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BMC Genomics May 2024Domesticated safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a widely cultivated edible oil crop. However, despite its economic importance, the genetic basis underlying key...
Domesticated safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a widely cultivated edible oil crop. However, despite its economic importance, the genetic basis underlying key traits such as oil content, resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, and flowering time remains poorly understood. Here, we present the genome assembly for C. tinctorius variety Jihong01, which was obtained by integrating Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) and BGI-SEQ500 sequencing results. The assembled genome was 1,061.1 Mb, and consisted of 32,379 protein-coding genes, 97.71% of which were functionally annotated. Safflower had a recent whole genome duplication (WGD) event in evolution history and diverged from sunflower approximately 37.3 million years ago. Through comparative genomic analysis at five seed development stages, we unveiled the pivotal roles of fatty acid desaturase 2 (FAD2) and fatty acid desaturase 6 (FAD6) in linoleic acid (LA) biosynthesis. Similarly, the differential gene expression analysis further reinforced the significance of these genes in regulating LA accumulation. Moreover, our investigation of seed fatty acid composition at different seed developmental stages unveiled the crucial roles of FAD2 and FAD6 in LA biosynthesis. These findings offer important insights into enhancing breeding programs for the improvement of quality traits and provide reference resource for further research on the natural properties of safflower.
Topics: Carthamus tinctorius; Genome, Plant; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Fatty Acid Desaturases; Seeds; Genomics; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Molecular Sequence Annotation
PubMed: 38783193
DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10405-z -
ACS Omega Apr 2024To meet the growing demand for high-purity lactic acid (LA) for biocompatible and biodegradable polymers, LA recovery by green techniques has been attracting the...
To meet the growing demand for high-purity lactic acid (LA) for biocompatible and biodegradable polymers, LA recovery by green techniques has been attracting the attention. This study focuses on the evaluation of vegetable oils as organic phase diluents in complex extraction of LA with an aliphatic tertiary amine extractant, trioctylamine (TOA). Eight vegetable oils were tested, and their performances were evaluated individually and compared with those obtained using 1-octanol. Extraction yields with these oils were similar; however, efficiencies with safflower oil (SFO) were slightly higher than those obtained with other oils tested. Efficiency with SFO + TOA varied inversely with temperature and pH; however, it increased with higher LA and TOA concentrations. Within the ranges of parameters investigated, the highest yield in SFO was 66% and was achieved at the highest TOA (1.0 M) and LA (1.5 M) concentrations. The efficiency obtained in 1-octanol under the identical conditions was 76%. Thus, the yields obtained with SFO + TOA and 1-octanol + TOA were comparable under most of the conditions tested, especially at the higher LA concentrations, which is preferred for commercial production. Following that, >99% of the LA was transferred from the organic phase to the (second) aqueous phase using NaOH (1.0 M) as a stripping agent. The organic phase was tested in subsequent extractions, and yields comparable to those obtained in the first uses were achieved. This study demonstrated that vegetable oils have the potential to be used as organic phase diluents during complex extraction of LA.
PubMed: 38645318
DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c07988 -
Biotechnologia 2024In this study, we examined the effects of seven different sulfur treatments on safflower seeds. The treatments included: no sulfur application (S0), 25 kg/ha of pure...
In this study, we examined the effects of seven different sulfur treatments on safflower seeds. The treatments included: no sulfur application (S0), 25 kg/ha of pure bulk sulfur (S25), 50 kg/ha of pure bulk sulfur (S50), 25 kg/ha of sulfur phosphate (Sp25), 50 kg/ha of sulfur phosphate (Sp50), 25 kg/ha of zinc sulfate (Zs25), and 50 kg/ha of zinc sulfate (Zs50). Our evaluation covered various seed quality attributes, including ash percentage (ASH), oil percentage (OIL), and protein percentage (PRO). Additionally, we analyzed the fatty acid composition, including palmitic acid 16 : 0 (PAL), stearic acid 18 : 0 (STE), oleic acid 18 : 1 (OLE), linoleic acid 18 : 2 (LINL), arachidic acid 20 : 0 (ARA), and linolenic acid 18 : 3 (LINN). The vector-view of the biplot illustrated positive associations among the fatty acids STE, PAL, and OLE, whereas ASH exhibited negative associations with OIL, LINL, and LINN. The polygon-view graph was divided into four sectors, with the genotype S50 emerging as the top performer for attributes such as OIL, PRO, LINL, ARA, and LINN. Treatment Zs50 occupied the vertex of another sector and displayed the highest values for palmitic acid PAL, STE, and OLE, while treatment S0 was positioned at the vertex of the next sector, characterized by its high ASH content. By utilizing the ideal tester tool of treatment by trait biplot, we identified OIL as the desirable trait that most effectively represented the data. The qualitative properties of safflower oil were notably influenced by sulfur application, with treatment S50 proving to be the most effective in enhancing these properties.
