Effects of ferulic acid on growth performance,immunity and antioxidant status in genetically improved farmed tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fed oxidized fish oil

A study was conducted to characterize the effects of dietary oxidized fish oil on the growth performance, immunity and antioxidant status of genetically improved farmed tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and to determine the role of ferulic acid on the oxidative damage induced by the oxidized fish oil. The tilapia (13.73 ± 0.31 g) were fed four experimental diets containing untreated (peroxide value, POV: 2.2 meq/kg) and highly oxidized (POV: 120.6 meq/kg) fish oil either with or without ferulic acid (0 or 400 mg/kg) supplementation for 12 weeks. From the results, the oxidized fish oil treatments increased antioxidant enzyme activities and MDA values but decreased the weight gain and the immunological parameters in tilapia. Meanwhile, the serum biochemical indices were significantly affected by the oxidized fish oil. Besides, the addition of ferulic acid partially counteracted the free radical‐induced damage and improved the health status of tilapia. In conclusion, the oxidized fish oil may induce oxidative stress, destroy liver, dysregulate lipid metabolism as well as reduce non‐specific immunity, and eventually result in growth inhibition of tilapia. The ferulic acid supplementation partially offset the negative effects of the oxidized fish oil on tilapia.     

Nutritional evaluation of two marine microalgae as feedstock for aquafeed

Using microalgae for animal nutrition provides an economically viable route for microalgae‐based technological innovation, especially in combination with CO₂ fixation given current global warming. However, this technology still lacks sufficient evaluation for screening microalgae for specific animals; meanwhile, current studies show some prejudice regarding ‘essential’ or ‘non‐essential’ ingredients. The results show that Dunaliella salina and Nannochloropsis salina were able to accumulate high protein (30%–57%) and lipid (20%–46%) content without affecting the performance of CO₂ fixation, which reached 0.28 and 0.23 g L^?1 day^?1 respectively. Both species exhibited high quality of lipids and proteins for Penaeus monodon based on the profiling. The essential fatty acid indexes (EFAI) for N. salina and D. salina were 3.81 and 9.02 respectively. Butyric acid was found to be present in both D. salina (12.03%) and N. salina (4.87%) based on the total fatty acids (FAs). The essential amino acid indexes (EAAI) for D. salina and N. salina were 2.23 and 1.29 respectively. Arginine was the most abundant essential amino acid (EAA) in both D. salina (10.83%) and N. salina (13.35%) on the basis of total amino acids (AAs). This study comprehensively compares the nutritional quality of the two commercial marine microalgae of D. salina and N. salina with the potential to be used as sustainable sources of lipids and proteins to reduce or even replace the traditional fish oil and fish meal in aquafeeds.     

Differential regulation on C5 expression in goose versus mammals by glucose/palmitate provides a potential protection for goose fatty liver

Goose fatty liver is a specific type of nonalcoholic fatty liver that is protected from harmful effects associated with severe steatosis. Our previous findings suggest that suppression of the complement C5 may be relevant, but the mechanism is unclear. Therefore, in this study, we first verified the expression pattern of complement genes (including C5) during goose fatty liver formation and then determined the liver fat content and fatty acid composition by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), followed by selecting the differential metabolites to treat HepG2, goose and mouse primary hepatocytes, aiming to explore the mechanism of C5 and inflammation suppression in goose fatty liver. The data confirmed the suppression of complement genes (including C5) in goose fatty livers. Moreover, fat content was significantly higher in fatty liver versus normal ones, with oleic acid and palmitic acid dominantly accounting for the difference. In line with this, high concentration of palmitate led to down regulation of C5 expression in goose primary hepatocytes whereas upregulation in mouse primary hepatocytes and HepG2 cells. In conclusion, regulation on C5 expression by fatty liver related factors including high level of palmitic acid may contribute to the protection of goose liver from severe hepatic steatosis.     

