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Volume 4
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Metabolites, Volume 4, Issue 3 (September 2014) – 19 articles , Pages 517-878

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709 KiB  
Review
Unraveling Biochemical Pathways Affected by Mitochondrial Dysfunctions Using Metabolomic Approaches
by Stéphane Demine, Nagabushana Reddy, Patricia Renard, Martine Raes and Thierry Arnould
Metabolites 2014, 4(3), 831-878; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo4030831 - 25 Sep 2014
Cited by 28 | Viewed by 21155
Abstract
Mitochondrial dysfunction(s) (MDs) can be defined as alterations in the mitochondria, including mitochondrial uncoupling, mitochondrial depolarization, inhibition of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, mitochondrial network fragmentation, mitochondrial or nuclear DNA mutations and the mitochondrial accumulation of protein aggregates. All these MDs are known to [...] Read more.
Mitochondrial dysfunction(s) (MDs) can be defined as alterations in the mitochondria, including mitochondrial uncoupling, mitochondrial depolarization, inhibition of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, mitochondrial network fragmentation, mitochondrial or nuclear DNA mutations and the mitochondrial accumulation of protein aggregates. All these MDs are known to alter the capacity of ATP production and are observed in several pathological states/diseases, including cancer, obesity, muscle and neurological disorders. The induction of MDs can also alter the secretion of several metabolites, reactive oxygen species production and modify several cell-signalling pathways to resolve the mitochondrial dysfunction or ultimately trigger cell death. Many metabolites, such as fatty acids and derived compounds, could be secreted into the blood stream by cells suffering from mitochondrial alterations. In this review, we summarize how a mitochondrial uncoupling can modify metabolites, the signalling pathways and transcription factors involved in this process. We describe how to identify the causes or consequences of mitochondrial dysfunction using metabolomics (liquid and gas chromatography associated with mass spectrometry analysis, NMR spectroscopy) in the obesity and insulin resistance thematic. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cell and Tissue Metabolomics)
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Article
Metabolic Effects of Known and Novel HDAC and SIRT Inhibitors in Glioblastomas Independently or Combined with Temozolomide
by Miroslava Cuperlovic-Culf, Mohamed Touaibia, Patrick-Denis St-Coeur, Julie Poitras, Pier Morin, Jr and Adrian S. Culf
Metabolites 2014, 4(3), 807-830; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo4030807 - 12 Sep 2014
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 6873
Abstract
Inhibition of protein deacetylation enzymes, alone or in combination with standard chemotherapies, is an exciting addition to cancer therapy. We have investigated the effect of deacetylase inhibition on the metabolism of glioblastoma cells. 1H NMR metabolomics analysis was used to determine the [...] Read more.
Inhibition of protein deacetylation enzymes, alone or in combination with standard chemotherapies, is an exciting addition to cancer therapy. We have investigated the effect of deacetylase inhibition on the metabolism of glioblastoma cells. 1H NMR metabolomics analysis was used to determine the major metabolic changes following treatment of two distinct glioblastoma cell lines, U373 and LN229, with five different histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, as well as one inhibitor of NAD+-dependent protein deacetylases (SIRT). The addition of the standard glioblastoma chemotherapy agent, temozolomide, to the HDAC and SIRT treatments led to a reduction in cell survival, suggesting a possibility for combined treatment. This study shows that distinct glioblastoma cell lines, with different metabolic profiles and gene expression, experience dissimilar changes following treatment with protein deacetylase inhibitors. The observed effects of inhibitors on mitochondrial metabolism, glycolysis and fatty acid synthesis suggest possible roles of protein deacetylases in metabolism regulation. Metabolic markers of the effectiveness of anti-protein deacetylase treatments have been explored. In addition to known deacetylation inhibitors, three novel inhibitors have been introduced and tested. Finally, 1H NMR analysis of cellular metabolism is shown to be a fast, inexpensive method for testing drug effects. Full article
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Article
Chemical Analysis of Whale Breath Volatiles: A Case Study for Non-Invasive Field Health Diagnostics of Marine Mammals
by Raquel Cumeras, William H.K. Cheung, Frances Gulland, Dawn Goley and Cristina E. Davis
Metabolites 2014, 4(3), 790-806; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo4030790 - 12 Sep 2014
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 9313
Abstract
We explored the feasibility of collecting exhaled breath from a moribund gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) for potential non-invasive health monitoring of marine mammals. Biogenic volatile organic compound (VOC) profiling is a relatively new field of research, in which the chemical composition [...] Read more.
