Influence of Edible Films upon the Moisture Loss and Microstructure of Dietetic Sucrose-Free Sponge Cakes during Storage

The kinetics of changes in the bound water content in dietetic sucrose-free sponge cakes (DC) during storage was investigated. The effect of edible films of polymyxan, pectin, xanthan, and carboxymethylcellulose upon this kinetics was also investigated. The quantitative changes in both states of water (slightly bound water and strongly bound water) were registered by combined dynamic analysis (thermogravimetry analysis, TGA, and differential thermal analysis, DTA). The moisture changes in DC crumb were analyzed by drying out to constant mass. The rate constants were determined according the equation q = q_oe^-kt. The values of rate constants 'k', in day^-1, concerning the different edible films were as follows: for crumb moisture is (8.00 ≤ k ≤ 12.47) × 10^-3, for bound water is (3.07 ≤ k_w ≤ 6.26) × 10^-2, for slightly bound water is (4.22 ≤ k₁ ≤ 8.49) × 10^-2 and for strongly bound water is (2.02 ≤ k₂ ≤ 5.62) × 10^-2 as compared to 18.53 × 10^-3, 7.16 × 10^-2, 9.04 × 10^-2, and 5.36 × 10^-2 in the uncovered DC, respectively. The best water-retaining effect in respect to crumb moisture during storage was ascertained in the use of polymyxan and xanthan films. The lowest rate constant values for bound water and its two states were measured for DC covered with pectin. The relation between the kinetics of both bound water states during storage and ageing of the crumb of DC covered with different edible films and the crumb microstructure was represented. By means of scanning electron microscope was read the smallest change in crumb microstructure of pectin-covered DC on the sixth day of storage.     

从烟草悬浮细胞中分离液泡前体的方法研究

通过跟踪含有液泡前体特异标记物的组分, 利用细胞壁酶水解胞壁制造原生质体, 并用真针头挤压的方法裂解细胞, 用蔗糖密度梯度离心的方法分离液泡前体. 通过相差显微镜观察, 发现所分离的液泡前体保持完整的结构. 利用不同细胞器的标记物抗体进行免疫标记检测, 证明所纯化的液泡前体不含其他细胞器, 具有较高的纯度.     

Crystallization and Drying in Thin Sucrose Films During Panning

Sucrose crystallization in thin films (50–55 μm) was studied, using a videomicroscopy technique, at conditions encountered during hard panning processes. No nucleation occurred in unseeded films, while a linear increase in seeded crystals occurred during drying. Crystal growth rate increased with temperature (25–30°C) and with air velocity (2.4–12.5 m/sec), but did not change with varying sucrose concentrations (70–76% w/w) and relative humidities (0–66% at 30°C). FD & C Yellow No. 5 food coloring in the dye form (0.05–0.5 g/100 mL) showed no effects while similar concentrations in the lake form inhibited crystal growth rate.     

Rates of Crystallization of Dried Lactose-sucrose Mixtures

The isothermal crystallization kinetics of glassy lactose/sucrose mixtures were studied at several storage temperatures (close to T_g and T_m). The kinetic parameters implicit in the Avrami equation were determined. Activation energies for transport (E_D) and surface nucleation (W*) were also found and correlated to the molar composition of the lactose/sucrose mixtures. A monotonic increase in the half crystallization time (t_1/z), Avrami index (n), % crystallization per day, activation energy for transport (E_D) and surface nucleation energy (W*) and a decrease in the crystallization velocity constants (K) were related to the increase in the lactose content of lactose/sucrose mixtures.     

新型油脂--蔗糖豆油酸多酯的合成研究

用蔗糖和豆油酸甲酯合成了蔗糖豆油酸多酯，通过单因素及正交实验，得出合成蔗糖豆油酸多酯最佳合成条件为：豆油酸甲酯与蔗糖摩尔比为10：1。反应温度130℃，反应时间6h，此条件下反应产率达到92．9％。     

Investigation of the stability of tablets prepared from sucrose and citric acid anhydride utilizing response surface methodology

Inversion of sucrose is a stability problem particularly of candies with acidic taste that contain sucrose and small amounts of organic acids such as citric acid, since the free d-fructose produced by hydrolysis is hygroscopic. The following possibilities were investigated for preventing the hydrolysis of sucrose in tablets containing sucrose and citric acid: Adding various amounts of tri-sodium citrate to the formulation to neutralize the citric acid, (Hot) melt coating of citric acid and tri-sodium citrate with a vegetable fat at different coating ratios, variation of the ratio of coated citric acid and tri-sodium citrate in formulations, and compressing the formulations with different compression forces. After tablet processing and storage of tablets, the concentration of d-fructose was determined on the basis of enzymatic reactions. A response surface central composite design was used. The above-mentioned variations were chosen as independent variables and the amount of d-fructose was chosen as response variable. The lowest rates of inversion could be achieved by increasing the content of tri-sodium citrate and the ratio of coating material and decreasing the ratio of coated citric acid and tri-sodium citrate in the tablet formulations. The compression force had no significant effect on the inversion of sucrose.     

Characterization and Reconstitution of Human Lipoyl Synthase (LIAS) Supports ISCA2 and ISCU as Primary Cluster Donors and an Ordered Mechanism of Cluster Assembly

Lipoyl synthase (LIAS) is an iron–sulfur cluster protein and a member of the radical S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) superfamily that catalyzes the final step of lipoic acid biosynthesis. The enzyme contains two [4Fe–4S] centers (reducing and auxiliary clusters) that promote radical formation and sulfur transfer, respectively. Most information concerning LIAS and its mechanism has been determined from prokaryotic enzymes. Herein, we detail the expression, isolation, and characterization of human LIAS, its reactivity, and evaluation of natural iron–sulfur (Fe–S) cluster reconstitution mechanisms. Cluster donation by a number of possible cluster donor proteins and heterodimeric complexes has been evaluated. [2Fe–2S]-cluster-bound forms of human ISCU and ISCA2 were found capable of reconstituting human LIAS, such that complete product turnover was enabled for LIAS, as monitored via a liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) assay. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies of native LIAS and substituted derivatives that lacked the ability to bind one or the other of LIAS’s two [4Fe–4S] clusters revealed a likely order of cluster addition, with the auxiliary cluster preceding the reducing [4Fe–4S] center. These results detail the trafficking of Fe–S clusters in human cells and highlight differences with respect to bacterial LIAS analogs. Likely in vivo Fe–S cluster donors to LIAS are identified, with possible connections to human disease states, and a mechanistic ordering of [4Fe–4S] cluster reconstitution is evident.