Synthesis and properties of fatty acid starch esters

Being completely bio-based, fatty acid starch esters (FASEs) are attractive materials that represent an alternative to crude oil-based plastics. In this study, two synthesis methods were compared in terms of their efficiency, toxicity and, especially, product solubility with starch laurate (C₁₂) as model compound. Laurates (DS > 2) were obtained through transesterification of fatty acid vinylesters in DMSO or reaction with fatty acid chlorides in pyridine. The latter lead to higher DS-values in a shorter reaction time. But due to the much better solubility of the products compared to lauroyl chloride esterified ones, vinylester-transesterification was preferred to optimize reaction parameters, where reaction time could be shortened to 2 h. FASEs C₆–C₁₈ were also successfully prepared via transesterification. To determine the DS of the resulting starch laurates, the efficient ATR-IR method was compared with common methods (elementary analysis, ¹H NMR). Molar masses (M_w) of the highly soluble starch laurates were analyzed using SEC-MALLS (THF). High recovery rates (>80%) attest to the outstanding solubility of products obtained through transesterification, caused by a slight disintegration during synthesis. Particle size distributions (DLS) demonstrated stable dissolutions in CHCl₃ of vinyl laurate esterified – contrary to lauroyl chloride esterified starch. For all highly soluble FASEs (C₆–C₁₈), formation of concentrated solutions (10 wt%) is feasible.     

魔芋球茎贮藏淀粉和甘露聚糖粒的形态观察

在光学显微镜和透射电镜下观察了魔芋（Ａｍｏｒｐｈｏｐｈａｌｕｓｃｏｎｊａｃ）球茎中甘露聚糖粒和淀粉粒的形态。两种贮藏多糖分别位于不同的细胞中。淀粉粒在造粉体内发育,以复粒存在,用魔芋球茎仔茎茎尖为材料观察显示,淀粉粒的形成早于甘露聚糖颗粒的形成。甘露聚糖粒形态多数近随圆形,一些甘露聚糖颗粒内包含了针晶体,但多数的甘露聚糖粒内部不包含针晶体,由纯净的甘露聚糖构成。     

Antiallergic activity of rosmarinic acid esters is modulated by hydrophobicity,and bulkiness of alkyl side chain

Methyl, propyl and hexyl esters of rosmarinic, caffeic and p-coumaric acids were tested for antiallergic activity, and rosmarinic acid propyl ester exhibited the greatest β-hexosaminidase release suppression (IC₅₀, 23.7 μM). Quadratic correlations between pIC₅₀ and cLogP (r² = 0.94, 0.98, and 1.00, respectively) were observed in each acid ester series. The antiallergic activity is modulated by hydrophobicity, and alkyl chain bulkiness.     

花后高温对不同耐热性小麦品种籽粒淀粉形成的影响

以耐热性不同的2个小麦品种济麦20和鲁麦21为材料,分别于花后5～9d（T1）和15～19d（T2）进行高温处理,研究了小麦花后不同阶段高温对籽粒淀粉积累、淀粉粒分布及相关酶活性的影响。结果表明,花后高温显著降低籽粒淀粉积累量;显著降低籽粒淀粉及支链淀粉含量,但提高直链淀粉含量、直／支链淀粉比例。处理间比较,他处理对籽粒淀粉积累的影响程度较T1处理大。品种间比较,高温对济麦20的影响程度较鲁麦21大。高温使A型淀粉粒的体积、数量和表面积比例显著增加,B型淀粉粒的体积、数量和表面积比例显著降低。T1处理后,两品种籽粒蔗糖含量、蔗糖合酶（SS）和腺苷二磷酸葡萄糖焦磷酸化酶（AGPP）、可溶性淀粉合酶（SSS）、束缚态淀粉合酶（GBSS）和淀粉分支酶（SBE）活性均略高于对照;但济麦20、鲁麦21上述指标分别于花后15、20d开始低于对照。他处理后,两品种籽粒蔗糖含量、SS、AGPP、SSS、GBSS和SBE活性显著低于对照,济麦20上述指标的降幅较鲁麦21大。与其它淀粉合成相关酶相比,高温对籽粒GBSS活性的影响程度较小。两品种处理间籽粒蔗糖含量、SS、AGPP、SSS、GBSS及SBE活性的变化趋势,与淀粉积累量的变化趋势基本一致。说明灌浆期高温使籽粒淀粉积累量降低,一方面是由于籽粒蔗糖供应较低引起糖源不足;另一方面则是由于灌浆中后期淀粉合成相关酶活性下降使淀粉合成受抑所致。     

