Disulphide structure of high-molecular-weight (HMW-) gliadins as affected by terminators

This study aimed at elucidating SS-bonds of HMW-gliadins (HGL) from wheat with the focus on terminators of glutenin polymerisation. HGL from wheat flour extracts non-treated or treated with the S-alkylation reagent N-ethylmaleinimide (NEMI) were compared. HGL from wheat flour Akteur were isolated, hydrolysed with thermolysin and the resulting peptides pre-separated by gel permeation chromatography and analysed by liquid chromatography/mass-spectrometry using alternating electron transfer dissociation/collision-induced dissociation. Altogether, 22 and 28 SS-peptides from samples without and with NEMI treatment, respectively, were identified. Twenty-six peptides included standard SS-bonds of α- and γ-gliadins, high-molecular-weight and low-molecular-weight glutenin subunits. Eleven SS-bonds were identified for the first time. Fifteen peptides unique to HGL contained cysteine residues from gliadins with an odd number of cysteines (ω5-, α- and γ-gliadins). Thus, gliadins with an odd number of cysteines, glutathione and cysteine had acted as terminators of glutenin polymerisation. Decisive differences between samples without and with NEMI treatment were not obvious showing that the termination of polymerisation was already completed in the flour. The two HGL samples, however, were different in the majority of ten peptides that included disulphide-linked low-molecular-weight (LMW) thiols such as glutathione and cysteine with the former being enriched in the non-treated HGL-sample.     

Transgenic sorghum with suppressed synthesis of kafirin subclasses: Effects on flour and dough rheological characteristics

Arising from work showing that conventionally bred high protein digestibility sorghum types have improved flour and dough functionality, the flour and dough properties of transgenic biofortified sorghum lines with increased protein digestibility and high lysine content (TG-HD) resulting from suppressed synthesis of several kafirin subclasses, especially the cysteine-rich γ-kafirin, were studied. TG-HD sorghums had higher flour water solubility at 30 °C (p < 0.05) and much higher paste viscosity (41% higher) than their null controls (NC). TG-HD doughs were twice as strong as their NC and dynamic rheological analysis indicated that the TG doughs were somewhat more elastic up to 90 °C. CLSM of doughs and pastes indicated that TG-HD had a less compact endosperm protein matrix surround the starch compared to their NC. The improved flour and dough functional properties of the TG-HD sorghums seem to be caused by reduced endosperm compactness resulting from suppression of synthesis of several kafirin subclasses which modifies protein body and protein matrix structure, and to improved protein-starch interaction through hydrogen bonding specifically caused by reduction in the level of the hydrophobic γ-kafirin. The improved flour functionality of these transgenic biofortified sorghums can increase their commercial utility by complementing their improved nutritional quality.     

Inhibition study of red rice polyphenols on pancreatic α-amylase activity by kinetic analysis and molecular docking

This study sought to investigate the possible inhibition mechanism of red rice polyphenols (RRP) on pancreatic α-amylase (PA) activity. RRP showed strong inhibition against PA activity and the half-inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value was 3.61 μg/mL. The fluorescence quenching of PA by RRP was a combination of static quenching and dynamic quenching. RRP could aggregate with PA and the physiochemical properties of the aggregates were closely related to the concentration of RRP. Kinetic analysis suggested that the inhibition mode of RRP on PA was reversible inhibition, which was a mixing of competitive inhibition and noncompetitive inhibition. Molecular docking speculated that RRP could form hydrogen bonds with PA by binding to the catalytic active sites (ASP197, GLU233 and ASP300) and the microenvironments of TRP58 and TRP59 were altered, thus inhibiting PA activity.     

Dough rheological properties and noodle-making performance of non-waxy and waxy whole-wheat flour blends

Dough rheological properties and noodle-making performance of non-waxy whole-wheat flour (WWF) with partial- or full-waxy (PW- or FW-) WWF substitution were studied. The substitution levels were 0, 250, 500, 750, and 1000 g/kg, respectively. FW-WWF reduced the peak viscosity and pasting temperature of WWF blends as its substitution level was increased due to its higher proportions of B-type starch granules and short amylopectin chains, while PW-WWF increased peak viscosity with the increasing substitution level because of its higher amylopectin content. As demonstrated by farinograph and rheometer measurements, FW-WWF interfered with gluten development because of the increased competition for water by arabinoxylans and amylopectin; however, PW-WWF enhanced dough strength due primarily to its increased protein content. Consequently, FW-WWF showed a detrimental effect on cooked noodle texture as the cooked noodle hardness was reduced by 50% at the 1000 g/kg substitution level. In contrast, PW-WWF enhanced noodle integrity and elasticity by increasing cooked noodle cohesiveness and resilience by 10.1% and 14.8%, respectively, at the 1000 g/kg substitution level. The results suggest that with waxy WWF substitution, the changes in starch composition, arabinoxylans, and protein content could modify the interactions among flour components and influence the quality characteristics of noodle products.     

