Arachidonic acid (ARA) is a bioactive polyunsaturated fatty acid involved in lipid metabolism, antioxidant defense, and steroidogenesis in aquatic animals. Previous studies have demonstrated that dietary ARA regulates lipid metabolism and steroid biosynthesis in the mud crab Scylla paramamosain. It was hypothesized that dietary ARA promotes steroidogenesis by reshaping hepatopancreatic lipid composition. To test this hypothesis, the parallel transcriptomic and lipidomic analyses with pathway-level comparative interpretation were performed to characterize the hepatopancreatic responses of mud crabs fed experimental diets containing different concentrations of ARA for 22 weeks. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that an appropriate dietary ARA concentration significantly regulated lipid metabolic pathways, as indicated by the down-regulation of acs, enhanced antioxidant capacity through the up-regulation of sod, sod2, and sod3. Transcriptomic analysis indicated molecular responses associated with ovarian steroidogenesis-related pathways, including the up-regulation of pla2 and ARTISt. Lipidomic analysis further demonstrated that dietary ARA markedly remodeled hepatopancreatic lipid composition, particularly glycerophospholipids and sterol-related lipids. In conclusion, these findings supported our hypothesis that dietary ARA regulated steroidogenesis by reshaping hepatopancreatic lipid composition. This study provides mechanistic insights that may facilitate the development of nutritionally optimized broodstock diets to improve reproductive performance in mud crab.
Flavor quality, a key sensory attribute of coconut, has consistently been a central breeding objective throughout long-term domestication and varietal improvement efforts. Developing high-aroma varieties requires a clear understanding of their underlying molecular genetic mechanisms. However, research on the metabolic regulatory enzymes involved remains limited, particularly those linked to 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2AP), a volatile compound that primarily contributes to the unique scent of aromatic coconuts. We developed contrasting populations and systematically evaluated the role of CnP5CS in 2AP accumulation by examining enzyme activity, metabolic flux, population-level genetic variation, and transcriptional regulatory networks. In the aromatic coconut population, the selected genomic regions were enriched in pathways associated with amino acid metabolism and stress responses. Conspicuously, glutamate (Glu) and its derivatives showed significant correlations within the differentiated populations. The Glu metabolic enzyme P5CS was subjected to strong purifying selection, and haplotype-phenotype association analysis further identified the dominant CnP5CS1 allele genotype. Moreover, we established metabolic marker indicators to assess relative 2AP levels, based on the metabolic profiles of CnP5CS and the substrates and products of its catalyzed reactions. The Y1H assay identified the key transcription factor CnYAB2, which exhibited a strongly correlated expression pattern with CnP5CS1 and major markers of 2AP metabolism. The identification of CnP5CS1 offers a novel perspective on the genetic regulation of 2AP metabolism in aromatic coconuts and establishes a theoretical foundation for developing molecular markers to support the breeding of high-aroma varieties.
Deciphering the genetic and metabolic factors influencing meat quality and flavor is crucial for enhancing beef industry productivity and meeting consumer demands. This study aimed to explore the effects of different breeds on meat quality and flavor characteristics of Wannan and Chinese Simmental cattle through analysis of myofiber traits, fatty acid and amino acid contents, whole transcriptomics, and metabolomics. Results revealed that Wannan cattle had markedly smaller myofiber diameter (P < 0.01) and higher myofiber density (P < 0.05) than Chinese Simmental cattle. Wannan cattle also exhibited significantly higher contents of umami−/sweet-related amino acids (aspartic acid and glycine) (P < 0.05), and unsaturated fatty acids (C15:1, C16:1, and C18:2n6c) (P < 0.05), as well as higher levels of total unsaturated (UFAs), monounsaturated (MUFAs), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) (P < 0.05). We identified key genes involved in fatty acid metabolism (FADS6, PLB1, ELOVL6, HACD2) and amino acid metabolism (ADSS2, GSTA2, SLC36A4), as well as core signaling pathways including PI3K-Akt, AMPK, and PPAR. Additionally, lncRNA/circRNA-mediated potential competing endogenous RNA regulatory networks were constructed, represented by LOC112449549/miR-424/ELOVL6, circ_015602/miR-2285/HACD2, and circ_035929/miR-194-3p/SLC36A4 axes. Further, key metabolites in fatty acid metabolism (16:0 PC, 16:1 (Δ9-Cis) PC, 18:1 Dimethyl PE) and amino acid metabolism (gamma-Glu-Cys, 1-methyl-L-histidine, l-glutamine) were identified, and an mRNA-metabolite regulatory network was established. The findings are expected to contribute to the genetic improvement of local cattle breeds and promote the development of high-quality beef production in China.
