Integrative Molecular Phenotyping
INTEGRATIVE MOLECULAR
PHENOTYPING
WHEELOCK LABORATORY
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL
BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS
WHEELOCK LABORATORY
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL
BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS
WHEELOCK LABORATORY
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL
BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS
WHEELOCK LABORATORY
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL
BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS
WHEELOCK LABORATORY
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL
BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS
WHEELOCK LABORATORY
WHEELOCK LABORATORY
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL
BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS
WHEELOCK LABORATORY
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL
BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS
WHEELOCK LABORATORY
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL
BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS
WHEELOCK LABORATORY
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL
BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS
WHEELOCK LABORATORY
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL
BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS
WHEELOCK LABORATORY

PubMed

Mechanistic Insights into Cell-Free Gene Expression through an Integrated -Omics Analysis of Extract Processing Methods

Thu, 26/01/2023 - 12:00
ACS Synth Biol. 2023 Jan 26. doi: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00339. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTCell-free systems derived from crude cell extracts have developed into tools for gene expression, with applications in prototyping, biosensing, and protein production. Key to the development of these systems is optimization of cell extract preparation methods. However, the applied nature of these optimizations often limits investigation into the complex nature of the extracts themselves, which contain thousands of proteins and reaction networks with hundreds of metabolites. Here, we sought to uncover the black box of proteins and metabolites in Escherichia coli cell-free reactions based on different extract preparation methods. We assess changes in transcription and translation activity from σ70 promoters in extracts prepared with acetate or glutamate buffer and the common post-lysis processing steps of a runoff incubation and dialysis. We then utilize proteomic and metabolomic analyses to uncover potential mechanisms behind these changes in gene expression, highlighting the impact of cold shock-like proteins and the role of buffer composition.PMID:36700560 | DOI:10.1021/acssynbio.2c00339

An exposome connectivity paradigm for the mechanistic assessment of the effects of prenatal and early life exposure to metals on neurodevelopment

Thu, 26/01/2023 - 12:00
Front Public Health. 2023 Jan 9;10:871218. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.871218. eCollection 2022.ABSTRACTThe exposome paradigm through an integrated approach to investigating the impact of perinatal exposure to metals on child neurodevelopment in two cohorts carried out in Slovenia (PHIME cohort) and Greece (HERACLES cohort) respectively, is presented herein. Heavy metals are well-known neurotoxicants with well-established links to impaired neurodevelopment. The links between in utero and early-life exposure to metals, metabolic pathway dysregulation, and neurodevelopmental disorders were drawn through urinary and plasma untargeted metabolomics analysis, followed by the combined application of in silico and biostatistical methods. Heavy metal prenatal and postnatal exposure was evaluated, including parameters indirectly related to exposure and health adversities, such as sociodemographic and anthropometric parameters and dietary factors. The primary outcome of the study was that the identified perturbations related to the TCA cycle are mainly associated with impaired mitochondrial respiration, which is detrimental to cellular homeostasis and functionality; this is further potentiated by the capacity of heavy metals to induce oxidative stress. Insufficient production of energy from the mitochondria during the perinatal period is associated with developmental disorders in children. The HERACLES cohort included more detailed data regarding diet and sociodemographic status of the studied population, allowing the identification of a broader spectrum of effect modifiers, such as the beneficial role of a diet rich in antioxidants such as lycopene and ω-3 fatty acids, the negative effect the consumption of food items such as pork and chicken meat has or the multiple impacts of fish consumption. Beyond diet, several other factors have been proven influential for child neurodevelopment, such as the proximity to pollution sources (e.g., waste treatment site) and the broader living environment, including socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. Overall, our results demonstrate the utility of exposome-wide association studies (EWAS) toward understanding the relationships among the multiple factors that determine human exposure and the underlying biology, reflected as omics markers of effect on neurodevelopment during childhood.PMID:36699871 | PMC:PMC9869756 | DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2022.871218

Distribution profile of iridoid glycosides and phenolic compounds in two <em>Barleria</em> species and their correlation with antioxidant and antibacterial activity

