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Results for “volatile metabolomics”

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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2026

Multi-omics characterization of flavor profile differences in the Longissimus thoracis between Angus and Hereford cattle.

BACKGROUND: Angus and Hereford cattle are premier breeds widely used in genetic improvement and crossbreeding programs to enhance meat quality, yet the flavor differences between them remain poorly understood. RESULTS: In this study, we performed an integrated analysis using headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS)-based volatile metabolomics, lipidomics, and untargeted metabolomics to characterize the flavor profiles of the Longissimus thoracis (LT) muscle from both breeds and to identify potential precursor substances underlying flavor formation. In total, we identified 76 differential volatile organic compounds (VOCs) among the 493 candidate VOCs. By combing relative odor activity value (ROAV) and sensory attribute annotation, 2,3-butanedione which may contribute to the creamy aroma was revealed as the core differential VOC between the two breeds. This finding was robustly validated across SHAP (Shapley additive explanations) analysis, KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathway enrichment, and flavor annotation. Lipidomic analysis revealed 689 differential lipids primarily belonging to classes such as phosphatidylcholine, triglycerides, and phosphatidylethanolamine. Correlation analysis further linked these lipid profiles to flavor, showing that fatty acids (FAs) including FA(19:0), FA(18:2 + O), FA(14:1), FA(16:1), and FA(14:0) were significantly correlated with 2,3-butanedione. Notably, the unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) in the Longissimus thoracis (LT) of Hereford cattle exhibited higher double bond content compared to Angus cattle, suggesting a greater potential for rich flavor development. Untargeted metabolomics revealed that nine of the 9474 metabolites were significantly correlated with both 2,3-butanedione and FAs, including norepinephrine, l-beta-aspartyl-l-leucine, and artemetin. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our research has identified differential flavor compounds and potential precursor substances between Angus cattle and Hereford cattle, providing targeted guidance for breed improvement. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

2,3‐butanedione↗

PubMed2026

A voyage of reprogrammable metabolic bioengineering reshapes plant defense: from editing tools to synthetic systems.

Metabolic bioengineering has emerged as a transformative approach for reshaping plant defense by targeting intrinsic biosynthetic pathways to enhance immunity in modern agriculture. Moving beyond proof-of-concept metabolomics to broad-spectrum programmable pathway engineering addresses gaps in plant rational design and optimizes resilience in response to diverse environmental cues. This review aims to comprehensively highlight the transition of innovative approaches to phenolics, alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and benzoxazinoids, inferring adaptive reprogramming that mediates the growth-defense balance and functions as molecular sentinels in plants. Furthermore, decoding the volatile metabolome reveals a dynamic signaling interface that influences defense responses and stress-induced plant-microbe interactions, with the shikimate, jasmonate, and salicylate pathways functioning as central hubs for microbial deterrence and priming immune memory. Recent developments in multi-scalar genome-editing strategies, including CRISPR-driven combinatorial edits, enzyme orthogonalization, fluxomics, and spatially resolved multi-omics, reconfigure central and specialized metabolic fluxes toward improved defense function and regulation. Additionally, emerging tools, such as WUSCHEL2 and BABY BOOM transcriptional modules, and artificial engineering strategies integrating deep learning model-driven predictions facilitate rapid development of synthetic genetic circuits and support a predictive engineering of plants. Moreover, Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) in spatial metabolomics enables to obtain structures and locations of unidentified endogenous metabolites within cells and tissues. Overall, this review emphasizes a diverse array of primary and secondary metabolites, spanning molecular concepts to recent advances in plant immune mechanisms. It also illustrates new frontiers in programmable metabolic engineering that accelerate the understanding of plant-microbe-metabolite cross-talks, offering strategies to improve plant resistance and advance sustainable agricultural solutions.

metabolic bioengineering↗

PubMed2026

Comparative profiling of microbial community structure, enzyme potential, metabolic features, and volatile composition in craft and Jiafan Huangjiu processes.

