Effects of chemical, physical, and technological processes on the nature of food allergens

A review is presented of studies of different processing techniques and their effect on the allergenicity and antigenicity of certain allergenic foods. An overview of investigated technologies is given with regard to their impact on the protein structure and their potential application in the production of hypoallergenic foods. The use of physical processes (such as heating, high pressure, microparticulation, ultrafiltration, and irradiation), chemical processes (such as proteolysis, fermentation, and refining by extraction), and biotechnological approaches, as well as the effects of these processes on individual allergenic foods, are included. Additionally, the implications of food processing for food allergen analysis with respect to food safety assessment and industrial quality control are briefly discussed.     

Formation of spanning water networks on protein surfaces via 2D percolation transition

The formation of spanning hydrogen-bonded water networks on protein surfaces by a percolation transition is closely connected with the onset of their biological activity. To analyze the structure of the hydration water at this important threshold, we performed the first computer simulation study of the percolation transition of water in a model protein powder and on the surface of a single protein molecule. The formation of an infinite water network in the protein powder occurs as a 2D percolation transition at a critical hydration level, which is close to the values observed experimentally. The formation of a spanning 2D water network on a single rigid protein molecule can be described by adapting the cluster analysis of conventional percolation studies to the characterization of the connectivity of the hydration water on the surface of finite objects. Strong fluctuations of the surface water network are observed close to the percolation threshold. Our simulations also furnish a microscopic picture for understanding the specific values of the experimentally observed hydration levels, where different steps of increasing mobility in the hydrated powder are observed.     

Fourier interferometric stimulation (FIS) in biology and medicine

A continuously scanning Michelson interferometer was developed to modulate an intensive light source spectrally. The interferogram is used as a stimulus to investigate spectral sensitivities in insects and man. The FIS-method is fast and precise and shows many advantages which are partly based on the advantages of Fourier spectroscopy. The existing applications are summarized.     

Oligosaccharide analogues of polysaccharides. Part 14:. Carbocyclic cyclodextrin analogues. Synthesis of all trimeric and tetrameric isomers by homo- and heterocoupling of 1,4-cis-diethynylated 1,5-anhydroglucitols

Hetero- or homocoupling of protected 1,4-cis-diethynylated 1,5-anhydroglucitols leads to two isomeric cyclotrimers and to four isomeric cyclotetramers. The C₃-symmetric cyciotrimer 31 , the C₄-symmetric cyclotetramer 35 , and the D₂-symmetric cyclotetramer 6 have been prepared before. We have now synthesized the C₁-symmetric cyciotrimer 13 , and the C₁- and the C₂-symmetric cyclotetramers 22 and 27 , respectively. The cyclotrimer 13 was prepared by intramolecular, oxidative homocoupling and, alternatively, by a one-pot trimerization/cyclization of the monomer 36 (Schemes 1 and 5, resp.). Oxidative homocoupling was used for the cyclization of the tetramers 19 and 25 , leading to 22 and 27. The tetramer 19 was made by sequential Cadiot-Chod-kiewicz coupling (Scheme 2)and the tetramer 25 by a combination of a Cadiot-Chodkiewicz reaction and an intermolecular, oxidalive homocoupling (Scheme 3). The acetates 34 and 38 , corresponding to 35 and 27 , respectively, were also made by a one-pot dimerization/cyclization of the dimer 37 (Scheme 5). Intramolecular oxidative heterocoupling is also feasible and results in an alternative, more convenient synthesis of the acetylated cyclotrimer 30 and the acetylated cyclotetramer 34 (corresponding to 31 and 35 , resp.; Scheme 4). The solid-state conformation of the C₄-symmetric cyclotetramer 34 corresponds well to the one predicted by force-field calculations. We compared the water-solubilities of the cyclotrimers 13 and 31 and the tetramers 6, 22, 27 , and 35 , their calculated conformations (MM3*), and the D -adenosine binding properties of the cyclotetramers 6, 27 , and 35 .     

An immobiline DryStrip application method enabling high-capacity two-dimensional gel electrophoresis

In the field of proteomics the need to detect low-abundance cellular components, such as regulatory proteins, is of critical importance. Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE) is one of the most commonly used separation tools for these biological investigations. In this paper we report an alternative micropreparative 2-D PAGE sample application method, called the "paper bridge loading" method. This method makes it possible to apply a larger sample volume to commercially available immobilized pH gradient (IPG) strips. The Vh products required for focusing are only marginally longer than those used in analytical experiments. The method was compared to traditional cup loading and in-gel rehydration. With 18 cm long narrow-range Immobiline DryStrip pH 4.5-5.5, the "paper bridge" method allowed the application of 10 mg human plasma proteins compared to 3 mg with traditional loading methods. The corresponding figures using Escherichia coli sample was found to be 6 mg and less than 2 mg, respectively. The paper bridge method also showed the best results in terms of spot resolution and separation of high molecular weight proteins.