The structure analysis and characterization of N-100 by NMR

To improve the mechanics properties of polyurethane materials at a high or low temperature, a hydroxy compound N-100 of HDI was synthesized, The structure analysis and characterization were made by NMR (H-1, C-13, H-1-H-1 COSY, C-13-H-1 COSY), In addition, quantitative description of the network was made on the basis of some ideal assumptions, 1D and 2D NMR can differentiate four sorts of carbonyl groups and establish the connections of all carbon and hydrogen atoms of mixed structures that originated from five different substitutions, Besides, the alkene and isocyanate, urea, biuret and trimerized isocyanuric groups were also detected, Therefore, the structure of N-100 was suggested be a polyisocyanate with complicated network which contained nitrogen atom as cross-linkage, isocyanate and alkene as end groups, The consistence of calculated values with tested values of isocyanate content, mean function degree and mean molecular weight demonstrated the correct of structure characterization and the validity of network description.

STUDIES ON STATES OF CYTOCHROME-C MOLECULES IN AQUOUS SOLUTIONS USING SYNCHRONOUS FLUORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY

The states of cytochrome C molecules in aquous solution were studied with synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy, It was found that the synchronous fluorescent spectra of cytochrome C were contributed by tyrosine and tryptophan residues separately at Delta lambda = 20 nm and Delta lambda = 80 nm, The peak position in synchronous fluorescent spectra of tyrosine residues in cytochrome C molecule does not change with its concentration, but that of tryptophan residue changes with its concentration, Only one peak at 340.0 nm was observed in the dilute solution of cytochrome C, With increasing the concentration of cytochrome C, a new peak at 304. 0 nm appeared. The peak at 340.0 nm disappeared and only one peak at 304.0 nm was observed at a higher concentration of cytochrome C, It may originate from the change of aggregation states of cytochrome C molecules and it was considered that the peak at 340.0 nm was attributed to the monomer and peak at 304.0 nm was due to the dimmer or oligomers. When urea was added into cytochrome C solution in which both monomer and dimmer or oligomers exist, cytochrome C molecules do not denature in the range of the specific concentrations of urea. The concentration of monomer of cytochrome C molecules increased and that of aggregation slates decreased by adding urea, Therefore, the synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy can be used to identify monomer and aggregation states of cytochrome C molecules.

Microprojectile bombardment of Laminaria japonica gametophytes and rapid propagation of transgenic lines within a bubble-column bioreactor

A human acidic fibroblast growth factor gene, hafgf, was successfully transferred into Laminaria japonica (kelp) gametophytes via microprojectile bombardment using the biolistic PDS-1000/He gene gun. Following phosphinothricin screening, PCR detection and Southern blot analysis, transgenic L. japonica gametophytes were cultivated in an illuminated bubble-column bioreactor to optimize growth conditions. A maximal final dry cell density of 1,695 mg l(-1) was obtained in a batch culture having an initial dry cell density of 129.75 mg l(-1). This was achieved using an aeration rate of 1.08 l air min(-1) l(-1) culture in a medium containing 1.5 mM inorganic nitrate and 0.15 mM phosphate. In addition, the relationship between different nitrogen sources and growth of transgenic gametophytes indicated that both urea and sodium nitrate were effective nitrogen sources for cell growth, while ammonium ions inhibited growth of these gametophytes.

Factors that effect antioxidant activity of C-phycocyanins from Spirulina platensis

Currently, antioxidants are added in the human diet to prevent free radical-induced cell damage, and there has been an explosive interest in the use of antioxidant nutritional supplements. The effects of different factors on the antioxidant activity of phycocyanins (PCs) were studied. The results showed that PCs generated hydroxyl radicals in the light, while scavenging them in the dark. When PCs were denatured by sodium dodecyl sulfate, urea and in alkaline condition, their ability to generate hydroxyl radicals disappeared and that of scavenging them greatly increased. This showed that the phycobilin moiety is the main part of PC involved in scavenging hydroxyl radicals. Trypsin hydrolysis of PCs showed that the apoprotein portion of the molecule also made a significant contribution to the antioxidant activity.

