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Erophaca baetica is a legume endemic to the Mediterranean region. Although the fruits and seeds are large, the presence of the “locoism” which produces the alkaloid, swainsonine has prevented its use as animal feed or for human nutrition. Their protein content and chromatographic profile, amino acid composition, fatty acid composition, and polyphenol contents have been determined in order to explore the potential of the E. baetica seeds as a source of dietary protein with functional components. The protein content was found to be 36% (w/w), and an amino acid analysis revealed a deficiency in sulphur amino acids, tryptophane, and lysine. The low lysine content is probably due to the abundance of alkaloids metabolically derived from this amino acid. Oleic and linoleic acids are the major fatty acids in the seeds. The antioxidant activity of polyphenol extracts was higher than the activity of the polyphenols extracted from most edible legume seeds. Hence, E. baetica seeds represent a promising source of functional and nutritional components on the condition that the anti-nutritional alkaloids are previously removed.

The protein profile and the amino acid composition of eleven amaranth species have been studied. The following species were taken into account: A. viridis, A. powellii, A.muricatus, A. deflexus, A. graecizans, A. blitoides, A. retroflexus, A. blitum, A. albus, A. cruentus and A. hypochondriacus. Seed samples were obtained from wild populations located in the southwest of Spain. The protein profile was studied by gel filtration chromatography and denaturing electrophoresis. Profiles were similar in all taxa, with small variations in the molecular weights and amounts of the main seed proteins. Thus, after gel filtration chromatography six main fractions of around 300 kDa, 180 kDa, 120 kDa, between 40 and 50 kDa, 20 and 30 kDa and below 10 kDa were observed. On the other hand, the electrophoretic analysis showed peptides grouped into three main fractions, between 50 and 64 kDa, 33 and 37 kDa and 18 and 25 kda. The most balanced amino acid compositions were observed in the wild taxa A. muricatus, A. blitum and A. powellii showed the most equilibrated amino acid composition. A. hypochondriacus and A. graecizans showed the most deficient amino acid composition with limitations in five essential amino acids. These results show the potential of wild amaranthus taxa for their introduction as crops or their use in the improvement by hybridization mechanisms of other crops such as A. hypochondriacus.

Extraction of proteins from defatted sunflower meal has been improved by addition of the protease alcalase during alkaline extraction. This method offers several additional advantages as compared to the traditional alkaline extraction without alcalase, which is usually carried out after a sedimentation/flotation step to remove the lignocellulosic fraction. As compared to extraction without alcalase, addition of 0.1% (v/v) alcalase improved the yield of protein extraction from 57.5% to 87.4%, providing an extract that is 22% hydrolyzed. In addition, an increment of up to 4.5 times in protein solubility at low pH values is achieved, which correlates with the degree of hydrolysis. The extracts that were obtained in the presence of alcalase had a higher proline and glycine content, suggesting that the protease improves extraction of proline-rich and glycine-rich cell wall proteins that are part of the lignocellulosic fraction. These protein extracts can be directly dried without generation of wastewater, and the resulting fiber-rich material could be used for animal feeding.

This part reviews the mechanisms of oxidizing lipid-protein interactions. Hydrophobic interactions, radical reactions and formation of covalent compounds with secondary products of lipid oxidation are described.

Radical chemistry of polyunsaturated fatty acids. This part summarizes the mechanisms of lipid oxidation. The compounds that react with proteins are specially discussed.

The enzymes of the lipoxygenase pathway in plant foods are reviewed. This part analyzes the enzymes related to the descomposition or transformation of the lipidic hydroperoxides. Lipoxygenase, hydroperoxide lyase, enal isomerase, alcohol dehydrogenase, aldehyde dehydrogenase, hydroperoxide dehydrase, alene oxide ciclase and 12-Oxo-phytodienoic acid reductase in plants are described. Posible control mechanisms of the lipoxygenase pathway are also considered.

The enzymes of the lipoxygenase pathway in plant foods are reviewed. This part analyzes the enzymes related to the formation of the lipidic hydroperoxides. Lipases and lipoxygenases in plant foods are described.

