Genes Involved in Lipid Metabolism in Coconut

Coconut palm (Cocos nucifera L) is an economically important monocot plant grown in tropical and subtropical regions. Coconut oil is stored in a solid endosperm and has 47.48–50.5% fatty acid component as lauric acid (C12:0). Present research showed that acyl-acyl carrier protein thioesterases (FatA/B) and lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase (LAAPT) are key enzymes determining medium-chain fatty acid accumulation in coconut oil. Among five CnFatB genes, CnFatB3 expressed specifically in endosperm and in vitro experiment showed that this gene made mainly lauric acid (C12:0) and tetradecenoic acid (C14:1). Overexpression of CnFatB3 in Arabidopsis increased the amounts of C12:0 and C14:0 in transgenic plant. CnLPAAT gene that is expressed specifically in coconut endosperm showed a preference for using acyl-CoAs containing C10:0, C12:0, and C14:0 acyl groups as acyl-donor substrates. Coconut and oil palm are closely related species with approximately 50% lauric acid (C12:0) in their endosperm. The two species have a close evolutionary relationship between predominant gene isoforms and high conservation of gene expression bias in the lipid metabolism pathways. Moreover, since no stable transformation system has been constructed in coconut palm, gene function validations have been done in vitro, or genes transformed into a heterologous system.

Bioactive Peptides from Agriculture and Food Industry Co-Products: Peptide Structure and Health Benefits

Co-products from food processing are typically disposed or turned into low value animal feed. Proteinaceous co-products can be converted to bioactive peptides exerting health benefits, which can lead to development of nutraceuticals and functional foods. This is an effective means for valorization of these co-products. The release of encrypted peptides exhibits various bioactivities, including antihypertension, antioxidant, immunomodulatory activities among others, in vitro, and some activities have been demonstrated in vivo. Structure modification of bioactive peptides occurring under gastrointestinal digestion and cellular transport remains the important factor determining the health benefits of bioactive peptides. Understanding peptide transformation in gastrointestinal tract and in blood circulation before reaching the target organs would shed some lights on its bioavailability and subsequently ability to exert physiological impact. In this chapter, the potential health promoting properties of peptides encrypted in various sources of co-products will be reviewed based on evidence on in vitro, in vivo and clinical trial studies. Structural changes of bioactive peptides under physiological condition will also be discussed in relation to its bioactivities.

Animal Waste and Agro-by-Products: Valuable Resources for Producing Fish at Low Costs in Sub-Saharan Countries

Animal and crop production throughout the world generate high amounts of wastes or by-products annually that may possess added value compounds with high functionality. These wastes and by-products may cause negative environmental impacts and significant expenses if not well managed and or controlled. Much of these wastes and by-products is valuable and cheaper source of potentially functional compounds such as proteins, lipids, starch, micronutrients, bioactive compounds, and dietary fibbers. In aquaculture, feed is expensive, and the existing body of literature has shown that animal manure and its extracts can be successfully incorporated into fishpond to increase fish production at a low cost. In addition, crop residues such as rice bran, maize bran, and seed cakes are commonly used as pond inputs in small-scale aquaculture. Animal waste and crop residues are added in a fishpond that filter-feeding fish can use directly as feed, and these may form a major proportion of the detritus in the pond. These resources also stimulate the growth of phytoplankton that are rich in protein and are the basis of the food web that can support the growth of a range of herbivorous and omnivorous fish. Therefore, technically, wastes are used as direct feed, a source of minerals for autotrophic production and a source of organic matter for heterotrophic production. In this context, animal manure and crop residues have been used to provide great opportunities to improve food security. The purpose of this review is to project the potential of animal waste and agro-by-products as a sustainable alternative as aquaculture inputs to reduce poverty, malnutrition, and hunger in developing countries.