PubMed

Related Articles Identification of Chaoborus kairomone chemicals that induce defences in Daphnia. Nat Chem Biol. 2018 Nov 14;: Authors: Weiss LC, Albada B, Becker SM, Meckelmann SW, Klein J, Meyer M, Schmitz OJ, Sommer U, Leo M, Zagermann J, Metzler-Nolte N, Tollrian R Abstract Infochemicals play important roles in aquatic ecosystems. They even modify food web interactions, such as by inducing defenses in prey. In one classic but still not fully understood example, the planktonic freshwater crustacean Daphnia pulex forms specific morphological defenses (neckteeth) induced by chemical cues (kairomones) released from its predator, the phantom midge larva Chaoborus. On the basis of liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, and chemical synthesis, we report here the chemical identity of the Chaoborus kairomone. The biologically active cues consist of fatty acids conjugated to the amino group of glutamine via the N terminus. These cues are involved in Chaoborus digestive processes, which explains why they are consistently released despite the disadvantage for its emitter. The identification of the kairomone may allow in-depth studies on multiple aspects of this inducible defense system. PMID: 30429602 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Related Articles Metabolic programming a lean phenotype by deregulation of RNA polymerase III. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2018 Nov 14;: Authors: Willis IM, Moir RD, Hernandez N Abstract As a master negative regulator of RNA polymerase (Pol) III, Maf1 modulates transcription in response to nutrients and stress to balance the production of highly abundant tRNAs, 5S rRNA, and other small noncoding RNAs with cell growth and maintenance. This regulation of Pol III transcription is important for energetic economy as mice lacking Maf1 are lean and resist weight gain on normal and high fat diets. The lean phenotype of Maf1 knockout (KO) mice is attributed in part to metabolic inefficiencies which increase the demand for cellular energy and elevate catabolic processes, including autophagy/lipophagy and lipolysis. A futile RNA cycle involving increased synthesis and turnover of Pol III transcripts has been proposed as an important driver of these changes. Here, using targeted metabolomics, we find changes in the liver of fed and fasted Maf1 KO mice consistent with the function of mammalian Maf1 as a chronic Pol III repressor. Differences in long-chain acylcarnitine levels suggest that energy demand is higher in the fed state of Maf1 KO mice versus the fasted state. Quantitative metabolite profiling supports increased activity in the TCA cycle, the pentose phosphate pathway, and the urea cycle and reveals changes in nucleotide levels and the creatine system. Metabolite profiling also confirms key predictions of the futile RNA cycle hypothesis by identifying changes in many metabolites involved in nucleotide synthesis and turnover. Thus, constitutively high levels of Pol III transcription in Maf1 KO mice reprogram central metabolic pathways and waste metabolic energy through a futile RNA cycle. PMID: 30429315 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Related Articles Prediagnostic plasma branched chain amino acids and the risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neurology. 2018 Nov 14;: Authors: Bjornevik K, O'Reilly ÉJ, Berry JD, Clish CB, Jeanfavre S, Kato I, Kolonel LN, Le Marchand L, McCullough ML, Paganoni S, Schwarzschild MA, Talbott EO, Wallace RB, Zhang Z, Manson JE, Ascherio A Abstract OBJECTIVE: To assess whether prediagnostic levels of plasma branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) risk. METHODS: We included participants from 5 large cohort studies-The Nurses' Health Study, the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, the Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition, the Multiethnic Cohort Study, and the Women's Health Initiative-and identified 275 individuals who developed ALS during follow-up. Two controls were randomly selected for each case, matched on cohort, age, sex, fasting status, and time of blood draw. We measured metabolites using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and used conditional logistic regression to estimate rate ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association of individual BCAAs with ALS risk. RESULTS: None of the 3 BCAAs was associated with a higher ALS risk. The risk estimates were similar for leucine (RR top vs bottom quartile: 0.87, 95% CI 0.57-1.33), isoleucine (RR top vs bottom quartile: 0.81, 95% CI 0.52-1.24), and valine (RR top vs bottom quartile: 0.80, 95% CI 0.52-1.23) in a multivariable analysis adjusted for body mass index, smoking, level of education, and physical activity. The estimates did not vary significantly by sex, fasting status, or time interval between blood draw and disease onset. CONCLUSION: The results from this study do not support the hypothesis that BCAAs are risk factors for ALS. PMID: 30429276 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Related Articles A novel approach to assess the quality and authenticity of Scotch Whisky based on gas chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry. Anal Chim Acta. 2018 Dec 26;1042:60-70 Authors: Stupak M, Goodall I, Tomaniova M, Pulkrabova J, Hajslova J Abstract Whisky is one of the most popular spirit drinks in the world. Unfortunately, this highly valued commodity is vulnerable to fraud. To detect fraudulent practices and document quality parameters, a number of laboratory tests based on various principles including chromatography and spectroscopy have been developed. In most cases, the analytical methods are based on targeted screening strategies. Non-targeted screening (metabolomics fingerprinting) of (semi)volatile substances was used in our study. Following the pre-concentration of these compounds, either by solid phase microextraction (SPME) or by ethyl acetate extraction, gas chromatography (GC) coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (Q-TOF mass analyser) was employed. Unsupervised principal component analysis (PCA) and supervised partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were used for evaluation of data obtained by analysis of a unique set of 171 authentic whisky samples provided by the Scotch Whisky Research Institute. Very good separation of malt whiskies according to the type of cask in which they were matured (bourbon versus bourbon and wine) was achieved, and significant ´markers' for bourbon and wine cask maturation, such as N-(3-methylbutyl) acetamide and 5-oxooxolane-2-carboxylic acid, were identified. Subsequently, the unique sample set was used to construct a statistical model for distinguishing malt and blended whiskies. In the final phase, 20 fake samples were analysed and the data processed in the same way. Some differences could be observed in the (semi)volatile profiles of authentic and fake samples. Employing the statistical model developed by PLS-DA for this purpose, marker compounds that positively distinguish fake samples were identified. PMID: 30428989 [PubMed - in process]