Craft Huangjiu and Jiafan Huangjiu represent two distinct industrial Huangjiu product outcomes with contrasting volatile profiles. This study compared craft Huangjiu (L70) and Jiafan Huangjiu (L79) to characterize their physicochemical, microbial, gene-level functional, metabolic, and volatile features. Because L70 involved mid-fermentation addition of finished Huangjiu, this comparison was not intended to isolate the sole effect of fermentation interruption versus continued fermentation. L79 showed more extensive carbon and nitrogen utilization, with lower residual substrates and higher ethanol and acetic acid contents than L70, whereas L70 retained a less complete fermentation state. At the volatile level, GC-MS and volatile metabolomics consistently showed an ester-enriched profile in L79 and a more alcohol-dominant profile in L70. FlavorDB-based putative annotation and threshold-based OAV analysis further indicated distinct database-assigned descriptor distributions and potential odor-active compounds, with more OAV > 1 ester-related compounds in L79. Metagenomic analysis showed that L70 was dominated by Lactobacillus acetotolerans, whereas L79 contained higher relative abundances of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Aspergillus oryzae, Aspergillus flavus, and Fructilactobacillus fructivorans. Metagenomic functional annotation showed higher representation of hydrolysis-related CAZy genes and ester-related enzyme annotations in L79. KEGG-based pathway mapping further indicated greater gene-level potential for ethanol-, acetate-, and acetyl-CoA-related metabolism in L79. Accordingly, the L70 profile should be interpreted as the integrated final-product outcome of process intervention, exogenous input, and subsequent fermentation. The findings provide a comparative basis for future flavor regulation and process optimization in Huangjiu and other fermented alcoholic beverages.

Volatile Organic Compounds↗

PubMed2007

Metabolomic profiling of natural volatiles: headspace trapping: GC-MS.

Plants are a fabulously rich source of naturally volatile metabolites, which are derived from a range of contrasting biochemical pathways (e.g., mono-, di-, and sesquiterpenoids, benzoates, alcohols, esters). Such volatiles may immediately be released from the plant or they may be stored, e.g., in glycosylated form for release later "on demand." Certain roles for these molecules have already been determined in that they can function as attractants (e.g., to pollinators, seed dispersers, and others) or as protectants (repellants, pathogen inhibitors, and so on). The flavor and fragrance of plant materials to humans and other animals are also, to a great extent, determined by natural volatiles. Other more sophisticated roles have also been elucidated where plant volatiles have been shown to be involved either as signal molecules to attract the predators of damaging herbivorous insects or potentially even as signal molecules warning other plants of imminent danger. As such, detailed knowledge of these components can be valuable in relation to breeding crop varieties for enhanced product quality or for achieving improved resistance to pathogens and insects. Furthermore, knowledge of the metabolites can result in a corresponding knowledge of the genes responsible for their synthesis and this can lead to dedicated strategies for their in vitro production through, e.g., reverse genetics in heterologous microbial expression systems in fermentors for the production of high-value fine chemicals. Various analytical techniques based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry have been devised for the analysis of this complex group of metabolites. Two of these key methods are detailed in this chapter.

Arabidopsis↗

PubMed2026

Elucidation of microbial community structure, small-molecule metabolic and flavor profile characteristics in Xuanwei ham under different processing techniques.

