Effect of various cryostabilizers on the production and reactivity of formaldehyde in frozen-stored minced blue whiting muscle

The production of formaldehyde in frozen-stored minced blue whiting muscle was described by a rectangular hyperbolic model, and the effectiveness of each cryostabilizer is discussed in terms of its parameters. The maltodextrins assayed noticeably inhibited formaldehyde production, this effect being greater at -20 degrees C than at -10 degrees C. Sucrose was only effective at -20 degrees C. It seems that these compounds act by restricting molecular diffusion. The effect of each cryostabilizer on formaldehyde binding was closely regulated by its effect on production. This is discussed in terms of the binding equation parameters. The binding of formaldehyde during frozen storage was dependent on protein rearrangements leading to reactive groups becoming available. The constraints of cryostabilizers on molecular diffusion reduced the exposure of these groups. Consequently, the interpretation of formaldehyde reactivity was biased, leading to conclusions different from those that would be obtained from a study done under standard conditions.     

Inhibition of formaldehyde production in frozen-stored minced blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) muscle by cryostabilizers: an approach from the glassy state theory

Adding maltodextrins to minced blue whiting muscle inhibited formaldehyde production during storage at -10 and -20 degrees C. Sucrose, however, was effective only at -20 degrees C. These results were not proportional to the difference between the storage temperature and the ice-melting onset (T(m)'), and freeze-concentration had to be considered. In the face of serious limitations to do this, resource was made to the state diagram for the sucrose-water binary system and the percentage variation of the ice-melting endotherm area of the different samples. A higher T(m)' and a lower freeze-concentration would account for the inhibiting effects of maltodextrins, whereas sucrose, despite diminishing T(m)', had an effect nearly as great as maltodextrins at -20 degrees C but had hardly any at -10 degrees C. The reason for this seems to lie in a lower freeze-concentration of solutes in the unfrozen water phase. Similarly, the differences found between sucrose and maltodextrins, as well as among maltodextrins, were also explained in terms of T(m)' and freeze-concentration.     

Added triacylglycerols do not hasten hemoglobin-mediated lipid oxidation in washed minced cod muscle

Hemoglobin-mediated lipid oxidation in washed, minced cod muscle was related to the triacylglycerol to membrane lipid ratio. The same rapid development of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and painty odor occurred with and without the presence of up to 15% menhaden oil. Without hemoglobin, development of TBARS and painty odor was slow, despite a high amount of hydroperoxides in samples with oil added (1135 micromol/kg muscle). This suggested that hemoglobin reacted by cleaving preformed hydroperoxides into secondary oxidation products. Nearly doubling the hemoglobin concentration approximately doubled the extent of lipid oxidation with and without added oil. This indicated that hemoglobin was limiting for the oxidation reaction. The noneffect of added oil suggests that membrane lipids and/or preformed membrane lipid hydroperoxides provided sufficient substrate in hemoglobin-catalyzed oxidation of washed minced cod muscle. Fe(2+-)ADP did not induce any oxidation of washed minced cod with/without added oil. Results suggest that lipid oxidation in fatty fish may be more related to the quantity and type of the aqueous pro-oxidant and the membrane lipids than to variations in total fat contents.     

Interactive effects of microbial transglutaminase and recombinant cystatin on the mackerel and hairtail muscle protein

Interactive effects of microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) and recombinant cystatin on the mackerel and hairtail water soluble protein (WSP), salt soluble protein (SSP), and muscle protein (MP) were investigated. According to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and enzymic activity analyses, cross-linking of mackerel and hairtail myosin heavy chain and low molecular mass compounds and formation of epsilon-(gamma-glutamyl)lysine cross-links were observed on samples with MTGase, while the recombinant cystatin could effectively inhibit the cathepsins and subsequently prevent degradation of proteins during setting. The cathepsins and MTGase activities in WSP, SSP, and MP solutions decreased, but the recombinant cystatin activity increased during setting at 45 degrees C.     

