Application of Untargeted Metabolomics to Reveal the Taste-Related Metabolite Profiles during Mandarin Fish (<i>Siniperca chuatsi</i>) Fermentation
Yueqi Wang,
Shi Nie,
Chunsheng Li,
Huan Xiang,
Yongqiang Zhao,
Shengjun Chen,
Laihao Li,
Yanyan Wu
Affiliations
Yueqi Wang
Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of The People’s Republic of China, National R&D Center for Aquatic Product Processing, South China Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China
Shi Nie
Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of The People’s Republic of China, National R&D Center for Aquatic Product Processing, South China Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China
Chunsheng Li
Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of The People’s Republic of China, National R&D Center for Aquatic Product Processing, South China Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China
Huan Xiang
Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of The People’s Republic of China, National R&D Center for Aquatic Product Processing, South China Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China
Yongqiang Zhao
Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of The People’s Republic of China, National R&D Center for Aquatic Product Processing, South China Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China
Shengjun Chen
Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of The People’s Republic of China, National R&D Center for Aquatic Product Processing, South China Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China
Laihao Li
Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of The People’s Republic of China, National R&D Center for Aquatic Product Processing, South China Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China
Yanyan Wu
Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of The People’s Republic of China, National R&D Center for Aquatic Product Processing, South China Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China
Spontaneous fermentation is a critical processing step that determines the taste quality of fermented mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi). Here, untargeted metabolomics using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with Q Exactive tandem mass spectrometry was employed to characterize the taste-related metabolite profiles during the fermentation of mandarin fish. The results demonstrated that the taste profiles of mandarin fish at different stages of fermentation could be distinguished using an electronic tongue technique. Sixty-two metabolites, including amino acids, small peptides, fatty acids, alkaloids, and organic acids, were identified in fermented mandarin fish samples. Additional quantitative analysis of amino acids revealed glutamic acid and aspartic acid as significant contributors to the fresh flavor. Furthermore, the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis revealed that amino acid metabolism was the dominant pathway throughout the fermentation process. This study provides a scientific and theoretical reference for the targeted regulation of the quality of fermented mandarin fish.