests revealed a highly significant positive correlation between genetic and geographic distances but no correlation with environmental distance, representing a typical isolation-by-distance (IBD) pattern. Redundancy analysis (RDA) identified 4,361 SNPs significantly associated with environmental variables suggesting potential local adaptation signals. Demographic reconstruction revealed that M. oleifera began a sharp and continuous decline in effective population size approximately 30 kya, likely triggered by climatic fluctuations during the Last Glacial Maximum. These findings provide valuable insights for the conservation, restoration, and regional management of this ecologically and economically important species.

Yellowhorn (Xanthoceras sorbifolium) is a highly promising woody oilseed tree species, with seed kernels that are rich in high-value components such as oleic acid and nervonic acid, which has significant economic and application potential. Our previous transcriptome analysis results indicate that XsSAD1 and XsKCS1 are potential key genes involved in the oleic acid and the nervonic acid synthesis pathway, respectively. However, the specific molecular mechanism by which XsSAD1 and XsKCS1 participate in fatty acid synthesis is still unclear. In this study, the correlation analysis results showed that the expression levels of XsSAD1 and XsKCS1 were positively correlated with the contents of the oleic acid and nervonic acid, respectively. Simultaneously, heterologous expression of XsSAD1 in Arabidopsis thaliana increased oleic acid content by 37.3% and XsKCS1 raised nervonic acid levels by 31.4%. Silencing the expression of XsSAD1 and XsKCS1 in the yellowhorn seeds reduced the accumulation of oleic acid and nervonic acid accordingly. Furthermore, it was found that expression level of transcription factor XsMADS1 is not only related to XsSAD1 and XsKCS1, but also binds to MBS elements in their promoters and induced their transcriptional expression. Our study elucidated a novel molecular mechanism of the XsMADS1-XsSAD1/XsKCS1 in regulating the fatty acid synthesis in yellowhorn seed kernels, which offers a theoretical basis for the genetic improvement of high-quality oil-type yellowhorn varieties.

Higher serum concentrations of myristoleic acid, gadoleic acid, erucic acid, and nervonic acid, along with a lower concentration of palmitoleic acid, are associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer.

Nervonic acid (NA), an ultra-long-chain monounsaturated fatty acid, has attracted widespread attention in recent years due to its notable neuroprotective and antioxidant effects. In this study, a structured lipid was developed by enzymatically interesterifying coconut oil, palm stearin, and NA. The effects of lipase type, reaction temperature, time, and enzyme dosage on NA incorporation were investigated. The highest NA content in the structured lipid was achieved under optimized conditions: a reaction temperature of 64.6 °C, a reaction time of 7.17 h, and an enzyme dosage of 8.46%. Subsequently, a machine learning model was constructed to predict the sliding melting point. The NA-rich structured lipid, designed and prepared for use as a plastic fat, comprised 59.34% unsaturated fatty acids (46.76% NA) and exhibited β' crystal polymorphism. This combined experimental and computational approach is a reliable strategy for preparing functional structured lipids.

BackgroundRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a prototypical autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation and immune dysregulation. Although Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors such as tofacitinib have expanded therapeutic options, treatment responses remain heterogeneous and reliable predictors of efficacy are lacking.MethodsPeripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and serum samples were collected from 14 patients with active RA before initiation of tofacitinib treatment. Patients were classified as responders or non-responders according to EULAR DAS28 criteria after treatment. An integrative multi-omics approach was applied, including RNA sequencing, miRNA sequencing, proteomics, and untargeted metabolomics. Comprehensive bioinformatics analyses were performed to identify potential candidate predictors of tofacitinib response. Key findings were further assessed through internal validation in an independent cohort of tofacitinib-treated RA patients and external validation using publicly available datasets.ResultsMulti-omics analyses revealed upregulation of ribosomal proteins in PBMCs of responders, with RPL21 emerging as a potential immune-related candidate. Consistently, hsa-miR-197-3p and hsa-miR-625-3p were downregulated in responders, suggesting possible regulatory roles in treatment efficacy. Proteomic profiling showed decreased serum apolipoproteins, particularly APOA1, while metabolomic analysis identified elevated choline, malate, and nervonic acid, reflecting immune-metabolic reprogramming. Integration of multi-omics data highlighted convergent immune pathways and identified exploratory candidate biomarkers associated with tofacitinib response.ConclusionsThis study provides exploratory integrative multi-omics evidence linking immune-related transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolic alterations to heterogeneous therapeutic responses in RA. The identified signatures improve our understanding of molecular pathways underlying JAK inhibition response and offer potential candidate biomarkers to guide personalized treatment strategies.