Jie Hang, Li Feng, Liu Qian, Zheng Tingting, Tan Helin, Feng Xiaolan, Zhao Guijun, Zeng Dejun, Li Diyan, Xu Zhongxian, Wang Tao
Sichuan Wildlife Rehabilitation and Breeding Research Center, Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong, China.
Bio-resource Research and Utilization Joint Key Laboratory of Sichuan and Chongqing, Chongqing Institute of Medicinal Plant Cultivation, Nanchuan, Chongqing, China.
Front Pharmacol. 2025 Apr 28;16:1503138. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1503138. eCollection 2025.
Musk is a blackish-brown solid used in traditional Chinese medicine with a unique and intense scent. Limited evidence on its function and pathways is available from databases due to the complexity, variability, and derivativity of chemical composition.
In this study, musk samples from three different stages during maturation: the end of June (group A), August (group B), and October (group C) were harvested from six male forest musk deer. A gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS) approach was used to explore the chemical composition. Results indicated the presence of 66 known and 14 unknown chemicals, including 29 aromatic compounds. Lipids (51.52%), organic oxygen compounds (28.79%), and organoheterocyclic compounds (12.12%) were the most abundant substances. A total of 13 differential metabolites were found, including four macrocyclic ketones and six androgens and derivatives that increased as musk matured. Biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids was enriched in differential metabolites across stages. Tetracosanoic acid, methyl ester, and TES1 [EC: 3.1.2.2] participated in the biosynthesis of muscone. A total of nine chemicals and six steroidogenic enzymes participated in steroid hormone biosynthesis.
This study annotates and defines metabolites in musk systematically, macrocyclic ketones (9.09%) and lipids (51.52%) were categorized unambiguously, suggesting that previous studies have underestimated the lipid content in musk, and critical role for lipid metabolism in musk gland development and odor profile formation. The high lipid content may reflect energy storage for glandular activity or serve as precursors for volatile compound synthesis, offering new mechanistic insights into musk maturation. Therefore, we preliminarily decipher the biosynthetic pathways of muscone and steroids through providing involved enzymes and metabolites. These results will deepen the understanding of the composition of natural musk and offer new theoretical insights to promote the comprehensive use of this resource.
麝香是一种棕黑色固体，用于传统中药，具有独特而浓郁的气味。由于其化学成分的复杂性、变异性和衍生性，数据库中关于其功能和途径的证据有限。
在本研究中，从六只雄性林麝身上采集了成熟过程中三个不同阶段的麝香样本：6月底（A组）、8月（B组）和10月（C组）。采用气相色谱-质谱联用（GC-MS）方法探索其化学成分。结果表明存在66种已知和14种未知化学物质，包括29种芳香族化合物。脂质（51.52%）、有机氧化合物（28.79%）和有机杂环化合物（12.12%）是含量最丰富的物质。共发现13种差异代谢物，包括四种大环酮类以及随着麝香成熟而增加的六种雄激素及其衍生物。不同阶段的差异代谢物中不饱和脂肪酸的生物合成过程显著富集。二十四烷酸甲酯和TES1[EC:3.1.2.2]参与了麝香酮的生物合成。共有九种化学物质和六种类固醇生成酶参与了类固醇激素的生物合成。
本研究系统地注释和定义了麝香中的代谢物，明确归类了大环酮类（9.09%）和脂质（51.52%），表明以往研究低估了麝香中的脂质含量，以及脂质代谢在麝香腺发育和气味形成中的关键作用。高脂质含量可能反映了腺体活动的能量储存，或作为挥发性化合物合成的前体，为麝香成熟提供了新的机制见解。因此，我们通过提供相关酶和代谢物初步解析了麝香酮和类固醇的生物合成途径。这些结果将加深对天然麝香成分的理解，并为促进该资源的综合利用提供新的理论见解。
