Untargeted metabolomics using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) is currently the gold-standard technique to determine the full chemical diversity in biological samples. However, this ...approach still has many limitations; notably, the difficulty of accurately estimating the number of unique metabolites profiled among the thousands of MS ion signals arising from chromatograms. Here, we describe a new workflow, MS-CleanR, based on the MS-DIAL/MS-FINDER suite, which tackles feature degeneracy and improves annotation rates. We show that implementation of MS-CleanR reduces the number of signals by nearly 80% while retaining 95% of unique metabolite features. Moreover, the annotation results from MS-FINDER can be ranked according to the database chosen by the user, which enhance identification accuracy. Application of MS-CleanR to the analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana grown in three different conditions fostered class separation resulting from multivariate data analysis and led to annotation of 75% of the final features. The full workflow was applied to metabolomic profiles from three strains of the leguminous plant Medicago truncatula that have different susceptibilities to the oomycete pathogen Aphanomyces euteiches. A group of glycosylated triterpenoids overrepresented in resistant lines were identified as candidate compounds conferring pathogen resistance. MS-CleanR is implemented through a Shiny interface for intuitive use by end-users (available at https://github.com/eMetaboHUB/MS-CleanR).
Esca disease is one of the most destructive grapevine trunk diseases.
and
are two of the known fungal pathogens associated with this disease. Today, biocontrol agents against Esca are mainly based on ...the use of the strain of the mycoparasite fungal genus
such as the Vintec
product. The aim of this study was to investigate early response of woody tissues to Esca pathogens and identify metabolites that could be correlated with a biocontrol activity within a complex woody matrix. An untargeted liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry metabolomic approach coupled to a spectral similarity network was used to highlight clusters of compounds associated with the plant response to pathogens and biocontrol. Dereplication highlighted the possible role of glycerophospholipids and polyphenol compounds, the latest mainly belonging to stilbenoids. Antifungal activity of some relevant biomarkers, evaluated
on
and
, suggests that some of these compounds can play a role to limit the development of Esca pathogens in planta.
Given their well-known antifungal abilities, species of the genus
are of significant interest in modern agriculture. Recent studies have shown that
species can induce plant resistance against ...different phytopathogens. To further extend this line of investigation, we investigate herein the transcriptomic response of grapevine trunk to Vintec
, which is a
SC1-based commercial formulation for biological control of grapevine trunk diseases and which reduces wood colonization. The aim of the study is to understand whether the biocontrol agent Vintec
modifies the trunk response to
and
, which are two esca-associated fungal pathogens. An analysis of transcriptional regulation identifies clusters of co-regulated genes whose transcriptomic reprogramming in response to infection depends on the absence or presence of Vintec
. On one hand, the results show that Vintec
differentially modulates the expression of putative genes involved in hormonal signaling, especially those involved in auxin signaling. On the other hand, most significant gene expression modifications occur among secondary-metabolism-related genes, especially regarding phenylpropanoid metabolism and stilbene biosynthesis. Taken together, these results suggest that the biocontrol agent Vintec
induces wood responses that counteract disease development.
Molecular phylogenetics based on nucleotide sequence comparisons has profoundly influenced plant taxonomy. A comprehensive chemotaxonomical approach based on GC-MS and UHPLC-HRMS profiling was ...evaluated for its ability to characterize a large collection of plants all in the violet family Violaceae (n = 111) and thus decipher the taxonomy. A thorough identification of violets is challenging due to their natural hybridization and phenotypic variability. Phylogenetic inference performed on ribosomal internal transcribed spacer sequences using maximum likelihood and neighbor-joining distance methods allowed the clear identification of 58% of the collection. Metabolomic approaches with multivariate data analysis were performed on SPME/GC-MS chromatograms of volatile compounds emitted by fresh mature flowers and on UHPLC-HRMS/MS leaf extracts for non-volatile compounds. Interestingly, molecular and biochemical approaches provided separate classifications while highlighting several common clusters. The profiling of secondary metabolites was proved most suitable for the classification of hundreds of extracts. The combination of phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic approaches, allowed the classification of 96% of the entire collection. A correlation network revealed specific chemotaxonomic biomarkers, in particular flavonoids, coumarins and cyclotides. Overall, our pioneering approach could be useful to solve misclassification issues within collections of close plant species.