Glucomoringin (GMG) is a distinctive glucosinolate rich in moringa seeds and sprouts. GMG has gained considerable attention as a precursor of moringin (RBITC), a unique isothiocyanate with anticancer potential. However, studies on GMG biosynthesis in moringa sprouts remain scarce, highlighting the needs for investigation. In this study, a tyrosine-associated GMG biosynthetic pathway was proposed based on transcript annotation and metabolite prediction. The candidate genes potentially associated with GMG biosynthesis were tentatively identified, such as CYP79A1, CYP83B1, SUR1, UGT74B1, and SOT16. Two additional genes TGG4 and TGG5 were tentatively identified as candidates possibly involved in the bioconversion of GMG to RBITC. These findings offer valuable insights into GMG biosynthesis and may facilitate the development of strategies to enhance GMG production in moringa sprouts.
Lipids play significant roles in energy metabolism, nutrient utilization, and the regulation of lipid metabolism in fish and is thus considered as one of the important components of aquafeeds. Common carp, Cyprinus carpio var. communis, is a widely cultured fish species worldwide; however, information on the optimum corn oil inclusion level under defined dietary formulations remains limited. Therefore, this study evaluated the effects of graded corn oil inclusion levels on growth performance, serum biochemical profile, haematological parameters, digestive enzyme activities, and mRNA expression of fatty acid desaturase 2 (FADS2) and elongation of very long-chain fatty acids protein 5 (ELOVL5) in common carp fingerlings (1.59 ± 0.02 g/fish) over a 10-week feeding trial. Fish were fed six isonitrogenous diets containing graded levels of corn oil (20-120 g k1) with a constant inclusion of 20 g kg-1 cod liver oil. Growth performance improved significantly (P < 0.05) with increasing corn oil inclusion up to 60 g kg-1 and declined thereafter. Whole-body protein, fat, and moisture contents were significantly affected, whereas body ash content remained unchanged. Fish fed the diet containing 60 g kg-1 corn oil exhibited improved haematological indices, enhanced protease and lipase activities, and higher relative expression of FADS2 and ELOVL5. Quadratic regression analyses based on live weight gain (LWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and body protein deposition (BPD) estimated an optimum corn oil inclusion level of 68.60 g kg-1 in the presence of 20 g kg-1 cod liver oil in the feed under the present experimental conditions. These findings indicate that moderate corn oil inclusion under the present dietary formulation was associated with improved growth performance, physiological responses, digestive enzyme activities, and FADS2 and ELOVL5 expression in common carp fingerlings.