We explored the feasibility of collecting exhaled breath from a moribund gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) for potential non-invasive health monitoring of marine mammals. Biogenic volatile organic compound (VOC) profiling is a relatively new field of research, in which the chemical composition of breath is used to non-invasively assess the health and physiological processes on-going within an animal or human. In this study, two telescopic sampling poles were designed and tested with the primary aim of collecting whale breath exhalations (WBEs). Once the WBEs were successfully collected, they were immediately transferred onto a stable matrix sorbent through a custom manifold system. A total of two large volume WBEs were successfully captured and pre-concentrated onto two Tenax®-TA traps (one exhalation per trap). The samples were then returned to the laboratory where they were analyzed using solid phase micro extraction (SPME) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). A total of 70 chemicals were identified (58 positively identified) in the whale breath samples. These chemicals were also matched against a database of VOCs found in humans, and 44% of chemicals found in the whale breath are also released by healthy humans. The exhaled gray whale breath showed a rich diversity of chemicals, indicating the analysis of whale breath exhalations is a promising new field of research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breath Analysis in Metabolomics)
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Article
Diltiazem Reduces Mortality and Breakdown of ATP in Red Blood Cell Induced by Isoproterenol in a Freely Moving Rat Model in Vivo
by Pollen K.F. Yeung, Zhaolin Xu and Dena Seeto
Metabolites 2014, 4(3), 775-789; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo4030775 - 11 Sep 2014
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5998
Abstract
The benefit of calcium channel blockers for cardiovascular prevention against heart attack and stroke has not been firmly supported. We investigated the possible cardiovascular protective effect of diltiazem (DTZ) against injury induced by isoproterenol using a freely moving rat model in vivo. [...] Read more.
The benefit of calcium channel blockers for cardiovascular prevention against heart attack and stroke has not been firmly supported. We investigated the possible cardiovascular protective effect of diltiazem (DTZ) against injury induced by isoproterenol using a freely moving rat model in vivo. Sprague Dawley rats were injected subcutaneously (sc) with either 5 or 10 mg/kg of DTZ, or saline as control, twice daily for five doses. One hour after the last injection, a single dose of isoproterenol (30 mg/kg) was injected sc to each rat. Blood samples were collected serially for 6 h for measurement of adenine nucleotides (ATP, ADP and AMP) in red blood cell (RBC) by a validated HPLC. The study has shown isoproterenol induced 50% mortality and also increased RBC concentrations of AMP from 0.04 ± 0.02 to 0.29 ± 0.21 mM at the end of the experiment (p < 0.05). Treatment with 10 mg/kg of DTZ reduced mortality from 50% to <20% and attenuated the increase of RBC concentrations of AMP from +0.25 ± 0.22 in the control rats to +0.072 ± 0.092 mM (p < 0.05). The study concluded that 10 mg/kg of DTZ reduced mortality and breakdown of ATP induced by isoproterenol in rats. Full article
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Article
Multi-Capillary Column-Ion Mobility Spectrometry of Volatile Metabolites Emitted by Saccharomyces Cerevisiae
by Christoph Halbfeld, Birgitta E. Ebert and Lars M. Blank
Metabolites 2014, 4(3), 751-774; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo4030751 - 5 Sep 2014
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 7675
Abstract
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced during microbial fermentations determine the flavor of fermented food and are of interest for the production of fragrances or food additives. However, the microbial synthesis of these compounds from simple carbon sources has not been well investigated so [...] Read more.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced during microbial fermentations determine the flavor of fermented food and are of interest for the production of fragrances or food additives. However, the microbial synthesis of these compounds from simple carbon sources has not been well investigated so far. Here, we analyzed the headspace over glucose minimal salt medium cultures of Saccharomyces cerevisiae using multi-capillary column-ion mobility spectrometry (MCC-IMS). The high sensitivity and fast data acquisition of the MCC-IMS enabled online analysis of the fermentation off-gas and 19 specific signals were determined. To four of these volatile compounds, we could assign the metabolites ethanol, 2-pentanone, isobutyric acid, and 2,3-hexanedione by MCC-IMS measurements of pure standards and cross validation with thermal desorption–gas chromatography-mass spectrometry measurements. Despite the huge biochemical knowledge of the biochemistry of the model organism S. cerevisiae, only the biosynthetic pathways for ethanol and isobutyric acid are fully understood, demonstrating the considerable lack of research of volatile metabolites. As monitoring of VOCs produced during microbial fermentations can give valuable insight into the metabolic state of the organism, fast and non-invasive MCC-IMS analyses provide valuable data for process control. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breath Analysis in Metabolomics)
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Review
Applying Metabolomics to Understand the Aggressive Phenotype and Identify Novel Therapeutic Targets in Glioblastoma
by Kamran A. Ahmed and Prakash Chinnaiyan
Metabolites 2014, 4(3), 740-750; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo4030740 - 27 Aug 2014
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 6281
Abstract
Glioblastoma continues to be an invariably fatal malignancy. The established approach for understanding the biology of these aggressive tumors in an effort to identify novel molecular targets has largely been genotype-based. Unfortunately, clinical gains offered by this level of understanding have been limited, [...] Read more.