Research Background: Authentic Mexican cheeses have potential health benefits, although there are few studies on their bioactive components. In this study, we analysed soluble extracts from añejo cheese from Zacazonapan (Mexico), obtained from two dairies (A and B) that used milk from cows of different breeds and differed in processing., Experimental Approach: The soluble extracts of Zacazonapan añejo cheese during ripening (0, 30, 95 and 180 days) were used to determine proximate composition, amino acid composition, peptide profile, molecular mass profile, antioxidant and antihypertensive activities., Results and Conclusions: The molecular mass of the released protein fragments ranged from 0.10 to 22.43 kDa. During ripening, amino acids such as Pro, His, Tyr, Trp, Met, Cys, Ala, Gly, Leu and Val were present, which are associated with antioxidant activity. The inhibition of β-carotene bleaching was below 50 % at all ripening times. A significant difference between the cheese samples was observed only after 180 days. Amino acids associated with angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE-I) inhibition were found in the extracts (Trp, Phe, Tyr, Pro, Lys and Arg). The highest activity was observed in cheese ripened for 180 days (IC 50 of cheese A and B was 0.38 and 0.42 mg/mL, respectively)., Novelty and Scientific Contribution: These results suggest that Zacazonapan añejo cheese is a potential source of antioxidant and antihypertensive peptides, which are influenced by the dairy factor (milk source and production technique) and ripening time. This is relevant as there are no reports of these bioactivities in this type of cheese., Competing Interests: CONFLICT OF INTEREST Authors declare no conflict of interest., (Authors.)

The core cell cycle machinery is conserved from yeast to humans, and hence it is assumed that all vertebrates share the same set of players. Yet during vertebrate evolution, the genome was duplicated twice, followed by a further genome duplication in teleost fish. Thereafter, distinct genes were retained in different vertebrate lineages; some individual gene duplications also occurred. To which extent these diversifying tendencies were compensated by retaining the same expression patterns across homologous genes is not known. This study for the first time undertook a comprehensive expression analysis for the core cell cycle regulators in the chicken, focusing in on early neurula and pharyngula stages of development, with the latter representing the vertebrate phylotypic stage. We also compared our data with published data for the mouse, Xenopus and zebrafish, the other established vertebrate models. Our work shows that, while many genes are expressed widely, some are upregulated or specifically expressed in defined tissues of the chicken embryo, forming novel synexpression groups with markers for distinct developmental pathways. Moreover, we found that in the neural tube and in the somite, mRNAs of some of the genes investigated accumulate in a specific subcellular localisation, pointing at a novel link between the site of mRNA translation, cell cycle control and interkinetic nuclear movements. Finally, we show that expression patterns of orthologous genes may differ in the four vertebrate models. Thus, for any study investigating cell proliferation, cell differentiation, tissue regeneration, stem cell behaviour and cancer/cancer therapy, it has to be carefully examined which of the observed effects are due to the specific model organism used, and which can be generalised., (© 2022 The Authors. Journal of Anatomy published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Anatomical Society.)

Transcription and epigenetic changes are integral components of the neuronal response to stimulation and have been postulated to be drivers or substrates for enduring changes in animal behavior, including learning and memory. Memories are thought to be deposited in neuronal assemblies called engrams, i.e., groups of cells that undergo persistent physical or chemical changes during learning and are selectively reactivated to retrieve the memory. Despite the research progress made in recent years, the identity of specific epigenetic changes, if any, that occur in these cells and subsequently contribute to the persistence of memory traces remains unknown. The analysis of these changes is challenging due to the difficulty of exploring molecular alterations that only occur in a relatively small percentage of cells embedded in a complex tissue. In this review, we discuss the recent advances in this field and the promise of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and epigenome editing methods for overcoming these challenges and address long-standing questions concerning the role of epigenetic mechanisms in memory encoding, maintenance and expression., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Zantaz honey is a monofloral variety produced from the melliferous plant Bupleurum spinosum (Apiaceae), a shrub that grows mainly in the Atlas Moroccan Mountains. Determination of the polyphenol composition revealed that methyl syringate accounts for more than 50% of total polyphenols, which represents a very useful parameter for the characterization of this monofloral honey. Epicatechin, syringic acid and catechin are also abundant. Caco-2 and THP-1 cells were used for determination of antioxidant and antiproliferative activities in Zantaz honey, respectively. All six commercial samples that were used for these studies exhibited antioxidant activity and inhibited cell proliferation. Interestingly, these activities had a positive correlation mainly with the content in methyl syringate and gallic acid. The recognition of health promoting activities in Zantaz honey should increase its commercial value, which would have a positive economic impact on the poor rural communities of Morocco where it is produced., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Vicia palaestina Boiss. is an annual herb that grows in dry areas of eastern Mediterranean countries. It belongs to section Cracca subgenus Vicilla, which is characterized by having a high content in the non-protein amino acid canavanine. The seeds from some of these vetches are also rich in lectins. The purification and characterization of a single-chain lectin from the seeds of V. palaestina is described here. This lectin was the most abundant protein in albumin extracts. It has affinity for the glycoconjugate N-acetylgalactosamine and inhibits proliferation of the cancerous Caco-2 and THP-1 cell lines. In addition to their high nutritional value, the seeds from V. palaestina represent a source of lectins with health promoting and pharmacological potential because of their antiproliferative activity., (© 2021 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

