Estimating the amino acid composition in milled rice by near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy

This study was conducted to develop near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) equations to predict the amino acid and nitrogen content of milled rice powder. The samples were scanned by NIRS and analyzed for amino acid composition and total nitrogen by HCl hydrolysis–HPLC methodology and Kjeldahl method, respectively. The NIRS equations of 15 different amino acids, except for cystine, methionine and histidine, showed high coefficients of determination (RSQ=84.8–97.5%) and low standard errors in calibration (SEC) with 3 g samples for NIRS scanning, while the calibration models of cystine and histidine could explain less variation (RSQ with 77.7 and 65.0%). Calibration for methionine was not suitable to estimate methionine because of its very low RSQ (10.2%). The equations for total amino acids and nitrogen also showed high RSQ and lower SEC, respectively. Furthermore, calibration equations developed with only about 500 mg samples showed similar accuracy and reliability to those with the full cup by using the same calibration set. The equations developed for relative contents of total amino acids did not show good, effective calibration and cross-validation. Only eight different amino acids can be predicted using the equations because their RSQs of calibration were higher than 50.6% (50.6–73.9%). The others cannot be estimated with confidence by their relative contents due to lower RSQ in calibration. Moreover, their relative contents can be calculated from their absolute contents estimated by NIRS calibration.     

The nutritional value of diets based on starchy foods and common beans

Feeding trials were carried out to determine the minimum amount of common beans, with and without methionine supplementation, needed to obtain positive weight gains of rats fed cassava, sweet potato, plantain and potato flours. The protein content of these materials was 1.4, 3.8, 3.1 and 9.5% on a dry weight basis as compared to 22.8% in common beans. The amount of beans added varied from 0 to 40.0% without and with 0.3% methionine. Without methionine addition, the amount of beans required to maintain body weight was 24.8% for plantain, 19.3% for cornstarch, 20.0% for cassava and 40.1% for sweet potatoes. With just potato flour in the diet, the animals gained weight. With methionine addition, the amount of beans required for body weight maintenance was: 20.1% for plantain, 10.1% for cornstarch, 14.5% for cassava, 14.6% for potato and 29.3% for sweet potatoes. Mixtures of potatoes with as little as 10% beans with methionine gave excellent protein quality values. The results confirm previous findings on sulfur amino acid contents of beans. It is of interest to point out that factors other than a low level of protein in the starchy food tested are influencing the level of beans needed in the presence or absence of methionine supplementation.INCAP Publication I-1355.     

Human urine and/or plasma levels of methionine,methionine sulfoxide,and inorganic sulfate after consumption of a soy isolate: A preliminary study

In a preliminary study, three human subjects consumed 35 or 70g of a commercially available soy isolate containing 298 or 596 mg of methionine sulfoxide. Methionine sulfoxide appeared in human plasma within one hour after consumption of the isolate. This observation suggests rapid absorption by humans of this oxidized form of methionine. Plasma levels of sulfoxide as determined in one subject returned to zero within 24 hours of consumption of the isolate. Ingested methionine sulfoxide was excreted in the urine in free form in very small quantities relative to intake. These results are consistent with, but of course do not prove, utilization of methionine sulfoxide as a methionine replacement in human subjects.     

Resistance levels and fitness of glufosinate-resistant transgenic sweet potato in field experiments

Transgenic herbicide-resistant sweet potato plants [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] produced through a biolistic transformation were used in this study. The objectives of this research were to (a) quantify resistance levels of transgenic sweet potato expressing the bar gene to glutamine synthetase (GS)-inhibitors, glufosinate and methionine sulfoximine, protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO)-inhibiting herbicide, oxyfluorfen and photosynthesis-inhibiting herbicide, paraquat; (b) compare the relative chlorophyll content, quantum yield, growth, and tuberous root yield between transgenic and wild-type sweet potato; (c) compare the response of transgenic and wild-type sweet potato plants to chilling and high temperature, and (d) compare amino acids, minerals and sugar contents of transgenic and wild-type sweet potato tubers. The transgenic sweet potato lines were 20-82-fold more resistant to glufosinate than the wild-type. The representative transgenic line 7171 also showed resistance to methionine sulfoximine, but was not resistant to oxyfluorfen and paraquat, which have different target sites. The stem length, number of leaves, petiole length, shoot fresh weight, and storage roots of transgenic lines were lower than those of the wild-type in field experiments. Reduced growth and root yield were not due to reduced quantum yield and relative chlorophyll contents. Glufosinate increased the ammonium accumulation in leaves of wild-type plants, but had minimal or no effect on leaves of transgenic line 7171. There were differences in mineral contents, free sugars, total amino acids, and free amino acids in the petiole and storage roots between wild-type and line 7171. There was no difference in drought tolerance between wild-type and line 7171, but the transgenic line was more tolerant to chilling temperature than wild-type plants. Follow-up research is required to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the growth and yield differences, different nutritional values, and differential response to low temperature between wild-type and transgenic sweet potato.     

