Exploring the metabolome of seminal plasma in two different horse types: Light versus draft stallions

The application of the ‘omics’ studies in the field of animal reproduction has been aimed at identifying novel biomarkers of fertility since the last few years. When assessing reproductive efficiency in horses, breed should also be taken into account as it can influence semen quality and fertility. Considering the growing interest in metabolomic analysis to evaluate male fertility, we aimed to investigate the metabolomic profile of seminal plasma in two different horse breeds. Twelve healthy stallions, n.6 American Quarter Horse (AQH) and n.6 Italian Draft Horse (IDH) stallions, regularly used for artificial insemination, were included in the study. Two semen collections, performed 30-day apart, were considered for the assessment of semen parameters including gel-free volume, spermatozoa (spz) concentration, spz progressive motility and seminal plasma analysis by ¹H-NMR.Semen characteristics differed between IDH and AQH (p < .05) as well as the first cycle conception rate that was higher in AQH than IDH (p = .001). Metabolomic analysis quantified 56 molecules in equine seminal plasma, with 11 metabolites showing different concentrations in IDH compared to AQH (p < .05).This study provided evidence of differences in seminal plasma metabolites' concentrations between studied horse types, highlighting specific metabolomic fingerprints characterizing AQH and IDH sperm.     

Profiling of plasma metabolites in canine oral melanoma using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Malignant melanoma is one of the most common and aggressive tumors in the oral cavity of dog. The tumor has a poor prognosis, and methods for diagnosis and prediction of prognosis after treatment are required. Here, we examined metabolite profiling using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for development of a discriminant model for evaluation of prognosis. Metabolite profiles were evaluated in healthy and melanoma plasma samples using orthogonal projection to latent structure using discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). Cases that were predicted to be healthy using the OPLS discriminant model had no advanced lesions after radiation therapy. These results indicate that metabolite profiling may be useful in diagnosis and prediction of prognosis of canine malignant melanoma.     

Effect of different time intervals after feeding on plasma metabolites in growing pigs: an UPLC‐MS‐based metabolomics study

A diet consumed by pigs provides the nutrients for the production of a large number of metabolites that, after first‐pass metabolism in the liver, circulate systemically where they may exert diverse physiologic influences on pigs. So far, little is known of how feeding elicits changes in metabolic profiles for growing pigs. This study investigated differences in plasma metabolites in growing pigs at several intervals after feeding using the technique of metabolomics. Ten barrows (22.5 ± 0.5 kg BW) were fed a corn‐soybean meal basal diet and were kept in metabolism crates for a period of 11 days. An indwelling catheter was inserted into the jugular vein of each pig before the experimental period. Plasmas before and 1, 4, and 8 hr after feeding were collected at day 11 and differential metabolites were determined using a metabolomics approach. Direct comparison at several intervals after feeding revealed differences in 14 compounds. Identified signatures were enriched in metabolic pathways related to linoleic acid metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, lysine degradation, glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, and lysine biosynthesis. These results suggest that plasma metabolites of growing pigs after feeding were modulated through changes in linoleic acid metabolism and amino acid metabolism.     

功能基因组学和代谢组学技术在植物次生代谢物合成及调控研究中的应用

植物次生代谢是植物在长期进化过程中与环境相互作用的结果,由初生代谢派生. 萜类、生物碱类、苯丙烷类为植物次生代谢物的主要类型,其代谢途径多以代谢频道形式存在,具有种属、生长发育期等特异性. 该文从植物次生代谢物的分类、代谢途径及代谢调控基因工程等方面展开论述,介绍了次生代谢物的生物合成途径,以及利用基因工程等技术对植物次生代谢途径进行遗传改良等方面的研究进展,为全面认识植物代谢网络、合理定位次生代谢及其关键酶、促进野生植物资源可持续利用等提供理论依据.      

基于质谱的代谢组学数据分析技术研究进展

代谢组学是系统生物学研究的重要组成部分,是一种对特定条件下生物体内所有内源性小分子代 谢物进行全面定性和定量分析的技术。质谱和核磁共振系统的不断更新迭代推进了代谢组学技术的迅猛发展, 其中质谱技术因其能同时检测出数千个生物流体、细胞和组织中的代谢物,且所需前处理步骤简单,已发展为 当前代谢组学研究中应用最广泛的技术,开发基于质谱的代谢组学数据分析方法也因此成为过去 10 年代谢组学 研究的热点领域。对基于 GC-MS 和 LC-MS 的代谢组学数据预处理、代谢组学数据统计分析、代谢途径富集分析, 以及未知代谢物鉴定 4 个方向取得的研究进展进行系统总结,详细介绍常用的数据分析策略和分析软件;并重 点综述了包括基于数据库、分子网络算法、人工智能算法等未知代谢物鉴定的前沿方法,最后展望了基于质谱 的代谢组学数据分析的未来发展方向,在已知生化反应和分子网络分析的基础上再整合代谢物合成的遗传位点 等信息,有望进一步提高代谢物的鉴定数量和准确度。全面综述基于质谱的代谢组学数据分析技术,将为开发 新的代谢组学分析方法和挖掘代谢组学数据的生物学意义提供重要的参考和思路。     