PubMed: 38633892
DOI: 10.5114/bta.2024.135640 -
The American Journal of Clinical... May 2024Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are proposed to play a role in the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and are considered emerging markers of CVDs. n-3 PUFAs are... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids alter the number, fatty acid profile and coagulatory activity of circulating and platelet-derived extracellular vesicles: a randomized, controlled crossover trial.
BACKGROUND
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are proposed to play a role in the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and are considered emerging markers of CVDs. n-3 PUFAs are abundant in oily fish and fish oil and are reported to reduce CVD risk, but there has been little research to date examining the effects of n-3 PUFAs on the generation and function of EVs.
OBJECTIVES
We aimed to investigate the effects of fish oil supplementation on the number, generation, and function of EVs in subjects with moderate risk of CVDs.
METHODS
A total of 40 participants with moderate risk of CVDs were supplemented with capsules containing either fish oil (1.9 g/d n-3 PUFAs) or control oil (high-oleic safflower oil) for 12 wk in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover intervention study. The effects of fish oil supplementation on conventional CVD and thrombogenic risk markers were measured, along with the number and fatty acid composition of circulating and platelet-derived EVs (PDEVs). PDEV proteome profiles were evaluated, and their impact on coagulation was assessed using assays including fibrin clot formation, thrombin generation, fibrinolysis, and ex vivo thrombus formation.
RESULTS
n-3 PUFAs decreased the numbers of circulating EVs by 27%, doubled their n-3 PUFA content, and reduced their capacity to support thrombin generation by >20% in subjects at moderate risk of CVDs. EVs derived from n-3 PUFA-enriched platelets in vitro also resulted in lower thrombin generation, but did not alter thrombus formation in a whole blood ex vivo assay.
CONCLUSIONS
Dietary n-3 PUFAs alter the number, composition, and function of EVs, reducing their coagulatory activity. This study provides clear evidence that EVs support thrombin generation and that this EV-dependent thrombin generation is reduced by n-3 PUFAs, which has implications for prevention and treatment of thrombosis.
CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY
This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03203512.
Topics: Humans; Extracellular Vesicles; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Male; Female; Cross-Over Studies; Middle Aged; Double-Blind Method; Blood Coagulation; Blood Platelets; Dietary Supplements; Cardiovascular Diseases; Adult; Fish Oils; Aged; Fatty Acids
PubMed: 38484976
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2024.03.008 -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) Feb 2024Seed storage underpins global agriculture and the seed trade and revealing the mechanisms of seed aging is essential for enhancing seed longevity management. Safflower...
Seed storage underpins global agriculture and the seed trade and revealing the mechanisms of seed aging is essential for enhancing seed longevity management. Safflower is a multipurpose oil crop, rich in unsaturated fatty acids that are at high risk of peroxidation as a contributory factor to seed aging. However, the molecular mechanisms responsible for safflower seed viability loss are not yet elucidated. We used controlled deterioration (CDT) conditions of 60% relative humidity and 50 °C to reduce germination in freshly harvested safflower seeds and analyzed aged seeds using biochemical and molecular techniques. While seed malondialdehyde (MDA) and fatty acid content increased significantly during CDT, catalase activity and soluble sugar content decreased. KEGG analysis of gene function and qPCR validation indicated that aging severely impaired several key functional and biosynthetic pathways including glycolysis, fatty acid metabolism, antioxidant activity, and DNA replication and repair. Furthermore, exogenous sucrose and diethyl aminoethyl hexanoate (DA-6) treatment partially promoted germination in aged seeds, further demonstrating the vital role of impaired sugar and fatty acid metabolism during the aging and recovery processes. We concluded that energy metabolism and genetic integrity are impaired during aging, which contributes to the loss of seed vigor. Such energy metabolic pathways as glycolysis, fatty acid degradation, and the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) are impaired, especially fatty acids produced by the hydrolysis of triacylglycerols during aging, as they are not efficiently converted to sucrose via the glyoxylate cycle to provide energy supply for safflower seed germination and seedling growth. At the same time, the reduced capacity for nucleotide synthesis capacity and the deterioration of DNA repair ability further aggravate the damage to DNA, reducing seed vitality.