Content and quality of protein in proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) varieties

Proso millet belongs to the oldest cereals that human is using. Eight varieties of proso millet were cultivated in Ceske Budejovice from 1998 to 2000 and Cerveny Dvur from 1999 to 2000. The crude protein content was determined according to Kjehladl method and amino acid content was determined chromatographically after acid and oxidative acid hydrolysis. Although the protein content of proso (11.6% of dry matter) was similar to wheat, the grain of proso was significant richer in essential amino acids (leucine, isoleucine, methionine) then wheat. Hence, the protein quality of proso (Essential Amino Acid Index) was higher (51%) compared to wheat. The proso grain contained about 3.3 g kg(-1) of the limiting amino acid-lysine. Significant differences in protein and its quality were found among the evaluated proso varieties. The varieties Toldanskoe and Lipetskoe were the most different from the others in protein and amino acid content and Amino Acid Score of individual acids. They had the lowest content and quality of protein. The seed coat of these varieties was red. The amino acid and protein content was significantly influenced by weather during the year. Dry conditions caused an increase of protein but its quality was decreased.     

The nutritional quality of potato protein from intraspecific hybrids

The nutritional value of potato hybrids with Groups Andigena, Phureja, and Tuberosum parentage was measured by protein efficiency ratio (PER). Three diets at 6.0%, 7.75%, and 9.0% crude protein in potato flakes were fed to rats; 18 genotypes were analyzed and the hybrids had higher PER values than Group Tuberosum varieties, but increased tuber protein did not influence the PER values. The overall mean PER was 2.3, and 12 of the potato-flake diets were not different from the casein controls. Fortification with isoleucine did not improve the nutritional quality of the potato flakes. One diet was improved with the addition of both isoleucine and methionine. The influence of sulfur-containing amino acids in potato protein quality among these hybrids is not clear. It is suggested there may be two types of hybrids, one with dependence on these amino acids and a second type with a different protein factor(s) affecting the nutritional quality of the protein. Protein from these potato hybrids, as measured by PER, is among the highest in biological quality when compared with other proteins in plant foods.     

Content and Quality of Protein in Proso Millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) Varieties

Proso millet belongs to the oldest cereals that human is using. Eight varieties of proso millet were cultivated in Ceske Budejovice from1998 to 2000 and Cerveny Dvur from 1999 to 2000. The crude protein content was determined according to Kjehladl method and amino acid content was determined chromatographically after acid and oxidative acid hydrolysis. Although the protein content of proso (11.6% of dry matter) was similar to wheat, the grain of proso was significant richer in essential amino acids (leucine, isoleucine, methionine) then wheat. Hence, the protein quality of proso (Essential Amino Acid Index) was higher (51%) compared to wheat. The proso grain contained about 3.3 g kg⁻¹ of the limiting amino acid-lysine. Significant differences in protein and its quality were found among the evaluated proso varieties. The varieties Toldanskoe and Lipetskoe were the most different from the others in protein and amino acid content and Amino Acid Score of individual acids. They had the lowest content and quality of protein. The seed coat of these varieties was red. The amino acid and protein content was significantly influenced by weather during the year. Dry conditions caused an increase of protein but its quality was decreased.     

Protein in potato flakes: Evaluation by the meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus)

Th protein content of six potato cultivars, Russet Burbank and the numerically designated 58, 709, 711–3, 321–65 and 322–6, ranged from 5.5 to 8.7 g per 100 g. Similar results were obtained by both Kjeldahl and Biuret procedures. Amino acid analyses with a Beckman model 120C showed methionine to be the low level amino acid. Glutamic and aspartic acids were in higher amounts than the essential amino acids. The Chemical Score was similar to data of bio-assays by the meadow vole,Microtus pennsylvanicus. Cultivar 58 produced the greatest weight gain, but was only significantly higher than cultivars 709 and 711–3. Both weight gains and digestibility were increased by the inclusion of methionine in the diet.     