Background: One of the most unusual sources of phylogenetically restricted genes is the molecular domestication of transposable elements into a host genome as functional genes. Although these kinds of events are sometimes at the core of key macroevolutionary changes, their origin and organismal function are generally poorly understood., Results: Here, we identify several previously unreported transposable element domestication events in the human and mouse genomes. Among them, we find a remarkable molecular domestication that gave rise to a multigenic family in placental mammals, the Bex/Tceal gene cluster. These genes, which act as hub proteins within diverse signaling pathways, have been associated with neurological features of human patients carrying genomic microdeletions in chromosome X. The Bex/Tceal genes display neural-enriched patterns and are differentially expressed in human neurological disorders, such as autism and schizophrenia. Two different murine alleles of the cluster member Bex3 display morphological and physiopathological brain modifications, such as reduced interneuron number and hippocampal electrophysiological imbalance, alterations that translate into distinct behavioral phenotypes., Conclusions: We provide an in-depth understanding of the emergence of a gene cluster that originated by transposon domestication and gene duplication at the origin of placental mammals, an evolutionary process that transformed a non-functional transposon sequence into novel components of the eutherian genome. These genes were integrated into existing signaling pathways involved in the development, maintenance, and function of the CNS in eutherians. At least one of its members, Bex3, is relevant for higher brain functions in placental mammals and may be involved in human neurological disorders.

Vicia ervilia is an ancient crop from the Mediterranean Region. It may represent a useful source of proteins for food and animal feed, as well as bioactive components. Seed samples from 39 populations of V. ervilia have been analyzed. Polyphenol contents ranged from 0.09% to 0.19%. Luteolin, kaempferol, apigenin, and quercetin were the major aglycones. The total free amino acid content of the seeds was 0.05% to 0.19% in which canavanine represented 9% to 22%. The protein content was 24.1%. The amino acid composition indicated a high content in acidic amino acids and a deficit in sulphur amino acids. V. ervilia seeds proved to be a good substrate for the preparation of protein isolates. The seed extracts inhibited the proliferation of Caco-2 colon tumor cells, simultaneously, exerting antioxidative effects. Hence, seeds of V. ervilia could represent a source of high-value food and feed components, as well as functional components. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Vicia ervilia (bitter vetch) (Leguminosae) is an ancient crop from the Mediterranean Region. Although it was still grown in many Mediterranean countries at the beginning of the twentieth century, other crops that provide higher and more consistent yield later replaced it. However, V. ervilia seeds may represent a useful source of proteins for human nutrition and animal feeding, and a source of bioactive components with health-promoting properties. Our results show that the seeds of V. ervilia could, indeed, represent a source of high-value food and feed components, as well as functional, health-promoting components. This may result in a revalorization of this neglected crop. The availability of numerous populations in seed banks guarantees the preservation of a genetic diversity in V. ervilia that could be used for the production of new varieties with better nutritional and functional characteristics., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Three olive modified pectin extracts have been produced by heat and acid treatment of the major by-product of olive oil production. Their effect on proliferation of the colon carcinoma Caco-2 and the leukemia monocytic THP-1 cell lines has been studied in order to determine possible anti-tumor properties. All extracts inhibited proliferation at some of the concentrations ranging from 1 to 10 mg ml -1 . Interestingly none of the extracts inhibited the growth of confluent Caco-2 cells, showing the specificity of the antiproliferative effect for the transformed Caco-2 phenotype. All the extracts inhibited agglutination of red blood cells by galectin-3, a lectin involved in tumor growth, metastasis, and immune cell regulation that has been proposed as a mediator of the anti-tumor effects of modified pectins. In addition, activation of caspase-3 in THP-1 cells indicates that treatment with the pectin-rich extracts triggers apoptosis. These results point to a possible use as health-promoting food ingredients or supplements.