This study systematically compared the impacts of traditional (TH) and modern (MH) processing techniques on the physicochemical properties, microbial community structure, metabolome, and volatile aroma compounds of Xuanwei ham. The results showed that the TH group had higher moisture content and water activity, along with a more tender texture, whereas the MH group exhibited greater hardness and chewiness. Microbiological analysis revealed that the interior of the MH group had higher species richness of both fungi and bacteria, while the TH group maintained higher fungal diversity. Metabolomic analysis identified 112 differential metabolites, with sweet amino acids and certain lipids being more enriched in modern ham, whereas traditional ham contained higher levels of umami amino acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and flavor compounds such as carnosine. KEGG pathway enrichment indicated that the differences were primarily concentrated in amino acid biosynthesis and metabolism-related pathways. Volatile flavoromics analysis identified 45 odor-active compounds and screened 15 key aroma-active substances. Among them, modern processed ham was significantly enriched in fatty aldehydes such as (E)-2-nonenal, hexanal, nonanal, and octanal, whereas traditional processed ham was characterized by 1-octen-3-ol, (E,E)-2,4-decadienal, methional, acetoin, and benzeneacetaldehyde. Correlation analysis confirmed that dominant microbes in Xuanwei ham were significantly associated with differential metabolites and characteristic aroma compounds, respectively. This study provides a scientific basis for standardizing production processes, enabling precise quality control, and promoting high-quality industrial development of Xuanwei ham.

Animals↗

PubMed2025

Molecular profiling of exhaled breath condensate in respiratory diseases.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory disorders, , continue to pose a major global health burden. Their complexity and heterogeneity challenge accurate diagnosis, effective monitoring, and therapeutic decision-making. Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) provides a reliable, non-invasive means of sampling the molecular environment of the airways. AIM: This review presents the state-of-the-art in EBC-based omics approaches-particularly metabolomics and proteomics-to characterize molecular signatures associated with chronic respiratory (e.g. asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and rhinitis) and infectious diseases (e.g. COVID-19). RESULTS: We critically examine findings from studies applying nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), mass spectrometry (MS), and sensor-based technologies to analyze EBC across various respiratory conditions. NMR, valued for its reproducibility and minimal sample preparation, consistently discriminates among disease phenotypes, identifies distinct metabotypes, and monitors treatment response over time. MS-based approaches afford enhanced sensitivity and specificity, enabling detailed profiling of inflammatory mediators, such as lipid-derived eicosanoids and amino acid derivatives. Proteomic studies reveal protein-level alterations associated with inflammation and tissue remodeling. In COVID-19 and long COVID, metabolomic and volatile compound profiling distinguishes affected individuals from healthy controls suggesting clinical potential. However, inconsistent sample processing and lack of analytical standardization remain limiting factors. CONCLUSIONS: EBC profiling shows clear promise for improving diagnosis, monitoring, and stratification in respiratory medicine. Yet, translation into clinical practice is hindered by limited standardization and validation. Broader, longitudinal studies will be essential to establish robust molecular signatures across disease states. This review underscores the timely need to implement breathomics investigations to gain mechanistic insight into the underlying biology of respiratory diseases.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Brucellar spondylitis is associated with disturbance in gut microbiota and histamine metabolism associated inflammation.

