%0 Journal Article
%T Dissecting the binding effect of Crocetin glucosyltransferase 2 in crocetin biotransformation in saffron (Crocus sativus L.) from different origins.
%A Zhu J
%A Jia W
%A Peng J
%J Food Chem
%V 455
%N 0
%D 2024 Oct 15
%M 38838622
%F 9.231
%R 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.139917
%X Crocus sativus L. is a both medicinal and food bulbous flower whose qualities are geographically characterized. However, identification involving different places of origin of such substances is currently limited to single-omics mediated content analysis. Integrated metabolomics and proteomics, 840 saffron samples from six countries (Spain, Greece, Iran, China, Japan, and India) were analyzed using the QuEChERS extraction method. A total of 77 differential metabolites and 14 differential proteins were identified. The limits of detection of the method were 1.33 to 8.33 μg kg-1, and the recoveries were 85.56% to 105.18%. Using homology modeling and molecular docking, the Gln84, Lys195, Val182 and Pro184 sites of Crocetin glucosyltransferase 2 were found to be the targets of crocetin binding. By multivariate statistical analysis (PCA and PLS-DA), different saffron samples were clearly distinguished. The results provided the basis for the selection and identification of high quality saffron from different producing areas.