Thu, 26/01/2023 - 12:00
Front Plant Sci. 2023 Jan 9;13:1076871. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1076871. eCollection 2022.ABSTRACTINTRODUCTION: Barleria prionitis is known for its medicinal properties from ancient times. Bioactive iridoid glycosides and phenolic compounds have been isolated from leaves of this plant. However, other parts of a medicinal plants are also important, especially roots. Therefore, it is important to screen all organs for complete chemical characterization.METHOD: All parts of B. prionitis, including leaf, root, stem and inflorescence in search of bioactive compounds, with a rapid and effective metabolomic method. X500R QTOF system with information dependent acquisition (IDA) method was used to collect high resolution accurate mass data (HRMS) on both the parent (MS signal) and their fragment ions (MS/MS signal). ESI spectra was obtained in positive ion mode from all parts of the plant. A comparative analysis of antioxidant and antibacterial activity was done and their correlation study with the identified compounds was demonstrated. Principal component analysis was performed.RESULT: Iridoid glycosides and phenolic compounds were identified from all parts of the showing variability in presence and abundance. Many of the compounds are reported first time in B. prionitis. Antioxidant and antibacterial activity was revealed in all organs, root being the most effective one. Some of the iridoid glycoside and phenolic compounds found to be positively correlated with the tested biological activity. Principal component analysis of the chemical profiles showed variability in distribution of the compounds.CONCLUSION: All parts of B. prionitis are rich source of bioactive iridoid glycosides and phenolic compounds.PMID:36699860 | PMC:PMC9868927 | DOI:10.3389/fpls.2022.1076871

Combined metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis reveals key components of <em>OsCIPK17</em> overexpression improves drought tolerance in rice

Thu, 26/01/2023 - 12:00
Front Plant Sci. 2023 Jan 9;13:1043757. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1043757. eCollection 2022.ABSTRACTOryza Sativa is one of the most important food crops in China, which is easily affected by drought during its growth and development. As a member of the calcium signaling pathway, CBL-interacting protein kinase (CIPK) plays an important role in plant growth and development as well as environmental stress. However, there is no report on the function and mechanism of OsCIPK17 in rice drought resistance. We combined transcriptional and metabonomic analysis to clarify the specific mechanism of OsCIPK17 in response to rice drought tolerance. The results showed that OsCIPK17 improved drought resistance of rice by regulating deep roots under drought stress; Response to drought by regulating the energy metabolism pathway and controlling the accumulation of citric acid in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle; Our exogenous experiments also proved that OsCIPK17 responds to citric acid, and this process involves the auxin metabolism pathway; Exogenous citric acid can improve the drought resistance of overexpression plants. Our research reveals that OsCIPK17 positively regulates rice drought resistance and participates in the accumulation of citric acid in the TCA cycle, providing new insights for rice drought resistance.PMID:36699859 | PMC:PMC9868928 | DOI:10.3389/fpls.2022.1043757

Sugarcane mosaic virus orchestrates the lactate fermentation pathway to support its successful infection

Thu, 26/01/2023 - 12:00
Front Plant Sci. 2023 Jan 9;13:1099362. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1099362. eCollection 2022.ABSTRACTViruses often establish their own infection by altering host metabolism. How viruses co-opt plant metabolism to support their successful infection remains an open question. Here, we used untargeted metabolomics to reveal that lactate accumulates immediately before and after robust sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV) infection. Induction of lactate-involved anaerobic glycolysis is beneficial to SCMV infection. The enzyme activity and transcriptional levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were up-regulated by SCMV infection, and LDH is essential for robust SCMV infection. Moreover, LDH relocates in viral replicase complexes (VRCs) by interacting with SCMV-encoded 6K2 protein, a key protein responsible for inducing VRCs. Additionally, lactate could promote SCMV infection by suppressing plant defense responses. Taken together, we have revealed a viral strategy to manipulate host metabolism to support replication compartment but also depress the defense response during the process of infection.PMID:36699858 | PMC:PMC9868461 | DOI:10.3389/fpls.2022.1099362

Fruit quality and volatile constituents of a new very early-ripening pummelo (<em>Citrus maxima</em>) cultivar 'Liuyuezao'