Related Articles Chemical markers for quality control of bran-fried sulfur-fumigated Paeoniae Radix Alba. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2018 Sep 10;159:305-310 Authors: Xu YY, Long F, Zhang YQ, Xu JD, Kong M, Li SL Abstract In traditional Chinese medicine practice, crude herbs are often subjected to traditional processing (Paozhi in Chinese) for a special medicinal purpose. Bran-frying is one of processing methods for Paeoniae Radix Alba (PRA). Previous studies found that paeoniflorin and paeoniflorin sulfonate, a principle bioactive compound and its sulfur-fumigation induced characteristic sulfur-containing derivative, could be used together with sulfur dioxide residue as chemical markers for the quality control of sulfur-fumigated PRA crude material. In this paper, the feasibility of these three markers used for the quality control of bran-fried sulfur-fumigated PRA was further investigated. First, homemade samples of sulfur-fumigated PRA with different sulfur-fumigation duration (0.5-6 h) were bran-fried, and stored for 12 months. Second, the contents of sulfur dioxide residue, paeoniflorin and paeoniflorin sulfonate were dynamically quantified respectively. Third, the variation of the marker contents and their correlation during bran-frying and storage was evaluated. A validation was conducted using commercial bran-fried PRA samples. The results showed that bran-frying caused an averaged reduction of 20% in the content of sulfur dioxide residue, and during the first two months of storage the content of sulfur dioxide residue was decreased by up to 27%, then the content was tending towards stability for the subsequent ten months of storage (RSD = 3.92%). Meanwhile, paeoniflorin and paeoniflorin sulfonate were relatively stable, the contents of which were not affected by bran-frying processing and 12 months of storage. The correlations between the contents of sulfur dioxide residue and paeoniflorin/paeoniflorin sulfonate were obviously influenced by storage duration. Since sulfur dioxide residue is a safety marker, while paeoniflorin and paeoniflorin sulfonate can reflect the inner quality and the impact extent of sulfur-fumigation on the quality of bran-fried PRA respectively, these three chemicals might be used together as markers for the quality control, and consequently to ensure the safety and efficacy of bran-fried PRA. PMID: 30015100 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Related Articles Investigation of the hepatoprotective effect of Corydalis saxicola Bunting on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis in rats by 1H-NMR-based metabonomics and network pharmacology approaches. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2018 Sep 10;159:252-261 Authors: Liu XW, Tang CL, Zheng H, Wu JX, Wu F, Mo YY, Liu X, Zhu HJ, Yin CL, Cheng B, Ruan JX, Song FM, Chen ZN, Song H, Guo HW, Liang YH, Su ZH Abstract Liver fibrosis is a common consequence of chronic liver diseases resulting from multiple etiologies. Furthermore, prolonged unresolved liver fibrosis may gradually progress to cirrhosis, and eventually evolve into hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Corydalis saxicola Bunting (CS), a type of traditional Chinese folk medicine, has been reported to have hepatoprotective effects on the liver. However, the exact mechanism of how it cures liver fibrosis requires further elucidation. In this work, an integrated approach combining proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR)-based metabonomics and network pharmacology was adopted to elucidate the anti-fibrosis mechanism of CS. Metabonomic study of serum biochemical changes by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis in rats after CS treatment were performed using 1H-NMR analysis. Metabolic profiling by means of partial least squares-discriminate analysis (PLS-DA) indicated that the metabolic perturbation caused by CCl4 was reduced after CS treatment. As a result, lipids, leucine, alanine, acetate, O-acetyl-glycoprotein and creatine were significantly restored after CS treatment, which regulated valine, leucine and isoleucine metabolism; arginine and proline metabolism; lipid metabolism and pyruvate metabolism. Additionally, 157 potential targets of CS and 265 targets of liver fibrosis were identified by means of network pharmacology. Subsequently, 5 target proteins, which are the intersection of potential CS targets and liver fibrosis targets, indicated that CS has potential anti-fibrosis effects through regulating alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity, the farnesoid X receptor (FXR), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and angiotensinogen. Chelerythrine and sanguinarine were the potential active compounds in CS for treating liver fibrosis through regulating ALT activity. This study is the first report to study the anti-fibrosis effects of CS on the basis of combining a metabonomics and network pharmacology approaches, and it may be a potentially powerful tool to study the efficacy and mechanisms of traditional Chinese folk medicines. PMID: 29990893 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

