Analysis of tryptophan oxidation by fluorescence spectroscopy: Effect of metal-catalyzed oxidation and selected phenolic compounds

Unlocking the distinctive enzymatic functions of the early plant biomass deconstructive genes in a brown rot fungus by cell-free protein expression

Saprotrophic fungi that cause brown rot of woody biomass evolved a distinctive mechanism that relies on reactive oxygen species (ROS) to kick-start lignocellulosic polymers' deconstruction. These ROS agents are generated at incipient decay stages through a series of redox relays that shuttle electrons from fungus's central metabolism to extracellular Fenton chemistry. A list of genes has been suggested encoding the enzyme catalysts of the redox processes involved in ROS's function. However, navigating the functions of the encoded enzymes has been challenging due to the lack of a rapid method for protein synthesis. Here, we employed cell-free expression system to synthesize four redox or degradative enzymes, which were identified, by transcriptomic data, as conserved players of the ROS oxidation phase across brown rot fungal species. All four enzymes were successfully expressed and showed activities that enable confident assignment of function, namely, benzoquinone reductase (BQR), ferric reductase, α-L-arabinofuranosidase (ABF), and heme-thiolate peroxidase (HTP). Detailed analysis of their catalytic features within the context of brown rot environments allowed us to interpret their roles during ROS-driven wood decomposition. Specifically, we validated the functions of BQR as the driver redox enzyme of Fenton cycles and reconstructed its interactions with the co-occurring HTP or laccase and ABF. Taken together, this research demonstrated that the cell-free expression platform is adequate for synthesizing functional fungal enzymes and provided an alternative route for the rapid characterization of fungal proteins, escalating our understanding of the distinctive biocatalyst system for plant biomass conversion.IMPORTANCEBrown rot fungi are efficient wood decomposers in nature, and their unique degradative systems harbor untapped catalysts pursued by the biorefinery and bioremediation industries. While the use of "omics" platforms has recently uncovered the key "oxidative-hydrolytic" mechanisms that allow these fungi to attack lignocellulose, individual protein characterization is lagging behind due to the lack of a robust method for rapid synthesis of crucial fungal enzymes. This work delves into the studies of biochemical functions of brown rot enzymes using a rapid, cell-free expression platform, which allowed the successful depictions of enzymes' catalytic features, their interactions with Fenton chemistry, and their roles played during the incipient stage of brown rot when fungus sets off the reactive oxygen species for oxidative degradation. We expect this research could illuminate cell-free protein expression system's use to fulfill the increasing need for functional studies of fungal enzymes, advancing the discoveries of novel biomass-converting catalysts.

Improvement of oxidized myofibrillar protein gel properties by black rice extract

In order to investigate the effects of black rice extract (BE) on the composition of oxidized myofibrillar protein (MP) gel, different concentrations of BE (0, 10, 20, 50 mg g-1) were analyzed experimentally. Results revealed that the addition of small doses of BE significantly inhibited the formation of carbonyl groups in oxidized MP, and improved surface hydrophobicity and gel water holding capacity. Additionally, 10 and 20 mg g-1 BE increased the ordered structure of oxidized MP. Furthermore, dynamic rheometer results showed a significant increase in the storage modulus (G') of oxidized MP with 10 and 20 mg g-1 BE during heating. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) showed that MP formed a denser network structure with addition of 10 and 20 mg g-1 BE. Low-Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (LF-NMR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed that there is a significant increase in immobile water in MP gel and a decrease in free water within the 20 mg g-1 BE group. In conclusion, 20 mg g-1 supplemented BE significantly improved the structure order and hardness of oxidized MP gel, increased its structure density and water holding capacity, and it provides a theoretical basis for the application of antioxidants in meat products.

Protective Effects of Four Natural Antioxidants on Hydroxyl-Radical-Induced Lipid and Protein Oxidation in Yak Meat

The impacts of natural antioxidants, including ferulic acid, diallyl sulfide, α-tocopherol, and rutin, at a level of 0.2 g/kg on lipid and protein oxidation of minced yak meat in a hydroxyl-radical-generating system were investigated, and the effectiveness was compared with synthetic antioxidant 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol (BHT). The exposure of yak meat to oxidative stress from 12 h to 24 h elevated lipid and protein oxidation. Treatments with antioxidants resulted in significantly lower peroxides, conjugated dienes, and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, and were also effective in retarding the formation of carbonyl groups, reducing the loss of sulfhydryl groups and protecting α-helix contents, of which ferulic acid and rutin were the most effective. Myosin heavy chain underwent lower degradation in the samples treated with ferulic acid or rutin compared with the oxidized control and other antioxidant treatments, while that of the BHT treatment showed a similar intensity with oxidized control at 24 h of oxidation. The physical stability of myofibrillar proteins in samples with antioxidants from high to low was rutin, ferulic acid, α-tocopherol, and BHT~diallyl sulfide. These results indicate that rutin and ferulic acid may be promising antioxidants in inhibiting the oxidative reactions during the processing of yak meat.

