Integrative analysis of transcriptomic and metabolomic profiles uncovers health-promoting mechanisms of ovotransferrin in Caenorhabditis elegans

Ovotransferrin (OVT) is a natural protein with various nutritional and biological benefits. However, further research is required to explore its effects and underlying mechanisms. To bridge this gap, conventional physiological methods with modern multi-omics approaches were employed to investigate the functional effects, metabolic targets and potential mechanisms of OVT, using Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) as the model. Results revealed that OVT could improve oxidative stress and prolong lifespan in C. elegans by enhancing the activities of antioxidant enzymes and lowering levels of malondialdehyde, lipofuscin, and reactive oxygen species. Integrative analysis indicated that the upregulation of genes encoding Cytochrome P450 and sod-2, and the increase in polyunsaturated fatty acids and salidroside should be closely associated with its effects in C. elegans. Moreover, enhanced intestinal mitochondria activity was observed in SJ4143 mutants. These results suggested that the action mechanisms of OVT in health promotion involved regulating lipid metabolism and boosting energy metabolism.