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of brucellar spondylitis (BLS) has traditionally been considered to be primarily limited to local osteoarticular lesions. With the proposal of the "gut-spine axis" concept, the role of intestinal microecological dysbiosis in inflammatory spinal diseases has attracted in an increase of attention. The overactivated inflammatory cytokine network not only mediates bone destruction and intervertebral disc damage, but also forms a bidirectional interaction with gut microbiota dysbiosis through the "gut-spine axis," collectively driving disease progression. However, the inflammatory mechanism by which gut microbiota participates in the pathological process of BLS remains largely unclear. METHODS: This study recruited 20 BLS patients and 20 healthy donors. Multi-omics analysis including metagenomics, untargeted metabolomics, and targeted short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) analysis, were used to compare the structural differences in gut microbiota between the two groups and screen for signature differential bacterial species. Plasma levels of histamine and histidine decarboxylase were measured by ELISA to clarify the role of differential histidine metabolic pathway in the disease. Additionally, plasma levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17A, TNF-α) were detected by ELISA. The correlation between gut microbiota and inflammatory indicators was further analyzed. RESULTS: Compared to the healthy control group, the α-diversity of the gut microbiota in BLS patients was significantly reduced, with the microbial community structure exhibiting increased homogeneity. Beta diversity analysis revealed significant differences, suggesting that disease progression is associated with an overall imbalance in the gut microbiota and the deterioration of its specific structural composition. At the phylum level, the abundances of Actinomycetota, unclassified_d_Viruses, and Fusobacteriota were significantly increased in the gut microbiota of BLS patients compared to the control group, while the abundances of Bacillota and Pseudomonadota were significantly decreased. Further analysis revealed that, compared to the control group, the generic abundance of Enterococcus was significantly increased, while the proportions of Blautia, Faecalibacterium, Ruminococcus, Agathobacter, Roseburia, Clostridium, Eubacterium, Alistipes and Anaerobutyricum were significantly decreased. At the species level, the abundances of Enterococcus sp and Enterococcus-faecium were increased, whereas Blautia sp, Ruminococcus sp, Faecalibacterium sp, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Agathobacter rectalis, Eubacterium sp, Agathobacter sp, and Roseburia sp were decreased. Furthermore, untargeted metabolomics revealed that metabolites were enriched in the histidine metabolic pathway, and the levels of SCFAs including butyrate, isobutyrate, valerate, and 4-methylvalerate in the intestinal contents were reduced in BLS. Functional KEGG profiling revealed that key KOs involved in butyrate synthesis (e.g., K00074, K00172, K01640) and transport were globally downregulated in the patient group, whereas histidine decarboxylase KOs (K01693, K11755, K19787) that convert histidine to pro-inflammatory histamine were significantly enriched. The loss of butyrate-producing symbionts led to SCFAs deficiency and mucosal barrier disruption, creating ecological niches for facultatively anaerobic Enterococcus, which further exacerbated local inflammation via proteolytic fermentation and histamine production. Compared with the control group, BLS patients showed decreased plasma levels of IL-10, while levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17A, and TNF-α were increased, and LPS levels were elevated. In addition, significantly elevated plasma pro-inflammatory LPS levels in patients with BLS suggest disruption of intestinal integrity and permeability. Correlation analysis indicated a close relationship between gut microbiota and inflammation. CONCLUSION: BLS is associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis and alterations in microbial metabolites, which may be linked to inflammatory responses and histamine metabolism. The differential microbial taxa identified in this study could be developed into a stool-based non-invasive diagnostic panel to facilitate early differentiation of BLS from other spinal disorders. Furthermore, restoring gut microbial balance through probiotic supplementation or dietary modulation may represent a promising adjunctive strategy to enhance the efficacy of standard antibiotic therapy and reduce disease recurrence.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Haplotype-specific expression of a terpene synthase underlies linalool variation in the grapevine cultivar Riesling.

Grapevine cultivars vary widely in monoterpenoid content, yet the genetic and regulatory mechanisms underlying this variation remain poorly characterized beyond highly aromatic Muscat types. We profiled free volatiles and monoterpenoid glycosides in a Riesling × Cabernet Sauvignon F1 mapping population, revealing extensive variation and transgressive segregation consistent with multigenic control. QTL mapping identified 70 significant loci associated with 48 volatile compounds and monoterpene glycosides, including two major QTLs explaining 33.6% and 33.4% of phenotypic variance in (3S)-linalool accumulation. Integration of haplotype-resolved transcriptomics with metabolite data, enabled by a chromosome-scale diploid Riesling genome assembly, resolved a (3S)-linalool/nerolidol synthase cluster on chromosome 10 and identified VviTPS54 as the strongest candidate underlying linalool variation. VviTPS54 exhibited haplotype-specific expression strongly correlated with (3S)-linalool accumulation across genotypes, while no QTL was detected at the 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate synthase 1 (VviDXS1) locus previously identified in Muscat cultivars. In addition, VviDXS1 expression was not correlated with terpene levels, indicating that regulatory variation within terpene synthase clusters, rather than methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway flux, drives monoterpenoid composition in this population. These results establish regulatory variation of terpene synthases as a key mechanism underlying monoterpenoid diversity in grapevine and demonstrate that resolving such variation requires haplotype-phased genome assemblies coupled with haplotype-resolved transcriptomics to detect allele-specific expression differences at complex, heterozygous loci.

