Changes in the content of free sulphydryl groups during postharvest wheat and flour maturation and their influence on technological quality

The main aim of this study was to determine the changes in free sulphydryl content during postharvest wheat and flour maturation. The content of free sulphydryl groups was determined from wet gluten over 50 days of wheat postharvest maturation and over 14 days of flour maturation by varying incubation temperatures (30 and 37 °C) and incubation times (0, 45, 90 and 135 min). The amount of free sulphydryl groups increased during postharvest wheat and flour maturation as well as with the increase in temperature and gluten incubation time. The additional aim of this study was to find the interrelation between the content of free sulphydryl groups and selected parameters of technological quality by means of Principal Component Analysis. During wheat/flour maturation, the strengthening of protein structure was observed manifested by the increase in gluten index and Mixolab protein network weakening (C2), and changes in dough resistance as well. The incubation temperature of 37 °C affected the weakening of protein structure manifested by the decrease in gluten index and resistance, and increase in extensibility. Strong differentiation of examined varieties in terms of selected quality indicators was observed upon pre-defined maturation period, probably due to the expression of their intrinsic properties.     

Effect of fish feed processing conditions on digestive protease activities, free amino acid pools, feed conversion efficiency and growth in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.)

The responses of the digestive proteases trypsin and chymotrypsin and protein metabolism to differences in feed protein quality were investigated in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.). Two sets of experimental feeds were produced. Each set of high and low quality feeds was provided to either 150 g or 2 kg salmon. Protein in the high quality feeds had significantly higher percentages of free (reactive) sulphydryl (SH) groups than the corresponding feeds based on low quality meals. After 90 days feeding, groups given high and low quality feeds did not differ in their specific growth rates (SGR) in either experiment. However, feed conversion efficiency (FCE) was significantly different between the high and low quality feed groups in 2 kg salmon, where the difference between the high and low feed protein qualities was larger, 10% versus 4% SH/[SH + (S–S)] in 150 g salmon. Higher FCE was preceded by significantly higher trypsin and chymotrypsin specific activities on day 60. SGR, in general, changed after the first month and was stable during the last 2 months in both experiments. Concurrently, both trypsin (T) and chymotrypsin (C) decreased with an increased activity ratio of trypsin to chymotrypsin (T/C ratio), and resulting in significantly lower T/C ratio on day 90 in salmon feeding on high quality feeds in both sizes of fish. Differences in FCE were associated with significant differences in levels of total free amino acids (TFAA) in the plasma and the white muscle, as well as in the ratio of essential to non‐essential free amino acids (EAA/NEAA ratio), free hydroxyproline, and RNA in the white muscle. Interestingly, after 3 days starvation (day 93), 5–7 h postprandial EAA/NEAA ratio in the plasma was significantly lower in the high quality diet groups in both experiments. Trypsin specific activity inversely correlated with muscle TFAA levels in 2 kg salmon, concurrent with higher muscle levels of RNA, lower free hydroxyproline and higher FCE in fish fed higher quality diets.     

Role of Sulphydryl Compounds in Improving Dry Matter Partitioning and Grain Production of Maize (Zea mays L.)

Three sulphydryl compounds, viz., 2-mercaptoethanol, 2-mercaptoethylamine and thiourea, were tested for improving dry matter partitioning and grain production of maize in field culture. The chemicals were applied ca. 0.1 % concentration as foliar spray at grain formation stage. Mercaptoethanol, mercaptoethylamine and thiourea increased grain yield ha⁻¹ by 18.1, 29.2 and 34.1 %, respectively compared with water control Significant improvement in harvest index, a measure of dry matter partitioning for grain production, was also noted with the spray chemicals but stover and biological yields ha⁻¹ remained uninfluenced. Foliar spray of 0.1 % urea did not have any effects on the above parameter and thus the effects of thiourea were largely a function of sulphydryl group. It is suggested that sulphydryl compounds have a considerable potential for increasing grain production of maize and perhaps of similar other cereals.     

热处理强度对猪肉肌球蛋白结构及风味成分吸附特性的影响

为了探究热处理强度对肌球蛋白结构及风味吸附特性的影响,该文选取猪肉中肌球蛋白,采用拉曼光谱等技术,分析了不同温度（45、55、65、75、85℃）对肌球蛋白巯基总量、二级结构和表面疏水性的影响;然后选取8种典型肉品风味成分,建立肌球蛋白-风味化合物作用体系,以同一顶空内不同风味化合物浓度自由比例为指标,采用固相微萃取气质联用技术探究不同热处理强度对肌球蛋白风味吸附作用的影响。结果表明：整个热处理强度增加的过程中肌球蛋白巯基基团含量显著降低（P<0.01）;温度升至55℃蛋白分子展开,α-螺旋和β-折叠转换成β-转角及无规则卷曲结构;温度升至75℃蛋白分子变性,β-转角及无规则卷曲转换成α-螺旋和β-折叠结构;在温度升高至65℃的过程中蛋白表面疏水性持续增加,温度继续升高略有降低;蛋白对4种醛（3-甲基丁醛、戊醛、庚醛、辛醛）的吸附性在展开过程中增强,聚合过程中减弱;蛋白对2-戊酮的吸附性先降低后升高,45℃处理组最低,85℃处理组最高,对3种酮（2-庚酮、2-辛酮、2-壬酮）的吸附性呈先增加后降低再增加的趋势,蛋白变性时（75℃）显著低于其余温度条件（P<0.01）,85℃处理时显著高于其余温度条件（P<0.01）;研究结果为今后关于肉品风味形成机理的研究提供参考。     

Changes in the content of free sulphydryl groups during postharvest wheat and flour maturation and their influence on technological quality

The main aim of this study was to determine the changes in free sulphydryl content during postharvest wheat and flour maturation. The content of free sulphydryl groups was determined from wet gluten over 50 days of wheat postharvest maturation and over 14 days of flour maturation by varying incubation temperatures (30 and 37 °C) and incubation times (0, 45, 90 and 135 min). The amount of free sulphydryl groups increased during postharvest wheat and flour maturation as well as with the increase in temperature and gluten incubation time. The additional aim of this study was to find the interrelation between the content of free sulphydryl groups and selected parameters of technological quality by means of Principal Component Analysis. During wheat/flour maturation, the strengthening of protein structure was observed manifested by the increase in gluten index and Mixolab protein network weakening (C2), and changes in dough resistance as well. The incubation temperature of 37 °C affected the weakening of protein structure manifested by the decrease in gluten index and resistance, and increase in extensibility. Strong differentiation of examined varieties in terms of selected quality indicators was observed upon pre-defined maturation period, probably due to the expression of their intrinsic properties.