l-Arginine and l-Lysine Alleviate Myosin from Oxidation: Their Role in Maintaining Myosin's Emulsifying Properties

Comparison of the physical stability, microstructure and protein-lipid co-oxidation of O/W emulsions stabilized by l-arginine/l-lysine-modified soy protein hydrolysate

This work investigated the physical stability, microstructure, and oxidative stability of the emulsions prepared by soy protein hydrolysate (SPH) after modification with different concentrations of l-arginine and l-lysine. l-Arginine and l-lysine significantly increased the absolute zeta potential values, and decreased droplet sizes of the emulsions, thereby improving the physical stability of the emulsions. Meanwhile, l-arginine and l-lysine markedly decreased the apparent viscosity of the emulsions. The measurement of interfacial protein adsorption percentage showed that l-arginine (≤0.5 %) promoted the adsorption of SPH at the oil-water interface, whereas l-lysine (≤1%) reduced the adsorption of SPH at the oil-water interface. In addition, l-arginine and l-lysine (≤0.5 %) could retard lipid and protein oxidation. Correlation analysis indicated that the improvement in the physical stability of the emulsions by l-arginine and l-lysine also enhanced the oxidative stability of the emulsions. In summary, l-arginine and l-lysine could be effective modifiers for the protein-based emulsion systems.

Alleviation of albumin glycation-induced diabetic cardiomyopathy by L-Arginine: Insights into Nrf-2 signaling

In hyperglycemia, accelerated glycation and oxidative stress give rise to many diabetic complications, such as diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). Glycated human serum albumin (GHSA) has disturbed structural integrity and hampered functional capabilities. When GHSA accumulates around cardiac cells, Nrf-2 is dysregulated, aiding oxidative stress. L-Arginine (L-Arg) is prescribed to patients with diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. This research contributes to the mechanistic insights on antiglycation and antioxidant potential of L-Arg in alleviating DCM. HSA was glycated with methylglyoxal in the presence of L-Arg (20-640 mM). Structural and functional modifications of HSA were studied. L-Arg and HSA, GHSA interactions, and thermodynamics were determined by steady-state fluorescence. H9c2 cardiomyocytes were given treatments of GHSA-L-Arg along with the inhibitor of the receptor of AGEs. Cellular antioxidant levels, detoxification enzyme activities were measured. Gene, protein expressions, and immunofluorescence data examined the activation and nuclear translocation of Nrf-2 during glycation and oxidative stress. L-Arg protected HSA from glycation-induced structural and functional modifications. The binding affinity of L-Arg was more towards HSA (104 M-1). L-Arg, specifically at lower concentration (20 mM), upregulated Nrf-2 gene, protein expressions and facilitated its nuclear translocation by activating Nrf-2 signaling. The study concluded that L-Arg can be of therapeutic advantage in glycation-induced DCM and associated oxidative stress.

Fabrication, characterization and emulsifying properties of myofibrillar protein-chitosan complexes in acidic conditions

Polysaccharides are employed to modify proteins, forming complexes that enhance the functional properties of proteins, such as emulsification and stability. In this study, myofibrillar protein (MP)-chitosan (CS) complexes were formed between CS and MP under acidic conditions (pH 3.0-6.0). Results showed that CS can improve the solubility and emulsifying properties of MP, and the MP-CS complexes at pH 3.0 and 6.0 had better emulsifying properties. Concurrently, the particle size results indicated that better the emulsifying properties of the complex, the smaller the particle size. Consequently, the characteristics of the MP-CS complexes (at pH 3.0 and 6.0) were investigated. Our analysis using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that the amide I band of MP was blue-shifted with the addition of CS, signifying a decrease in hydrogen bonding within MP. The endogenous fluorescence spectra showcased that the hydrophobicity surrounding the tryptophan residues in the protein changed, leading to enhanced polarity. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry further confirmed that the addition of CS improved the thermal stability of MP. These findings provide valuable insights into the interactions between MP and CS. Furthermore, the MP-CS complex can be leveraged to create a Pickering emulsion system for the efficient delivery of bioactive substances.

Injection of l-arginine or l-lysine before freezing delays the emulsifying and gelling properties deterioration of myofibrillar proteins of frozen porcine Longissimus lumborum muscle

This study aimed to investigate the effects of injecting l-arginine and l-lysine solution before freezing and after thawing on the emulsifying and gelling properties of myofibrillar proteins (MPs) of frozen porcine longissimus dorsi. The results showed that the pre-freezing injections were more effective in alleviating the decrease in emulsifying properties of MPs compared with the post-thawing injections, as evidenced by higher emulsion creaming index, oil droplet size, interfacial absorptive protein amount, and viscoelasticity. Additionally, the pre-freezing injections could effectively mitigate the damage to the gelling properties of MPs, as evidenced by the formation of a homogeneous and compact gel network with stronger water retention, strength and chemical forces, as well as a higher proportion of non-flowing water, whereas the post-thawing injections could not. These results demonstrated that the injection of l-arginine and l-lysine solution before freezing could delay freezing-induced damage to the emulsifying and gelling properties of MPs, keeping the processing characteristics of frozen porcine.

