Targeted proteomics-based analysis of technical enzymes from fungal origin in baked products

The application of technical enzymes is a potential tool in modulating the dough and baking quality of cereal products. No endogenous amylases (α- and β-forms) are present in mature wheat grains; they may be synthesized or activated during germination. Hence, microbial α-amylases are added to the dough, being resistant to the endogenous α-amylase/trypsin inhibitors. Here, we report on the initial identification of two technical enzymes from a commercial sample based on an in-gel tryptic digestion coupled with MALDI-MS analysis. The primary component of the protein fraction with 51.3 kDa was α-amylase from Aspergillus species. A second major protein with 24.8 kDa was identified as endo-1,4-xylanase from Thermomyces lanuginosus. In the following experimental work up, a targeted proteomics approach utilizing the combination of specific proteolytic digestion of the added amylase and xylanase in wheat flour, dough or baked products, solid phase extraction of released peptides and their detection using LC-MS/MS was optimized. The targeted (MRM) MS/MS peptide signals showed that the peptide “ALSSALHER” (MW = 983) originating from amylase and “GWNPGLNAR” (MW = 983) from xylanase can be used to identify the corresponding technical enzymes added. Consequently, locally available baked products were tested and found to contain these enzymes as supplementary ingredients.     

Die Bedeutung der Küchenzwiebel (Allium cepa L.) als Nahrung Und Heilmittel im Altertum. Erfahrung und Aberglaube

Zusammenfassung Die in der antiken Literatur überlieferten Nachrichten über die Verwendung der Zwiebelgewächse als Nahrung und als Heilmittel werden gesammelt, kritisch überprüft, und ihre Weitergabe bis in die Neuzeit wird kurz umrissen. Neben manchem Aberglauben und manchen Kuriositäten enthält dieses Material auch Einsichten, die durch die moderne Wissenschaft bestätigt werden konnten.

---

The significance of onions (Allium cepa L.) as food and medicine in the antiquity. Empiricism and Superstition

The author studied the ancient literature in order to detect reliable sources on the role of onions as food and medicine. Both empiricism and superstition prevail. This makes it difficult to get the real facts, which allows a comparison with modern findings in research.

     

Sulfated Polysaccharides from Macroalgae Are Potent Dual Inhibitors of Human ATP-Hydrolyzing Ectonucleotidases NPP1 and CD39

Extracellular ATP mediates proinflammatory and antiproliferative effects via activation of P2 nucleotide receptors. In contrast, its metabolite, the nucleoside adenosine, is strongly immunosuppressive and enhances tumor proliferation and metastasis. The conversion of ATP to adenosine is catalyzed by ectonucleotidases, which are expressed on immune cells and typically upregulated on tumor cells. In the present study, we identified sulfopolysaccharides from brown and red sea algae to act as potent dual inhibitors of the main ATP-hydrolyzing ectoenzymes, ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase-1 (NPP1) and ecto-nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase-1 (NTPDase1, CD39), showing nano- to picomolar potency and displaying a non-competitive mechanism of inhibition. We showed that one of the sulfopolysaccharides tested as a representative example reduced adenosine formation at the surface of the human glioblastoma cell line U87 in a concentration-dependent manner. These natural products represent the most potent inhibitors of extracellular ATP hydrolysis known to date and have potential as novel therapeutics for the immunotherapy of cancer.     

Studies on milled wood lignin from spruce Part II. Electron microscopic observations on the milled wood

Summary Wood samples that had been ball-milled and extracted with dioxane under various conditions were observed in the scanning electron microscope. Ball milling causes not only a reduction in size of the cells and cell walls but also an internal disruption of the particles. The intensity of milling has a larger influence on the particle size than a prolongation of the milling time. A direct relation was established between particle size and the previously determined yield of purified milled wood lignin.Submitted by Erwin-Riesch-Stiftung zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung.     

Influence of slope and exposition on water balance of loess soils

Laboratory and field measurements as well as deterministic simulation models were used to determine the water components of loess derived soils with different expositions and slopes in the hilly region South of Hannover, Germany. Studies were investigated from 1987-1990 on three positions of a loess slope with 8 % inclination, 200 m length and northern exposition. Crop rotation was sugar beet, winter wheat, sugar beet. Results show that the soil water budget is strongly related to slope position, relief and plant available water in the rootzone. It was found that drainage at the bottom of a slope is often higher than on top of the slope. On slopes with northern exposition groundwater recharge increases with inclination whereas actual evapotranspiration decreases. For slopes with southern exposition the opposite reaction can be expected. The thickness of loess deposits and the root depth determine the plant available water; a sensitivity study demonstrates how groundwater recharge decreases with the amount of plant available water. This reaction is independent of the exposition of the slope. Field and simulation studies show that runoff occurs under sugar beet whenever soil is bare or sparsely covered, rainfall intensity is high and topsoil is sealed. Moreover, in loess derived soils interflow may occur on sites with stagnic horizons. Sensitivity analyses show that this process probably takes place whenever saturated hydraulic conductivity of this horizon is less than 10cm/d.     

Einfluß von Monoethanolamin auf Ertrag und Wasserausnutzung von Sommergerste

Effect of monoethanolamine on yield and water use efficiency of barley The effect of monoethanolamine (EA) on yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of spring barley plants was tested in pot experiments. The application of EA (8 to 12 mg/pot) increased the grain yield and WUE by about 4 to 15 per cent under stress conditions. In addition, EA improved the utilization of fertilizer nitrogen. The yield-increasing effect of EA was associated with an increase of the number of ear-bearing tillers and an improved root growth. The effects of EA were only significant at α = 0.05.