Chickpea is a grain legume widely consumed in the Mediterranean region and other parts of the world. Chickpea seeds are rich in proteins but they also contain a substantial amount of free amino acids, especially arginine. Hence chickpea may represent a useful source of free amino acids for nutritional or pharmaceutical purposes. Arginine is receiving great attention in recent years because it is the substrate for the synthesis of nitric oxide, an important signaling molecule involved in numerous physiological and pathological processes in mammals. In this work we describe a simple procedure for the purification of arginine from chickpea seeds, using nanofiltration technology and an ion-exchange resin, Amberlite IR-120. Arginine was finally purified by precipitation or crystallization, yielding preparations with purities of 91% and 100%, respectively. Chickpea may represent an affordable green source of arginine, and a useful alternative to production by fermentation or protein hydrolysis., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Oxidative stress due to the excess of radical oxygen species (ROS) contribute to the development of different diseases. The use of antioxidants may prevent the development of these diseases by counteracting ROS levels. There is an increasing interest in natural antioxidants as they are safer for consumers than synthetic antioxidants. In this work, reducing power, free radical scavenging and cellular antioxidant activities of chickpea peptides fractions have been investigated. Peptide sequences included in fractions with antioxidant activity were identified. Main sequences, ALEPDHR, TETWNPNHPEL, FVPH and SAEHGSLH, corresponded to legumin, the main seed protein. Most peptides contained histidine, which has shown antioxidant activity. Two peptides also included tryptophan and phenylalanine, in which the phenolic group could also serve as hydrogen donor. These results show that legumin is a source of antioxidant peptides of high interest for food and pharmaceutical industries to develop new nutraceuticals and functional foods., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The role of the peptides-phenolic compounds (PC) interaction on the antioxidant capacity profile (ACP) of protein hydrolysates from rapeseed (Brassica napus) was studied in 36 hydrolysates obtained from a PC-rich and PC-reduced protein substrate. The latent profile analysis (LPA), with data of seven in vitro methods and one assay for cellular antioxidant activity (CAA), allowed identifying five distinctive groups of hydrolysates, each one with distinctive ACP. The interaction of peptides with naturally present PC diminished in vitro antioxidant activity in comparison with their PC-reduced counterparts. However, CAA increased when peptides-PC interaction occurred. The profile with the highest average CAA (62.41 ± 1.48%), shown by hydrolysates obtained by using alcalase, shared typical values of Cu(2+)-catalysed β-carotene oxidation (62.41 ± 0.43%), β-carotene bleaching inhibition (91.75 ± 0.22%) and Cu(2+)-chelating activity (74.53 ± 0.58%). The possibilities for a sample to exhibit ACP with higher CAA increased with each unit of positively charged amino acids, according to multinomial logistic regression analysis., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A method for determination of the non-protein amino acid l-α-amino-γ-(guanidinooxy)-n-butyric acid (L-canavanine) and other free amino acids in Vicia disperma is presented. Seed extracts were derivatized by reaction with diethyl ethoxymethylenemalonate and analyzed by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Calibration curves showed very good linearity of the response. The limit of detection and quantification were 0.15 and 0.50 μM, respectively. The method has a high intra- (RSD=0.35%) and inter-repeatability (RSD=2.86%), and a remarkable accuracy with a 99% recovery in spiked samples. The method is very easy to carry out and allows for ready analysis of large number of samples using very basic HPLC equipment because the derivatized samples are very stable and have very good chromatographic properties., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Transition metals produce radical oxygen species promoting lipid peroxidation processes that favor the development of cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, the oxidation of lipids present in food may affect the quality of food products. Therefore antioxidants counteracting these metal pro-oxidant effects may have high potential for the pharmacology and food industries. This study investigated the capability of peptide fractions purified from chickpea protein hydrolysate to inhibit copper-mediated lipid peroxidation in three different lipid substrates: β-carotene, unsaturated fatty acid mixture and low-density lipoprotein., Results: Peptide fractions with the highest histidine content were the most antioxidant. This antioxidant effect is mainly due to the capability of histidine to bind copper and act as a hydrogen donor through its imidazole ring., Conclusion: The results suggest that chickpea proteins are a potential source of antioxidant peptides that may be included as ingredients in functional foods with beneficial health effects. In addition, these antioxidant peptides may be useful to protect food products from lipid peroxidation processes and thus increase their quality and shelf life., (© 2014 Society of Chemical Industry.)

The nutritional characteristics of seed proteins of 50 Spanish wild taxa of Lathyrus, Lens, Pisum and Vicia have been compared. The highest average protein richness and the in vitro protein digestibility have been observed in the genus Vicia and Lens, respectively, whereas the genus Pisum showed the lowest protein-digestibility corrected amino acid score. Using the K-means algorithm three clearly distinguished groups of taxa have been established in relation to their essential amino acid contents, protein richness, digestibility and nutritional parameters. The most adequate protein profile was observed in the taxa of group 1. This group includes four taxa of genus Lathyrus and nine taxa of genus Vicia. It should be noted that seven of the thirteen taxa included in this group have never been used as crops., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Proximate composition, fatty acids and amino acid profiles and nutritional (chemical score, protein digestibility, PDCAAS and mineral dialyzability) and antioxidant properties (TEAC, DPPH and power reduction) from Porphyra columbina were evaluated. Total dietary fiber (48.02 ± 1.13 g/100 g dry weight) and protein (24.61 ± 0.21 g/100 g dry weight) were the two most abundant components in this seaweed. The main saturated and unsaturated fatty acids were C16:0 and C20:5 (n-3), respectively. The limiting amino acid was tryptophan with a chemical score of 57%. Protein digestibility was 74.33 ± 3.0%. Porphyra columbina has high mineral content with good Na/K relationship and medium value of potential mineral accessibility (P, Ca and Zn dializability: 18.75 ± 0.01, 17.62 ± 0.16 and 16.70 ± 0.44, respectively). The highest antioxidant properties were obtained with an acetone/water extraction system. This work provides important information about chemical composition and nutraceutical new properties of P. columbina.

A method for determination of β-cyano-L-alanine, γ-glutamyl-β-cyano-L-alanine and other free amino acids in Vicia sativa is presented. Seed extracts were derivatized by reaction with diethyl ethoxymethylenemalonate and analyzed by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Calibration curves showed very good linearity of the response. The limit of detection and quantification was 0.15 and 0.50 μM, respectively. The method has high intra- (RSD = 0.28-0.31%) and interrepeatability (RSD = 2.76-3.08%) and remarkable accuracy with a 99% recovery in spiked samples. The method is very easy to carry out and allows for ready analysis of large number of samples using very basic HPLC equipment because the derivatized samples are very stable and have very good chromatographic properties. The method has been applied to the determination of γ-glutamyl-β-cyano-L-alanine, β-cyano-L-alanine, and common free amino acids in eight wild populations of V. sativa from southwestern Spain.

This study characterizes the phosphorylated pathway of Ser biosynthesis (PPSB) in Arabidopsis thaliana by targeting phosphoserine phosphatase (PSP1), the last enzyme of the pathway. Lack of PSP1 activity delayed embryo development, leading to aborted embryos that could be classified as early curled cotyledons. The embryo-lethal phenotype of psp1 mutants could be complemented with PSP1 cDNA under the control of Pro35S (Pro35S:PSP1). However, this construct, which was poorly expressed in the anther tapetum, did not complement mutant fertility. Microspore development in psp1.1/psp1.1 Pro35S:PSP1 arrested at the polarized stage. The tapetum from these lines displayed delayed and irregular development. The expression of PSP1 in the tapetum at critical stages of microspore development suggests that PSP1 activity in this cell layer is essential in pollen development. In addition to embryo death and male sterility, conditional psp1 mutants displayed a short-root phenotype, which was reverted in the presence of Ser. A metabolomic study demonstrated that the PPSB plays a crucial role in plant metabolism by affecting glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and the biosynthesis of amino acids. We provide evidence of the crucial role of the PPSB in embryo, pollen, and root development and suggest that this pathway is an important link connecting primary metabolism with development.

