Dietary intakes of six intense sweeteners by Irish adults

This research investigated the intakes of six intense sweeteners: acesulfame-K (E950), aspartame (E951), cyclamate (E952), saccharin (E954), sucralose (E955), and steviol glycosides (E960) in the diets of Irish adults, using data from the National Adult Nutrition Survey. A food label survey that included products currently available on the Irish market supplemented the analysis. Sweetener intakes were investigated using three different exposure scenarios; beginning with a crude assessment which assumed that all foods permitted to contain the additives of interest always did contain them, and at their maximum permitted level (Tier 1). Refined assessments estimated intakes of the six sweeteners using food consumption data up to brand level with additive occurrence data from a survey of products currently available on the Irish market (Tier 2) and sweetener concentration data (Tier 3). Results of all exposure assessment scenarios demonstrate that intakes of each of the sweeteners of interest by the total population were below the relevant ADI level (mg kg^?1 bodyweight^?1), even by high consumers (P99). The three sweeteners consumed in highest amounts were acesulfame-k, aspartame, and sucralose. The main sources of these sweeteners in the diet were ‘cider and perry’, ‘energy reduced and no added sugar (ER and NAS) carbonated flavoured drinks’, ‘table-top sweeteners’, ‘dairy products’, ‘solid food supplements’, and ‘sauces’. Intakes of the six intense sweeteners are currently not a concern among Irish adults. However, exposure to these chemicals should be monitored on a regular basis due to evolving market and consumption patterns.     

构建高效糖配体再生重组菌生物催化合成莱鲍迪苷D

利用拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)蔗糖合酶AtSUS3构建活化糖配体尿苷二磷酸葡萄糖(uridine diphosphate glucose,UDPG)再生体系,与高效催化莱鲍迪苷D(rebaudioside D,RD)合成的糖基转移酶协同偶联完成RD的高效生物催化。从拟南芥cDNA克隆获得AtSUS3基因,将其装配至pET28a获得表达质粒pLW105,随后pLW105与携带糖基转移酶EUGT11基因的质粒共转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)构建双酶共表达工程菌。在不添加UDPG或者尿核苷二磷酸(uridine diphosphate,UDP)的条件下,以上述双酶共表达工程菌全细胞催化莱鲍迪苷A(RA)获得的底物摩尔转化率大于80%,RD产量达到930 mg/L。随后构建双酶基因串连质粒pLW108及双酶共表达大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)工程菌。用串连质粒构建的工程菌催化效果与双质粒共转化相同。采用共表达双酶工程菌的发酵破碎粗酶进行催化,结果显示以粗酶催化可简化催化体系,并可将细胞催化体系所需高质量浓度蔗糖用量降至质量浓度5 g/100 mL,同时在不添加外源UDPG的条件下实现RD的高效生物催化,RA底物摩尔转化率达到93%,RD产量约为1 051 mg/L。     

A Potent Mimetic of the Siglec-8 Ligand 6’-Sulfo-Sialyl Lewisx

Siglecs are members of the immunoglobulin gene family containing sialic acid binding N-terminal domains. Among them, Siglec-8 is expressed on various cell types of the immune system such as eosinophils, mast cells and weakly on basophils. Cross-linking of Siglec-8 with monoclonal antibodies triggers apoptosis in eosinophils and inhibits degranulation of mast cells, making Siglec-8 a promising target for the treatment of eosinophil- and mast cell-associated diseases such as asthma. The tetrasaccharide 6’-sulfo-sialyl Lewis^x has been identified as a specific Siglec-8 ligand in glycan array screening. Here, we describe an extended study enlightening the pharmacophores of 6’-sulfo-sialyl Lewis^x and the successful development of a high-affinity mimetic. Retaining the neuraminic acid core, the introduction of a carbocyclic mimetic of the Gal moiety and a sulfonamide substituent in the 9-position gave a 20-fold improved binding affinity. Finally, the residence time, which usually is the Achilles tendon of carbohydrate/lectin interactions, could be improved.     

NIR光谱法快速分析总黄酮醇苷和萜类内酯

采用NIR法和化学计量学方法构建了银杏叶片中的总黄酮醇苷和萜类内酯含量的定量分析模型。通过PLS建立数学模型,并对预测集样品进行预测。39份样品经交叉验证建立校正模型,RSMECV分别为0.104和0.063。R分别为0.978 8和0.961 9。用13份样品进行预测,R达0.919 9和0.931 8,RSMEP分别为0.107和0.105。该方法简便快速,结果准确,可应用于不同批次银杏叶片样品的进行快速检查或质量控制。     

Nonhydrolyzable Heptose Bis- and Monophosphate Analogues Modulate Pro-inflammatory TIFA-NF-κB Signaling

d -Glycero-d -manno-heptose-1β,7-bisphosphate (HBP) and d -glycero-d -manno-heptose-1β-phosphate (H1P) are bacterial metabolites that were recently shown to stimulate inflammatory responses in host cells through the activation of the TIFA-dependent NF-κB pathway. To better understand structure-based activity in relation to this process, a family of nonhydrolyzable phosphonate analogues of HBP and H1P was synthesized. The inflammation modulation by which these molecules induce the TIFA-NF-κB signal axis was evaluated in vivo at a low-nanomolar concentration (6 nM) and compared to that of the natural metabolites. Our data showed that three phosphonate analogues had similar stimulatory activity to HBP, whereas two phosphonates antagonized HBP-induced TIFA-NF-κB signaling. These results open new horizons for the design of pro-inflammatory and innate immune modulators that could be used as vaccine adjuvant.     

The effect of temperature and radiation on flavonol aglycones and flavonol glycosides of kale (Brassica oleracea var. sabellica)

The winter crop kale has a complex profile of different glycosylated and acylated flavonol glycosides which may be affected by global warming. To the best of our knowledge, compound–climate relationships for flavonol aglycones and flavonol glycosides were established for the first time. The investigated 10 major flavonol glycosides responded structure-dependent in the investigated temperature range between 0 and 12 °C and the photosynthetic active radiation range between 4 and 20 mol m⁻² d⁻¹, e.g. the decrease in temperature led to an increase in sinapic acid monoacylated and diacylated quercetin glycosides, while the sinapic acid monoacylated kaempferol glycosides showed a maximum at 4.5 °C. Furthermore, the hydroxycinnamic acid residues and the different number of glucose moieties in the 7-O position affected the response of kaempferol triglucosides. Consequently, global warming would result in lower concentrations of antioxidant-relevant quercetin glycosides in winter crops, suggesting a production at e.g. higher altitudes due to lower temperature.     

Antioxidant activity of phenolic and phenylethanoid glycosides from Teucrium polium L

In the present study, the chemical composition and antioxidant activities of Teucrium polium L. (Lamiaceae) were assessed. Fractionation of methanol extract obtained from the aerial parts of T. polium yielded one new phenylethanoid glycoside, named poliumoside B, together with four known flavonoids, two iridoid glycosides and a known poliumoside. The structures of all of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data from 1D and 2D NMR experiments and MS spectral analyses. The antioxidant activities of the crude extracts and of the isolated compounds were evaluated through tests such as DPPH radical-scavenging capability, reducing power, xanthine oxidase inhibitory effect and inhibition of linoleic acid peroxidation. The highest antioxidant activity was found in the n-butanol extract, which also contained active polyphenols, thus suggesting that this plant could be used as a source of natural molecules, to provide safe antioxidant additives and nutraceuticals. The structure–activity relationships of the isolated compounds are also discussed.