Mercury distribution and lipid oxidation in fish muscle: effects of washing and isoelectric protein precipitation

Nearly all the mercury (Hg) in whole muscle from whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) and walleye (Sander vitreus) was present as methyl mercury (MeHg). The Hg content in whole muscle from whitefish and walleye was 0.04-0.09 and 0.14-0.81 ppm, respectively. The myofibril fraction contained approximately three-fourths of the Hg in whitefish and walleye whole muscle. The sarcoplasmic protein fraction (e.g., press juice) was the next most abundant source of Hg. Isolated myosin, triacylglycerols, and cellular membranes contained the least Hg. Protein isolates prepared by pH shifting in the presence of citric acid did not decrease Hg levels. Addition of cysteine during washing decreased the Hg content in washed muscle probably through the interaction of the sulfhydryl group in cysteine with MeHg. Primary and secondary lipid oxidation products were lower during 2 °C storage in isolates prepared by pH shifting compared to those of washed or unwashed mince from whole muscle. This was attributed to removing some of the cellular membranes by pH shifting. Washing the mince accelerated lipid peroxide formation but decreased secondary lipid oxidation products compared to that of the unwashed mince. This suggested that there was a lipid hydroperoxide generating system that was active upon dilution of aqueous antioxidants and pro-oxidants.     

Possible cryptic stock structure for minke whales in the North Atlantic: Implications for conservation and management

The minke whale is the last of the great whale species to be hunted in significant numbers. Effective management must include an understanding of how genetic diversity is divided and distributed among putative local populations, and as for many migratory species, this is complicated for the minke whale by large-scale seasonal movement among geographic regions. The problem is that the geographic identity of breeding populations is not known, and instead these whales are predictably found and hunted where different breeding stocks may mix on seasonal feeding grounds. Here we use microsatellite DNA and mtDNA markers to investigate minke whale population structure across the species’ range in the North Atlantic. We found no evidence of geographic structure comparing putative populations in recognized management areas, though some limited structure had been indicated in earlier studies. However, using individual genotypes and likelihood assignment methods, we identified two putative cryptic stocks distributed across the North Atlantic in similar proportions in different regions. Some differences in the proportional representation of these populations may explain some of the apparent differentiation between regions detected previously. The implication would be that minke whales range extensively across the North Atlantic seasonally, but segregate to some extent on at least two breeding grounds. This means that established stock boundaries in the North Atlantic, currently used for management, should be re-considered to ensure the effective conservation of genetic diversity.     

Hemoglobin-mediated oxidation of washed minced cod muscle phospholipids: effect of pH and hemoglobin source

Lipid pro-oxidative properties and deoxygenation/autoxidation patterns of hemoglobins from nonmigratory white-fleshed fish (winter flounder and Atlantic pollock) and migratory dark-fleshed fish (Atlantic mackerel and menhaden) were compared during ice storage at pH 7.2 and 6. A washed cod mince model system and a buffer model system were used for studying lipid changes and hemoglobin changes, respectively. TBARS and painty odor were followed as markers for lipid oxidation. At pH 6, all four hemoglobins were highly and equally active as pro-oxidants. At pH 7.2, pro-oxidation by all hemoglobins except that from pollock was slowed down, and activity ranked as pollock > mackerel > menhaden > flounder. The higher catalytic activities of the hemoglobins at pH 6 than at pH 7.2 corresponded with higher formation of deoxyhemoglobin and methemoglobin. Pollock had the most extensive formation of deoxy- and methemoglobin at both pH values, which could explain its high catalytic activity. The pro-oxidative differences among the other hemoglobins at pH 7.2 did not correlate with deoxygenation and autoxidation reactions. This indicates involvement of other structural differences between the hemoglobins such as differences in the heme-crevice volume. It is suggested that a biological reason for the species differences was their adaptations to different depths/water temperatures.     

