Dependence of Protein Structure on Environment: FOD Model Applied to Membrane Proteins

The natural environment of proteins is the polar aquatic environment and the hydrophobic (amphipathic) environment of the membrane. The fuzzy oil drop model (FOD) used to characterize water-soluble proteins, as well as its modified version FOD-M, enables a mathematical description of the presence and influence of diverse environments on protein structure. The present work characterized the structures of membrane proteins, including those that act as channels, and a water-soluble protein for contrast. The purpose of the analysis was to verify the possibility that an external force field can be used in the simulation of the protein-folding process, taking into account the diverse nature of the environment that guarantees a structure showing biological activity.

Nutritional evaluation and transcriptome analyses of short-time germinated seeds in soybean (Glycine max L. Merri.)

Germination is a common practice for nutrition improvement in many crops. In soybean, the nutrient value and genome-wide gene expression pattern of whole seeds germinated for short-time has not been fully investigated. In this study, protein content (PC), water soluble protein content (WSPC), isoflavone compositions were evaluated at 0 and 36 h after germination (HAG), respectively. The results showed that at 36HAG, PC was slightly decreased (P > 0.05) in ZD41, J58 and JHD, WSPC and free isoflavone (aglycones: daidzein, genistein, and glycitein) were significantly increased (P < 0.05), while total isoflavone content was unchanged. Transcriptomic analysis identified 5240, 6840 and 15,766 DEGs in different time point comparisons, respectively. GO and KEGG analysis showed that photosynthesis process was significantly activated from 18HAG, and alternative splicing might play an important role during germination in a complex manner. Response to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was found to be down regulated significantly from 18 to 36HAG, suggesting that H2O2 might play an important role in germination. Expression pattern analysis showed the synthesis of storage proteins was slowing down, while the genes coding for protein degradation (peptidase and protease) were up regulated as time went by during germination. For genes involved in isoflavone metabolism pathway, UGT (7-O-glucosyltransferase) coding genes were significantly up regulated (40 up-DEGs vs 27 down-DEGs), while MAT (7-O-glucoside-6′′-O-malonyltransferase) coding genes were down regulated, which might explain the increase of aglycones after germination. This study provided a universal transcriptomic atlas for whole soybean seeds germination in terms of nutrition and gene regulation mechanism.

Anticataract activity of pioglitazone by using in-Vitro goat lens model

In the present study we have selected antioxidants agents like Pioglitazone and Ascorbic acid were subjected for anti-cataract activity by in vitro glucose induced cataract model. In the procedure, goat lenses was incubated along with the aqueous humor solution containing 55mM glucose with Enalpril as a standard compound and Pioglitazone with varied concentration for the time interval of 72 hours at room temperature. There was a formation of blur layer on the goat eyeball occurs after 10-12 hours and this process complete after 72 hours. The cataract inducing lenses showing higher level of Na, MDA (P&#60;0.001) along with the decreases in sodium-potassium ATPase activity and water-soluble protein content. The goat lenses treated with Ascorbic acid 40 µg/ml and Pioglitazone in concentrations of 15, 30, and 60 µg/ml showed increased protein content and prevent the formation of cataract.

The multilayered organization of water-soluble proteins

The structural analysis of proteins has focused primarily on secondary structure, three-dimensional fold and active site while whole surface has been analyzed to a lesser extent and interior has not received much attention. Here we present an analysis of both the surfaces and the interiors of a set of water-soluble monomeric proteins in terms of solvent-excluded surface (SES) and atomic partial charge. The analysis shows that the surface of a soluble monomer has a net negative charge and is much smoother than the interior. Most interestingly with regard to both atomic partial charge and SES-defined geometric property there exists a multilayered organization from the exterior to the interior of a soluble monomer. The multilayered organization is closely related to protein-solvent interaction and should be a general feature of a water-soluble protein. Particularly the multilayered organization may set an upper limit for the size of a water-soluble monomer and plays an important role in the determination of its overall shape in solution.

PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES IN CASPIAN SPRAT (CLUPEONELLA DELICATULA CASPIA SVETOVIDOV) DURING DIFFERENT PERIODS OF ANNUAL CYCLE

