Numerous studies currently compare the lipid metabolism in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and healthy individuals to identify lipid markers for predicting CVD. In this study, multidimensional mass spectrometry-based shotgun lipidomics was used to examine the serum lipidomics of participants in a clinical randomized controlled feeding trial undergoing olive oil (OO), camellia seed oil (CSO), and soybean oil (SO) dietary interventions. 189 lipid molecules are identified, including 14 species of phosphatidylinositol (PI), 45 species of ethanolamine glycerols (PE), 47 species of choline glycerophospholipids (PC), 39 species of triacylglycerols (TAG), 18 species of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), and 26 species of sphingomyelin (SM). After screening, 10 lipid markers are found, among which 18:2 FA, 16:1 FA, C54:4/C55:11, C54:3/C55:10, and C52:3/C53:10 in TAG pool, p18:0/20:0 and a18:0/18:1 in PC pool, and p18:1/20:4 in PE pool have differential regulation in the SO group compared to OO and CSO. The d16:0/18:1 in PC pool and C52:2/C53:9 in TAG pool are differentially regulated by OO and CSO. The C52:2/C53:9 in TAG pool has a significant negative correlation with AST (r = -0.363, P = 0.048) and HDL-C (r = -0.519, P < 0.01). This study provides a reference for researching the effect of dietary fat on blood lipid metabolism.

Proanthocyanidin (PA) is an important bioactive compound with multiple physiological benefits in jujube (Ziziphus jujube Mill.). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying PA biosynthesis in jujube fruit have not been investigated. Here, the profiling of PA, (+)-catechin and (–)-epicatechin and transcriptome sequencing of three jujube cultivars from Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China at five developmental stages were analyzed. The levels of total PAs and catechin exhibited a decreased trend over jujube ripening, and epicatechin content of two jujube cultivars increased first and then declined. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were mainly enriched in ribosome, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, fructose and mannose metabolism. 17 DEGs encoding PAL, CHS, CHI, CHS, F3'H, LAR, ANR, C4Hs, 4CLs, FLSs, DFRs and UFGTs involved in PA biosynthesis were relatively abundant. The highly transcribed LAR gene may greatly contribute to epicatechin accumulation. A weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was performed, and a network module including 1620 genes highly correlated with content of Pas and catechin was established. We identified 58 genes including 9 structural genes and 49 regulatory genes related to PA biosynthesis and regulation in the WGCNA module. Sixteen genes encoding 9 families of transcriptional factors (i.e., MYB, bHLH, ERF, bZIP, NAC, SBP, MIKC, HB, WRKY) were considered as hub genes. The results of qRT-PCR analysis validating 10 genes were well consistent with the transcriptome data. These findings provide valuable knowledge to facilitate its genetic studies and molecular breeding.

Walnut (Juglans regia L.) is a good source of lipids and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). In order to explore the biosynthesis molecular mechanism of oil accumulation and fatty acid (FA) synthesis in walnut, the samples at different development periods of three walnut cultivars, 'Zhipi' (ZP), 'Xinwu 417' (W417) and 'Xinwen 81' (W81) were collected for transcriptomic analysis. The analysis of oil accumulation and FA profiles showed that the oil content in mature walnut kernel was nearly 70%, and over 90% of FAs were PUFAs. We identified 126 candidate genes including 64 genes for FA de novo synthesis, 45 genes for triacylglycerol assembly, and 17 genes for oil bodies involved in lipid biosynthesis by RNA-sequencing. Ten key enzymes including ACCase, LACS6, LACS8, SAD, FAD2, FAD3, LPAAT1, DGAT2, PDAT2, and PLC encoded by 19 genes were highly associated with lipid biosynthesis. Quantitative PCR analysis further validated 9 important genes, and the results were well consistent with our transcriptomic data. Finally, 5 important transcription factors including WRI1, ABI3, FUS3, PKL and VAL1 were identified, and their main regulatory genes might contain ACCase, KASⅡ, LACS, FAD3 and LPAAT which were determined through correlation analysis of expression levels for 27 walnut samples. These findings will provide a comprehensive understanding and valuable information on the genetic engineering and molecular breeding in walnut.

Korla fragrant pear (KFP) with special fragrance is a unique cultivar in Xinjiang, China. In order to explore the biosynthesis molecular mechanism of chlorogenic acid (CGA) in KFP, the samples at different development periods were collected for transcriptome analysis. High performance liquid chromatography analysis showed that CGA contents of KFP at 88, 118 and 163 days after full bloom were (20.96 ± 1.84), (12.01 ± 0.91) and (7.16 ± 0.41) mg/100 g, respectively, and decreased with the fruit development. Pears from these typical 3 periods were selected for de novo transcriptome assemble and 68059 unigenes were assembled from 444037960 clean reads. One 'phenylpropanoid biosynthesis' pathway including 57 unigenes, 11 PALs, 1 PTAL, 6 4CLs, 9 C4Hs, 25 HCTs and 5 C3'Hs related to CGA biosynthesis was determined. It was found that the expression levels of 11 differentially expressed genes including 1 PAL, 2 C4Hs, 3 4CLs and 5 HCTs were consistent with the change of CGA content. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis further showed that 8 unigenes involved in CGA biosynthesis were consistent with the RNA-seq data. These findings will provide a comprehensive understanding and valuable information on the genetic engineering and molecular breeding in KFP.

The major royal jelly proteins (MRJPs) are the central constituents responsible for the specific activities of royal jelly. Here MRJPs via oral administration daily for 45 consecutive days were evaluated the effects on the reproductive parameters in immature female mice (FM). Neonatal FM were divided into four groups fed MRJPs with doses of 0, 125, 250 and 500mg/kg/body weight (M125, M250 and M500). The results in M125, M250 and M500 showed that the times of estrus were accelerated by 10.7%, 15.5% and 10.7%, the secondary follicles number were increased by 50.7%, 78.8% and 38.6%, the Graafian follicles were increased by 600.0% and 774.0% and 150.0%, respectively. M500 induced multi-oocyte follicles. The serum estradiol levels of the three groups were increased by 47.1%, 64.9% and 31.1%, the action of MRJPs raising hormone secretion level is mainly via upregulating expression of ERβ gene. Antioxidant parameters of ovarian tissue showed that the malondialdehyde levels in M125 and M250 were decreased, the superoxide dismutase activities and glutathione peroxidase activities in M125 and M250 were increased. In conclusion, MRJPs may accelerate onset of puberty and promote follicular development in FM. Our findings would facilitate better understanding of the benefit effect of MRJPs as the key ingredient in royal jelly on promoting fertility performance.