Thu, 26/01/2023 - 12:00
Front Plant Sci. 2023 Jan 9;13:1089009. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1089009. eCollection 2022.ABSTRACT'Liuyuezao' (LYZ) pummelo (Citrus maxima) originated from a spontaneous bud sport on a 'Guanxi' (GXB) pummelo tree and was released as a new very early-season cultivar. The objective of this study was to present the sensory and nutritional profiles of LYZ fruits, and compare it with other major commercialized pummelo cultivars including GXB, 'Sanhong' (SH) and 'Hongrou' (HR). LYZ had higher contents of organic acids (12.01 mg/g), phenols (669.01 mg/L), vitamin C (75.73 mg/100 mL) and stronger antioxidant capacity (77.65 mg/100 mL) but lower levels of soluble sugars (62.85 mg/g), carotenoids (0.25 mg/L) and flavonoids (46.3 mg/L) when compared to the other pummelos. Moreover, a smaller number (49) and much less content (7.63) of fruit volatiles were detected in LYZ than them in GXB, SH and HR. The relatively high levels of fructose (20.6 mg/g) and organic acids and low levels of volatile compounds in LYZ mainly contributed to its sweet and mildly sour taste and moderate aroma of pummelo note. LYZ is presented as an alternative pummelo cultivar with the potential for commercialization.PMID:36699855 | PMC:PMC9868557 | DOI:10.3389/fpls.2022.1089009

Analysis of chemotypes and their markers in leaves of core collections of <em>Eucommia ulmoides</em> using metabolomics

Thu, 26/01/2023 - 12:00
Front Plant Sci. 2023 Jan 9;13:1029907. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1029907. eCollection 2022.ABSTRACTThe leaves of Eucommia ulmoides contain various active compunds and nutritional components, and have successively been included as raw materials in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, the Health Food Raw Material Catalogue, and the Feed Raw Material Catalogue. Core collections of E. ulmoides had been constructed from the conserved germplasm resources basing on molecular markers and morphological traits, however, the metabolite diversity and variation in this core population were little understood. Metabolite profiles of E. ulmoides leaves of 193 core collections were comprehensively characterized by GC-MS and LC-MS/MS based non-targeted metabolomics in present study. Totally 1,100 metabolites were identified and that belonged to 18 categories, and contained 120 active ingredients for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and 85 disease-resistant metabolites. Four leaf chemotypes of the core collections were established by integrated uses of unsupervised self-organizing map (SOM), supervised orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) and random forest (RF) statistical methods, 30, 23, 43, and 23 chemomarkers were screened corresponding to the four chemotypes, respectively. The morphological markers for the chemotypes were obtained by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) between the chenomarkers and the morphological traits, with leaf length (LL), chlorophyll reference value (CRV), leaf dentate height (LDH), and leaf thickness (LT) corresponding to chemotypes I, II, III, and IV, respectively. Contents of quercetin-3-O-pentosidine, isoquercitrin were closely correlated to LL, leaf area (LA), and leaf perimeter (LP), suggesting the quercetin derivatives might influence the growth and development of E. ulmoides leaf shape.PMID:36699853 | PMC:PMC9868706 | DOI:10.3389/fpls.2022.1029907

Indigenous and commercial isolates of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi display differential effects in <em>Pyrus betulaefolia</em> roots and elicit divergent transcriptomic and metabolomic responses

