Food Chem 2026 Mar 15;511:148809. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2026.148809.

Integrated analysis of nutrient composition and metabolomics reveals the biochemical basis of color-associated quality in a newly bred purple sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus).

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Body color polymorphism in the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus is closely linked to its nutritional quality and commercial value. During pond aquaculture, some individuals of the newly bred purple morph fade to a light purple phenotype, but the biochemical mechanisms underlying this color-associated quality variation remain unclear. This study integrated nutrient composition analysis with metabolomic profiling to compare purple, light purple, and green morphs. The combined analyses revealed coordinated differences in amino acid, lipid, and trace element metabolism, particularly involving aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis and unsaturated fatty acid pathways. These results provide new chemical evidence linking body color variation to metabolic and nutritional differentiation, and indicate that the light purple morph tends to exhibit an overall intermediate biochemical profile between the purple and green forms.

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