Role of beer lipid-binding proteins in preventing lipid destabilization of foam

The negative effect of fatty acids on the foam stability of beer has been assessed. Long-chain fatty acids are far more damaging than short-chain fatty acids on the foam stability of beer at the concentrations employed. Polypeptides have been isolated from an all malt beer by hydrophobic interaction chromatography. Using this technique five groups of polypeptides were isolated, group 1 being the least hydrophobic and group 5 the most hydrophobic, all of which exhibited similar polypeptide compositions by SDS-PAGE. All five hydrophobic polypeptide groups bound [(14)C]linoleic acid; however, group 5, the most hydrophobic group, bound the most linoleic acid. Groups 1 and 5 were titrated with cis-parinaric acid (CPA) to produce binding curves, which were compared with a binding curve obtained for bovine serum albumin (BSA). Groups 1 and 5 both produced binding curves that saturated at approximately 5.5 microM and 4 microM CPA and had association constants (K(a)) of 6.27 x 10(7) and 1.62 x 10(7) M(-1), respectively. In comparison, BSA produced a binding curve that saturated at 6 microM CPA and had a K(a) of 3.95 x 10(7) M(-1). Further investigation has shown that group 1 is pH sensitive and group 5 pH insensitive with respect to lipid binding. The lipid-binding activity of group 5 was also shown to be unaffected by ethanol concentration. Linoleic acid (5 microM) when added to beer resulted in unstable foam. Group 5 was added to the lipid-damaged beer and was shown to restore the foam stability to values that were obtained for the control beer. It has therefore been demonstrated that proteins isolated from beer have a lipid-binding capacity and that they can convey a degree of protection against lipid-induced foam destabilization.     

Ultrastructural changes and structure and mobility of myowater in frozen-stored hake (Merluccius merluccius L.) muscle: relationship with functionality and texture

The ultrastructural changes and the main Raman spectral features of water (3100-3500 and 50-600 cm(-)(1) ranges) in frozen-stored hake were studied with the aim of connecting these changes with loss of some functional properties such as water holding capacity, and with modifications of muscle texture. The following results were obtained: (a) The changes in the spaces between myofibrils can be related to modifications of shear resistance. (b) The behavior of the strong 160 cm(-)(1) band can be related to conformational transitions of muscle proteins, to changes in the structure of muscle water, and/or to alterations in protein-water interactions. (c) There were intensity changes in the nu(s)(OH) band that may be attributable to transfer of water to larger spatial domains during frozen storage.     

Effect of molecular structure of phenolic families as hydroxycinnamic acids and catechins on their antioxidant effectiveness in minced fish muscle

The antioxidant effectiveness of two different families of phenolic compounds, hydroxycinnamic acids and catechins, added as a power (0.001% w/w) to chilled minced horse mackerel muscle was evaluated. Caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, o-coumaric acid, and ferulic acid were selected as hydroxycinnamic acids with similar molecular structures. Commercial catechins with different numbers of hydroxylic groups, including catechin, gallocatechin, catechin gallate, and gallocatechin gallate, were also tested. The effectiveness found was individually discussed for each family as a function of the molecular structure. The capacity of hydroxycinnamic acids for donating electrons seems to play the most significant role for retarding the development of rancidity in fish muscle. Conversely, the properties related to the ability for chelating metals and the distribution between oily and aqueous phases were not correlated with the inhibitory activities. Among hydroxycinnamic acids, the results highlighted the potent antioxidant activity of 10 ppm caffeic acid in inhibiting lipid oxidation in fish muscle. Its antioxidant efficacy was similar to that of propyl gallate. Among catechins, catechin showed the highest antioxidant activity. There was an increment of efficacy in fish muscle using concentrations ranging between 10 and 100 ppm of both caffeic acid and catechin.     

Rapid post-mortem glycolysis and delay chilling of turkey carcasses cause alterations to protein extractability and degradation of breast muscle proteins.

