Synthesis of Condensed Tannin Derivatives and their Protein-Precipitating Capacity

Four regiospecifically methylated condensed tannin derivatives were synthesized by the condensation of regiospecifically methylated flavan-3, 4-diols protected by benzyl groups, and subsequent debenzylation. The monomeric flavan-3,4-diols were obtained via four reaction steps starting from phloroacetophenone derivatives and protocatechualdehyde derivatives. Protein—precipitating capacity of these synthetic condensed tannin derivatives was tested and a comparision of these capacity suggests the following results: 1) Phenolic hydroxyl groups in tannins are essential sites for protein precipitation. 2) Although the A-ring has been considered not to be important for tannin—protein interactions, it was proved that the A-ring also plays an important role together with the B-ring. 3) Both hydroxyl groups of A- and B-rings may synergistically interact with proteins.     

还原型谷胱甘肽的稳定性研究

本文研究了pH、温度、光照以及外加抗氧化剂等因素对还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)纯品溶液稳定性的影响.结果表明,GSH水溶液在pH=2.0～4.0范围内最为稳定;在30℃以下,24h内自身氧化较少;应避光处理或保存;外加抗氧化剂在pH=6.0时,保护作用明显.     

A novel improvement in whey protein isolate emulsion stability: Generation of an enzymatically cross-linked beet pectin layer using horseradish peroxidase

Extensive research has indicated that the electrostatic attraction between polysaccharides and proteins on the oil-water interface can improve the stability of emulsions. However, this electrostatic effect will be weakened or even eliminated as the solution pH or ionic strength of emulsions change, resulting in the shedding of the polysaccharide layer. We prepared primary oil-in-water emulsions at pH 7.0 using whey protein isolate (WPI) as an emulsifier and then beet pectin was added to form secondary emulsions. After the pH of emulsions was adjusted to 4.0 to promote electrostatic attraction between the beet pectin molecules and the protein-coated droplets, horseradish peroxidase was added to generate a cross-linked beet pectin coating. Results show that stable emulsions coated with WPI and cross-linked beet pectin interfaces could be formed. The sensitivity of the emulsions to the environmental stresses of pH changes, ions addition, thermal processing and freezing was also characterized in this work. Our results support the view that cross-linked beet pectin improves the stability of emulsions and is superior to simple deposition on the surface of lipid droplets. The interfacial engineering technology used in this study could be used to create food emulsions with improved stability to environmental stresses.     

Genetically Encoded Biosensors to Monitor Intracellular Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species and Glutathione Redox Potential in Skeletal Muscle Cells

Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) play an important role in the pathophysiology of skeletal muscle and are involved in the regulation of intracellular signaling pathways, which drive metabolism, regeneration, and adaptation in skeletal muscle. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes are unknown or partially uncovered. We implemented a combination of methodological approaches that are funded for the use of genetically encoded biosensors associated with quantitative fluorescence microscopy imaging to study redox biology in skeletal muscle. Therefore, it was possible to detect and monitor RONS and glutathione redox potential with high specificity and spatio-temporal resolution in two models, isolated skeletal muscle fibers and C2C12 myoblasts/myotubes. Biosensors HyPer3 and roGFP2-Orp1 were examined for the detection of cytosolic hydrogen peroxide; HyPer-mito and HyPer-nuc for the detection of mitochondrial and nuclear hydrogen peroxide; Mito-Grx1-roGFP2 and cyto-Grx1-roGFP2 were used for registration of the glutathione redox potential in mitochondria and cytosol. G-geNOp was proven to detect cytosolic nitric oxide. The fluorescence emitted by the biosensors is affected by pH, and this might have masked the results; therefore, environmental CO₂ must be controlled to avoid pH fluctuations. In conclusion, genetically encoded biosensors and quantitative fluorescence microscopy provide a robust methodology to investigate the pathophysiological processes associated with the redox biology of skeletal muscle.     

A Glutathione Peroxidase Gene from Litopenaeus vannamei Is Involved in Oxidative Stress Responses and Pathogen Infection Resistance

In shrimp, several glutathione peroxidase (GPX) genes have been cloned and functionally studied. Increasing evidence suggests the genes’ involvement in white spot syndrome virus (WSSV)- or Vibrio alginolyticus-infection resistance. In the present study, a novel GXP gene (LvGPX3) was cloned in Litopenaeus vannamei. Promoter of LvGPX3 was activated by NF-E2-related factor 2. Further study showed that LvGPX3 expression was evidently accelerated by oxidative stress or WSSV or V. alginolyticus infection. Consistently, downregulated expression of LvGPX3 increased the cumulative mortality of WSSV- or V. alginolyticus-infected shrimp. Similar results occurred in shrimp suffering from oxidative stress. Moreover, LvGPX3 was important for enhancing Antimicrobial peptide (AMP) gene expression in S2 cells with lipopolysaccharide treatment. Further, knockdown of LvGPX3 expression significantly suppressed expression of AMPs, such as Penaeidins 2a, Penaeidins 3a and anti-lipopolysaccharide factor 1 in shrimp. AMPs have been proven to be engaged in shrimp WSSV- or V. alginolyticus-infection resistance; it was inferred that LvGPX3 might enhance shrimp immune response under immune challenges, such as increasing expression of AMPs. The regulation mechanism remains to be further studied.     