Mechanism of low-voltage electrostatic fields on the water-holding capacity in frozen beef steak: Insights from myofilament lattice arrays

This study investigated the impact of low-voltage electrostatic field-assisted freezing on the water-holding capacity of beef steaks. The enhances mechanism of water-holding capacity by electrostatic field was elucidated through the detection of dynamic changes in the myofilament lattice and the construction of an in vitro myosin filaments model. The findings demonstrated that the disorder of the myofilament array, resulted from the aggregation of myosin filaments during freezing, is a crucial factor responsible for the water loss. The intervention of the electrostatic field can effectively reduce the myofibril density by 18.7%, while maintaining a regular lattice array by modulating electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions between myofibrils. Moreover, the electrostatic field significantly inhibited the migration of immobilized water to free water, thus resulting in an increase in the water-holding capacity of myofibrils by 36%. This work provides insights into the underlying mechanisms of water loss in frozen steaks and its regulation.

Recent advances on characterization of protein oxidation in aquatic products: A comprehensive review

In addition to microbial spoilage and lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation is increasingly recognized as a major cause for quality deterioration of muscle-based foods. Although protein oxidation in muscle-based foods has attracted tremendous interest in the past decade, specific oxidative pathways and underlying mechanisms of protein oxidation in aquatic products remain largely unexplored. The present review covers the aspects of the origin and site-specific nature of protein oxidation, progress on the characterization of protein oxidation, oxidized proteins in aquatic products, and impact of protein oxidation on protein functionalities. Compared to meat protein oxidation, aquatic proteins demonstrate a less extent of oxidation on aromatic amino acids and are more susceptible to be indirectly oxidized by lipid peroxidation products. Different from traditional measurement of protein carbonyls and thiols, proteomics-based strategy better characterizes the targeted oxidation sites within proteins. The future trends using more robust and accurate targeted proteomics, such as parallel reaction monitoring strategy, to characterize protein oxidation in aquatic products are also given.

Improving the texture properties and protein thermal stability of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) by L-lysine marination

BACKGROUND

The quality deterioration of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) after thermal processing limits its industrial application. This study sought to improve the texture characteristics of Antarctic krill after heat treatment through pre-soaking using l-lysine (Lys) solution and sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP). Moreover, the effects of Lys on heat-treated Antarctic krill were explored.

RESULTS

Lys significantly reduced the cooking loss and improved the texture characteristics of Antarctic krill during heat treatment. The low-field nuclear magnetic resonance results showed that Lys reduced the water loss of Antarctic krill during heat treatment. Additionally, the surface hydrophobicity, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and endogenous fluorescence spectroscopy results showed that Lys could inhibit the structural damage of Antarctic krill protein under the thermal denaturation condition and enhance the thermal stability of the protein. The scanning electron microscopy results showed that Lys could protect the structural integrity of Antarctic krill muscle fibers during heat treatment.

CONCLUSION

The cooking loss in the Lys added groups was better than the sodium tripolyphosphate added group, and 2.0% Lys solution could minimize the cooking loss of Antarctic krill. The secondary and tertiary structures of the Antarctic krill protein were actively protected by Lys during heat treatment. Overall, the study will provide insights into the application of Lys in the food industry as a natural additive and an alternative to phosphate. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

l-Arginine and l-lysine retard aggregation and polar residue modifications of myofibrillar proteins: Their roles in solubility of myofibrillar proteins in frozen porcine Longissimus lumborum

This study investigated the ability of l-arginine and l-lysine to inhibit the adverse effects of freezing on the structure and solubility of myofibrillar proteins extract (MPE) in porcine Longissimus lumborum. The results showed that freezing decreased solubility of MPE, band densities of actin and myosin heavy and light chains, fluorescence intensity, and contents of free amino group and total sulfhydryls, but increased content of carbonyl groups and absolute zeta-potential of MPE. l-Arginine and l-lysine effectively alleviated the adverse effects of freezing. l-Arginine and l-lysine significantly increased β-sheet content, T_max1 and ΔH₁, but decreased α-helix content and disulfide bond content in MPE. Additionally, the SDS-PAGE analysis showed that l-arginine and l-lysine could prevent appearance of bands at about 150 kDa. Overall, this study shows that both l-arginine and l-lysine could not only abate the aggregation and disruption of MPs, but also reduce the oxidation of their polar amino groups, which ultimately contribute to their superior solubility. The results may be interesting in meat industry.

Muscle protein oxidation and functionality: a global view of a once neglected phenomenon

Muscle is a highly organized apparatus with a hierarchicmicrostructure that offers the protection of cellular components againstreactive oxygen species (ROS). However, fresh meat immediately postmortem andmeat undergoing processing become susceptible to oxidation due to physicaldisruption and the influx of molecular oxygen. Upon the activation byendogenous prooxidants, oxygen species are rapidly produced, and bothmyofibrillar and sarcoplasmic proteins become their primary targets. Direct ROSattack of amino acid sidechains and peptide backbone leads to proteinconformational changes, conversion to carbonyl and thiol derivatives, andsubsequent aggregation and polymerization. Interestingly, mild radical andnonradical oxidation enables orderly protein physicochemical changes, which explainswhy gels formed by ROS-modified myofibrillar protein has improved rheologicalproperties and binding potential in comminuted meat and meat emulsions. Theincorporation of phenolic and other multi-functional compounds promotes gelnetwork formation, fat emulsification, and water immobilization; however,extensive protein modification induced by high levels of ROS impairs proteinfunctionality. Now recognized to be a natural occurrence, once-neglectedprotein oxidation has drawn much interest and is being intensively studiedwithin the international community of meat science. This review describes thehistory and evolution of muscle protein oxidation, the mechanism andfunctionality impact hereof, and innovative oxidant/antioxidant strategies tocontrol and manipulate oxidation in the context of meat processing, storage,and quality. It is hoped that the review will stimulate in-depth discussion of scientificas well as industrial relevance and importance of protein oxidation and inspirerobust international collaboration in addressing this global challenge.