Lysine metabolism in mammalian brain: an update on the importance of recent discoveries

Developmental mitochondrial complex I activity determines lifespan

Aberrant mitochondrial function has been associated with an increasingly large number of human disease states. Observations from in vivo models where mitochondrial function is altered suggest that maladaptations to mitochondrial dysfunction may underpin disease pathology. We hypothesized that the severity of this maladaptation could be shaped by the plasticity of the system when mitochondrial dysfunction manifests. To investigate this, we have used inducible fly models of mitochondrial complex I (CI) dysfunction to reduce mitochondrial function at two stages of the fly lifecycle, from early development and adult eclosion. Here, we show that in early life (developmental) mitochondrial dysfunction results in severe reductions in survival and stress resistance in adulthood, while flies where mitochondrial function is perturbed from adulthood, are long-lived and stress resistant despite having up to a 75% reduction in CI activity. After excluding developmental defects as a cause, we went on to molecularly characterize these two populations of mitochondrially compromised flies, short- and long-lived. We find that our short-lived flies have unique transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic responses, which overlap significantly in discrete models of CI dysfunction. Our data demonstrate that early mitochondrial dysfunction via CI depletion elicits a maladaptive response, which severely reduces survival, while CI depletion from adulthood is insufficient to reduce survival and stress resistance.

Serum Metabolomics Profiling Coupled with Machine Learning Identifies Potential Diagnostic and Prognostic Candidate Markers in Meningioma Using Raman Spectroscopy, ATR-FTIR, and LC-MS/MS

Meningioma, the most prevalent brain tumor, poses significant challenges due to its unclear transition from low-grade to aggressive forms, with limited knowledge about grade-specific markers. We have utilized vibrational spectroscopic techniques such as ATR-FTIR and Raman spectroscopy, alongside LC-MS/MS-based mass spectrometry to understand the systemic cues and evaluate them for clinical practice. The acquired Raman and ATR-FTIR spectra of 46 meningioma patients (27 low-grade and 19 high-grade) and 8 healthy individuals revealed 98.15% and 83.33% accuracy based on PC-LDA. The grade classification revealed an accuracy of around 70%, implying the presence of subtypes and transition phases. The observed alterations corresponded to lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins. Further, the LC-MS/MS-based study identified different derivatives of cholines, indoles, lipids, sphingosine, tryptophan, and their respective metabolic pathways as contributors in tumorigenesis and progression. Further, PRM-based targeted validation and feature selection was carried out on 43 meningioma patients and 17 healthy controls. Glycochenodeoxycholic acid, indole-3-acetic acid, trans-3-indoleacrylic acid, glycodeoxycholic acid, 5α-dihydrotestosteroneglucornide, and glycocholic acid segregated meningioma samples with an accuracy of around 90% while features like indole-3-acetic acid, stercobilin, sphingosine-1-phosphate, deoxycholic acid, and citric acid could classify grades with around 70% accuracy. These findings suggest that further validation across larger cohorts could enhance its usage in clinical settings.

Metabolomic profiling of plasma from glioma and meningioma patients based on two complementary mass spectrometry techniques

INTRODUCTION

Extracranial and intracranial tumors are a diverse group of malignant and benign neoplasms, influenced by multiple factors. Given the complex nature of these tumors and usually late or accidental diagnosis, minimally invasive, rapid, early, and accurate diagnostic methods are urgently required. Metabolomics offers promising insights into central nervous system tumors by uncovering distinctive metabolic changes linked to tumor development.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to elucidate the role of altered metabolites and the associated biological pathways implicated in the development of gliomas and meningiomas.

METHODS

The study was conducted on 95 patients with gliomas, 68 patients with meningiomas, and 71 subjects as a control group. The metabolic profiling of gliomas and meningiomas achieved by integrating untargeted metabolomic analysis based on GC-MS and targeted analysis performed using LC-MS/MS represents the first comprehensive study. Three comparisons (gliomas or meningiomas vs. controls as well as gliomas vs. meningiomas) were performed to reveal statistically significant metabolites.

RESULTS

Comparative analysis revealed 97, 56, and 27 significant metabolites for gliomas vs. controls, meningiomas vs. controls and gliomas vs. meningiomas comparison, respectively. Moreover, among above mentioned comparisons unique metabolites involved in arginine biosynthesis and metabolism, the Krebs cycle, and lysine degradation pathways were found. Notably, 2-aminoadipic acid has been identified as a metabolite that can be used in distinguishing two tumor types.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results provide a deeper understanding of the metabolic changes associated with brain tumor development and progression.

Multi-omics profiling in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA): investigating lipid and metabolic alterations through longitudinal CSF analysis of Nusinersen-treated patients

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a rare neuromuscular disease caused by biallelic mutations in the SMN1 gene, leading to progressive muscle weakness due to degeneration of the anterior horn cells. Since 2017, SMA patients can be treated with the anti-sense oligonucleotide Nusinersen, which promotes alternative splicing of the SMN2 gene, by regular intrathecal injections. In this prospective study, we applied metabolomic, lipidomic, and proteomic analysis to examine sequential CSF samples from 13 SMA patients and controls. This multi-omic approach identified over 800 proteins and 400 small molecules including lipids. Multivariate analysis of multi-omic data successfully discriminated between the CSF derived from SMA patients and control subjects. Lipidomic analysis revealed increased levels of cholesteryl esters and lyso-phospholipids, along with reduced levels of cholesterol and phospholipids in the CSF of SMA patients as compared to healthy controls. These data, combined with results from functional assays, led us to conclude that SMA patients exhibit altered levels and function of high-density-lipoprotein (HDL)-like particles in the CSF. Notably, Nusinersen therapy was observed to reverse disease-specific profile changes toward a physiological state, potentially explicable by restoring HDL function.

All roads lead to Rome: the plasticity of gut microbiome drives the extensive adaptation of the Yarkand toad-headed agama (Phrynocephalus axillaris) to different altitudes

The gut microbiome was involved in a variety of physiological processes and played a key role in host environmental adaptation. However, the mechanisms of their response to altitudinal environmental changes remain unclear. In this study, we used 16S rRNA sequencing and LC-MS metabolomics to investigate the changes in the gut microbiome and metabolism of the Yarkand toad-headed agama (Phrynocephalus axillaris) at different altitudes (-80 m to 2000 m). The results demonstrated that Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria were the dominant phylum, Lachnospiraceae and Oscillospiraceae were the most abundant family, and the low-altitude populations had higher richness than high-altitude populations; Akkermansiaceae appeared to be enriched in high-altitude populations and the relative abundance tended to increase with altitude. The gut microbiome of three populations of P. axillaris at different altitudes was clustered into two different enterotypes, low-altitude populations and high-altitude populations shared an enterotype dominated by Akkermansia, Kineothrix, Phocaeicola; intermediate-altitude populations had an enterotype dominated by Mesorhizobium, Bradyrhizobium. Metabolites involved in amino acid and lipid metabolism differed significantly at different altitudes. The above results suggest that gut microbiome plasticity drives the extensive adaptation of P. axillaris to multi-stress caused by different altitudes. With global warming, recognizing the adaptive capacity of wide-ranging species to altitude can help plan future conservation strategies.

The Biology and Biochemistry of Kynurenic Acid, a Potential Nutraceutical with Multiple Biological Effects

Kynurenic acid (KYNA) is an antioxidant degradation product of tryptophan that has been shown to have a variety of cytoprotective, neuroprotective and neuronal signalling properties. However, mammalian transporters and receptors display micromolar binding constants; these are consistent with its typically micromolar tissue concentrations but far above its serum/plasma concentration (normally tens of nanomolar), suggesting large gaps in our knowledge of its transport and mechanisms of action, in that the main influx transporters characterized to date are equilibrative, not concentrative. In addition, it is a substrate of a known anion efflux pump (ABCC4), whose in vivo activity is largely unknown. Exogeneous addition of L-tryptophan or L-kynurenine leads to the production of KYNA but also to that of many other co-metabolites (including some such as 3-hydroxy-L-kynurenine and quinolinic acid that may be toxic). With the exception of chestnut honey, KYNA exists at relatively low levels in natural foodstuffs. However, its bioavailability is reasonable, and as the terminal element of an irreversible reaction of most tryptophan degradation pathways, it might be added exogenously without disturbing upstream metabolism significantly. Many examples, which we review, show that it has valuable bioactivity. Given the above, we review its potential utility as a nutraceutical, finding it significantly worthy of further study and development.

