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Fatty Acids in Natural Ecosystems and Human Nutrition 2021

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A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomacromolecules: Lipids".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2021) | Viewed by 24820

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Prof. Dr. Michail I. Gladyshev

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1. Institute of Biophysics, Krasnoyarsk Scientific Center, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 660036 Krasnoyarsk, Russia
2. Institute of Biophysics SB RAS, Siberian Federal University, 660041 Krasnoyarsk, Russia
Interests: limnology; aquatic ecologyhy; hydrobiology; fatty acids
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Dear Colleagues,

In the last few decades, fatty acids (FAs), including polyunsaturated acids of omega-3 family (PUFA), appeared to be the focus of attention for biochemists, physiologists, and ecologists. On the one hand, fatty acids, especially long-chain PUFA, are of great physiological importance for animals, including humans, as (i) biochemical precursors of signaling molecules (oxylipins), (ii) structural components of cell membranes of neural tissues, and (iii) ‘‘pacemakers’’ for the metabolism of animal cells (i.e., activators of membrane-bound enzymes). For humans, the consumption of PUFAs, such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), is recommended by the World Health Organization in order to prevent cardiovascular diseases and neural disorders. On the other hand, FAs are used as the most reliable biomarkers for tracing fluxes of matter and energy in trophic webs of natural ecosystems, and thereby for evaluating their structure and functions. Among natural ecosystems, water bodies were found to play a peculiar role concerning long-chain PUFAs. Indeed, vascular plants—the main primary producers in terrestrial ecosystems—do not synthesize EPA and DHA. In contrast, some taxa of microalgae produce substantial amounts of EPA and DHA. Once synthesized by microalgae, PUFAs are transferred through trophic webs to organisms of higher trophic levels—invertebrates and fish. Thus, aquatic ecosystems are the main source of physiologically important EPA and DHA for many animals, including some omnivorous terrestrial animals and humans. The ability of aquatic ecosystems to produce long-chain PUFAs, including those for human nutrition, at present, is threatened by many anthropogenic factors, such as pollution, eutrophication, climate change, and biological invasions. Thus, the evaluation of fatty acids in natural ecosystems is of considerable importance for pure and applied sciences.

Prof. Dr. Michail I. Gladyshev
Guest Editor

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Editorial

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2 pages, 186 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Fatty Acids: Essential Nutrients and Important Biomarkers

by Michail I. Gladyshev

Biomolecules 2022, 12(9), 1250; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom12091250 - 7 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1351

Abstract

Fatty acids (FA) are well-known, important components of human nutrition [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fatty Acids in Natural Ecosystems and Human Nutrition 2021)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

17 pages, 1925 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fatty Acid Composition and Contents of Fish of Genus Salvelinus from Natural Ecosystems and Aquaculture

by Michail I. Gladyshev, Alexander A. Makhrov, Ilia V. Baydarov, Stanislava S. Safonova, Viktor M. Golod, Sergey S. Alekseyev, Larisa A. Glushchenko, Anastasia E. Rudchenko, Vladimir A. Karpov and Nadezhda N. Sushchik

Biomolecules 2022, 12(1), 144; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom12010144 - 16 Jan 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2403

Abstract

Fatty acids (FA) of muscle tissue of Salvelinus species and its forms, S. alpinus, S. boganidae, S. drjagini, and S. fontinalis, from six Russian lakes and two aquacultures, were analyzed. Considerable variations in FA compositions and contents were found, including contents of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids (EPA and DHA), which are important indicators of fish nutritive value for humans. As found, contents of EPA+DHA (mg·g⁻¹ wet weight) in muscle tissue of Salvelinus species and forms varied more than tenfold. These differences were supposed to be primarily determined by phylogenetic factors, rather than ecological factors, including food. Two species, S. boganidae and S. drjagini, had the highest EPA+DHA contents in their biomass and thereby could be recommended as promising species for aquaculture to obtain production with especially high nutritive value. Basing on revealed differences in FA composition of wild and farmed fish, levels of 15-17-BFA (branched fatty acids), 18:2NMI (non-methylene interrupted), 20:2NMI, 20:4n-3, and 22:4n-3 fatty acids were recommended for verifying trade label information of fish products on shelves, as the biomarkers to differentiate wild and farmed charr. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fatty Acids in Natural Ecosystems and Human Nutrition 2021)

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33 pages, 5350 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of Low-Level Helium–Neon (He–Ne) Laser Irradiation on Lipids and Fatty Acids, and the Activity of Energetic Metabolism Enzymes and Proteome in the Blastula Stage and Underyearlings of the Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar: A Novel Approach in Salmonid Restoration Procedures in the North

by Svetlana A. Murzina, Viktor P. Voronin, Maria V. Churova, Tatiana R. Ruokolainen, Natalia S. Shulgina, Dmitriy S. Provotorov, Olga V. Tikhonova and Nina N. Nemova

