Evaluation of lipid profiles in three species of ascidians using UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS-based lipidomic study

Qing Hou; Yuting Huang; Linhong Jiang; Kai Zhong; Yina Huang; Hong Gao; Qian Bu

doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2021.110454

Evaluation of lipid profiles in three species of ascidians using UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS-based lipidomic study

Food Res Int. 2021 Aug:146:110454. doi: 10.1016/j.foodres.2021.110454. Epub 2021 May 29.

Authors

Qing Hou¹, Yuting Huang¹, Linhong Jiang², Kai Zhong¹, Yina Huang³, Hong Gao⁴, Qian Bu⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Biomass and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
² National Chengdu Center for Safety Evaluation of Drugs, State Key Lab of Biotherapy/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
³ West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
⁴ Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Biomass and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁵ Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Biomass and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China; West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; National Chengdu Center for Safety Evaluation of Drugs, State Key Lab of Biotherapy/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 34119246
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2021.110454

Abstract

Ascidians are excellent, yet underused, marine sources of unique bioactive compounds of high nutritive content. However, reports regarding the lipid composition of ascidians are rare. In this study, using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry, we aimed to characterize the lipid profile of the tunics and inner body tissues of three species of ascidians, including Ciona intestinalis, Halocynthia roretzi, and Styela clava. We identified over 245 molecular species from 13 major lipid subclasses; glycerophospholipids (GP) and glycerolipids were the dominant lipid components in these three ascidian species (accounted for 66.30-90.60% of total lipids). Importantly, GP enriched in polyunsaturated fatty acids mainly existed in the inner body tissues of ascidians, which accounted for 18.17-32.47% of total lipids. Considering the high level of GP, we proposed that ascidians can be potentially used as health-promoting food for humans.

Keywords: Ascidians; Glycerophospholipids; Lipid compositions; Nutritional value; UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
Humans
Lipidomics*
Lipids
Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
Urochordata*

Substances

Lipids