The new insight on ultrastructure of C-type starch granules revealed by acid hydrolysis

C-type starch granule could be considered as the mixture of A- and B-polymorphs. The ultrastructure of C-type starch granules has not been elucidated detailedly by comparison with that of A- or B-type starch. To better understand the ultrastructure of C-type starch granules, Environment Scanning Electron Microscope (ESEM) and Field Emission Gun Transmission Electron Microscope (FEG-TEM) have been used to analyze the conformation and ultrastructure of C-type starch granule from Rhizoma Dioscorea during acid hydrolysis. SEM results showed that the amorphous areas were mainly located interior part of C-type starch granules whereas the crystalline regions were found mostly in the peripheral region of the granules. The grain size can be confirmed to be about 4.5-9 nm from the HR-TEM micrographs. The nanocrystals from acid-thinned starch displayed the typical face-centered cubic structure. This selected area electron diffraction patterns showed that individual C-type starch granule consisted of A- and B-type polymorphs.     

Refolding of denatured lysozyme by water-in-oil microemulsions of sucrose fatty acid esters

Water-in-oil (w/o) microemulsion of sucrose fatty acid ester was used to renature denatured hen egg white lysozyme without aggregation. After lysozyme was denatured in 5 M guanidine hydrochloride for 24 h, the resultant denatured lysozyme was held in the microemulsion, overnight at 25°C. Renatured lysozyme was transferred from the microemulsion phase to the recovery aqueous phase by conventional liquid-liquid extraction. The enzymatic activity of the recovered lysozyme was 93%.     

Manipulation of colonic bacteria and volatile fatty acid production by dietary high amylose maize (amylomaize) starch granules

AIMS: To study the effects of amylomaize starch and modified (carboxymethylated and acetylated) amylomaize starches on the composition of colonic bacteria and the production of volatile fatty acids, in mice. METHODS AND RESULTS: Balb/c mice were fed with experimental diets containing various amount of amylomaize and modified amylomaize starches. Colonic bacterial populations and short-chain fatty acids were monitored. Results showed that the increases in indigenous bifidobacteria were detected in mice fed all starches tested; however, the highest numbers were observed in the group fed with 40% unmodified amylomaize starch. The starch type influenced the populations of indigenous Lactobacillus, Bacteroides and coliforms. High Lactobacillus numbers were achieved in the colon of mice fed with high concentration of amylomaize starch. Acetylated amylomaize starch significantly reduced the population of coliforms. In addition, orally dosed amylomaize utilizing bifidobacteria reached their highest levels when fed together with amylomaize or carboxymethylated amylomaize starch and in both cases butyrate levels were markedly increased. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that different amylomaize starches could generate desirable variation in gut microflora and that particular starches may be used to selectively modify gut function. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY: Amylomaize starch appeared to enhance the desirable composition of colonic bacteria in mice, and suggested it possessed the potential prebiotic properties. Therefore, resistant starch and its chemical derivatives may exert beneficial impacts to the human colon.     

Structural characterization of wheat starch granules differing in amylose content and functional characteristics

Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) together with several complementary techniques, such as differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction, have been employed to investigate the structural features that give diverse functional properties to wheat starches (Triticum aestivum L.) within a narrow range of enriched amylose content (36–43%). For these starches, which come from a heterogeneous genetic background, SAXS analysis of duplicate samples enabled structural information to be obtained about their lamellar architecture where differences in lamellar spacing among samples were only several tenths of nanometer. The SAXS analysis of these wheat starches with increased amylose content has shown that amylose accumulates in both crystalline and amorphous parts of the lamella. Using waxy starch as a distinctive comparison with the other samples confirmed a general trend of increasing amylose content being linked with the accumulation of defects within crystalline lamellae. We conclude that amylose content directly influences the architecture of semi-crystalline lamellae, whereas thermodynamic and functional properties are brought about by the interplay of amylose content and amylopectin architecture.     

