The use of stable isotope ratio analyses to discriminate wild and farmed gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata)

Continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry (CF-IRMS) has been used to analyze samples of gilthead sea bream (g.s.b.) (Sparus aurata) of known geographical origin (four countries on the Mediterranean Sea) from wild and farmed sources (40 farmed and 10 wild). delta(13)C and delta(15)N values have been measured on muscle samples as these are the most informative parameters of the diet of the animals. Both stable isotopes are indicators of the origin of the fish: delta(13)C giving a tool to distinguish between wild and farmed g.s.b. and delta(15)N being more informative on the geographical origin of the fish (this fact could be related more to differences in feed mixtures given to farmed fish than to geographical reasons). The proposed methodology offers a cost- and time-effective alternative to other analytical techniques in identifying wild and farmed fish.     

Fractional and amino acid compositions of micromycete proteins

A comparative study has been made of the fractional and amino acid compositions of the proteins of the biomasses ofTrichoderma harzianum, Fusarium moniliforme, and the hybrid culture FT-2. It has been established that the micromycete strains investigated are high-protein cultures containing from 36.0to 49.7% of protein. A study of the amino acid compositions of the micromycetes showed that the hybrid culture FT-2 possessed the largest amount of amino acids among the water-soluble proteins of the biomass (61.3 g/100g of biomass protein).Institute of Microbiology, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, fax (3712) 41 71 29. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 428–431, May–June, 1997.     

Copper(II) complexes of bis(amino amide) ligands: effect of changes in the amino acid residue

A family of ligands derived from bis(amino amides) containing aliphatic spacers has been prepared, and their protonation and stability constants for the formation of Cu(2+) complexes have been determined potentiometrically. Important differences are associated to both the length of the aliphatic spacer and the nature of the side chains derived from the amino acid. In general, ligands containing aliphatic side chains display higher basicities as well as stability constants with Cu(2+). In the same way, basicities and stability constants tend to increase when decreasing the steric hindrance caused by the corresponding side-chain. FT-IR, UV-vis and ESI-MS were used for analyzing the complex species detected in the speciation diagram. UV-vis studies showed the presence of different coordination environments for the copper(II) complexes. Complexes with different stoichiometries can be formed in some instances. This was clearly highlighted with the help of ESI-MS experiments.     

Confirmatory development and validation of HPLC-DADmethod for the determination of tetracyclines in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) muscle tissue

A confirmatory high-pressure liquid chromatographic method for the determination of nine tetracyclines in Sparus aurata (gilthead seabream) muscle tissue is developed and presented herein. Tetracycline, 4-epi-tetracycline, oxytetracycline, 4-epi-oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline, 4-epi-chlortetracycline, doxycycline, methacycline and demeclocycline were separated on a Kromasil, C18 (250 mm × 4 mm, 5 μm) analytical column by gradient elution with a mobile phase consisting of 0.001 M ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid/sodium salt and acetonitrile at 25°C. Diode array detection with monitoring at 280 nm (for the determination of chlortetracycline, 4-epi-chlortetracycline, methacycline and demeclocycline) and 355 nm (for tetracycline, 4-epi-tetracycline, oxytetracycline, 4-epi-oxytetracycline and demeclocycline) was applied for peak identification and quantification of analytes. Examined antibiotics were isolated from gilthead seabream tissue by leaching using a citrate buffer (pH 4.0) and purified by solid phase extraction using Oasis HLB(200 mg/6 mL) cartridges. The developed method was fully validated in terms of selectivity, linearity, accuracy, precision, stability and sensitivity according to the European Union Decision 2002/657/EC.     

Determination of Oxolinic Acid Residues in Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata) Muscle Tissue and Plasma by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of oxolinic acid (OA) residues in muscle tissue and plasma of the cultured fish gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.), is described. OA was extracted with ethyl acetate and after centrifugation the combined extracts were evaporated. To the remaining residue 1 mL of the mobile phase was added and the extract was partitioned with n-pentane which then was rejected by aspiration. OA was chromatographed on a Zorbax^®SB-C₁₈ column at 50^oC and detected by fluorescence detection at λ_ex 327 nm and λ_em 369 nm. The mobile phase was a mixture of 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid (v/v) pH 2.0 and acetonitrile-methanol 3:2 (v/v) in a combination of 50:50 (v/v) and a flow rate of 1.0 mL min^?1, delivered isocratically. Method mean recovery (R%) achieved was 73.7 ± 4.4% (mean ± SD) for blank fortified samples (n=4) range at 50, 100 and 200 μg kg^?1 with a RSD=3.3%. The limit of detection (LOD) was 2.0 μg kg^?1 oxolinic acid in muscle tissue and plasma and the limit of quantification (LOQ) was 5.0 μg kg^?1. The method is fast and suitable to be used with safety and accuracy for the control of OA residues in cultured seabreams and a trained analyst could carry out ready for chromatography more than 50 samples per working day.     

