Metabolomic Profiling as a Possible Reverse Engineering Tool for Estimating Processing Conditions of Dry-Cured Hams

Widely Targeted Metabolomic Analysis Reveals Dynamic Metabolic Changes in Yanbian Cattle during Dry-Aging Process

Dry-aging is a postmortem process that can substantially enhance the texture and flavour of beef. This study entailed suspending Yanbian cattle M. gluteus medius in the aging cabinet, maintained at a temperature of 2-4 °C and a relative humidity of 85 ± 5% for 35 days. Throughout this period, samples were systematically collected every 7 days. The widely targeted metabolomic analysis has been used in this investigation to analyse the dynamic changes in Yanbian cattle metabolites during dry-aging. A total of 883 metabolites were identified, with amino acids and their metabolites representing the largest proportion. Multivariate statistical analysis showed that 373 metabolites were identified as differential metabolites that changed significantly during the dry-aging process, including metabolites of amino acids, glycerophospholipids, and nucleotides and their metabolites. Additionally, 308 metabolites exhibited various increasing trends with time in dry-aging. The analysis of KEGG pathway analysis showed that ABC transporters, glycerophospholipid, and arachidonic acid metabolism are the most important metabolic pathways during dry-aging. These findings can guide technological developments in the meat processing sector and provide valuable insights into the metabolic traits and pathways of Yanbian cattle during the dry-aging process.

Application of UV-Vis-NIR and FTIR spectroscopy coupled with chemometrics for quality prediction of katsuobushi based on the number of smoking treatments

Katsuobushi, a smoked, dried skipjack tuna, is a traditional Japanese food additive with a unique flavor and taste. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS), fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and ultraviolet-visible-near infrared spectroscopy (UV-Vis-NIR) combined with chemometric methods were evaluated the quality of katsuobushi according to the number of smoking treatments. Using GC-MS, 46 metabolites were identified and five metabolites were selected as key compounds. All samples were classified according to their smoking number via principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares-discriminate analysis (PLS-DA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) of the FTIR and NIR spectra. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) analysis revealed that the FTIR and NIR spectra were highly correlated with the metabolites by GC-MS. These results demonstrated the potential of using the FTIR and NIR spectroscopy combined with chemometrics to assess the quality of katsuobushi based on the smoking treatments, with NIR spectroscopy showed particularly promising.

Role of microbiota and its ecological succession on flavor formation in traditional dry-cured ham: a review

Traditional dry cured ham (DCH) is favored by consumers for its distinctive flavor, derived from an array of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Microbiota play a pivotal role in the formation of VOCs. To fully comprehend the pathway by which the microbiota enhance the flavor quality of DCH, it is imperative to elucidate the flavor profile of DCH, the structural and metabolic activities of the microbiota, and the intricate relationship between microbial and VOCs. Thus far, the impact of microbiota on the flavor profile of DCH has not been comprehensively discussed or reviewed, and the succession of bacteria, especially at distinct phases of processing, has not been adequately summarized. This article aims to encapsulate the considerable potential of ferments in shaping the flavor characteristics of DCH, while elucidating the underlying mechanisms through which VOCs are generated in hams via microbial metabolism. Throughout the various stages of DCH processing, the composition of microbiota undergoes dynamic changes. Furthermore, they directly participate in the formation of VOCs in DCH through the catabolism of amino acids, metabolism of fatty acids, and the breakdown of carbohydrates. Several microorganisms, including Lactobacillus, Penicillium, Debaryomyces, Pediococcus, and Staphylococcus, exhibit considerable potential as fermenters in ham production.

1H NMR Reveals the Mechanism of Potassium Lactate on Proteolysis and Taste Metabolites of Rugao Ham

To deepen the understanding of the effect of potassium lactate on the taste of Rugao ham, proteolysis index, enzyme activities and protein degradation of Rugao ham salted with potassium lactate (0%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%) were investigated. Metabolites of Rugao ham were identified by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and the metabolic pathways of the key metabolites were enriched by the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG); the relationship between taste and metabolites was assessed by partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). The hams with 2% potassium lactate showed lower cathepsin B and L activities, and higher aminopeptidase activities than that of the control group. The contents of free amino acids and organic acids significantly increased from the control to the treatment of 2% potassium lactate. PLS-DA further demonstrated that aspartate, glutamate, alanine, serine, threonine, acetate, lactate, succinate, carnosine, β-glucose and glycerol were the key metabolites to improve the taste of Rugao ham in the treatment of 2% potassium lactate. Metabolic pathways analysis further demonstrated that amino acids metabolism was the main pathway for the taste development of Rugao ham.