不同供水条件对小麦强、弱势籽粒中淀粉粒度分布的影响

以3个淀粉含量不同的冬小麦品种山农12、鲁麦21和济南17为材料,设灌溉和旱作2种栽培处理,对不同水分条件下小麦强、弱势籽粒中淀粉粒的体积、数目和表面积的分布特征进行了研究.结果表明,小麦强、弱势籽粒均含有A(＞9.8 μm)、B(2.0～9.8 μm)、C(＜2.0 μm)3种类型的淀粉粒,但不同类型淀粉粒的分布状况存在明显差异.在强势籽粒中,淀粉粒的体积和表面积分布均表现为三峰分布,而弱势籽粒中淀粉粒的体积和表面积分布则表现为双峰分布.与弱势粒相比较,强势粒中C型淀粉粒(＜2.0 μm)的体积百分比为7.25%～9.31%,表面积百分比为34.88%～41.51%,而弱势粒的体积和表面积百分比分别为5.33%～6.40%和26.31%～33.54%.强、弱势籽粒中＜0.6 μm和0.6～2.0 μm范围内的淀粉粒数目存在明显差异,强势粒为1.86%～6.13%和83.77%～87.77%,而弱势粒为25.72%～37.42%和52.77%～58.48%.与灌溉栽培相比较,旱作栽培条件下籽粒中B、C型淀粉粒体积和表面积百分比显著增加,而A型淀粉粒体积和表面积显著减少;弱势粒中＜0.6 μm的淀粉粒数目显著增加,强势籽粒中淀粉粒的数目无显著变化.与弱势粒相比较,强势粒中的蛋白质含量较高,C型淀粉粒的体积和表面积所占比例较大,而强势粒中的淀粉含量较低,且A、B型淀粉粒比例也较小.与灌溉栽培相比较,旱作栽培条件下强、弱势籽粒中B、C型淀粉粒体积和表面积百分比增加,蛋白质含量也显著增加,淀粉含量降低.表明水分亏缺能提高籽粒中B、C型淀粉粒体积和表面积百分比及蛋白质含量.     

Adsorption characterisation of water and ethanol on wheat starch and wheat gluten using inverse gas chromatography

Adsorption of water and ethanol on wheat starch and wheat gluten has been studied in the temperature range of 60–150 °C using inverse gas chromatography (IGC). From the chromatographic retention data it is able to calculate the separation factors for the two solutes and obtain values for thermodynamic parameters such as Gibbs free energy (ΔG_s) and the enthalpy (ΔH_s) of adsorption of water and ethanol. The results indicate that water is adsorbed more strongly than ethanol at all temperatures, and the low temperature is found to facilitate the adsorptive separation of water from ethanol. It is also shown that the starch definitely plays a crucial role for the water and ethanol separation, despite that wheat flour includes both gluten and starch. The wheat starch is seen to have potential application in biomass water–ethanol separation to obtain fuel ethanol through the preferential adsorption of water from aqueous ethanol.     

Cyclohexene long-chain fatty acid esters from Uvaria dulcis (Dunal)

Two new cyclohexene long-chain fatty acid esters, namely Dulcisenes A and B, were isolated from the twigs of the Uvaria dulcis together with seven known compounds, uvarigranol E, (−)-zeylenol, ellipeiopsol B, 5,7-dihydroxyflavone, 8-hydroxy-5,7-dimethoxyflavanone, lupeol, and benzyl benzoate. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic and mass-spectrometric analyses, including 1D, 2D NMR and HR TOF MS. Several of these metabolites were tested for cytotoxicity against HepG2, A549, S102, HuCCA-1, HeLa, MDA-MB-231, T47D, HL-60, and P388 cell lines.     

