Metabolomic profiling of Wilson disease, an inherited disorder of copper metabolism, and diseases with similar symptoms but normal copper metabolism.

Background: Wilson's disease (WD) is a hereditary disorder that results in the accumulation of copper. The pathogenic mechanism is not well understood, and diagnosing the disease can be challenging, as it shares similarities with more prevalent conditions. To explore the metabolomic features of WD and differentiate it from other diseases related to copper metabolism, we conducted targeted and untargeted metabolomic profiling using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS).

Enzymatic synthesis of prebiotic galactooligosaccharides from galactose derived from gum arabic.

A novel enzymatic process was established for galactooligosaccharides (GOS) synthesis by using plant-derived galactose as substrate, without producing any byproducts. The galactose was prepared from the acid hydrolysate of gum arabic. The yeast Kluyveromyces lactis producing β-galactosidase capable of catalyzing GOS synthesis from galactose was screened out.

Protein posttranslational modifications in health and diseases: Functions, regulatory mechanisms, and therapeutic implications.

Protein posttranslational modifications (PTMs) refer to the breaking or generation of covalent bonds on the backbones or amino acid side chains of proteins and expand the diversity of proteins, which provides the basis for the emergence of organismal complexity. To date, more than 650 types of protein modifications, such as the most well-known phosphorylation, ubiquitination, glycosylation, methylation, SUMOylation, short-chain and long-chain acylation modifications, redox modifications, and irreversible modifications, have been described, and the inventory is still increasing. By changing the protein conformation, localization, activity, stability, charges, and interactions with other biomolecules, PTMs ultimately alter the phenotypes and biological processes of cells.

Post-translational regulation of muscle growth, muscle aging and sarcopenia.

Skeletal muscle makes up 30-40% of the total body mass. It is of great significance in maintaining digestion, inhaling and exhaling, sustaining body posture, exercising, protecting joints and many other aspects. Moreover, muscle is also an important metabolic organ that helps to maintain the balance of sugar and fat.