Thu, 26/01/2023 - 12:00
Front Plant Sci. 2023 Jan 9;13:1040134. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1040134. eCollection 2022.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are beneficial soil fungi which can effectively help plants with acquisition of mineral nutrients and water and promote their growth and development. The effects of indigenous and commercial isolates of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on pear (Pyrus betulaefolia) trees, however, remains unclear.METHODS: Trifolium repens was used to propagate indigenous AMF to simulate spore propagation in natural soils in three ways: 1. the collected soil was mixed with fine roots (R), 2. fine roots were removed from the collected soil (S), and 3. the collected soil was sterilized with 50 kGy 60Co γ-radiation (CK). To study the effects of indigenous AMF on root growth and metabolism of pear trees, CK (sterilized soil from CK in T. repens mixed with sterilized standard soil), indigenous AMF (R, soil from R in T. repens mixed with sterilized standard soil; S, soil from S in T. repens mixed with sterilized standard soil), and two commercial AMF isolates (Rhizophagus intraradices(Ri) and Funneliformis mosseae (Fm)) inoculated in the media with pear roots. Effects on plant growth, root morphology, mineral nutrient accumulation, metabolite composition and abundance, and gene expression were analyzed.RESULTS: AMF treatment significantly increased growth performance, and altered root morphology and mineral nutrient accumulation in this study, with the S treatment displaying overall better performance. In addition, indigenous AMF and commercial AMF isolates displayed common and divergent responses on metabolite and gene expression in pear roots. Compared with CK, most types of flavones, isoflavones, and carbohydrates decreased in the AMF treatment, whereas most types of fatty acids, amino acids, glycerolipids, and glycerophospholipids increased in response to the AMF treatments. Further, the relative abundance of amino acids, flavonoids and carbohydrates displayed different trends between indigenous and commercial AMF isolates. The Fm and S treatments altered gene expression in relation to root metabolism resulting in enriched fructose and mannose metabolism (ko00051), fatty acid biosynthesis (ko00061) and flavonoid biosynthesis (ko00941).CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that indigenous AMF and commercial AMF isolates elicited different effects in pear plants through divergent responses from gene transcription to metabolite accumulation.PMID:36699828 | PMC:PMC9868765 | DOI:10.3389/fpls.2022.1040134

Single-Cell Mass Spectrometry of Metabolites and Proteins for Systems and Functional Biology

Thu, 26/01/2023 - 12:00
Neuromethods. 2022;184:87-114. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2525-5_5. Epub 2022 Aug 11.ABSTRACTMolecular composition is intricately intertwined with cellular function, and elucidation of this relationship is essential for understanding life processes and developing next-generational therapeutics. Technological innovations in capillary electrophoresis (CE) and liquid chromatography (LC) mass spectrometry (MS) provide previously unavailable insights into cellular biochemistry by allowing for the unbiased detection and quantification of molecules with high specificity. This chapter presents our validated protocols integrating ultrasensitive MS with classical tools of cell, developmental, and neurobiology to assess the biological function of important biomolecules. We use CE and LC MS to measure hundreds of metabolites and thousands of proteins in single cells or limited populations of tissues in chordate embryos and mammalian neurons, revealing molecular heterogeneity between identified cells. By pairing microinjection and optical microscopy, we demonstrate cell lineage tracing and testing the roles the dysregulated molecules play in the formation and maintenance of cell heterogeneity and tissue specification in frog embryos (Xenopus laevis). Electrophysiology extends our workflows to characterizing neuronal activity in sections of mammalian brain tissues. The information obtained from these studies mutually strengthen chemistry and biology and highlight the importance of interdisciplinary research to advance basic knowledge and translational applications forward.PMID:36699808 | PMC:PMC9872963 | DOI:10.1007/978-1-0716-2525-5_5

Heptadecanoic acid and pentadecanoic acid crosstalk with fecal-derived gut microbiota are potential non-invasive biomarkers for chronic atrophic gastritis

Thu, 26/01/2023 - 12:00
Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2023 Jan 9;12:1064737. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1064737. eCollection 2022.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG), premalignant lesions of gastric cancer (GC), greatly increases the risk of GC. Gastroscopy with tissue biopsy is the most commonly used technology for CAG diagnosis. However, due to the invasive nature, both ordinary gastroscope and painless gastroscope result in a certain degree of injury to the esophagus as well as inducing psychological pressure on patients. In addition, patients need fast for at least half a day and take laxatives.METHODS: In this study, fecal metabolites and microbiota profiles were detected by metabolomics and 16S rRNA V4-V5 region sequencing.RESULTS: Alteration of fecal metabolites and microbiota profiles was found in CAG patients, compared with healthy volunteers. To identify the most relevant features, 7 fecal metabolites and 4 microbiota were selected by random forest (RF), from A and B sample sets, respectively. Furthermore, we constructed support vector machines (SVM) classifification model using 7 fecal metabolites or 4 gut microbes, or 7 fecal metabolites with 4 gut microbes, respectively, on C sample set. The accuracy of classifification model was 0.714, 0.857, 0.857, respectively, and the AUC was 0.71, 0.88, 0.9, respectively. In C sample set, Spearman's rank correlation analysis demonstrated heptadecanoic acid and pentadecanoic acid were signifificantly negatively correlated to Erysipelotrichaceae_UCG-003 and Haemophilus, respectively. We constructed SVM classifification model using 2 correlated fecal metabolites and 2 correlated gut microbes on C sample set. The accuracy of classification model was 0.857, and the AUC was 0.88.CONCLUSION: Therefore, heptadecanoic acid and pentadecanoic acid, crosstalk with fecal-derived gut microbiota namely Erysipelotrichaceae_UCG-003 and Haemophilus, are potential non-invasive biomarkers for CAG diagnosis.PMID:36699724 | PMC:PMC9868245 | DOI:10.3389/fcimb.2022.1064737