SDS-PAGE banding patterns of myofibrillar protein samples from turkey breast muscle with pH < or =5.8 at 15 min post-mortem (rapid glycolyzing) contained 133, 142, and 165 kDa bands that were absent in samples from carcasses with pH >6.0 at 15 min post-mortem (normal glycolyzing). These extra protein bands contained fragments of myosin as identified by Western blot analysis. Myosin fragments were also observed in protein samples from breast muscle not allowed to cool until 110 min post-mortem (delay chilled). In addition to myosin degradation, neublin degradation was more extensive in samples from rapid glycolyzing carcasses than for normal controls. Creatine kinase and glycogen phosphorylase were present in myofibrillar protein extracts of rapid glycolyzing carcasses in higher quantities than in normal controls. Results of this study provide insight into the molecular basis for previously reported reductions in meat quality of rapid glycolyzing and delay chilled turkey meat.     

Influence of dietary fat and vitamin E supplementation on free radical production and on lipid and protein oxidation in turkey muscle extracts

The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of dietary fat (6% soy oil or rapeseed oil or tallow) and alpha-tocopheryl acetate supplementation at two levels (30 or 200 ppm) on radical production, measured by ESR spectroscopy, and on lipid and protein oxidation in turkey muscle extracts oxidized by an enzymic system (NADPH, ADP, FeSO(4)/cytochrome P450 reductase). Two muscles were tested: pectoralis major (glycolytic) and sartorius (oxidative) muscles. Radical production measured by ESR was higher in pectoralis major muscle than in sartorius muscle, whereas lipid and protein oxidation was more important in sartorius muscle, showing the importance of the pro-/antioxidant ratio in oxidative processes in muscular cells and of the measurement methodology to appreciate the free radical production. Dietary fat had no effect on the level of ESR signals, whereas feeding of animals with soy oil induced higher oxidation of lipids. Protein oxidation was less sensitive to the nature of the dietary fat than lipid oxidation. Vitamin E supplementation significantly decreased radical production, as measured by ESR spectroscopy. Vitamin E also decreased lipid and protein oxidation, but the effect of vitamin E on protein oxidation was less pronounced than on lipid oxidation.     

Possible role of ectomycorrhizal fungi in cycling of aluminium in podzols

Budget studies in boreal podzols indicate a considerable upward transport of aluminium (Al) from the mineral soil into the organic horizon. In this paper we studied if ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungi can be involved in this upward transport via their extramatrical hyphae. We tested the use of gallium (Ga) as proxy for Al. Transport of Al through EcM hyphae was studied in vitro in a two-compartment Petri dish system. Two of the five fungal isolates tested transported Al. Using Ga instead of Al revealed the same trend in these systems, confirming the use of Ga as proxy for Al. Upward transport of Ga was studied in an artificial podzol. Pinus sylvestris seedlings were colonised by a natural community of EcM fungi from fresh forest soil. Gallium addition to the mineral soil led to increased Ga content in roots in the organic horizon and in the shoot. Upward Ga allocation was significantly higher when roots were excluded from the mineral soil by a mesh, only allowing fungal mycelium to grow through. We conclude that at least some EcM fungi transport Al and that Ga, and probably also Al, can be transported upwards by EcM fungal hyphae in a podzol system. These findings support the hypothesis that EcM fungi play a role in upward transport of Al in podzols.     

Effects of released iron, lipid peroxides, and ascorbate in trout hemoglobin-mediated lipid oxidation of washed cod muscle

Approximately 7% of the iron associated with hemoglobin was released from the heme protein during 2 degrees C storage in washed cod muscle. EDTA (2.2 mM) neither accelerated nor inhibited hemoglobin-mediated lipid oxidation based on the formation of lipid peroxides and TBARS. This suggested that low molecular weight iron was a minor contributor to hemoglobin-mediated lipid oxidation in washed cod muscle. Ascorbate (2.2 mM) was a modest to highly effective inhibitor of hemoglobin-mediated lipid oxidation depending on which washed cod preparation was assessed. Experimental evidence suggested that the ability of residual ascorbate to breakdown accumulating lipid hydroperoxides to reactive lipid radicals can explain the shift of ascorbate from an antioxidant to a pro-oxidant. Increasing the lipid peroxide content in washed cod muscle accelerated hemoglobin-mediated lipid oxidation and decreased the ability of ascorbate to inhibit lipid oxidation. Preformed lipid peroxide content in cod muscle was highly variable from fish to fish.     