滤食性贝类筏式养殖对浅海生态环境影响的基础研究

近年来，由于对海区不合理的开发，我国浅海贝类筏式养殖接连遭受重创，这亟需从理论上和实践中确定养殖容量和养殖模式。本文在我国北方典型养殖海湾四十里湾对筏式养殖的贝类开展了现场生理生态学研究，对贝类对浮游植物等悬浮颗粒物的处理过程即贝类对颗粒有机物及营养元素C、N、P的摄食、吸收、排泄、排粪和生长进行了剖析，分析了贝类在沿岸养殖生态系中的物质和营养循环中所扮演的角色，为海区贝类养殖容量和养殖模式的最终确定提供了基础数据。另外，本文还对海水、沉积物及生物体中磷的分析方法进行了大量的实验工作。主要结果如下：① 比较系统地评述了双壳贝类的生物沉积(biodeposition)的原理、测定方法及其生态效应。贝类通过生物沉积在沿岸生态系中的物质和营养循环中扮演着重要的角色。国际上已有不少研究专门报道了贝类在海区现场的生物沉积。而在我国，这方面的研究却罕见。② 综述了双壳贝类各种形态的 N 和 P 排泄及其生态效应。对于我国广泛养殖 的栉孔扇贝、海湾扇贝和牡蛎等双壳贝类的TDN、TP排泄尚未见报道。 ③ 在6～7月，在四十里湾的不同养殖海区(8个站位)对扇贝的生物沉积进行了现场测定。在整个四十里湾海区，一龄栉孔扇贝(壳高 41.1±4.1mm，软体干重 0.48±O.10 g/ind))每个每天所产生生物沉积物干重平均为59.9mg，对颗粒有机质(POM)、颗粒有机碳(POC)、颗粒有机氮(PON)和颗粒有机磷(POP)的生物沉积速率范围及平均值分别为： 6.88、3.09、0.392 和 0.022mg/ind·d。还在一个站位测定了海湾扇贝(壳高 24.6±2.3mm；软体干重 O.14g/ind)的生物沉积速率为 24.3mg/ind·d，或179.2mg/g·d。不同站位一龄栉孔扇贝的生物沉积速率有较大变化，这主要与饵料浓度不同有关。二龄栉孔扇贝(壳高60.9±8.2mm；软体干重1.91±0.32 g/ind)的生物沉积速率平均为 112.7mg/ind·d，对POM、POC、PON和POP的沉积速率分别是一龄扇贝的1.85倍、1.68倍、1.77倍和2.33倍。养殖海区与非养殖海区比较，前者近海底沉积速率是后者的 1.51～3.47 倍。根据以上数据，作者计算了中等规格栉孔扇贝(用壳高 41.1±4.8mm 扇贝估算)在四十里湾在夏季每天的生物沉积量达 162 吨(干重)，或18.6tPOM、8.37tPOC、1.06tPON和60kgPP。在四十里湾的贝类筏式养殖海区，可以估计贝类每年因生物沉积的生产而循环427tN和98.OtP(包括20.0t OP的贡献)，它们能分别满足浮游藻类生产所需求N和P的17.0％和28.3％(其中OP贡献 6.9％)。可见，贝类在养殖生态系的物质和营养盐循环中扮演着重要的角色。高密度、大面积的贝类养殖使大量的生物沉积物聚集于海底，可能对海区环境产生冲击。作者分析，98年8月份烟台养殖区赤潮的发生很可能与海底生物沉积物营养盐的快速释放以及栉孔扇贝大面积死亡而使浮游藻类失去了摄食控制有关，而风平浪静和养殖笼对水流的阻挡也为赤潮的发生提供了有利条件。④ 采用半现场流水系统法测定了栉孔扇贝在不同养殖密度、不同养殖模式(扇贝单养、贝藻混养、贝藻参混养)中的生物沉积。实验时间尺度大，前后计80天。结果说明扇贝的生物沉积速率与其养殖密度呈反比关系。养殖密度的高低影响饵料浓度的变化(两者呈负相关的对数函数关系)，而饵料浓度的高低直接决定着扇贝的生物沉积速率的高低，两者呈正相关关系(生物沉积速率与POC和叶绿 a 分别呈对数和指数函数关系)。不仅生物沉积物的数量与养殖密度(或饵料浓度)有关，生物沉积物的质量同样与养殖密度(或饵料浓度)有关。栉孔扇贝的养殖使沉积物的有机质含量及C、N 和 P 含量降低，且密度越高，它们的含量越低。这反映了扇贝对环境的适应能力。在海带和扇贝的混养模式中，海带对扇贝生物沉积物的数量和质量不构成影响，当然这是在海带不影响浮游植物数量的前提下得出的结果。而实际上在自然海区两者可能是竞争关系。⑤ 对从海区取回到实验室的多种滤食性动物，包括经济双壳贝类(栉孔扇贝、海湾扇贝、长牡蛎、贻贝、菲律宾蛤仔等)和养殖中的污损动物(栖海鞘、玻璃海鞘、藤壶、玟斑稜蛤)的 N 和 P 排泄进行了测定，包括排泄成分和排泄速率。在N排泄中，NH_4-H 占主要部分，如笼式养殖的双壳贝类 NH_4-N 占总N排泄的70％以上，平均值范围为70.8～80.1％。氨基酸是第二大排泄成分，平均占总N排泄的10～25％。其它形态的N，如尿素、亚硝酸盐和硝酸盐也有检出，如双壳贝类尿素氮在总氮排泄中占 2～5％。但在双壳贝类中未检出尿酸氮。比较而言，海鞘、藤壶的尿素氮相对高一些。在P排泄中，OP约占TDP排泄的15～27％。栉孔扇贝TDP排泄速率为0.281μmol/h·ind。作者以实验室测定结果计算，在整个四十里湾的夏季，所养殖的双壳贝类每天将排泄4.54t总溶解氮，其中NH_4-N 3.36t、Amino-N 0.69t、Urea-N 0.2t。 同时每天磷的排泄为0.57t TDP，其中OP O.15t。