Metabolomic Assessment of Key Maize Resources: GC-MS and NMR Profiling of Grain from B73 Hybrids of the Nested Association Mapping (NAM) Founders and of Geographically Diverse Landraces.

The present study expands metabolomic assessments of maize beyond commercial lines to include two sets of hybrids used extensively in the scientific community. One set included hybrids derived from the nested association mapping (NAM) founder lines, a collection of 25 inbreds selected on the basis of genetic diversity and used to investigate the genetic basis of complex plant traits. A second set included 24 hybrids derived from a collection of landraces representative of native diversity from North and South America that may serve as a source of new alleles for improving modern maize hybrids.

Application of (1)h NMR profiling to assess seed metabolomic diversity. A case study on a soybean era population.

(1)H NMR spectroscopy offers advantages in metabolite quantitation and platform robustness when applied in food metabolomics studies. This paper provides a (1)H NMR-based assessment of seed metabolomic diversity in conventional and glyphosate-resistant genetically modified (GM) soybean from a genetic lineage representing ∼35 years of breeding and differing yield potential. (1)H NMR profiling of harvested seed allowed quantitation of 27 metabolites, including free amino acids, sugars, and organic acids, as well as choline, O-acetylcholine, dimethylamine, trigonelline, and p-cresol.

The volatile compound BinBase mass spectral database.

Background: Volatile compounds comprise diverse chemical groups with wide-ranging sources and functions. These compounds originate from major pathways of secondary metabolism in many organisms and play essential roles in chemical ecology in both plant and animal kingdoms. In past decades, sampling methods and instrumentation for the analysis of complex volatile mixtures have improved; however, design and implementation of database tools to process and store the complex datasets have lagged behind.

Analysis of early host responses for asymptomatic disease detection and management of specialty crops.

The rapid and unabated spread of vector-borne diseases within US specialty crops threatens our agriculture, our economy, and the livelihood of growers and farm workers. Early detection of vector-borne pathogens is an essential step for the accurate surveillance and management of vector-borne diseases of specialty crops. Currently, we lack the tools that would detect the infectious agent at early (primary) stages of infection with a high degree of sensitivity and specificity.

Impact of genetics and environment on the metabolite composition of maize grain.

This study sought to assess genetic and environmental impacts on the metabolite composition of maize grain. Gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOF-MS) measured 119 identified metabolites including free amino acids, free fatty acids, sugars, organic acids, and other small molecules in a range of hybrids derived from 48 inbred lines crossed against two different tester lines (from the C103 and Iodent heterotic groups) and grown at three locations in Iowa. It was reasoned that expanded metabolite coverage would contribute to a comprehensive evaluation of the grain metabolome, its degree of variability, and, in principle, its relationship to other compositional and agronomic features.

Global metabolic profiling of plant cell wall polysaccharide degradation by Saccharophagus degradans.

Plant cell wall polysaccharides can be used as the main feedstock for the production of biofuels. Saccharophagus degradans 2-40 is considered to be a potent system for the production of sugars from plant biomass due to its high capability to degrade many complex polysaccharides. To understand the degradation metabolism of plant cell wall polysaccharides by S.

Comparison of gas chromatography-coupled time-of-flight mass spectrometry and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy metabolite identification in white wines from a sensory study investigating wine body.

Metabolite profiles of white wines, including Chardonnay, Pinot gris, Riesling, Sauvignon blanc, and Viognier varieties, were determined using both gas chromatography-coupled time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOF-MS) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H NMR). A total of 108 metabolites were identified by GC-TOF-MS, and 51 metabolites were identified by (1)H NMR; the majority of metabolites identified include the most abundant compounds found in wine (ethanol, glycerol, sugars, organic acids, and amino acids). Compositional differences in these wines correlating to the wine sensory property "body", or viscous mouthfeel, as scored by a trained panel were identified using partial least-squares (PLS) regression.

Novel peptide inhibitors of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a recently identified human homolog of ACE, is a novel metallocarboxypeptidase with specificity, tissue distribution, and function distinct from those of ACE. ACE2 may play a unique role in the renin-angiotensin system and mediate cardiovascular and renal function. Here we report the discovery of ACE2 peptide inhibitors through selection of constrained peptide libraries displayed on phage.