Biomolecules 2022, 12(1), 133; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom12010133 - 14 Jan 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1959

Abstract

The effect of He–Ne laser irradiation on fishery parameters as well as on biochemical state, including the lipids and fatty acids, the activity of energy metabolism enzymes and the proteome in the blastula stage and in underyearlings of wild Atlantic salmon after irradiation at the cleavage stage/early blastula (considered as the stages when the cell has a high potential for differentiation) was studied. Low mortality rates of eggs were determined during embryogenesis, as well as increased weight gain and lower morality rates of underyearlings in the experimental group. This is confirmed by changes in a number of interrelated indicators of lipid metabolism: a decrease in total lipids content, including diacylglycerols, triacylglycerols, cholesterol esters, and the phospholipids content remained unchanged. The embryos in the blastula stage (experimental group) had higher aerobic capacity and an increase in pentose phosphate pathway activity. The proteome profiles of eggs in the blastula stage were 131 proteins, of which 48 were significantly identified. The major protein was found to be phosvitin. The proteomes of underyearlings were represented by 2018 proteins, of which 49 were unique for the control and 39 for the experimental group. He–Ne laser irradiation had a strong effect on the contents of histone proteins. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fatty Acids in Natural Ecosystems and Human Nutrition 2021)

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14 pages, 1380 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Overwinter Changes in the Lipid Profile of Young-of-the-Year Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis) in Freshwater Ponds

by Kare A. Tonning, Suzanne M. Budge and Peter Tyedmers

Biomolecules 2021, 11(11), 1678; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11111678 - 11 Nov 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1414

Abstract

Young-of-the-year (YOY) striped bass (Morone saxatilis) suffer significant mortality during their first winter. While causes of this mortality are unclear, lipids may play role in adapting to winter stresses, including thermal change and food scarcity. To address this, YOY striped bass were placed in mesh cages in freshwater ponds in the fall (November) and were held until the end of winter, in March. Liver and white muscle tissue were sampled at the beginning and end of the study to compare concentrations of specific lipid classes and fatty acid composition. Muscle-tissue total lipid and triacylglycerol (TAG) was higher in March (late winter) samples. Additionally, concentrations of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) were higher in the white muscle of striped bass sampled in March; this was accompanied by a decrease in proportions of 18:0 and 22:6n-3 in PE (from ~11 to 7% and 36 to 28%, respectively) and 18:1n-9 and 22:6n-3 in phosphatidylcholine (from ~15 to 10% and 24 to 18%, respectively). This suggests that these fish were not utilizing energy reserves in previously described ways and appear to rely more on other lipid classes or body tissues for overwinter survival than those analyzed in this study. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fatty Acids in Natural Ecosystems and Human Nutrition 2021)

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22 pages, 1191 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Can Fish and Shellfish Species from the Black Sea Supply Health Beneficial Amounts of Bioactive Fatty Acids?

by Albena Merdzhanova, Veselina Panayotova, Diana A. Dobreva and Katya Peycheva

Biomolecules 2021, 11(11), 1661; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11111661 - 9 Nov 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2228

Abstract

Fatty acids (FA) are among the most important natural biologically active compounds. A healthy diet involves the intake of different fatty acids especially from omega-3 (n-3) series. Seafood provides a very good source of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), but in Bulgaria there is limited information regarding the n-3 PUFA contents in traditionally consumed seafood by the population. The aims of this study were to determine lipid content, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (EPA and DHA), and the recommended daily intake of eleven fish species, three bivalves, rapana, and shrimp harvested in the Western part of Black Sea, Bulgaria. Total lipids were extracted according to the method of Blight and Dyer and fatty acid composition was analyzed by GC/MS. Fatty acid profile showed differences among species. PUFA were found in high content among total lipids, especially in shellfish (60.67–68.9% of total lipids) compared to fish species (19.27–34.86% of total lipids). EPA was found in higher amounts in rapana (0.16 g/100 g ww) and two of pelagic species (up to 0.29 g/100 g ww), whereas DHA prevailed in demersal and the most of pelagic fish (0.16–1.92 g/100 g ww) and bivalves (0.16–1.92 g/100 g ww). The health beneficial n3/n6 and PUFA/SFA ratios were found in all analyzed species. The lower values of the lipid nutritional quality indices (AI < 1, TI < 1) and higher for h/H index (0.8–1.78 for fish and 1.52 to 4.67 for bivalves and shrimp) confirm that the commonly consumed Black Sea fish and shellfish may provide health benefits for local populations. This study shows the seafood amounts that can provide the minimum recommended intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fatty Acids in Natural Ecosystems and Human Nutrition 2021)