Integrated analysis of transcriptome and metabolome data reveals insights for molecular mechanisms in overwintering Tibetan frogs, <em>Nanorana parkeri</em>

Thu, 26/01/2023 - 12:00
Front Physiol. 2023 Jan 9;13:1104476. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1104476. eCollection 2022.ABSTRACTNanorana parkeri (Anura, Dicroglossidae) is a unique frog living at high altitude on the Tibetan plateau where they must endure a long winter dormancy at low temperatures without feeding. Here, we presented a comprehensive transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis of liver tissue from summer-active versus overwintering N. parkeri, providing the first broad analysis of altered energy metabolism and gene expression in this frog species. We discovered that significantly up-regulated genes (2,397) in overwintering frogs mainly participated in signal transduction and immune responses, phagosome, endocytosis, lysosome, and autophagy, whereas 2,169 down-regulated genes were mainly involved in metabolic processes, such as oxidation-reduction process, amino acid metabolic process, fatty acid metabolic process, and TCA cycle. Moreover, 35 metabolites were shown to be differentially expressed, including 22 down-regulated and 13 up-regulated in winter. These included particularly notable reductions in the concentrations of most amino acids. These differentially expressed metabolites were mainly involved in amino acid biosynthesis and metabolism. To sum up, these findings suggest that gene expression and metabolic processes show adaptive regulation in overwintering N. parkeri, that contributes to maintaining homeostasis and enhancing protection in the hypometabolic state. This study has greatly expanded our understanding of the winter survival mechanisms in amphibians.PMID:36699683 | PMC:PMC9868574 | DOI:10.3389/fphys.2022.1104476

The role of serine metabolism in lung cancer: From oncogenesis to tumor treatment

Thu, 26/01/2023 - 12:00
Front Genet. 2023 Jan 9;13:1084609. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1084609. eCollection 2022.ABSTRACTMetabolic reprogramming is an important hallmark of malignant tumors. Serine is a non-essential amino acid involved in cell proliferation. Serine metabolism, especially the de novo serine synthesis pathway, forms a metabolic network with glycolysis, folate cycle, and one-carbon metabolism, which is essential for rapidly proliferating cells. Owing to the rapid development in metabolomics, abnormal serine metabolism may serve as a biomarker for the early diagnosis and pathological typing of tumors. Targeting serine metabolism also plays an essential role in precision and personalized cancer therapy. This article is a systematic review of de novo serine biosynthesis and the link between serine and folate metabolism in tumorigenesis, particularly in lung cancer. In addition, we discuss the potential of serine metabolism to improve tumor treatment.PMID:36699468 | PMC:PMC9868472 | DOI:10.3389/fgene.2022.1084609

