Identifying biochemical phenotypic differences between cryptic species

Molecular genetic methods can distinguish divergent evolutionary lineages in what previously appeared to be single species, but it is not always clear what functional differences exist between such cryptic species. We used a metabolomic approach to profile biochemical phenotype (metabotype) differences between two putative cryptic species of the earthworm Lumbricus rubellus. There were no straightforward metabolite biomarkers of lineage, i.e. no metabolites that were always at higher concentration in one lineage. Multivariate methods, however, identified a small number of metabolites that together helped distinguish the lineages, including uncommon metabolites such as Nε-trimethyllysine, which is not usually found at high concentrations. This approach could be useful for characterizing functional trait differences, especially as it is applicable to essentially any species group, irrespective of its genome sequencing status.     

Glutamine Links Obesity to Inflammation in Human White Adipose Tissue

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Advances in improvement of quality and resistance in a multipurpose crop: sea buckthorn

Sea buckthorn is a berry crop with multiple uses. The berries are highly appreciated for their unique taste but are also very rich in bioactive compounds with powerful nutritional and medicinal values. In addition, the plants grow well under adverse conditions, and are often used to fight soil erosion. Utilization of sea buckthorn has therefore increased around the world but serious problems have, nevertheless, been encountered due to drought, salinity, diseases and insect pests. This review covers important aspects of sea buckthorn research, such as heritable and environmentally induced variation in biochemical compounds, causes and effects of the devastating dried-shrink disease, susceptibility to insect pests, methods for conventional breeding, and the utilization of DNA markers for taxonomical and population genetic analyses, and for investigating the inheritance of quality and resistance traits. We also present possibilities to implement innovative biotechnological breeding methods, especially metabolite profiling and MAS/GRC-based markers, for fast and efficient development of elite genotypes with specific nutritional- and health-related bioactive compounds and strong resistance to biotic and abiotic stress.     

The metabolomics of airway diseases,including COPD,asthma and cystic fibrosis

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and cystic fibrosis (CF) are characterized by airway obstruction and an inflammatory process. Reaching early diagnosis and discrimination of subtypes of these respiratory diseases are quite a challenging task than other chronic illnesses. Metabolomics is the study of metabolic pathways and the measurement of unique biochemical molecules generated in a living system. In the last decade, metabolomics has already proved to be useful for the characterization of several pathological conditions and offers promises as a clinical tool. In this article, we review the current state of the metabolomics of COPD, asthma and CF with a focus on the different methods and instrumentation being used for the discovery of biomarkers in research and translation into clinic as diagnostic aids for the choice of patient-specific therapies.