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Biomolecules
Special Issues
Fatty Acids in Natural Ecosystems and Human Nutrition 2022–2023
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Fatty Acids in Natural Ecosystems and Human Nutrition 2022–2023

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 4546

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Michail I. Gladyshev

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
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
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

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

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomolecules is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • omega-3 fatty acids
  • eicosapentaenoic acid
  • docosahexaenoic acid
  • biomarker fatty acids
  • food webs
  • trophic transfer

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 2690 KiB  
Article
Lipidomic Characterization of Whey Concentrates Rich in Milk Fat Globule Membranes and Extracellular Vesicles
by Richard R. Sprenger, Marie S. Ostenfeld, Ann Bjørnshave, Jan T. Rasmussen and Christer S. Ejsing
Biomolecules 2024, 14(1), 55; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14010055 - 31 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1224
Abstract
Lipids from milk fat globule membranes (MFGMs) and extracellular vesicles (EVs) are considered beneficial for cognitive development and human health. Milk-derived whey concentrates rich in these lipids are therefore used as ingredients in infant formulas to mimic human milk and in medical nutrition [...] Read more.
Lipids from milk fat globule membranes (MFGMs) and extracellular vesicles (EVs) are considered beneficial for cognitive development and human health. Milk-derived whey concentrates rich in these lipids are therefore used as ingredients in infant formulas to mimic human milk and in medical nutrition products to improve the metabolic fitness of adults and elderly people. In spite of this, there is no consensus resource detailing the multitude of lipid molecules in whey concentrates. To bridge this knowledge gap, we report a comprehensive and quantitative lipidomic resource of different whey concentrates. In-depth lipidomic analysis of acid, sweet, and buttermilk whey concentrates identified 5714 lipid molecules belonging to 23 lipid classes. The data show that the buttermilk whey concentrate has the highest level of fat globule-derived triacylglycerols and that the acid and sweet whey concentrates have the highest proportions of MFGM- and EV-derived membrane lipids. Interestingly, the acid whey concentrate has a higher level of cholesterol whereas sweet whey concentrate has higher levels of lactosylceramides. Altogether, we report a detailed lipid molecular compendium of whey concentrates and lay the groundwork for using in-depth lipidomic technology to profile the nutritional value of milk products and functional foods containing dairy-based concentrates. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fatty Acids in Natural Ecosystems and Human Nutrition 2022–2023)
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16 pages, 498 KiB  
Article
Fatty Acid Profiles of Some Siberian Bryophytes and Prospects of Their Use in Chemotaxonomy
by Irina P. Filippova, Olesia N. Makhutova, Valeriya E. Guseynova and Michail I. Gladyshev
Biomolecules 2023, 13(5), 840; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom13050840 - 15 May 2023
Viewed by 1394
Abstract
The composition of fatty acids (FAs) in gametophyte samples of 20 Siberian bryophyte species from four orders of mosses and four orders of liverworts collected in relatively cold months (April and/or October) was examined. FA profiles were obtained using gas chromatography. Thirty-seven FAs [...] Read more.
The composition of fatty acids (FAs) in gametophyte samples of 20 Siberian bryophyte species from four orders of mosses and four orders of liverworts collected in relatively cold months (April and/or October) was examined. FA profiles were obtained using gas chromatography. Thirty-seven FAs were found, from 12:0 to 26:0; they included mono-, polyunsaturated (PUFAs) and rare FAs, such as 22:5n–3 and two acetylenic FAs, 6a,9,12–18:3 and 6a,9,12,15–18:4 (dicranin). Acetylenic FAs were found in all examined species of the Bryales and Dicranales orders, dicranin being the predominant FA. The role of particular PUFAs in mosses and liverworts is discussed. Multivariate discriminant analysis (MDA) was performed to determine whether FAs can be used in the chemotaxonomy of bryophytes. Based on the MDA results, FA composition is related to the taxonomic status of species. Thus, several individual FAs were identified as chemotaxonomic markers at the level of bryophyte orders. These were 18:3n–3; 18:4n–3; 6a,9,12–18:3; 6a,9,12,15–18:4; 20:4n–3 and EPA in mosses and 16:3n–3; 16:2n–6; 18:2n–6; 18:3n–3 and EPA in liverworts. These findings indicate that further research into bryophyte FA profiles can shed light on phylogenetic relationships within this group of plants and the evolution of their metabolic pathways. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fatty Acids in Natural Ecosystems and Human Nutrition 2022–2023)
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8 pages, 1134 KiB  
Article
Acyl-Lipid Δ6-Desaturase May Act as a First FAD in Cyanobacteria
by Alexander Y. Starikov, Roman A. Sidorov, Sergei V. Goriainov and Dmitry A. Los
Biomolecules 2022, 12(12), 1795; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom12121795 - 01 Dec 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1401
Abstract
Fatty acid desaturases (FADs) play important roles in various metabolic and adaptive pathways in all living organisms. They represent a superfamily of oxygenases that introduce double bonds into the acyl chains of fatty acids (FAs). These enzymes are highly specific to the length [...] Read more.
Fatty acid desaturases (FADs) play important roles in various metabolic and adaptive pathways in all living organisms. They represent a superfamily of oxygenases that introduce double bonds into the acyl chains of fatty acids (FAs). These enzymes are highly specific to the length of the carbon chain, position of double bonds formation, etc. The modes by which FADs “count” the position of the double bond formation may differ. In cyanobacteria, the first double bond is formed between 9th and 10th carbons (position Δ9), counting from the carboxylic end of an FA. Other FADs that produce polyunsaturated FAs may introduce double bonds counting from the carboxyl (Δ) or methyl (ω) terminus, or from a pre-existing double bond towards carboxyl or methyl terminus of an FA chain. Here, we expressed the desD gene for the Δ6-FAD from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 in Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 (which is capable of synthesizing only monoenoic FAs desaturated mainly at position Δ9) and observed the appearance of unusual monoenoic FAs desaturated at position Δ6, as well as Δ6,9 dienoic FAs. Exogenously added cis-10-heptadecenoic acid (17:1Δ10) was converted into cis-6,10-heptadecadienoic (17:2Δ6,10). These data demonstrate the ability of Δ6-FAD to introduce the first double bond into the unsaturated substrates and suggests that it “counts” from the carboxyl end, irrespective of the absence or presence of a previous double bond in an FA chain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fatty Acids in Natural Ecosystems and Human Nutrition 2022–2023)
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