花后高温对持绿型小麦叶片衰老及籽粒淀粉合成相关酶的影响

试验选用持绿型冬小麦(Triticum aestivum) ‘豫麦66’ (‘Ym66’)和‘潍麦8号’ (‘Wm8’)为研究材料, 以当地生产上起主导作用的冬小麦品种‘小偃22’ (‘XY22’)和‘小偃6号’ (‘XY6’)为对照。花后用塑料薄膜搭建成增温棚进行高温处理, 测定各品种绿叶数目、叶绿素和丙二醛(MDA)含量及叶片细胞膜透性, 并研究籽粒灌浆成熟期高温对持绿型小麦籽粒淀粉合成相关酶及粒重的影响。结果表明, 高温处理后, 各品种的绿叶数目和叶绿素含量都减少, MDA含量和膜透性都增加, 说明高温加速了小麦叶片衰老。同时, 各品种籽粒中与淀粉合成相关的酶(蔗糖合成酶(SS)和腺苷二磷酸葡萄糖焦磷酸化酶(AGPP)、可溶性淀粉合酶(SSS))活性都低于正常生长下的籽粒中的酶活性, 其中高温对籽粒SS和AGPP活性的影响不显著,而对籽粒SSS活性的影响显著(p = 0.015)。品种间比较, 持绿型小麦在两种处理下, 都表现出较多的绿叶数目和较高的叶绿素含量; 且3种与淀粉合成相关的酶活性也都高于非持绿型小麦, 说明持绿型小麦酶活性受高温抑制程度较小。相关性分析表明, 所有品种籽粒SS、AGPP、SSS活性都与籽粒灌浆速率成极显著的正相关(相关系数r分别为0.905、0.419和0.801)。因而, 持绿型小麦不仅具有较好的持绿特性, 而且籽粒中与淀粉合成相关的3种酶活性都较高, 这有利于其籽粒淀粉的合成, 从而增加籽粒产量。     

Rapid formation of hydrogen-producing granules in an anaerobic continuous stirred tank reactor induced by acid incubation

A novel approach to rapidly initiate granulation of hydrogen-producing sludge was developed in an anaerobic continuous stirred tank reactor at 37 degrees C. To induce microbial granulation, the acclimated culture was subject to an acid incubation for 24 h by shifting the culture pH from 5.5 to 2.0. The culture was resumed to pH 5.5 after the incubation and the reactor was operated at hydraulic retention times (HRTs) of 12, 6, 2, 1, and 0.5 h in sequence. Microbial aggregation took place immediately with the initiation of acid incubation and granules were developed at 114 h. No granule was observed in the absence of acid incubation in the control test. Changing the culture pH resulted in improvement in surface physicochemical properties of the culture favoring microbial granulation. The zeta potential increased from -11.6 to -3.5 mV, hydrophobicity in terms of contact angle improved from 31 degrees to 43 degrees and extracellular proteins/polysaccharides ratio increased from 0.2 to 0.5-0.8. Formation of granular sludge facilitated biomass retention of up to 32.2 g-VSS/L and enhanced hydrogen production. The hydrogen production rate and hydrogen yield increased with the reduction in HRT at an influent glucose concentration of 10 g/L once steady granular sludge layer was formed, achieving the respective peaks of 3.20 L/L x h and 1.81 mol-H(2)/mol-glucose at 0.5 h HRT. The experimental results suggested that acid incubation was able to initiate the rapid formation of hydrogen-producing granules by regulating the surface characteristics of microbial aggregates in a well-mixed reactor, which enhanced the hydrogen production.     

Identification of multiple isoforms of soluble and granule-bound starch synthase in developing wheat endosperm

We have investigated the nature and locations of isoforms of starch synthase in the developing endosperm of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). There are three distinct granule-bound isoforms of 60 kDa (the Waxy gene product), 77 kDa and 100–105 kDa. One of these isoforms, the 77-kDa protein, is also present in the soluble fraction of the endosperm but it contributes only a small proportion of the total soluble activity. Most of the soluble activity is contributed by isoforms which are apparently not also granule-bound. The 60-kDa and 77kDa isoforms of wheat are antigenically related to isoforms of very similar size in the developing pea embryo, but the other isoforms in the endosperm appear to have no counterparts in the pea embryo. The significance of these results in terms of the diversity of isoforms of starch synthase and their locations is discussed.Abbreviations DEAE diethylaminoethyl - GBSS granule-bound starch synthase - NT nullisomictetrasomic We are grateful to the late John Hawker (University of Adelaide, Australia) and to John Snape (John Innes Centre, UK) for useful discussions during the course of this work, to John Snape and Catherine Chinoy (John Innes Centre, UK) for the gift of the NT lines and to Richard Batt (University of Adelaide, Australia) for technical assistance.     