Clinical metabolomics investigation of rheumatoid arthritis patients receiving ayurvedic whole system intervention

BACKGROUND

Arthritis is a common clinical condition seen in Ayurveda clinics. Clinical trials have reported Ayurvedic interventions to be of benefits in many arthritic conditions including Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). No mechanistic details however are available about how such interventions on their own or as a combination of whole system Ayurveda might be working.

OBJECTIVE

The study aims to evaluate simultaneously the clinical outcome of Ayurveda whole system (AWS) intervention in RA patients and identifying the serum metabolic signatures which could be useful for diagnosing the disease and monitoring treatment response.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

RA patients (n = 37) simultaneously diagnosed as Amavata fulfilling the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited in the study and were given Ayurveda whole system (AWS) intervention comprised of oral medicines, local therapy and dietary recommendation for 3 months. The clinical and serum metabolic changes were investigated for pre-treatment RA patients (baseline RA group, n = 37) and post-treatment RA patients (following treatment of 6-weeks (RA_F, n = 26) and three months (RA_T, n = 36). For comparative serum metabolomics analysis, 57 normal healthy control (HC) subjects were also involved and the serum metabolic profiles were measured at high-field 800 MHz NMR spectrometer. The serum metabolic profiles were compared using multivariate statistical analysis and discriminatory metabolic features were evaluated for diagnostic potential using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

RESULTS

A significant reduction in DAS-28 ESR, AAM Score, total swollen joints, total tender joints were observed following AWS intervention. The clinical outcomes were concordant with changes in metabolic profiles of RA patients as these were also shifting towards the normal levels following the intervention. Compared to healthy control (HC) subjects, the sera of baseline RA patients were characterised by increased circulatory level of succinate, lysine, mannose, creatine, and 3-Hydroxybutyrate (3-HB) and decreased levels of alanine. The present study also evaluated the serum metabolic ratios for their discriminatory and diagnostic potential and notably, six metabolic ratios (KHR, KThR, KVR, GHR, PTR and SHR) were found significantly altered (elevated) in baseline RA patients. However, in RA patients receiving AWS treatment, these metabolic changes showed marked convergence towards the metabolic signatures of healthy controls.

CONCLUSION

This first of its kind study clearly shows the clinical efficacy of Ayurvedic Whole System (AWS) intervention in the management of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), as demonstrated by significant improvements in key clinical parameters. The intervention not only alleviated symptoms but also induced a profound metabolic shifting towards normalization; thus, underscoring the potential of AWS intervention to modulate cellular metabolism in a manner that facilitates a return to homeostasis in RA patients. However, future studies are imperative to confirm these preliminary observations and delineate the underlying mechanisms of action of intervention in cases of RA.

Screening a knowledge-based library of low molecular weight compounds against the proline biosynthetic enzyme 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate 1 (PYCR1)

Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase isoform 1 (PYCR1) is the last enzyme of proline biosynthesis and catalyzes the NAD(P)H-dependent reduction of Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate to L-proline. High PYCR1 gene expression is observed in many cancers and linked to poor patient outcomes and tumor aggressiveness. The knockdown of the PYCR1 gene or the inhibition of PYCR1 enzyme has been shown to inhibit tumorigenesis in cancer cells and animal models of cancer, motivating inhibitor discovery. We screened a library of 71 low molecular weight compounds (average MW of 131 Da) against PYCR1 using an enzyme activity assay. Hit compounds were validated with X-ray crystallography and kinetic assays to determine affinity parameters. The library was counter-screened against human Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase isoform 3 and proline dehydrogenase (PRODH) to assess specificity/promiscuity. Twelve PYCR1 and one PRODH inhibitor crystal structures were determined. Three compounds inhibit PYCR1 with competitive inhibition parameter of 100 μM or lower. Among these, (S)-tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-carboxylic acid (70 μM) has higher affinity than the current best tool compound N-formyl-l-proline, is 30 times more specific for PYCR1 over human Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase isoform 3, and negligibly inhibits PRODH. Structure-affinity relationships suggest that hydrogen bonding of the heteroatom of this compound is important for binding to PYCR1. The structures of PYCR1 and PRODH complexed with 1-hydroxyethane-1-sulfonate demonstrate that the sulfonate group is a suitable replacement for the carboxylate anchor. This result suggests that the exploration of carboxylic acid isosteres may be a promising strategy for discovering new classes of PYCR1 and PRODH inhibitors. The structure of PYCR1 complexed with l-pipecolate and NADH supports the hypothesis that PYCR1 has an alternative function in lysine metabolism.

Infant microbes and metabolites point to childhood neurodevelopmental disorders

This study has followed a birth cohort for over 20 years to find factors associated with neurodevelopmental disorder (ND) diagnosis. Detailed, early-life longitudinal questionnaires captured infection and antibiotic events, stress, prenatal factors, family history, and more. Biomarkers including cord serum metabolome and lipidome, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genotype, infant microbiota, and stool metabolome were assessed. Among the 16,440 Swedish children followed across time, 1,197 developed an ND. Significant associations emerged for future ND diagnosis in general and for specific ND subtypes, spanning intellectual disability, speech disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and autism. This investigation revealed microbiome connections to future diagnosis as well as early emerging mood and gastrointestinal problems. The findings suggest links to immunodysregulation and metabolism, compounded by stress, early-life infection, and antibiotics. The convergence of infant biomarkers and risk factors in this prospective, longitudinal study on a large-scale population establishes a foundation for early-life prediction and intervention in neurodevelopment.

Disrupted de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis impairs adult hippocampal neurogenesis and cognition in pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy

Despite seizure control by early high-dose pyridoxine (vitamin B6) treatment, at least 75% of pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy (PDE) patients with ALDH7A1 mutation still suffer from intellectual disability. It points to a need for additional therapeutic interventions for PDE beyond pyridoxine treatment, which provokes us to investigate the mechanisms underlying the impairment of brain hemostasis by ALDH7A1 deficiency. In this study, we show that ALDH7A1-deficient mice with seizure control exhibit altered adult hippocampal neurogenesis and impaired cognitive functions. Mechanistically, ALDH7A1 deficiency leads to the accumulation of toxic lysine catabolism intermediates, α-aminoadipic-δ-semialdehyde and its cyclic form, δ-1-piperideine-6-carboxylate, which in turn impair de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis and inhibit NSC proliferation and differentiation. Notably, supplementation of pyrimidines rescues abnormal neurogenesis and cognitive impairment in ALDH7A1-deficient adult mice. Therefore, our findings not only define the important role of ALDH7A1 in the regulation of adult hippocampal neurogenesis but also provide a potential therapeutic intervention to ameliorate the defective mental capacities in PDE patients with seizure control.