Grapevine↗

PubMed2005

A novel approach for nontargeted data analysis for metabolomics. Large-scale profiling of tomato fruit volatiles.

To take full advantage of the power of functional genomics technologies and in particular those for metabolomics, both the analytical approach and the strategy chosen for data analysis need to be as unbiased and comprehensive as possible. Existing approaches to analyze metabolomic data still do not allow a fast and unbiased comparative analysis of the metabolic composition of the hundreds of genotypes that are often the target of modern investigations. We have now developed a novel strategy to analyze such metabolomic data. This approach consists of (1) full mass spectral alignment of gas chromatography (GC)-mass spectrometry (MS) metabolic profiles using the MetAlign software package, (2) followed by multivariate comparative analysis of metabolic phenotypes at the level of individual molecular fragments, and (3) multivariate mass spectral reconstruction, a method allowing metabolite discrimination, recognition, and identification. This approach has allowed a fast and unbiased comparative multivariate analysis of the volatile metabolite composition of ripe fruits of 94 tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) genotypes, based on intensity patterns of >20,000 individual molecular fragments throughout 198 GC-MS datasets. Variation in metabolite composition, both between- and within-fruit types, was found and the discriminative metabolites were revealed. In the entire genotype set, a total of 322 different compounds could be distinguished using multivariate mass spectral reconstruction. A hierarchical cluster analysis of these metabolites resulted in clustering of structurally related metabolites derived from the same biochemical precursors. The approach chosen will further enhance the comprehensiveness of GC-MS-based metabolomics approaches and will therefore prove a useful addition to nontargeted functional genomics research.

Automation↗

PubMed2025

Integrated genomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analyses of Chrysanthemum aromaticum provide insights into the volatile terpene biosynthesis.

Chrysanthemum aromaticum is renowned for its uniformly emitted strong and attractive scent, primarily attributed to volatile terpenes. Despite its commercial and horticultural significance, the molecular mechanisms underlying volatile terpene production in C. aromaticum remain largely unexplored. Here, we present the haplotype-resolved genome assembly of C. aromaticum, with a total size of 3.10 Gb, comprising nine anchored chromosomes with a contig N50 of 30.66 Mb and a scaffold N50 of 350.58 Mb. Phylogenetic analyses revealed a distant relationship between C. aromaticum and C. indicum, suggesting that C. aromaticum likely represents a distinct species rather than a variety of C. indicum. Through integrated genomic, transcriptomic, metabolomic, and biochemical analyses, we identified seven TPS involved in monoterpene biosynthesis and six TPS for sesquiterpene biosynthesis. Notably, comparative genomic analysis revealed a gene cluster for α-bisabolol biosynthesis in C. aromaticum, which has specifically expanded in Chrysanthemum species through tandem gene duplications, contributing to the elevated accumulation of α-bisabolol in the leaves of C. aromaticum. Our study provides important insights into the biosynthesis of volatile terpenes, highlighting the genetic basis for C. aromaticum's unique aromatic profile.

Chrysanthemum↗

PubMed2026

Multi-omics revealed the effects of rumen to blood path on early lactation performance in transition dairy cows.

