Sulfakinin Signalling Influences Fatty Acid Levels and Composition in Tenebrio Molitor Beetle

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (12) ◽  
pp. 949-958 ◽  
Author(s):  
Małgorzata Slocinska ◽  
Mariola Kuczer ◽  
Marek Gołębiowski

Background: Sulfakinins are arthropod neuropeptides that are structurally and functionally similar to vertebrate gastrin-cholecystokinin. Sulfakinins with sulfated tyrosine (sSK) or nonsulfated tyrosine (nSK) in the C-terminated heptapeptide XY(SO3H)GHMRFamide display different biological functions, including myotropic activity, inhibition of food intake, stimulation of digestive enzymes and regulation of carbohydrate and lipid content. Objective: To reveal the mechanisms by which sulfakinin signalling modulates lipid homeostasis, we analysed the changes in the level and composition of fatty acids and organic compounds in the fat body and haemolymph of Tenebrio molitor larvae after nSK and sSK treatment. Methods: Fatty acids in fat body and haemolymph of insects were analysed using Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS). Results: The direction of the changes observed for major fatty acids, 18:1 and 18:2, and the less abundant fatty acids, 16:0, 18:0, 16:1 and 14:0, was the same for unsaturated (UFAs) and saturated (SFAs) fatty acids, and elevated after nSK application in both analysed tissues. However, the action of sSK in fat body tissue evoked distinct effects and induced either significant decreases in individual fatty acids or UFAs and SFAs. Administration of nSK and sSK significantly increased the level of total organic compounds in the haemolymph, contrary to the effect of sSK in fat body, where the level of total organic compounds decreased, although changes differ between individual chemicals. Conclusion: Sulfakinins are engaged in the precise modulation of fatty acid levels and composition, but their action depends on the presence of sulfate group on the tyrosyl residue of the peptide what determines the different roles of these peptides in insect physiology.

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhouchen Ye ◽  
Jing Yu ◽  
Wuping Yan ◽  
Junfeng Zhang ◽  
Dongmei Yang ◽  
...  

AbstractCamellia oleifera (C. oleifera) is one of the four major woody oil-bearing crops in the world and has relatively high ecological, economic, and medicinal value. Its seeds undergo a series of complex physiological and biochemical changes during ripening, which is mainly manifested as the accumulation and transformation of certain metabolites closely related to oil quality, especially flavonoids and fatty acids. To obtain new insights into the underlying molecular mechanisms, a parallel analysis of the transcriptome and proteome profiles of C. oleifera seeds at different maturity levels was conducted using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) complemented with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) data. A total of 16,530 transcripts and 1228 proteins were recognized with significant differential abundances in pairwise comparisons of samples at various developmental stages. Among these, 317 were coexpressed with a poor correlation, and most were involved in metabolic processes, including fatty acid metabolism, α-linolenic acid metabolism, and glutathione metabolism. In addition, the content of total flavonoids decreased gradually with seed maturity, and the levels of fatty acids generally peaked at the fat accumulation stage; these results basically agreed with the regulation patterns of genes or proteins in the corresponding pathways. The expression levels of proteins annotated as upstream candidates of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and chalcone synthase (CHS) as well as their cognate transcripts were positively correlated with the variation in the flavonoid content, while shikimate O-hydroxycinnamoyltransferase (HCT)-encoding genes had the opposite pattern. The increase in the abundance of proteins and mRNAs corresponding to alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) was associated with a reduction in linoleic acid synthesis. Using weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA), we further identified six unique modules related to flavonoid, oil, and fatty acid anabolism that contained hub genes or proteins similar to transcription factors (TFs), such as MADS intervening keratin-like and C-terminal (MIKC_MADS), type-B authentic response regulator (ARR-B), and basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH). Finally, based on the known metabolic pathways and WGCNA combined with the correlation analysis, five coexpressed transcripts and proteins composed of cinnamyl-alcohol dehydrogenases (CADs), caffeic acid 3-O-methyltransferase (COMT), flavonol synthase (FLS), and 4-coumarate: CoA ligase (4CL) were screened out. With this exploratory multiomics dataset, our results presented a dynamic picture regarding the maturation process of C. oleifera seeds on Hainan Island, not only revealing the temporal specific expression of key candidate genes and proteins but also providing a scientific basis for the genetic improvement of this tree species.


Biomolecules ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meraj Khan ◽  
Cecil Pace-Asciak ◽  
Jassim Al-Hassan ◽  
Mohammad Afzal ◽  
Yuan Liu ◽  
...  