LC-MS/MS-based metabolomics and sensory evaluation characterize metabolites and texture of normal and spoiled dry-cured hams

The spoiled dry-cured ham commonly shows unpleasant taste and odour. To deepen the understanding in the formation mechanism of unpleasant taste in spoiled ham, sensory attributes, texture parameters, protein degradation, metabolites were investigated between normal and spoiled hams; the relationship between the sensory quality and metabolites of dry-cured ham was further evaluated by partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). The scores of richness and overall acceptance were significantly lower in spoiled ham, and more than 12.5-fold values in adhesiveness were found in spoiled ham than normal ham. Myofibrillar proteins including actin, troponin-T and myosin light chain showed excessive degradation in spoiled ham. Forty-two kinds of metabolites mainly derived from protein degradation were identified by LC-MS/MS, and amino acid derivatives and oligopeptides were the key components to distinguish spoiled and normal hams demonstrated by PLS-DA. Purine metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism and protein degradation were the main metabolism pathways in spoiled ham.

Combined application of high-throughput sequencing and UHPLC-Q/TOF-MS-based metabolomics in the evaluation of microorganisms and metabolites of dry-cured ham of different origins

Ham fermentation relies on environmental and indigenous microorganisms forming a rich microbiome, which is pivotal to taste and flavor formation. Previous studies have focused on the appearance of differences of microorganisms and metabolites, this study aims to establish the relationship between microorganisms and metabolites over a period of two years in the fermentation of hams from Jinghua (JH2), Xuanwei (XW2), Rugao (RG2), Iberian (IB2) and Parma (PA2). We profiled bacterial communities by sequencing the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA genes and metabolites were analyzed using LC-Q-TOF-MS. LefSe analysis showed that different biomarkers in five ham groups. OPLS analysis showed that most differential metabolites are amino acids and were associated with four metabolic pathways. Correlation analysis implies a firm positive relationship between microorganisms and metabolites. This study provides novel insights into the taste and flavor quality of dry-cured hams of different origins due to fermentation.

Current State of Metabolomics Research in Meat Quality Analysis and Authentication

In the past decades, as an emerging omic, metabolomics has been widely used in meat science research, showing promise in meat quality analysis and meat authentication. This review first provides a brief overview of the concept, analytical techniques, and analysis workflow of metabolomics. Additionally, the metabolomics research in quality analysis and authentication of meat is comprehensively described. Finally, the limitations, challenges, and future trends of metabolomics application in meat quality analysis and meat authentication are critically discussed. We hope to provide valuable insights for further research in meat quality.

Effects of ultrasound on the taste components from aqueous extract of unsmoked bacon

To investigate the effects of ultrasound on the taste profile of unsmoked bacon, metabolite identification, metabolite analysis and metabolic pathway analysis were performed by ¹H NMR, multivariate statistical analyses and MetaboAnalyst respectively. Results showed that ultrasound improved the concentration of free amino acids and organic acids thus promoting the taste development of unsmoked bacon. Sensory results demonstrated that ultrasound groups (especially 500 W) had higher sensory scores compared with non-ultrasonic group, which could be attributed to the improved levels of nine metabolites (alanine, arginine, glutamate, isoleucine, lysine, tyrosine, valine, creatine and lactate) after ultrasound treatment. Meanwhile, six metabolic pathways (tyrosine metabolism, etc.) were screened as crucial pathways tightly related to the taste development of unsmoked bacon after ultrasound treatment. In conclusion, ultrasound is found to be an effective technology to improve the taste profile of unsmoked bacon.

Metabolomics Analysis of the Beef Samples with Different Meat Qualities and Tastes

The purpose of this study was to investigate the meat metabolite profiles related to differences in beef quality attributes (i.e., high-marbled and low-marbled groups) using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The beef of different marbling scores showed significant differences in water content and fat content. High-marbled meat had mainly higher taste compounds than low-marbled meat. Metabolite analysis showed differences between two marbling groups based on partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). Metabolites identified by PLS-DA, such as N,N-dimethylglycine, creatine, lactate, carnosine, carnitine, sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, betaine, glycine, glucose, alanine, tryptophan, methionine, taurine, tyrosine, could be directly linked to marbling groups. Metabolites from variable importance in projection plots were identified and estimated high sensitivity as candidate markers for beef quality attributes. These potential markers were involved in beef taste-related pathways including carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism. Among these metabolites, carnosine, creatine, glucose, and lactate had significantly higher in high-marbled meat compared to low-marbled meat (p<0.05). Therefore, these results will provide an important understanding of the roles of taste-related metabolites in beef quality attributes. Our findings suggest that metabolomics analysis of taste compounds and meat quality may be a powerful method for the discovery of novel biomarkers underlying the quality of beef products.