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22 pages, 6470 KiB

Open AccessArticle

In Vivo Healthy Benefits of Galacto-Oligosaccharides from Lupinus albus (LA-GOS) in Butyrate Production through Intestinal Microbiota

by Lucila A. Godínez-Méndez, Carmen M. Gurrola-Díaz, José Sergio Zepeda-Nuño, Natali Vega-Magaña, Rocio Ivette Lopez-Roa, Liliana Íñiguez-Gutiérrez, Pedro M. García-López, Mary Fafutis-Morris and Vidal Delgado-Rizo

Biomolecules 2021, 11(11), 1658; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11111658 - 9 Nov 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3179

Abstract

Animal digestive systems host microorganism ecosystems, including integrated bacteria, viruses, fungi, and others, that produce a variety of compounds from different substrates with healthy properties. Among these substrates, α-galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) are considered prebiotics that promote the grow of gut microbiota with a metabolic output of Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs). In this regard, we evaluated Lupinus albus GOS (LA-GOS) as a natural prebiotic using different animal models. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of LA-GOS on the gut microbiota, SCFA production, and intestinal health in healthy and induced dysbiosis conditions (an ulcerative colitis (UC) model). Twenty C57BL/6 mice were randomly allocated in four groups (n = 5/group): untreated and treated non-induced animals, and two groups induced with 2% dextran sulfate sodium to UC with and without LA-GOS administration (2.5 g/kg bw). We found that the UC treated group showed a higher goblet cell number, lower disease activity index, and reduced histopathological damage in comparison to the UC untreated group. In addition, the abundance of positive bacteria to butyryl-CoA transferase in gut microbiota was significantly increased by LA-GOS treatment, in healthy conditions. We measured the SCFA production with significant differences in the butyrate concentration between treated and untreated healthy groups. Finally, the pH level in cecum feces was reduced after LA-GOS treatment. Overall, we point out the in vivo health benefits of LA-GOS administration on the preservation of the intestinal ecosystem and the promotion of SCFA production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fatty Acids in Natural Ecosystems and Human Nutrition 2021)

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16 pages, 2196 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing the Reliability of Quantitative Fatty Acid Signature Analysis and Compound-Specific Isotope Analysis-Based Mixing Models for Trophic Studies

by Igor Prokopkin, Olesia Makhutova, Elena Kravchuk, Nadezhda Sushchik, Olesia Anishchenko and Michail Gladyshev

Biomolecules 2021, 11(11), 1590; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11111590 - 27 Oct 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1863

Abstract

The study of the trophic relationships of aquatic animals requires correct estimates of their diets. We compared the quantitative fatty acid signature analysis (QFASA) and the isotope-mixing model IsoError, based on the compound-specific isotope analysis of fatty acids (CSIA-FA), which are potentially effective models for quantitative diet estimations. In a 21-day experiment, Daphnia was fed a mixture of two food items, Chlorella and Cryptomonas, which were supplied in nearly equal proportions. The percentages and isotope values of the FAs of the algal species and Daphnia were measured. The IsoError based on CSIA-FA gave an estimation of algae consumption using only one FA, 18:3n-3. According to this model, the proportion of consumption of Chlorella decreased while the proportion of consumption of Cryptomonas increased during the experiment. The QFASA model was used for two FA subsets—the extended-dietary subset, which included sixteen FAs, and the dietary one, which included nine FAs. According to both subsets, the portion of consumed Chlorella decreased from Day 5 to 10 and then increased at Day 21. The comparison of the two model approaches showed that the QFASA model is a more reliable method to determine the contribution of different food sources to the diet of zooplankton than the CSIA-based mixing model. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fatty Acids in Natural Ecosystems and Human Nutrition 2021)

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12 pages, 1091 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Warming Decreases Bioconversion of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Chironomid Larvae Maintained on Cyanobacterium Microcystis

by Ursula Strandberg, Timo Ilo, Jarkko Akkanen and Paula Kankaala

Biomolecules 2021, 11(9), 1326; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11091326 - 7 Sep 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1824

