Catalase (CAT) Gene Family in Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.): Genome-Wide Analysis,Identification, and Expression Pattern in Response to Multiple Hormones and Abiotic Stress Conditions

Catalase (CAT) is an antioxidant enzyme expressed by the CAT gene family and exists in almost all aerobic organisms. Environmental stresses induce the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that eventually hinder plant growth and development. The CAT enzyme translates the hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) to water (H₂O) and reduce the ROS levels to shelter the cells’ death. So far, the CAT gene family has not been reported in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.). Therefore, a genome-wide comprehensive analysis was conducted to classify the CAT genes in the rapeseed genome. The current study identified 14 BnCAT genes in the rapeseed genome. Based on phylogenetic and synteny analysis, the BnCATs belong to four groups (Groups I–IV). A gene structure and conserved motif analysis showed that Group I, Group II, and Group IV possess almost the same intron/exon pattern, and an equal number of motifs, while Group III contains diverse structures and contain 15 motifs. By analyzing the cis-elements in the promoters, we identified five hormone-correlated responsive elements and four stress-related responsive elements. Further, six putative bna-miRNAs were also identified, targeting three genes (BnCAT4, BnCAT6, and BnCAT8). Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis showed that the BnCAT genes were largely related to cellular organelles, ROS response, stimulus response, stress response, and antioxidant enzymes. Almost 10 BnCAT genes showed higher expression levels in different tissues, i.e., root, leaf, stem, and silique. The expression analysis showed that BnCAT1–BnCAT3 and BnCAT11–BnCAT13 were significantly upregulated by cold, salinity, abscisic acid (ABA), and gibberellic acid (GA) treatment, but not by drought and methyl jasmonate (MeJA). Notably, most of the genes were upregulated by waterlogging stress, except BnCAT6, BnCAT9, and BnCAT10. Our results opened new windows for future investigations and provided insights into the CAT family genes in rapeseed.     

Efficiency of acetic acid and formic acid as a catalyst in catalytical and mechanocatalytical pretreatment of barley straw

In this study, the potential of organic acids (formic acid, acetic acid) in a catalytical and mechanocatalytic conversion of lignocellulosic barley straw to valuable sugars is explored using sulfuric acid as a reference. Acid-catalyzed hydrolysis has been carried out with acid-impregnated samples as well as unmodified barley straw. In the mechanocatalytical approach, pretreatment consists of impregnation with the acid catalyst and mechanical treatment by ball milling following chemical hydrolysis. Straw samples and residues were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR) whereas hydrolysate analysis was based on total reducing sugar (TRS) determination following the DNS method and capillary electrophoresis (CE) analysis. The results indicated that acetic acid and formic acid are rather mild acids yielding low TRS levels compared to the reference acid. Mechanocatalytical pretreatment slightly increased TRS yields, but not significantly. Strikingly, sulfuric acid showed an efficient conversion efficiency yielding almost 45% of TRS. Furthermore, this study provided evidence for the acetylation of straw components when acetic acid was used as catalyst. Alkali hydrolysis induced the de-esterification, but revealed no significant increase of TRS yields.     

The analysis of trans fatty acid profiles in deep frying palm oil and chicken fillets with an improved gas chromatography method

An improved gas chromatography method for the simultaneous separation of 52 fatty acids (FAs) has been developed. For both oleic acid and linoleic acid, a good resolution was achieved for their positional and geometrical (cis/trans) isomers. This method was validated to be precise, accurate and sensitive. With this method, the FAs profiles in palm oil and chicken fillets were analyzed. In general, small changes were observed in the composition of FAs and formation of trans isomers after 8 h frying at the temperature lower than 200 °C. However, with extreme deep-frying process, the thermal degradation and TFAs formation in frying oil increased in direct proportion to frying temperature and time. Moreover, the FAs composition of fried chicken fillets was found to be mostly in correspondence with that of the frying oil, which might be due to the oil absorption or interaction between the frying oils and frying materials.     

Effects of different nut oils on the structures and properties of gel-like emulsions induced by ultrasound using soy protein as an emulsifier

Gel-like emulsions were produced by high-intensity ultrasound (HIU) emulsification using soy protein as an emulsifier. Sunflower (a seed kernel oil), peanut (a groundnut oil), hazelnut, walnut, almond and pine nut oils were chosen as oil phases. The kinds of nut oil significantly affect the structures and properties of gel-like emulsions. The particle size of sunflower oil gel-like emulsion was smallest. Moreover, the macrorheological and microrheological results indicated that the values of apparent viscosity, storage modulus (G′) and elasticity index (EI) of sunflower and almond oil gel-like emulsions were higher while those of the walnut and pine nut oil gel-like emulsions were lower. Moreover, the sunflower oil gel-like emulsion was more stable after 2-month storage. The current study illustrated that HIU was of great importance for the production of high-viscosity gel-like emulsions. Furthermore, the differences of nut oils resulted in diverse physicochemical properties of gel-like emulsions.     