MEATabolomics: Muscle and Meat Metabolomics in Domestic Animals

In the past decades, metabolomics has been used to comprehensively understand a variety of food materials for improvement and assessment of food quality. Farm animal skeletal muscles and meat are one of the major targets of metabolomics for the characterization of meat and the exploration of biomarkers in the production system. For identification of potential biomarkers to control meat quality, studies of animal muscles and meat with metabolomics (MEATabolomics) has been conducted in combination with analyses of meat quality traits, focusing on specific factors associated with animal genetic background and sensory scores, or conditions in feeding system and treatments of meat in the processes such as postmortem storage, processing, and hygiene control. Currently, most of MEATabolomics approaches combine separation techniques (gas or liquid chromatography, and capillary electrophoresis)-mass spectrometry (MS) or nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) approaches with the downstream multivariate analyses, depending on the polarity and/or hydrophobicity of the targeted metabolites. Studies employing these approaches provide useful information to monitor meat quality traits efficiently and to understand the genetic background and production system of animals behind the meat quality. MEATabolomics is expected to improve the knowledge and methodologies in animal breeding and feeding, meat storage and processing, and prediction of meat quality.

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry-Based Metabolomic Analysis of Wagyu and Holstein Beef

Japanese Black cattle (Wagyu) beef is characterized by high intramuscular fat content and has a characteristic sweet taste. However, the chemical components for characterizing the sweet taste of Wagyu beef have been unclear. In this experiment, we conducted a metabolomic analysis of the longissimus muscle (sirloin) in Wagyu and Holstein cattle to determine the key components associated with beef taste using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Holstein sirloin beef was characterized by the abundance of components such as glutamine, ribose-5-phosphate, uric acid, inosine monophosphate, 5-oxoproline, and glycine. In contrast, Wagyu sirloin beef was characterized by the abundance of sugar components (maltose and xylitol). Dietary fat is known to increase the intensity of sweet taste. These results suggest that the sweet taste of Wagyu beef is due to the synergetic effects of higher sugar components and intramuscular fat.

Combined Application of High-Throughput Sequencing and Metabolomics Reveals Metabolically Active Microorganisms During Panxian Ham Processing

Panxian ham, a traditional Chinese dry-cured ham, is protected by national geographical indication. Similar to other fermented foods, the microbial population of dry-cured ham is pivotal to taste and flavor formation. This study aimed to establish the relationship between microorganisms and metabolites during the spontaneous fermentation of Panxian ham. Multivariate analysis based on metabolomics data revealed that continuous metabolic changes occurred during the entire fermentation process, with the most significant changes occurring in the initial stage of ripening. Thirty-one significantly different metabolites (SDMs) were identified as discriminant factor, and pathway analysis suggested that these metabolites were involved in 30 pathways, including alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism; glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism; and arginine and proline metabolism. Microbial community analysis using the Illumina MiSeq platform indicated that the bacterial community was more complex than the fungal community, and their succession regulation differed during processing. At the genus level, 11 bacteria and five fungi were identified as core microbes, of which Staphylococcus was the dominant bacteria and Debaryomyces and Aspergillus were the dominant fungi. Further, statistical redundancy analysis (RDA) indicated that Staphylococcus, Debaryomyces, and Chromohalobacter promoted the production of amino and fatty acids; Cobetia and Aspergillus were associated with sugar metabolism, and Kushneria, Penicillium, and Yamadazyma were closely related with organic acids. These findings provide fundamental knowledge regarding the metabolically active microorganisms in Panxian ham, helping industrial processors to develop effective strategies for standardizing quality parameters.

Sensory properties and metabolomic profiles of dry-cured ham during the ripening process

Dry-cured ham with a long ripening period is a valuable product worldwide. Ripening time is a key determinant of the endogenous metabolites that characterize the flavor and taste of ham products. While various studies have analyzed the relationship between ripening duration and sensory characteristics, no studies have evaluated ham products produced in Japan. Here, we conducted time-course metabolomic profiling, taste sensor-based analyses, and sensory evaluations by non-trained consumers during ripening. Capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry was used to quantify non-volatile metabolites, such as amino acids, organic acids, and nucleotides. In an analysis of eight time-points during 680 days of ripening, the highest score for the after-taste of umami was observed on day 540, despite subtle changes in the scores for other properties. The concentrations of aspartic acid and glutamic acid relative to those of total amino acids were the highest at this point. This approach can contribute to the understanding of the relationship between the metabolite profile and ripening duration.