PubMed: 38475505
DOI: 10.3390/plants13050659 -
Nutrients Mar 2024Altered intestinal health is also associated with the incidence and severity of many chronic inflammatory conditions, which could be attenuated via dietary -3 PUFA...
Effect of Lifelong Exposure to Dietary Plant and Marine Sources of -3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Morphologic and Gene Expression Biomarkers of Intestinal Health in Early Life.
Altered intestinal health is also associated with the incidence and severity of many chronic inflammatory conditions, which could be attenuated via dietary -3 PUFA interventions. However, little is known about the effect of lifelong exposure to -3 PUFA from plant and marine sources (beginning in utero via the maternal diet) on early life biomarkers of intestinal health. Harems of C57Bl/6 mice were randomly assigned to one of three isocaloric AIN-93G modified diets differing in their fat sources consisting of the following: (i) 10% safflower oil (SO, enriched in -6 PUFA), (ii) 3% flaxseed oil + 7% safflower oil (FX, plant-based -3 PUFA-enriched diet), or (iii) 3% menhaden fish oil + 7% safflower oil (MO, marine-based -3 PUFA-enriched diet). Mothers remained on these diets throughout pregnancy and offspring (n = 14/diet) continued on the same parental diet until termination at 3 weeks of age. In ileum, villi:crypt length ratios were increased in both the FX and MO dietary groups compared to SO ( < 0.05). Ileum mRNA expression of critical intestinal health biomarkers was increased by both -3 PUFA-enriched diets including and compared to SO ( < 0.05), whereas only the FX diet increased mRNA expression of and ( < 0.05) and only the MO diet increased mRNA expression of ( < 0.05). In the proximal colon, both the FX and MO diets increased crypt lengths compared to SO ( < 0.05), whereas only the MO diet increased goblet cell numbers compared to SO ( < 0.05). Further, the MO diet increased proximal colon mRNA expression of and ( < 0.05) and both MO and FX increased mRNA expression of compared to SO ( < 0.05). Collectively, these results demonstrate that lifelong exposure to dietary -3 PUFA, beginning in utero, from both plant and marine sources, can support intestinal health development in early life. The differential effects between plant and marine sources warrants further investigation for optimizing health.
Topics: Mice; Animals; Pregnancy; Female; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Safflower Oil; Fish Oils; Diet; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Biomarkers; Gene Expression; RNA, Messenger; Fatty Acids
PubMed: 38474847
DOI: 10.3390/nu16050719 -
ACS Omega Feb 2024By dry crystallization, concentrations of unsaturated fatty acids and bioactive compounds can be increased in olein and super-olein fractions in vegetable oils. Among...
Fatty Acid Composition, Phenolic Compounds, Phytosterols, and Lipid Oxidation of Single- and Double-Fractionated Olein of Safflower Oil Produced by Low-Temperature Crystallization.
By dry crystallization, concentrations of unsaturated fatty acids and bioactive compounds can be increased in olein and super-olein fractions in vegetable oils. Among all sources of vegetable oils, safflower oil (SO) possesses the maximum linoleic acid content. To boost the industrial applications of SO, two variants were produced by single- and two-stage crystallization. This study aimed to determine the fatty acid compositions, phenolic compounds, phytosterols, and oxidative stability of fractionated olein (OF) and double-fractionated olein (DFO) produced by dry crystallization. For this, SO was cooled to -45 °C and filtered, the filtrate was denoted as single-fractionated olein (OF), and 40% of this section was taken for analytical purposes, while the remaining 60% was again cooled to -70 °C and filtered, and the filtrate was denoted as double-fractionated olein (DFO). Unfractionated safflower (SO) was used as a control, filled in amber glass bottles, and stored at 20-25 °C for 90 days. Fatty acid compositions and phytosterols were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Phenolic compounds and induction periods were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and Rancimat. GC-MS analysis revealed that the C18:2 contents of SO, OF, and DFO were 77.63 ± 0.82, 81.57 ± 0.44, and 89.26 ± 0.48 mg/100 g ( < 0.05), respectively. The C18:1 contents of SO, OF, and DFO were 6.38 ± 0.19, 7.36 ± 0.24, and 9.74 ± 0.32 mg/100 g ( < 0.05), respectively. HPLC analysis showed that phenolic compounds were concentrated in the low-melting-point fractions. In DFO, concentrations of tyrosol, rutin, vanillin, ferulic acid, and sinapic acid were 57.36 ± 0.12, 129.45 ± 0.38, 165.11 ± 0.55, 183.61 ± 0.15, 65.94 ± 0.11, and 221.75 ± 0.29 mg/100 g, respectively. In SO, concentrations of tyrosol, rutin, vanillin, ferulic acid, and sinapic acid were 24.79 ± 0.08, 78.93 ± 0.25, 115.67 ± 0.41, 34.89 ± 0.51, and 137.26 ± 0.08 mg/100 g, respectively. In OF, concentrations of tyrosol, rutin, vanillin, ferulic acid, and sinapic acid were 35.96 ± 0.20, 98.69 ± 0.64, 149.14 ± 0.13, 57.53 ± 0.74, and 188.28 ± 0.82 mg/100 g, respectively. The highest concentrations of brassicasterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, avenasterol, stigmastenol, and avenasterol were noted in DFO followed by OF and SO. The total antioxidant capacities of SO, OF, and DFO were 54.78 ± 0.12, 71.36 ± 0.58, and 86.44 ± 0.28%, respectively. After the end of the storage time, the peroxide values (POVs) of SO, OF, and DFO stored for 3 months were 0.68, 0.85, and 1.16 mequiv O/kg, respectively, with no difference in the free fatty acid content.
