Yadong Wang,Qian Zhang,Junaid Yousaf,Fanyu Meng,Yanbo Wang,Bei Wang
Monascus-fermented cheese (MC) is a new cheese product that undergoes a multistrain fermentation process, which results in unique flavor qualities. Lipid metabolism plays an important role in the flavor formation of MC. To clarify the lipid composition of MC and the changes in lipid composition at four ripening periods, this study resolved the lipid profiles of MC by using UHPLC-QTRAP MS. The results identified 21 lipid classes and 748 lipid species, 72 of which were significantly different (VIP > 1, p < 0.01, |log 2FC| > 1). Additionally, 83 relevant metabolic pathways were enriched. Based on the enriched metabolic pathways and lipid changes, the pathways of differential lipid formation in MC were mapped. The results of this study comprehensively characterize the changes in lipids during the ripening process of MC, which can be used in the future to deeply analyze the mechanism of flavor formation in MC.
Monascus -fermented coix seed exhibits enhanced tocopherol accumulation compared to other strains, yet mechanisms remain unclear. Whether Monascus metabolites/enzymes drive this enrichment is worth exploring. Comparative genomics and transcriptomics were employed to analyze secondary metabolite profiles and tocopherol enrichment capabilities across Monascus strains. The results revealed that γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) derived from amino acid metabolism is channeled into both the Shikimate pathway to generate homogentisic acid (a tocopherol precursor) and the Mevalonate pathway to produce ergosterol and geranylgeranyl diphosphate (another precursor). Furthermore, the total tocopherol content of M1 and M1 + 3 reached 168 and 148 μg/g DW, positively correlating with ergosterol content ( p < 0.05). Transcriptomic data further demonstrated strain-specific differences in tocopherol enrichment, linked to upregulated expression of key genes ( HPPD , ERG4 , MVD , FDPS , GGPS1 ) governing precursor biosynthesis. Crucially, we validated that ergosterol acts as a stimulator of tocopherol synthesis, directly supporting our hypothesis on pathway crosstalk. This study elucidates microbial-driven tocopherol enrichment mechanisms via precursor allocation and transcriptional regulation, providing insights into bioactive compound synthesis in complex metabolic networks.
危险品化学品经营许可证（带存储）