19 new pubmed citations were retrieved for your search. Click on the search hyperlink below to display the complete search results: metabolomics These pubmed results were generated on 2018/11/15PubMed comprises more than millions of citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.

19 new pubmed citations were retrieved for your search. Click on the search hyperlink below to display the complete search results: metabolomics These pubmed results were generated on 2018/11/15PubMed comprises more than millions of citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.

32 new pubmed citations were retrieved for your search. Click on the search hyperlink below to display the complete search results: metabolomics These pubmed results were generated on 2018/11/14PubMed comprises more than millions of citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.

32 new pubmed citations were retrieved for your search. Click on the search hyperlink below to display the complete search results: metabolomics These pubmed results were generated on 2018/11/14PubMed comprises more than millions of citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.

18 new pubmed citations were retrieved for your search. Click on the search hyperlink below to display the complete search results: metabolomics These pubmed results were generated on 2018/11/13PubMed comprises more than millions of citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.

18 new pubmed citations were retrieved for your search. Click on the search hyperlink below to display the complete search results: metabolomics These pubmed results were generated on 2018/11/13PubMed comprises more than millions of citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.

Hepatic metabolomics reveals that liver injury increases PCB 126-induced oxidative stress and metabolic dysfunction. Chemosphere. 2018 Oct 30;217:140-149 Authors: Deng P, Barney J, Petriello MC, Morris AJ, Wahlang B, Hennig B Abstract The deleterious effects of PCB 126 are complex, and the role of the liver in modifying toxic insult is not well understood. We utilized metabolomics approaches to compare liver metabolites significantly affected by PCB 126 in control mice and a diet induced liver injury mouse model. In this 14-week study, mice were fed either an amino acid supplemented control diet (CD) or a methionine-choline deficient diet (MCD) which promoted nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and were subsequently exposed to PCB 126. The liver metabolome was profiled by a global metabolomic analysis using LC-MS. There were clear differences between PCB 126 exposed and control mice in the hepatic metabolomic profiles (216 and 266 metabolites were altered in CD-fed and MCD-fed mice respectively after PCB 126 exposure). PCB 126 modulated glycerophospholipid metabolism, glutathione metabolism, and CoA biosynthesis pathways irrespective of diet; indicating that the disturbance in lipid metabolism and thiol metabolites are general markers of PCB 126 exposure irrespective of liver health. Additionally, metabolites associated with oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction were greatly elevated in PCB 126 exposed mice with compromised livers (e.g., 4-hydroxy-nonenal glutathione, oxylipids, uric acid, and acylcarnitines). Moreover, PCB 126 exposure downregulated redox genes, and the effect was more pronounced in liver injury mice. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that PCB 126 could induce oxidative stress and metabolic dysfunction, and pre-existing liver injury can markedly modify PCB 126-induced metabolic changes. Using metabolic profiling, this study suggests mechanism of enhanced PCB 126 toxicity under liver injury settings. PMID: 30415113 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Added value of plasma metabolomics to describe maternal effects in rat maternal and prenatal toxicity studies. Toxicol Lett. 2018 Nov 08;: Authors: Keller J, Mellert W, Sperber S, Kamp H, Jiang X, Fabian E, Herold M, Walk T, Strauss V, van Ravenzwaay B Abstract For regulatory purposes prenatal developmental toxicity (OECD 414) studies are routinely performed in our laboratories. The suitability of metabolomics as technology to identify maternal toxicity in such studies was investigated. Plasma was sampled from pregnant, non-fasted rats on gestation day 20 before cesarean section. Metabolite profiling was performed by gas- and liquid-chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry techniques. The sensitivity of routinely examined maternal toxicity parameters (OECD No. 414) was compared to those of metabolome analysis. Evaluating 44 studies, the metabolome-derived NOEL was more sensitive in 45% of the cases