Glioblastoma continues to be an invariably fatal malignancy. The established approach for understanding the biology of these aggressive tumors in an effort to identify novel molecular targets has largely been genotype-based. Unfortunately, clinical gains offered by this level of understanding have been limited, largely based on the complex nature of signaling networks associated with tumorigenesis and the inability to delineate the key “functional” signaling pathways actually driving growth in an individual tumor. Metabolomics is the global quantitative assessment of endogenous metabolites within a biological system, taking into account genetic regulation, altered kinetic activity of enzymes, and changes in metabolic reactions. Thus, compared to genomics and proteomics, metabolomics reflects changes in phenotype and therefore function. In this review, we highlight some of the key advancements that have been made in applying metabolomics to understand the aggressive phenotype of glioblastoma. Collectively, these studies have provided a previously unrecognized window into the underlying biology of these tumors. Current and future efforts are designed to determine how this technology may be applied to improve diagnosis and predict the aggressiveness of glioblastoma, and more importantly, identify novel, therapeutic strategies designed to improve clinical outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cancer Metabolomics)
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Article
Novel Strategy for Non-Targeted Isotope-Assisted Metabolomics by Means of Metabolic Turnover and Multivariate Analysis
by Yasumune Nakayama, Yoshihiro Tamada, Hiroshi Tsugawa, Takeshi Bamba and Eiichiro Fukusaki
Metabolites 2014, 4(3), 722-739; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo4030722 - 25 Aug 2014
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 8513
Abstract
Isotope-labeling is a useful technique for understanding cellular metabolism. Recent advances in metabolomics have extended the capability of isotope-assisted studies to reveal global metabolism. For instance, isotope-assisted metabolomics technology has enabled the mapping of a global metabolic network, estimation of flux at branch [...] Read more.
Isotope-labeling is a useful technique for understanding cellular metabolism. Recent advances in metabolomics have extended the capability of isotope-assisted studies to reveal global metabolism. For instance, isotope-assisted metabolomics technology has enabled the mapping of a global metabolic network, estimation of flux at branch points of metabolic pathways, and assignment of elemental formulas to unknown metabolites. Furthermore, some data processing tools have been developed to apply these techniques to a non-targeted approach, which plays an important role in revealing unknown or unexpected metabolism. However, data collection and integration strategies for non-targeted isotope-assisted metabolomics have not been established. Therefore, a systematic approach is proposed to elucidate metabolic dynamics without targeting pathways by means of time-resolved isotope tracking, i.e., “metabolic turnover analysis”, as well as multivariate analysis. We applied this approach to study the metabolic dynamics in amino acid perturbation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In metabolic turnover analysis, 69 peaks including 35 unidentified peaks were investigated. Multivariate analysis of metabolic turnover successfully detected a pathway known to be inhibited by amino acid perturbation. In addition, our strategy enabled identification of unknown peaks putatively related to the perturbation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolomics and Biotechnology)
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Review
Recent Advances in the Application of Metabolomics to Studies of Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds (BVOC) Produced by Plant
by Yoko Iijima
Metabolites 2014, 4(3), 699-721; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo4030699 - 21 Aug 2014
Cited by 28 | Viewed by 10613
Abstract
In many plants, biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) are produced as specialized metabolites that contribute to the characteristics of each plant. The varieties and composition of BVOCs are chemically diverse by plant species and the circumstances in which the plants grow, and also [...] Read more.
