Jiaoyan Ren

Purification and identification of antioxidant peptides from grass carp muscle hydrolysates by consecutive chromatography and electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry

Grass carp muscles were hydrolyzed with various proteases (papain, bovine pancreatin 6.0, bromelain, neutrase 1.5MG and alcalase 2.4L) to extract antioxidant peptides. The hydrolysates were assessed using methods of hydroxyl radical scavenging ability and lipid peroxidation inhibition activity. Hydrolysate prepared with alcalase 2.4L was found to have the highest antioxidant activity. It was purified using ultrafiltration and consecutive chromatographic methods including ion-exchange chromatography, multilayer coil high-speed counter-current chromatography, and gel filtration chromatography. The purified peptide, as a potent antioxidant, was identified as Pro-Ser-Lys-Tyr-Glu-Pro-Phe-Val (966.3Da) using RP-HPLC connected on-line to an electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. As well, it was found that basic peptides had greater capacity to scavenge hydroxyl radical than acidic or neutral peptides and that hydrophobic peptides contributed more to the antioxidant activities of hydrolysates than the hydrophilic peptides. In addition, the amino acid sequence of the peptide might play an important role on its antioxidant activity.

Effects of ultrasound pretreatment on the enzymatic hydrolysis of soy protein isolates and on the emulsifying properties of hydrolysates.

Soy protein isolate (SPI) was modified by ultrasound pretreatment (200 W, 400 W, 600 W) and controlled papain hydrolysis, and the emulsifying properties of SPIH (SPI hydrolysates) and USPIH (ultrasound pretreated SPIH) were investigated. Analysis of mean droplet sizes and creaming indices of emulsions formed by SPIH and USPIH showed that some USPIH had markedly improved emulsifying capability and emulsion stabilization against creaming during quiescent storage. Compared with control SPI and SPIH-0.58% degree of hydrolysis (DH), USPIH-400W-1.25% (USPIH pretreated under 400W sonication and hydrolyzed to 1.25% DH) was capable of forming a stable fine emulsion (d43=1.79 μm) at a lower concentration (3.0% w/v). A variety of physicochemical and interfacial properties of USPIH-400W products have been investigated in relation to DH and emulsifying properties. SDS-PAGE showed that ultrasound pretreatment could significantly improve the accessibility of some subunits (α-7S and A-11S) in soy proteins to papain hydrolysis, resulting in changes in DH, protein solubility (PS), surface hydrophobicity (H0), and secondary structure for USPIH-400W. Compared with control SPI and SPIH-0.58%, USPIH-400W-1.25% had a higher protein adsorption fraction (Fads) and a lower saturation surface load (Γsat), which is mainly due to its higher PS and random coil content, and may explain its markedly improved emulsifying capability. This study demonstrated that combined ultrasound pretreatment and controlled enzymatic hydrolysis could be an effective method for the functionality modification of globular proteins.

Structural characterisation of polysaccharides from Tricholoma matsutake and their antioxidant and antitumour activities

In this study, polysaccharides from Tricholoma matsutake (TM-P) were purified using a DEAE-Sepharose fast flow column and three polysaccharide fractions (TM-P1, TM-P2 and TM-P3) were obtained. The chemical composition and structural characteristics of TM-P2 were quite different from those of TM-P1 and TM-P3. TM-P2 consisted of glucose, galactose and mannose with a molar ratio of 5.9:1.1:1.0. The glycosidic linkages were mainly composed of 1,6- and 1-linked glucose. Furthermore, TM-P2 showed the strongest in vitro antioxidant and antitumour activities. The oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) of TM-P2 was 2100.44 μmol Trolox/g. The antiproliferative activities of TM-P2 (4.0mg/ml) on the growth of HepG2 and A549 cells were 67.98% and 59.04%, respectively.