Methionine-containing proteins in twoPhaseolus vulgaris cultivars with different methionine bioavailabilities

The full utilization of legumes as human food is limited by a deficiency of sulfur amino acids, low protein digestibility, low methionine bioavailability and the presence of anti-nutritional factors. A new cultivar ofPhaseolus vulgaris (Carioca 80) has 56.8% available methionine, compared with 29.3% availability in the parent cultivar Carioca. The total methionine content, denaturing gel electrophoretic patterns of methionine-containing proteins, and the percentage of phaseolins (the major storage proteins in Phaseolus) relative to the total protein are similar in the two cultivars. Although the digestibility of the two cultivars is similar, the increased biological value of Carioca 80 may indicate that there are differences in overall bean composition that affect protein hydrolysis and utilization. We suggest the tentative explanation that this is due to differences in the distribution of methionine in the methionine-containing proteins of the two cultivars.     

Effect of amino acid supplementation on protein quality of soy-based infant formulas fed to rats

The powder forms of soy-based infant formulas obtained from four manufacturers were fed to weanling rats for two weeks, as the sole source of protein in diets containing 8% protein, 20% fat, and adequate amounts of minerals and vitamins. The relative protein efficiency ratio (RPER) and the relative net protein ratio (RNPR) values (casein + methionine=100) of diets containing unsupplemented formulas were 71–81 and 78–85, respectively. Supplementation of the formula diets with lysine (0.2%), methionine (0.2%), threonine (0.1%) or tryptophan (0.05%) increased the level of the supplemental amino acid in rat serum but generally failed to improve the RPER or RNPR values. Addition of all four essential amino acids to the formula diets, however, caused a marked improvement in their protein quality (RPER or RNPR values=100). The data suggested that proteins in soy-based formulas could be marginally co-limiting in several indispensable amino acids.Presented in part at the 202nd annual meeting of the American Chemical Society, New York City, 25–30 August 1991.     

Conversion of Potato Starch and Peel Waste to High Value Nanocrystals

The present study aimed to convert starch and potato peel waste to nanocrystals. Starch nanocrystals were prepared using two methodologies: direct acid hydrolysis and enzyme pretreatment followed by acid hydrolysis. Direct hydrolysis broke down the starch granules to nanocrystals in 12 days. Enzyme pretreatment with starch hydrolytic enzymes (α-amylase and amyloglucosidase) reduced the time for preparation of starch nanocrystals by 6 days. Starch nanocrystals of optimum size were obtained with both the treatments and the resultant size ranged from 10 to 50 nm. Nanocrystals were disk-like platelets in appearance. Cellulose nanocrystals were derived from cellulosic material in the potato peel. Cellulose was isolated from peel waste with alkali treatment. Further, cellulose nanocrystals from potato peel and cellulose microcrystalline were prepared by acid hydrolysis. Microscopic images revealed that the aqueous suspension of cellulose nanocrystals derived from potato peel were single rod shaped, whereas those derived from cellulose microcrystalline were rod-like nanoparticles, agglomerated in the form of bundles including some of the rods in single units (well separated). The size of potato peel nanocrystals ranged from 40 to 100 nm (length) and cellulose microcrystalline ranged from 4 to 20 nm (diameter) by 110 to 250, given 4 to 20 nm (length), respectively. As starch nanocrystals as well as cellulose nanocrystals are derived from biopolymer, both can be considered safe for humans and the environment. Moreover, the biodegradable nature of these nanocrystals makes them superior over metallic nanoparticles, particularly in the field of nanocomposites.     