Proteomics reveal the protective effects of chlorogenic acid on Enterococcus faecium Q233 in a simulated pro-oxidant colonic environment

Certain phytochemicals have been found to promote the beneficial effects of probiotic bacteria although the molecular mechanisms of such interactions are poorly understood. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the impact of the exposure to 0.5 mM chlorogenic acid (CA) on the redox status and proteome of Enterococcus faecium isolated from cheese and challenged with 2.5 mM hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). The bacterium was incubated in anaerobic conditions for 48 h at 37 °C. CA exposure led to a more intense oxidative stress and accretion of bacterial protein carbonyls than those induced by H₂O₂. The oxidative damage to bacterial proteins was even more severe in the bacterium treated with both CA and H₂O₂, yet, such combination led to a strengthening of the antioxidant defenses, namely, a catalase-like activity. The proteomic study indicated that H₂O₂ caused a decrease in energy supply and the bacterium responded by reinforcing the membrane and wall structures and counteracting the redox and pH imbalance. CA stimulated the accretion of proteins related to translation and transcription regulators, and hydrolases. This phytochemical was able to counteract certain proteomic changes induced by H₂O₂ (i.e. increase of ATP binding cassete (ABC) transporter complex) and cause the increase of Rex, a redox-sensitive protein implicated in controlling metabolism and responses to oxidative stress. Although this protection should be confirmed under in vivo conditions, such effects point to benefits in animals or humans affected by disorders in which oxidative stress plays a major role.

Double-Site Binding and Anti-/Pro-oxidation of Luteolin on Bovine Serum Albumin Mediated by Copper(II) Coordination

The interactions of luteolin (Lut) with bovine serum albumin (BSA) mediated by Cu(II) were investigated by spectroscopic, calorimetric, and molecular dynamic (MD) methods. Fluorescence studies showed that the binding of Lut to BSA was significantly enhanced by Cu(II) coordination with the number of binding sites and binding constant increasing from n = 1 and K _a = 3.2 × 10⁵ L·mol^-1 for Lut to n = 2 and K _a = 7.1 × 10⁵ L·mol^-1 for a 1:1 Cu(II)-luteolin complex, in agreement with the results from isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). Site-specific experiments with warfarin and ibuprofen and MD confirmed that two binding sites of BSA were sequentially occupied by two Cu(II)-luteolin complexes. Cu(II) coordination increased the antioxidant activity of luteolin by 60% in the inhibition of carbonyl formation from the oxidation of amino groups in the side chain of BSA induced by the peroxyl radical ROO^•; however, it counteracted the antioxidant effects of luteolin and played pro-oxidative roles in BSA aggregation induced by ^•OH.

Effect of macromolecular crowding on protein oxidation: Consequences on the rate, extent and oxidation pathways

Biological systems are heterogeneous and crowded environments. Such packed milieus are expected to modulate reactions both inside and outside the cell, including protein oxidation. In this work, we explored the effect of macromolecular crowding on the rate and extent of oxidation of Trp and Tyr, in free amino acids, peptides and proteins. These species were chosen as they are readily oxidized and contribute to damage propagation. Dextran was employed as an inert crowding agent, as this polymer decreases the fraction of volume available to other (macro)molecules. Kinetic analysis demonstrated that dextran enhanced the rate of oxidation of free Trp, and peptide Trp, elicited by AAPH-derived peroxyl radicals. For free Trp, the rates of oxidation were 15.0 ± 2.1 and 30.5 ± 3.4 μM min-1 without and with dextran (60 mg mL-1) respectively. Significant increases were also detected for peptide-incorporated Trp. Dextran increased the extent of Trp consumption (up to 2-fold) and induced short chain reactions. In contrast, Tyr oxidation was not affected by the presence of dextran. Studies on proteins, using SDS-PAGE and LC-MS, indicated that oxidation was also affected by crowding, with enhanced amino acid loss (45% for casein), chain reactions and altered extents of oligomer formation. The overall effects of dextran-mediated crowding were however dependent on the protein structure. Overall, these data indicate that molecular crowding, as commonly encountered in biological systems affect the rates, and extents of oxidation, and particularly of Trp residues, illustrating the importance of appropriate choice of in vitro systems to study biological oxidations.