Various biomolecules induce neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation or NETosis. However, the effect of fatty acids on NETosis has not been clearly established. In this study, we focused on the NETosis-inducing ability of several lipid molecules. We extracted the lipid molecules present in Arabian Gulf catfish (Arius bilineatus, Val) skin gel, which has multiple therapeutic activities. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of the lipid fraction-3 from the gel with NETosis-inducing activity contained fatty acids including a furanoid F-acid (F6; 12,15-epoxy-13,14-dimethyleicosa-12,14-dienoic acid) and common long-chain fatty acids such as palmitic acid (PA; C16:0), palmitoleic acid (PO; C16:1), stearic acid (SA; C18:0), and oleic acid (OA; C18:1). Using pure molecules, we show that all of these fatty acids induce NETosis to different degrees in a dose-dependent fashion. Notably, F6 induces a unique form of NETosis that is rapid and induces reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by both NADPH oxidase (NOX) and mitochondria. F6 also induces citrullination of histone. By contrast, the common fatty acids (PA, PO, SA, and OA) only induce NOX-dependent NETosis. The activation of the kinases such as ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) and JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase) is important for long-chain fatty acid-induced NETosis, whereas, in F-acid-induced NETosis, Akt is additionally needed. Nevertheless, NETosis induced by all of these compounds requires the final chromatin decondensation step of transcriptional firing. These findings are useful for understanding F-acid- and other fatty acid-induced NETosis and to establish the active ingredients with therapeutic potential for regulating diseases involving NET formation.


Agriculture ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Salvatore ◽  
Selene Giambra ◽  
Daniele Naviglio ◽  
Marina DellaGreca ◽  
Francesco Salvatore ◽  
...  

There is evidence that secondary metabolites are involved in the fungal pathogenicity and virulence of Neofusicoccum spp. Fatty acids may also influence the plant–pathogen interaction but, so far, no information is available on their production by species of Neofusicoccum associated with Botryosphaeria dieback, which is a well-known syndrome of several plants with a complex etiology. In the present paper, the production of fatty acids in liquid medium, by strains of N. vitifusiforme and N. parvum associated with declining Sicilian vine plants, was evaluated. Data, acquired via gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS), show the presence of linoleic acid as the most abundant fatty acid produced by both examined strains. In addition, the pathogenicity of N. vitifusiforme was tested on 2-year-old grapevine plants of cv. Inzolia.


2001 ◽  
Vol 67 (10) ◽  
pp. 4796-4804 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Alexandrino ◽  
Claudia Knief ◽  
André Lipski

ABSTRACT Deuterated styrene ([2H8]styrene) was used as a tracer in combination with phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis for characterization of styrene-degrading microbial populations of biofilters used for treatment of waste gases. Deuterated fatty acids were detected and quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The method was evaluated with pure cultures of styrene-degrading bacteria and defined mixed cultures of styrene degraders and non-styrene-degrading organisms. Incubation of styrene degraders for 3 days with [2H8]styrene led to fatty acids consisting of up to 90% deuterated molecules. Mixed-culture experiments showed that specific labeling of styrene-degrading strains and only weak labeling of fatty acids of non-styrene-degrading organisms occurred after incubation with [2H8]styrene for up to 7 days. Analysis of actively degrading filter material from an experimental biofilter and a full-scale biofilter by this method showed that there were differences in the patterns of labeled fatty acids. For the experimental biofilter the fatty acids with largest amounts of labeled molecules were palmitic acid (16:0), 9,10-methylenehexadecanoic acid (17:0 cyclo9-10), and vaccenic acid (18:1 cis11). These lipid markers indicated that styrene was degraded by organisms with aPseudomonas-like fatty acid profile. In contrast, the most intensively labeled fatty acids of the full-scale biofilter sample were palmitic acid and cis-11-hexadecenoic acid (16:1cis11), indicating that an unknown styrene-degrading taxon was present. Iso-, anteiso-, and 10-methyl-branched fatty acids showed no or weak labeling. Therefore, we found no indication that styrene was degraded by organisms with methyl-branched fatty fatty acids, such as Xanthomonas, Bacillus,Streptomyces, or Gordonia spp.


Molecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
pp. 1616 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Genovese ◽  
Andrea Marrazzo ◽  
Lucia De Luca ◽  
Raffaele Romano ◽  
Nadia Manzo ◽  
...  

Seed inoculation of forage crops by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) generally results in higher profitability, but also modifies the chemical composition of silage in terms of increased biomass, protein, and dry matter. Raw milk aroma is affected by the type of feed. This work investigated the influence of ensiled forage obtained by seed inoculation with AMF on the volatile fractions and fatty acid composition of milk. Two experiments were carried out: in the first, buffaloes were fed maize silage, and in the second, cows were fed sorghum silage. The volatile fractions of milk were quantified by headspace solid-phase micro-extraction (HS-SPME), combined with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and fatty acids by gas chromatography (GC). The ensiled forage obtained with AMF increased saturated fatty acids (SFAs), and decreased monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in both experiments. The volatile fraction in milk samples obtained from bovines fed mycorrhizal ensiled forage showed an increase of free fatty acids and ketones, responsible for cheesy and fruity odors. Aldehydes, responsible for green and grassy notes, increased only in the milk from buffaloes fed ensiled maize. Our results suggest that inoculation of maize and sorghum seed with AMF, combined with a low rate of fertilizers, leads to ensiled forage that could slightly affect the FA profile and odor quality of milk.


