Δ-Decanolactone targets PLIN2 and FABP3 in goat milk: Longitudinal multi-omics framework unravels structural destabilization and metabolic reprogramming from flavor fraud

Abstract

Goat milk is prized for its nutritional value, but the illegal addition of δ-decanolactone to enhance flavor poses risks to product integrity and safety. This study employed a tripartite multi-omics framework integrating metabolomics, lipidomics, and proteomics, combined with FTIR and CLSM to systematically elucidate the multifaceted effects of δ-decanolactone on goat milk. Chemometric and bioinformatic pipelines identified dysregulated molecules and pathways, while molecular docking validated interactions with key targets. δ-Decanolactone modifies the secondary structure of proteins, reducing α-helix by 18.3 % and increasing β-sheet by 38.1 %, while concurrently disrupting the integrity of milk fat globule membrane, compromising the emulsifying and functional properties. Multi-omics profiling revealed around 166 metabolites, 378 lipids, and 41 proteins were dysregulated at the high δ-decanolactone exposure. Joint analysis highlights that δ-decanolactone perturbs in amino acid-fatty acid-phospholipid axis via down-regulating PLIN2, FABP3, and LPL levels, and up-regulating B4GALT1 and XDH levels. Molecular docking confirmed stable interactions between δ-decanolactone and key enzymes, linking the observed structural and functional impairments. These findings establish δ-decanolactone as a multifunctional disruptor of goat milk matrix integrity, driving metabolic rewiring and structural collapse. The identified biomarkers provide actionable tools for adulteration monitoring, supporting stricter regulatory policies and optimized dairy processing to safeguard nutritional quality and consumer safety.