An in vitro assay of the effect of lysine oxidation end-product, α-aminoadipic acid, on the redox status and gene expression in probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri PL503

This study was designed to gain information about the underlying mechanisms of the effects of a food-occurring free oxidized amino acid, α-aminoadipic acid (AAA), on the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri PL503. This bacterium was incubated in colonic-simulated conditions (37 °C for 24 h in microaerophilic conditions) and exposed to three food-compatible AAA concentrations, namely, 1 mM, 5 mM, and 10 mM. A control group with no AAA exposure was also considered. Each of the four experimental conditions was replicated three times and samplings were collected at 12, 16, 20, and 24 h. The downregulation of the uspA gene by AAA (0.5-fold decrease as compared to control) suggests that AAA is identified as a potential chemical threat. The dhaT gene, implicated in the antioxidant defense, was found to be upregulated in bacteria treated with 1 and 5 mM AAA (up to twofold increase, as compared to control), which suggest the ability of the oxidized amino acid to impair the redox status of the bacterium. In fact, AAA caused an increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the accretion of post-translational changes (protein carbonylation) in L. reuteri (up to 13 nmol allysine/mg protein vs 1.8 nmol allysine/mg protein in control). These results suggest that probiotic bacteria identify oxidized amino acids as harmful species and activate mechanisms that may protect themselves and the host against their noxious effects.

Effect of rutin on the physicochemical and gel characteristics of myofibrillar protein under oxidative stress

The effects of rutin (6, 30, and 150 μmol/g_pro ) on the physicochemical, structural properties and gel characteristics of myofibrillar protein (MP) under oxidative stress were investigated. The addition of rutin significantly promoted the formation of oxidized MP carbonyl derivatives and dimer tyrosine, but it cannot prevent the loss of sulfhydryl groups (-SH). With increasing rutin concentration, the hydrophobic area was gradually shielded and rutin acted as a quencher to reduce the fluorescence intensity of oxidized MP. Under the oxidative stress, rutin increased the particle size and aggravated the cleavage of protein molecules. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that rutin further aggravated oxidized MP degradation and cross-linked form polymer which cross-linked with protein to the maximum extent at 150 μmol/g_pro rutin content. Moderate cross-linking between protein and rutin could improve the gel strength and water holding capacity (WHC) of oxidized MP gel. For rutin concentrations of 6 and 30 μmol/g_pro , the gels had denser network structures, as observed by scanning electron microscopy. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Polyphenols of the type and dosage can change the properties of the product itself and optimize the quality of product processing. Certain polyphenols may promote the oxidation process of protein-rich products, but this does not affect the improvement of product quality. The application of natural polyphenols is the promising business direction in the development of Coregonus peled industry.

Fibrinogen Modification and Fibrin Formation in Patients with an End-Stage Renal Disease Subjected to Peritoneal Dialysis

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a condition accompanied by increased inflammation, oxidative stress, risk of cardiovascular complications, and coagulopathies. The structure of fibrinogen and characteristics of fibrin from plasma samples of ESRD patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD) was investigated. Fibrinogen from ESRD patients had a higher degree of carbonylation than fibrinogen from healthy individuals. The Aα chain was the most susceptible to oxidation, followed by the Bβ chain, whereas the γ-chain was the most resistant to oxidation. Spectrofluorimetric analysis suggested a higher extent of modification of amino acid side chains in fibrinogen from ESRD patients. The tertiary structure of fibrinogen was more affected than its secondary structure. The kinetics (time and rate) of fibrinogen coagulation did not differ between the tested groups. Fibrin prepared from the isolated fibrinogen had a similar structure in both groups. Our results confirm that oxidation and structural alterations of fibrinogen occur in ESRD patients on PD, although these modifications produce no direct effect on the fibrin formation. Taking into account that some patients suffer from bleeding, whereas others develop thrombotic complications, further research on this subject is required to identify other components and processes that contribute to the outcome.

