Spinacia oleracea, or spinach, is a cool-season leafy green that boasts a rich nutrient profile. With origins in Persia, spinach has become a global dietary phenomenon. Its leaves are a powerhouse of essential vitamins (A, C, K, and folate), minerals (iron, calcium, and magnesium), and antioxidants. The combination of these elements makes Spinacia oleracea a valuable addition to a balanced diet, promoting overall health and well-being.
The metabolism of Spinacia oleracea is a complex network of biochemical reactions that govern the synthesis and breakdown of various compounds within the plant. Understanding the metabolic pathways in spinach is crucial for unraveling its nutritional content, flavor profile, and potential health benefits.
Creative Proteomics, with its extensive expertise in biological analysis, offers a specialized service focused on deciphering the metabolomics of Spinacia oleracea. This comprehensive analysis provides insights into the abundance, diversity, and dynamics of metabolites within spinach.
Nutritional Profiling: Conduct an exhaustive Spinacia oleracea metabolomics analysis to identify and quantify essential nutrients, unraveling the nutritional essence of spinach. Informing nutritional guidelines and product development for enhanced health benefits.
Probing Bioactive Compounds: Investigate bioactive compounds in Spinacia oleracea, emphasizing potential health benefits and applications. Supporting pharmaceutical research for natural health products. Contributing to the development of spinach-based dietary supplements.
Optimizing Agriculture: Gain insights into Spinacia oleracea metabolism to optimize agricultural practices for increased yield and quality.
Harvest Spinacia oleracea samples at a specific growth stage to ensure consistent results. Select diverse samples representing the full spectrum of plant metabolites. Thoroughly clean and preprocess samples to remove contaminants, ensuring data integrity.
Workflow for Metabolomics Service
Plant Part | Metabolite Concentrations (µM) | Storage Conditions | Extraction Method | Analytical Technique | Data Analysis Method | Replicates |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Leaves | Glucose: 25.4, Chlorophyll: 15.2 | -80°C | Homogenization | LC-MS | Metabolite profiling | 3 biological, 3 technical |
Roots | Sucrose: 18.7, Fructose: 12.8 | -70°C | Grinding | GC-MS | Statistical analysis | 4 biological, 2 technical |
Seeds | Starch: 9.5, Fatty Acids: 7.3 | -75°C | Sonication | NMR | Pathway analysis | 3 biological, 3 technical |
Metabolite Profiling Report: A detailed report highlighting identified metabolites and their concentrations.
Pathway Analysis Results: Insights into the metabolic pathways active in Spinacia oleracea.
Quantitative Data: Precise quantification of key metabolites, aiding in further research and applications.
Raw Data Files: Access to raw data files generated during the analysis for client validation and independent exploration.
Case. Impact of NaCl Irrigation on the Metabolite Composition of Spinach
Background
Salt stress is a crucial environmental factor known to impede plant growth and productivity by inducing various physiological changes, including nutritional imbalance, water deficit, oxidative stress, and disruption of cellular ion homeostasis. This study focuses on understanding the effect of salt stress on the nutritional quality of spinach, a salt-sensitive leafy vegetable with mild salinity tolerance. The investigation involves the analysis of metabolite profiles under different NaCl concentrations to elucidate the complex responses of spinach to salt stress.
Samples
Spinach seeds were germinated and cultivated under controlled conditions, with subsequent irrigation using different NaCl concentrations (0, 50, 100, and 200 mM). The study includes the analysis of plant growth, mineral content, and the comprehensive profiling of primary and secondary metabolites.
Technological Methods
Cultivation involved the germination of spinach seeds, transfer to pots, and growth under controlled conditions. The plants were irrigated daily with varying NaCl concentrations for 20 days before harvest. Techniques such as ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were employed for metabolite profiling. Additional analyses included determination of total phenolic compounds, carotenoids, and mineral content. Statistical analyses, including multivariate statistics and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), were performed to assess metabolite changes.
Results
The results indicate a concentration-dependent increase in soil electrical conductivity (EC) due to NaCl irrigation, leading to altered spinach growth. While plant height decreased with increasing NaCl concentration, fresh weight showed a non-linear response. The analysis of mineral content revealed significant changes in Na+, K+, Ca2+, Fe2+, and P+. Metabolomic profiling using UPLC-Q-TOF MS and GC-MS showed distinct separation of sample groups, indicating substantial changes in metabolite composition under salt stress. Identified metabolites, including flavonoids, amino acids, and lipids, exhibited concentration-dependent decreases, while some showed an increase.
The proposed spinach metabolomic pathway associated with salt stress highlights changes in primary and secondary metabolites involved in energy production, sensory quality, and health benefits. Although the pathway requires further validation, the study suggests a negative impact of NaCl irrigation on the nutritional quality of spinach.
Volcano plot of the Spinacia oleracea nectar metabolome
Identification of metabolites contibuting to the separation among sample groups on the PLS-DA scores plots of the data analyzed using GC/MS
Reference