The Food Drug & Cosmetic Act designates milk as a major food allergen and requires its labeling on food packages. As such, robust, sensitive detection methods are required to ensure accurate labeling. Immunoassays such as ELISAs detect the allergenic proteins but may be limited by cross-reactivity and protein degradation that occurs during food processing. DNA-based detection methods are often less affected by food processing and offer a robust alternative. In this work, a real-time PCR assay targeting the COI mitochondrial gene for Bos taurus was developed and evaluated for the detection of bovine DNA, specifically in the context of bovine milk in foods. Bovine milk was spiked at known concentrations into four complex food matrices -dark chocolate, vegan cookies, dairy-free muffins, and orange juice-chosen for their relevance to allergen recalls and robustness testing. Because milk is considerably lower in DNA concentration than other bovine tissues, beef was used as a control in a parallel set of spiking experiments to evaluate assay performance. The assay detected milk at concentrations as low as 100 ppm across food matrices, except in dark chocolate where internal controls indicate the presence of PCR inhibitors. Comparison between beef and milk spike data suggests that the lower sensitivity of the assay for milk detection is attributable to inherently low bovine DNA concentration in milk. This method should be used as a screening tool or in conjunction with immunoassays when food processing has compromised allergenic proteins.
This study evaluated whether dietary guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) was associated with meat quality, jejunal microbiota and muscle metabolomic profiles in Tibetan sheep. A total of 120 healthy, 2-month-old, weaned male Tibetan sheep (17.33 ± 0.21 kg) were allocated to four groups: CON, basal diet (control group); LG, basal diet supplemented with 0.08% GAA; MG, basal diet supplemented with 0.10% GAA; HG, basal diet supplemented with 0.12% GAA. The feeding trial lasted 90 days after a 10-day adaptation. Compared with CON, 0.12% GAA was associated with higher relative abundances of selected jejunal taxa (Eubacterium_nodatum_group, Family_XIII_AD3011_group and Bacillus) and increased acetate and propionate concentrations. Untargeted metabolomics identified significantly altered muscle metabolites associated with glycerophospholipid metabolism, including PC 37:5, PC 38:4 and LPA 14:0. The HG group also showed higher glutathione peroxidase activity and total antioxidant capacity, a higher a* value and lower shear force. Correlation analyses indicated associations among jejunal microbiota, muscle metabolites and meat-quality traits. These findings provide further evidence supporting the potential use of dietary GAA as a feed additive for improving selected meat-quality traits in Tibetan sheep.
Chemical preservatives are widely applied in food preservation but raise growing concerns over microbial resistance and chemical residue risks. The antimicrobial potential of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) derived from Yangzhou pickles and Daqu remains poorly characterized. In this study, the LAB strain B1-3, identified as Pediococcus pentosaceus, exhibited the strongest activity against Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella Typhimurium. Phenotypic characterization showed that B1-3 presents homofermentative metabolism, tests negative for hemolytic and coagulase activities, is susceptible to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline and ciprofloxacin, and tolerates 0.3% bile salts. Whole-genome sequencing revealed no detectable plasmids, transferable antibiotic resistance genes, or typical virulence factors, providing preliminary evidence supporting its safety potential for food applications. Treatment with 40% cell-free supernatant of B1-3 effectively suppressed the proliferation of both indigenous spoilage microbiota and artificially inoculated pathogens in pork during 7-day storage at 4 °C, and caused no significant adverse effects on surface color, texture profile and lipid oxidation level. These findings highlight B1-3 as a highly promising candidate for developing natural meat biopreservatives.
Polyfunctional thiols contribute tropical fruit aroma to beer, yet their low abundance and complex precursor chemistry challenge brewing optimization. This study investigated thiol release kinetics and genome-wide transcriptional changes in a commercial lager (S. pastorianus) and ale (S. cerevisiae) yeast during pilot-scale fermentations, with and without dry-hopping. In non-dry-hopped fermentations, thiol production peaked early (Days 1-3), coinciding with peak glycolysis and FAN depletion. The lager strain produced higher 3SH levels than the ale, suggesting enhanced precursor conversion, whereas strain had no significant effect on 3S4MP. Dry-hopping increased total thiol content, but 3SH formation did not scale proportionally with hop load. Unexpectedly, both thiols continued to increase during post-fermentation processing, suggesting that thiol formation is not restricted to active fermentation. Transcriptomic analyses identified distinct temporal expression patterns among candidate β-lyases, transporters, peptidases, and nitrogen-responsive genes; however, transcript abundance alone did not explain thiol production, dry-hopping responses, or strain-dependent differences. Overall, thiol production reflects interactions among metabolism, gene regulation, and precursor availability.