Comparative plasma and urine metabolomics analysis of juvenile and adult canines

Thu, 26/01/2023 - 12:00
Front Vet Sci. 2023 Jan 9;9:1037327. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1037327. eCollection 2022.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND AND AIMS: The metabolomic profile of a biofluid can be affected by age, and thus provides detailed information about the metabolic alterations in biological processes and reflects the in trinsic rule regulating the growth and developmental processes.METHODS: To systemically investigate the characteristics of multiple metabolic profiles associated with canine growth, we analyzed the metabolomics in the plasma and urine samples from 15 young and 15 adult beagle dogs via UHPLC-Q-TOFMS-based metabolomics. Blood routine and serum biochemical analyses were also performed on fasting blood samples.RESULTS: The metabolomics results showed remarkable differences in metabolite fingerprints both in plasma and urine between the young and adult groups. The most obvious age-related metabolite alterations include decreased serumlevels of oxoglutaric acid and essential amino acids and derivatives but increased levels of urine levels of O-acetylserine. These changes primarily involved in amino acid metabolism and bile secretion pathways. We also found that the levels of glutamine were consistently higher in both serum and urine of adults, while N-acetylhistamine and uracil concentrations were much lower in the adult group compared to younger ones.CONCLUSION: Our study provides a whole metabolic profile of serum and urine characteristics of young and adult canines, identifying several metabolites that were significantly associated with age change, which provides theoretical support for the nutrition-related research and age-related homeostasis maintenance in dogs.PMID:36699333 | PMC:PMC9868312 | DOI:10.3389/fvets.2022.1037327

A strategy for healthy eating habits of daily fruits revisited: A metabolomics study

Thu, 26/01/2023 - 12:00
Curr Res Food Sci. 2023 Jan 12;6:100440. doi: 10.1016/j.crfs.2023.100440. eCollection 2023.ABSTRACTMany people peel fruits, commonly persimmon, grape, apple, and peach, before eating as table fruits. Differences of bioactive compounds between peels and pulps of daily fruits are widely known but limited to individual compound because understanding of differences in their global metabolites is lack. We employed 1H NMR-based metabolomics to explore the global metabolite differences between their peels and pulps from the fruits, which included changes of diverse metabolites in persimmon after harvest ripening. Of diverse metabolites observed among the fruits tested, various health-beneficial metabolites were present in the peels rather than the pulps and their classes were dependent on the type of fruit: gallocatechin, epicatechin and epigallocatehin only in persimmon, apple, and peach, respectively; quercetin only in persimmon and apple; kaempferol only in persimmon; chlorogenic acid only in grape and peach; neochlorogenic acid only in apple and peach; p-coumaric acid only in grape; phloridzin and catechin only in apple. These metabolites in the peels of each fruits were strongly correlated with free radical-scavenging activity and delay of carbohydrate digestion. Therefore, intake of whole fruits, rather than removal of their peels, were recommended for potential improvement of healthy lifespan and human wellness. This study highlights the critical role of metabolomic studies in simultaneous determinations of diverse and intrinsic metabolites in different types of fruits and thus providing a strategy for healthy eating habits of daily fruits.PMID:36699116 | PMC:PMC9868340 | DOI:10.1016/j.crfs.2023.100440

An evaluation of homeostatic plasticity for ecosystems using an analytical data science approach

Thu, 26/01/2023 - 12:00
Comput Struct Biotechnol J. 2023 Jan 4;21:869-878. doi: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.01.001. eCollection 2023.ABSTRACTThe natural world is constantly changing, and planetary boundaries are issuing severe warnings about biodiversity and cycles of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. In other views, social problems such as global warming and food shortages are spreading to various fields. These seemingly unrelated issues are closely related, but it can be said that understanding them in an integrated manner is still a step away. However, progress in analytical technologies has been recognized in various fields and, from a microscopic perspective, with the development of instruments including next-generation sequencers (NGS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS), various forms of molecular information such as genome data, microflora structure, metabolome, proteome, and lipidome can be obtained. The development of new technology has made it possible to obtain molecular information in a variety of forms. From a macroscopic perspective, the development of environmental analytical instruments and environmental measurement facilities such as satellites, drones, observation ships, and semiconductor censors has increased the data availability for various environmental factors. Based on these background, the role of computational science is to provide a mechanism for integrating and understanding these seemingly disparate data sets. This review describes machine learning and the need for structural equations and statistical causal inference of these data to solve these problems. In addition to introducing actual examples of how these technologies can be utilized, we will discuss how to use these technologies to implement environmentally friendly technologies in society.PMID:36698969 | PMC:PMC9860287 | DOI:10.1016/j.csbj.2023.01.001

Metabolomics as a potential tool for monitoring patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