Structure Characterization of a Novel Polysaccharide from Dictyophora indusiata and Its Macrophage Immunomodulatory Activities

A novel polysaccharide, here named DP1, was isolated from the fruiting body of Dictyophora indusiata using a water extraction method. Structure characterization revealed that DP1 had an average molecular weight of 1132 kDa and consisted of glucose (56.2%), galactose (14.1%), and mannose (29.7%). The main linkage type of DP1 were proven to be (1 → 3)-linked α-l-Man, (1 → 2,6)-linked α-d-Glc, (1 → 6)-linked β-d-Glc, (1 → 6)-linked β-d-Gal, and (1 → 6)-linked β-d-Man by periodate oxidation-Smith degradation and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis. The immunostimulating assay indicated that DP1 could significantly promote macrophage NO, TNF-α, and IL-6 secretion in murine RAW 264.7 cells involving complement receptor 3 (CR3). The immune activities of DP1 were quite stable under thermal processing (100, 121, and 145 °C). Besides, DP1 retained stability after acidic/alkline treatment (pH 4.0-10.0), which enabled it to be an ideal complementary medicine or functional food for therapeutics of hypoimmunity and immunodeficiency diseases.

Intracellular Antioxidant Detoxifying Effects of Diosmetin on 2,2-Azobis(2-amidinopropane) Dihydrochloride (AAPH)-Induced Oxidative Stress through Inhibition of Reactive Oxygen Species Generation

The intracellular antioxidant activities of diosmetin were evaluated by cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) assay, 2,2-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-induced erythrocyte hemolysis assay and cupric chloride (CuCl2)-induced plasma oxidation assay. The results showed that diosmetin exhibits strong cellular antioxidant activity (EC50 = 7.98 μmol, CAA value = 58 μmol QE/100 μmol). It was also found that diosmetin treatment could effectively attenuate AAPH-induced erythrocyte hemolysis (91.0% inhibition at 100 μg/mL) and CuCl2-induced plasma oxidation through inhibition of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Diosmetin could significantly restore AAPH-induced increase of intracelluar antioxidant enzyme (SOD, GPx, and CAT) activities to normal levels, as well as inhibit intracellular malondialdehyde (MDA) formation. Thus, the intracellular antioxidant detoxifying mechanism of diosmetin is associated with both nonenzymatic and enzymatic defense systems.

Isolation and characterization of an oxygen radical absorbance activity peptide from defatted peanut meal hydrolysate and its antioxidant properties.

Defatted peanut meal hydrolysate (DPMH) was purified using ultrafiltration, gel filtration chromatography, and high-performance liquid chromatography. A tripeptide with strong oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) was isolated and identified as Tyr-Gly-Ser by ESI-MS/MS. It was then synthesized to measure its antioxidant properties in different systems. The ORAC value of Tyr-Gly-Ser was 3-fold higher than that of glutathione (GSH), and it displayed a stronger protective effect on linoleic acid peroxidation and H(2)O(2)-induced oxidative injury in rat pheochromocytoma line PC12 cells than GSH (p < 0.05). However, Tyr-Gly-Ser showed negligible DPPH radical scavenging activity, reducing power, and no metal chelating ability. The results suggested that Tyr-Gly-Ser displayed antioxidant activity via the hydrogen atom transfer mechanism, and the Tyr at the N-terminal was the hydrogen donor. The ORAC assay was recommended as a reliable and effective method to measure the antioxidant activity in the course of antioxidant peptide isolation.

Effects of Microfluidization Treatment and Transglutaminase Cross-Linking on Physicochemical, Functional, and Conformational Properties of Peanut Protein Isolate

Peanut protein isolate (PPI) was treated by high-pressure microfluidization (40, 80, 120, and 160 MPa) and/or transglutaminase (TGase) cross-linking. It was found that individual microfluidization at 120 MPa was more effective in improving the solubility, emulsifying properties, and surface hydrophobicity of PPI than at other pressures (e.g., 40, 80, or 160 MPa). Individual TGase cross-linking also effectively changed the physicochemical and functional properties of PPI. Microfluidization (120 MPa) or TGase cross-linking caused the unfolding of PPI structure, resulting in the decrease of α-helix and β-turns levels and the increase of β-sheet and random coil levels, as proved by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and circular dichroism (CD) spectra. Compared with individual treatments, microfluidization followed by TGase cross-linking significantly (p < 0.05) improved the emulsion stability during long-term storage (20 days). Moreover, the combined treatments led to looser structure of PPI and resulted in more obvious changes in physicochemical properties.

