New insights into the search of meat quality biomarkers assisted by Orbitrap Tribrid untargeted metabolite analysis and chemometrics

Food Chem. 2023 May 1:407:135173. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.135173. Epub 2022 Dec 9.

Abstract

Metabolite profiles of normal and defective dry, firm and dark (DFD) meat extracts with known ultimate pH (pHu) values were determined by Orbitrap Tribrid ID-X untargeted analysis coupled to chemometrics. An intelligent MS3 AcquireXTM workflow firstly approached the unambiguous characterization of detected features that were subsequently quantified by a complementary MS1 study of biological replicates. Chemometric research revealed how threonylphenylalanine (overexpressed in normal meats) together to tetradecadienoyl- and hydroxydodecanoyl-carnitines (both overexpressed in DFD meats) appropriately grouped meat groups assayed. Robustness of such biomarkers was confirmed through a time-delayed study of a blind set of samples (unknown pHu) and evidenced limitations of pHu as an isolated parameter for accurate meat quality differentiation. Other acyl-carnitines also characterized DFD samples, suggesting interferences induced by pre-slaughter stress (PSS) on lipid catabolism that would explain accumulation of such intermediate metabolites. Results achieved can ease understanding of biochemical mechanisms underlying meat quality defects.

Keywords: Acyl-carnitine intermediates; Chemometric analysis; Iterative LC-MS(n) workflow; Meat quality biomarkers; Untargeted metabolomics; Validation assessment.

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers
  • Chemometrics*
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Meat* / analysis
  • Metabolomics

Substances

  • Biomarkers