Micro-RNA profiles of pathology and resilience in posterior cingulate cortex of cognitively intact elders

The posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) is a key hub of the default mode network underlying autobiographical memory retrieval, which falters early in the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We recently performed RNA sequencing of post-mortem PCC tissue samples from 26 elderly Rush Religious Orders Study participants who came to autopsy with an ante-mortem diagnosis of no cognitive impairment but who collectively displayed a range of Braak I-IV neurofibrillary tangle stages. Notably, cognitively unimpaired subjects displaying high Braak stages may represent cognitive resilience to AD pathology. Transcriptomic data revealed elevated synaptic and ATP-related gene expression in Braak Stages III/IV compared with Stages I/II, suggesting these pathways may be related to PCC resilience. We also mined expression profiles for small non-coding micro-RNAs (miRNAs), which regulate mRNA stability and may represent an underexplored potential mechanism of resilience through the fine-tuning of gene expression within complex cellular networks. Twelve miRNAs were identified as differentially expressed between Braak Stages I/II and III/IV. However, the extent to which the levels of all identified miRNAs were associated with subject demographics, neuropsychological test performance and/or neuropathological diagnostic criteria within this cohort was not explored. Here, we report that a total of 667 miRNAs are significantly associated (rho > 0.38, P < 0.05) with subject variables. There were significant positive correlations between miRNA expression levels and age, perceptual orientation and perceptual speed. By contrast, higher miRNA levels correlated negatively with semantic and episodic memory. Higher expression of 15 miRNAs associated with lower Braak Stages I-II and 47 miRNAs were associated with higher Braak Stages III-IV, suggesting additional mechanistic influences of PCC miRNA expression with resilience. Pathway analysis showed enrichment for miRNAs operating in pathways related to lysine degradation and fatty acid synthesis and metabolism. Finally, we demonstrated that the 12 resilience-related miRNAs differentially expressed in Braak Stages I/II versus Braak Stages III/IV were predicted to regulate mRNAs related to amyloid processing, tau and inflammation. In summary, we demonstrate a dynamic state wherein differential PCC miRNA levels are associated with cognitive performance and post-mortem neuropathological AD diagnostic criteria in cognitively intact elders. We posit these relationships may inform miRNA transcriptional alterations within the PCC relevant to potential early protective (resilience) or pathogenic (pre-clinical or prodromal) responses to disease pathogenesis and thus may be therapeutic targets.

Integrative physiology of lysine metabolites

Lysine is an essential amino acid that serves as a building block in protein synthesis. Beside this, the metabolic activity of lysine has only recently been unraveled. Lysine metabolism is tissue specific and is linked to several renal, cardiovascular, and endocrinological diseases through human metabolomics datasets. As a free molecule, lysine takes part in the antioxidant response and engages in protein modifications, and its chemistry shapes both proteome and metabolome. In the proteome, it is an acceptor for a plethora of posttranslational modifications. In the metabolome, it can be modified, conjugated, and degraded. Here, we provide an update on integrative physiology of mammalian lysine metabolites such as α-aminoadipic acid, saccharopine, pipecolic acid, and lysine conjugates such as acetyl-lysine, and sugar-lysine conjugates such as advanced glycation end products. We also comment on their emerging associative and mechanistic links to renal disease, hypertension, diabetes, and cancer.

Identification of Metabolomic Markers in Frozen or Formalin-Fixed and Paraffin-Embedded Samples of Diffuse Glioma from Adults

The aim of this study was to identify metabolomic signatures associated with the gliomagenesis pathway (IDH-mutant or IDH-wt) and tumor grade of diffuse gliomas (DGs) according to the 2021 WHO classification on frozen samples and to evaluate the diagnostic performances of these signatures in tumor samples that are formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE). An untargeted metabolomic study was performed using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry on a cohort of 213 DG samples. Logistic regression with LASSO penalization was used on the frozen samples to build classification models in order to identify IDH-mutant vs. IDH-wildtype DG and high-grade vs low-grade DG samples. 2-Hydroxyglutarate (2HG) was a metabolite of interest to predict IDH mutational status and aminoadipic acid (AAA) and guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) were significantly associated with grade. The diagnostic performances of the models were 82.6% AUC, 70.6% sensitivity and 80.4% specificity for 2HG to predict IDH status and 84.7% AUC, 78.1% sensitivity and 73.4% specificity for AAA and GAA to predict grade from FFPE samples. Thus, this study showed that AAA and GAA are two novel metabolites of interest in DG and that metabolomic data can be useful in the classification of DG, both in frozen and FFPE samples.

Kynurenine pathway dynamics in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders across the disease trajectory

The aim of this study was to evaluate how schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) and applied long-term (5.1 years) antipsychotic (AP) treatment affect the serum levels of tryptophan (Trp) metabolites. A total of 112 adults (54 first-episode psychosis [FEP] patients and 58 control subjects [CSs]) participated in the study. The investigated changes in the metabolite levels appeared against a background of persistent increase in BMI and waist circumference among the patients. Regarding the kynurenine (KYN) pathway, the strongest changes were seen in AP-naïve FEP patients. Trp, KYN, kynurenic acid (KYNA), and anthranilic acid (ANT) levels were significantly reduced in blood samples from patients in the early stage of the disease. Furthermore, 3-OH-kynurenine (3-HK) and quinolinic acid (QUIN) levels were somewhat lower in these patients. Most of these changes in the KYN pathway became weaker with AP treatment. The levels of serotonin and its metabolite 5-HIAA tended to be higher at 5.1 years in patients showing the relation of elevated serotonin turnover to increased BMI and waist circumference. The similar trend was evident for the ratio between xanthurenic acid (XA) and KYNA with strong link to the elevated BMI. Altogether, the present study supports the role of Trp-metabolites in the development of obesity and metabolic syndrome in SSD patients.

Update current understanding of neurometabolic disorders related to lysine metabolism

Lysine, as an essential amino acid, predominantly undergoes metabolic processes through the saccharopine pathway, whereas a smaller fraction follows the pipecolic acid pathway. Although the liver is considered the primary organ for lysine metabolism, it is worth noting that lysine catabolism also takes place in other tissues and organs throughout the body, including the brain. Enzyme deficiency caused by pathogenic variants in its metabolic pathway may lead to a series of neurometabolic diseases, among which glutaric aciduria type 1 and pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy have the most significant clinical manifestations. At present, through research, we have a deeper understanding of the multiple pathophysiological mechanisms related to these diseases, including intracerebral accumulation of neurotoxic metabolites, imbalance between GABAergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission, energy deprivation due to metabolites, and the dysfunction of antiquitin. Because of the complexity of these diseases, their clinical manifestations are also diverse. The early implementation of lysine-restricted diets and supplementation with arginine and carnitine has reported positive impacts on the neurodevelopmental outcomes of patients. Presently, there is more robust evidence supporting the effectiveness of these treatments in glutaric aciduria type 1 compared with pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy.

A metabolomics approach to reveal the mechanism of developmental toxicity in zebrafish embryos exposed to 6-propyl-2-thiouracil

A crucial component of a substance registration and regulation is the evaluation of human prenatal developmental toxicity. Current toxicological tests are based on mammalian models, but these are costly, time consuming and may pose ethical concerns. The zebrafish embryo has evolved as a promising alternative model to study developmental toxicity. However, the implementation of the zebrafish embryotoxicity test is challenged by lacking information on the relevance of observed morphological alterations in fish for human developmental toxicity. Elucidating the mechanism of toxicity could help to overcome this limitation. Through LC-MS/MS and GC-MS metabolomics, we investigated whether changes to the endogenous metabolites can indicate pathways associated with developmental toxicity. To this aim, zebrafish embryos were exposed to different concentrations of 6-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU), a compound known to induce developmental toxicity. The reproducibility and the concentration-dependence of the metabolome response and its association with morphological alterations were studied. Major morphological findings were reduced eye size, and other craniofacial anomalies; major metabolic changes included increased tyrosine, pipecolic acid and lysophosphatidylcholine levels, decreased methionine levels, and disturbance of the 'Phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis' pathway. This pathway, and the changes in tyrosine and pipecolic acid levels could be linked to the mode of action of PTU, i.e., inhibition of thyroid peroxidase (TPO). The other findings suggested neurodevelopmental impairments. This proof-of-concept study demonstrated that metabolite changes in zebrafish embryos are robust and provide mechanistic information associated with the mode of action of PTU.