Background: Bean seeds are an inexpensive source of protein. Anthracnose disease caused by the fungus Colletotrichum lindemuthianum results in serious losses in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) crops worldwide, affecting any above-ground plant part, and protein dysfunction, inducing the synthesis of proteins that allow plants to improve their stress tolerance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of beans damaged by anthracnose disease as a source of peptides with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE-I)-inhibitory activity., Results: Protein concentrates from beans spoiled by anthracnose disease and from regular beans as controls were prepared by alkaline extraction and precipitation at isolelectric pH and hydrolysed using Alcalase 2.4 L. The hydrolysates from spoiled beans had ACE-I-inhibitory activity (IC(50) 0.0191 mg protein mL(-1)) and were very similar to those from control beans in terms of ACE-I inhibition, peptide electrophoretic profile and kinetics of hydrolysis. Thus preparation of hydrolysates using beans affected by anthracnose disease would allow for revalorisation of this otherwise wasted product., Conclusion: The present results suggest the use of spoiled bean seeds, e.g. anthracnose-damaged beans, as an alternative for the isolation of ACE-I-inhibitory peptides to be further introduced as active ingredients in functional foods., (© 2012 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Bean protein isolate and phaseolin were hydrolysed using pepsin and pancreatin, and the resulting hydrolysates were filtered through a 1kDa cut-off membrane and fractionated by size exclusion chromatography. Three fractions corresponding to MW 0.7-1.0kDa, 0.43-0.7kDa and <0.43kDa (A1, A2, and A3 for protein isolate fractions, and B1, B2, and B3 for phaseolin fractions) were assayed for antioxidant and metal chelating activity and they were also subjected to amino acid and SDS-PAGE analysis. Fractions A1 and B1 had the highest copper chelating activity (78% and 82%, respectively), while iron chelating activity was the highest in fractions A1 and B3 (36% and 16%, respectively). Fractions A2 and B3 had the highest antioxidant activity as determined by inhibition of reducing power and β-carotene bleaching, while the highest ABTS radical scavenging activity was found in A3 and B3. Thus, fractions coming from the isolate and phaseolin had similar activities except for iron chelation, suggesting that phaseolin is the major contributor to the antioxidant and copper chelating activities of the hydrolysed protein isolate., (Crown Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The nutritional quality of the protein in the leaves of 11 Asphodeline (Liliaceae) species was investigated by the determination of the amino acid composition and calculation of several nutritional parameters. The average protein content was 4.7% and ranged from 2.5% in Asphodeline damascena ssp. rugosa to 8.2% in A. turcica. The most abundant essential amino acids were Thr (5.7%), Val (6.0%), Ile (4.7%), and Trp (2.1%). The amino acid composition of Asphodeline peshmeniana was well equilibrated according to Food and Agriculture Organisation standards, but Lys and sulphur amino acids were at limiting concentrations in all the other taxa. Determination of the protein efficiency ratio and biological value revealed that the protein in the leaves of Asphodeline species is of high nutritional quality. Hence, the Asphodeline leaves that are typically used in Turkey for the preparation of salads, represent a good source of protein with high levels of several essential amino acids and a good nutritional value. Analysis of the similarity based on the amino acid composition indicated the existence of different clusters that are consistent with the taxonomical classification, area of distribution, and morphological similarities of the Asphodeline species., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Chickpea-chelating peptides were purified and analysed for their iron-chelating activity. These peptides were purified after affinity and gel filtration chromatography from a chickpea protein hydrolysate produced with pepsin and pancreatin. Iron-chelating activity was higher in purified peptide fractions than in the original hydrolysate. Histidine contents were positively correlated with the iron-chelating activity. Hence fractions with histidine contents above 20% showed the highest chelating activity. These results show that iron-chelating peptides are generated after chickpea protein hydrolysis with pepsin plus pancreatin. These peptides, through metal chelation, may increase iron solubility and bioavailability and improve iron absorption., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The erythrocyte agglutinating activity of polyphenol extracts from six grain legumes was investigated. Polyphenols are amphipathic molecules that can bind to proteins and lipids through hydrophobic and polar interactions, leading to agglutination of liposomes and bacteria. The extracts from four of the six legumes that were studied caused erythrocyte agglutination at concentrations in the μM range. Soybean extracts had the highest activity, followed by the extracts from lentils, broad bean, and chickpea. As a good representative of these legumes, binding of the polyphenols extracted from lentils to erythrocytes was investigated in more detail, showing that agglutination was mediated by binding of 84% of the polyphenols present in the incubation, which corresponds to 2.42 μg bound polyphenols/mg erythrocytes, and a maximum polyphenol binding of 96% according to Lineweaver-Burk plots. The relatively high concentrations that are required for agglutination justify that polyphenols more probably do not agglutinate erythrocytes in vivo, but the possibility still exists that in vivo binding without agglutination could occur, which could have some effects on the metabolism and health-promoting properties of polyphenols., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The goal of this research was the characterisation of Vicia faba (broadbean) protein isolates and related fractions in order to determine whether this grain legume could be used for production of high quality protein products and other fractions rich in functional components. Alkaline extraction of the defatted seed flour, followed by precipitation at the isoelectric pH, yielded a 92% protein isolate with a high oil absorption capacity. The contents of the favism-inducing glycosides, vicine and convicine, in the isolate were reduced by more than 99% as compared to the original flour, although the amino acid composition was similar to that of the flour. Some of the by-products of protein isolate production may also be of interest from a nutritional and functional point of view. Thus, the oil resulting from hexane extraction of the flour is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, and polyphenols (resulting from extraction of the defatted flour with acetone) showed a high ABTS radical-scavenging activity. In addition, the solid residue (resulting from protein solubilisation) was high in fibre and showed good water absorption. These results show good nutritional and functional properties in V. faba protein isolates and related fractions, which may favour the revalorisation of this traditional bean crop., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A new colorimetric method based on the bleaching of the iodoplatinate ion has been developed for fast and easy determination of γ-glutamyl-S-ethenyl-cysteine (GEC) in narbon vetch (Vicia narbonensis L.) seeds. The calibration curve showed a good correlation (r(2)=0.9959) between absorbance and GEC amounts from 5.5 to 33 μg (10-59.78 μmol/L). The limits of detection and quantification were 1.16 and 3.55 μmol/L, respectively, and no significant interferences from other sulfur-containing compounds were observed. The method showed excellent repeatability (relative standard deviation [RSD]=0.28%), reproducibility (RSD=4.4%), and accuracy (94%). Determination of GEC in 20 narbon vetch accessions yielded values that were in agreement with those reported previously using capillary electrophoresis and high-performance liquid chromatography methods. The method could be especially valuable for determination of GEC during the process of production of new low-GEC narbon vetch varieties., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