对面积为1.3 * 10~4hm~2的海区而言，贝类的N、P排泄分别能满足浮游植物生产所需N、P的44％和40％。尽管Urea-N所占比例有限，但也能满足海区浮游植物所需 N 的 2％左右。以上说二月高密度的贝类养殖对海区生态系统营养盐循环的影响是很显著的。附着动物(柄海鞘等)的N、P 排泄也不容忽视，它们分别能满足浮游藻类生产所需 N、P 的 ll％和 12％。它们一方面通过排泄和排粪加速营养盐和物质的循环对浮游植物的生长产生刺激作用；另一方面，对藻类产生摄食控制，如果海区中滤食性动物太多，即使营养盐再丰富也难以使浮游植物大量繁殖，这无疑将影响滤食性动物的生长速率。⑥ 运用近年来发展起来的生物沉积法对四十里湾半现场流水系统中贝类的滤水率、吸收率、生长率、生态效率等生理生态学参数进行了测定。栉孔扇贝(收获时规格0.194～0.412g软体干重/ind)滤水率平均为3.65 1/ind·h。扇贝放养密度和饵料浓度没有显著关系。扇贝的总摄食率平均为3.98mg/ind·h，对POM、POC、PON的 摄食率范围为0.84～1.87、0.335～0.748、0.0515～O.1293mg/ind·h。扇贝的摄食率随放养密度的升高而降低，与POM呈正相关关系。扇贝的吸收速率受密度和饵料浓度的影响不明显。扇贝对N的吸收效率较C、P稍高，对总有机质的吸收效率为75.9±4.1％，如此高的吸收效率与低饵料浓度有关。扇贝氨基酸泄漏所损失的能量高于排氨的能量损失。代谢能与吸收能呈明显的正相关关系。SFG与饵料浓度呈正相关关系。总生长效率K1(* 100)变化较大，范围为20～49；净生长效率K，K_2(* 100)随POM的升高而升高。扇贝对N的总生态效率范围为6.2～12.8％(平均9.9％)，这高于对C(平均5.9％)和P(平均4.1％)的总生态效率。扇贝对POC、PON和PP的生长余力(SFG_C、SFG_N、SFG_P)平均分别为197、46.8和6.2μg/ind·h，它们分别与POC、PON和PP呈正比关系。扇贝对N的净生长率高于对C和P的净生长率。在N的预算中，如果仅考虑NH_4-N的排泄而忽视其它形态氮的排泄，将会产生很大偏差(平均约20％)。扇贝贝壳生长所需的能量在整个扇贝生长所需能量的9.0～15.1％(平均 11.2％)；贝壳C、N和P在扇贝生长中所占的比例分别为10.5～17.8％、9.4～16.1％和8.7～15.O％。可见，贝壳不管在能量预算还是在元素预算中都不应该被忽视。理论计算而得到的SFG和SFG_C、SFG_N、SFG_P与扇贝的实际生长和扇贝C、N、P的实际增长量之间呈正相关关系，但前者明显过高地估计了扇贝的生长。⑦ 运用生物沉积法在四十里湾养殖海区现场对栉孔扇贝的生理生态学特征进行了研究。不同海区扇贝的滤水率有变化，一龄扇贝(41.1±4.1mm，软体干重 0.48±O.10g/ind)滤水率变化范围为 0.72～2.54(平均 1.27)1/ind·h 或 1.65～5.97(平均 2.61)1/g·h。与半现场研究结果一致，滤水率与TPM没有明显关系，而摄食率却与TPM呈正相关关系。二龄扇贝(软体干重 1.91±0.32g/ind)滤水率为 2.09～3.99(平均 3.10)1/ind·h。吸收速率与POM(或TDM)呈正相关关系，与饵料质量(POM/TPM)无明显的相关关系。吸收效率AE_(POM)与TPM(或POM)没有相关关系，却与饵料质量呈明显 的正相关关系。扇贝对POC、PON和PP的吸收效率平均分别为68.9％、64.0％和63.6％。不同海区SFG差别很大。一龄扇贝SFG范围为-O.174～24.08 J/ind·h，SFG与饵料浓度POM呈正相关关系。SFG负值的出现主要与低饵料浓度有关。SFG_C、SFG_N、SFG_P分别与POC、PON和PP呈正相关关系。在N的生长余力计算中，如果仅考虑NH_4-N排泄，而不考虑其它形态N的排泄，就可能产生相当大的偏差，偏差范围为11～360％，这高于半现场的偏差值，显然SFG_N越低，产生的偏差就越大。这说明在饵料不足、扇贝生长受到限制的环境下进行N生长余力的计算时必须考虑其它形态N的排泄。⑧ 对四十里湾养殖海区一些双壳贝类和藻类的化学组成和有机净生产量进行了讨论。不同双壳贝类的软体有机碳含量差别不大，而N含量差异较大。栉孔扇贝N含量最高(占软体干重的12.36％)，而牡蛎、毛蚶软体N含量相对较低，为 8～9％。从双壳贝类贝壳的组成来看，贻贝和菲律宾蛤仔贝壳中N含量最高，分别为 0.55％ 和 0.56％；而栉孔扇贝贝壳N含量相对较低，在 O.1％左右。贻贝贝壳有机磷含量 (308ppm) 也明显高于栉孔扇贝贝壳(62.1 ppm)。不同海区海带的 C/N 比值较高，变化明显，范围为17.36～30.23。石莼与此相似。大型藻类高 C/N 比值说明海区营养元素N的不足。海带的不同部位N含量差别很大，中带部和边叶在不同海区有较大变化，即对环境的营养状况比较敏感。紫贻贝贝壳中C、H、N 和 P 的含量在整个贻贝中占有相对大的比例，分别为 30.4％、30.2％、31.8％和 29．6％。

