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Seasonal Metabotypes in Small Birds
Author(s) -
Wone Bernard W. M.,
Kinchen Jason M.,
Swanson David L.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.874.2
Subject(s) - metabolic pathway , chemistry , oxidative phosphorylation , biochemistry , tryptophan , metabolism , amino acid , biology
Seasonal changes present challenges to free living birds, such as alterations to food availability and type, as well as metabolic adjustments to cold conditions. To better understand the mechanistic basis of this metabolic flexibility, we conducted a large‐scale metabolic profiling of pectoralis muscle in black‐capped chickadees (BCCH) and American goldfinches (AMGO) during summer and winter seasons. These muscle samples were analyzed using non‐biased, global metabolomics profiling technology based on UHLC/MS/MS 2 and GC/MS platforms. A total of 582 metabolites were characterized for summer and winter seasons. Comparison of global biochemical profiles in avian muscle revealed several metabolomic differences. Notably, BCCH showed greater than 2‐fold enrichment in advanced glycation end‐product, ceramides, creatine, branched fatty acid, ketone, and purine and pyrimidine metabolic pathways, whereas AMGO showed greater than 2‐fold enrichment in advanced glycation end‐product, ceramides, disaccharides and oligosaccharides, ascorbate and alderate, glutamate, lysine, and alanine and aspartate metabolic pathways. Declined levels in amino acids might reflect decreasing dietary protein intake and/or protein sparing to conserve muscle for thermogenesis in both bird species during winter. Concomitant decreased abundances in TCA cycle metabolites suggest faster cycling of the oxidative phosphorylation pathway to meet the metabolic demands of thermogenesis during winter. Accordingly, BCCH displayed shifts toward lipid oxidation with seasonal change, whereas AMGO showed declines in ketone bodies suggesting increased energy demands or subtle changes in substrate availability with seasonal change. Interestingly, increased levels of tryptophan metabolites, such as serotonin and tryptophan betaine, were observed for both species during winter season. Collectively, our results provide an unprecedented view into the complex biochemical regulatory events orchestrating seasonal metabolic phenotypes. Support or Funding Information This material is based upon work supported by the University of South Dakota start up funds.