A chickpea protein hydrolysate produced with pepsin and pancreatin was used for the affinity purification of chickpea chelating peptides. Three chelating peptide fractions were obtained after affinity chromatography with immobilised copper. These peptide fractions showed a higher chelating activity and histidine contents than the original protein hydrolysate. Chelating activity was positively correlated with the histidine content of the purified fractions. Different subfractions were also obtained after gel filtration chromatography from the affinity purified peptide fractions. Some of these subfractions showed a higher chelating activity and histidine contents than the original fractions. These results suggest that a combination of high His contents, around 20-30%, and small peptide size provide the best chelating activities. Thus sequential purification with affinity and gel filtration chromatography is a useful procedure for the purification of chickpea peptides with high chelating activity. These results show that a range of chelating peptides are generated during digestion of the chickpea proteins that, after metal chelation, may prevent the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and favour metal absorption., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The study of local plants could provide useful data for the possible development of future crops with good nutritional and functional properties. The nutritional characteristics of the seed proteins of 28 Vicia species (31 taxa) (Fabaceae) from Spain were studied. Protein contents in studied Vicia ranged from 20.1% in V. articulata to 32% in V. pyrenaica. V. altissima, which is only deficient in Trp, showed the most balanced amino acid composition, while the remaining taxa were limiting in Met, Cys, and Trp. In vitro protein digestibility (IVPD) ranged from 78% in V. incana to 86.3% in V. hirsuta. In addition to the amino acid composition and IVPD, other nutritional parameters, such as amino acid score, biological value, protein efficiency ratio, or protein digestibility corrected amino acid score, were studied. Results confirm the interest of studying wild populations of cultivated and non cultivated Vicia species as potentially interesting sources of seeds with good nutritional characteristics., (© 2011 Institute of Food Technologists®)

Background: Antioxidant and chelating activities were determined in protein hydrolysates that were produced by treating a protein isolate of a non-toxic genotype of Jatropha curcas with the protease preparation alcalase., Results: 50 min protein hydrolysate with a degree of hydrolysis of 31.7% showed highest antioxidant and chelating activity. These activities were also determined in six peptidic fractions that were separated by gel filtration chromatography of the 50 min hydrolysate. The lower-molecular-weight peptidic fractions had the highest antioxidant and chelating activities, which correlated with a higher content in antioxidant and chelating amino acids such as tyrosine and histidine., Conclusion: Results show that J. curcas represents a good source of bioactive peptides. This may be important for the revalorization of defatted J. curcas flour, a by-product resulting form oil extraction for biodiesel production. This is especially important in Third World and developing countries such as Mexico., (Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Glycolysis is a central metabolic pathway that provides energy and generates precursors for the synthesis of primary metabolites such as amino acids and fatty acids. In plants, glycolysis occurs in the cytosol and plastids, which complicates the understanding of this essential process. As a result, the contribution of each glycolytic pathway to the specific primary metabolite production and the degree of integration of both pathways is still unresolved. The glycolytic glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) catalyzes the conversion of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate to 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate. Both cytosolic (GAPCs) and plastidial (GAPCps) GAPDH activities have been described biochemically. But, up to now, little attention had been paid to GAPCps, probably because they have been considered as "minor isoforms" that catalyze a reversible reaction in plastids where it has been assumed that key glycolytic intermediates are in equilibrium with the cytosol. In the associated study, we have elucidated the crucial role of Arabidopsis GAPCps in the control of primary metabolism in plants. GAPCps deficiency affects amino acid and sugar metabolism and impairs plant development. Specifically, GAPCp deficiency affects the serine supply to roots, provoking a drastic phenotype of arrested root development. Also, we show that the phosphorylated serine biosynthesis pathway is critical to supply serine to non-photosynthetic organs such as roots. These studies provide new insights of the contribution of plastidial glycolysis to plant metabolism and evidence the complex interactions existing between metabolism and development.

