Starch Properties in Different Lines of an old Hungarian Wheat Variety,Bánkúti 1201

The old Hungarian wheat variety, Bánkúti 1201 was previously divided into lines on the basis of high molecular weight (HMW) glutenin subunit composition. In this work the starch properties of these lines were studied. The amylose contents of the lines ranged from 14.4% to 24.2%, which means a wide variation. The Rapid Visco Analyser (RVA) peak viscosity of the starch ranged from 232 to 372 Rapid Visco Units (RVU) and the enthalpy of gelatinisation (ΔH) measured by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) varied between 8.3 and 16.3 J/g. To study the relationship between the different lines on the basis of starch properties, Hierarchical Cluster Analysis was carried out based on RVA, DSC and HPLC results. Five groups of Bánkúti lines could be distinguished on the basis of these traits. According to the results, Bánkúti lines heterogeneous with respect to their HMW glutenin composition are also heterogeneous for their starch properties. Nevertheless, there was no correlation between the variability in protein composition and starch properties.     

Molecular Network Approach Reveals Rictor as a Central Target of Cardiac ProtectomiRs

Cardioprotective medications are still unmet clinical needs. We have previously identified several cardioprotective microRNAs (termed ProtectomiRs), the mRNA targets of which may reveal new drug targets for cardioprotection. Here we aimed to identify key molecular targets of ProtectomiRs and confirm their association with cardioprotection in a translational pig model of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). By using a network theoretical approach, we identified 882 potential target genes of 18 previously identified protectomiRs. The Rictor gene was the most central and it was ranked first in the protectomiR-target mRNA molecular network with the highest node degree of 5. Therefore, Rictor and its targeting microRNAs were further validated in heart samples obtained from a translational pig model of AMI and cardioprotection induced by pre- or postconditioning. Three out of five Rictor-targeting pig homologue of rat ProtectomiRs showed significant upregulation in postconditioned but not in preconditioned pig hearts. Rictor was downregulated at the mRNA and protein level in ischemic postconditioning but not in ischemic preconditioning. This is the first demonstration that Rictor is the central molecular target of ProtectomiRs and that decreased Rictor expression may regulate ischemic postconditioning-, but not preconditioning-induced acute cardioprotection. We conclude that Rictor is a potential novel drug target for acute cardioprotection.     

Contents of dietary fibre components and their relation to associated bioactive components in whole grain wheat samples from the HEALTHGRAIN diversity screen

A large and diverse material collection of whole grain wheat samples (n = 129) was analysed for total dietary fibre (TDF) content and composition, including fructan (11.5–15.5%). Correlations between the dietary fibre components, associated bioactive components (e.g. tocols, sterols, phenolic acids and folates) and agronomic properties previously determined on the same samples were found with multivariate analysis (PCA). Samples from the same countries had similar characteristics. The first PC described variation in components concentrated in the starchy endosperm (e.g. starch, β-glucan and fructan) and the dietary fibre components concentrated in the bran (e.g. TDF, arabinoxylan and cellulose). The second PC described the variation in kernel weight and other bran components such as alkylresorcinols, tocols and sterols. Interestingly, there was no correlation among these different groups of bran components, which reflected their concentration in different bran tissues. The results are of importance for plant breeders who wish to develop varieties with health-promoting effects.     

Effects of incorporated amaranth albumins on the functional properties of wheat dough

BACKGROUND: Recent developments in micro‐scale testing methodology and in methods modelling the effects of native forms of constituents by in vitro methods have provided a new approach to study the impact of added foreign proteins on dough end‐use quality. Amaranth (Amaranthus) is a member of the pseudo‐cereal family, whose storage proteins have superior nutritional quality due to their essential amino acid composition. The aim of this project was to study the effects of the incorporated amaranth albumin proteins on the rheological properties of the wheat dough. RESULTS: The mixing time requirements, dough strength and stability of the reconstructed dough increased proportionally with the amount (1, 3 and 5%) of amaranth albumin proteins incorporated. These results were supported by measurements on the non‐extractable polymeric protein ratio of the dough indicating the change in polymer size distribution. CONCLUSION: It was demonstrated that amaranth albumin proteins are capable of interacting with gluten proteins through disulfide bonds, showing similar effects to the individual glutenin subunits of wheat flour proteins. Improvements in dough strength and stability without a substantial increase in the mixing requirements are of great significance for developing energy saving technologies in the baking industry. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Light sensitivity of colourants used in alcoholic beverages