Dextranase acts as a biocatalyst for the production of isomaltooligosaccharides (IMOs) and low-molecular-weight dextran (LMWD) in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Nevertheless, the naturally derived dextranase from Chaetomium gracile (CgDEX) suffers from unsatisfactory catalytic activity, which hinders its industrial utilization. We hypothesized that modification of non-conserved residues distal to the catalytic center could enhance the enzym's catalytic performance. In this work, candidate mutation sites were screened via multiple sequence alignment (MSA), followed by site-directed mutagenesis to engineer CgDEX and heterologous expression in Pichia pastoris. The resultant mutant exhibited a specific activity of 5185 ± 70 U/mg, representing an increase of 17.5 ± 2.3% relative to the wild-type enzyme. Molecular docking revealed strengthened hydrogen-bond interactions between catalytic residues and substrate upon mutation, consistent with the markedly elevated substrate affinity determined by enzyme kinetic assays. Hydrolysis of dextran by the mutant predominantly yielded IMOs with a degree of polymerization ranging from 2 to 4; additionally, the engineered enzyme could work synergistically with dextransucrase to synthesize LMWD. Collectively, this study verifies the feasibility of green manufacturing of functional oligosaccharides and LMWD using engineered CgDEX.
This exploratory study evaluated whether partial replacement of sucrose with inulin was associated with differences in the proteomic, metabolomic, and lipidomic profiles of gelatin capsule waste gel fermented by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum. A sucrose-based Control and an INU-50 formulation, in which 50% of sucrose was replaced with inulin, were compared using parallel proteomic, untargeted metabolomic, and untargeted lipidomic profiling. The Control and INU-50 groups separated clearly across all datasets. Proteomic analysis identified four proteins with higher abundance in the INU-50 formulation, including proteins putatively associated with carbohydrate transport, pentose phosphate metabolism, purine biosynthesis, and translation-related functions. Untargeted metabolomics detected 1885 molecular features, among which 426 differential features with putative metabolite annotations were identified in the original exploratory analysis. These features were mainly linked to carbohydrate metabolism, sugar interconversion, amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, cofactor metabolism, and intermediary carbon pathways. Untargeted lipidomics detected 6005 lipid-related molecular features, including 563 differential features with putative annotations, associated with fatty acid metabolism, glycerophospholipid-related compounds, cardiolipin-related species, ceramide-associated molecules, and secondary metabolite-linked lipid features. Integrated analysis indicated that the observed protein abundance patterns and extracellular molecular features were associated with differences between the two fermented formulations. These findings provide an exploratory molecular dataset describing associations between inulin fortification and complementary omics profiles during gelatin capsule waste fermentation. Because non-fermented controls and targeted validation were not included, mechanistic interpretation should be considered cautiously.
In the United States, approximately one-third of shrimp sold are misrepresented. DNA barcoding requires robust infrastructure and one to three days to generate results, limiting enforcement utility. We hypothesized that RNase H2-dependent PCR (rhPCR) primers targeting cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) sequence-specific sites, coupled with lateral flow detection, could enable rapid species authentication of royal red shrimp (Pleoticus robustus) and Argentine red shrimp (Pleoticus muelleri). Species-specific rhPCR primers labeled with FAM and biotin were designed and evaluated using crude DNA extracts from 65 barcoded shrimp specimens representing seven commercially traded species. The assays were further validated using 20 blinded retail samples marketed as royal red shrimp. Both assays demonstrated high specificity comparable to DNA barcoding results, and an analytical sensitivity of 0.01 ng/μL. Analysis of retail samples revealed 60% of samples were not royal red shrimp. Total time-to-results for 20 samples was approximately 150 min, demonstrating a rapid, simpler, and sequencing-free alternative for regulatory enforcement.