In 2008, the first Proficiency Testing Scheme of Chemical Oxygen Demand (1(st)COD-PT(ADG)) was conducted to assess the results obtained for different research groups whose field work is mainly anaerobic digestion. This study was performed using four samples, two solid samples as raw materials and two solid samples to prepare high concentration suspended solid solutions. Invitations were sent to a large number of laboratories, mainly to anaerobic digestion research groups. Finally, thirty labs from sixteen countries agreed to participate, but for different reasons four participants could not send any data. In total, twenty-six results were reported to the COD-PT coordinator. This study showed the importance of continuous participation in proficiency testing (PT) schemes in order to compare the results obtained. Taking into account the lack of a general standard method and high quality certified reference materials (CRMs), the traceability of COD determination is not currently easy to check. In addition, the spread of participants' results obtained was high and pointed to the advisability of using consensus values due to their unreliability. Therefore, the theoretical oxygen demand (ThOD) values were considered as assigned values for all the samples analysed. On the other hand, in this PT the established standard deviation (ESD) has been determined by the Horwitz modified function. Participants of this 1(st)COD-PT(ADG) were asked to give a short report on the analytical method used. Although all the participants used potassium dichromate as their oxidant reagent, their experimental procedures were very different. With the purpose of comparing the results obtained, the different experimental conditions used were classified into five methods, corresponding to two main categories, open and closed reflux. The performance of laboratories was expressed by the z-score, whose value is considered satisfactory when z-score

Plant protein hydrolysates are a source of bioactive peptides. There are peptides that decrease the micellar cholesterol solubility from bile acids and therefore may reduce in vivo cholesterol absorption. The presence of these peptides in sunflower protein hydrolysates has been studied. Sunflower protein hydrolysates produced with alcalase plus flavourzyme or with pepsin plus pancreatin inhibited in some degree the cholesterol incorporation to micelles. Protein hydrolysates generated after 30 min of hydrolysis with alcalase, and after 30 min of hydrolysis with pepsin, were the inhibitoriest of the cholesterol incorporation to micelles. The average amino acid hydrophobicity of inhibitory peptides in cholesterol micelles was higher than the observed in the corresponding protein hydrolysates. This high hydrophobicity probably favours their inclusion in the lipid micelles. In vivo, this inhibition may translate in a decrease of cholesterol absorption. Reported results show that a combination of different characteristics such as peptide size or hydrophobicity may be responsible of the inhibitory activity of generated peptides.

A modified approach to determine the chemical oxygen demand (COD) of solid substrates based on the DIN 38414-S9 standard method is proposed. The adapted procedure is assessed and compared with standard methods widely used for water and wastewater such as the American Public Health Association-American Water Works Association-Water Pollution Control Federation (APHA-AWWA-WPCF) standard methods 5220 B-open reflux (SM-OR) and 5220 D-closed reflux colorimetric (SM-CR). Solutions with high suspended concentration of solids, as well as digestates from an anaerobic reactor, were used during the comparative test. For solid substrates, the COD recovery was about 100% when the proposed method was used. For solutions with solid content higher than 20 g TS L(-1), the recovery was only completed when the proposed method was used, showing that the methods traditionally employed are not very appropriate for samples with the described characteristics. For instance, percentages of COD recovery in the ranges of 77.3-87.1% and 89.4-94.1% were achieved when the SM-OR and SM-CR methods were used, respectively.

The growth of mammalian cells in vitro requires the use of rich culture media that are prepared by combining serum with specific nutrient formulations. Serum, the most expensive component of culture media, provides a complex mixture of growth factors and nutrients. Protein hydrolysates that can support in vitro cell growth and eliminate or reduce the need to use serum have been obtained from different sources. Here we describe the use of two food grade proteases to produce a chickpea protein hydrolysate that has been added to cell culture medium in order to determine whether it can be used as a substitute for serum. Medium containing the hydrolysate has been tested using two human cells lines: the monocytic THP-1 cell line which grows in suspension, and the epithelial Caco-2 cell line which grows as a monolayer. The chickpea protein hydrolysate was a good substitute for serum in the first case, but did not allow growth of Caco-2 cells. Supplementation of culture media with this inexpensive and safe hydrolysate would greatly reduce the cost of cell culture.