菜用大豆籽粒代谢物的相关性分析

菜用大豆食味品质与代谢物的种类和数量显著相关,为研究菜用大豆籽粒代谢物间的相关性,以菜用大豆新品种闽豆6号为材料,采用气质谱联用仪(GC-MS)对不同时期籽粒的代谢物进行相关性分析。结果表明:在检测到的102种代谢物中,有机酸36种,其次为氨基酸21种、多元醇11种、糖9种、磷酸7种、胺类5种、脂肪酸和核苷酸各4种、其它物质5种;对这9类代谢物间的相关性分析表明氨基酸与有机酸、糖及其它类代谢物均成负相关,与多元醇、磷酸、胺、核苷酸以及脂肪酸均呈正相关,相关性达显著或极显著水平;9种糖类代谢物相关分析表明蔗糖与葡萄糖和果糖的相关性达显著或极显著水平;21种氨基酸的相关分析表明除蛋氨酸与半胱氨酸、焦谷氨酸与蛋氨酸和谷氨酸负相关外,其它氨基酸均两两正相关,此外含硫氨基酸蛋氨酸和半胱氨酸以及焦谷氨酸与其它20种氨基酸的相关性较弱;阿魏酸等6种酚酸的相关性分析表明,苯甲酸与其它5种酚酸相关性均不显著;阿魏酸与没食子酸、奎尼酸和莽草酸呈极显著负相关,与芥子酸呈显著正相关;没食子酸与奎尼酸呈极显著正相关,奎尼酸与莽草酸呈极显著正相关。研究结果可为菜用大豆品质改良提供依据。     

Characterization of laboratory pyrimethanil-resistant mutants of Aspergillus flavus from groundnut in China

To assess the potential risk of resistance development in Aspergillus flavus to pyrimethanil, five highly pyrimethanil-resistant (Pyr^R) mutants (RF > 996.2) were obtained after UV-mutagenesis and tested for fitness parameters and aflatoxin B1 production. All five mutant strains had mycelial growth rate, sporulation and aflatoxin production similar to or even higher than the wild-type parent strain, which indicated that pyrimethanil possesses a high risk in the development of resistance in A. flavus. Comparing the sequences of four key enzymes cystathionine β-lyase (CBL), cystathionine γ-synthase (CGS), methionine sulfoxide reductase (MsrB), and sulfate permease (SP2) involved in the biosynthesis and metabolism of methionine and sulfate assimilation revealed that no amino acid difference was found between the mutant and wild-type parent strains, suggesting that the four enzymes might not be related to the anilinopyrimidines (APs) resistance in A. flavus.     

Protein nutritive value of potatoes is improved by fertilization with nitrogen

Dry matter yields and total-N percentages of potato tubers have been reported to increase with increasing application of fertilizers to potato plants. The concentrations of most of the amino acids found, have been reported to decrease, when calculated on the basis of grams of amino acid per 16 g total-N, which assumes that protein and amino acid contents are proportional to nitrogen content. Recalculation on a dry matter or absolute basis, however, shows increases of amino acid content with increasing nitrogen content of the sample. Similar effects are shown for EAAI, chemical scores, and feeding experiments.     

石斛的氨基酸组成及分析

利用全自动氨基酸分析仪测定22种主要石斛栽培品种的氨基酸组成和含量,并应用多元统计分析方法对其品质进行分析。结果表明,石斛中以天冬氨酸、谷氨酸、亮氨酸、精氨酸4种氨基酸含量最丰富;蛋氨酸和胱氨酸分别为石斛的第1和第2限制性氨基酸。不同品种石斛的氨基酸含量和组成比例存在一定差异,其中,10种石斛含有17种氨基酸和7种必需氨基酸,11种石斛未检出蛋氨酸或胱氨酸。参照FAO/WHO推荐标准,氨基酸营养价值较高的是线叶石斛、紫瓣石斛、杓唇石斛、玫瑰石斛、紫菀石斛和叠鞘石斛6个品种;采用主成分分析方法和聚类分析,可将22种石斛氨基酸分为4类品质,以石斛氨基酸指标聚类可将22种石斛聚为3类。     

The effect of nitrogen fertilization on the composition of the free amino acid pool of poato tubers

When the rate of N fertilization was increased from 36 lbs/acre to 336 lbs/acre, the total amino acid pool in the tubers almost doubled. The increases for individual amino acids ranged from none (tyrosine) to 2.7 fold (glutamic acid + glutamine). Aspartic acid and glutamic acid and their corresponding amides constituted the bulk of the free amino acid pool, and increased from 55% to 65% with increasing fertilization. Lysine increased by 1.9 times and methionine by 1.4 times with increasing nitrogen fertilization but the relative proportions of lysine in the pool remained unchanged and methionine decreased from 2.2% to 1.6%. The amino acids could be grouped into four categories with respect to their response to increasing nitrogen levels: those giving almost no response (tyrosine and phenylalanine), those giving full response at low levels of N (amino acids of the serine and pyruvate families), those giving full response at a higher but intermediate level (amino acids of the aspartate family), and those which responded to the highest level of fertilization (glutamic acid + glutamine). The gas chromatographic method used in this study for the analysis of free amino acids is discussed.     