in detecting maternal toxicity than the maternal NOAEL. Metabolome patterns indicative for liver effects and 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) enzyme-inhibition were established in pregnant rats based on regulated metabolites using reference compounds. The HPPD inhibition and liver toxicity patterns in pregnant rats were reasonably comparable to the ones established in non-pregnant, fasted rats. Metabolomics is a useful tool for an improved and mechanism-based identification of maternal toxicity in maternal and prenatal toxicity studies. The data suggest that the current classical maternal toxicity parameters may underestimate the extent of effects of compounds on the dams. PMID: 30414988 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Related Articles Variations in Microbial Diversity and Metabolite Profiles of the Tropical Marine Sponge Xestospongia muta with Season and Depth. Microb Ecol. 2018 Nov 10;: Authors: Villegas-Plazas M, Wos-Oxley ML, Sanchez JA, Pieper DH, Thomas OP, Junca H Abstract Xestospongia muta is among the most emblematic sponge species inhabiting coral reefs of the Caribbean Sea. Besides being the largest sponge species growing in the Caribbean, it is also known to produce secondary metabolites. This study aimed to assess the effect of depth and season on the symbiotic bacterial dynamics and major metabolite profiles of specimens of X. muta thriving in a tropical marine biome (Portobelo Bay, Panamá), which allow us to determine whether variability patterns are similar to those reported for subtropical latitudes. The bacterial assemblages were characterized using Illumina deep-sequencing and metabolomic profiles using UHPLC-DAD-ELSD from five depths (ranging 9-28 m) across two seasons (spring and autumn). Diverse symbiotic communities, representing 24 phyla with a predominance of Proteobacteria and Chloroflexi, were found. Although several thousands of OTUs were determined, most of them belong to the rare biosphere and only 23 to a core community. There was a significant difference between the structure of the microbial communities in respect to season (autumn to spring), with a further significant difference between depths only in autumn. This was partially mirrored in the metabolome profile, where the overall metabolite composition did not differ between seasons, but a significant depth gradient was observed in autumn. At the phyla level, Cyanobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Spirochaete showed a mild-moderate correlation with the metabolome profile. The metabolomic profiles were mainly characterized by known brominated polyunsaturated fatty acids. This work presents findings about the composition and dynamics of the microbial assemblages of X. muta expanding and confirming current knowledge about its remarkable diversity and geographic variability as observed in this tropical marine biome. PMID: 30413836 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Related Articles Biomarker Phenotype for Early Diagnosis and Triage of Sepsis to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Sci Rep. 2018 Nov 09;8(1):16606 Authors: Mickiewicz B, Thompson GC, Blackwood J, Jenne CN, Winston BW, Vogel HJ, Joffe AR Abstract Early diagnosis and triage of sepsis improves outcomes. We aimed to identify biomarkers that may advance diagnosis and triage of pediatric sepsis. Serum and plasma samples were collected from young children (1-23 months old) with sepsis on presentation to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU-sepsis, n = 46) or Pediatric Emergency Department (PED-sepsis, n = 58) and PED-non-sepsis patients (n = 19). Multivariate analysis was applied to distinguish between patient groups. Results were compared to our results for older children (2-17 years old). Common metabolites and protein-mediators were validated as potential biomarkers for a sepsis-triage model to differentiate PICU-sepsis from PED-sepsis in children age 1 month-17 years. Metabolomics in young children clearly separated the PICU-sepsis and PED-sepsis cohorts: sensitivity 0.71, specificity 0.93, and AUROC = 0.90 ± 0.03. Adding protein-mediators to the model did not improve performance. The seven metabolites common to the young and older children were used to create the sepsis-triage model. Validation of the sepsis-triage model resulted in sensitivity: 0.83 ± 0.02, specificity: 0.88 ± 0.05 and AUROC 0.93 ± 0.02. The metabolic-based biomarkers predicted which sepsis patients required care in a PICU versus those that could be safely cared for outside of a PICU. This has potential to inform appropriate triage of pediatric sepsis, particularly in EDs with less experience evaluating children. PMID: 30413795 [PubMed - in process]