Atomic force microscopy of pea starch granules: granule architecture of wild-type parent, r and rb single mutants, and the rrb double mutant

AFM studies have been made of the internal structure of pea starch granules. The data obtained provides support for the blocklet model of starch granule structure (Carbohydr. Polym. 32 (1997) 177-191). The granules consist of hard blocklets dispersed in a softer matrix material. High-resolution images have yielded new insights into the detailed structure of growth rings within the granules. The blocklet structure is continuous throughout the granule and the growth rings originate from localised defects in blocklet production distributed around the surface of spheroidal shells within the granules. A mutation at the rb locus did not lead to significant changes in granule architecture. However, a mutation at the r locus led to loss of growth rings and changed blocklet structure. For this mutant the blocklets were distributed within a harder matrix material. This novel composite arrangement was used to explain why the granules had internal fissures and also changes in gelatinisation behaviour. It is suggested that the matrix material is the amylose component of the granule and that both amylose and amylopectin are present within the r mutant starch granules in a partially-crystalline form. Intermediate changes in granule architecture have been observed for the double mutant rrb.     

Molecular aspects of sucrose transport and its metabolism to starch during seed development in wheat: A comprehensive review

Wheat is one of the most important crops globally, and its grain is mainly used for human food, accounting for 20% of the total dietary calories. It is also used as animal feed and as a raw material for a variety of non-food and non-feed industrial products such as a feedstock for the production of bioethanol. Starch is the major constituent of a wheat grain, as a result, it is considered as a critical determinant of wheat yield and quality. The amount and composition of starch deposited in wheat grains is controlled primarily by sucrose transport from source tissues to the grain and its conversion to starch. Therefore, elucidation of the molecular mechanisms regulating these physiological processes provides important opportunities to improve wheat starch yield and quality through biotechnological approaches. This review comprehensively discusses the current understanding of the molecular aspects of sucrose transport and sucrose-to-starch metabolism in wheat grains. It also highlights the advances and prospects of starch biotechnology in wheat.     

Sulfo-N-succinimidyl esters of long chain fatty acids specifically inhibit fatty acid translocase (FAT/CD36)-mediated cellular fatty acid uptake

Sulfo-N-succinimidyl esters of LCFAs are a powerful tool to investigate the functional significance of plasmalemmal proteins in the LCFA uptake process. This notion is based on the following observations. First, sulfo-N-succinimidyl oleate (SSO) was found to inhibit the bulk of LCFA uptake into various cell types, i.e. rat adipocytes, type II pneumocytes and cardiac myocytes. Second, using cardiac giant membrane vesicles, in which LCFA uptake can be investigated in the absence of mitochondrial -oxidation, SSO retained the ability to largely inhibit LCFA uptake, indicating that inhibition of LCFA transsarcolemmal transport is its primary action. Third, SSO has no inhibitory effect on glucose and octanoate uptake into giant membrane vesicles derived from heart and skeletal muscle, indicating that its action is specific for LCFA uptake. Finally, SSO specifically binds to the 88 kDa plasmalemmal fatty acid transporter FAT, a rat homologue of human CD36, resulting in an arrest of the transport function of this protein.In addition to its inhibitory action at the plasma membrane level, evidence is presented for the lack of a direct inhibitory effect on subsequent LCFA metabolism. First, the relative contribution of oxidation and esterification to LCFA uptake is not altered in the presence of SSO. Second, isoproterenol-mediated channeling of LCFAs into oxidative pathways is not affected by sulfo-N-succinimidyl palmitate (SSP). As an example of its application we used SSP to study the role of FAT/CD36 in contraction- and insulin-stimulated LCFA uptake by cardiac myocytes , showing that this transporter is a primary site of regulation of cellular LCFA utilization.