Chloroplast Thylakoidal Ascorbate Peroxidase,PtotAPX, Has Enhanced Resistance to Oxidative Stress in Populus tomentosa

Chloroplasts are the most major producers of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during photosynthesis. However, the function of thylakoid ascorbate peroxidase (tAPX) in response to oxidative stress in wood trees is largely unknown. Our results showed that PtotAPX of Populus tomentosa could effectively utilize ascorbic acid (AsA) to hydrolyze hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in vitro. The overexpression or antisense of PtotAPX (OX-PtotAPX or anti-PtotAPX, respectively) in Populus tomentosa plants did not significantly affect plant morphology during plant growth. When treated with methyl viologen (MV), the OX-PtotAPX plants exhibited less morphological damage under stress conditions compared to WT plants. OX-PtotAPX plants maintained lower H₂O₂ levels and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, but more reduced AsA levels, a higher photosynthetic rate (Pn), and the maximal photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm), whereas anti-PtotAPX plants showed the opposite phenotype. Furthermore, the activity of APX was slightly higher in OX-PtotAPX under normal growth conditions, and this activity significantly decreased after stress treatment, which was the lowest in anti-P. Based on these results, we propose that PtotAPX is important for protecting the photosynthetic machinery under severe oxidative stress conditions in P. tomentosa, and is a potential genetic resource for regulating the stress tolerance of woody plants.     

固定化黄孢原毛平革菌合成木素过氧化物酶

用聚氨酯泡沫块固定黄孢原毛平革菌（Ｐｈａｎｅｒｏｃｈａｅｔｅ ｃｈｒｙｓｏｓｐｏｒｉｕｍ）,在摇瓶条件下研究了合成木素过氧化物酶的特点和重要影响因素。固定化培养与游离菌线球培养相比,最高酶活提高６４％．固定化细胞重复利用４批仍保持较高的产酶活性。高剪应力对酶活有抑制作用。苯甲醇可以代替藜芦醇强化木素过氧化物酶的合成,其最佳浓度为５．２ｍＭ。利用自制的相相流化床反应器进行了间歇产酶试验,发现最佳通气     

Age-Dependent Effects of Jasmonic Acid Treatment and Wind Exposure on Foliar Oxidase Activity and Insect Resistance in Tomato

Jasmonic acid (JA) treatment of tomato plants induces several defense-related oxidative enzymes and increases pest resistance in a manner thought to simulate natural insect wounding. In a full-factorial greenhouse experiment, we examined the independent and interactive effects of plant age and exposure to wind-induced mechanical stress (MS), on the ability of JA to induce defense in tomato. In general, treatment of 4-, 6-, and 8-week-old tomato plants with 1 mM JA resulted in the induction of peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activity and reduced the relative growth rate of first-instar Manduca sexta larvae fed treated leaves, in accordance with other studies. Peroxidase activity increased with plant age and was induced by JA most strongly in older plants. In contrast, polyphenol oxidase activity did not change with plant age and was induced by JA most strongly in young plants. While relative growth rates of M. sexta were lower on older plants overall, JA reduced growth rates most strongly in young plants, in which JA treatment enhanced polyphenol oxidase activity by more than 70%. MS enhanced the activity of peroxidase, but substantially reduced the activity of polyphenol oxidase; the latter most intensely on older plants. M. sexta tended to grow more slowly on MS-treated plants, although this effect was not significant. Thus, reduced polyphenol oxidase activity in MS-treated plants did not lead to an increase in growth rate of M. sexta, possibly because peroxidase activity was still elevated in MS-treated plants. Significant interactions between JA and MS and three-way interactions were not detected for any variable, although the inductive effects of both JA and MS interacted in complex ways with plant age. Our results indicate that resistance traits in tomato are differentially affected by JA and wind exposure and differ in their relative contribution to defense as plants age.     

A novel hydrogen peroxide biosensor based on Au-graphene-HRP-chitosan biocomposites

Graphene was prepared successfully by introducing -SO₃⁻ to separate the individual sheets. TEM, EDS and Raman spectroscopy were utilized to characterize the morphology and composition of graphene oxide and graphene. To construct the H₂O₂ biosensor, graphene and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) were co-immobilized into biocompatible polymer chitosan (CS), then a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was modified by the biocomposite, followed by electrodeposition of Au nanoparticles on the surface to fabricate Au/graphene/HRP/CS/GCE. Cyclic voltammetry demonstrated that the direct electron transfer of HRP was realized, and the biosensor had an excellent performance in terms of electrocatalytic reduction towards H₂O₂. The biosensor showed high sensitivity and fast response upon the addition of H₂O₂, under the conditions of pH 6.5, potential −0.3 V. The time to reach the stable-state current was less than 3 s, and the linear range to H₂O₂ was from 5 × 10⁻⁶ M to 5.13 × 10⁻³ M with a detection limit of 1.7 × 10⁻⁶ M (S/N = 3). Moreover, the biosensor exhibited good reproducibility and long-term stability.