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.     

Leading‐order behavior of the correlation energy in the uniform electron gas

We show that, in the high‐density limit, restricted Møller‐Plesset (RMP) perturbation theory yields E = π^?2(1 ? ln 2) ln r_s + O(r) for the correlation energy per electron in the uniform electron gas, where r_s is the Seitz radius. This contradicts an earlier derivation which yielded E = O(ln|ln r_s|). The reason for the discrepancy is explained. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2012     

Determination of haloacetic acids in aqueous environments by solid-phase extraction followed by ion-pair liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometric detection.

Haloacetic acids (HAAs) were determined in different water samples by a new, fast and simple analysis method based on enrichment of 50-ml water samples at pH 1.8 by solid-phase extraction (SPE) followed by liquid chromatography (LC) separation and electrospray ionization mass spectrometric detection in the negative ionization mode. Deprotonated (M-H)-haloacetates and decarboxylated (M-COOH)- ions were detected. Different polymeric SPE sorbents were tested, and LiChrolut EN was found to be the best material for the extraction. Complete LC separation of all compounds could only be achieved by ion-pair chromatography using triethylamine as volatile ion-pairing reagent. The detection limits were in the low microg/l range. High microg/l concentration levels for the chlorinated and brominated haloacetates were found in drinking water from a drinking water treatment plant in Barcelona, and the corresponding tap water. In swimming pool water samples from Catalonia mg/l levels and in surface river water from Portugal microg/l values were detected. These results confirm other recent reports on the ubiquitous occurrence of HAAs in aqueous environments.     

Morphology Evolution in the Early Stages of Olefin Polymerization

The olefin polymerizations were carried out by using silica supported metallocene/MAO catalysts and MgCl₂ supported Ziegler-Natta catalysts under mild reaction conditions and stopped at very low yield. The surface and cross sectional morphology of the polymer particles were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A homogeneous distribution of (co)catalyst on the support material is a prerequisite condition to get a homogeneous fragmentation and uniform polymer particle morphology. In the present work the catalysts show two different fragmentation behaviors. They can gradually fragment from the outer to the inner surface of the catalyst particle, or instantaneously break up into a large amount of small sub-particles at the beginning of the polymerization. The incorporation of comonomer does not change the general catalyst fragmentation scheme but delays the catalysts break-up progress.     

Amylose and Amylopectin Hybrid Materials via Enzymatic Pathways

Summary: Oligo- and polysaccharides are important macromolecules in living systems, showing their multifunctional characteristics in the construction of cell walls, energy storage, cell recognition and their immune response. Saccharides as organic raw materials can open new perspectives on the way to new biocompatible and biodegradable products which could help to overcome the problems resulting from the upcoming restrictions of petrochemical resources. Construction of well-defined carbohydrate polymer backbones is very challenging as it is difficult to realize complete regio and stereo-control of the glycosylating process. Most synthetic approaches are therefore based on the modification or degradation of naturally occurring polysaccharides resulting in less then perfect products. Enzymes have several remarkable catalytic properties compared with other types of catalysts in terms of their selectivity, high catalytic activity, lack of undesirable side reactions and operation under mild conditions. A biocatalytic pathway to synthesize saccharides is therefore very attractive as it results in well-defined polysaccharides avoiding the above drawbacks. When biogenic polysaccharides are combined with synthetic macromolecules, surfaces etc. materials with new interesting properties arise and the processability of the designed hybrid materials is facilitated. Amylose and amylopectin hybrid materials can be synthesized via enzymatic polymerization routes utilizing transferases. This approach opens access to well-defined hybrid structures bearing amylase or amylopectin moieties that cannot be synthesized by any other means.