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•Genetic-based phylogeny allowed the classification of 58 % of the violet collection (n = 111).•GC-MS from native flowers volatile did not improve significantly the classification.•UHPLC-MS profiling of lyophilized leaf samples significantly expands the classification rate to 96% of the whole collection.•Chemotaxonomic markers of each violet species were annotated.
Le projet « Viola Tolosa » a pour objectif de valoriser une plante produite en Occitanie, la violette et plus particulièrement l’emblématique violette de Toulouse, pour des domaines essentiellement ...non alimentaires tels que la chimie des substances naturelles et la cosmétique. Les violettes appartiennent au genre Viola qui comprend plus de 500 espèces. Aujourd’hui, leurs usages sont principalement limités à des aspects ornementaux et culinaires. Néanmoins, l’intérêt croissant de la part des acteurs de la filière (industriels, cultivateurs et académiques) a conduit la région Occitanie à mettre en place le projet Viola Tolosa intitulé « Spéciation chimique de la collection nationale des violettes et mise en place d’un agro-raffinage de la violette de Toulouse ». Il comporte quatre aspects interdisciplinaires associant aspects fondamentaux et applicatifs. La caractérisation de la centaine de plants de la collection de violettes détenue par les serres municipales de Toulouse, identifiée à 80% par des noms de cultivars ou vernaculaires, a été réalisée par l’intermédiaire d’études génétique et chimiotaxonomique. Une première étude génétique basée sur les séquences des espaces internes transcrits a permis de classer 58% de la collection au rang d’espèce. Cette étude phylogénétique a été complétée par une étude chimiotaxonomique à l’aide des profils chimiques des fractions volatiles des fleurs et non-volatiles des parties aériennes de la collection. Une projection orthogonale de structures latentes a permis d’indexer 96% de l’ensemble des plants par un nom d’espèce. L’étude des métabolites secondaires non volatils des feuilles a été entreprise dans le but d’étudier le potentiel biologique des violettes, notamment les activités antioxydante, antifongique et inductrice des réponses immunitaires des plantes. L’étude détaillée d’un extrait hydroalcoolique de la violette de Toulouse a permis d’identifier huit composés antioxydants de la famille des flavonoïdes et des coumarines, dont trois ont été caractérisés par RMN 1D et 2D et deux de novo dérépliqués par réseau moléculaire. L’application sur l’ensemble de la collection a ensuite permis d’identifier six composés antioxydants, dont deux coumarines et quatre flavonoïdes, prépondérants chez deux espèces. Une relation espèce-activité a donc été mise en évidence. Au niveau des activités antifongiques, réalisées sur cinq souches de champignons, et de défenses végétales, par l’intermédiaire de l’étude de l’expression du gène marqueur « pathogenesis-related protein 1 », les résultats sont plus ambigus. Cependant, certaines espèces ont présenté une activité plus prononcée que les autres et ce criblage a permis de poser une hypothèse forte quant à l’implication des cyclotides. Finalement, l’ensemble de ces travaux a permis d’obtenir une carte d’identité des violettes de la collection (identification génétique, profil chimique, potentiel biologique) et une description semi-quantitative de l’ensemble des groupes chimiques est proposée par combinaison des données chromatographiques du détecteur Corona (CAD) et des données spectrales. Différentes méthodes d’extraction (électroporation, micro-ondes, CO2 supercritique et extraction hydroalcoolique) répondant aux préceptes de la chimie verte ont ensuite été comparées afin de sélectionner celle présentant le meilleur compromis entre le cahier des charges cosmétiques et l’enrichissement en molécules d’intérêt, en vue d’un transfert technologique.