This study investigated the mechanisms underlying flavor deterioration in Zanba during storage by integrating microbiome analysis, non-targeted metabolomics, and flavoromics. Microbial succession analysis revealed a transition from raw-material-associated microbiota to lipid oxidation-linked dominant genera, including Pseudomonas, Paenibacillus, Temperatibacter, and Enterococcus. These taxa were strongly associated with lipid degradation and oxidative metabolic activities. Metabolomics profiling identified lipid metabolism-particularly that of linoleic acid and glycerophospholipids-as the most significantly perturbed pathway over storage. Flavoromics further showed a progressive decline in Maillard reaction-derived heterocyclic compounds that contribute to roasted cereal notes, alongside a concurrent accumulation of lipid oxidation-derived aldehydes, alcohols, and ketones. Correlation analyses substantiated that the dominant microbial populations promoted lipid hydrolysis and oxidation, thereby accelerating flavor deterioration. Collectively, these findings indicate that Zanba flavor degradation during storage is primarily driven by microbial-associated lipid oxidation, resulting in a sensory shift from roasted cereal aromas toward rancid off-flavors.
This study developed and validated a novel, highly specific primer set targeting the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit III (COX3) gene for the detection of chicken DNA (Gallus gallus domesticus) using quantitative PCR (qPCR) to enhance food authentication reliability. A 70 bp chicken-specific amplicon was designed and validated for repeatability, analytical specificity across six animal species, and sensitivity. The assay demonstrated high precision, with an average quantification cycle (Cq) of 13.18 ± 0.20 and a stable melting temperature (Tm) of 81.27 ± 0.05 °C (RSDr <1.5%). Analytical specificity tests confirmed the detection of chicken DNA with no cross-amplification in non-target species, including beef, pork, sheep, squid, shrimp, and ducks. The absolute functional limit of detection (LoD) was 10.09 pg/μL, while the relative LoD in binary DNA mixtures reached 0.5% (v/v) with 100% PCR efficiency and R2 = 0.999. Application of this assay to 17 commercial meat products (sausages and floss) revealed a high incidence of mislabeling, where undeclared chicken DNA was detected in seven out of 11 samples (63.6%) declared as 100% beef, representing 41.2% of the total samples tested. These findings indicate that the COX3 primer set provides an accurate and efficient approach for authenticating animal-derived ingredients, significantly enhancing consumer protection against food adulteration.
Ancient forest tea is locally valued in Guizhou, but the transcriptomic and metabolomic differences associated with forest and terrace tea cultivation systems remain unclear. We conducted an exploratory integrated transcriptomic and untargeted metabolomic comparison across three shoot types (single buds, one-bud-one-leaf, and one-bud-two-leaves). Transcriptomic analysis showed the largest number of DEGs at the one-bud-two-leaves stage, suggesting substantial transcriptional variation under the present sampling conditions. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses indicated that phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis pathways were over-represented. Untargeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) detected 864 differential metabolite features with Metabolomics Standards Initiative (MSI) Level 2 putative annotations, including 374 features with higher relative abundance in forest tea. The largest number of differential metabolite features occurred at the one-bud-one-leaf stage, and these features were enriched in flavonoid biosynthesis. Variable importance in projection (VIP) ranking prioritized discriminant features from false discovery rate (FDR)-filtered data, including four MSI Level 2 features putatively annotated as polyphenol-related compounds that showed higher relative abundance in forest tea. In addition, the expression of genes encoding phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), a key enzyme in the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway, differed significantly between forest tea and terrace tea. These results suggest that secondarymetabolism-related pathways are associated with molecular differentiation between forest and terrace tea. Because this study lacked sensory evaluation, targeted metabolite quantification, and functional validation, these findings require future validation. This work provides candidate pathways and metabolite features for future validation of tea quality differences.