Related Articles The Salt-Stress Response of the Transgenic Plum Line J8-1 and Its Interaction with the Salicylic Acid Biosynthetic Pathway from Mandelonitrile. Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Nov 08;19(11): Authors: Bernal-Vicente A, Cantabella D, Petri C, Hernández JA, Diaz-Vivancos P Abstract Salinity is considered as one of the most important abiotic challenges that affect crop productivity. Plant hormones, including salicylic acid (SA), are key factors in the defence signalling output triggered during plant responses against environmental stresses. We have previously reported in peach a new SA biosynthetic pathway from mandelonitrile (MD), the molecule at the hub of the cyanogenic glucoside turnover in Prunus sp. In this work, we have studied whether this new SA biosynthetic pathway is also present in plum and the possible role this pathway plays in plant plasticity under salinity, focusing on the transgenic plum line J8-1, which displays stress tolerance via an enhanced antioxidant capacity. The SA biosynthesis from MD in non-transgenic and J8-1 micropropagated plum shoots was studied by metabolomics. Then the response of J8-1 to salt stress in presence of MD or Phe (MD precursor) was assayed by measuring: chlorophyll content and fluorescence parameters, stress related hormones, levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants, the expression of two genes coding redox-related proteins, and the content of soluble nutrients. The results from in vitro assays suggest that the SA synthesis from the MD pathway demonstrated in peach is not clearly present in plum, at least under the tested conditions. Nevertheless, in J8-1 NaCl-stressed seedlings, an increase in SA was recorded as a result of the MD treatment, suggesting that MD could be involved in the SA biosynthesis under NaCl stress conditions in plum plants. We have also shown that the plum line J8-1 was tolerant to NaCl under greenhouse conditions, and this response was quite similar in MD-treated plants. Nevertheless, the MD treatment produced an increase in SA, jasmonic acid (JA) and reduced ascorbate (ASC) contents, as well as in the coefficient of non-photochemical quenching (qN) and the gene expression of Non-Expressor of Pathogenesis-Related 1 (NPR1) and thioredoxin H (TrxH) under salinity conditions. This response suggested a crosstalk between different signalling pathways (NPR1/Trx and SA/JA) leading to salinity tolerance in the transgenic plum line J8-1. PMID: 30413110 [PubMed - in process]

16 new pubmed citations were retrieved for your search. Click on the search hyperlink below to display the complete search results: metabolomics These pubmed results were generated on 2018/11/10PubMed comprises more than millions of citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.

16 new pubmed citations were retrieved for your search. Click on the search hyperlink below to display the complete search results: metabolomics These pubmed results were generated on 2018/11/10PubMed comprises more than millions of citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.

27 new pubmed citations were retrieved for your search. Click on the search hyperlink below to display the complete search results: metabolomics These pubmed results were generated on 2018/11/09PubMed comprises more than millions of citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.