Thu, 26/01/2023 - 12:00
Front Neurol. 2023 Jan 9;13:1101524. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2022.1101524. eCollection 2022.ABSTRACTMetabolomics has evolved into a particularly useful tool to study interactions between metabolites and serves as an aid in unraveling the complexity of entire metabolomes. Nonetheless, it is increasingly viewed as a methodology with practical applications in the clinical setting, where identifying and quantifying biomarkers of interest could prove useful for diagnostics. Starting from a concise overview of the most prominent analytical techniques employed in metabolomics, herein we present a review of its application in studies of brain metabolism and cerebrovascular diseases, paying most attention to its uses in researching aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Both animal models and human studies are considered, and metabolites identified as potential biomarkers are highlighted.PMID:36698893 | PMC:PMC9868237 | DOI:10.3389/fneur.2022.1101524

Ramadan diurnal intermittent fasting is associated with significant plasma metabolomics changes in subjects with overweight and obesity: A prospective cohort study

Thu, 26/01/2023 - 12:00
Front Nutr. 2023 Jan 9;9:1008730. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1008730. eCollection 2022.ABSTRACTINTRODUCTION: During the holy month of Ramadan, adult healthy Muslims are mandated to abstain from dawn to sunset, with free eating at night hours that may extend up to 12 h. The current work was designed to investigate the metabolomics changes incurred upon the observance of Ramadan diurnal intermittent fasting (RDIF).METHODS: Twenty-five metabolically healthy participants with overweight and obesity (7 females and 18 males, with a mean age of 39.48 ± 10.0 years) were recruited for the study and were followed before and at the end of RDIF month. Dietary, anthropometric, biochemical, and physical activity assessments were performed before and at the end of the fasting month. The metabolomic assay was performed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for the two-time points.RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Metabolomics assay revealed a significant reduction in a few metabolites. The analysis revealed that 27 metabolites differed significantly (P < 0.05) between pre-and post-RDIF. Among the differentially abundant metabolites, 23 showed a decrease with fasting, these included several amino acids such as aspartame, tryptophan, phenylalanine, histidine, and other metabolites including valeric acid, and cortisol. On the other hand, only four metabolites showed increased levels after RDIF including traumatic acid, 2-pyrrolidinone, PC[18:1(9Z)/18:1(9Z)], and L-sorbose. The MetaboAnalyst® platform reported that the top enriched metabolic pathways included: (1) histidine metabolism; (2) folate biosynthesis (3) phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis; (4) aminoacyltRNA biosynthesis; (5) caffeine metabolism; (6) vitamin B6 metabolism; and several other pathways relating to lipid metabolisms such as arachidonic acid metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and linoleic acid metabolism. In conclusion, RDIF entails significant changes in various metabolic pathways that reflect different dietary and lifestyle behaviors practiced during the fasting month.PMID:36698470 | PMC:PMC9868699 | DOI:10.3389/fnut.2022.1008730

Dietary supplement of mushrooms promotes SCFA production and moderately associates with IgA production: A pilot clinical study

Thu, 26/01/2023 - 12:00
Front Nutr. 2023 Jan 9;9:1078060. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1078060. eCollection 2022.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Mushrooms are rich in dietary fiber, and fiber intake has been reported to increase the levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). It has also been reported that SCFAs promote immunoglobulin A (IgA) production, indicating involvement in systemic immunity.OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of mushroom consumption on the amount of intestinal IgA. We also aimed to comprehensively evaluate the gut microbiota and intestinal metabolome and to conduct an exploratory analysis of their relationship with IgA.METHODS: Healthy adults (n = 80) were enrolled in a parallel group trial. Participants consumed a diet with mushrooms or a placebo diet once daily for 4 weeks. Gut microbiota profiles were assessed by sequencing the bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA-encoding gene. Intestinal metabolome profiles were analyzed using capillary electrophoresis-time of flight mass spectrometry (CE-TOFMS).RESULTS: Mushroom consumption tended to increase IgA levels at 4 weeks of consumption compared to those in the control group (p = 0.0807; Hedges' g = 0.480). The mushroom group had significantly higher levels of intestinal SCFAs, such as butyrate and propionate, than the control group (p = 0.001 and 0.020; Hedges' g = 0.824 and 0.474, respectively). Correlation analysis between the changes in the amount of intestinal IgA and the baseline features of the intestinal environment showed that the increasing amount of intestinal IgA was positively correlated with the baseline levels of SCFAs (Spearman's R = 0.559 and 0.419 for butyrate and propionate, respectively).CONCLUSION: Consumption of mushrooms significantly increased the intestinal SCFAs and IgA in some subjects. The increase in intestinal IgA levels was more prominent in subjects with higher SCFA levels at baseline. This finding provides evidence that mushroom alters the intestinal environment, but the intensity of the effect still depends on the baseline intestinal environment. This trial was registered at www.umin.ac.jp as UMIN000043979.PMID:36698463 | PMC:PMC9868702 | DOI:10.3389/fnut.2022.1078060

