Influence of cysteine and methionine availability on protein peroxide scavenging activity and phenolic stability in emulsions

Functional Bioactivities of Soluble Seed Proteins from Two Leguminous Seeds

Storage proteins from Sphenostylis stenocarpa and Phaseolus lunatus were fractionated, and their in vitro bioactivities were investigated. Albumin, globulin, prolamin, and glutelin constituents of the respective seeds were successively fractionated using the modified Osborne method. Phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (1 mM) was used as a protease inhibitor. The antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and acetylcholinesterase-inhibitory activities of the protein fractions were evaluated using different appropriate techniques. Globulin was the predominant fraction, with a yield of 43.21±0.01% and 48.19±0.03% for S. stenocarpa and P. lunatus, respectively, whereas prolamin was not detected in both seeds. The protein fraction markedly scavenges hydroxyl radicals, nitric oxide radicals, and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryldydrazyl radicals with concomitant high free radical-reducing power. Albumin and globulin fractions elicited the highest acetylcholinesterase-inhibitory potential of 48.75% and 49.75%, respectively, indicating their great application potential in managing neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, the albumin, globulin, and glutelin fractions of these underutilized legumes showed great analeptic bioactivities, which could be utilized as health-promoting dietary supplements/products.

Modulation of amyloid fibrillation of bovine β-lactoglobulin by selective methionine oxidation

Deposition of oxidation-modified proteins during normal aging and oxidative stress are directly associated with systemic amyloidoses. Methionine (Met) is believed to be one of the most readily oxidisable amino acid residues of protein. Bovine beta-lactoglobulin (β-lg), a model globular whey protein, has been presented as a subsequent paradigm for studies on protein aggregation and amyloid formation. Herein, we investigated the effect of t-butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP)-induced oxidation on structure, compactness and fibrillation propensity of β-lg at physiological pH. Notably, whey protein modification, specifically Met residues, plays an important role in the dairy industry during milk processing and lowering nutritional value and ultimately affecting their technological properties. Several bio-physical studies revealed enhanced structural flexibility and aggregation propensity of oxidised β-lg in a temperature dependent manner. A molecular docking study is used to predict possible interactions with tBHP and infers selective oxidation of methionine residues at 7, 24 and 107 positions. From our studies, it can be corroborated that specific orientations of Met residues directs the formation of a partially unfolded state susceptible to fibrillation with possible different cytotoxic effects. Our studies have greater implications in deciphering the underlying mechanism of different whey proteins encountering oxidative stress. Our findings are also important to elucidate the understanding of oxidation induced amyloid fibrillation of protein which may constitute a new route to pave the way for a modulatory role of oxidatively stressed proteins in neurological disorders.

The nutrient requirements of Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 and their application to fermented milk

Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 is a suitable probiotic for food application, but because of its slow growth in milk, an increase in its efficiency is desired. To shorten the time required for fermentation, the nutrient requirements of L. acidophilus LA-5 were analyzed, including the patterns of consumption of amino acids, purines, pyrimidines, vitamins, and metal ions. The nutrients required by L. acidophilus LA-5 were Asn, Asp, Cys, Leu, Met, riboflavin, guanine, uracil, and Mn²⁺, and when they were added to milk, the fermentation time of fermented milk prepared by L. acidophilus LA-5 alone was shortened by 9 h, with high viable cell counts that were maintained during storage of nutrient-supplemented fermented milk compared with the control. For fermented milk prepared by fermentation with Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus, and L. acidophilus LA-5, viable cell counts of L. acidophilus LA-5 increased 1.3-fold and were maintained during storage of nutrient-supplemented fermented milk compared with the control. Adding nutrients had no negative effect on the quality of the fermented milk. The results indicated that suitable nutrients enhanced the growth of L. acidophilus LA-5 and increased its viable cell counts in fermented milk prepared by L. acidophilus LA-5 alone and mixed starter culture, respectively.

Specific response mechanism to autotoxicity in melon (Cucumis melo L.) root revealed by physiological analyses combined with transcriptome profiling

Melon is of great value in food, medicine and industry. In recent years, the continuous cropping obstacles of melon is increasingly prominent, which seriously affects the cultivation. Autotoxicity is the key factor for the obstacles. Root is the first line against autotoxicity and main organs for autotoxins secretion. Some physiological responses and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to autotoxicity are only limited to root system. Considering the lack of relevant research, physiological researches combined with transcriptome sequencing of melon seedling after autotoxicity stress mediated by root exudates (RE) was performed to help characterize the response mechanism to autotoxicity in melon roots. The results showed that autotoxicity inhibited root morphogenesis of melon seedlings, induced the excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation in roots, and activated most antioxidant enzymes. Compared with the control group, the osmoregulation substance content was always at a high level. DEGs response to autotoxicity in roots were distinguished from that in leaves. Functional annotation of these DEGs suggested that autotoxicity affected biological regulation in a negative manner. DEGs were mainly involved in the synthesis of antioxidants, DNA damage and metabolism, and stress response. These setbacks were associated with the deterioration of root morphogenesis, generation of dwarf and slender roots, and ultimately leading to plant death. The results may provide important information for revealing the response mechanism of root to autotoxicity, and provide theoretical basis for solving the continuous cropping obstacles in melon.