BACKGROUND: The transition period is vitally important to the life cycle of dairy cows. However, the function of the microbiota during both pre- and post-partum and their relationship with ruminal, plasma, and milk metabolites still require systematic investigation. To address this, the 7 highest- and 7 lowest-performing animals among a cohort of 100 dairy cows were selected based on their postpartum energy-corrected milk yield. Rumen fluid and plasma samples were collected during both pre- and post-partum periods, whereas milk samples were obtained postpartum. Shotgun metagenomics of rumen contents in addition to metabolomics of rumen, plasma, and milk samples were performed to evaluate the associations between ruminal microbes and early lactation performance in transition dairy cows. RESULTS: Compared with prepartum cows, postpartum high-yield cows had greater concentrations of ruminal volatile fatty acids and plasma total bile acid. Moreover, plasma urea nitrogen and most amino acids, peptides, and their derivatives in plasma and milk were increased in postpartum high-yield cows, relative to postpartum low-yield cows. Metagenomic analysis revealed that the relative abundances of several species within the Prevotella, Succinimonas, Succinatimonas, and Methanosphaera increased, while other bacteria belong to Alistipes and Bacteroides, and archaeal Methanobrevibacter species decreased in postpartum cows, particularly in postpartum high-yield cows. Co-occurrence network and correlation analysis suggested that Prevotella and Succinatimonas were negatively correlated to Alistipes, Bacteroides, and Methanobrevibacter, potentially contributing to the nutritionally efficient phenotype of postpartum high-yield cows. A metabolic pathway analysis of our metagenomic data revealed that postpartum high-yield cows possessed more microbial genes involved in starch utilization and amino acid synthesis, while a wide range of microbial genes involved in cellulose utilization, acetogenesis, and amino acid degradation were found in prepartum cows with low-yield in postpartum. A structural equation model analysis showed that the increased relative abundances of Prevotella tf.2-5 and Succinatimonas CAG_777 were related to greater concentrations of plasma chenodeoxycholic acid glycine conjugate, milk 5-Methoxytryptophan, and energy-corrected milk yield. Finally, pan-genomic analysis confirmed that Alistipes, Bacteroides, and Methanobrevibacter possess genetic conservation of both hydrogenases and dehydrogenases, which may contribute to energy loss in the rumen via hydrogen dissipation. CONCLUSION: In summary, our findings provide a fundamental understanding of how microbiome-dependent mechanisms contribute to early lactation performance in dairy cows during the transition period. The increased abundance of Prevotella, Succinimonas, and Succinatimonas in postpartum cows suggest that they are important microbes during the transition period and may help in coping with metabolic challenges, while improving nutrient utilization efficiency during this period. Our study underscores the importance of the ruminal microbiome during the transition period and highlights the need for rumen-based nutritional intervention strategies to improve production efficiency in ruminants. Video Abstract.

Animals↗

PubMed2025

Insights into dill (Anethum graveolens) flavor formation via integrative analysis of chromosomal-scale genome, metabolome and transcriptome.

INTRODUCTION: Dill (Anethum graveolens) is a significant medicinal herb belonging to the Apiaceae family. Owing to its high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), dill is commonly utilized for essential oil extraction and medicine purpose. However, the biosynthesis of the crucial VOC in dill remains obscure. OBJECTIVES: Identify the key VOCs related to the flavor formation in dill and dissect the regulatory mechanism of their synthesis. METHODS: The dill chromosomal-level genome was constructed by PacBio HiFi, Hi-C, and BGISEQ second generation sequencing and assembly. The VOCs in dill leaves were identified through GC-MS. The potential mechanism involved in regulating the VOC accumulation in dill flavor formation was analyzed by multi-omics analysis. RESULTS: A 1.17 Gb chromosome-scale genome of dill with a contig N50 of 10.78 Mb was constructed. A total of 46,538 genes were annotated across 11 assembled chromosomes. Comparative genomics analysis suggested that transposable element insertions, especially LTR-Gypsy, have contributed to the evolution and expansion of the dill genome. The flavor formation of dill was mainly attributed to terpenoids, especially α-phellandrene, β-ocimene, and o-cymene. The contribution of expansion and replication of terpenoid synthesis pathway genes, especially terpene synthase (TPS), to the abundant terpenoid production of dill was identified. Differential gene expression patterns observed at various developmental stages and tissues provided key candidate genes for the regulation of terpenoid synthesis, as well as transcription factors. The different accumulation of esters and aromatics also affected the flavor formation of dill. The key genes implicated in the synthesis of anethole, namely AIS and AMT were further identified. CONCLUSION: This study constructed the chromosome level genome and identified the main VOCs and related key genes in flavor formation of dill, shedding lights on our understanding of terpenoid biosynthesis but also offered guidance for future genetic research on molecular breeding in Anethum graveolens.