Determination of volatile N-nitrosamines in frankfurters containing minced fish and surimi

A method was developed to quantitatively measure volatile N-nitrosamines, particularly N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), in cured minced fish or surimi-meat frankfurters. This method is free from artifact formation. First, 2 dry solid-phase extraction columns are prepared. Solvent is passed through the top column containing the fish-meat into a second column containing acid Celite. The eluate from the Celite column is then passed through a third column containing silica gel. Nitrosamines are eluted from the acid Celite column and then from the silica gel column into the same receiver. Recovery of the internal standard, N-nitrosoazetidine, added at the 10 ppb level, was 86.5%. In addition, a few samples of nitrite-treated salmon (lox) were also tested for N-nitrosamines. The results show that the method is applicable to samples containing nitrite-treated fish and fish-derived products.     

Effects of fish heme protein structure and lipid substrate composition on hemoglobin-mediated lipid oxidation

Hemoglobin (Hb) promoted lipid oxidation more effectively in washed tilapia as compared to washed cod in spite of a 2.8-fold higher polyenoic index in the washed cod. This suggested that increasing the fatty acid unsaturation of the substrate did not accelerate the onset of lipid oxidation. Substantial phospholipid hydrolysis in the washed cod was observed, which has the potential to inhibit lipid oxidation. MetHb formation and lipid oxidation occurred more rapidly at pH 6.3 as compared to pH 7.4. Trout Hb autoxidized faster and was a better promoter of lipid oxidation as compared to tilapia Hb. The greater ability of trout Hb to promote lipid oxidation was attributed in part to its lower conformational and structural stability based on secondary and tertiary structure, acid-induced unfolding, and thermal aggregation measurements. It is suggested that the structural instability and lipid oxidation capacity of trout Hb were at least partly due to low hemin affinity. Trout and tilapia Hb were equivalent in their ability to cause lipid oxidation in washed cod muscle heated to 80 degrees C. Apparently, these high temperatures denature both trout and tilapia Hb to such an extent that any differences in conformational stability observed at lower temperatures were negated.     

Contributions of blood and blood components to lipid oxidation in fish muscle.

There was a wide variation in the amounts of hemoglobin extracted from the muscle tissue of bled and unbled fish. Averaged values suggested that the residual blood level in the muscle of bled fish was substantial. Myoglobin content was minimal as compared to hemoglobin content in mackerel light muscle and trout whole muscle. Hemoglobin made up 65 and 56% of the total heme protein by weight in dark muscle from unbled and bled mackerel, respectively. Bleeding significantly reduced rancidity in minced trout whole muscle, minced mackerel light muscle, and intact mackerel dark muscle but not minced mackerel dark muscle stored at 2 degrees C. The reduction was in the number of fish that had a longer shelf life; muscle from certain bled fish had rancidity that was comparable to the rancidity in unbled controls. The soluble contents of erythrocytes accounted for all of the lipid oxidation capacity of whole blood added to washed cod muscle. Limiting lysis of erythrocytes delayed lipid oxidation, which was likely due to keeping hemoglobin inside the erythrocyte. Apparent breakdown of lipid hydroperoxides occurred only when a critical level of hemoglobin was present. Blood plasma was slightly inhibitory to oxidation of washed cod lipids. These studies suggest that blood-mediated lipid oxidation in fish muscle depends on various factors that include hemoglobin concentration, types of hemoglobin, plasma volume, and erythrocyte integrity.     