Proximate composition,amino acid and fatty acid composition of fish maws

Fish maws are commonly recommended and consumed in Asia over many centuries because it is believed to have some traditional medical properties. This study highlights and provides new information on the proximate composition, amino acid and fatty acid composition of fish maws of Cynoscion acoupa, Congresox talabonoides and Sciades proops. The results indicated that fish maws were excellent protein sources and low in fat content. The proteins in fish maws were rich in functional amino acids (FAAs) and the ratio of FAAs and total amino acids in fish maws ranged from 0.68 to 0.69. Among species, croaker C. acoupa contained the most polyunsaturated fatty acids, arachidonic acid, docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapntemacnioc acid, showing the lowest value of index of atherogenicity and index of thrombogenicity, showing the highest value of hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic ratio, which is the most desirable.     

Fractional and amino acid compositions of the proteins of the needles ofPinus sylvestris

Four fractions of soluble protein have been isolated by the method of successive extraction from the needles ofPinus sylvestris, and their quantitative ratios have been established. The quantitative amino acid compositions of the fractions isolated and of the unextracted protein, which amounts to about 55% of the total amount of protein in the needles, have been determined. The amount of crude protein in the initial material was 11% on the absolutely dry needles. Siberian Technological Institute, Krasnoyarsk. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 676–678, September–October, 1980.     

Volume and compressibility changes on mixing aqueous solutions of the amino acid and poly(ethylene glycol)

The volume and compressibility changes on mixing aqueous solutions of the amino acid and poly(ethylene glycol) were measured with a vibration densimeter and a sing-around velocimeter at 298.15 K. For the system of alanine-PEG-H₂O, the additivity rule for the mean apparent molal volume and compressibility at infinite dilution held, and the excess volume and compressibility changes on mixing were obtained. For the system of glycine-PEG-H₂O, the additivity rule for the mean apparent molal compressibility at infinite dilution did not hold. While the mean apparent molal volume and compressibility changes were negative and positive for the systems of another amino acid-PEG-H₂O, respectively, where amino acids were valine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, and tryptophan. These results suggest that glycine and alanine are excluded from the hydration layer around PEG chain and the amino acids with a larger side chain than alanine are bound to the PEG chain due to the hydrophobic interaction. The hydration number per monomer around PEG chain was estimated to be 3.9.     

Dinuclear chromium(V) amino acid complexes from the reduction of chromium(VI) in the presence of amino acid ligands: XAFS characterization of a chromium(V) amino acid complex

The first synthesis and characterization of Cr(V) complexes of non-sulfur-containing amino acids are reported. The reduction of Cr(VI) in methanol in the presence of amino acids glycine, alanine, and 2-amino-2-methylpropanoic acid (alpha-aminoisobutyric acid, Aib) yielded several Cr(V) EPR signals. For the reaction involving glycine, the only Cr(V) EPR signals detected were those of the Cr(V)-intermediate methanol complexes, which were also observed in the absence of amino acids. The reaction involving alanine yielded one Cr(V) signal with a g(iso) value of 1.9754 (a(iso) = 4.88 x 10(-4) cm(-1) and A(iso)(53Cr) = 17.89 x 10(-4) cm(-1)). However, a solid product isolated from the reaction solution was EPR silent and was characterized as a dioxo-bridged dimeric species, [Cr(V)2(mu-O)2(O)2(Ala)2(OCH3)2](2-), by multiple-scattering XAFS analysis and electrospray mass spectrometry. The EPR spectrum of the reduction reaction of Cr(VI) in the presence of Aib showed several different Cr(V) signals. Those observed at lower g(iso) values (1.9765, 1.9806) were assigned to Cr(V)-methanol intermediates, while the relatively broad six-line signal at g(iso) = 2.0058 was assigned as being due to a Cr(V) complex with coupling to a single deprotonated amine group of the amino acid. This was confirmed by simplification of the superhyperfine coupling lines from six to three when the deuterated ligand was substituted in the reaction. The reduction of Cr(VI) with excess alanine or Aib ligands resulted in the formation of tris-chelate Cr(III) complexes, which were analytically identical to complexes formed via Cr(III) synthesis methods. The fac-[Cr(Aib)3] complex was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.     

Preparation of 2-(phenylamino)benzoic acid and 2-[(carboxymethyl)(phenyl)amino]benzoic acid via Ullmann reaction under microwave irradiation

The optimal conditions of preparation of 2-(phenylamino)benzoic acid and 2-[(carboxymethyl)-(phenyl)amino]benzoic acid via Ullmann reaction under microwave irradiation have been determined.     

Synthesis of n-(jasmonoyl)amino acid conjugates

Both racemic jasmonic acid [(±)-JA] and the naturally occurring (-)-enantiomer [(-)-JA] have been reacted with aliphatic, aromatic as well as acidic amino acids to form amide-linked derivatives. The diastereoigomeric products of (±)-jasmonic acid with S-Val, S-Leu, S-Ile, S-Phe, S-Trp, R-Val, and R-Phe could be separated by silica gel chromatography. The synthesized N-(jasmonoyl)-conjugates have been structurally characterized by MS, ¹H NMR, IR and ORD.     