复方治疗慢性肾衰海洋新药的初步研究

该论文在褐藻多糖硫酸酯已有研究工作的基础上,参考中药治肾病领域有关文献,结合中医药理论,组方成治疗慢性肾衰复方海洋新药-复方褐藻多糖硫酸酯,并进行了复方褐藻多糖硫酸酯的部分药学、初步药效学和急性毒性试验的研究.

Relationships between nitrogen and phosphorus forms and ratios and the development of dinoflagellate blooms in the East China Sea

During late spring and early summer of 2005, large-scale (> 15 000 km(2)), mixed dinoflagellate blooms developed along the the coast of the East China Sea. Karenia mikimotoi was the dominant harmful algal bloom species in the first stage of the bloom (late May) and was succeeded by Prorocentrum donghaiense approximately 2 wk later. Samples were collected from different stations along both north-south and west-east transects, from the Changjiang River estuary to the south Zhejiang coast, during 3 cruises of the Chinese Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms Program, before and during the bloom progression. Nitrogen isotope tracer techniques were used to measure rates of NO3-, NH4+, urea, and glycine uptake during the blooms. High inorganic nitrogen (N), but low phosphorus (P) loading from the Changjiang River led to high dissolved inorganic N:dissolved inorganic P ratios in the sampling area and indicate the development of P limitation. The rates of N-15-uptake experiments enriched with PO43- were enhanced compared to unamended samples, suggesting P limitation of the N-uptake rates. The bloom progression was related to the change in availability of both organic and inorganic N and P. Reduced N forms, especially NH4+, were preferentially taken up during the blooms, but different bloom species had different rates of uptake of organic N substrates. K mikimotoi had higher rates of urea uptake, while P. donghaiense had higher rates of glycine uptake. Changes in the availability of reduced N and the ratios of N:P in inorganic and organic forms were suggested to be important in the bloom succession. Nutrient ratios and specific uptake rates of urea were similar when compared to analogous blooms on the West Florida Shelf.

