As the number falls,alternatives to the Hagberg–Perten falling number method: A review

This review examines the application, limitations, and potential alternatives to the Hagberg–Perten falling number (FN) method used in the global wheat industry for detecting the risk of poor end-product quality mainly due to starch degradation by the enzyme α-amylase. By viscometry, the FN test indirectly detects the presence of α-amylase, the primary enzyme that digests starch. Elevated α-amylase results in low FN and damages wheat product quality resulting in cakes that fall, and sticky bread and noodles. Low FN can occur from preharvest sprouting (PHS) and late maturity α-amylase (LMA). Moist or rainy conditions before harvest cause PHS on the mother plant. Continuously cool or fluctuating temperatures during the grain filling stage cause LMA. Due to the expression of additional hydrolytic enzymes, PHS has a stronger negative impact than LMA. Wheat grain with low FN/high α-amylase results in serious losses for farmers, traders, millers, and bakers worldwide. Although blending of low FN grain with sound wheat may be used as a means of moving affected grain through the marketplace, care must be taken to avoid grain lots from falling below contract-specified FN. A large amount of sound wheat can be ruined if mixed with a small amount of sprouted wheat. The FN method is widely employed to detect α-amylase after harvest. However, it has several limitations, including sampling variability, high cost, labor intensiveness, the destructive nature of the test, and an inability to differentiate between LMA and PHS. Faster, cheaper, and more accurate alternatives could improve breeding for resistance to PHS and LMA and could preserve the value of wheat grain by avoiding inadvertent mixing of high- and low-FN grain by enabling testing at more stages of the value stream including at harvest, delivery, transport, storage, and milling. Alternatives to the FN method explored here include the Rapid Visco Analyzer, enzyme assays, immunoassays, near-infrared spectroscopy, and hyperspectral imaging.     

Salivary Proteome Changes in Response to Acute Psychological Stress Due to an Oral Exam Simulation in University Students: Effect of an Olfactory Stimulus

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays a crucial role both in acute and chronic psychological stress eliciting changes in many local and systemic physiological and biochemical processes. Salivary secretion is also regulated by ANS. In this study, we explored salivary proteome changes produced in thirty-eight University students by a test stress, which simulated an oral exam. Students underwent a relaxation phase followed by the stress test during which an electrocardiogram was recorded. To evaluate the effect of an olfactory stimulus, half of the students were exposed to a pleasant odor diffused in the room throughout the whole session. Saliva samples were collected after the relaxation phase (T0) and the stress test (T1). State anxiety was also evaluated at T0 and T1. Salivary proteins were separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis, and patterns at different times were compared. Spots differentially expressed were trypsin digested and identified by mass spectrometry. Western blot analysis was used to validate proteomic results. Anxiety scores and heart rate changes indicated that the fake exam induced anxiety. Significant changes of α-amylase, polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (PIGR), and immunoglobulin α chain (IGHA) secretion were observed after the stress test was performed in the two conditions. Moreover, the presence of pleasant odor reduced the acute social stress affecting salivary proteome changes. Therefore, saliva proteomic analysis was a useful approach to evaluate the rapid responses associated to an acute stress test also highlighting known biomarkers.     

白芸豆α-淀粉酶抑制剂在加工和消化过程中的活性变化研究

本文研究了白芸豆α-淀粉酶抑制剂（α-AI）在加工和消化过程中的活性变化。通过探究α-AI浓度、热、酸、碱以及模拟胃肠道环境对α-AI活性的影响来反映α-AI在加工和消化过程中的活性变化。α-AI对α-淀粉酶的抑制作用在较低蛋白浓度（<6.00 mg/m L）下呈剂量依赖关系,在较高蛋白浓度（>6.00 mg/m L）下随蛋白浓度的增大而略有增强。低于60℃的热处理,α-AI活性无显著变化（p>0.05）,高于80℃时α-AI活性严重损失甚至丧失,70℃时α-AI活性有所损失,随着时间的延长活性损失增大;酸碱处理（p H3.0¹0.0）会显著影响α-AI活性（p<0.05）,但其对α-AI活性造成的损失会随时间的延长而减小。α-AI活性在消化过程中显著降低（p<0.05）,其活性损失主要在胃内;低蛋白浓度（<8.00 mg/m L）的α-AI在体内几乎失活,高蛋白浓度（>10.00 mg/m L）的α-AI可以较好地发挥生理作用。      

竹叶椒乙醇提取物对α-葡萄糖苷酶的抑制作用及其机理研究

目的:研究竹叶椒乙醇提取物对α-糖苷酶的抑制作用。方法:本实验采用体外抑制模型评价竹叶椒乙醇提取物对α-葡萄糖苷酶（酵母菌来源、小鼠小肠来源）和α-淀粉酶的抑制活性。并采用Lineweaver-Burk双倒数法研究α-葡萄糖苷酶的动力学性质。结果:竹叶椒乙醇提取物对α-葡萄糖苷酶（酵母菌来源）的半数抑制浓度（IC50）为（0.660±0.145）mg·m L-1,对小鼠小肠内α-葡萄糖苷酶半数抑制浓度（1.944±0.078）mg·m L-1,α-淀粉酶的半数抑制浓度为（1.185±0.132）mg·m L-1。动力学研究表明,竹叶椒乙醇提取物对α-葡萄糖苷酶的抑制作用为典型非竞争性抑制。结论:竹叶椒乙醇提取物对α-糖苷酶活性的抑制效果显著,具有很好的开发利用价值。      

