The Identification and Behaviour of Branched Dextrins in the Production of Scotch Whisky

Association mapping of malting quality traits in UK spring and winter barley cultivar collections

Historical malting quality data was collated from UK national and recommended list trial data and used in a GWAS. 25 QTL were identified, with the majority from spring barley cultivar sets. In Europe, the most economically significant use of barley is the production of malt for use in the brewing and distilling industries. As such, selection for traits related to malting quality is of great commercial interest. In order to study the genetic basis of variation for malting quality traits in UK cultivars, a historical set of trial data was collated from national and recommended list trials from the period 1988 to 2016. This data was used to estimate variety means for 20 quality related traits in 451 spring barley cultivars, and 407 winter cultivars. Genotypes for these cultivars were generated using iSelect 9k and 50k genotyping platforms, and a genome wide association scan performed to identify malting quality quantitative trait loci (QTL). 24 QTL were identified in spring barley cultivars, and 2 from the winter set. A number of these correspond to known malting quality related genes but the remainder represents novel genetic variation that is accessible to breeders for the genetic improvement of new cultivars.

Analysis of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry: an update covering the period 2001-2002

This review is the second update of the original review on the application of MALDI mass spectrometry to the analysis of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates that was published in 1999. It covers fundamental aspects of the technique as applied to carbohydrates, fragmentation of carbohydrates, studies of specific carbohydrate types such as those from plant cell walls and those attached to proteins and lipids, studies of glycosyl-transferases and glycosidases, and studies where MALDI has been used to monitor products of chemical synthesis. Use of the technique shows a steady annual increase at the expense of older techniques such as FAB. There is an increasing emphasis on its use for examination of biological systems rather than on studies of fundamental aspects and method development and this is reflected by much of the work on applications appearing in tabular form.

The proteinaceous inhibitor of limit dextrinase in barley and malt

Barley limit dextrinase catalyses hydrolysis of alpha-1,6-D-glucosidic bonds in branched poly- or oligosaccharides from starch. A specific inhibitor of this enzyme is found in mature barley kernels, but disappears after several days of germination. Two forms of this proteinaceous inhibitor, identical in amino acid sequence, have been isolated and characterized. They differ in attachment of cysteine or glutathione to a sulfhydryl group, possibly that of cysteine residue 59 of the inhibitor. They can form a 1:1 complex with limit dextrinase and are believed to interact specifically with the enzyme active site. The inhibitor present in mature barley can effectively reduce enzyme activity in barley germinated for a short time and in commercial malt.