Temporal and spatial variability in nitrogen uptake kinetics during harmful dinoflagellate blooms in the East China Sea

Temporal and spatial variability in the kinetic parameters of uptake of nitrate (NO3-), ammonium (NH4+), urea, and glycine was measured during dinoflagellate blooms in Changjiang River estuary and East China Sea coast, 2005. Karenia mikimotoi was the dominant species in the early stage of the blooms and was succeeded by Prorocentrum donghaiense. The uptake of nitrogen (N) was determined using N-15 tracer techniques. The results of comparison kinetic parameters with ambient nutrients confirmed that different N forms were preferentially taken up during different stages of the bloom. NO3- (V-max 0.044 h(-1); K-s 60.8 mu M-N) was an important N source before it was depleted. NH4+ (V-max 0.049 h(-1); K-s 2.15 mu M-N) was generally the preferred N. Between the 2 organic N sources, urea was more preferred when K. mikimotoi dominated the bloom (V-max 0.020 h(-1); K-s 1.35 mu M-N) and glycine, considered as a dominant amino acid, was more preferred when P. donghaiense dominated the bloom (V-max 0.025 h(-1); K-s 1.76 mu M-N). The change of N uptake preference by the bloom-forming algae was also related to the variation in ambient N concentrations. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Effects of nitrogen source and concentration on growth rate and fatty acid composition of Ellipsoidion sp (Eustigmatophyta)

In order to study the effects of different nitrogen source and concentration on the growth rate and fatty acid composition, a marine microalga Ellipsoidion sp. with a high content of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) was cultured in media with different nitrogen sources and concentrations. During the pre-logarithmic phase, the alga grew faster with ammonium as N source than with nitrate, but the reverse applied during the post-logarithmic phase. The alga grew poorly in N-free medium or medium with urea as the sole N source. In the same growth phase, ammonium medium resulted in higher yield of total lipid, but the EPA yield did not differ significantly different from that using nitrate medium. The maximum growth rate occurred in medium containing 1.28 mmol L-1 sodium nitrate, while maximum EPA and total lipid contents were reached at 1.92 mmol L-1, when EPA accounted for 27.9% total fatty acids. The growth rate kept stable when NH4Cl ranged from 0.64 to 2.56 mmol L-1, and the maximum content of total lipid and EPA occurred in the medium with 2.56 mmol L-1 NH4Cl. The EPA content was higher in the pre- than post-logarithmic phase, though the total lipid content was lower. The highest EPA content expressed as percent total fatty acid was 27.9% in nitrate medium and and 39.0% in ammonium medium.

Short-term effect of targeted placements of sheep excrement on grassland in inner mongolia on soil and plant parameters

Grazing animal excrement plays an important role in nutrient cycling and redistribution in grazing ecosystems, due to grazing in large areas and return in small areas. To elucidate the changes to the soil and pasture caused by sheep urine, fresh dung, and compost patches, a short- term field experiment using artificially placed pats was set up in the autumn of 2003 in the Inner Mongolian steppe. Urine application significantly increased soil pH during the first 32 days in soil layers at depths of both 0 - 5 cm and 5 - 15 cm. Rapid hydrolysis of urea gave large amounts of urine- nitrogen ( N) as ammonium ( NH4+) in soil extracts and was followed by apparent nitrification from day 2. Higher inorganic N content in the urine- treated soil was found throughout the experiment compared with the control. No significant effects of sheep excrement on soil microbial carbon ( C) and soil microbial N was found, but microbial activities significantly increased compared with the control after application of sheep excrement. Forty- six percent of dung- N and 27% of compost- N were transferred into vegetation after the experiment. The results from this study suggest that large amounts of nutrients have been lost from the returned excrement patches in the degraded grassland of Inner Mongolia, especially from sheep urine- N.