The "Viola Tolosa" project aims to promote a plant produced in Occitanie region, the violet and especially the emblematic violet of Toulouse, essentially for non-food fields such as the chemistry of natural compounds and cosmetics. Violets belong to Viola genus including more than 500 species. Today, their uses are mainly limited to ornamental and culinary aspects. Nevertheless, the growing interest of the actors of the sector (industrials, growers and academicals) led the Occitanie region to implement the Viola Tolosa project entitled "Chemical speciation of the national collection of violets et establishment of an agro-refining of the violet of Toulouse ". It comprises four interdisciplinary aspects associating fundamental and applicative aspects. The characterization of the 100 or so plants in the violet collection owned by the Toulouse municipal greenhouses, including 80% identified by cultivar or vernacular names, was carried out through genetic and chemotaxonomic studies. A first genetic study based on internal transcribed spacers conducted to classify 58% of the collection as a species. This phylogenetic study was completed by chemotaxonomic studies of chemical profiles of flowers volatile fractions and non-volatile aerial parts of the collection. Discriminant analysis of orthogonal projection to latent structure model finally allowed indexation of 96% of all plants with a species name. Study of non-volatile secondary metabolites of leaves has also been undertaken to study the biological potential of violets, including antioxidant, antifungal and defense inducer. The detailed study of a hydroalcoholic extract of the violet of Toulouse allowed the identification of eight antioxidant compounds belonging to flavonoids and coumarins. Three of them have been characterized by 1D and 2D NMR and two were de novo dereplicated through molecular network. The application to the whole collection conducted to highlight six antioxidant compounds, including two coumarins and four flavonoids, predominant in two species. A species-activity relationship was therefore highlighted. Regarding antifungal activities carried out on five fungal strains, and defense inducer through the study of pathogenesis-related protein 1, the results are more ambiguous. However, some species showed better activity than others and this screening led to a strong hypothesis regarding the involvement of cyclotides. Finally, all this work led to the establishment of an identity card of violets of the collection (genetic identification, chemical profiling, et biological potential) et a semi-quantitative description of all the species is considered by combining chromatographic data based on corona detector et spectral data. Different methods of extraction (electroporation, microwaves, supercritical CO2 et hydroalcoholic extraction) corresponding to green chemistry precepts were then compared in order to select the one presenting the best compromise between cosmetic specifications et enrichment in molecules of interest, for technological transfer.
Esca is one of the main grapevine trunk diseases affecting vineyards worldwide. Phaeoacremonium minimum and Phaeomoniella chlamydospora are thought to be two of the main causal agents of this ...disease. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying plant defense responses in the grapevine trunk against esca-associated pathogens are poorly understood. To provide a first glimpse on the trunk responses to P. minimum and P. chlamydospora, transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were performed to compare and contrast host responses to these pathogens. Transcriptomic analysis revealed different gene expression reprogramming in the trunk in response to each fungus. Main significant differences were found among genes associated with Secondary Metabolism, Signaling and Hormone Signaling. An untargeted liquid chromatography–high resolution mass spectrometry metabolomic approach performed 3 weeks after inoculation was used and dereplication mainly highlighted flavonoids and stilbenes as plant defense metabolites in the infected trunk. Some metabolites were overproduced with both fungi, but specific responses were also observed. Particularly, a lipophilic flavonoid cluster was emphasized after P. minimum inoculation. The assessment of fungal infection 6 wpi showed a higher number of copies of P. minimum than P. chlamydospora. This dissimilarity in the level of colonization could be linked somehow to the metabolomic responses observed. Our results reveal both different gene expression reprogramming and metabolomic specific signatures depending on the wood pathogen. Altogether, these observations suggest that grapevine trunk can differently perceive and respond to P. minimum and P. chlamydospora.