The article considers studying the physiological and biochemical parameters of the common sprat (Clupeonella delicatula caspia Svetovidov) taken in the western part of the Middle Caspian Sea at different periods of the annual cycle. There were studied the species in the pre-spawning state, at the beginning of spawning, at the feeding stage and at the pre-wintering stage. In fish muscle tissue the content of water-soluble protein and total lipids was determined. In the pre-spawning period, in male common sprat was recorded a positive correlation (p < 0.05) between the weight of fishes, fishing length and content of total lipids in muscles (r = +0.5206) and (r = +0.5039), respectively. In females no statistically significant dependence of the size-weight parameters and lipid content in muscles were recorded, which is probably due to the fact that lipids in their bodies were spent for energy needs, and to a greater extent than in males - for the generative function. In a comparative aspect, in the muscles of males and females no significant differences in the content of total lipids and water-soluble protein in the pre-spawning period were found. At the stage of the beginning of spawning, a decrease in total lipids and water-soluble protein was noted in the muscle tissue of the studied fishes, which is associated with an increase in energy consumption for sweeping out sexual products. During the feeding period the common sprat was characterized by an intensive accumulation of lipid reserves; the content of total lipids and water-soluble protein in the muscles increased with increasing length of individuals. In the pre-winter period stabilization of muscle lipid and increase in protein reserves were recorded, which is necessary for fish to ensure a normal existence in the subsequent stages of the annual cycle.

Spectrophotometric method for evaluating proteolysis in cheeses and aromatic additives with a cheesy taste

The spectrophotometric method for measuring protein content can be used to evaluate the degree of proteolysis in cheeses. At a wavelength of 280 nm, tryptophan and tyrosine are absorbed, a high amount of them is found in casein, the main protein of cheese mass. It was found that the value of the absorbance coefficient of the solution of proteins extracted from flavoring additives with cheese flavor (FA) and cheeses depends on the degree of proteolysis of proteins in the cheese mass and differs in FA and different types of cheeses. The highest absorbance coefficient is observed in the FA samples A1%1cm = 10.30, in which from 65 to 81% of the protein is converted into a soluble state. In cheeses, the degree of proteolysis is from 23 to 33%, and the absorbance coefficient of solution is from 1.1 to 2.4 (with the exception of Cheddar cheese), which indicates an incomplete transition of amino acids absorbing radiation at 280 nm into the extract released from cheeses. Using the spectrophotometric method, the results of measuring the content of soluble protein in cheeses and FA, strictly correlating with the results achieved by the Kjeldahl method (R2 > 0.81), can be obtained. To get reliable results of evaluating the content of water-soluble protein in cheeses, it is necessary to carry out measurements on a sample of cheeses belonging to the same species group, having the same specificity of proteolysis and slightly different absorbance coefficient between samples within the instance.

Nutritional Value of Apiaceae Seeds as Affected by 11 Species and 43 Cultivars

The fragmentary literature data on Apiaceae seed antioxidant potential elicited a comparative evaluation work of seed biochemical profile between 11 species and 43 cultivars grown in similar conditions: anise, lovage, fennel, coriander, caraway, parsley, celery, dill, carrot, parsnip and chervil. Among the different solvents, temperature and duration regimes applied, 70% EtOH, 80 °C and 1 h running showed the best extraction efficiency of antioxidants. Total antioxidant activity (AOA) decreased as follows: lovage > anise > parsley > celery > fennel = dill > coriander > caraway > parsnip > carrot > chervil. Lovage, anise and fennel demonstrated the highest levels of total phenolics (TP), AOA and potassium. A positive correlation was recorded between total dissolved solids (TDS) and K and between AOA and TP content (r = 0.86 and r = 0.79 respectively, at p < 0.001). Varietal differences in AOA and TP levels were much lower than those relevant to TDS, K and water soluble protein (WSP), while the highest differences were found for selenium (Se). Two parsley cultivars showed anomalously high Se content and four dill cultivars unusually high levels of TDS and potassium. A positive correlation arose between Se and WSP levels in parsley seeds (r = 0.85 at p < 0.05).

The thermogravimetric study of the ointment with the water-soluble proteinpolysaccharide complex of Pleurotus ostreatus

The manufacturing process for soft dosage forms is always accompanied by the action of a certain temperature, which violation can lead not only to the deterioration of technological indicators, but also significantly affect the pharmacological activity of the finished drug.Aim. To study the water-soluble protein-polysaccharide complex (WSPPC) of Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushroom) and the ointment composition developed on its basis using thermogravimetry.Materials and methods. The thermogravimetric analysis, which allowed determining the change of the mass of the test sample under the conditions of the controlled temperature rise, was chosen as the research method. Determination of thermogravimetric characteristics was performed using a Q-1500 D derivatograph of the “F. Paulik, J. Paulik, L. Erdey” system with a platinum-platinum-rhodium thermocouple when heating samples 30 to 250 °C.Results and discussion. In the course of the thermogravimetric study it has been determined that WSPPC and the ointment composition developed on its basis have physical transformations at certain temperatures. The presence of thermal effects on the thermogram of the ointment developed coincides with the thermal effects of WSPPC; and it subjectively indicates the absence of the chemical interaction between the active pharmaceutical ingredient and the excipients of the carrier base.Conclusions. Based on the results obtained the optimal conditions of the temperature regime for the manufacturing process have been determined. They will provide the stability of the physicochemical properties and the pharmacological effect of the finished ointment.