Quantum yields for photobleaching in ethanol solutions of Hexacol Red 2G Supra (E 128), Hexacol Sunset Yellow FCF Supra (E 110), caramel colour (E 150) and Liquid Red Colour (E 128) based on carminic acid, have been determined at 25° C in continuous photolysis experiments using monochromatic light at each of three wavelengths 334 nm, 366 nm and 436 nm, in order to obtain an objektive measure of the sensitivity to ultraviolet and visible light of colourants used in alcoholic beverages. For photobleaching of carminic acid from Liquid Red Colour in fruit wine [pH 3.1, with 15% (v/v) ethanol] quantum yield was determined as 2.1·10^–2 mol·einstein^–1 for 334 nm irradiation, 1.3·10^–3 mol·einstein^–1 for 366 nm irradiation and 5.6·10^–5 mol·einstein^–1 for 436 nm irradiation, respectively. For Hexacol Sunset Yellow FCF Supra in fruit wine, the quantum yield for 334 nm irradiation was determined as 5.9·10^–4 mol·einstein^–1 and for 366 nm irradiation as 2.4·10^–4 mol·einstein^–1. Hexacol Red 2G Supra in fruit wine had a quantum yield of 3.7·10^–5 mol·einstein^–1 for 366 nm irradiation. For Hexacol Red 2G Supra and Hexacol Sunset Yellow FCF Supra for 436 nm irradiation and for Hexacol Red 2G Supra for 334 nm irradiation the quantum yields were less than 10^–6 mol·einstein^–1. The following order was determined for light sensitivity in fruit wine (366 nm light): Liquid Red Colour > Hexacol Sunset Yellow FCF Supra > Hexacol Red 2G Supra. The caramel colour in aquavit [pH 7.1, with 42% (v/v) ethanol] was moderately sensitive to light with a quantum yield almost independent of irradiation wavelength. Relative quantum yields were determined as 1.6 for 334 nm irradiation, 1.0 for 366 nm and 1.0 for 436 nm irradiation. The latter value corresponded to 2.6 g caramel per einstein absorbed.

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Lichtempfindlichkeit von Farbstoffen in alkoholischen Getränken

Zusammenfassung Um einen objektiven Wert für die Empfindlichkeit von Farbstoffen in alkoholischen Getränken gegenüber ultraviolettem und sichtbarem Licht festlegen zu können, wurde die Quantenausbeute für Photobleichung in ethanolischen Lösungen von Hexacol Red 2G Supra (E 128), Hexacol Sunset Yellow FCF Supra (E110), Caramel Farbe (E 150) und Liquid Red Colour (E 128; auf Carminsäure basieren) bei 25 °C in kontinuierlichen Photolyse-Experimenten mit monochromatischem Licht mit den Wellenlängen 334 nm, 366 nm und 436 nm bestimmt. Die Quantenausbeute für Photobleichung von Carminsäure in Liquid Red Colour in Fruchtwein (pH 3,1 mit 15%, v/v, Ethanol) war 2,1·10^–2 Mol·Einstein^–1 bei 334 nm; 1,3·10^–3 Mol·Einstein^–1 bei 366 nm und 5,6·10^–5 Mol·Einstein^–1 bei 436 nm. Die Quantenausbeute für Hexacol Sunset Yellow FCF Supra in Fruchtwein war 5,9·10^–4 Mol·Einstein^–1 bei 334 nm und 2,4·10^–4 Mol·Einstein^–1 bei 366 nm. Die Quantenausbeute für Photobleichung für Hexacol Red 2G Supra war 3,7·10^–5 Mol·Einstein^–1 bei 366 nm Bestrahlung. Für Hexacol Red 2G Supra und Hexacol Sunset Yellow FCF Supra war die Quantenausbeute bei 436 nm Bestrahlung geringer als 10^–6 Mol·Einstein^–1, das gleiche gilt für Hexacol Red 2G Supra bei 334 nm Bestrahlung. Folgende Reihenfolge der Lichtempfindlichkeit in Fruchtwein wurde festgestellt (bei 366 nm): Liquid Red Colour > Hexacol Sunset Yellow FCF Supra > Hexacol Red 2G Supra. Caramel Farbe in Aquavit (pH 7,1, mit 42%, v/v, Ethanol) war mäßig lichtempfindlich; die Quantenausbeute war fast unabhängig von der Bestrahlungswellenlänge. Relative Quantenausbeuten von 1,6 bei 334 nm, 1,0 bei 366 nm und 1,0 bei 436 nm wurden bestimmt. Der letzte Wert entspricht 2,6 g Caramel per Einstein.