In many plants, biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) are produced as specialized metabolites that contribute to the characteristics of each plant. The varieties and composition of BVOCs are chemically diverse by plant species and the circumstances in which the plants grow, and also influenced by herbivory damage and pathogen infection. Plant-produced BVOCs are receptive to many organisms, from microorganisms to human, as both airborne attractants and repellants. In addition, it is known that some BVOCs act as signals to prime a plant for the defense response in plant-to-plant communications. The compositional profiles of BVOCs can, thus, have profound influences in the physiological and ecological aspects of living organisms. Apart from that, some of them are commercially valuable as aroma/flavor compounds for human. Metabolomic technologies have recently revealed new insights in biological systems through metabolic dynamics. Here, the recent advances in metabolomics technologies focusing on plant-produced BVOC analyses are overviewed. Their application markedly improves our knowledge of the role of BVOCs in chemosystematics, ecological influences, and aroma research, as well as being useful to prove the biosynthetic mechanisms of BVOCs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolomics and Biotechnology)
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Article
Generation and Evaluation of a Genome-Scale Metabolic Network Model of Synechococcus elongatus PCC7942
by Julián Triana, Arnau Montagud, Maria Siurana, David Fuente, Arantxa Urchueguía, Daniel Gamermann, Javier Torres, Jose Tena, Pedro Fernández De Córdoba and Javier F. Urchueguía
Metabolites 2014, 4(3), 680-698; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo4030680 - 20 Aug 2014
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 9697
Abstract
The reconstruction of genome-scale metabolic models and their applications represent a great advantage of systems biology. Through their use as metabolic flux simulation models, production of industrially-interesting metabolites can be predicted. Due to the growing number of studies of metabolic models driven by [...] Read more.
The reconstruction of genome-scale metabolic models and their applications represent a great advantage of systems biology. Through their use as metabolic flux simulation models, production of industrially-interesting metabolites can be predicted. Due to the growing number of studies of metabolic models driven by the increasing genomic sequencing projects, it is important to conceptualize steps of reconstruction and analysis. We have focused our work in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC7942, for which several analyses and insights are unveiled. A comprehensive approach has been used, which can be of interest to lead the process of manual curation and genome-scale metabolic analysis. The final model, iSyf715 includes 851 reactions and 838 metabolites. A biomass equation, which encompasses elementary building blocks to allow cell growth, is also included. The applicability of the model is finally demonstrated by simulating autotrophic growth conditions of Synechococcus elongatus PCC7942. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolism in Phototrophic Prokaryotes and Algae)
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Review
Establishment of Glycosaminoglycan Assays for Mucopolysaccharidoses
by Shunji Tomatsu, Tsutomu Shimada, Robert W. Mason, Adriana M. Montaño, Joan Kelly, William A. LaMarr, Francyne Kubaski, Roberto Giugliani, Aratrik Guha, Eriko Yasuda, William Mackenzie, Seiji Yamaguchi, Yasuyuki Suzuki and Tadao Orii
Metabolites 2014, 4(3), 655-679; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo4030655 - 11 Aug 2014
Cited by 46 | Viewed by 9473
Abstract
Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) are a group of lysosomal storage disorders caused by deficiency of the lysosomal enzymes essential for catabolism of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Accumulation of undegraded GAGs results in dysfunction of multiple organs, resulting in distinct clinical manifestations. A range of methods have been [...] Read more.
Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) are a group of lysosomal storage disorders caused by deficiency of the lysosomal enzymes essential for catabolism of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Accumulation of undegraded GAGs results in dysfunction of multiple organs, resulting in distinct clinical manifestations. A range of methods have been developed to measure specific GAGs in various human samples to investigate diagnosis, prognosis, pathogenesis, GAG interaction with other molecules, and monitoring therapeutic efficacy. We established ELISA, liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and an automated high-throughput mass spectrometry (HT-MS/MS) system (RapidFire) to identify epitopes (ELISA) or disaccharides (MS/MS) derived from different GAGs (dermatan sulfate, heparan sulfate, keratan sulfate, and/or chondroitin sulfate). These methods have a high sensitivity and specificity in GAG analysis, applicable to the analysis of blood, urine, tissues, and cells. ELISA is feasible, sensitive, and reproducible with the standard equipment. HT-MS/MS yields higher throughput than conventional LC-MS/MS-based methods while the HT-MS/MS system does not have a chromatographic step and cannot distinguish GAGs with identical molecular weights, leading to a limitation of measurements for some specific GAGs. Here we review the advantages and disadvantages of these methods for measuring GAG levels in biological specimens. We also describe an unexpected secondary elevation of keratan sulfate in patients with MPS that is an indirect consequence of disruption of catabolism of other GAGs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inborn Errors of Metabolism)
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Brief Report
The Succinated Proteome of FH-Mutant Tumours
by Ming Yang, Nicola Ternette, Huizhong Su, Raliat Dabiri, Benedikt M. Kessler, Julie Adam, Bin Tean Teh and Patrick J. Pollard
Metabolites 2014, 4(3), 640-654; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo4030640 - 7 Aug 2014
Cited by 45 | Viewed by 9732
Abstract
Inherited mutations in the Krebs cycle enzyme fumarate hydratase (FH) predispose to hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer (HLRCC). Loss of FH activity in HLRCC tumours causes accumulation of the Krebs cycle intermediate fumarate to high levels, which may act as an oncometabolite [...] Read more.
Inherited mutations in the Krebs cycle enzyme fumarate hydratase (FH) predispose to hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer (HLRCC). Loss of FH activity in HLRCC tumours causes accumulation of the Krebs cycle intermediate fumarate to high levels, which may act as an oncometabolite through various, but not necessarily mutually exclusive, mechanisms. One such mechanism, succination, is an irreversible non-enzymatic modification of cysteine residues by fumarate, to form S-(2-succino)cysteine (2SC). Previous studies have demonstrated that succination of proteins including glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1) and mitochondrial aconitase (ACO2) can have profound effects on cellular metabolism. Furthermore, immunostaining for 2SC is a sensitive and specific biomarker for HLRCC tumours. Here, we performed a proteomic screen on an FH-mutant tumour and two HLRCC-derived cancer cell lines and identified 60 proteins where one or more cysteine residues were succinated; 10 of which were succinated at cysteine residues either predicted, or experimentally proven, to be functionally significant. Bioinformatic enrichment analyses identified most succinated targets to be involved in redox signaling. To our knowledge, this is the first proteomic-based succination screen performed in human tumours and cancer-derived cells and has identified novel 2SC targets that may be relevant to the pathogenesis of HLRCC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cancer Metabolomics)
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Communication
Affinity Purification of O-Acetylserine(thiol)lyase from Chlorella sorokiniana by Recombinant Proteins from Arabidopsis thaliana
by Giovanna Salbitani, Markus Wirtz, Rüdiger Hell and Simona Carfagna
Metabolites 2014, 4(3), 629-639; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo4030629 - 4 Aug 2014
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 6235
Abstract
In the unicellular green alga Chlorella sorokiniana (211/8 k), the protein O-acetylserine(thiol)lyase (OASTL), representing the key-enzyme in the biosynthetic cysteine pathway, was isolated and purified to apparent homogeneity. The purification was carried out in cells grown in the presence of all nutrients [...] Read more.
In the unicellular green alga Chlorella sorokiniana (211/8 k), the protein O-acetylserine(thiol)lyase (OASTL), representing the key-enzyme in the biosynthetic cysteine pathway, was isolated and purified to apparent homogeneity. The purification was carried out in cells grown in the presence of all nutrients or in sulphate (S) deprived cells. After 24 h of S-starvation, a 17-fold increase in the specific activity of OASTL was measured. In order to enable the identification of OASTL proteins from non-model organisms such as C. sorokiniana, the recombinant his-tagged SAT5 protein from Arabidopsis thaliana was immobilized by metal chelate chromatography. OASTL proteins from C. sorokiniana were affinity purified in one step and activities were enhanced 29- and 41-fold, from S-sufficient and S-starved (24 h) cells, respectively. The successful application of SAT/OASTL interaction for purification confirms for the first time the existence of the cysteine synthase complexes in microalgae. The purified proteins have apparent molecular masses between 32–34 kDa and are thus slightly larger compared to those found in Arabidopsis thaliana and other vascular plants. The enhanced OASTL activity in S-starved cells can be attributed to increased amounts of plastidic and the emergence of cytosolic OASTL isoforms. The results provide proof-of-concept for the biochemical analysis of the cysteine synthase complex in diverse microalgal species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolism in Phototrophic Prokaryotes and Algae)
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Article
Carbon Partitioning in Green Algae (Chlorophyta) and the Enolase Enzyme
by Jürgen E. W. Polle, Peter Neofotis, Andy Huang, William Chang, Kiran Sury and Eliza M. Wiech
Metabolites 2014, 4(3), 612-628; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo4030612 - 4 Aug 2014
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 7726
Abstract
The exact mechanisms underlying the distribution of fixed carbon within photoautotrophic cells, also referred to as carbon partitioning, and the subcellular localization of many enzymes involved in carbon metabolism are still unknown. In contrast to the majority of investigated green algae, higher plants [...] Read more.
