Quantitation of dityrosine in wheat flour and dough by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A method for the quantitation of dityrosine in wheat flour and dough by high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) using an isotope dilution assay with the internal standard 3,3'-(13)C(2)-dityrosine in the single-reaction monitoring mode was developed. The method consisted of the release of protein-bound dityrosine by hydrolysis in 4 mol/L hydrochloric acid/8.9 mol/L propionic acid for 24 h at 110 degrees C after addition of the internal standard, cleanup by C(18) solid-phase extraction, and HPLC-MS/MS. The limit of detection of dityrosine was 80 ng/g of sample (0.22 nmol/g), and the limit of quantitation was 270 ng/g of sample (0.75 nmol/g). The method was sensitive enough to analyze wheat flour and dough and to study the effect of flour improvers on the dityrosine content. Furthermore, the effect of the mixing time was studied. The dityrosine concentration in the flour was 0.66 nmol/g. After we mixed a dough to peak consistency, the dityrosine concentration doubled and remained constant on further mixing. Overdoses of hydrogen peroxide and hexose oxidase (HOX, E.C. 1.1.3.5) resulted in a strongly increased dityrosine content, whereas no increase of the dityrosine concentration was found after the addition of ascorbic acid and potassium bromate. Calculation of the percentage of dimeric tyrosine showed that less than 0.1% of the tyrosine residues of wheat protein were cross-linked. Therefore, dityrosine residues seem to play only a very minor role in the structure of wheat gluten.     

Covariation of synaptonemal complex length and mammalian meiotic exchange rates

Analysis of recombination between loci (linkage analysis) has been a cornerstone of human genetic research, enabling investigators to localize and, ultimately, identify genetic loci. However, despite these efforts little is known about patterns of meiotic exchange in human germ cells or the mechanisms that control these patterns. Using recently developed immunofluorescence methodology to examine exchanges in human spermatocytes, we have identified remarkable variation in the rate of recombination within and among individuals. Subsequent analyses indicate that, in humans and mice, this variation is linked to differences in the length of the synaptonemal complex. Thus, at least in mammals, a physical structure, the synaptonemal complex, reflects genetic rather than physical distance.     

Thermal Structure of Jupiter's Upper Atmosphere Derived from the Galileo Probe

Temperatures in Jupiter's atmosphere derived from Galileo Probe deceleration data increase from 109 kelvin at the 175-millibar level to 900 ± 40 kelvin at 1 nanobar, consistent with Voyager remote sensing data. Wavelike oscillations are present at all levels. Vertical wavelengths are 10 to 25 kilometers in the deep isothermal layer, which extends from 12 to 0.003 millibars. Above the 0.003-millibar level, only 90- to 270- kilometer vertical wavelengths survive, suggesting dissipation of wave energy as the probable source of upper atmosphere heating.     

利用SSR分析84个枣品种遗传多样性

利用11对SSR引物对84个枣品种进行分析,共检测到37个多态性位点,PIC值变幅为0.19~0.67,平均为0.48。依照枣原产地将其分为4类,遗传一致度为0.928 6~0.993 5,遗传多样性表现为华北地区华中地区华东地区西北地区,其中华北地区与华东地区的亲缘关系最近。基于UPGMA法聚类分析表明,11对SSR引物可以区分本试验中82.3%的枣品种,其遗传距离为0.00~0.52,均值为0.15,但并没有依照原产地完全区分开。     

Rapid degradation of gliadin peptides toxic for coeliac disease patients by proteases from germinating cereals

We report the isolation and characterisation of proteases from germinated wheat, rye and barley, and their ability to degrade gliadin peptides toxic for coeliac patients. It is shown for the first time that these proteases cleave these peptides rapidly into non-toxic fragments with less than nine amino acids. These proteases have distinct advantages when compared to bacterial or fungal proteases, and are promising candidates for the detoxification of gluten containing foods and for oral therapy for celiac patients.     

天峻地区不同退化草地植被恢复模式探讨

以天峻县阳康艾日盖塘地区退化草地恢复为例,分别选用轻、中、重度-极度三种不同程度退化的草地,采用补播、更新播种两种方式进行恢复治理,实施面积为40hm2。通过三年观察恢复效果较好,为本地区大面积治理退化、沙化草地提供科学依据。     

起垄方式和种植密度对浓香型有机烟叶产量和品质的影响

为探讨浓香型有机烟叶适宜的栽培方法,在河南省叶县浓香型有机烟叶种植基地,通过田间小区随机试验,以纯施化肥处理为对照（CK）,研究了起垄方式（一垄单行和一垄双行）和种植密度（16500株/hm2和20000株/hm2）对有机烟叶产量和品质的影响。结果表明,与纯化肥处理相比,有机烟叶处理产量显著降低,上等烟比例、中上等烟比例和均价显著提高;4个有机烟处理间上等烟比例、中上等烟比例、均价无显著差异,产量和产值以一垄双行＋20000株/hm2处理最高（分别为2351.45 kg/hm2和58621.65元/hm2）,显著高于其他3个处理。与纯化肥处理相比,有机烟叶外观质量、常规化学成分、感官质量显著改善;但4个有机烟处理之间外观质量、常规化学成分无显著差异,烟感官质量方面以一垄双行＋20000株/hm2处理最好,一垄单行＋20000株/hm2处理最差。综合考虑烟农经济效益和烟叶品质,在河南浓香型烟区,有机烟叶栽培以一垄双行＋种植密度20000株/hm2比较合适。     

Increased grain yield and micronutrient concentration in transgenic winter wheat by ectopic expression of a barley sucrose transporter

Optimising assimilate partitioning to spikes is important to increase wheat yield potential. Novel winter wheat lines (HOSUT), ectopically expressing barley sucrose transporter HvSUT1 controlled by the barley Hordein B1 promoter were used to evaluate the potential of improved sucrose uptake capacity on grain yield and quality under field-like conditions. Three independent HOSUT lines were grown over three years in micro-plots. Grain yield per plot was significantly increased by 28%, together with higher protein yield per plot and higher iron and zinc concentration when compared to the non-transformed control wheat Certo. Thousand grain weight was enhanced, indicating that expression of HvSUT1 increases individual grain sink strength. HOSUT grains are larger, display increased grain width and to a lesser extent grain length, indicating transgene effects at a stage when grains grow under filial control. Grain number per spike was decreased by 15% and protein contents by 5%, on average, especially that of glutenins. Overall, despite some compensating effects on grain number per spike and protein contents, HOSUT lines generate a significant yield advantage. The findings can contribute to understanding determinants of grain size and number and its relationship to grain sink strength and might identify limitations of wheat yield potential.     

Gravity Waves in Jupiter's Thermosphere

The Atmosphere Structure Instrument on the Galileo probe detected wavelike temperature fluctuations superimposed on a 700-kelvin temperature increase in Jupiter's thermosphere. These fluctuations are consistent with gravity waves that are viscously damped in the thermosphere. Moreover, heating by these waves can explain the temperature increase measured by the probe. This heating mechanism should be applicable to the thermospheres of the other giant planets and may help solve the long-standing question of the source of their high thermospheric temperatures.