Nicotinamide Mononucleotide Ameliorates Sleep Deprivation-Induced Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis and Restores Colonization Resistance against Intestinal Infections

Thu, 26/01/2023 - 12:00
Adv Sci (Weinh). 2023 Jan 25:e2207170. doi: 10.1002/advs.202207170. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTGut microbiota-mediated colonization resistance (CR) is crucial in protecting the host from intestinal infections. Sleep deprivation (SD) is an important contributor in the disturbances of intestinal homeostasis. However, whether and how SD affects host CR remains largely unknown. Here, it is shown that SD impairs intestinal CR in mice, whereas nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) supplementation restores it. Microbial diversity and metabolomic analyses suggest that gut microbiota and metabolite profiles in SD-treated mice are highly shaped, whereas NMN reprograms these differences. Specifically, the altered gut microbiota in SD mice further incurs the disorder of secondary bile acids pool accompanied by a decrease in deoxycholic acid (DCA). Conversely, NMN supplementation retakes the potential benefits of DCA, which is associated with specific gut microbiota involved in primary bile acids metabolic flux. In animal models of infection, DCA is effective in preventing and treating bacterial infections when used alone or in combination with antibiotics. Mechanistically, DCA alone disrupts membrane permeability and aggravates oxidative damage, thereby reducing intestinal pathogen burden. Meanwhile, exogenous DCA promotes antibiotic accumulation and destroys oxidant-antioxidant system, thus potentiating antibiotic efficacy. Overall, this work highlights the important roles of gut microbiota and bile acid metabolism in the maintenance of intestinal CR.PMID:36698264 | DOI:10.1002/advs.202207170

Exosomes derived from human adipose mesenchymal stem cells ameliorate hepatic fibrosis by inhibiting PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and remodeling choline metabolism

Thu, 26/01/2023 - 12:00
J Nanobiotechnology. 2023 Jan 25;21(1):29. doi: 10.1186/s12951-023-01788-4.ABSTRACTLiver fibrosis is a chronic liver disease with the presence of progressive wound healing response caused by liver injury. Currently, there are no approved therapies for liver fibrosis. Exosomes derived from human adipose mesenchymal stem cells (hADMSCs-Exo) have displayed a prominent therapeutic effect on liver diseases. However, few studies have evaluated therapeutic effect of hADMSCs-Exo in liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, and its precise mechanisms of action remain unclear. Herein, we investigated anti-fibrotic efficacy of hADMSCs-Exo in vitro and in vivo, and identified important metabolic changes and the detailed mechanism through transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling. We found hADMSCs-Exo could inhibit the proliferation of activated hepatic stellate cells through aggravating apoptosis and arresting G1 phase, effectively inhibiting the expression of profibrogenic proteins and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro. Moreover, it could significantly block collagen deposition and EMT process, improve liver function and reduce liver inflammation in liver cirrhosis mice model. The omics analysis revealed that the key mechanism of hADMSCs-Exo anti-hepatic fibrosis was the inhibition of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway and affecting the changes of metabolites in lipid metabolism, and mainly regulating choline metabolism. CHPT1 activated by hADMSCs-Exo facilitated formation and maintenance of vesicular membranes. Thus, our study indicates that hADMSCs-Exo can attenuate hepatic stellate cell activation and suppress the progression of liver fibrosis, which holds the significant potential of hADMSCs-Exo for use as extracellular nanovesicles-based therapeutics in the treatment of liver fibrosis and possibly other intractable chronic liver diseases.PMID:36698192 | DOI:10.1186/s12951-023-01788-4

Pages