Investigation of the effect of sodium nitrite on protein oxidation markers in food protein suspensions

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of sodium nitrite (NaNO₂ ) on protein oxidation and the use of 3-nitrotyrosine (3NT) as a protein oxidation marker in suspensions of the food protein. Food proteins, namely bovine serum albumin, casein, and myofibrillar protein, were suspended in 100 mM sodium phosphate buffer and nitrated with 25 µM iron (III) chloride, 2.5 mM hydrogen peroxide, and 150 mg/kg NaNO₂ at 37°C for a period of 24 hr. The food protein suspensions were analyzed at different sampling periods for the loss of tryptophan (TRY) residues as well as the formation of Schiff bases (SBs), protein carbonyls, 3NT, and dityrosine (DT). It was found that NaNO₂ has pro-oxidant activity in NaNO₂ -added food protein suspensions due to the increased amounts of SBs, protein carbonyls, 3NT, and DT as well as decreased TRY fluorescence. Positive correlations between the 3NT and other protein oxidation markers except for TRY fluorescence were found in NaNO₂ -added food protein suspensions. In conclusion, these findings on the detection of 3NT indicate that it might be a useful tool as a new protein oxidation biomarker in food samples. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Sodium nitrite (NaNO₂ ) supports protein oxidation in different food protein suspension. 3-nitrotyrosine (3NT) was found in food protein suspensions and can be a potential biomarker for protein nitration in food sample due to potential relationship between 3NT and other oxidation markers. The results showed that this study has formed novel insight into interaction between NaNO₂ and food proteins and indicate that it might affect the food quality and its nutritional value. Moreover, the relationship between protein oxidation/nitration and food quality as well as the comprehension of the scientific and technological meaning of these phenomena has been hindered because of the lack of knowledge about the basic chemistry behind the protein oxidation and nitration pathways. For the clarification of these phenomena, further studies are still needed.

Resveratrol protects Lactobacillus reuteri against H2O2- induced oxidative stress and stimulates antioxidant defenses through upregulation of the dhaT gene

Understanding of the mechanisms implicated in the protective role of probiotic bacteria is of the utmost scientific interest. This study provides original insight into the genetic and molecular basis of the responses of Lactobacillus reuteri PL503 against hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced oxidative stress. Six experimental groups were considered depending on the addition and concentration of H₂O₂ and resveratrol: 1. CONTROL (L. reuteri in MRS broth); 2. H₂O₂ (L. reuteri in MRS broth + 0.5 mM H₂O₂); 3. LRES (L. reuteri in MRS broth + 20 μM resveratrol); 4. HRES (L. reuteri in MRS broth + 100 μM resveratrol); 5. H₂O₂-LRES (L. reuteri in MRS broth + 0.5 mM H₂O₂ + 20 μM resveratrol); 6. H₂O₂-HRES (L. reuteri in MRS broth + 0.5 mM H₂O₂ + 100 μM resveratrol). Three replicates were incubated at 37 °C for 24 h in microaerophilic conditions sampled at 12, 16, 20 and 24 h. The NADH-dependent-oxidoreductase encoded by the dhaT gene is a plausible candidate to be strongly implicated in the antioxidant response of L. reuteri. Resveratrol (100 μM) is found to protect L. reuteri against protein carbonylation plausibly through various mechanisms including direct scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS), upregulation of the dhaT gene and promoting the synthesis of sulfur containing compounds. The hypothesis formulated on the ability of L. reuteri to detoxify H₂O₂ and its underlying mechanism needs to be clarified. Furthermore, the consequences of protein carbonylation as a reflection of oxidative damage to bacteria and its role in the responses of bacteria to oxidative stress need to be further investigated.

Benefits of wine-based marination of strip steaks prior to roasting: inhibition of protein oxidation and impact on sensory properties

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of red wine-based marination on the oxidative stability and overall quality of roasted beef strip steaks. Four treatments were considered, according to the type of wine (300 mL dealcoholized wine/kilogram meat): 'Cabernet Sauvignon', 'Tempranillo', 'Isabel' (ISA), and a control. The formation of potentially harmful protein oxidation products during roasting, including protein carbonyls and dityrosines, was inhibited by bioactive components of the wine.