Polymerisation of gluten proteins in developing wheat grain as affected by desiccation

The breadmaking quality of wheat is affected by the composition of gluten proteins and the polymerisation of subunits that are synthesised and accumulated in developing wheat grain. The biological mechanisms and time course of these events during grain development are documented, but not widely confirmed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to monitor the accumulation of gluten protein subunits and the size distribution of protein aggregates during grain development. The effect of desiccation on the polymerisation of gluten proteins and the functional properties of gluten were also studied. The results showed that the size of glutenin polymers remained consistently low until yellow ripeness (YR), while it increased during grain desiccation after YR. Hence, this polymerisation process was presumed to be initiated by desiccation. A similar polymerisation event was also observed when premature grains were dried artificially. The composition of gluten proteins, the ratios of glutenin to gliadin and high molecular weight-glutenin subunits to low molecular weight-glutenin subunits, in premature grain after artificial desiccation showed close association with the size of glutenin polymers in artificially dried grain. Functional properties of gluten in these samples were also associated with polymer size after artificial desiccation.     

外源Ca~(2+)对莲藕幼苗盐胁迫的缓解效应

以莲藕H_2(花藕品种,盐敏感)为材料,利用NaCl与Ca(NO_3)_2处理3片立叶的幼苗,研究外源Ca~(2+)对缓解植株盐胁迫的生理作用。结果显示:采用NaCl处理后,叶片中叶绿素、可溶性蛋白含量和SOD活性显著降低,而细胞膜透性、丙二醛和脯氨酸含量升高;利用不同浓度的Ca~(2+)进行缓解处理,发现外源施加低浓度的Ca~(2+)后,叶片叶绿素、可溶性蛋白含量和SOD活性均显著提高,脯氨酸含量较之前升高幅度更大,而细胞膜透性和丙二醛含量后期显著降低,说明Ca~(2+)对缓解莲藕盐胁迫具有较好的效果。当Ca~(2+)浓度增加时,缓解作用不明显,甚至出现抑制效果。     

家庭香葱盆栽技术研究

为了探明家庭盆栽香葱的最佳方式,比较了不同品种、摆放位置和采收方式对香葱的影响。结果表明:与本地小香葱(对照)和改良日本香葱相比,农友小香葱植株优势明显,更适宜家庭盆栽种植;摆放位置表现为屋顶最佳,朝东阳台次之,朝北阳台最差;剪切采收显著增加分蘖数,分株采收则能保证植株粗壮。     

北京市蔬菜标准化基地存在的问题与对策研究

为推进农业标准体系落地,加快蔬菜的产业化进程,分析了北京市蔬菜产业及蔬菜标准化基地现状,汇总出推广基地标准化过程中存在的各种问题,并提出了提升农产品质量安全、推进蔬菜品牌建设等对策建议。     

免去杂小麦种子生产中繁种纯度的数学模拟研究

采取免去杂技术繁殖小麦种子时,决定所繁殖原种和良种纯度的2个主要因素是繁殖种纯度和品种天然异交率。根据杂株率(%)=1-纯度(%),建立了所繁原种或良种的杂株率(X)与繁殖种杂株率(X1)及品种天然异交率的数学模型:X=X1(1 R)。模拟结果表明,在免去杂条件下,繁殖高异交率类型的小麦品种的原种和良种时,要求繁殖种的纯度分别达到99.91%和99.10%;在免去杂条件下,繁殖超高异交率类型的小麦品种的原种和良种时,要求繁殖种的纯度分别达到99.92%和99.20%。     

淀粉-偶氮苯衍生物接枝共聚物的反相乳液合成及表征

以Span-80为乳化剂,K2S2O8的碱性溶液引发淀粉与偶氮苯衍生物接枝共聚,考察了反应温度、时间、pH值及乳化剂用量对接枝率和接枝效率的影响。结果表明:在反相乳液中应用价廉无毒的K2S2O8的碱性溶液引发接枝共聚反应,可以达到较高的接枝率和接枝效率。当淀粉用量7.00%,[单体]=0.391 mol/L,[K2S2O8]=8.650 mmol/L,[KOH]=0.178 mol/L,乳化剂用量8.02%,反应时间120 min以及反应温度50℃时接枝率和接枝效率分别达最大值69.88%和94.60%。并应用X-ray衍射、热重分析TGA和差热分析DTA等测试手段对接枝共聚物进行了表征,确证了接枝的发生。