Transcriptome↗

PubMed2026

Integrated metabolomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic analyses reveal changes in the non-volatile metabolite profile of LED light-withered oolong tea.

LED light withering is a crucial method for overcoming weather limitations and enhancing the quality of oolong tea. To elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms, this study simulated solar spectra using multiwavelength LED light and compared the resulting metabolic, transcriptomic, and proteomic profiles during the enzymatic-catalysis process (ECP) in oolong tea processing. Results indicated that LED light withering altered gene expression and protein regulation of secondary metabolism, particularly in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway. These shifts encompassed key quality-related compounds, including flavonoids (quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside, dihydroquercetin), amino acids (L-asparagine, L-histidine), guanosine 5'-monophosphate (GMP), and carbohydrates. Furthermore, LED light withering accelerated tea leaf water loss, influenced gene expression involved in photosynthetic cellular components (chloroplasts, thylakoids), increased ascorbate peroxidase regulation under stress, and subsequently modulated energy metabolism and signal transduction in tea leaves. This study offers molecular theoretical framework for the controlled light-withering of oolong tea under bad weather and the associated improvements in its quality.

Camellia sinensis↗

PubMed2026

Comprehensive quality profiling and comparative metabolic characterization of seven dominant fresh-eating Chinese olive (Canarium album Lour.) cultivars in Southern China.

Fresh-eating Chinese olive (Canarium album Lour.) is a subtropical fruit endemic to southern China with considerable commercial value, yet systematic quality characterization of dominant cultivars remains scarce. This study established a multi-dimensional quality dataset for seven dominant cultivars from Fujian and Guangdong provinces, integrating nutritional components, soluble sugars, organic acids, mineral elements, volatile profiles, and non-targeted metabolomics. Significant cultivar-specific differences were observed across all evaluated dimensions: "Lingfeng" exhibited a sugar-dominant low-acid profile, whereas "Sanleng" showed elevated phenolic constituents accumulation. Volatile profiling identified terpenoid-based candidate discriminatory biomarkers, and metabolomic analysis revealed phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, tryptophan metabolism, and starch and sucrose metabolism as the most variable pathways. Correlations between untargeted profiling and targeted absolute quantification validated untargeted result reliability and revealed their complementarity in nutritional evaluation. These findings provide baseline data for FECO germplasm evaluation and targeted industrial utilization.

China↗

PubMed2003

Regulation of floral scent production in petunia revealed by targeted metabolomics.

Petunia hybrida line W115 (Mitchell) has large white flowers that produce a pleasant fragrance. By applying solid phase micro extraction (SPME) techniques coupled to GC-MS analysis, volatile emission was monitored in vivo using a targeted metabolomics approach. Mature flowers released predominantly benzenoid compounds of which benzaldehyde, phenylacetaldehyde, methylbenzoate, phenylethylalcohol, iso-eugenol and benzylbenzoate were most abundant. This emission had a circadian rhythm reaching its maximum at dusk. During petal limb expansion two sesquiterpenes were emitted by the petunia flowers, tentatively identified as germacrene D and cadina-3,9-diene. In vitro analysis showed that the petal limbs and stigma were the main producers of the benzenoids and sesquiterpenes, respectively. Moreover, comparison of in vivo and in vitro analysis indicated that volatiles were not stored during periods of low emission but rather were synthesized de novo. DNA-microarray analysis revealed that genes of the pathways leading to the production of volatile benzenoids were upregulated late during the day, preceding the increase of volatile emission. RNA-gel blot analyses confirmed that the levels of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and S-adenosyl methionine (SAM) synthase transcripts increased towards the evening. Our results suggest that the circadian production of volatile benzenoids in petunia W115 is, at least partly, regulated at the transcript level.