RESULTS

ISA marinades were particularly resistant to protein oxidation, which could be due the particular composition of this wine in phenolic compounds. Wine-based marination was also effective in controlling the formation of lipid-derived volatile compounds, such as hexanal, octane-2,5-dione, and heptan-2-one, which led to a reduced perception of rancidity by panelists. Additionally, wines contributed to spicing roasted beef with wine-derived flavors from esters, alcohols, and lactones.

CONCLUSIONS

Hence, marination may be a feasible means to alleviate the potential negative effects that oxidative reactions cause to meat proteins, improve beef quality, and diversify beef cuts into a variety of safer and more flavored meat products. Among wines, ISA appeared to be most promising in terms of antioxidant protection; however, the limited consumer acceptance of steaks treated with this wine may be regarded as a drawback to be sorted out in future studies. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Oxidative damage to food and human serum proteins: Radical-mediated oxidation vs. glyco-oxidation

This study compared a hydroxyl radical-generating system (HRGS) (0.05-0.2mM Fe³⁺+0.6mM H₂O₂) and a glycation system (GLY) (0.05-0.2mM Fe³⁺+0.05M glucose) for their ability to promote protein carbonylation and tryptophan depletion in myofibrillar proteins, ovalbumin, β-lactoglobulin, soy protein and human serum albumin. Animal-source were more susceptible to protein carbonylation than soy proteins and globular were more susceptible than fibrillar proteins. Both systems promoted tryptophan loss and the formation of protein carbonyls and iron had a clear dose-effect in most systems and proteins. In the tested conditions, the GLY environment was more effective than the HRGS system in promoting the oxidative damage to food proteins. According to the results, glucose and H₂O₂ may compete for iron for the production of glycosylative and oxidative species, respectively. This study provides original insight into the chemical mechanisms implicated in the oxidative and glycosylative damage to food proteins.

Lipid and protein antioxidant capacity of dried Agaricus bisporus in salted cooked ground beef

Dried Agaricus bisporus powder (DAB)'s antioxidant capacity was tested in refrigerated cooked ground beef (CGB) containing 0, 1 or 1.5% NaCl. Lipid and protein oxidation products were monitored over time and correlated with changes in phenolic content. On day 16, 88-94% lower malondialdehyde (MDA) was found in CGB with DAB compared to control (1.15mg MDA/kg samples). Volatile aldehydes were up to 99% lower on day 16 in CGB with DAB than controls. In unsalted CGB, thiols dropped by 82% in control compared to <60% in CGB with DAB. On day 16, tryptophan fluorescence decline in unsalted control was higher (28%) than that in CGB with rosemary or DAB (2.4-5.5%) while Schiff bases declined in control and CGB+1% DAB, but increased in CGB+2% and 4% DAB. DAB's extension of shelf life was concentration dependent. Phenolic compounds had moderate to strong negative correlations with MDA up to day 10 indicating a possible role of DAB phenolics in preventing malondialdehyde production.

Effect of the cooking method (grilling, roasting, frying and sous-vide) on the oxidation of thiols, tryptophan, alkaline amino acids and protein cross-linking in jerky chicken

Broiler breast (pectoralis major) meat was submitted to salting with NaCl + NaNO3 followed by a drying process to produce jerky-type chicken. The final product (raw broiler charqui) was desalted and then cooked using grilled, roasted, fried and sous-vide techniques. Sous-vide cooked samples showed lowest results of moisture loss compared to roasted and fried ones. Fatty acid profile suffered minor changes after cooking of broiler charqui. Regarding to protein oxidation, tryptophan fluorescence, protein carbonylation and disulphide bonds formation of chicken charqui were affected by cooking temperature while free thiol groups, Schiff base formation and hardness were mostly impacted by the length of cooking. Instrumental color of broiler charqui was affected by the type of cooking, being closely related with Maillard products formation. In conclusion, sous-vide technique seems to be the most advantageous cooking method to obtain high-quality ready-to-eat chicken charqui.

Antioxidant protection of proteins and lipids in processed pork loin chops through feed supplementation with avocado

This study was conducted to analyze the impact of dietary avocado on the oxidative stability of lipids and proteins during pork processing. Loins from control (fed basic diet) and treated pigs (fed on avocado-supplemented diet) were roasted (102 °C/20 min) and subsequently packed in trays wrapped with oxygen-permeable films and chilled at 4 °C for 12 days. At each processing stage (raw, cooked and cooked & chilled), pork samples from both groups were analyzed for the concentration of TBARS, the loss of tryptophan and free thiols, and the formation of protein carbonyls, disulphide bonds and Schiff bases. Processing led to a depletion of tryptophan and sulfur-containing amino acids and an increase of lipid and protein oxidation products. Dietary avocado was not able to protect against the oxidation of tryptophan and thiols but cooked & chilled loins from treated pigs had significantly lower concentration of lipid and protein carbonyls than control counterparts. Likewise, dietary avocado alleviated the formation of Schiff bases during cooking. These results illustrate the benefits of dietary avocado on the oxidative stability of processed pork loins.