海洋低温α淀粉酶水解玉米淀粉及其产物生物活性

本研究旨在开发适用于工业生产的新型酶制剂,采用研制的新型海洋低温α-淀粉酶,研究该酶水解玉米淀粉最佳工艺条件以及其产物特性。低温α-淀粉酶最佳的工艺条件为温度30℃、时间90 min、淀粉浓度4.5%、加酶量8 U/g、p H6.5。酶解产物通过TLC和HPLC分析,酶解产物中主要为麦芽糖、麦芽三糖、异麦芽三糖、麦芽四糖和麦芽五糖,其中麦芽四糖和麦芽五糖的和达到69.62%。酶解产物对羟自由基和DPPH自由基均有清除作用,对羟自由基的清除效果要好于对DPPH自由基的清除。      

黄芪对嗜酸乳杆菌生长及其产酶活的影响

研究添加不同浓度的黄芪提取液对嗜酸乳杆菌生长及产酶能力的影响,对比在改良的MRS培养基中添加与未添加黄芪提取液对嗜酸乳杆菌的生物量和生长周期的影响,同时测定了嗜酸乳杆菌产β-半乳糖苷酶、葡萄糖氧化酶和淀粉酶的酶活,确定黄芪提取液的最佳添加浓度。结果表明:当添加黄芪提取液浓度为0.032mg/mL时对嗜酸乳杆菌生长有明显的促进作用,且在此浓度下pH达最低值3.88;当添加黄芪提取液浓度为0.016g/mL时,嗜酸乳杆菌产β-半乳糖苷酶、葡萄糖氧化酶和淀粉酶的酶活达到最高值,分别为387.56、14.42、4.4U。      

山奈酚抑制α-淀粉酶作用的研究

采用酶动力学方法和荧光光谱法研究山奈酚对α-淀粉酶的抑制作用。在pH6.8、37℃条件下反应20min,山奈酚（1mg/mL,0.05mL）对α-淀粉酶（0.328U/mL,0.2mL）催化活性的抑制率达到24.39%。该抑制过程是以非竞争性方式进行。同时,山奈酚对α-淀粉酶的内源荧光产生有规律的猝灭作用,以静态猝灭方式为主。二者自发结合形成复合物,其主要作用力为疏水作用,有1个结合位点。      

Bacillus subtilis ZJF-1A5产中温α-淀粉酶发酵工艺优化

枯草芽孢杆菌是生产中温α-淀粉酶的重要菌株,以B.subtilis ZJF-1A5为生产菌株,对其发酵生产中温α-淀粉酶最佳工艺参数进行优化。采用摇床培养方法对接种量、培养温度、溶氧、溶液pH及发酵结束时间等因素进行优化,并在最优工艺参数下对枯草芽孢杆菌生长及产酶特性进行研究。结果表明,以DE值为18的糊精作为碳源时,Bacillus subtilis ZJF-1A5时最佳工艺参数为:接种量4%,培养温度37℃,初始pH5.0,摇床转速210r/min,培养时间54h。在此工艺条件下对B.subtilis ZJF-1A5生长与产酶特性进行研究,9¹5h为对数生长期,15⁴8h为稳定生长期,48h以后为衰退期;发酵54h后,酶活达到最大值。此研究为B.subtilis ZJF-1A5发酵生产中温α-淀粉酶工业化生产提供重要理论及实践意义。      

响应面法优化酶解工艺在甘薯压差膨化工艺中的应用

采用中温α-淀粉酶酶解甘薯片中的甘薯淀粉以降低甘薯淀粉含量。应用响应面法优化酶解条件,并将获得的最佳酶解条件应用于甘薯压差膨化工艺中,目的在于获得一种效果较好的甘薯压差膨化工艺。响应面法优化中温α-淀粉酶酶解甘薯片中淀粉的最佳酶解条件是:料液比1∶4,pH为6.3,酶解温度66℃,酶解时间60min,酶添加量为0.95%;甘薯压差膨化的工艺条件是:压力差0.4MPa,切片厚度为2³mm,膨化温度100℃,停滞时间10min,抽空温度90⁹5℃,抽空时间2h。在此条件下获得的甘薯脆片其品质高于未经酶解的甘薯脆片。      

α-淀粉酶的基因改造与菌种选育研究进展

α-淀粉酶是重要的工业用酶制剂之一,能在高温、低pH范围内稳定发挥作用的α-淀粉酶则具有更加广阔的应用前景。本文主要从基因改造与菌种选育两方面阐述了高温α-淀粉酶、酸性α-淀粉酶以及高温酸性α-淀粉酶的研究与开发进展。