PubMed: 38371827
DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c08099 -
Biomedical Research (Tokyo, Japan) 2024Fish oil (FO) is rich in the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. It has been demonstrated that FO intake possesses lipid-lowering properties. Conversely, a high-cholesterol...
Fish oil (FO) is rich in the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. It has been demonstrated that FO intake possesses lipid-lowering properties. Conversely, a high-cholesterol (CH) diet promotes lipid accumulation in the liver and induces fatty liver. This study investigated the effects of FO feeding on hepatic lipid accumulation induced by high-cholesterol feeding in KK mice. All experimental diets had a fat energy ratio of 25%, the SO group had all fat sources as safflower oil (SO), the 12.5 FO group had half of the SO replaced with FO, and the 25 FO group had all of the SO replaced with FO, each with or without 2 weight % (wt%) cholesterol (SO/CH, 12.5 FO/CH, and 25 FO/CH groups, respectively), for 8 weeks. The hepatic triglyceride and total cholesterol levels were significantly lower in the 25 FO/CH group than in the SO/CH group. The hepatic mRNAs of fatty acid synthesis-related genes were downregulated by the FO feeding groups. In view of importance to establish the benefit of FO for preventing severe NAFLD, our results suggest that FO intake prevents excessive hepatic fat accumulation induced by a high-cholesterol diet in obese KK mice through the inhibition of fatty acid synthesis.
Topics: Mice; Animals; Fish Oils; Lipid Metabolism; Liver; Cholesterol; Fatty Acids; Obesity
PubMed: 38325844
DOI: 10.2220/biomedres.45.33 -
BMC Genomics Dec 2023Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is an oilseed crop with substantial medicinal and economic value. However, the methods for constructing safflower core germplasm...
BACKGROUND
Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is an oilseed crop with substantial medicinal and economic value. However, the methods for constructing safflower core germplasm resources are limited, and the molecular mechanisms of lipid biosynthesis in safflower seeds are not well understood.
RESULTS
In this study, 11 oil-related quantitative traits and 50 pairs of InDel markers were used to assess the diversity of a collection of 605 safflower germplasms. The original safflower germplasm exhibited rich phenotypic diversity, with high variation for most of the phenotypic traits under investigation. Similarly, high genetic diversity was evaluated in the original germplasm, in which the mean Shannon's information index (I), observed heterozygosity (H), and expected heterozygosity (He) were 0.553, 0.182, and 0.374, respectively. Four subgroups with strong genetic structures were identified and a core germplasm of 214 cultivars was constructed, which is well represented in the original germplasm. Meanwhile, differential expression analysis of the transcriptomes of high and low linoleic acid safflower varieties at two stages of seed development identified a total of 47 genes associated with lipid biosynthesis. High expression of the genes KAS II and SAD enhanced the synthesis and accumulation of oleic acid, while FAD genes like FAD2 (Chr8G0104100), FAD3, FAD7 and FAD8 promoted the consumption of oleic acid conversion. The coordinated regulation of these multiple genes ensures the high accumulation of oleic acid in safflower seed oil.
CONCLUSIONS
Based on these findings, a core germplasm of 214 cultivars was constructed and 47 candidate genes related to unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis and lipid accumulation were identified. These results not only provide guidance for further studies to elucidate the molecular basis of oil lipid accumulation in safflower seeds, but also contribute to safflower cultivar improvements.
Topics: Carthamus tinctorius; Oleic Acid; Phenotype; Seeds; Linoleic Acid
PubMed: 38082219
DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09874-5