Seasonal dietary shifts alter the gut microbiota of a frugivorous lizard Teratoscincus roborowskii (Squamata, Sphaerodactylidae)

Seasonal dietary shifts in animals are important strategies for ecological adaptation. An increasing number of studies have shown that seasonal dietary shifts can influence or even determine the composition of gut microbiota. The Turpan wonder gecko, Teratoscincus roborowskii, lives in extreme desert environments and has a flexible dietary shift to fruit-eating in warm seasons. However, the effect of such shifts on the gut microbiota is poorly understood. In this study, 16S rRNA sequencing and LC-MS metabolomics were used to examine changes in the gut microbiota composition and metabolic patterns of T. roborowskii. The results demonstrated that the gut microbes of T. roborowskii underwent significant seasonal changes, and the abundance of phylum level in autumn was significantly higher than spring, but meanwhile, the diversity was lower. At the family level, the abundance and diversity of the gut microbiota were both higher in autumn. Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria were the dominant gut microbes of T. roborowskii. Verrucomicrobia and Proteobacteria exhibited dynamic ebb and flow patterns between spring and autumn. Metabolomic profiling also revealed differences mainly related to the formation of secondary bile acids. The pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis, and lysine degradation pathways identified by KEGG enrichment symbolize the exuberant metabolic capacity of T. roborowskii. Furthermore, strong correlations were detected between metabolite types and bacteria, and this correlation may be an important adaptation of T. roborowskii to cope with dietary shifts and improve energy acquisition. Our study provides a theoretical basis for exploring the adaptive evolution of the special frugivorous behavior of T. roborowskii, which is an important progress in the study of gut microbes in desert lizards.

Comparative brain metabolomics reveals shared and distinct metabolic alterations in Alzheimer's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy

Metabolic dysregulation is a hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). While metabolic dysregulation is a common link between these two tauopathies, a comprehensive brain metabolic comparison of the diseases has not yet been performed. We analyzed 342 postmortem brain samples from the Mayo Clinic Brain Bank and examined 658 metabolites in the cerebellar cortex and the temporal cortex between the two tauopathies. Our findings indicate that both diseases display oxidative stress associated with lipid metabolism, mitochondrial dysfunction linked to lysine metabolism, and an indication of tau-induced polyamine stress response. However, specific to AD, we detected glutathione-related neuroinflammation, deregulations of enzymes tied to purines, and cognitive deficits associated with vitamin B. Taken together, our findings underscore vast alterations in the brain's metabolome, illuminating shared neurodegenerative pathways and disease-specific traits in AD and PSP.

Earth Worming-An Evaluation of Earthworm (Eisenia andrei) as an Alternative Food Source

Aside from their bioremediation roles, little is known about the food and feed value of earthworms. In this study, a comprehensive evaluation of the nutritional composition (proximate analysis and profiles of fatty acids and minerals) and techno-functional properties (foaming and emulsion stability and capacity) of earthworm (Eisenia andrei, sourced in New Zealand) powder (EAP) were investigated. Lipid nutritional indices, ω6/ω3, atherogenicity index, thrombogenicity index, hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic acid ratio, and health-promoting index of EAP lipids are also reported. The protein, fat, and carbohydrate contents of EAP were found to be 53.75%, 19.30%, and 23.26% DW, respectively. The mineral profile obtained for the EAP consisted of 11 essential minerals, 23 non-essential minerals, and 4 heavy metals. The most abundant essential minerals were potassium (8220 mg·kg-1 DW), phosphorus (8220 mg·kg-1 DW), magnesium (744.7 mg·kg-1 DW), calcium (2396.7 mg·kg-1 DW), iron (244.7 mg·kg-1 DW), and manganese (25.6 mg·kg-1 DW). Toxic metals such as vanadium (0.2 mg·kg-1 DW), lead (0.2 mg·kg-1 DW), cadmium (2.2 mg·kg-1 DW), and arsenic (2.3 mg·kg-1 DW) were found in EAP, which pose safety considerations. Lauric acid (20.3% FA), myristoleic acid (11.20% FA), and linoleic acid (7.96% FA) were the most abundant saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids, respectively. The lipid nutritional indices, such as IT and ω-6/ω-3, of E. andrei were within limits considered to enhance human health. A protein extract derived from EAP (EAPPE), obtained by alkaline solubilisation and pH precipitation, exhibited an isoelectric pH of ~5. The total essential amino acid content and essential amino acid index of EAPPE were 373.3 mg·g-1 and 1.36 mg·g-1 protein, respectively. Techno-functional analysis of EAPPE indicated a high foaming capacity (83.3%) and emulsion stability (88.8% after 60 min). Heat coagulation of EAPPE was greater at pH 7.0 (12.6%) compared with pH 5.0 (4.83%), corroborating the pH-solubility profile and relatively high surface hydrophobicity (1061.0). These findings demonstrate the potential of EAP and EAPPE as nutrient-rich and functional ingredients suitable as alternative food and feed material. The presence of heavy metals, however, should be carefully considered.

Shared Biological Pathways and Processes in Patients with Intellectual Disability: A Multicenter Study

BACKGROUND

 Although the underlying genetic causes of intellectual disability (ID) continue to be rapidly identified, the biological pathways and processes that could be targets for a potential molecular therapy are not yet known. This study aimed to identify ID-related shared pathways and processes utilizing enrichment analyses.

METHOD

 In this multicenter study, causative genes of patients with ID were used as input for Disease Ontology (DO), Gene Ontology (GO), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis.

RESULTS

 Genetic test results of 720 patients from 27 centers were obtained. Patients with chromosomal deletion/duplication, non-ID genes, novel genes, and results with changes in more than one gene were excluded. A total of 558 patients with 341 different causative genes were included in the study. Pathway-based enrichment analysis of the ID-related genes via ClusterProfiler revealed 18 shared pathways, with lysine degradation and nicotine addiction being the most common. The most common of the 25 overrepresented DO terms was ID. The most frequently overrepresented GO biological process, cellular component, and molecular function terms were regulation of membrane potential, ion channel complex, and voltage-gated ion channel activity/voltage-gated channel activity, respectively.

CONCLUSION

 Lysine degradation, nicotine addiction, and thyroid hormone signaling pathways are well-suited to be research areas for the discovery of new targeted therapies in ID patients.

Metabolic and Transcriptomic Changes in the Mouse Brain in Response to Short-Term High-Fat Metabolic Stress

The chronic consumption of diets rich in saturated fats leads to obesity and associated metabolic disorders including diabetes and atherosclerosis. Intake of a high-fat diet (HFD) is also recognized to dysregulate neural functions such as cognition, mood, and behavior. However, the effects of short-term high-fat diets on the brain are elusive. Here, we investigated molecular changes in the mouse brain following an acute HFD for 10 days by employing RNA sequencing and metabolomics profiling. Aberrant expressions of 92 genes were detected in the brain tissues of acute HFD-exposed mice. The differentially expressed genes were enriched for various pathways and processes such as superoxide metabolism. In our global metabolomic profiling, a total of 59 metabolites were significantly altered by the acute HFD. Metabolic pathways upregulated from HFD-exposed brain tissues relative to control samples included oxidative stress, oxidized polyunsaturated fatty acids, amino acid metabolism (e.g., branched-chain amino acid catabolism, and lysine metabolism), and the gut microbiome. Acute HFD also elevated levels of N-acetylated amino acids, urea cycle metabolites, and uracil metabolites, further suggesting complex changes in nitrogen metabolism. The observed molecular events in the present study provide a valuable resource that can help us better understand how acute HFD stress impacts brain homeostasis.

The spectrum of pyridoxine dependent epilepsy across the age span: A nationwide retrospective observational study

BACKGROUND

Pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy (PDE) is a rare seizure disorder usually presenting with neonatal seizures. Most cases are caused by biallelic pathogenic ALDH7A1variants. While anti-seizure medications are ineffective, pyridoxine provides seizure control, and dietary interventions may be of benefit. As the natural history beyond adolescence is insufficiently explored, our study aimed to assess the spectrum of PDE at various ages in Norway.

METHODS

Patients were ascertained by contacting all Norwegian paediatric, neurological, and neurohabilitation departments and relevant professional societies. Medical records were collected and reviewed.

RESULTS

We identified 15 patients treated for PDE; 13 had ALDH7A1 variants (PDE-ALDH7A1), one had PNPO deficiency, and in one, aetiology remained obscure. Of those with PDE-ALDH7A1, 12 were alive at time of study; five were > 18 years old and six were < 4 years. Median age was 10 years (range 2 months-53 years). Estimated minimum prevalence was 6.3/million among children and 1.2/million among adults. Ten had seizure onset on the first day of life. Perinatal complications and neuroradiological abnormalities suggested additional seizure aetiologies in several patients. Pyridoxine had immediate effect in six, while six had delayed (>1 h) or uncertain effect. Median delay from first seizure to continuous treatment was 11 days (range 0-42). Nine experienced breakthrough seizures with intercurrent disease or due to pyridoxine discontinuation. Cognitive outcomes ranged from normal to severe intellectual disability. The condition appeared to remain stable in adult life.

