Differential Metabolomics Profiles Identified by CE-TOFMS between High and Low Intramuscular Fat Amount in Fattening Pigs

Abstract

The amount of intramuscular fat (IMF) present in the loin eye area is one of the most important characteristics of high-quality pork. IMF measurements are currently impractical without a labor-intensive process. Metabolomic profiling could be used as an IMF indicator to avoid this process; however, no studies have investigated their use during the fattening period of pigs. This study examined the metabolite profiles in the plasma of two groups of pigs derived from the same Duroc genetic line and fed the same diet. Five plasma samples were collected from each individual the day before slaughter. Capillary electrophoresis-time of flight mass spectrometry (CE-TOFMS) was used to analyze the purified plasma from each sample. Principle component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares (PLS) were used to find the semi-quantitative values of the compounds. The results indicate that branched-chain amino acids are significantly associated with high IMF content, while amino acids are associated with low IMF content. These differences were validated using the quantification analyses by high-performance liquid chromatograph, which supported our results. These results suggest that the concentration of branched-chain amino acids in plasma could be an indicative biomarker for the IMF content in the loin eye area.

Metabolites Analysis on Water-Holding Capacity in Beef Longissimus lumborum Muscle during Postmortem Aging

“…A 50-g sample of meat (10 cm × 5 cm × 1 cm) cut perpendicularly to muscle fibers was taken immediately during postmortem aging, wrapped in an aluminum foil bag and labeled as day 0. Samples were cooked in preheated water until the core temperature reached 70 °C [ 38 ]. Sample internal temperature was monitored with a data logger and a thermocouple probe inserted horizontally at the middle of the steak.…”

Divergent selection for IMF in rabbits: A story told by plasma metabolites

“…The BCAA are essential amino acids that play numerous metabolic and regulatory roles, and have been associated with increased lipolysis, but also with increased lipogenesis 3 >. Its blood concentration has been positively associated with IMF content in pigs 34 and cattle 16 , and with obesity and insulin resistance in humans 35 . In this experiment no differences were found in valine, leucine and isoleucine, but greater abundances of the modi ed amino acids (N-acetyl leucine, N-lactoyl leucine, N-lactoyl isoleucine and N-lactoyl valine) were found in the plasma of the H line (0.54 to 0.75 SD, P 0 ≥ 0.96), together with several metabolites from their catabolism, including the BCAAassociated species butyrylcarnitine and propionylcarnitine mentioned earlier (0.35 to 1.97 SD, P 0 ≥ 0.88).…”

Current State of Metabolomics Research in Meat Quality Analysis and Authentication

“…An alternative way to address this challenge is identifying plasma biomarkers related to IMF content in meat. With the applications of metabolomics, numerous blood or plasma biomarkers correlated with IMF content in bovine and porcine meat have been identified, including branched-chain amino acids, 3-hydroxybutyrate, propionate, acetate, creatine, histidine, valine, and isoleucine [121,150]. These biomarkers could help understand IMF deposition better and predict the IMF trait in situ instead of post slaughter.…”