Abstract

Cyanobacteria dominance and warming have been suggested to decrease the production of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in freshwater ecosystems. Physiological adaptations of poikilothermic animals to higher temperatures may further decrease PUFA levels in aquatic food webs. We conducted diet manipulation experiments to investigate the combined effects of dietary PUFA and warming on the proportions of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) in Chironomus riparius. The experimental diet consisted of a nontoxic cyanobacterium Microcystis, which contained C₂₀ PUFA: 20:3n-3, 20:4n-3, and 20:3n-6, but no EPA or ARA. Additionally, we used TetraMin^® fish flakes as a control treatment. A temperature increase from 20 °C to 25 °C decreased the proportion of n-3 C₂₀ PUFA and the n-3/n-6 ratio in Microcystis. Diet manipulation experiments indicated that Chironomus desaturated dietary C₂₀ precursors to EPA and ARA, but warming decreased this bioconversion and resulted in lower levels of EPA and ARA in Chironomus. Warming did not alter the proportions of EPA and ARA in Chironomus larvae if these PUFA were readily available in the diet (TetraMin^® control treatment). In conclusion, warming and cyanobacteria dominance may decrease the production and trophic transfer of physiologically important PUFA in freshwaters by (1) decreasing the n-3/n-6 ratio and the abundance of n-3 C₂₀ precursors in Microcystis, and (2) decreasing the bioconversion of n-3 and n-6 C₂₀ precursors to EPA and ARA in chironomids. These changes may have cascading effects throughout the food web and decrease the content of EPA in fish, potentially affecting its availability to humans. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fatty Acids in Natural Ecosystems and Human Nutrition 2021)

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18 pages, 1163 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Into the Deep: New Data on the Lipid and Fatty Acid Profile of Redfish Sebastes mentella Inhabiting Different Depths in the Irminger Sea

by Viktor P. Voronin, Nina N. Nemova, Tatjana R. Ruokolainen, Dmitrii V. Artemenkov, Aleksei Y. Rolskii, Alexei M. Orlov and Svetlana A. Murzina

Biomolecules 2021, 11(5), 704; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11050704 - 9 May 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2635

Abstract

New data on lipid and fatty acid profiles are presented, and the dynamics of the studied components in muscles in the males and females of the beaked redfish, Sebastes mentella, in the depth gradient of the Irminger Sea (North Atlantic) is discussed. The contents of the total lipids (TLs), total phospholipids (PLs), monoacylglycerols (MAGs), diacylglycerols (DAGs), triacylglycerols (TAGs), cholesterol (Chol), Chol esters, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs), and wax esters were determined by HPTLC; the phosphatidylserine (PS), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylcholine (PC), and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) were determined by HPLC; and fatty acids of total lipids were determined using GC. The Chol esters prevailed in muscles over the storage TAGs, and the wax ester content was high, which is a characteristic trait of vertically migrating species. Specific dynamics in certain PL in redfish were found to be depended on depth, suggesting that PLs are involved in the re-arrangement of the membrane physicochemical state and the maintenance of motor activity under high hydrostatic pressure. The high contents of DHA and EPA were observed in beaked redfish muscles is the species’ characteristic trait. The MUFAs in muscles include dietary markers of zooplankton (copepods)—20:1(n-9) and 22:1(n-11), whose content was found to be lower in fish sampled from greater depths. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fatty Acids in Natural Ecosystems and Human Nutrition 2021)

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16 pages, 16109 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Selective Fatty Acid Retention and Turnover in the Freshwater Amphipod Pallaseopsis quadrispinosa

by Sami J. Taipale, Erwin Kers, Elina Peltomaa, John Loehr and Martin J. Kainz

Biomolecules 2021, 11(3), 478; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11030478 - 23 Mar 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3896

Abstract

Gammarid amphipods are a crucial link connecting primary producers with secondary consumers, but little is known about their nutritional ecology. Here we asked how starvation and subsequent feeding on different nutritional quality algae influences fatty acid retention, compound-specific isotopic carbon fractionation, and biosynthesis of ω-3 and ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the relict gammarid amphipod Pallaseopsis quadrispinosa. The fatty acid profiles of P. quadrispinosa closely matched with those of the dietary green algae after only seven days of refeeding, whereas fatty acid patterns of P. quadrispinosa were less consistent with those of the diatom diet. This was mainly due to P. quadrispinosa suffering energy limitation in the diatom treatment which initiated the metabolization of 16:1ω7 and partly 18:1ω9 for energy, but retained high levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) similar to those found in wild-caught organisms. Moreover, α-linolenic acid (ALA) from green algae was mainly stored and not allocated to membranes at high levels nor biosynthesized to EPA. The arachidonic acid (ARA) content in membrane was much lower than EPA and P. quadrispinosa was able to biosynthesize long-chain ω-6 PUFA from linoleic acid (LA). Our experiment revealed that diet quality has a great impact on fatty acid biosynthesis, retention and turnover in this consumer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fatty Acids in Natural Ecosystems and Human Nutrition 2021)

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