SIGNIFICANCE

We found a much higher prevalence of PDE-ALDH7A1 in children relative to adults, suggesting previous underdiagnosis and early mortality. Perinatal complications are common and can delay diagnosis and initiation of pyridoxine treatment. Lifelong and continuous treatment with pyridoxine is imperative. Due to better diagnostics and survival, the number of adult patients is expected to rise.

Plasma Metabolomics Reveals Systemic Metabolic Alterations of Subclinical and Clinical Hypothyroidism

CONTEXT

Clinical hypothyroidism (CH) and subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) have been linked to various metabolic comorbidities but the underlying metabolic alterations remain unclear. Metabolomics may provide metabolic insights into the pathophysiology of hypothyroidism.

OBJECTIVE

We explored metabolic alterations in SCH and CH and identify potential metabolite biomarkers for the discrimination of SCH and CH from euthyroid individuals.

METHODS

Plasma samples from a cohort of 126 human subjects, including 45 patients with CH, 41 patients with SCH, and 40 euthyroid controls, were analyzed by high-resolution mass spectrometry-based metabolomics. Data were processed by multivariate principal components analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis. Correlation analysis was performed by a Multivariate Linear Regression analysis. Unbiased Variable selection in R algorithm and 3 machine learning models were utilized to develop prediction models based on potential metabolite biomarkers.

RESULTS

The plasma metabolomic patterns in SCH and CH groups were significantly different from those of control groups, while metabolite alterations between SCH and CH groups were dramatically similar. Pathway enrichment analysis found that SCH and CH had a significant impact on primary bile acid biosynthesis, steroid hormone biosynthesis, lysine degradation, tryptophan metabolism, and purine metabolism. Significant associations for 65 metabolites were found with levels of thyrotropin, free thyroxine, thyroid peroxidase antibody, or thyroglobulin antibody. We successfully selected and validated 17 metabolic biomarkers to differentiate 3 groups.

CONCLUSION

SCH and CH have significantly altered metabolic patterns associated with hypothyroidism, and metabolomics coupled with machine learning algorithms can be used to develop diagnostic models based on selected metabolites.

Effect of Pd2Spermine on Mice Brain-Liver Axis Metabolism Assessed by NMR Metabolomics

Cisplatin (cDDP)-based chemotherapy is often limited by severe deleterious effects (nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity and neurotoxicity). The polynuclear palladium(II) compound Pd2Spermine (Pd2Spm) has emerged as a potential alternative drug, with favorable pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic properties. This paper reports on a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance metabolomics study to (i) characterize the response of mice brain and liver to Pd2Spm, compared to cDDP, and (ii) correlate brain-liver metabolic variations. Multivariate and correlation analysis of the spectra of polar and lipophilic brain and liver extracts from an MDA-MB-231 cell-derived mouse model revealed a stronger impact of Pd2Spm on brain metabolome, compared to cDDP. This was expressed by changes in amino acids, inosine, cholate, pantothenate, fatty acids, phospholipids, among other compounds. Liver was less affected than brain, with cDDP inducing more metabolite changes. Results suggest that neither drug induces neuronal damage or inflammation, and that Pd2Spm seems to lead to enhanced brain anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms, regulation of brain bioactive metabolite pools and adaptability of cell membrane characteristics. The cDDP appears to induce higher extension of liver damage and an enhanced need for liver regeneration processes. This work demonstrates the usefulness of untargeted metabolomics in evaluating drug impact on multiple organs, while confirming Pd2Spm as a promising replacement of cDDP.

Contribution of dicarboxylic acids to pyrene biodegradation and transcriptomic responses of Enterobacter sp. PRd5

The colonization of degrading endophytic bacteria is an effective means to reduce the residues of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in crops. Dicarboxylic acids, as the main active components in crops, can affect the physiological activities of endophytic bacteria and alter the biodegradation process of PAHs in crops. In this study, malonic acid and succinic acid were selected as the representatives to investigate the contribution of dicarboxylic acids to pyrene biodegradation by endophytic Enterobacter sp. PRd5 in vitro. The results showed that dicarboxylic acids improved the biodegradation of pyrene and altered the expression of the functional gene of strain PRd5. Malonic acid and succinic acid reduced the half-life of pyrene by 20.0% and 27.8%, respectively. The degrading enzyme activities were significantly stimulated by dicarboxylic acids. There were 386 genes up-regulated and 430 genes down-regulated in strain PRd5 with malonic acid, while 293 genes up-regulated and 340 genes down-regulated with succinic acid. Those up-regulated genes were distributed in the functional classification of signal transduction, membrane transport, energy metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and amino acid metabolism. Malonic acid mainly enhanced the central carbon metabolism, cell proliferation, and cell activity. Succinic acid mainly improved the expression of degrading gene. Overall, the findings of this study provide new insights into the regulation and control of PAH stress by crops. KEY POINTS: • Dicarboxylic acids improved the biodegradation of pyrene by Enterobacter sp. PRd5. • The degrading enzyme activities were stimulated by dicarboxylic acids. • There are different facilitation mechanisms between malonic acid and succinic acid.

Characterization and structure of the human lysine-2-oxoglutarate reductase domain, a novel therapeutic target for treatment of glutaric aciduria type 1

In humans, a single enzyme 2-aminoadipic semialdehyde synthase (AASS) catalyses the initial two critical reactions in the lysine degradation pathway. This enzyme evolved to be a bifunctional enzyme with both lysine-2-oxoglutarate reductase (LOR) and saccharopine dehydrogenase domains (SDH). Moreover, AASS is a unique drug target for inborn errors of metabolism such as glutaric aciduria type 1 that arise from deficiencies downstream in the lysine degradation pathway. While work has been done to elucidate the SDH domain structurally and to develop inhibitors, neither has been done for the LOR domain. Here, we purify and characterize LOR and show that it is activated by alkylation of cysteine 414 by N-ethylmaleimide. We also provide evidence that AASS is rate-limiting upon high lysine exposure of mice. Finally, we present the crystal structure of the human LOR domain. Our combined work should enable future efforts to identify inhibitors of this novel drug target.

Human cytosolic transaminases: side activities and patterns of discrimination towards physiologically available alternative substrates

Transaminases play key roles in central metabolism, transferring the amino group from a donor substrate to an acceptor. These enzymes can often act, with low efficiency, on compounds different from the preferred substrates. To understand what might have shaped the substrate specificity of this class of enzymes, we examined the reactivity of six human cytosolic transaminases towards amino acids whose main degradative pathways do not include any transamination. We also tested whether sugars and sugar phosphates could serve as alternative amino group acceptors for these cytosolic enzymes. Each of the six aminotransferases reacted appreciably with at least three of the alternative amino acid substrates in vitro, albeit at usually feeble rates. Reactions with L-Thr, L-Arg, L-Lys and L-Asn were consistently very slow-a bias explained in part by the structural differences between these amino acids and the preferred substrates of the transaminases. On the other hand, L-His and L-Trp reacted more efficiently, particularly with GTK (glutamine transaminase K; also known as KYAT1). This points towards a role of GTK in the salvage of L-Trp (in cooperation with ω-amidase and possibly with the cytosolic malate dehydrogenase, MDH1, which efficiently reduced the product of L-Trp transamination). Finally, the transaminases were extremely ineffective at utilizing sugars and sugar derivatives, with the exception of the glycolytic intermediate dihydroxyacetone phosphate, which was slowly but appreciably transaminated by some of the enzymes to yield serinol phosphate. Evidence for the formation of this compound in a human cell line was also obtained. We discuss the biological and evolutionary implications of our results.

