Integrated Analysis of Long Non-Coding RNA and mRNA to Reveal Putative Candidate Genes Associated with Backfat Quality in Beijing Black Pig.

Pigs' backfat quality has an important impact on the quality of pork and pork products and has a strong relationship with nutrition and sensory characteristics. This study aimed to identify the related candidate genes of backfat quality and to preliminary clarify the molecular regulatory mechanism underlying pig backfat quality phenotypes. Expression assessments of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and mRNA profiling in backfat from high-quality (firm and white) and low-quality (soft and yellow) Beijing Black pigs were performed by RNA sequencing. Significantly different expressions were observed in 610 protein-coding genes and 290 lncRNAs between the two groups. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway annotation showed that some candidate differentially expressed genes that participate in lipid-related pathways and pigmentation terms may play a role in backfat quality in pigs. The cis-target and trans-target genes were predicted to explore the regulatory function of lncRNAs, and integrative analyses of different expression lncRNAs targets and different expression genes were performed. The results showed the regulatory networks of lncRNA-mRNA related to backfat quality, and our study obtained strong candidate genes for backfat quality: ELOVL5, SCD, DGAT2, SLC24A5, and TYRP1, which were involved in fat metabolism, adipogenesis regulation, and pigmentation. To our knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate the molecular genetic mechanisms of backfat quality in pigs, and these findings improve the current understanding of backfat quality mechanisms and provide a foundation for further studies.

Microencapsulation of nattokinase from fermentation by spray drying: Optimization, comprehensive score, and stability.

Nattokinase from fermentation has recently gained more attention due to its beneficial effects on cardiovascular system. However, the instability of free nattokinase limits its application. The aim of the study was to develop a spray-drying microencapsulation process to obtain the nattokinase powder with high activity, high quality, and strong storage stability. Hence, the microencapsulation process of nattokinase from fermentation by spray drying was optimized. Experiments of single-factor and response surface methodology were used to assess the comprehensive scores and nattokinase activities. According to single-factor and response surface methodology results, optimum parameters of microencapsulation process of the nattokinase power by spray drying were 30% of mass ratio of wall materials, 139°C of air inlet temperature, 8 L/h of feed rate, and 80°C of outlet temperature. The final optimized result encompassed a comprehensive score of 96, nattokinase activity of 1,340 IU/ml, and moisture content of 4.1 ± 0.1%. In addition, the microencapsulated nattokinase power showed strong storage stability in the conditions of different temperatures and pH. After 30 days of storage, the nattokinase powder was still white or light yellow, with a special smell, no peculiar smell and paste taste, and no impurity. These results build the basis of further industrialization of the nattokinase powder from fermentation broth by spray drying.

Sustainable separation of bio-based cadaverine based on carbon dioxide capture by forming carbamate.

Bio-based cadaverine, manufactured by the decarboxylation of l-lysine, is an important raw material. However, the extractive-distillation separation and purification of cadaverine from bioconversion fluids require high energy consumption and leads to the loss of self-released carbon dioxide during the decarboxylation of l-lysine. This study focuses on the green and sustainable separation of bio-based cadaverine based on the capture of self-released carbon dioxide by cadaverine forming carbamate. Results showed that granular-activated carbon JK1 shows the best decolorization efficiency and achieves a higher cadaverine yield. After three times of solventing-out crystallization, refined cadaverine carbamate with 99.1% purity and total 57.48% yield was obtained. It was also found that the refined cadaverine carbamate consists of mixed crystals having numerous structural forms that can easily dissociate carbon dioxide. Furthermore, the amine carbamate strategy may be of great value for the development of a green and sustainable separation mode of bio-based amines and carbon dioxide capture.