Solanum galapagense-derived purple tomato fruit color is conferred by novel alleles of the anthocyanin fruit and atroviolacium loci

One hypothesis for the origin of endemic species of tomato on the Galápagos islands postulates a hybridization of Solanum pimpinellifolium and Solanum habrochaites. Solanum galapagense accession LA1141 has purple fruit pigmentation, previously described in green-fruited wild tomatoes such as S. habrochaites or Solanum chilense. Characterization of LA1141 derived purple pigmentation provides a test of the hybridization hypothesis. Purple pigmentation was recovered in progenies derived from LA1141, and the anthocyanins malvidin 3(coumaroyl)rutinoside-5-glucoside, petunidin 3-(coumaroyl) rutinoside-5-glucoside, and petunidin 3-(caffeoyl)rutinoside-5-glucoside were abundant. Fruit color was evaluated in an introgression population, and three quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were mapped and validated in subsequent populations. The loci atroviolacium on chromosome 7, Anthocyanin fruit on chromosome 10, and uniform ripening also on chromosome 10 underly these QTLs. Sequence analysis suggested that the LA1141 alleles of Aft and atv are unique relative to those previously described from S. chilense accession LA0458 and Solanum cheesmaniae accession LA0434, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of the LA1141 Aft genomic sequence did not support a green-fruited origin, and the locus clustered with members of the red-fruited tomato clade. The LA1141 allele of Aft is not the result of an ancient introgression from the green-fruited clade and underlies a gain of anthocyanin pigmentation in the red-fruited clade.

Impact of 3 Eggs/day on the Plasma Lipidome of Young, Healthy Adults (OR19-04-19)

Objectives

Intake of eggs and other lipid-rich foods has been a controversial topic for many years. However, some studies support the notion that regular intake of eggs and other lipid-rich foods does not increase biomarkers of cardiovascular disease and may even promote reductions in disease risk. Despite this consensus, the effect of such lipid-rich foods on plasma concentrations of other lipid metabolites remains unexamined.

Methods

To assess the impact of egg intake on these lipid metabolites, plasma from a previous study of egg intake (n = 35, 19M/18F, age 24.1 ± 2.2 yrs, with no lipid disorders) was obtained for analysis. Original samples were collected following a 0 egg/day washout period and 4-week intake of 3 eggs/day. Targeted lipidomic analysis by direct infused tandem MS using differential mobility spectrometry (Lipidyzer, Sciex) was used to identify and quantitate plasma lipid species.

Results

Lipidomic analysis quantified 739 lipid species in 13 different lipid classes. After summing individual species, only 1 of the 13 lipid classes (phosphatidylethanolamines) was significantly different (elevated) with egg consumption (p = 0.048). When applying a multiple testing correction, 62 lipid species were higher in plasma after egg consumption, and 34 were lower (P < 0.05). There were 643 lipid molecular species unchanged with egg consumption. Multivariate models were not able to be developed to distinguish when subjects were on the 0 egg vs. 3 egg diets.

Conclusions

This study marks the first report of the total plasma lipidome in response to egg consumption. Approximately 13% of the lipid species detected were significantly changed with 3 egg/day intake though modeling approaches failed to differentiate between subjects on the two diets. These data are useful for contextualizing the global effects of egg consumption on plasma lipids in humans.

Funding Sources

Egg Nutrition Center, Foods for Health, a focus area of the Discovery Themes at The Ohio State University, National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute.