Structural and physicochemical changes due to proteolytic deterioration of escamoles (Liometopum apiculatum) a traditional Mexican food

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 271-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Castillo-Andrade ◽  
R. García-Barrientos ◽  
M.A. Ruiz-Cabrera ◽  
C. Rivera-Bautista ◽  
J.D. Pérez-Martínez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Proteolytic Activity ◽  
Serine Proteases ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Iodoacetic Acid ◽  
Initial Structure ◽  
Physicochemical Changes ◽  
Proteolytic Activities ◽  
Food Needs ◽  
Endogenous Proteases

Entomophagy or consumption of insects has significantly increased worldwide, either for pleasure or to satisfy the food needs in developing countries. There are approximately 2,000 species of edible insects distributed in 120 countries. From these 2,000 species, about 540 are located in Mexico; one of the most consumed are the escamoles. Escamoles are larvae and pupae of the ant Liometopum apiculatum. Escamoles are nutritious because of their high content of protein, fat, carbohydrates and vitamin. However, during storage the quality of escamoles changes rapidly which affects the acceptability by the consumer. This loss of quality is probably a result of proteolytic activity of endogenous proteases. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to identify the classes of proteases in escamoles as well as to evaluate the effect of proteolytic activity on physicochemical and structural changes during storage. Proteases identification was conducted using specific inhibitors; structural changes, texture, and proteolytic activity were monitored at different days of storage. The highest proteolytic activities (P<0.05) were observed at pH 8, 9 and 10 and at 37 and 50 °C. Proteases were mainly inhibited by iodoacetic acid and soybean trypsin inhibitor showing that cysteine and serine proteases were dominant. High proteolytic activity, significant (P<0.05) reduction in texture and weight loss was observed during storage. The deterioration of escamoles was evident in analyses of images, where initial structure was lost during storage. These results indicate that different groups of proteases are associated with rapid deterioration of escamoles.

Study of the Proteolytic Activity of the Tropical Legume Crotalaria spectabilis

2012 ◽  
Vol 67 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 495-509 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana da Silva Pacheco ◽  
Raquel Elisa da Silva-Lopez
Keyword(s):  
Proteolytic Activity ◽  
Serine Proteases ◽  
Ph Value ◽  
Cysteine Proteases ◽  
Leaf Extracts ◽  
Serine Protease Activity ◽  
Proteolytic Activities ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Crotalaria Spectabilis

The characterization of legume proteases contributes to the understanding of the physiology of plants and their interaction with the environment. Thirteen extracts from various parts of Crotalaria spectabilis were made using different extraction systems. The highest protein content was found in seeds, and the most pronounced proteolytic activity was observed in leaf extracts, with an optimal pH value in the alkaline range. Proteases in extracts from roots, stems, and fl owers were active in various pH ranges. Proteases in all extracts were maximally active between 30 °C and 60 °C and were thermostable (24 h, 60 °C). Hemoglobin, bovine serum albumin, casein, and gelatin were hydrolyzed by C. spectabilis extracts in different ways. The highest serine protease activity was found in leaves. Seeds contained high levels of serine proteases and low levels of cysteine proteases. Flowers, roots, and stems contained different levels of serine, aspartic, and metalloproteases, respectively. The proteolytic activities in extracts were modulated by cations and oxidants to various degrees. C. spectabilis proteases are differentially expressed in distinctive organs, and their stability against heat and oxidants makes this plant an important source of stable proteases

Some characteristics of extracellular proteases produced by members of the Chytridiales and the Spizellomycetales (Chytridiomycetes)

1994 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 106-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Krarup ◽  
Lauritz W. Olson ◽  
Hans Peter Heldt-Hansen
Keyword(s):  
Proteolytic Activity ◽  
Isoelectric Focusing ◽  
Serine Proteases ◽  
Proteolytic Enzymes ◽  
Complex Compounds ◽  
Extracellular Proteases ◽  
Peptide Substrates ◽  
Proteolytic Activities ◽  
Selection Of

The extracellular proteolytic enzymes of eight saprophytic, eucarpic, and monocentric isolates from two genera of the order Spizellomycetales and from one genus of the order Chytridiales (Chytridiomycetes) have been partially characterized. The isolectric points of the proteases were estimated from zymograms and demonstrate the existence of three types of proteolytic activity in most isolates. The proteases were tested against synthetic chromogenic peptide substrates and a selection of cations and more complex compounds, and the results suggest that parts of the extracellular proteolytic activities are due to proteases from two groups: the Ca2+ stabilized proteases and the alkaline serine proteases.Key words: serine proteases, metalloproteases, Chytridiomycetes, isoelectric focusing, chromogenic peptide substrates.

Anisotropic radiation damage of potassium tetracyano platinate (KCP)

1978 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 392-393
Author(s):  
N. Uyeda ◽  
E. J. Kirkland ◽  
B. M. Siegel
Keyword(s):  
Electron Diffraction ◽  
Radiation Damage ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
High Resolution Electron Microscopy ◽  
Radiation Sensitivity ◽  
Resolution Electron ◽  
Damage Process ◽  
Diffraction Patterns ◽  
Fading Rate

The direct observation of structural change by high resolution electron microscopy will be essential for the better understanding of the damage process and its mechanism. However, this approach still involves some difficulty in quantitative interpretation mostly being due to the quality of obtained images. Electron diffraction, using crystalline specimens, has been the method most frequently applied to obtain a comparison of radiation sensitivity of various materials on the quantitative base. If a series of single crystal patterns are obtained the fading rate of reflections during the damage process give good comparative measures. The electron diffraction patterns also render useful information concerning the structural changes in the crystal. In the present work, the radiation damage of potassium tetracyano-platinate was dealt with on the basis two dimensional observation of fading rates of diffraction spots. KCP is known as an ionic crystal which possesses “one dimensional” electronic properties and it would be of great interest to know if radiation damage proceeds in a strongly asymmetric manner.

Economic Growth: New Problems and New Risks

2006 ◽  
pp. 20-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ershov
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Foreign Exchange ◽  
Driving Force ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Rate Of Growth

The economic growth, which is underway in Russia, raises new questions to be addressed. How to improve the quality of growth, increasing the role of new competitive sectors and transforming them into the driving force of growth? How can progressive structural changes be implemented without hampering the rate of growth in general? What are the main external and internal risks, which may undermine positive trends of development? The author looks upon financial, monetary and foreign exchange aspects of the problem and comes up with some suggestions on how to make growth more competitive and sustainable.

Economic Institutions and Growth Nexus: The Role of Governance and Democratic Institutions—Evidence from Time Varying Parameters’ (TVPs) Models

2016 ◽  
Vol 55 (4I-II) ◽  
pp. 675-688
Author(s):  
Ghulam Murtaza ◽  
Muhammad Zahir Faridi
Keyword(s):  
Structural Changes ◽  
Jel Classification ◽  
Economic Institutions ◽  
Time Varying ◽  
Democratic Institutions ◽  
Main Hypothesis ◽  
Dynamic Relationship ◽  
Rolling Window

The present study has investigated the channels through which the linkage between economic institutions and growth is gauged, by addressing the main hypothesis of the study that whether quality of governance and democratic institutions set a stage for economic institutions to promote the long-term growth process in Pakistan. To test the hypothesis empirically, our study models the dynamic relationship between growth and economic institutions in a time varying framework in order to capture institutional developments and structural changes occurred in the economy of Pakistan over the years. Study articulates that, along with some customary specifics, the quality of government and democracy are the substantial factors that affect institutional quality and ultimately cause to promote growth in Pakistan. JEL Classification: O40; P16; C14; H10 Keywords: Economic Institutions, Growth, Governance and Democracy, Rolling Window Two-stage Least Squares, Pakistan

scholarly journals A Milk Foodomics Investigation into the Effect of Pseudomonas fluorescens Growth under Cold Chain Conditions

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1173
Author(s):  
Paolo Bellassi ◽  
Gabriele Rocchetti ◽  
Lorenzo Morelli ◽  
Biancamaria Senizza ◽  
Luigi Lucini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Fluorescens ◽  
Degradation Products ◽  
Storage Conditions ◽  
Cold Chain ◽  
Lower Sensitivity ◽  
Multivariate Statistical ◽  
Proteolytic Activities ◽  
Quality Of Milk ◽  
Potential Tool

Pseudomonas fluorescens is a psychrotrophic species associated with milk spoilage because of its lipolytic and proteolytic activities. Consequently, monitoring P. fluorescens or its antecedent activity in milk is critical to preventing quality defects of the product and minimizing food waste. Therefore, in this study, untargeted metabolomics and peptidomics were used to identify the changes in milk related to P. fluorescens activity by simulating the low-temperature conditions usually found in milk during the cold chain. Both unsupervised and supervised multivariate statistical approaches showed a clear effect caused by the P. fluorescens inoculation on milk samples. Our results showed that the levels of phosphatidylglycerophosphates and glycerophospholipids were directly related to the level of contamination. In addition, our metabolomic approach allowed us to detect lipid and protein degradation products that were directly correlated with the degradative metabolism of P. fluorescens. Peptidomics corroborated the proteolytic propensity of P. fluorescens-contaminated milk, but with lower sensitivity. The results obtained from this study provide insights into the alterations related to P. fluorescens 39 contamination, both pre and post heat treatment. This approach could represent a potential tool to retrospectively understand the actual quality of milk under cold chain storage conditions, either before or after heat treatments.

scholarly journals High temperature structural study of decagonal Al-Cu-Rh quasicrystal.

2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (a1) ◽  
pp. C94-C94
Author(s):  
Pawel Kuczera ◽  
Walter Steurer
Keyword(s):  
Structural Changes ◽  
Configurational Entropy ◽  
Lattice Vibrations ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
Stabilization Mechanism ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Comparative Structure ◽  
The Stability

The structure of d(ecagonal)-Al-Cu-Rh has been studied as a function of temperature by in-situ single-crystal X-ray diffraction in order to contribute to the discussion on energy or entropy stabilization of quasicrystals (QC) [1]. The experiments were performed at 293 K, 1223 K, 1153 K, 1083 K, and 1013 K. A common subset of 1460 unique reflections was used for the comparative structure refinements at each temperature. The results obtained for the HT structure refinements of d-Al-Cu-Rh QC seem to contradict a pure phasonic-entropy-based stabilization mechanism [2] for this QC. The trends observed for the ln func(I(T1 )/I(T2 )) vs.|k⊥ |^2 plots indicate that the best on-average quasiperiodic order exists between 1083 K and 1153 K, however, what that actually means is unclear. It could indicate towards a small phasonic contribution to entropy, but such contribution is not seen in the structure refinements. A rough estimation of the hypothetic phason instability temperature shows that it would be kinetically inaccessible and thus the phase transition to a 12 Å low T structure (at ~800 K) is most likely not phason-driven. Except for the obvious increase in the amplitude of the thermal motion, no other significant structural changes, in particular no sources of additional phason-related configurational entropy, were found. All structures are refined to very similar R-values, which proves that the quality of the refinement at each temperature is the same. This suggests, that concerning the stability factors, some QCs could be similar to other HT complex intermetallic phases. The experimental results clearly show that at least the ~4 Å structure of d-Al-Cu-Rh is a HT phase therefore entropy plays an important role in its stabilisation mechanism lowering the free energy. However, the main source of this entropy is probably not related to phason flips, but rather to lattice vibrations, occupational disorder unrelated to phason flips like split positions along the periodic axis.

Perspectives on endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition: potential contribution to vascular remodeling in chronic pulmonary hypertension

2007 ◽  
Vol 293 (1) ◽  
pp. L1-L8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enrique Arciniegas ◽  
Maria G. Frid ◽  
Ivor S. Douglas ◽  
Kurt R. Stenmark
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Hypertension ◽  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Vascular Remodeling ◽  
Serine Proteases ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Pulmonary Arteries ◽  
Potential Contribution ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Endothelial Mesenchymal Transition

All forms of pulmonary hypertension are characterized by structural changes in pulmonary arteries. Increased numbers of cells expressing α-smooth muscle (α-SM) actin is a nearly universal finding in the remodeled artery. Traditionally, it was assumed that resident smooth muscle cells were the exclusive source of these newly appearing α-SM actin-expressing cells. However, rapidly emerging experimental evidence suggests other, alternative cellular sources of these cells. One possibility is that endothelial cells can transition into mesenchymal cells expressing α-SM actin and that this process contributes to the accumulation of SM-like cells in vascular pathologies. We review the evidence that endothelial-mesenchymal transition is an important contributor to cardiac and vascular development as well as to pathophysiological vascular remodeling. Recent work has provided evidence for the role of transforming growth factor-β, Wnt, and Notch signaling in this process. The potential roles of matrix metalloproteinases and serine proteases are also discussed. Importantly, endothelial-mesenchymal transition may be reversible. Thus insights into the mechanisms controlling endothelial-mesenchymal transition are relevant to vascular remodeling and are important as we consider new therapies aimed at reversing pulmonary vascular remodeling.

scholarly journals Combining experimental and simulation data of molecular processes via augmented Markov models

2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (31) ◽  
pp. 8265-8270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Olsson ◽  
Hao Wu ◽  
Fabian Paul ◽  
Cecilia Clementi ◽  
Frank Noé
Keyword(s):  
Force Field ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Markov Models ◽  
Force Fields ◽  
Divide And Conquer ◽  
Simulation Data ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Simulation And Experiment ◽  
Kinetics Of

Accurate mechanistic description of structural changes in biomolecules is an increasingly important topic in structural and chemical biology. Markov models have emerged as a powerful way to approximate the molecular kinetics of large biomolecules while keeping full structural resolution in a divide-and-conquer fashion. However, the accuracy of these models is limited by that of the force fields used to generate the underlying molecular dynamics (MD) simulation data. Whereas the quality of classical MD force fields has improved significantly in recent years, remaining errors in the Boltzmann weights are still on the order of a few kT, which may lead to significant discrepancies when comparing to experimentally measured rates or state populations. Here we take the view that simulations using a sufficiently good force-field sample conformations that are valid but have inaccurate weights, yet these weights may be made accurate by incorporating experimental data a posteriori. To do so, we propose augmented Markov models (AMMs), an approach that combines concepts from probability theory and information theory to consistently treat systematic force-field error and statistical errors in simulation and experiment. Our results demonstrate that AMMs can reconcile conflicting results for protein mechanisms obtained by different force fields and correct for a wide range of stationary and dynamical observables even when only equilibrium measurements are incorporated into the estimation process. This approach constitutes a unique avenue to combine experiment and computation into integrative models of biomolecular structure and dynamics.

Resistance of Phlebotomus papatasi to infection with Leishmania donovani is modulated by components of the infective bloodmeal

Parasitology ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 117 (5) ◽  
pp. 467-473 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. SCHLEIN ◽  
R. L. JACOBSON
Keyword(s):  
Proteolytic Activity ◽  
Trypsin Inhibitor ◽  
Alkaline Protease ◽  
Protease Activity ◽  
Leishmania Donovani ◽  
Blood Feeding ◽  
Growth Conditions ◽  
Enzymatic Activities ◽  
Phlebotomus Papatasi ◽  
Proteolytic Activities

The circumstances which permit the establishment of Leishmania infections in sandflies were investigated by altering the growth conditions for L. donovani parasites in the unsuitable vector Phlebotomus papatasi. Only 5·0% of the sandflies harboured a few parasites 3 days after feeding on promastigotes in defibrinated blood. Heparinized blood or the addition of trypsin inhibitor to the meals allowed persistence of infections (day 6) in 9·9% and 25·8% of the flies respectively. Meals of erythrocytes, saline and amastigotes produced 44·4% fly infection on day 6, while similar promastigote-initiated infections remained in 70·3% of the flies. Proteolytic activities in the guts of sandflies fed on the above meals without parasites, were the highest after defibrinated bloodmeals. Erythrocytes with saline decreased the maximal alkaline protease level from 20·8 U to 13·5 U/fly; that of trypsin from 3·9 U to 1·8 U/fly and that of the aminopeptidase from 5·5 U to 3·9 U/fly. After meals of heparinized blood, the maximal alkaline protease activity (12·0 U/fly) was also much lower than after defibrinated blood-feeding. The different diets which resulted in comparatively low enzymatic activities, including blood with trypsin inhibitor, also promoted the survival of infections. This implies that the proteolytic activity in the sandfly gut modulates the vector susceptibility.

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