氨基酸钙对烤烟生长及烟叶品质的影响

为了进一步优化烤烟营养调控技术、提升烟叶品质,采取大田试验的方式,研究了氨基酸钙对烤烟生长以及内在品质的影响。结果表明,施用氨基酸钙后烤烟田间长势较好,平顶期烟株株高、叶面积等农艺性状指标均优于常规对照,烤后烟叶具有较高的均价和上中等烟比例,能够增加烤后烟叶的经济效益。施用氨基酸钙对烟叶品质具有一定的改善作用,可以提升烤后上部烟叶的两糖含量,并对烟碱含量具有一定的降低作用,在团棵期和旺长期分次施用氨基酸钙B2F和C3F等级烟叶的感官评吸质量最好。综合分析,在本试验条件下,氨基酸钙的施用方式以在团棵期或旺长期分次施用较为适宜。     

Performance,milk fatty acid composition and behaviour of high-yielding Holstein dairy cows given a limited grazing period

The effects of a limited grazing period on the performance, behaviour and milk composition of high-yielding dairy cows were examined. A total of 56 Holstein cows yielding 44.7 ± 0.42 kg/day were allocated to one of four treatments in one of two, 4-week periods. Treatments were as follows: control (C)—cows housed and offered TMR ad libitum; early grazing (EG)—cows grazed for 6 hr after morning milking then housed; delayed grazing (DG)—cows returned to housing for 1 hr after morning milking followed by grazing for 6 hr, then housed; restricted TMR (RT)—cows grazed for 6 hr after morning milking, then housed and fed TMR at 75% of ad libitum. Intake of TMR was highest in cows receiving C, intermediate in EG and DG, and lowest in RT at 26.9, 23.6, 24.7 and 20.3 kg DM/day respectively. Pasture intake was similar in cows receiving EG or DG, but was higher in RT at 2.4, 2.0 and 3.5 kg DM/day respectively. Milk yield was similar between cows receiving C, EG or DG, but lowest in RT at 45.7, 44.2, 44.9 and 41.7 kg/cow, respectively, while milk fat content of C18:3 n-3 was increased by grazing. Cows in C spent more than 55 min/day longer lying and had three additional lying bouts/day, while lying bouts were shorter than for cows receiving EG, RT or DG. It is concluded that high-yielding cows can be grazed for 6 hr/day with little impact on performance, provided TMR is available ad libitum when housed.     

A systematic approach to determine the impact of elevated CO2 levels on the chemical composition of wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Two wheat genetic lines (responsive and non-responsive to elevated CO₂) grown under ambient and free-air CO₂ enrichment (FACE) conditions were compared using fuzzy chromatography mass spectrometry (FCMS) metabolite fingerprinting. A more comprehensive survey of the changes in their chemical composition was made on selected samples using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) metabolomic profiling with high resolution accurate mass/tandem mass spectrometry (HRAM/MSⁿ). Principal component analysis (PCA) of the metabolite fingerprints showed four clusters for the two genetic lines (responsive and non-responsive) and the two CO₂ levels (ambient and elevated) in score plots. Metabolite profiling of representative samples for each of the four clusters identified 25 and 16 compounds from negative and positive data, respectively, including amino acids, saccharides, phenolic acids, flavonoids, and lipids. Loading plots demonstrated that some saccharides and lipids were responsible for discriminating between not only two genetic lines but also two CO₂ levels. Analysis of free amino acids (not bound) showed a clear pattern of reduced concentration for both lines with elevated CO₂. After acid hydrolysis, the responsive line 6 (41% increase in yield) showed the same pattern observed for free amino acids, but the non-responsive line 5 (6% increase in yield) showed different trends in concentrations of amino acids with elevated CO₂.     

Localization of amino acids in germinated rice grain: Gamma-aminobutyric acid and essential amino acids production approach

Germinated rice is popularly consumed for its high gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and bioactive compounds. Supporting information on how to germinate rice with high GABA content and essential amino acids is lacking. White and colored rough rice were germinated for 0, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120 and 144 h. GABA, GABA substrates and essential amino acids were also investigated using GC-MS and MALDI-MSI. GABA was more concentrated after germination and shifted into the coleoptile. High correlation was recorded between germination time and GABA (0.79–0.83, p ≤ 0.01) and glutamic acid (0.88–0.89, p ≤ 0.01). Highest rates of GABA and glutamic production were observed within 48 h of germination in both rice varieties (26.12 and 34.28 mg/100g) and reached maximum value at 96 h (31.36 and 38.75 mg/100g). Colored rice germination showed higher GABA, GABA substrates and deficient amino acids than white rice. GABA and essential amino acids drastically increased after germination, supporting the consumption of germinated rice as a functional food.     

New angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory peptide from Coix prolamin and its influence on the gene expression of renin-angiotensin system in vein endothelial cells

Coix seed, which is a traditional Chinese medicine, has been used to treat hypertension for thousands of years. It has been shown that Coix prolamin peptides display high levels of angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity. Hence, we purified the ACE inhibitory peptides from Coix prolamin hydrolysates and evaluated the influence of the most potent peptide on the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) genes expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). In this study, Coix prolamin peptides were sequentially separated by ultrafiltration, ion exchange chromatography, gel filtration chromatography and RP-HPLC, while the peptide structure was analyzed by mass spectrometry. Next, in silico proteolysis, pharmacophore and molecular docking were further applied to screen and optimize the structure of peptides. Finally, a novel ACE inhibitory peptide VDMF was obtained, in which its influence on the gene expression of RAS signaling pathway in AngⅡ-injury HUVECs was evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR. VDMF significantly down-regulated ACE, AngII type 1 receptor (AT1R) and ACE2 mRNA expression in comparation with model group, while up-regulating Mas gene expression. Hence, we obtained a novel antihypertensive candidate that was derived from the Coix peptides, which could involve a multi-modulation mechanism that regulates blood pressure.     

Using vibrational molecular spectroscopy to detect moist heating induced carbohydrates structure changes in cool-climate adapted barley grain

There is limited research to study how moist heating affects internal structure of barley grain on a molecular basis. The objectives of this study were to use vibrational molecular spectroscopy: 1) to determine the moist heating induced changes of barley carbohydrate (CHO) structure on a molecular basis, 2) to study the effects of moist heating on CHO chemical profiles, Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) subfractions, in situ rumen degradation, and predicted intestinal carbohydrate supply of barley grain; and 3) to reveal the association between molecular structure spectral features and CHO related metabolic characteristics. Barley samples (CDC cowboy) were collected from Kernen Crop Research Farm (Saskatoon, Canada) during two consecutive years. Half of each sample was kept as raw barley and the other half underwent moist heating (autoclaving at 120 °C for 60 min). The molecular spectroscopy (attenuated total reflectance-fourier transform infrared, ATR-FTIR) was used to detect the barley CHO related molecular structure spectral features. Moist heating did not affect carbohydrate related chemical profiles and CNCPS subfractions but it decreased rumen degradable carbohydrate. Rumen undegradable and intestinal digestion of CHO subfractions were not affected by moist heating. The advanced vibrational molecular spectroscopy can be used to detect carbohydrate molecular spectral features. Nutrient utilization prediction using molecular spectral characteristics is warranted and further investigation is encouraged.     

菠萝酸性转化酶基因家族初步生物信息学及表达分析

酸性转化酶（acid invertase, AIN）在菠萝采后蔗糖降解过程中起着重要作用,基于菠萝全基因组数据库,预测菠萝AIN家族基因并进行生物信息学分析,解析其在采后菠萝不同贮藏温度下的表达变化情况,为阐明AIN基因在采后菠萝果实贮藏特性中的作用奠定基础。以水稻AIN家族基因为探针,在菠萝全基因组中鉴定到2个菠萝细胞壁酸性转化酶基因（cell wall acid invertase, CWIN）和2个液泡酸性转化酶基因（vacuolar acid invertase, VIN）,分别命名为AcCWIN1、AcCWIN2、AcVIN1、AcVIN2,设计编码区引物进行测序验证,并进行生物信息学分析。进化分析结果表明,AcCWIN1、AcCWIN2和AcVIN1、AcVIN2蛋白分别归于细胞壁酸性转化酶和液泡酸性转化酶2个进化支上,且均属于糖基水解酶家族GH32,基因结构、保守域和保守基序均一致。荧光定量分析结果表明,菠萝果肉中AcVIN1和AcVIN2在果实采后贮藏过程中表达量升高,且AcVIN1在发生黑心病的部位大量表达,而AcCWIN1和AcCWIN2在采后贮藏过程中表达量逐渐降低,且随着贮藏温度的升高其表达量降低,预示AcVIN1、AcVIN2较AcCWIN1、AcCWIN2在菠萝采后蔗糖降解和黑心病的发生方面发挥着更为重要的作用。