Circadian Rhythm↗

PubMed2026

Integrated widely targeted metabolomics and GC-IMS reveal dynamic flavor, nutritional, functional, and metabolic profiles in macadamia kernels during processing.

Different processing stages influence the color, flavor, and antioxidant activities of macadamia kernels. However, the biochemical mechanisms that occur during processing are not well known. This study integrated widely targeted metabolomics (UPLC-MS/MS) with GC-IMS to systematically characterize non-volatile and volatile compounds in macadamia kernels across key three sample groups: fresh kernels (FMN), low-temperature-dried kernels (DMN), and roasted kernels (BMN). A total of 622 non-volatile metabolites and 52 volatile compounds were identified. Low-temperature drying promoted the accumulation of phenolic acids and flavonoids, enhancing antioxidant capacity. Roasting degraded heat-sensitive nutrients but generated flavor compounds via Maillard reaction and lipid oxidation, shifting aroma from green to nutty notes. Nutritional assessment confirmed that roasting significantly reduced antioxidant activities and bile acid binding capacity. Pearson correlation analysis verified the key metabolite-antioxidant relationships. These findings provide critical insights into metabolic dynamics during nut processing and establish a scientific basis for optimizing thermal processing strategies.

Metabolomics↗

PubMed2026

Enhancement flavor quality in Zhao'an Baxian oolong tea through enhanced turning-over process.

A systematical investigation on the effects of turning-over intensity on the flavor formation of Zhao'an Baxian oolong tea (ZBT) was performed, through a comparative analysis of heavy turning-over (HT) and light turning-over (LT) treatments in this study. The tea samples were subjected to proteomic and metabolomic analyses, combined with quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA) and electronic sensory (E-tongue/E-nose) evaluation. The results demonstrate that HT significantly reduced the content of bitter and astringent compounds, such as catechins and flavonol glycosides, while promoting the accumulation of umami-related amino acids. Concurrently, HT enhanced the biosynthesis of key floral and fruity volatiles, such as β-ocimene, geraniol, benzaldehyde, jasmone by activating stress-responsive metabolic pathways. These coordinated biochemical changes, driven by enzyme-catalyzed reactions in response to prolonged mechanical wounding and environmental stress, collectively improved the overall sensory profile of ZBT. These findings provide a mechanistic foundation for improving ZBT production, with clear implications for quality control and flavor-oriented product development.

Tea↗

PubMed2005

Volatile profiling of Arabidopsis thaliana - putative olfactory compounds in plant communication.

Arabidopsis thaliana from the Brassicaceae family has arisen as the model organism in plant biology research. The plant's genome has been characterized and worldwide studies are conducted at the genetic, protein and metabolic level to unravell the function of genes involved in growth, reproduction, biosynthesis, and plant communication. As part of the multidisciplinary project BIOEMIT at NTNU, metabolomic studies of Arabidopsis T-DNA knock-out mutants and ecotypes have been carried out. Volatile profiles of autolyzed, intact plants and single plant organs were obtained by solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The studies were aimed at the diversity of defense-related compounds from the glucosinolate-myrosinase system - the isothiocyanates and nitriles. Metabolites from methionine, leucine and phenylalanine-derived glucosinolates were most abundant (4-methylthiobutyl, 4-methylpentyl, 2-phenylethyl). In addition, 24 monoterpenes, 26 sesquiterpenes and 12 aromatic structures, predominantly observed in inflorescenses, are described. Excluding the vast group of straight chain aliphatic structures, a total of 102 volatile compounds were detected, of which 59 are reported in Arabidopsis thaliana for the first time, thus emphasizing the sensitivity and applicability of solid-phase microextraction for volatile profiling of plant secondary metabolites.

Arabidopsis↗