水稻花期特异表达基因的cDNA和RNA阵列检测

用水稻孕穗期、开花期总mRNA为探针与含有2200个独立基因的cDNA阵列杂交,以检测开花期群体基因的表达谱。结果发现,在所获得的1720个有效克隆当中,有472条基因表达下调（占27.44％）,892条为持家基因（占51.86％）,356条基因表达上调（占20.70％）。表达上调的基因中有250个功能已知（占14.53％）,106个是功能未知的新基因（占6.16％）。其中S 腺苷甲硫氨酸还原酶、查尔酮合酶、酰基载体蛋白Ⅱ基因、过敏反应蛋白、醇溶蛋白、3-酮脂酰载体蛋白合酶Ⅲ和β-D-(1→3)-葡聚糖外水解酶等基因参与水稻开花和胚胎发育过程。为了进一步验证它们与开花过程的相关性,选取查尔酮合酶、酰基载体蛋白Ⅱ、醇溶蛋白、S-腺苷基甲硫氨酸还原酶和过敏反应蛋白等5个基因为探针,与755个水稻RNA斑点阵列进行杂交。结果证实醇溶蛋白和过敏反应蛋白基因受发育调节在乳熟成穗中高表达,查尔酮合酶和S-腺苷基甲硫氨酸还原酶基因在叶片中受光诱导、在根中受缺氮胁迫时高表达。在所有表型中,查尔酮合酶、S-腺苷基甲硫氨酸还原酶和酰基载体蛋白Ⅱ基因有相近的表达趋势,过敏反应蛋白和醇溶蛋白基因的表达趋势也相近。     

Recovery of Protease Inhibitors from Potato Fruit Water by Expanded Bed Adsorption Chromatography in Pilot Scale

The current study was conducted to investigate the recovery of native potato protein from potato fruit water (PFW) by expanded bed adsorption (EBA) chromatography. The eluted proteins were concentrated by ultrafiltration and spray-dried into powder. The SDS-PAGE showed that the recovered proteins were potato protease inhibitors (PPIs). The trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitor activities of the recovered PPIs were 377.93 ± 8.22 and 12.90 ± 0.03 mg g^?1 protein, respectively. The recovery yield of protease inhibitors was 74.88%. The glycoalkaloid assay showed that the recovered PPIs contained 30.31 ± 0.15 μg g^?1 of α-chaconine and 92.77 ± 0.52 μg g^?1 of α-solanine, and these values were much lower than those in potato protein concentrate (PPC) obtained by traditional thermal coagulation. The most abundant amino acid in the PPIs was serine. The results indicated that the EBA can be used to effectively recover native potato protein from PFW.     

Amino acid composition of sainfoin forage

The crude protein concentration, amino acid composition and protein quality of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) forage was compared to that of lucerne (Medicago sativa). The amino acid analyses showed that sainfoin contained higher amounts of lysine, histidine, proline, cystine, glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, tyrosine, phenylalanine and tryptophan than lucerne, whereas lucerne contained more aspartic acid, methionine and isoleucine than sainfoin; the limiting amino acid in both legumes was methionine. The protein score, an estimation of protein quality for nonruminants, was 68 for sainfoin forage and 71 for lucerne forage compared to 100 for an ‘ideal protein’. The similarity of protein quality of sainfoin forage to that of lucerne indicates that, where conditions permit, sainfoin could be grown for the production of protein as an alternative to other crops.     

中国大豆主要生产品种蛋白质、脂肪及其组份的相关分析

本文对中国25个省区70个在当地种植的大豆主要生产品种的蛋白质及其组份、脂肪及其组份进行了相关分析。结果表明:1.蛋白质含量与多数氨基酸呈负相关趋势,尤其是蛋、色、胱氨酸等为人们所重视的氨基酸均与蛋白质含量呈负相关趋势。2.苏与赖、亮、色与蛋氨酸呈显著的正相关。3.脂肪含量与亚麻酸含量呈负相关趋势。4.油酸与亚油酸含量呈极显著的负相关。