The exact mechanisms underlying the distribution of fixed carbon within photoautotrophic cells, also referred to as carbon partitioning, and the subcellular localization of many enzymes involved in carbon metabolism are still unknown. In contrast to the majority of investigated green algae, higher plants have multiple isoforms of the glycolytic enolase enzyme, which are differentially regulated in higher plants. Here we report on the number of gene copies coding for the enolase in several genomes of species spanning the major classes of green algae. Our genomic analysis of several green algae revealed the presence of only one gene coding for a glycolytic enolase [EC 4.2.1.11]. Our predicted cytosolic localization would require export of organic carbon from the plastid to provide substrate for the enolase and subsequent re-import of organic carbon back into the plastids. Further, our comparative sequence study of the enolase and its 3D-structure prediction may suggest that the N-terminal extension found in green algal enolases could be involved in regulation of the enolase activity. In summary, we propose that the enolase represents one of the crucial regulatory bottlenecks in carbon partitioning in green algae. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolism in Phototrophic Prokaryotes and Algae)
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Article
Metabolite Profiling of Root Exudates of Common Bean under Phosphorus Deficiency
by Keitaro Tawaraya, Ryota Horie, Saki Saito, Tadao Wagatsuma, Kazuki Saito and Akira Oikawa
Metabolites 2014, 4(3), 599-611; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo4030599 - 16 Jul 2014
Cited by 49 | Viewed by 8440
Abstract
Root exudates improve the nutrient acquisition of plants and affect rhizosphere microbial communities. The plant nutrient status affects the composition of root exudates. The purpose of this study was to examine common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) root exudates under phosphorus (P) deficiency [...] Read more.
Root exudates improve the nutrient acquisition of plants and affect rhizosphere microbial communities. The plant nutrient status affects the composition of root exudates. The purpose of this study was to examine common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) root exudates under phosphorus (P) deficiency using a metabolite profiling technique. Common bean plants were grown in a culture solution at P concentrations of 0 (P0), 1 (P1) and 8 (P8) mg P L−1 for 1, 10 and 20 days after transplanting (DAT). Root exudates were collected, and their metabolites were determined by capillary electrophoresis time-of-flight mass spectrometry (CE-TOF MS). The shoot P concentration and dry weight of common bean plants grown at P0 were lower than those grown at P8. One hundred and fifty-nine, 203 and 212 metabolites were identified in the root exudates, and 16% (26/159), 13% (26/203) and 9% (20/212) of metabolites showed a P0/P8 ratio higher than 2.0 at 1, 10 and 20 DAT, respectively. The relative peak areas of several metabolites, including organic acids and amino acids, in root exudates were higher at P0 than at P8. These results suggest that more than 10% of primary and secondary metabolites are induced to exude from roots of common bean by P deficiency. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolomics and Biotechnology)
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Article
Metabolic Profiling of Retrograde Pathway Transcription Factors Rtg1 and Rtg3 Knockout Yeast
by Zanariah Hashim, Yukio Mukai, Takeshi Bamba and Eiichiro Fukusaki
Metabolites 2014, 4(3), 580-598; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo4030580 - 8 Jul 2014
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 8956
Abstract
Rtg1 and Rtg3 are two basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors found in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae that are involved in the regulation of the mitochondrial retrograde (RTG) pathway. Under RTG response, anaplerotic synthesis of citrate is activated, consequently maintaining the supply of important precursors [...] Read more.