Cadmium (Cd) is a hazardous and non-essential heavy metal that enters the environment through anthropogenic activities and natural emissions, polluting crops and threatening human health. We hypothesized that OsHMA transporters play distinct and functionally specialized roles in Cd uptake and transport in rice, and their expression could reduce Cd accumulation in shoots, while enhance plant tolerance to Cd-induced toxicity. This study identified and functionally characterized OsHMA family members involved in this process. Heterologous expression in the Cd-sensitive yeast strain ∆ycf1 showed that OsHMA1/2/3/4/5/7/8/9 possess Cd-specific functional activity. Under Cd treatment, rice overexpressing OsHMA1/3/4/5/7/8/9 exhibited improved growth and reduced Cd accumulation in shoots, while CRISPR-Cas9 knockouts of OsHMA1/3/4/7/9 accumulated more Cd in shoots and showed greater sensitivity. Notably, KO-OsHMA5 and KO-OsHMA8 mutants exhibited higher Cd content in roots and lower in shoots and improved growth performance than wild type. Subcellular localization revealed a diverse distribution of OsHMA proteins; OsHMA1, OsHMA7 and OsHMA8 co-localized with chloroplasts; OsHMA5 and OsHMA9 were localized to the plasma membrane; OsHMA2, OsHMA4, and OsHMA6 were localized both to the plasma membrane and endoplasmic reticulum; and OsHMA3 had fluorescence signals in the vacuolar (tonoplast) membrane. These findings confirm that OsHMA genes are functionally specialized in Cd uptake, supporting our hypothesis, and demonstrate that targeted manipulation of these genes through CRISPR/Cas9 tool may provide further insight into their roles in regulating Cd accumulation in rice.
Microbial diversity is crucial for the flavor and quality of fermented vegetables. The unique geography and fermentation techniques of Hinggan League, Inner Mongolia, endow local sauerkraut with distinctive characteristics; however, the association between its microbiota and metabolites, as well as the underlying flavor formation mechanism, remains unclear, representing a gap in current research. Therefore, this study systematically investigated the interactions between microbial communities and metabolites during traditional sauerkraut fermentation in Hinggan League, Inner Mongolia, before and after fermentation. Using MiSeq sequencing technology, the core microbiota was identified, mainly including Lactobacillus, Halomonas, and Psychrobacter, with specific strains Azospirillum and Aureimonas observed exclusively in pre-fermentation (VC) samples. Metabolomics analysis detected a total of 335 abundant metabolites, among which 146 upregulated metabolites such as organic acids, amino acids, and fatty acid derivatives significantly accumulated during the late fermentation stage. Notably, 3-phenyllactic acid and 5-aminovaleric acid were the most representative characteristic metabolites. Metabolites pathway enrichment analysis revealed that arginine and proline metabolism, alanine/aspartate/glutamate metabolism, and cyanoamino acid metabolism were the major pathways significantly activated during fermentation, closely associated with energy metabolism, acid-base homeostasis regulation, and flavor generation. Correlation analysis showed a strong association between Lactococcus and 31 flavor compounds, including palmitic acid, L-phenylalanine, and heptadecanoic acid. Functional annotation indicated that Lactococcus-driven protein degradation, amino acid conversion, and lipolytic activities generate key precursors for sour and umami flavor development. Collectively, this study elucidates the microbial community succession characteristics, inter-microbial interaction patterns, and the associated metabolic regulation mechanisms of flavor formation during sauerkraut fermentation, providing a theoretical basis for the targeted modulation of characteristic flavor compound synthesis and the optimization of traditional fermentation processes.