A new strategy for the identification of known compounds in Streptomyces extracts that can be applied in the discovery of natural products is presented. The strategy incorporates screening a database ...of 5555 natural products including 5098 structures from Streptomyces sp., using a high-throughput LCMS data processing algorithm that utilizes HRMS data and predicted LC retention times (t R) as filters for rapid identification of known compounds in the natural product extract. The database, named StrepDB, contains for each compound the structure, molecular formula, molecular mass, and predicted LC retention time. All identified compounds are annotated and color coded for easier visualization. It is an indirect approach to quickly assess masses (which are not annotated) that may potentially lead to the discovery of new or novel structures. In addition, a spectral database named MbcDB was generated using the ACD/Spectrus DB Platform. MbcDB contains 665 natural products, each with structure, experimental HRESIMS, MS/MS, UV, and NMR spectra. StrepDB was used to screen a mutant Streptomyces albus extract, which led to the identification and isolation of two new compounds, legonmaleimides A and B, the structures of which were elucidated with the aid of MbcDB and spectroscopic techniques. The structures were confirmed by computer-assisted structure elucidation (CASE) methods using ACD/Structure Elucidator Suite. The developed methodology suggests a pipeline approach to the dereplication of extracts and discovery of novel natural products.
Abstract
The ability of phenolic compounds to autofluoresce upon illumination by UV or blue light was exploited to explore the nature and distribution of these metabolites within the flower petals, ...leaves and roots of the violet, Viola alba subsp. dehnhardtii. This was achieved through a dual complementary approach that combined fluorescence microscopy imaging of living intact tissues and chemical extraction of pulverized material. The blue to red fluorescence displayed by living tissues upon illumination was indicative of their richness in phenolic compounds. Phenolic acids were found in all tissues, while flavonoids characterized the aerial part of the plant, anthocyanidins being restricted to the petals. The chemical quantification of phenolics in plant extracts confirmed their tissue-specific distribution and abundance. A key finding was that the spectral signatures obtained through confocal microscopy of endogenous fluorophores in living tissues and their counterpart extracts share the same fluorescence patterns, pointing out the potential of fluorescence imaging of intact organs for a proper estimation of their phenolic content. In addition, this study highlighted a few distinct morphology cell types, in particular foliar-glandular-like structures, and jagged petal cell walls. Altogether, these data provide a comprehensive histochemical localization of phenolics in living tissues of a violet. Converting fluorescence imaging into a chemical imprint indicated that one can rely on fluorescence microscopy of intact living tissues as a rapid, non-destructive means to follow their phenolic imprint under various environmental conditions.
The Parma violet Viola alba subsp. dehnhardtii distinguishes from other violets by the presence of double chasmogame flowers harbouring up to 40 petals. The phenolic imprint of its different plant parts was characterized by a dual approach that combines fluorescence imaging of living tissues and chemical analysis. The knowledge gained from this study indicated that one can rely on fluorescence microscopy as a rapid, non-destructive means to follow the phenolic pattern of a given organ or tissue. It also highlighted a few distinct morphology cell types, most notably foliar-glandular-like structures, and jagged petal cell walls.
Introduction
In natural product research, bioassay-guided fractionation was previously widely employed but is now judged to be inadequate in terms of time and cost, particularly if only known ...compounds are ultimately isolated. The development of metabolomics, along with improvements in analytical tools, allows comprehensive metabolite profiling. This enables dereplication to target unknown active compounds early in the purification workflow.
Objectives
Starting from an ethanolic extract of violet leaves, this study aims to predict redox active compounds within a complex matrix through an untargeted metabolomics approach and correlation analysis.
Methods
Rapid fractionation of crude extracts was carried out followed by multivariate data analysis (MVA) of liquid chromatography–high resolution mass spectrometry (LC–HRMS) profiles. In parallel, redox active properties were evaluated by the capacity of the molecules to reduce 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH
·
) and superoxide (O
2
·−
) radicals using UV–Vis and electron spin resonance spectroscopies (ESR), respectively. A spectral similarity network (molecular networking) was used to highlight clusters involved in the observed redox activities.
Results
Dereplication on
Viola alba
subsp.
dehnhardtii
highlighted a reproducible pool of redox active molecules. Polyphenols, particularly
O-
glycosylated coumarins and
C-
glycosylated flavonoids, were identified and de novo dereplicated through molecular networking. Confirmatory analyses were undertaken by thin layer chromatography (TLC)–DPPH–MS assays and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of the most active compounds.
Conclusion
Our dereplication strategy allowed the screening of leaf extracts to highlight new biologically active metabolites in few steps with a limited amount of crude material and reduced time-consuming manipulations. This approach could be applied to any kind of natural extract for the study of various biological activities.
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