The Effect of Coating Incorporated with Black Pepper Essential Oil on the Taste Quality of Jinhua Ham After Storage for Four Months

In this study, ¹ H NMR and multivariate data analysis were used to investigate the effect of coating incorporated with black pepper essential oil (CIBPEO) on the taste of Jinhua ham after 4 months of storage; four treatments of control check (CK), base formula coating (BC), BC + 0.05% BPEO, and BC + 0.1% BPEO were used for the coating of hams. Results showed that the metabonome was dominated by 23 metabolites, including amino acids, sugar, organic acids, alkaloids, nucleic aides and their derivatives, and others. BPEO decreased the intensity of sourness, sweetness, bitterness, aftertaste, and the relative nonvolatile taste metabolites compared to CK and BC; the decrease of intensity was not dependent on the BPEO contents. These findings demonstrated that CIBPEO could give a new taste balance to Jinhua ham and be beneficial to a group of people with a particular sensory preference, who are sensitive to undesirable sourness and bitterness, and prefer a light overall taste. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The coating incorporated with black pepper essential oil during storage could give a new taste balance to Jinhua ham and be beneficial to a group of people with a particular sensory preference, who are sensitive to undesirable sourness and bitterness, and prefer a light overall taste.

Effect of Chilled Ageing Conditioning at 4°C in Lamb Longissimus Dorsi Muscles on Water-Soluble Flavour Precursors as Revealed by a Metabolomic Approach

The objective of this study was to investigate, by a metabolomic approach, the effects of chilled ageing conditioning at 4°C in lamb longissimus dorsi (LD) muscles on water-soluble flavour precursors. The results showed that the content of nucleotide degradation products significantly increased (P<0.05) due to the adjusted biosynthesis of alkaloids derived from histidine and purine from day 0 to day 4. Additionally, the content of glycolytic compounds significantly increased (P<0.05) due to enhanced glycolysis, and the content of organic acid increased (P<0.05) because of the altered tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) from day 0 to day 4. In addition, the content of total free amino acids significantly increased (P<0.05), owing to the altered biosynthesis of amino acids from day 4 to day 8. These results are significant proof that there were quantitative changes observed in lamb flavour precursors during chilled ageing.

Metabolomic profiling of matured coconut water during post-harvest storage revealed discrimination and distinct changes in metabolites

The metabolites of coconut water stored at room temperature were analyzed using UPLC-MS/MS and multivariate statistical analysis to identify the differential biomarkers and metabolic pathways during post-harvest storage. Principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares-discriminate analysis (PLS-DA), and orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were employed to analyze the UPLC-MS/MS data set of 34 matured coconut water samples collected after 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 months of storage (MOS); moreover, the p-value and fold change were chosen to identify the differential biomarkers; furthermore, a KEGG pathway was applied to analyze the metabolic pathways. All samples were discriminated well in the OPLS-DA model and were divided into two clusters: groups A (0 MOS, and so on), B, C, and D were in one cluster, and groups E and F were in another. A total of 18 biomarkers were identified among all groups and 12 biomarkers between groups A and E, from which we concluded that the post-harvest storage life of matured coconut water shall not exceed 3 months and the pathways of the TCA cycle, protein hydrolysis from coconut meat, and interconversion among amino acids were mainly enriched during the post-harvest storage.

1H NMR and multivariate data analysis of the differences of metabolites in five types of dry-cured hams

In order to distinguish the taste styles of dry-cured hams (Jinhua, Xuanwei, Country, Parma and Bama), we established a ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy method to identify metabolites. Totally, 33 charged metabolites, including amino acids, organic acids, nucleic acids and their derivatives, sugars, alkaloids and others were identified. The abundant glutamate, lysine, alanine, leucine and lactate could be the major contributors of taste. Total variables were explained by PC1 (67.7%) and PC2 (16.0%) which showed that Parma and Xuanwei styles were close to each other (similar amino acids, peptide, organic acids and alkaloids contents). Bama style showed the highest PC1 and amino acids, organic acids and alkaloids contents. Country style was located on the left-most area of PC1 (the lowest amino acids, organic acids and peptide, but the highest sugars contents). Sensory evaluation revealed that Bama ham had the highest overall taste score, followed by Jinhua, Parma, Xuanwei and American Country ham. We concluded that the proportions and combinations of taste components explained the specific taste instead of any single component. These findings provided a better understanding of different metabolomics among hams.