Effect of acetic acid deamidation‐induced modification on functional and nutritional properties and conformation of wheat gluten

BACKGROUND Acids are often used for deamidating proteins, but the literature on acetic acid deamidation of proteins is sparse. Previous research on acetic acid-induced modification of proteins has focused on peptide proteolysis by relatively high concentrations of acetic acid (>1.5 mol L(-1)) rather than on the accompanying effect of deamidation. Therefore the objective of this study was to determine the deamidation effect of acetic acid with as little peptide proteolysis as possible by employing low-concentration acetic acid (<0.05 mol L(-1)) to deamidate wheat gluten. Changes in surface hydrophobicity, conformation, functional properties and nutritional characteristics of acetic acid-modified samples were determined and compared with those of hydrochloric acid (HCl)-modified samples. RESULTS At similar degree of deamidation and nitrogen solubility index, samples deamidated with acetic acid showed less destruction of peptides bandings, better foaming properties and a more decompacted form (lower S--S content in protein as determined by Raman spectroscopy) than those deamidated with HCl and also exhibited improved emulsification capacity and emulsion stability compared with native wheat gluten. Acetic acid deamidation led to fewer changes in peptide molecular size and secondary structure of wheat gluten compared with HCl deamidation according to the results of sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy respectively. Amino acid analysis revealed that the nutritional characteristics of wheat gluten were well maintained after deamidation with acetic acid. CONCLUSION The results show that low-concentration acetic acid can modify wheat gluten mainly by deamidation, resulting in deamidated wheat gluten with good functional and nutritional properties.

Antioxidant capacity of anthocyanins from Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (Ait.) and identification of the major anthocyanins

The anthocyanins in the fruits of Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (ACN) were extracted by 1% TFA in methanol, and then purified by X-5 resin column and C18 (SPE) cartridges. The purified anthocyanin extract (ART) from the fruits of R. tomentosa showed strong antioxidant activities, including DPPH radical-scavenging capacity, ABTS radical scavenging capacity, reducing power and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC). The purified anthocyanin extract was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The major anthocyanins were purified by semi-preparative HPLC and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, and were identified as cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, peonidin-3-O-glucoside, malvidin-3-O-glucoside, petunidin-3-O-glucoside, delphinidin-3-O-glucoside and pelargonidin-3-glucoside by HPLC-ESI/MS and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside was considered as the most abundant anthocyanin, which was 29.4 mg/100 g dry weight of R. tomentosa fruits. Additionally, all the major anthocyanins were identified from R. tomentosa fruit for the first time.

Chemical and cellular antioxidant activity of two novel peptides designed based on glutathione structure

Two novel peptides, ECH (Glu-Cys-His) and YECG (Tyr-Glu-Cys-Gly), were designed based on glutathione (Glu-Cys-Gly, GSH) and their antioxidant activities were studied. Various chemical methods based on single-electron-transfer (SET) and hydrogen-atom-transfer (HAT) were applied to evaluate the antioxidant activities of the peptides. For SET-based assay, tripeptide ECH displayed the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity (80.16%) and the strongest reducing power (A(700)=0.378). Besides, ECH also exhibited the best inhibition activity toward linoleic acid peroxidation with inhibition rate 98.25% at 7th day, which is a HAT-based assay. However, for another two HAT-based assays, it was tetrapeptide YECG that showed extraordinary oxygen radical absorption capacity (ORAC value=2.42 μM Trolox/μM) and ABTS free radical scavenging ability (8.88 mM Trolox/mM). In vitro cultured PC12 cell model also suggested that YECG gave the best protection for PC12 cells to resist H(2)O(2)-treated necrosis. It was found that the discrepancy of antioxidant capacity between ECH and YECG was caused by the presence of antioxidant amino acids (His/Tyr) and their position in peptide chain. With His located at C-terminal position, ECH demonstrated good electrons donating capacity, while with Tyr at N-terminal position, YECG exhibited strong oxygen radical absorbance capacity.