Expression of recombinant wild-type and mutant β-Lactoglobulins in the yeast Pichia pastoris

Summary We have produced β-lactoglobulin gene constructs in the pGAPZαA vector for over expression of recombinant wild-type and a putative monomeric mutant protein in Pichia pastoris . Levels of expression of at least 150 mg L⁻¹ of the wild-type were achieved in shake flask culture. Ion exchange chromatography showed that the expressed recombinant wild-type β-Lg eluted as a heterogeneous mixture of species, some of which may be owing to small variations in the N-terminus and some to ligand binding. The putative monomeric β-lactoglobulin construct gave an expressed protein that was recognized by anti bovine β-lactoglobulin antibody, but we do not know yet if it forms monomers rather than dimers.     

Existing and potential applications of ultraviolet light in the food industry – a critical review

Short‐wave ultraviolet light (UVC, 254 nm) can reduce dramatically the microbial load in air or on hard surfaces free from food residues, and can eliminate pathogens from potable water filtered to remove organic residues and ‘clumps’ of bacteria. More recently, approval of the Food and Drug Administration (USA) has been sought for a system for the destruction of pathogenic bacteria in fruit juices using UVC, and the same approach could perhaps be applied to remove spoilage organisms from cider or wines. In contrast, long‐wave UV light (UVA, >320 nm) has limited microbiocidal properties, and for practical applications its effectiveness has to be enhanced by the presence of photosensitive compounds (eg furocoumarins) that will diffuse into a microbial cell prior to irradiation. The penetration of UVA into water is better than that of UVC, and its bacteriocidal action in the presence of photosensitisers can be rapid. However, pure furocoumarins are expensive and their addition to foodstuffs might be questioned on safety grounds. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Water‐holding capacity of insoluble fibre decreases free water and elevates digesta viscosity in the rat

BACKGROUND: The relationships between possible physiological properties of insoluble fibre and the viscosity of digesta are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of insoluble fibres with different water‐holding capacity, swelling, oil‐holding capacity and cation exchange capacity on gastric, small intestinal and caecal contents in rats fed a semi‐purified diet containing either no fibre (control), 50 g kg^?1 tossa jute fibre or 50 g kg^?1 shiitake fibre. RESULTS: The water‐holding capacity, swelling, oil‐holding capacity and cation exchange capacity of insoluble fibres of tossa jute were higher than those of shiitake (P < 0.001). The order of the viscosities of digesta was control group < shiitake fibre group < tossa jute fibre group in gastric, small intestinal and caecal contents (P < 0.05). The digesta viscosity at a shear rate of 40 s^?1 was strongly correlated with the free water content of digesta (r = ? 0.89; P < 0.01). The free water content of digesta depended on the water‐holding capacity of insoluble fibres represented as a linear function with negative slope (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The viscosity of digesta depends on the free water content, and this is reduced by fibre that holds water and can swell. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Natural decoloration,composition and increase in dietary fibre content of an edible marine algae,Ulva rigida (Chlorophyta), grown under different nitrogen conditions

The colour, dietary fibre content and characteristics of the edible marine green algae, Ulva rigida, were investigated in relation with the nitrogen content of the algal culture medium. Colour brightness decreased and total nitrogen of the algae increased in nitrogen-enriched conditions. When nitrogen-enriched seaweeds were grown again in normal seawater for 10 days, colour brightness increased and total nitrogen concentration fell. Total dietary fibre content of the wild and nitrogen enriched algae were close (～38.0% DW) but increased markedly when the nitrogen-rich plants were cultured in normal sea-water (54.4% after 10 days). Soluble fibre were xylorhamnoglucuronan sulphate (ulvan) with close molar compositions for all the seaweed samples. Insoluble polysaccharides were composed of glucose, xylose, uronic acid, rhamnose and sulphate which molar proportions varied for the different algal samples. The soluble fibre intrinsic viscosity and the water holding capacity of insoluble fibre were not markedly affected by the growth conditions. This report demonstrates that edible seaweed aquaculture provides an alternative or a complement to post-harvest transformations of seaweeds to modify organoleptic and nutritional characteristics.     

Critical process parameter of alcoholic yeast fermentation: speed of sound and density in the temperature range 5–30 °C

To implement process analytical technology in beer manufacturing, a systematic study of the ternary system water–maltose–ethanol with respect to the critical process parameters, density, speed of sound and temperature was performed. The results are presented in the form of temperature and mass‐fraction‐dependent polynomial expressions. On average, a variation of 1% mass fraction maltose results in variations of 3.548 m s^?1 ultrasound velocity and 0.0041 g cm^?³ density, whereas in the case of ethanol, the variations are 8.060 m s^?1 and ?0.0018 g cm^?3. Indeed, the relations are strictly nonlinear. Nevertheless, the determined data show the feasibility to predict online, concentrations of multicomponent mixtures of polar liquids by determining density and ultrasound velocity. With <0.1% error, the measured data show excellent agreement with reference data of binary mixtures as given in literature.     

The glassy state phenomenon in applications for the food industry: Application of the food polymer science approach to structure–function relationships of sucrose in cookie and cracker systems

This review of the glassy state phenomenon in applications for the food industry comprises two main parts. The first is a broad but brief overview of the so-called ‘food polymer science’ approach and its importance to food R&D studies of glassy solid and rubbery liquid states and glass transitions in food products and processes. The following elements of this approach are discussed: (i) the glass transition temperature (T_g) and methods for its measurement in foods; (ii) plasticization by water and its effect on T_g; (iii) the concepts of ‘water dynamics’ and ‘glass dynamics’ in non-equilibrium food systems; (iv) Williams–Landel–Ferry kinetics in the rubbery state above T_g, (v) state diagrams; and (vi) the effect of molecular weight on T_g. A comprehensive and up-to-date listing of more than 400 literature references on the glassy state phenomenon and glass transitions in food materials and systems is featured in that part of the paper, and these references are also compiled and tabulated according to specific subject headings. The second part of this review highlights the application of the food polymer science approach in recently reported studies on the structure–function relationships of sucrose in cookie and cracker systems. This part describes (i) the sucrose–water state diagram as a tool in understanding cookie and cracker baking; (ii) shortcomings of the traditional AACC sugar-snap cookie method as a test-baking system, in contrast to a new test system based on a model commercial-type wire-cut cookie formula; and (iii) a revealing illustration of sucrose functionality in cookie baking. The review concludes with a word about future prospects.