Effect of carnosic acid, quercetin and α-tocopherol on lipid and protein oxidation in an in vitro simulated gastric digestion model

Carnosic acid, quercetin and α-tocopherol are well-known antioxidants in many biological systems. However, their antioxidative effect during food digestion against lipid and protein oxidation is not well known. Therefore, in this study, an in vitro simulated gastric digestion model was used to investigate their stability during gastrointestinal conditions and their antioxidative properties during low pH digestion. In general, the stability of the antioxidants in the different steps of digestion was in the order of α-tocopherol > quercetin > carnosic acid. Salivary components, as well as the acidity of the gastric juice, were responsible for the reduction in antioxidants. Both α-tocopherol and quercetin were able to lower lipid oxidation during digestion, while the effect on protein oxidation was not clear. In contrast, carnosic acid did not have any effect on lipid oxidation and tended to stimulate protein oxidation. This study clearly demonstrated that the environmental conditions are of major importance to the properties of antioxidant compounds.

Effects of low doses of quercetin and genistein on oxidation and carbonylation in hemoglobin and myoglobin

Protein-bound carbonyls have been shown to increase with age as well as in numerous diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, adult respiratory syndrome pulmonary fibrosis, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's just to mention a few. The effects of the flavonoids quercetin and genistein were investigated according to their ability to inhibit the oxidation of hemoglobin and myoglobin via the Fenton's pathway. Antioxidative activity of the flavonoids were determined by oxidizing hemoglobin and myoglobin in separate experiments with 50 μM Fe(2+) and 0.01 mM hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) with and without quercetin and/or genistein. The samples were treated singly with either quercetin, genistein, or in combination at concentrations of 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, and 3.5 μM, respectively, dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Samples were then incubated in a water bath at 37°C for 8, 12, and 24 hr, respectively. Levels of carbonylation were assayed by the protein carbonyl assay and the carbonyl levels quantified and expressed per mg of protein. The results indicate that protein carbonyls for samples treated with quercetin or genistein decreased in a dose-dependent manner compared to the controls. That of quercetin compared to genistein was more efficient in reducing the levels of protein carbonylation in hemoglobin and myoglobin, respectively. The combination of both flavonoids did show a gradual decrease in carbonyl compounds for only hemoglobin for all the doses and times tested. The results indicate that both flavonoids at low doses inhibited carbonylation in both hemoglobin and myoglobin and the inhibition may be attributed to the prevention of protein oxidation.

Oxidative and nitrosative stress induced in myofibrillar proteins by a hydroxyl-radical-generating system: impact of nitrite and ascorbate

Understanding the chemistry behind the redox properties of nitrite and ascorbate is essential to identify the impact of curing agents on food quality and optimize the formulation of cured meat products. This study was designed to gain insight into the interactions between curing agents and myofibrillar proteins (MPs) during in vitro oxidation by a hydroxyl-radical-generating system. MPs (4 mg/mL) were oxidized for 4 days at 37 °C under constant stirring with 25 μM iron(III) and 2.5 mM hydrogen peroxide. Dependent upon the addition of nitrite (0, 75, and 150 mg/L) and ascorbate (0, 250, and 500 mg/L), nine different reaction units were prepared in triplicate (n = 3) according to a total factorial design. Upon completion of the oxidation assay, samples were analyzed for the concentration of tryptophan (TRP), α-aminoadipic semialdehyde (AAS), Schiff bases (SBs), and 3-nitrotyrosine (3NT). Ascorbate at 250 mg/L significantly inhibited the depletion of TRP (∼20% inhibition) and the formation of AAS and SBs (>90% inhibition) in MP suspensions. Nitrite, alone, had a negligible effect on protein oxidation but induced the formation of a specific marker of nitrosative stress, namely, 3NT. Ascorbate was also efficient at inhibiting the formation of 3NT by a dose-dependent anti-nitrosative effect and enabled the antioxidant action of nitrite.