Quality changes of the Mediterranean horse mackerel (Trachurus mediterraneus) during chilled storage: The effect of low-dose gamma irradiation

Pelagic fishes represent the main Mediterranean fisheries in terms of quantity. However, waste and spoilage of pelagic fish are substantial for a variety of reasons, such as their high perishability and the lack or inadequate supply of ice and freezing facilities. In this work, fresh Mediterranean horse mackerel (Trachurus mediterraneus) were irradiated at 1 and 2 kGy and stored in ice for 18 days. Quality changes during storage were followed by the determination of microbial counts, trimethylamine (TMA) and volatile basic nitrogen contents. Similarly, lipid composition and sensory analysis were carried out. Irradiation treatment was effective in reducing total bacterial counts throughout storage. Total basic volatile nitrogen content (TVB-N) and TMA levels increased in all lots with storage time, their concentrations being significantly reduced by irradiation, even when the lower level (1 kGy) was used. According to the quality index method, the control lot had a sensory shelf-life of 4 days, whereas those of the irradiated lots were extended by 5 days. Also, low-dose irradiation had no adverse effect on the nutritionally important polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) of Mediterranean horse mackerel. In the same way, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances values increased with irradiation during the first day, but these values were lower at the end of storage, compared to the control. Results confirm the practical advantages of using γ irradiation as an additional process to chilled storage to enhance the microbiological quality and to extend the shelf-life of small pelagic species.     

Synthesis of cleonine,amino(1-hydroxycyclopropyl)acetic acid,a novel amino acid contained in cleomycin

The synthesis of cleonine, amino(1-hydroxycyclopropyl)acetic acid, a novel amino acid contained in cleomycin, a new bleomycin-phleomycin group antibiotic, is described.     

Heat capacities of poly(amino acid)s and proteins

In an ongoing effort to understand the thermodynamic properties of proteins, solid-state heat capacities of poly(amino acid)s of all 20 naturally occurring amino acids and 4 copoly(amino acid)s have been previously reported on and were analyzed using our Advanced THermal Analysis System (ATHAS). We extend the heat capacities of poly(L-methionine) (PLMFT) and poly(L-phenylalanine) (PLPHEA) with new low temperature measurements from 10 to 340 K. In addition, analyses were performed on literature data of a first protein, zinc bovine insulin dimer C₅₀₈H₇₅₂O₁₅₀N₁₃₀S₁₂Zn, using both the ATHAS empirical addition scheme and computation with an approximate vibrational spectrum for the protein. For the solid state, agreement with the measurement could be accomplished to ±1.6% for PLMET, ±3.5% for PLPHEA, and ±3.2% for insulin, linking the macroscopic heat capacity to its microscopic cause, the group and skeletal vibrational motion. For each polymer, one set of parameters, Θ₁ and Θ₃, of the Tarasov function representing the skeletal vibrational contribution to the heat capacity are obtained from a new optimization procedure [PLMET: 542 K and 83 K (number of skeletal vibrations N_s = 15); PLPHEA: 396 K and 67 K (N_s = 11); and insulin monomer: 599 K and 79 K (N_s = 628), respectively]. Enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs free energy have been derived for the solid state. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Solid phase synthesis of fatty acid modified glucagon-like peptide-1 (7-36) amide under thermal and controlled microwave irradiation

<正>Fatty acid modified glucagon-like peptide-1(7-36) amide was synthesized efficiently on Rink-Amide-MBHA resin by microwave-assisted solid phase method.The method of thermal and controlled microwave irradiation provided impressive enhancements in product yield,selectivity,and reaction rate.The coupling time was dramatically decreased to 6 min,and the desired products were obtained in high yield and purity.     

Nonideal mixing of 16-(9-anthroyloxy) palmitic acid and fatty acid in monolayer

The surface pressure-molecular area curve of the mixed monolayer of 16-(9-anthroyloxy) palmitic acid (16AP) and fatty acid (palmitic or stearic acids) showed various kink points which indicated the phase transitions of the monolayer. On the basis of the surface phase rule, the phase diagrams of the mixed monolayer were elucidated. The bifunctional molecule, 16AP, takes two orientations in a monolayer state, that is, horizontal and vertical ones. Horizontally oriented 16AP and vertically oriented fatty acid form a mixed monolayer but this exhibits deviation from the ideal mixing, which was interpreted in terms of the surface regular solution theory. On the other hand, the 16AP molecule in the vertical state was found to be immiscible with the fatty acid molecule in a monolayer de spite both molecules being vertical to the surface and parallel to each other. This was caused by the participation of the 9-anthroyloxy moiety of 16AP in the interaction of 16AP and fatty acid in the hydrophobic region of the monolayer.