2002 ◽  
Vol 45 (9) ◽  
pp. 103-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.A. Pedersen ◽  
M.A. Yeager ◽  
I.H. Suffet

Investigations of agricultural chemicals in surface runoff typically target nutrients or specific pesticides; however, numerous other organic compounds are regularly applied to agricultural fields in pesticide formulations, irrigation water, soil amendments and fertilizers. Many of these compounds have toxicological significance. We conducted a broad spectrum analysis of surface runoff from individual irrigated agricultural fields in coastal southern California to characterize organic compounds amenable to analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and to estimate the mass flux of selected chemicals. Aqueous phase extracts contained several pesticides, as well as personal care product ingredients and pharmaceutically active compounds apparently derived from treated wastewater used for irrigation. Several compounds potentially associated with pesticide adjuvants were also present in aqueous phase extracts. Dissolved NOM constituents in water phase extracts included n-fatty acids, aliphatic alcohols and plant terpenoids. Tentatively identified compounds sorbed to suspended particles included pesticides, a fecal sterol, aliphatic and alicyclic hydrocarbons, aliphatic alcohols, aldehydes, and C14 and C16n-fatty acids and fatty acid esters. Bicyclic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were identified in both aqueous and suspended particle phases. Constituent concentrations, including total suspended solids (TSS), varied over the course of the sampled events by up to an order of magnitude, and typically were not correlated with flow. Variation in sorbed organic compound concentrations often did not parallel those for TSS concentration. Mass load estimates were strongly influenced by the choice of sampling interval.


Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1151
Author(s):  
Sandra Meyer ◽  
Denise K. Gessner ◽  
Garima Maheshwari ◽  
Julia Röhrig ◽  
Theresa Friedhoff ◽  
...  

The hypothesis tested was that dietary inclusion of insect meal (IM) causes an alteration in the cecal microbiota composition and its fermentation activity of growing pigs. Five-week-old male crossbred pigs were randomly assigned to three groups of 10 pigs each, and fed isonitrogenous diets either without (CON) or with 5% IM (IM5) or 10% IM (IM10) from Tenebrio molitor larvae for four weeks. The relative abundance of the phylum Bacteroidetes was lower in group IM10 than in group CON (p < 0.05), whereas the relative abundance of Firmicutes and the Firmicutes:Bacteroidetes-ratio tended to be higher in groups IM10 and IM5 than in group CON (p < 0.1). The relative abundance of the Proteobacteria tended to be higher in group IM10 than in groups CON and IM5 (p < 0.1). The concentrations of the total short-chain fatty acids in the cecal digesta did not differ between the three groups, but the concentrations of the branched-chain fatty acids in the cecal digesta were higher in group IM5 and IM10 than in group CON (p < 0.05). The present study shows for the first time that the replacement of soybean meal by Tenebrio molitor larvae meal causes a shift of the cecal microbial community and its fermentation activity in growing pigs.


2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 687-725 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Stemmler ◽  
A. Vlasenko ◽  
C. Guimbaud ◽  
M. Ammann

Abstract. Surface active organic compounds have been observed in marine boundary layer aerosol. Here, we investigate the effect such surfactants have on the uptake of nitric acid (HNO3), an important removal reaction of nitrogen oxides in the marine boundary layer. The uptake of gaseous HNO3 on deliquesced NaCl aerosol was measured in a flow reactor using HNO3 labelled with the short-lived radioactive isotope 13N. The uptake coefficient γ on pure deliquesced NaCl aerosol was γ=0.5±0.2 at 60% relative humidity and 30 ppb HNO3(g). The uptake coefficient was reduced by a factor of 5–50 when the aerosol was coated with saturated linear fatty acids with carbon chain lengths of 18 and 15 atoms in monolayer quantities. In contrast, neither shorter saturated linear fatty acids with 12 and 9 carbon atoms, nor coatings with the unsaturated oleic acid (C18, cis-double bond) had a detectable effect on the rate of HNO3 uptake. It is concluded that it is the structure of the monolayers formed, which determines their resistance towards HNO3 uptake. Fatty acids (C18 and C15), which form a highly ordered film in the so-called liquid condensed state, represent a significant barrier towards HNO3 uptake, while monolayers of shorter-chain fatty acids (C9, C12) and of the unsaturated oleic acid form a less ordered film in the liquid expanded state and do not hinder the uptake. Similarly, high contents of humic acids in the aerosol, a structurally inhomogeneous, quite water soluble mixture of oxidised high molecular weight organic compounds did not affect HNO3 uptake. As surfactant films on naturally occurring aerosol are expected to be less structured due to their chemical inhomogeneity, it is likely that their inhibitory effect on HNO3 uptake is smaller than that observed here for the C15 and C18 fatty acid monolayers.


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