     

Validation of the Child Premorbid Intelligence Estimate method to predict premorbid Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition Full Scale IQ among children with brain injury.

Determination of neuropsychological impairment involves contrasting obtained performances with a comparison standard, which is often an estimate of premorbid IQ. M. R. Schoenberg, R. T. Lange, T. A. Brickell, and D. H. Saklofske (2007) proposed the Child Premorbid Intelligence Estimate (CPIE) to predict premorbid Full Scale IQ (FSIQ) using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-4th Edition (WISC-IV; Wechsler, 2003). The CPIE includes 12 algorithms to predict FSIQ, 1 using demographic variables and 11 algorithms combining WISC-IV subtest raw scores with demographic variables. The CPIE was applied to a sample of children with acquired traumatic brain injury (TBI sample; n = 40) and a healthy demographically matched sample (n = 40). Paired-samples t tests found estimated premorbid FSIQ differed from obtained FSIQ when applied to the TBI sample (ps ≤ .01). When applied to healthy peers, estimated and obtained FSIQ did not differ (ps > .02). The demographic only algorithm performed well at a group level, but estimates were restricted in range. Algorithms combining single subtest scores with demographics performed adequately. Results support the clinical application of the CPIE algorithms. However, limitations to estimating individual premorbid ability, including statistical and developmental factors, must be considered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Identification of New QTLs for Dietary Fiber Content in Aegilops biuncialis

Grain dietary fiber content is an important health-promoting trait of bread wheat. A dominant dietary fiber component of wheat is the cell wall polysaccharide arabinoxylan and the goatgrass Aegilops biuncialis has high β-glucan content, which makes it an attractive gene source to develop wheat lines with modified fiber composition. In order to support introgression breeding, this work examined genetic variability in grain β-glucan, pentosan, and protein content in a collection of Ae. biuncialis. A large variation in grain protein and edible fiber content was revealed, reflecting the origin of Ae. biuncialis accessions from different eco-geographical habitats. Association analysis using DArTseq-derived SNPs identified 34 QTLs associated with β-glucan, pentosan, water-extractable pentosan, and protein content. Mapping the markers to draft chromosome assemblies of diploid progenitors of Ae. biuncialis underlined the role of genes on chromosomes 1M^b, 4M^b, and 5M^b in the formation of grain β-glucan content, while other QTLs on chromosome groups 3, 6, and 1 identified genes responsible for total- and water-extractable pentosan content. Functional annotation of the associated marker sequences identified fourteen genes, nine of which were identified in other monocots. The QTLs and genes identified in the present work are attractive targets for chromosome-mediated gene transfer to improve the health-promoting properties of wheat-derived foods.     

Adverse Impact of Diet-Induced Hypercholesterolemia on Cardiovascular Tissue Homeostasis in a Rabbit Model: Time-Dependent Changes in Cardiac Parameters

The present study evaluates a hypothesis that diet-related hypercholesterolemia increases oxidative stress-related burden to cardiovascular tissue, resulting in progressively increased mortality, along with deterioration of electrophysiological and enzymatic function in rabbit myocardium. New Zealand white rabbits were divided into four groups, defined as follows: GROUP I, cholesterol-free rabbit chow for 12 weeks; GROUP II, cholesterol-free chow, 40 weeks; GROUP III, chow supplemented with 2% cholesterol, 12 weeks; GROUP IV, chow supplemented with 2% cholesterol, 40 weeks. At the 12 and 40 weeks time points, animals in each of the aforementioned cohorts were subjected to echocardiographic measurements, followed by sacrifice. Significant deterioration in major outcome variables measured in the present study were observed only in animals maintained for 40 weeks on 2% cholesterol-supplemented chow, with much lesser adverse effects noted in animals fed high cholesterol diets for only 12 weeks. It was observed that rabbits receiving high cholesterol diets for 40 weeks exhibited significantly increased mortality, worsened ejection fraction and general deterioration of cardiac functions, along with increased atherosclerotic plaque formation and infarct size. Additionally, myocardium of GROUP IV animals was observed to contain lower levels of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and cytochrome c oxidase III (COX III) protein relative to the controls.