Methionine Augments Antioxidant Activity of Rice Protein during Gastrointestinal Digestion

To elucidate the influence of methionine, which is an essential sulfur-containing amino acid, on the antioxidant activity of rice protein (RP), methionine was added to RP (RM). The addition of methionine to RM0.5, RM1.0, RM1.5, RM2.0, and RM2.5 was 0.5-, 1.0-, 1.5-, 2.0-, and 2.5-fold of methionine of RP, respectively. Using the in vitro digestive system, the antioxidant capacities of scavenging free radicals (superoxide; nitric oxide; 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt, ABTS), chelating metal (iron), and reducing power were investigated in the hydrolysates of RP and RMs. Upon pepsin-pancreatin digestion, the weakest antioxidant capacity was produced by RP. With the addition of methionine, RMs exhibited more excellent responses to free radical scavenging activities and reducing power than RP, whereas RMs did not produce the marked enhancements in iron chelating activity as compared to RP. The present study demonstrated that RMs differently exerted the free radical scavenging activities that emerged in the protein hydrolysates, in which the strongest scavenging capacities for ABTS, superoxide, and nitric oxide were RM1.5, RM2.0, and RM2.5, respectively. Results suggested that the availability of methionine is a critical factor to augment antioxidant ability of RP in the in vitro gastrointestinal tract.

Methionine oxidation by hydrogen peroxide in peptides and proteins: A theoretical and Raman spectroscopy study

The oxidation of proteins results in their deterioration via the oxidation of reactive amino acids. Oxidation of the amino acid, methionine plays an important role during biological conditions of oxidative stress, and equally a role in protein stability. In this study the oxidation of the methionine residue using the tripeptide GlyMetGly with respect to hydrogen peroxide has been studied using both Raman spectroscopy and DFT calculations. Spectral modifications following the formation of methionine sulfoxide are shown with the appearance of the SO vibration whilst there is also the modification of the CS vibrations at approximately 700 cm^-1. The changes in the intensity of the CS stretching band were used to calculate the kinetic rate constant as 7.9 ± 0.6 × 10^-3 dm³ mol^-1 s^-1. The energy barrier for the reaction. is determined both experimentally and using DFT calculations. The reaction of the dairy protein beta-lactoglobulin with hydrogen peroxide is equally studied using the same technique. The solvent accessible surface area of the methionine residues within the protein were also determined and a comparison of the reaction rate constant and the energy barriers of reaction for the oxidation of the tripeptide and for the protein respectively thus, provides information about the role of the protein environment in the oxidation process.

Influence of the Oxidation States of 4-Methylcatechol and Catechin on the Oxidative Stability of β-Lactoglobulin

Chemical interactions between proteins and phenols affect the overall oxidative stability of a given biological system. To investigate the effect of protein-phenol adduct formation on the oxidative stability of β-lactoglobulin (β-LG), the protein was left to react with an equimolar concentration of 4-methylcatechol (4MC), catechin (Cat), or their respective quinone forms, 4-methylbenzoquinone (4MBQ) and catechin-quinone (CatQ), and subsequently subjected to metal-catalyzed oxidation by Fe(II)/H2O2 for 20 days at 37 °C. The reaction with 4MBQ resulted in 60% thiol loss and 22% loss of amino groups, whereas the addition of 4MC resulted in 12% thiol loss. The reaction with Cat or CatQ resulted in no apparent modification of β-LG. The oxidative stability of β-LG after reaction with each of 4MC, 4MBQ, Cat, or CatQ was impaired. Especially 4MC and 4MBQ were found to be pro-oxidative toward α-aminoadipic semialdehyde and γ-glutamic semialdehyde formation as well as the generation of fluorescent Schiff base products. The changes observed were ascribed to the redirection of oxidation as a result of the blocking of thiol groups but also to the oxidative deamination pathway, accelerating the production of semialdehydes and subsequently Schiff base structures.

Photochemically induced formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from effluent organic matter

The formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from effluent organic matter (EfOM) was investigated under simulated solar irradiation. In this study, EfOM was isolated into three different fractions based on hydrophobicity. The productivity of ROS in EfOM was measured and compared with that of natural organic matter (NOM) isolates, including Suwannee River humic acid/fulvic acid (SRHA/FA) and Pony Lake fulvic acid (PLFA). The hydrophilic (HPI) component had a greater quantum yield of 1O2 than those of the hydrophobic (HPO) and transphilic (TPI) fractions because the HPI contained peptides and proteins. Regarding O2•-, the phenolic moieties acted as electron donating species after photochemical excitation and therefore electron transfer to oxygen. A positive correlation was found between the phenolic concentrations and the steady state O2•-concentrations. H2O2 accumulated during the irradiation process from superoxide as precursor. Potentially, due to the presence of proteins or other organic species in the HPI fraction, the decay rates of H2O2 in the dark for both the effluent wastewater and the HPI fraction were significantly faster than the rates observed in the standard NOM isolates, the HPO and TPI fractions. Autochthonous NOM showed a higher •OH productivity than terrestrial NOM. The [•OH]ss was lowest in the HPI fraction due to the lack of humic fraction and existence of soluble microbial products (SMPs), which easily reacted with •OH. Overall, the HPO and TPI fractions were the major sources of superoxide, H2O2 and •OH under simulated solar irradiation. The HPI fraction dominated the production of 1O2 and acted as a sink for H2O2 and •OH.