Abstract：
Apostichopus japonicus is a marine invertebrate with high economic value. Analysis of the effects of age on the structure of this species is important for understanding the status of the population and conservation. In this study, metabolite analysis of the body walls of A. japonicus of three different ages (1, 2, and 3 years) was performed using LC-MS/MS. Metabolite analysis was performed for the KEGG metabolic pathway. The partial least squares-discriminant analysis is clearly distinguished metabolites in the three groups of A. japonicus. A total of 59, 222, and 179 different metabolites were detected in the age 3 vs age 2, age 3 vs age 1, and age 2 vs age 1 controls, respectively (P < 0.05). These metabolic differences involved several metabolic pathways, including phenylalanine metabolism, taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, sulfur metabolism et al. Thiamin, riboflavin, lipoic acid, acetyl l-carnitine levels increase with age, trans-10-heptadecenoic acid, stearic acid, pentadecanoic acid, dibutyl sebacate, and 8,15-diHETE levels decrease with age, which these metabolites can be used as potential markers to determine the age of A. japonicus. Our results provide the foundation for determining the age of A. japonicus and are important for the conservation of germplasm resources of A. japonicus.
摘要：
刺参是一种具有较高经济价值的海洋无脊椎动物。分析年龄对该物种结构的影响对于了解种群和保护状况很重要。在这项研究中,使用LC-MS/MS对三种不同年龄（1、2和3年）的刺槐体壁进行了代谢物分析。对KEGG代谢途径进行代谢物分析。偏最小二乘判别分析清楚地区分了三组竹节虫中的代谢物。在3岁与2岁，3岁与1岁以及2岁与1岁的对照组中，共检测到59、222和179种不同的代谢物。分别为(P<0.05)。这些代谢差异涉及几种代谢途径，包括苯丙氨酸代谢，牛磺酸和下牛磺酸代谢，硫代谢等。硫胺素,核黄素,硫辛酸,乙酰左旋肉碱水平随着年龄增加，反式-10-十七烯酸，硬脂酸,十五烷酸,癸二酸二丁酯,8,15-diHETE水平随着年龄的增长而下降，这些代谢产物可以作为潜在的标志物来确定刺槐的年龄。本研究结果为确定日本刺槐的年龄奠定了基础，对日本刺槐种质资源的保存具有重要意义。