Triacylglycerol Composition Profiling and Comparison of High‐Oleic and Normal Peanut Oils

Oilseed plants produce huge amounts of fatty acids (FA) stored as triacylglycerols (TAG) in seeds that give a great variation in their composition. The variety and content of TAG directly affect the nutrition and function of lipids. TAG composition of 12 high‐oleic and normal peanut oil samples were profiled by two‐dimensional liquid chromatography (2D LC) coupled with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (APCI‐MS). The statistical evaluation of the TAG profiles determined was conducted on the basis of multidimensional data matrix using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The technique enabled the differentiation of high‐oleic oils from normal peanut oils—as results illustrated TAG of high‐oleic peanut oil were clearly different from those of normal peanut oils. High‐oleic and normal peanut oils had different profiles mainly in the contents of OOO, OPO and POL. This finding provided theoretical foundation for detecting the adulteration of edible oils and analyzing the nutrition and function of high‐oleic peanut oils.     

A reliable and sensitive time-resolved fluorescent immunochromatographic assay (TRFICA) for ochratoxin A in agro-products

Immunochromatographic assays (ICAs) are considered as a suitable diagnostic tool for the detection of mycotoxins. Mycotoxins and especially, ochratoxin A are analytes with more demanding sensitivity requirements. To enhance the sensitivity of current immunochromatographic assays for ochratoxin A (OTA), a novel sensitive ICA was developed in this study. In the assay, microspheres enclosing fluorescent europium (III) [Eu(III)] nanoparticles (EuNPs) were used as a label for OTA monoclonal antibody (OTA-mAb) conjugation. Accordingly, assay was called time-resolved fluorescent immunochromatographic assay (TRFICA). The test strip was composed of three parts: a sample pad, nitrocellulose membrane and an absorbent pad. As for detection, a proper concentration of conjugated microspheres was pipetted into the microtube and sample extract was added to it. Then the strip was inserted into the tube and the fluid flow along the strip. The TRFICA results were obtained in 8 min and read by a portable TRFICA strip reader. The established method allows quantitative determination of OTA with limit of detection as low as 1.0 μg kg⁻¹ in the samples. For validation, spiked samples including wheat, maize, soybean and rice were respectively assayed by TRFICA and a standard high performance liquid chromatography equipped with a fluorescence detector (HPLC-FLD), and good agreement of results was obtained between two methods.     

索氏抽提测定含油量的方法改良及其应用

对索氏抽提法测定含油量的方法进行了改良,在原索氏抽提装置上加装了恒温冷凝水系统,将冷凝水温度改为恒温15℃。改良后的索氏抽提法与原方法相比,测定结果的准确度和灵敏度显著提高,有效消除了因季节、气候等因素引起的温度变化所带来的测定值差异。2007年至2010年加拿大谷物委员会组织36家国际权威油料检测实验室开展国际油料品质比对检测,结果显示,本实验室检测结果｜Z｜值均小于2,且采用改良索氏抽提法后,测定结果的Z比分数由-1.98～-0.12减小到-0.60～0.20,相对偏差由-2.5%～-0.38%减小到-1.24%～0.24%,实现了含油量检测结果的国际接轨。     

多不饱和脂肪酸的研究进展

多不饱和脂肪酸（PUFAs）对人体有重要的生理功能。它能调节人体的脂质代谢,治疗和预防心脑血管疾病,促进生长发育,此外对抗癌、免疫调节、延缓衰老、减肥、美容等方面均具有重要的生理作用。因此,PUFAs的食品资源开发正成为功能食品研究的热点领域之一,许多PUFAs已在保健食品和医学研究中得到应用。主要阐述了多不饱和脂肪酸的分类、命名、来源、生物学特性以及最新的研究动态,并对其在食品、医药、日用品方面的应用及应注意的问题、研究进展进行了综述。     

多聚酶对转基因产品PCR检测的影响分析

本文参考出入境检验检疫行业标准中转基因油菜外源基因的PCR检测体系,分析了18种不同DNA聚合酶对定性PCR检测转基因油菜OXY235中的CaMV35S启动子的影响。结果表明,不同DNA聚合酶对CaMV35S启动子定性PCR检测中非特异扩增的产生以及检测灵敏度影响较大。其中热启动Taq酶效果较好,目标条带清晰,检测灵敏度高,而且完全没有非特异性扩增条带,非常适合用于定性PCR检测。对于同样条件下无法有效扩增0.1%DNA样品的Taq酶,则不推荐用于检测途径。