都匀毛尖本地种茶树响应假眼小绿叶蝉侵害的代谢组学研究

以被假眼小绿叶蝉侵染0、12、24 h的都匀毛尖本地种茶树叶片为试验材料,采用超高效液相色谱–串联四级杆飞行时间质谱技术对试验材料的代谢产物进行定性和定量分析,正离子模式下鉴定出1094个代谢物。采用主成分分析、正交偏最小二乘法判别分析,根据差异倍数筛选出0 h与12 h处理有20个差异代谢物,其中 6个差异代谢物的含量上调,14个下调;0 h与24 h处理之间有41个差异代谢物,其中26个上调,15个下调;12 h与24 h处理有59个差异代谢物,其中45个上调,14个下调。0 h与12 h处理有2个差异代谢物注释到KEGG数据库中,其中芥子酸注释到苯丙素生物合成途径中,与木质素形成有关;0 h与24 h处理有6个差异代谢物注释到KEGG数据库中,其中6,9,12,15十八碳四烯酸乙酯注释到亚麻酸代谢通路,没食子儿茶素注释到类黄酮生物合成,苯乙醛注释到苯丙氨酸代谢通路,推测苯乙醛会对周围的假眼小绿叶蝉造成其行为或生理的影响,而苯丙氨酸经苯丙氨酸解氨酶等酶催化合成木质素和类黄酮等;12 h与24 h处理有9个差异代谢物注释到9条通路中,马钱苷酸注释到单萜生物合成通路中,相比侵染12 h处理,24 h处理的马钱苷酸含量上调,表明茶树被假眼小绿叶蝉为害后可能通过释放萜类物质来抵御害虫。以上结果表明,木质素、萜类物质和黄酮类化合物在茶树抵御小绿叶蝉的侵害具有重要作用。     

手性三唑类杀菌剂氟环唑对土壤微生物的立体选择性影响

为了研究土壤微生物对手性三唑类杀菌剂氟环唑的立体选择性响应,通过非靶向代谢组学和高通量测序联合技术探究了土壤代谢组和微生物群落对氟环唑外消旋体及对映体的响应机制。结果表明：氟环唑及其对映体处理4周后,土壤中氟环唑降解不显著,其残留能够引起土壤代谢组和土壤微生物群落组成的显著变化。土壤代谢组、细菌和真菌群落组成、PICRUSt基因功能预测的代谢途径均表现出由2R,3S-（+）-氟环唑驱动的立体选择性响应。PICRUSt基因预测表明,细菌中被显著影响的MetaCyc通路有10条,真菌中比对出22条。氟环唑外消旋体和（+）-对映体比（-）-对映体表现出对土壤微生物更显著的干扰作用（P<0.05）。氟环唑暴露引起了土壤环境中细菌和真菌群落、代谢、基因功能预测通路不同程度的立体选择性响应。鉴于土壤环境在农业生产中的重要性,土壤微生物组和代谢组的表征可以为暴露于手性三唑类农药顺式氟环唑及其对映体所带来的生态风险提供新的见解。     

哈茨木霉菌诱导烟草抗黑胫病代谢差异的研究

为研究哈茨木霉菌对NC89接种烟草疫霉菌前后抗病相关代谢途径的影响,以烟草品种NC89为试验材料,设置四个处理：接种清水（NC89CK）、接种烟草疫霉菌谷（NC89_P）、接种哈茨木霉菌（NC89_T）、接种哈茨木霉菌后接种烟草疫霉菌谷（NC89_T_P）,利用超高效液相色谱与质谱联用技术（liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer,LC/MS）比较各处理抗病相关代谢通路的变化差异。结果表明,哈茨木霉菌对烟草疫霉菌有着较好的生防作用。代谢组学分析表明,筛选到893个差异代谢产物及其富集的代谢通路,涉及抗病相关的代谢途径20条;各处理间脂肪酸及其衍生物、黄酮和类黄酮、萜类、苯丙氨酸及其次生代谢物和泛酸等物质的含量存在显著差异,为进一步探究哈茨木霉菌对烟草疫霉菌的抑制机理奠定了基础。