Pilot Study on Acute Effects of Pharmacological Intraperitoneal L-Homoarginine on Homeostasis of Lysine and Other Amino Acids in a Rat Model of Isoprenaline-Induced Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy

L-Arginine:glycine amidinotransferase (AGAT) catalyzes the formation of L-homoarginine (hArg) and L-ornithine (Orn) from L-arginine (Arg) and L-lysine (Lys): Arg + Lys ↔ hArg + Orn; equilibrium constant K_hArg. AGAT also catalyzes the formation of guanidinoacetate (GAA) and Orn from Arg and glycine (Gly): Arg + Gly ↔ GAA + Orn; equilibrium constant K_GAA. In humans, pharmacological hArg is metabolized to Lys. Low circulating and low excretory concentrations of hArg are associated with worse outcomes and mortality in the renal and cardiovascular systems. The metabolism and pharmacology of hArg have been little investigated. In the present study, we investigated the effects of pharmacological hArg (i.p., 0, 20, 220, 440 mg/kg at time point 0 min) on amino acids homeostasis in a rat model of isoprenaline-induced takotsubo cardiomyopathy (i.p., 50 mg/kg at time point 15 min). We measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry free and proteinic amino acids, as well as the polyamines putrescine and spermidine in the heart, lung, kidney, and liver of ten rats sacrificed at various time points (range, 0 to 126 min). hArg administration resulted in multiple changes in the tissue contents of several free and proteinic amino acids, as well as in the putrescine-spermidine molar ratio, an indicator of polyamines catabolism. Our results suggest that Lys and Arg are major metabolites of pharmacological hArg. Kidneys and heart seem to play a major metabolic role for hArg. Circulating Lys does not change over time, yet there is a considerable interchange of free Lys between organs, notably kidney and heart, during the presence of isoprenaline in the rats (time range, 15 to 90 min). Antidromic changes were observed for K_hArg and K_GAA, notably in the heart in this time window. Our study shows for the first time that free hArg and sarcosine (N-methylglycine) are positively associated with each other. The acute effects of high-dosed hArg administration and isoprenaline on various amino acids and on AGAT-catalyzed reaction in the heart, lung, kidney, and liver are detailed and discussed.

An integrated systems-level model of the toxicity of brevetoxin based on high-resolution magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (HRMAS NMR) metabolic profiling of zebrafish embryos

Brevetoxins (PbTx) are a well-recognized group of neurotoxins associated with harmful algal blooms, and specifically recurrent "Florida Red Tides," in marine waters that are linked to impacts on both human and ecosystem health including well-documented "fish kills" and marine mammal mortalities in affected coastal waters. Understanding mechanisms and pathways of PbTx toxicity enables identification of relevant biomarkers to better understand these environmental impacts, and improve monitoring efforts, in relation to this toxin. Toward a systems-level understanding of toxicity, and identification of potential biomarkers, high-resolution magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (HRMAS NMR) was utilized for metabolic profiling of zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos, as an established toxicological model, exposed to PbTx-2 (the most common congener in marine waters). Metabolomics studies were, furthermore, complemented by an assessment of the toxicity of PbTx-2 in embryonic stages of zebrafish and mahi-mahi (Coryphaena hippurus), the latter representing an ecologically and geographically relevant marine species of fish, which identified acute embryotoxicity at environmentally relevant (i.e., parts-per-billion) concentrations in both species. HRMAS NMR analysis of intact zebrafish embryos exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of PbTx-2 afforded well-resolved spectra, and in turn, identification of 38 metabolites of which 28 were found to be significantly altered, relative to controls. Metabolites altered by PbTx-2 exposure specifically included those associated with (1) neuronal excitotoxicity, as well as associated neural homeostasis, and (2) interrelated pathways of carbohydrate and energy metabolism. Metabolomics studies, thereby, enabled a systems-level model of PbTx toxicity which integrated multiple metabolic, molecular and cellular pathways, in relation to environmentally relevant concentrations of the toxin, providing insight to not only targets and mechanisms, but potential biomarkers pertinent to environmental risk assessment and monitoring strategies.

Evolution of natural lifespan variation and molecular strategies of extended lifespan in yeast

To understand the genetic basis and selective forces acting on longevity, it is useful to examine lifespan variation among closely related species, or ecologically diverse isolates of the same species, within a controlled environment. In particular, this approach may lead to understanding mechanisms underlying natural variation in lifespan. Here, we analyzed 76 ecologically diverse wild yeast isolates and discovered a wide diversity of replicative lifespan (RLS). Phylogenetic analyses pointed to genes and environmental factors that strongly interact to modulate the observed aging patterns. We then identified genetic networks causally associated with natural variation in RLS across wild yeast isolates, as well as genes, metabolites, and pathways, many of which have never been associated with yeast lifespan in laboratory settings. In addition, a combined analysis of lifespan-associated metabolic and transcriptomic changes revealed unique adaptations to interconnected amino acid biosynthesis, glutamate metabolism, and mitochondrial function in long-lived strains. Overall, our multiomic and lifespan analyses across diverse isolates of the same species shows how gene-environment interactions shape cellular processes involved in phenotypic variation such as lifespan.

Retardant effect of different charge-carrying amino acids on the long-term retrogradation of normal corn starch gel

The effects of different charge-carrying amino acids (lysine, aspartic acid, and tyrosine) on the long-term retrogradation properties of normal corn starch (NCS) gel were studied by differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffractometry, low-field nuclear magnetic resonance, and dynamic rheological tests. The results suggested that these amino acids could inhibit the long-term retrogradation of NCS gels, among which the positively charge-carrying amino acid (lysine) showed the most significant inhibitory effect and the zero net charged amino acid (tyrosine) exhibited the worst inhibitory effect. These amino acids significantly decreased the retrogradation enthalpy, hardness, and R_1047/1022 value of NCS gels, as well as inhibited the recrystallization of NCS. The results of retrogradation kinetics suggested that the recrystallization of NCS with amino acids followed the instantaneous nucleation and the crystallization rate constant k of recrystallization was reduced by these amino acids. The amino acids could interact with starch molecules to form hydrogen bonds and steric hindrance during the recrystallization process, which prevented the formation of double helix structures, as well as reduced the water diffusion and exudation from NCS. Therefore, the lysine could be used as a good retrogradation inhibitor for starch in food industry.

A novel mouse model for pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy due to antiquitin deficiency

Pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy (PDE) is a rare autosomal recessive disease caused by mutations in the ALDH7A1 gene leading to blockade of the lysine catabolism pathway. PDE is characterized by recurrent seizures that are resistant to conventional anticonvulsant treatment but are well-controlled by pyridoxine (PN). Most PDE patients also suffer from neurodevelopmental deficits despite adequate seizure control with PN. To investigate potential pathophysiological mechanisms associated with ALDH7A1 deficiency, we generated a transgenic mouse strain with constitutive genetic ablation of Aldh7a1. We undertook extensive biochemical characterization of Aldh7a1-KO mice consuming a low lysine/high PN diet. Results showed that KO mice accumulated high concentrations of upstream lysine metabolites including ∆1-piperideine-6-carboxylic acid (P6C), α-aminoadipic semialdehyde (α-AASA) and pipecolic acid both in brain and liver tissues, similar to the biochemical picture in ALDH7A1-deficient patients. We also observed preliminary evidence of a widely deranged amino acid profile and increased levels of methionine sulfoxide, an oxidative stress biomarker, in the brains of KO mice, suggesting that increased oxidative stress may be a novel pathobiochemical mechanism in ALDH7A1 deficiency. KO mice lacked epileptic seizures when fed a low lysine/high PN diet. Switching mice to a high lysine/low PN diet led to vigorous seizures and a quick death in KO mice. Treatment with PN controlled seizures and improved survival of high-lysine/low PN fed KO mice. This study expands the spectrum of biochemical abnormalities that may be associated with ALDH7A1 deficiency and provides a proof-of-concept for the utility of the model to study PDE pathophysiology and to test new therapeutics.

Glutamate Electropolymerization on Carbon Increases Analytical Sensitivity to Dopamine and Serotonin: An Auspicious In Vivo Phenomenon in Mice?