Lactose is the primary carbohydrate in milk, but its role in neonatal metabolic adaptation remains unclear. This study aimed to clarify the correlation between milk pyrimidine nucleotides and hepatic energy metabolism during lactose metabolism via three animal models. A sow-piglet model characterized natural milk nucleotide dynamics and their correlation with hepatic metabolism in suckling piglets. An ultra-early weaned piglet model evaluated uridine monophosphate (UMP) supplementation under controlled high-lactose conditions. A high-lactose rat model validated conserved metabolic alterations. Natural lactation analysis revealed that milk lactose increased obviously at days 7, 14 and 21 relative to colostrum, while milk pyrimidine nucleotides decreased gradually. Accordingly, suckling piglets exhibited increased serum triglyceride and decreased hepatic glycogen, together with suppressed expression of hepatic pyrimidine synthesis-related genes at later lactation stages. On this basis, we further explored the effects of UMP supplementation using high-lactose-fed piglets and rats. Dietary UMP supplementation was associated with increased hepatic glycogen and triglyceride accumulation in both species. UMP intervention coincided with increased activities of gluconeogenic and Leloir pathway enzymes, as well as altered expression of lipogenic genes. These changes were accompanied by changes in AMPK/mTOR, PPARγ and IL-6 signaling. Collectively, these results suggest that UMP supplementation was associated with hepatic energy storage in young mammals fed a lactose-containing diet.
Driven by sustainability, plant oils are increasingly used to replace fish oil in aquafeeds, thereby altering muscle fatty acid composition and potentially affecting volatile profiles. Lipoxygenases (LOXs) participate in fatty-acid bioconversion, but the role of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) in non-immune fish muscle remains unclear. We hypothesized that acute intragastric exposure to plant-derived C18 fatty acids would be associated with changes in muscle 5-LOX protein abundance and volatile profiles in triploid rainbow trout.Using an acute oral gavage model, trout received oleic, linoleic, or α-linolenic acid, alone or with the selective 5-LOX inhibitor zileuton. Muscle samples were analyzed for 5-LOX mRNA expression, detectable protein abundance, and volatile profiles.Detectable 5-LOX protein abundance was low under basal conditions and changed after fatty-acid administration, with linoleic acid showing the clearest increase. Several major volatiles also changed across treatments. Under acute fatty-acid exposure, zileuton reduced hexanal concentration by 85.7% (221.2 to 31.6 ng/g) and decreased the nonanal odor activity value by 34.4%.These results indicate that acute plant-derived C18 fatty acid exposure was associated with changes in detectable muscle 5-LOX protein abundance and volatile profiles in triploid rainbow trout. The inhibitor-associated volatile changes further support the possibility that multiple oxidative processes may be involved under these acute conditions.
Guyuan cattle are a unique indigenous genetic resource in Northwest China, characterized by favorable roughage utilization efficiency and meat production potential. However, the molecular mechanisms governing their meat quality traits remain poorly elucidated. In this exploratory study, we characterized meat quality phenotypes and transcriptomic profiles in Guyuan cattle and Wagyu cattle, which differ significantly in intramuscular fat (IMF) content. Phenotypic comparisons (n = 6) revealed significant interbreed divergences in slaughter performance, IMF content, drip loss, moisture content, shear force, fatty acid composition, amino acid profile, and muscle fiber type. Through integrated whole-transcriptome sequencing (n = 3) and phenotypic analysis, and based on differential expression analysis coupled with phenotype correlation screening, we preliminarily identified 37 differentially genes associated with fat deposition (16), shear force (11), and muscle development (10). Based on seed region complementarity, phenotypic correlation, and signaling pathway enrichment analysis, we predicted potential target genes and constructed 16 co-expression networks. It should be noted that this study is limited by a small sample size, and the multi-omics data are associative in nature, which does not allow for causal inference. Therefore, the above genes and networks are predictive and have not undergone independent functional validation. These findings offer preliminary, exploratory insights into the potential molecular mechanisms associated with key meat quality traits in Guyuan cattle, and serve as a reference for future functional gene validation, genetic improvement of indigenous yellow cattle, and related industrial applications.