Galloylated polyphenols as inhibitors of hemoglobin-catalyzed lipid oxidation in fish muscle

The influence of galloyl residues on the antioxidant mechanism of polyphenols to prevent hemoglobin-promoted lipid oxidation was investigated by using polyphenolic fractions with different degrees of galloylation: nongalloylated structures from pine bark (IVP), medium-galloylated from grape pomace (IVG), and high-galloylated from witch hazel bark (IVH). Hemoglobin (Hb) from the pelagic fish horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) was employed as a Hb standard. In vitro experiments showed an important increase in the deoxygenation and autoxidation of horse mackerel Hb at acidic pH values. All polyphenolic fractions significantly reduced the redox stability of Hb in buffer solutions, showing a greater deoxygenation and methemoglobin (metHb) formation in the presence of IVH, followed in decreasing order by IVG and IVP. However, galloylated polyphenols (IVH and IVG) were efficient to inhibit the oxidation of the oxygenated Hb (OxyHb) and the formation of lipid oxidation products in chilled washed fish muscle. This antioxidant activity of galloylated proanthocyanidins showed a positive relationship with the phenolic concentration. Polyphenols devoid of galloyl groups (IVP) were less active to prevent either Hb oxidation or lipid oxidation in fish muscle. The results draw attention to the potential role of galloyl residues to lessen Hb-catalyzed lipid oxidation in muscle and to maintain Hb in reduced and oxygenated states, which exhibit lower pro-oxidant activity as compared to the metHb and deoxyHb species.     

Inhibition of protein and lipid oxidation in liposomes by berry phenolics

The antioxidant activity of berry phenolics (at concentrations of 1.4, 4.2, and 8.4 mug of purified extracts/mL of liposome sample) such as anthocyanins, ellagitannins, and proanthocyanidins from raspberry (Rubus idaeus), bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), and black currant (Ribes nigrum) was investigated in a lactalbumin-liposome system. The extent of protein oxidation was measured by determining the loss of tryptophan fluorescence and formation of protein carbonyl compounds and that of lipid oxidation by conjugated diene hydroperoxides and hexanal analyses. The antioxidant protection toward lipid oxidation was best provided by lingonberry and bilberry phenolics followed by black currant and raspberry phenolics. Bilberry and raspberry phenolics exhibited the best overall antioxidant activity toward protein oxidation. Proanthocyanidins, especially the dimeric and trimeric forms, in lingonberries were among the most active phenolic constituents toward both lipid and protein oxidation. In bilberries and black currants, anthocyanins contributed the most to the antioxidant effect by inhibiting the formation of both hexanal and protein carbonyls. In raspberries, ellagitannins were responsible for the antioxidant activity. While the antioxidant effect of berry proanthocyanidins and anthocyanins was dose-dependent, ellagitannins appeared to be equally active at all concentrations. In conclusion, berries are rich in monomeric and polymeric phenolic compounds providing protection toward both lipid and protein oxidation.     

电子鼻和电子舌单独与联合检测掺大豆蛋白或淀粉的鸡肉糜

为实现掺杂掺假鸡肉的快速、客观评价,该研究利用电子鼻和电子舌联合检测技术对掺杂鸡肉糜进行快速检测,通过对采集的数据进行主成分分析和偏最小二乘法分析,所得结果表明,采用主成分分析,电子鼻和电子舌联合检测掺大豆蛋白鸡肉糜和掺淀粉鸡肉糜的主成分总贡献率分别为99.8%和99.1%;采用偏最小二乘法分析,电子鼻和电子舌联合检测鸡肉糜中掺杂大豆蛋白含量的预测值与真实值之间的决定系数为0.992,均方根误差为2.8%;联合检测鸡肉糜中掺杂淀粉含量的预测值与真实值之间的决定系数为0.996,均方根误差为2.4%。表明电子鼻和电子舌联合检测对鸡肉糜的掺杂情况具有良好的区分和预测能力,并且是一种有效、高精度的肉类掺假检测方法。