Carbon is the material of choice for electroanalysis of biological systems, being particularly applicable to neurotransmitter analysis as carbon fiber microelectrodes (CFMs). CFMs are most often applied to dopamine detection; however, the scope of CFM analysis has rapidly expanded over the last decade with our laboratory's focus being on improving serotonin detection at CFMs, which we achieved in the past via Nafion modification. We began this present work by seeking to optimize this modification to gain increased analytical sensitivity toward serotonin under the assumption that exposure of bare carbon to the in vivo environment rapidly deteriorates analytical performance. However, we were unable to experimentally verify this assumption and found that electrodes that had been exposed to the in vivo environment were more sensitive to evoked and ambient dopamine. We hypothesized that high in vivo concentrations of ambient extracellular glutamate could polymerize with a negative charge onto CFMs and facilitate response to dopamine. We verified this polymerization electrochemically and characterized the mechanisms of deposition with micro- and nano-imaging. Importantly, we identified that the application of 1.3 V as a positive upper waveform limit is a crucial factor for facilitating glutamate polymerization, thus improving analytical performance. Critically, information gained from these dopamine studies were extended to an in vivo environment where a 2-fold increase in sensitivity to evoked serotonin was achieved. Thus, we present here the novel finding that innate aspects of the in vivo environment are auspicious for detection of dopamine and serotonin at carbon fibers, offering a solution to our goal of an improved fast-scan cyclic voltammetry serotonin detection paradigm.

The first knock-in rat model for glutaric aciduria type I allows further insights into pathophysiology in brain and periphery

Glutaric aciduria type I (GA-I, OMIM # 231670) is an inborn error of metabolism caused by a deficiency of glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase (GCDH). Patients develop acute encephalopathic crises (AEC) with striatal injury most often triggered by catabolic stress. The pathophysiology of GA-I, particularly in brain, is still not fully understood. We generated the first knock-in rat model for GA-I by introduction of the mutation p.R411W, the rat sequence homologue of the most common Caucasian mutation p.R402W, into the Gcdh gene of Sprague Dawley rats by CRISPR/CAS9 technology. Homozygous Gcdh^ki/ki rats revealed a high excretor phenotype, but did not present any signs of AEC under normal diet (ND). Exposure to a high lysine diet (HLD, 4.7%) after weaning resulted in clinical and biochemical signs of AEC. A significant increase of plasmatic ammonium concentrations was found in Gcdh^ki/ki rats under HLD, accompanied by a decrease of urea concentrations and a concomitant increase of arginine excretion. This might indicate an inhibition of the urea cycle. Gcdh^ki/ki rats exposed to HLD showed highly diminished food intake resulting in severely decreased weight gain and moderate reduction of body mass index (BMI). This constellation suggests a loss of appetite. Under HLD, pipecolic acid increased significantly in cerebral and extra-cerebral liquids and tissues of Gcdh^ki/ki rats, but not in WT rats. It seems that Gcdh^ki/ki rats under HLD activate the pipecolate pathway for lysine degradation. Gcdh^ki/ki rat brains revealed depletion of free carnitine, microglial activation, astroglyosis, astrocytic death by apoptosis, increased vacuole numbers, impaired OXPHOS activities and neuronal damage. Under HLD, Gcdh^ki/ki rats showed imbalance of intra- and extracellular creatine concentrations and indirect signs of an intracerebral ammonium accumulation. We successfully created the first rat model for GA-I. Characterization of this Gcdh^ki/ki strain confirmed that it is a suitable model not only for the study of pathophysiological processes, but also for the development of new therapeutic interventions. We further brought up interesting new insights into the pathophysiology of GA-I in brain and periphery.

Simultaneous quantification of GABA, Glx and GSH in the neonatal human brain using magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Balance between inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitter systems and the protective role of the major antioxidant glutathione (GSH) are central to early healthy brain development. Disruption has been implicated in the early life pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders and neurodevelopmental conditions including Autism Spectrum Disorder. Edited magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) methods such as HERMES have great potential for providing important new non-invasive insights into these crucial processes in human infancy. In this work, we describe a systematic approach to minimise the impact of specific technical challenges inherent to acquiring MRS data in a neonatal population, including automatic segmentation, full tissue-correction and optimised GABA+ fitting and consider the minimum requirements for a robust edited-MRS acquisition. With this approach we report for the first time simultaneous GABA+, Glx (glutamate + glutamine) and GSH concentrations in the neonatal brain (n = 18) in two distinct regions (thalamus and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC)) using edited MRS at 3T. The improved sensitivity provided by our method allows specific regional neurochemical differences to be identified including: significantly lower Glx and GSH ratios to total creatine in the thalamus compared to the ACC (p < 0.001 for both), and significantly higher GSH levels in the ACC following tissue-correction (p < 0.01). Furthermore, in contrast to adult GABA+ which can typically be accurately fitted with a single peak, all neonate spectra displayed a characteristic doublet GABA+ peak at 3 ppm, indicating a lower macromolecule (MM) contribution to the 3 ppm signal in neonates. Relatively high group-level variance shows the need to maximise voxel size/acquisition time in edited neonatal MRS acquisitions for robust estimation of metabolites. Application of this method to study how these levels and balance are altered by early-life brain injury or genetic risk can provide important new knowledge about the pathophysiology underlying neurodevelopmental disorders.

Alterations in serum amino acid profiles in children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the circulating serum amino acid levels in children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A total of 71 children with untreated ADHD and 31 neurotypical controls aged 7-14 years old were examined. Serum amino acid levels were evaluated using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV-detection. Laboratory quality control was performed with reference materials of human plasma amino acid levels. The obtained data demonstrated that children with ADHD were characterized by 29, 10 and 20% lower serum histidine (His), glutamine (Gln) and proline (Pro) levels compared with neurotypical children, respectively. In contrast, circulating aspartate (Asp), glutamate (Glu) and hydroxyproline (Hypro) levels exceeded the respective control values by 7, 7 and 42%. Correspondingly, the Gln-to-Glu and Pro-to-Hypro ratios were 28% and 49%, respectively, lower in ADHD cases compared with the controls. Total Gln/Glu levels were also significantly lower in ADHD patients. No significant group differences were observed between the groups in the other amino acids analyzed, including phenylalanine. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed significant associations between circulating serum Gln, lysine (Lys) (both negative) and Glu (positive) levels with total ADHD Rating Scale-IV scores. The observed alterations in Pro/Hypro and Gln/Glu levels and ratios are likely associated with the coexisting connective tissue pathology and alterations in glutamatergic neurotransmission in ADHD, respectively. Altered circulating levels of His, Lys and Asp may also be implicated in ADHD pathogenesis. However, further in vivo and in vitro studies are required in order to investigate the detailed mechanisms linking amino acid metabolism with ADHD pathogenesis.

Influence of soil salinity on the protein and fatty acid composition of the edible halophyte Halimione portulacoides

As the worldwide population continues to rise, so does global demand for agricultural production. This scenario of uncertain food supply is exacerbated by the high salinization of soils worldwide, a serious constraint to crop productivity. In this context, there is an increasing need for alternative sustainable crops. Halophytes are thought to be a promising alternative food source due to their natural ability to grow in saline soils and their multiple potential uses in the food industry. In this study, the protein and fatty acid content of the halophyte Halimione (Atriplex) portulacoides (L.) was studied in different saline conditions. Although more studies are needed to explore the nutritional properties of H. portulacoides, the data presented here suggest that this halophyte should be considered as a promising food crop for saline agriculture.

Metabolic Predictors of Equine Performance in Endurance Racing

Equine performance in endurance racing depends on the interplay between physiological and metabolic processes. However, there is currently no parameter for estimating the readiness of animals for competition. Our objectives were to provide an in-depth characterization of metabolic consequences of endurance racing and to establish a metabolic performance profile for those animals. We monitored metabolite composition, using a broad non-targeted metabolomics approach, in blood plasma samples from 47 Arabian horses participating in endurance races. The samples were collected before and after the competition and a total of 792 metabolites were measured. We found significant alterations between before and after the race in 417 molecules involved in lipids and amino acid metabolism. Further, even before the race starts, we found metabolic differences between animals who completed the race and those who did not. We identified a set of six metabolite predictors (imidazole propionate, pipecolate, ethylmalonate, 2R-3R-dihydroxybutyrate, β-hydroxy-isovalerate and X-25455) of animal performance in endurance competition; the resulting model had an area under a receiver operating characteristic (AUC) of 0.92 (95% CI: 0.85-0.98). This study provides an in-depth characterization of metabolic alterations driven by endurance races in equines. Furthermore, we showed the feasibility of identifying potential metabolic signatures as predictors of animal performance in endurance competition.

