Elucidating Volatile Flavor Profiles and Metabolic Pathways in Northern Pike (<i>Esox lucius</i>) During Superchilled Storage: A Combined UPLC-Q-TOF/MS and GC-MS Approach
Temperature is the most critical factor in fish preservation. Superchilled storage represents a novel technology that effectively retards quality deterioration in aquatic products. This study investigated the flavor variation patterns and deterioration mechanisms in 16 northern pike (<i>Esox l...
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2025-07-01
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| Series: | Foods |
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| author | Shijie Bi Na Li Gao Gong Peng Gao Jinfang Zhu Batuer Abulikemu |
| author_facet | Shijie Bi Na Li Gao Gong Peng Gao Jinfang Zhu Batuer Abulikemu |
| author_sort | Shijie Bi |
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| description | Temperature is the most critical factor in fish preservation. Superchilled storage represents a novel technology that effectively retards quality deterioration in aquatic products. This study investigated the flavor variation patterns and deterioration mechanisms in 16 northern pike (<i>Esox lucius</i>) samples during superchilled storage (−3 °C) based on analysis using gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS). The results indicate that GC-MS analysis identified 25 key volatile flavor compounds. These comprised seven ketones, thirteen alcohols, aldehydes including 2-methylbutanal, esters such as 2-heptyl acetate and methyl butyrate, as well as nitrogen-containing compounds, exemplified by pyrazines and indole. Non-targeted metabolomics further revealed four pivotal metabolic pathways, glycerophospholipid metabolism, purine metabolism, the pentose phosphate pathway, and arginine biosynthesis. These metabolic pathways were found to regulate flavor changes through modulation of lipid oxidation, nucleotide degradation, and amino acid metabolism. Notably, the arginine biosynthesis pathway exhibited significant correlations with the development of characteristic cold-storage off-flavors, mediated by glutamate accumulation and fumarate depletion. This investigation provided a theoretical foundation for optimizing preservation strategies in cold-water fish species at the molecular level. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8ac1a862c39e43e1834cdcd3c9657e5a |
| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-8ac1a862c39e43e1834cdcd3c9657e5a2025-08-20T04:00:50ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582025-07-011415255610.3390/foods14152556Elucidating Volatile Flavor Profiles and Metabolic Pathways in Northern Pike (<i>Esox lucius</i>) During Superchilled Storage: A Combined UPLC-Q-TOF/MS and GC-MS ApproachShijie Bi0Na Li1Gao Gong2Peng Gao3Jinfang Zhu4Batuer Abulikemu5College of Food Science and Pharmacy, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, ChinaCollege of Food Science and Pharmacy, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, ChinaCollege of Animal Sciences, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, ChinaCollege of Food Science and Pharmacy, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, ChinaCollege of Food Science and Pharmacy, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, ChinaCollege of Food Science and Pharmacy, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, ChinaTemperature is the most critical factor in fish preservation. Superchilled storage represents a novel technology that effectively retards quality deterioration in aquatic products. This study investigated the flavor variation patterns and deterioration mechanisms in 16 northern pike (<i>Esox lucius</i>) samples during superchilled storage (−3 °C) based on analysis using gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS). The results indicate that GC-MS analysis identified 25 key volatile flavor compounds. These comprised seven ketones, thirteen alcohols, aldehydes including 2-methylbutanal, esters such as 2-heptyl acetate and methyl butyrate, as well as nitrogen-containing compounds, exemplified by pyrazines and indole. Non-targeted metabolomics further revealed four pivotal metabolic pathways, glycerophospholipid metabolism, purine metabolism, the pentose phosphate pathway, and arginine biosynthesis. These metabolic pathways were found to regulate flavor changes through modulation of lipid oxidation, nucleotide degradation, and amino acid metabolism. Notably, the arginine biosynthesis pathway exhibited significant correlations with the development of characteristic cold-storage off-flavors, mediated by glutamate accumulation and fumarate depletion. This investigation provided a theoretical foundation for optimizing preservation strategies in cold-water fish species at the molecular level.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/15/2556<i>Esox lucius</i>superchilled storagevolatile compoundsmetabolomics |
| spellingShingle | Shijie Bi Na Li Gao Gong Peng Gao Jinfang Zhu Batuer Abulikemu Elucidating Volatile Flavor Profiles and Metabolic Pathways in Northern Pike (<i>Esox lucius</i>) During Superchilled Storage: A Combined UPLC-Q-TOF/MS and GC-MS Approach Foods <i>Esox lucius</i> superchilled storage volatile compounds metabolomics |
| title | Elucidating Volatile Flavor Profiles and Metabolic Pathways in Northern Pike (<i>Esox lucius</i>) During Superchilled Storage: A Combined UPLC-Q-TOF/MS and GC-MS Approach |
| title_full | Elucidating Volatile Flavor Profiles and Metabolic Pathways in Northern Pike (<i>Esox lucius</i>) During Superchilled Storage: A Combined UPLC-Q-TOF/MS and GC-MS Approach |
| title_fullStr | Elucidating Volatile Flavor Profiles and Metabolic Pathways in Northern Pike (<i>Esox lucius</i>) During Superchilled Storage: A Combined UPLC-Q-TOF/MS and GC-MS Approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | Elucidating Volatile Flavor Profiles and Metabolic Pathways in Northern Pike (<i>Esox lucius</i>) During Superchilled Storage: A Combined UPLC-Q-TOF/MS and GC-MS Approach |
| title_short | Elucidating Volatile Flavor Profiles and Metabolic Pathways in Northern Pike (<i>Esox lucius</i>) During Superchilled Storage: A Combined UPLC-Q-TOF/MS and GC-MS Approach |
| title_sort | elucidating volatile flavor profiles and metabolic pathways in northern pike i esox lucius i during superchilled storage a combined uplc q tof ms and gc ms approach |
| topic | <i>Esox lucius</i> superchilled storage volatile compounds metabolomics |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/15/2556 |
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