Development of a method for the quantitation of chloro-, bromo-, and iodoacetic acids in alcoholic beverages

Chloroacetic, bromoacetic, and iodoacetic acids can be found in alcoholic beverages when they are used as preservatives/stabilizers or as disinfectants. As they are toxic components, their addition is not permitted under European Union and U.S. regulations. To date, no sensitive methods are available, and those proposed are very laborious. This paper describes a sensitive and straightforward method for the determination of the three monohalogenated acetic acids (m-HAAs) in wines and beers using static headspace extraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Prior to extraction, the target analytes were esterified to increase their volatility, and all parameters related to the extraction/methylation process were optimized to achieve high efficiency (>90%). The study examined the influence both of the ethanol concentration on the headspace partitioning and of the primary acids present in wine on the derivatization reaction of the m-HAAs. The proposed method allows the determination of these compounds at microgram per liter levels in alcoholic beverages.     

Agroforestry as a sustainable land use option to reduce wildfires risk in European Mediterranean areas

Agroforestry Systems - Wildfires have always been an integral part of the ecology of many terrestrial ecosystems, but their frequency is increasing in many parts of the world. Wildfires were once a...     

Marine fish egg hydration is aquaporin-mediated

The positive buoyancy of marine fish eggs in sea water, allowed by hydration of the oocyte, is critical for their survival and dispersion in the ocean. We isolated an aquaporin, SaAQP1o, that belongs to a unique subfamily of aquaporin-1-like channels specifically evolved in teleosts and mainly expressed in the ovary. We further show that hormone-induced fish oocyte hydration is a highly controlled process based on the interplay between protein hydrolysis and the translocation of SaAQP1o to the plasma membrane, indicating a specialized physiological role for this aquaporin.     

Protein isolates and concentrates of Lupinus free from toxic substances

The presence of alkaloids in different species and varieties of Lupin limit their use in the diet [4, 9]. Experiments have been carried out to obtain protein concentrates [3, 4] and isolates [10, 11, 12] of two species of Lupins.L. albus andL. mutabilis and these have been compared with those carried out with soya. The results obtained indicated the importance of this flour, due to its high protein content in relation to the weight of the initial product used. In the protein isolates, with comparable yields of 29%, the protein levels were 90% for the soya and 96% for theL. mutabilis. For the concentrates (65% yield in soya to 72% inL. albus) protein percentages of 52% for the soya, 47% forL. albus and 67% forL. mutabilis, were obtained.     

Partial purification of latent polyphenol oxidase from peach (Prunus persica L. Cv. Catherina). Molecular properties and kinetic characterization of soluble and membrane-bound forms

This paper analyzes the kinetic and structural characteristics of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) from peach cv. Catherina. The PPO was obtained in a latent state in both the soluble and membrane-bound forms, and both forms were activated by acid shock and the detergent SDS. Plant defense is the main function assigned to PPO, which would be activated by the acid environment resulting from tissue damage. On the other hand, it has been suggested that, physiologically, the role played by SDS may be fulfilled by lipids. Native isoelectric focusing identified two acid isoforms of pI 5.7 and 5.8 for the soluble form and one isoform with pI 5.7 for the membrane-bound form. A partially denaturing SDS-PAGE revealed two very close bands of activity in both cases, but the Western blot performed on a totally denaturing SDS-PAGE, using polyclonal antibodies against bean PPO, revealed a single band in the membrane-bound fraction with a molecular mass of 60 kDa.     

Bursatella leachii from Mar Menor as a Source of Bioactive Molecules: Preliminary Evaluation of the Nutritional Profile,In Vitro Biological Activities,and Fatty Acids Contents

Marine invertebrates contain nutritionally important elements that make them suitable to be included in the human diet, and they are considered an outstanding source of secondary metabolites with multiple biotechnological uses. The sea hare Bursatella leachii is an invasive species in Mar Menor that can be managed through the control of its reproduction and/or by massive biomass removal. In this context, this work evaluated the possible use of biomass from B. leachii in the food and cosmetics industries. Biomass was appraised for nutritional properties, and extracts were prepared and evaluated in vitro for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity, cholinesterase and tyrosinase inhibition, and for total contents in different phenolic groups. It had a moderate moisture level, low ash and fat levels, and an adequate protein amount and protein/lipid ratio. The fatty acids (FA) profile was mainly saturated, dominated by palmitic acid. The methanol extract had the highest acetylcholinesterase inhibition. The acetone extract had the strongest capacity to scavenge 1,1-diphenyl-2 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, reduce iron, inhibit tyrosinase, decrease nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated microglia cells, and the upmost levels of total phenolics, flavonoids, and tannins. Our results suggest multiple biotechnological applications for B. leachii biomass in different economic areas.