Rtg1 and Rtg3 are two basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors found in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae that are involved in the regulation of the mitochondrial retrograde (RTG) pathway. Under RTG response, anaplerotic synthesis of citrate is activated, consequently maintaining the supply of important precursors necessary for amino acid and nucleotide synthesis. Although the roles of Rtg1 and Rtg3 in TCA and glyoxylate cycles have been extensively reported, the investigation of other metabolic pathways has been lacking. Characteristic dimer formation in bHLH proteins, which allows for combinatorial gene expression, and the link between RTG and other regulatory pathways suggest more complex metabolic signaling involved in Rtg1/Rtg3 regulation. In this study, using a metabolomics approach, we examined metabolic alteration following RTG1 and RTG3 deletion. We found that apart from TCA and glyoxylate cycles, which have been previously reported, polyamine biosynthesis and other amino acid metabolism were significantly altered in RTG-deficient strains. We revealed that metabolic alterations occurred at various metabolic sites and that these changes relate to different growth phases, but the difference can be detected even at the mid-exponential phase, when mitochondrial function is repressed. Moreover, the effect of metabolic rearrangements can be seen through the chronological lifespan (CLS) measurement, where we confirmed the role of the RTG pathway in extending the yeast lifespan. Through a comprehensive metabolic profiling, we were able to explore metabolic phenotypes previously unidentified by other means and illustrate the possible correlations of Rtg1 and Rtg3 in different pathways. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolomics and Biotechnology)
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Article
Breath Ethane Concentrations in Healthy Volunteers Correlate with a Systemic Marker of Lipid Peroxidation but Not with Omega-3 Fatty Acid Availability
by Brian M. Ross and Iain Glen
Metabolites 2014, 4(3), 572-579; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo4030572 - 8 Jul 2014
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5238
Abstract
Ethane in human breath derives from lipid peroxidation, specifically the reaction between omega-3 fatty acids and reactive oxygen species. It has been proposed to be a non-invasive marker of oxidative stress, a deleterious process which may play an important role in the pathophysiology [...] Read more.
Ethane in human breath derives from lipid peroxidation, specifically the reaction between omega-3 fatty acids and reactive oxygen species. It has been proposed to be a non-invasive marker of oxidative stress, a deleterious process which may play an important role in the pathophysiology of several common diseases. It is unclear, however, whether ethane concentration actually correlates with systemic oxidative stress or whether it is primarily a marker of airway biochemistry. To investigate this possibility the breath ethane concentrations in 24 healthy volunteers were compared to that of a systemic measure of oxidative stress, plasma hydroperoxides, as well as to blood concentrations of the lipophilic anti-oxidant vitamin E, and the abundance of omega-3 fatty acids. Breath ethane concentrations were significantly (p < 0.05) positively correlated with blood hydroperoxide concentrations (rp = 0.60) and negatively with that of vitamin E (rp = −0.65), but were not correlated with either the total omega-3 fatty acid concentration (rp = −0.22) or that of any individual species of this fatty acid class. This data supports the hypothesis that breath ethane is a marker of systemic lipid peroxidation, as opposed to that of omega-3 fatty acid abundance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breath Analysis in Metabolomics)
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Review
Metabolomics for Biomarker Discovery in Gastroenterological Cancer
by Shin Nishiumi, Makoto Suzuki, Takashi Kobayashi, Atsuki Matsubara, Takeshi Azuma and Masaru Yoshida
Metabolites 2014, 4(3), 547-571; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo4030547 - 7 Jul 2014
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 8020
Abstract
The study of the omics cascade, which involves comprehensive investigations based on genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, etc., has developed rapidly and now plays an important role in life science research. Among such analyses, metabolome analysis, in which the concentrations of low molecular [...] Read more.
