Application of proteomics to hordein screening in the malting process

This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of the malting process on hordein composition. For this purpose, combination of sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) and the method of isotopic peptides labeling iTRAQ was used. Barley proteins are essential components determining the quality of both malt and beer. Since hordeins represent the most abundant proteins accounting for about 40-50% of total protein fraction of mature barley grain, our research was focused on them. In this respect, the proteins of interest were extracted from milled samples of barley grain, germinated barley grain (samples collected at different time intervals), green malt and malt, respectively. Particular hordein extracts were firstly fractionated via SDS- PAGE, which was used as a relatively rapid and reliable technique providing information about hordein profile of analyzed samples. Then, separated proteins were in-gel digested and resulting peptides were measured by mass spectrometry. In addition, the chosen proteins, after in-gel digestion, were subjected to the iTRAQ method and the screening of proteins during malting process was evaluated. Our results have revealed that most of the hordein components present in the barley grain can be found in all stages of the malting process as well as in the final malt. The amount of hordeins decreases during the malting process; in the case of C hordein, the protein decrease is approximately 65%. On the other hand, significant degradation of D hordein was detected. The suggested procedure can be used to follow the development of the hordein profile during germination, which is of great technological importance in beer production.     

Thermoanalytical investigation and biological properties of zinc(II) 4-chloro- and 5-chlorosalicylates with N-donor ligands

New zinc(II) 4- and 5-chlorosalicylate complexes of general formula [Zn(X-sal)₂(L) _n (H₂O) _x ] (where X-sal?=?4-Clsalicylate, 5-Clsalicylate; L?=?N,N-diethylnicotinamide, isonicotinamide, theophylline; n?=?1, 2; x?=?0, 1, 2, 4) were prepared. The complexes were determined by elemental analysis and characterised by infrared spectroscopy. The thermal behaviour of the complexes was studied by simultaneous TG, DTG and DTA methods under dynamic air conditions. The thermal decomposition is a multi-step process. In the first step of the thermal decomposition, water is released in hydrated compounds. The anhydrous compounds start to decompose by the release of organic ligand, followed by chlorosalicylic acid, chlorophenol and carbon monoxide. The final solid product of the thermal decomposition is zinc oxide. The volatile products of the thermal decomposition were determined by mass spectrometry. The antimicrobial activities of the complexes were evaluated against selected pathogen and probiotic bacteria, yeasts and fungi strains. Bioactivities of the tested compounds are different against bacteria, yeasts and filamentous fungi. It was found that bacteria were more sensitive to the studied zinc(II) complex compounds than yeasts or filamentous fungi.     

The Enantioselective Total Synthesis of Bisquinolizidine Alkaloids: A Modular “Inside‐Out” Approach

Bisquinolizidine alkaloids are characterized by a chiral bispidine core (3,7‐diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane) to which combinations of an α,N‐fused 2‐pyridone, an endo‐ or exo‐α,N‐annulated piperidin(on)e, and an exo‐allyl substituent are attached. We developed a modular “inside‐out” approach that permits access to most members of this class. Its applicability was proven in the asymmetric synthesis of 21 natural bisquinolizidine alkaloids, among them more than ten first enantioselective total syntheses. Key steps are the first successful preparation of both enantiomers of C₂‐symmetric 2,6‐dioxobispidine by desymmetrization of a 2,4,6,8‐tetraoxo precursor, the construction of the α,N‐fused 2‐pyridone by using an enamine‐bromoacrylic acid strategy, and the installation of endo‐ or, optionally, exo‐annulated piperidin(on)es.     

Solvatochromic azamethine dyes for probing the polarity of gold-cluster-functionalized silica particles

Azamethine dyes of the merocyanine type [4-(N,N-di-n-butylamino)-2-methylphenyl][2,4-di-keto-3-[N'-(n-hexyl)]-5-cyano-6-methyl-3-pyridinio]-1-azamethine (1) and [4-(N,N-diethylamino)-2-(N'-tert-butylcarboxy)-amidophenyl]-[2,4-diketo-3-[N"-(n-hexyl)]-5-cyano-6-methyl-3-pyridinio]-1-azamethine (2) have been used as surface-polarity indicators for gold-cluster-functionalized silica particles. Their UV/Vis absorption maxima range from about lambda=600 to 700 nm as a function of solvent polarity and are clearly separated from the surface plasmon UV/Vis absorption band of gold (lambda approximately 520-540 nm). Solvatochromism of both dyes has been investigated in 26 solvents of different polarity. The positive solvatochromic band shifts of 1 and 2 can be well expressed in terms of the empirical Kamlet-Taft solvent polarity parameters alpha and pi*. They are mainly sensitive to the dipolarity/polarizability (pi* term; 70-75 %) and HBD (hydrogen-bond donating) acidity (alpha term) of the solvent. Both dyes adsorb readily on functionalized silica samples from solutions in 1,2-dichloroethane or cyclohexane. The surface polarities of gold-cluster-functionalized silica particles, with and without co-adsorbed L-cysteine and poly(ethylenimine), have been investigated by using these solvatochromic dyes. The specific interaction of dye 2 with cysteine has been examined independently by quantum-chemical calculations by using the AM1 and PM3 methods.     

Beitrag zur photometrischen Borbestimmung mit Methylenblau in legierten St?hlen und Ferroborlegierungen

Zusammenfassung Die photometrische Borbestimmung mit Methylenblau wird beschrieben. Sie ist auf hochlegierte Chrom-Nickel-Stähle anwendbar, da Cr, Ni, Mn, Ti, Mo, V, W und Cu keinen Einfluß haben. Nb stört und muß durch eine Fällung abgetrennt werden. Bei einem Gehalt von 0.01% B beträgt die Abweichung ±0,0005% B. Dieses Verfahren ist auch auf die Analyse von Ferrobor anwendbar. Die Methylenblaubestimmung ist einfacher und schneller als die Verfahren, die zur Analyse von Stählen und Ferrobor üblich sind; sie ist hinreichend genau.

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Contribution to the photometric determination of boron with methylene blue in alloy steels and ferro-boron alloys

The method described is applicable to high-alloy chromium-nickel-steels, as Cr, Ni, Mn, Ti, Mo, V, W and Cu have no effect. Nb interferes and must be separated by a precipitation. 0.01% B can be determined with a deviation of ±0.0005%. This procedure is also applicable to the analysis of ferro-boron. The determination by methylene blue is more simple and rapid than the procedures usually applied to the analysis of steels and ferro-boron; it is sufficiently exact.