Lysine Deprivation Induces AKT-AADAT Signaling and Overcomes EGFR-TKIs Resistance in EGFR-Mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells

Simple Summary

In the Asian population, 50–60% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients carry the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation. Although treatment with EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) is effective, resistance inevitably occurs. Moreover, previous studies showed that cancers harboring a specific mutation are sensitive to deficiency related to a particular amino acid. The identity of this amino acid is, however, unclear in the case of EGFR-mutant NSCLC. Our studies aim to identify the critical amino acid affected in EGFR-mutant NSCLC and develop a strategy against EGFR-TKI resistance. We determined that lysine is essential for the survival of EGFR-mutant NSCLC and EGFR-TKI-resistant sublines. In addition, we found that the presence of lysine reduction can lower the dosage of EGFR-TKI required for treatment in the case of EGFR-mutant NSCLC. Lastly, our findings provide a guiding principle showing that amino acid stress can enhance not only the therapeutic potential but also the quality of life for EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients.

Abstract

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations are the most common driver genes in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), especially in the Asian population. Although EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are influential in the treatment of EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients, acquired resistance inevitably occurs. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop strategies to overcome this resistance. In addition, cancer cells with particular mutations appear more vulnerable to deficiency related to the availability of specific amino acids. However, it is still unknown which amino acid is affected in the case of EGFR-mutant NSCLC. In the present study, we established a screening platform based on amino acid deprivation and found that EGFR-mutant NSCLC cells are sensitive to short-term lysine deprivation. Moreover, we found that expression of the gene for the lysine catabolism enzyme α-aminoadipate aminotransferase (AADAT) increased under lysine deprivation, revealing that AADAT can be regulated by EGFR–AKT signaling. Finally, we found that lysine reduction can not only enhance the cytostatic effect of single-agent osimertinib but also overcome the resistance of EGFR-TKIs in EGFR-mutant NSCLC cells. In summary, our findings suggest that the introduction of lysine stress might act as an advancement in EGFR-mutant NSCLC therapy and offer a strategy to overcome EGFR-TKI resistance.

Fungal Enzyme l-Lysine α-Oxidase Affects the Amino Acid Metabolism in the Brain and Decreases the Polyamine Level

The fungal glycoprotein l-lysine α-oxidase (LO) catalyzes the oxidative deamination of l-lysine (l-lys). LO may be internalized in the intestine and shows antitumor, antibacterial, and antiviral effects in vivo. The main mechanisms of its effects have been shown to be depletion of the essential amino acid l-lys and action of reactive oxidative species produced by the reaction. Here, we report that LO penetrates into the brain and is retained there for up to 48 h after intravenous injection, which might be explained by specific pharmacokinetics. LO actively intervenes in amino acid metabolism in the brain. The most significant impact of LO was towards amino acids, which are directly exposed to its action (l-lys, l-orn, l-arg). In addition, the enzyme significantly affected the redistribution of amino acids directly associated with the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle (l-asp and l-glu). We discovered that the depletion of l-orn, the precursor of polyamines (PA), led to a significant and long-term decrease in the concentration of polyamines, which are responsible for regulation of many processes including cell proliferation. Thus, LO may be used to reduce levels of l-lys and PA in the brain.

Reshaping circadian metabolism in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and prefrontal cortex by nutritional challenge

Food is a powerful entrainment cue for circadian clocks in peripheral tissues, and changes in the composition of nutrients have been demonstrated to metabolically reprogram peripheral clocks. However, how food challenges may influence circadian metabolism of the master clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) or in other brain areas is poorly understood. Using high-throughput metabolomics, we studied the circadian metabolome profiles of the SCN and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in lean mice compared with mice challenged with a high-fat diet (HFD). Both the mPFC and the SCN displayed a robust cyclic metabolism, with a strikingly high sensitivity to HFD perturbation in an area-specific manner. The phase and amplitude of oscillations were drastically different between the SCN and mPFC, and the metabolic pathways impacted by HFD were remarkably region-dependent. Furthermore, HFD induced a significant increase in the number of cycling metabolites exclusively in the SCN, revealing an unsuspected susceptibility of the master clock to food stress.

Deletion of 2-aminoadipic semialdehyde synthase limits metabolite accumulation in cell and mouse models for glutaric aciduria type 1

Glutaric aciduria type 1 (GA1) is an inborn error of lysine degradation characterized by acute encephalopathy that is caused by toxic accumulation of lysine degradation intermediates. We investigated the efficacy of substrate reduction through inhibition of 2-aminoadipic semialdehyde synthase (AASS), an enzyme upstream of the defective glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase (GCDH), in a cell line and mouse model of GA1. We show that loss of AASS function in GCDH-deficient HEK-293 cells leads to an approximately fivefold reduction in the established GA1 clinical biomarker glutarylcarnitine. In the GA1 mouse model, deletion of Aass leads to a 4.3-, 3.8-, and 3.2-fold decrease in the glutaric acid levels in urine, brain, and liver, respectively. Parallel decreases were observed in urine and brain 3-hydroxyglutaric acid levels, and plasma, urine, and brain glutarylcarnitine levels. These in vivo data demonstrate that the saccharopine pathway is the main source of glutaric acid production in the brain and periphery of a mouse model for GA1, and support the notion that pharmacological inhibition of AASS may represent an attractive strategy to treat GA1.

A Single-Stranded DNA-Encoded Chemical Library Based on a Stereoisomeric Scaffold Enables Ligand Discovery by Modular Assembly of Building Blocks

A versatile and Lipinski-compliant DNA-encoded library (DEL), comprising 366 600 glutamic acid derivatives coupled to oligonucleotides serving as amplifiable identification barcodes is designed, constructed, and characterized. The GB-DEL library, constructed in single-stranded DNA format, allows de novo identification of specific binders against several pharmaceutically relevant proteins. Moreover, hybridization of the single-stranded DEL with a set of known protein ligands of low to medium affinity coupled to a complementary DNA strand results in self-assembled selectable chemical structures, leading to the identification of affinity-matured compounds.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis curli pili (MTP) is associated with significant host metabolic pathways in an A549 epithelial cell infection model and contributes to the pathogenicity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

INTRODUCTION

A clear understanding of the metabolome of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and its target host cell during infection is fundamental for the development of novel diagnostic tools, effective drugs and vaccines required to combat tuberculosis. The surface-located Mycobacterium tuberculosis curli pili (MTP) adhesin forms initial contact with the host cell and is therefore important for the establishment of infection.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this investigation was to determine the role of MTP in modulating pathogen and host metabolic pathways in A549 epithelial cells infected with MTP proficient and deficient strains of M. tuberculosis.

METHODS

Uninfected A549 epithelial cells, and those infected with M. tuberculosis V9124 wild-type strain, Δmtp and the mtp-complemented strains, were subjected to metabolite extraction, two-dimensional gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GCxGC-TOFMS) and bioinformatic analyses. Univariate and multivariate statistical tests were used to identify metabolites that were significantly differentially produced in the WT-infected and ∆mtp-infected A549 epithelial cell models, comparatively.

RESULTS

A total of 46 metabolites occurred in significantly lower relative concentrations in the Δmtp-infected cells, indicating a reduction in nucleic acid synthesis, amino acid metabolism, glutathione metabolism, oxidative stress, lipid metabolism and peptidoglycan, compared to those cells infected with the WT strain.

CONCLUSION

The absence of MTP was associated with significant changes to the host metabolome, suggesting that this adhesin is an important contributor to the pathogenicity of M. tuberculosis, and supports previous findings of its potential as a suitable drug, vaccine and diagnostic target.