The study of the omics cascade, which involves comprehensive investigations based on genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, etc., has developed rapidly and now plays an important role in life science research. Among such analyses, metabolome analysis, in which the concentrations of low molecular weight metabolites are comprehensively analyzed, has rapidly developed along with improvements in analytical technology, and hence, has been applied to a variety of research fields including the clinical, cell biology, and plant/food science fields. The metabolome represents the endpoint of the omics cascade and is also the closest point in the cascade to the phenotype. Moreover, it is affected by variations in not only the expression but also the enzymatic activity of several proteins. Therefore, metabolome analysis can be a useful approach for finding effective diagnostic markers and examining unknown pathological conditions. The number of studies involving metabolome analysis has recently been increasing year-on-year. Here, we describe the findings of studies that used metabolome analysis to attempt to discover biomarker candidates for gastroenterological cancer and discuss metabolome analysis-based disease diagnosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolomics and Biotechnology)
752 KiB  
Article
Insect-Induced Daidzein, Formononetin and Their Conjugates in Soybean Leaves
by Shinichiro Murakami, Ryu Nakata, Takako Aboshi, Naoko Yoshinaga, Masayoshi Teraishi, Yutaka Okumoto, Atsushi Ishihara, Hironobu Morisaka, Alisa Huffaker, Eric A Schmelz and Naoki Mori
Metabolites 2014, 4(3), 532-546; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo4030532 - 4 Jul 2014
Cited by 48 | Viewed by 9316
Abstract
In response to attack by bacterial pathogens, soybean (Gylcine max) leaves accumulate isoflavone aglucones, isoflavone glucosides, and glyceollins. In contrast to pathogens, the dynamics of related insect-inducible metabolites in soybean leaves remain poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed the biochemical [...] Read more.
In response to attack by bacterial pathogens, soybean (Gylcine max) leaves accumulate isoflavone aglucones, isoflavone glucosides, and glyceollins. In contrast to pathogens, the dynamics of related insect-inducible metabolites in soybean leaves remain poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed the biochemical responses of soybean leaves to Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) herbivory and also S. litura gut contents, which contain oral secretion elicitors. Following S. litura herbivory, soybean leaves displayed an induced accumulation of the flavone and isoflavone aglycones 4’,7-dihyroxyflavone, daidzein, and formononetin, and also the isoflavone glucoside daidzin. Interestingly, foliar application of S. litura oral secretions also elicited the accumulation of isoflavone aglycones (daidzein and formononetin), isoflavone 7-O-glucosides (daidzin, ononin), and isoflavone 7-O-(6’-O-malonyl-β-glucosides) (malonyldaidzin, malonylononin). Consistent with the up-regulation of the isoflavonoid biosynthetic pathway, folair phenylalanine levels also increased following oral secretion treatment. To establish that these metabolitic changes were the result of de novo biosynthesis, we demonstrated that labeled (13C9) phenylalanine was incorporated into the isoflavone aglucones. These results are consistent with the presence of soybean defense elicitors in S. litura oral secretions. We demonstrate that isoflavone aglycones and isoflavone conjugates are induced in soybean leaves, not only by pathogens as previously demonstrated, but also by foliar insect herbivory. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolomics and Biotechnology)
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1682 KiB  
Article
NblA1/A2-Dependent Homeostasis of Amino Acid Pools during Nitrogen Starvation in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803
by Hiroshi Kiyota, Masami Yokota Hirai and Masahiko Ikeuchi
Metabolites 2014, 4(3), 517-531; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo4030517 - 30 Jun 2014
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 8752
Abstract
Nutrient balance is important for photosynthetic growth and biomass production in microalgae. Here, we investigated and compared metabolic responses of amino acid pools to nitrogen and sulfur starvation in a unicellular model cyanobacterium, Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, and its mutant nblA1/A2. It [...] Read more.
Nutrient balance is important for photosynthetic growth and biomass production in microalgae. Here, we investigated and compared metabolic responses of amino acid pools to nitrogen and sulfur starvation in a unicellular model cyanobacterium, Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, and its mutant nblA1/A2. It is known that NblA1/A2-dependent and -independent breakdown of abundant photosynthetic phycobiliproteins and other cellular proteins supply nutrients to the organism. However, the contribution of the NblA1/A2-dependent nutrient supply to amino acid pool homeostasis has not been studied. Our study demonstrates that changes in the pool size of many amino acids during nitrogen starvation can be categorized as NblA1/A2-dependent (Gln, Glu, glutathione, Gly, Ile, Leu, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Tyr and Val) and NblA1/A2-independent (Ala, Asn, Lys, and Trp). We also report unique changes in amino acid pool sizes during sulfur starvation in wild type and the mutant and found a generally marked increase in the Lys pool in cyanobacteria during nutrient starvation. In conclusion, the NblA1/A2-dependent protein turnover contributes to the maintenance of many amino acid pools during nitrogen starvation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolism in Phototrophic Prokaryotes and Algae)
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