Effects of organic modifiers on solute retention and electrokinetic migrations in micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography

Influences of seven organic modifiers, including urea, methanol (MeOH), dioxane (DIO), tetrahydrofuran (THF), acetonitrile (ACN), 1-propanol (1-PrOH) and 2-propanol (2-PrOH), on the solute retention and the electrokinetic migrations in micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC) are investigated with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelle as pseudostationary phase. It is observed that in the limited concentration ranges used in the MEKC systems the effect of organic modifier concentration on the retention can be described by the equation logk'=logk'(w)-SC for most binary aqueous-organic buffer, but deviations from this retention equation are observed at ACN and particularly THF as organic modifiers. With parameter S as a measure of the elutropic strength, the elutropic strength of the organic modifiers is found to follow a general order urea urea < MeOH, ACN < DIO, THF, 1-PrOH, 2-PrOH. The addition of ACN affects the electrophoretic mobility of the SDS micelle in different patterns depending on the buffer composition used, while the addition of the other modifiers leads to a rough linear decrease of the electrophoretic mobility of the SDS micelle. The suppressing strength of THF on the electrophoretic mobility of the SDS micelle is strongly related to the buffer composition, whereas the suppressing strength for the other modifiers follows the sequence urea < MeOH < DIO, 1-PrOH, 2-PrOH. The migration time window is expanded by the use of organic modifiers. Urea and MeOH have the least expanding strength while ACN, DIO, THF, 1-PrOH and 2-PrOH have the highest expanding strength on the migration time window.

Curso taller diseño aplicado a la artesanía y tendencias 2004-2005 : conceptos básicos de Diseño.

66 hojas : ilustraciones, gráficas.

Studies on equine milk and comparative studies on equine and bovine milk systems

The composition of equine milk differs considerably from that of the milk of the principal dairying species, i.e., the cow, buffalo, goat and sheep. Because equine milk resembles human milk in many respects and is claimed to have special therapeutic properties, it is becoming increasingly popular in Western Europe, where it is produced on large farms in several countries. Equine milk is considered to be highly digestible, rich in essential nutrients and to possess an optimum whey protein:casein ratio, making it very suitable as a substitute for bovine milk in paediatric dietetics. There is some scientific basis for the special nutritional and health-giving properties of equine milk but this study provides a comprehensive analysis of the composition and physico-chemical properties of equine milk which is required to fully exploit its potential in human nutrition. Quantification and distribution of the nitrogenous components and principal salts of equine milk are reported. The effects of the high concentration of ionic calcium, large casein micelles (~ 260 nm), low protein, lack of a sulphydryl group in equine β-lactoglobulin and a very low level of κ-casein on the physico-chemical properties of equine milk are reported. This thesis provides an insight into the stability of equine casein micelles to heat, ethanol, high pressure, rennet or acid. Differences in rennet- and acid-induced coagulation between equine and bovine milk are attributed not only to the low casein content of equine milk but also to differences in the mechanism by which the respective micelles are stabilized. It has been reported that β-casein plays a role in the stabilization of equine casein micelles and proteomic techniques support this view. In this study, equine κ-casein appeared to be resistant to hydrolysis by calf chymosin but equine β-casein was readily hydrolysed. Resolution of equine milk proteins by urea-PAGE showed the multi-phosphorylated isoforms of equine αs- and β-caseins and capillary zone electrophoresis showed 3 to 7 phosphorylated residues in equine β-casein. In vitro digestion of equine β-casein by pepsin and Corolase PP™ did not produce casomorphins BCM-5 or BCM-7, believed to be harmful to human health. Electron microscopy provided very clear, detailed images of equine casein micelles in their native state and when renneted or acidified. Equine milk formed flocs rather then a gel when renneted or acidified which is supported by dynamic oscillatory analysis. The results presented in this thesis will assist in the development of new products from equine milk for human consumption which will retain some of its unique compositional and health-giving properties.

Evaluation of microbial adjuncts and their effect on the ripening of cheddar cheese

A bacteriocin-producing strain of Lactobacillus paracasei DPC 4715 was used as an adjunct culture in Cheddar cheese in order to control the growth of “wild” nonstarter lactic acid bacteria. No suppression of growth of the indicator strain was observed in the experimental cheese. The bacteriocin produced by Lactobacillus paracasei DPC 4715 was sensitive to chymosin and cathepsin D and it may have been cleaved by the rennet used for the cheese manufactured or by indigenous milk proteases. A series of studies were performed using various microbial adjuncts to influence cheese ripening. Microbacterium casei DPC 5281, Corynebacterium casei DPC 5293 and Corynebacterium variabile DPC 5305 were added to the cheesemilk at level of 109 cfu/ml resulting in a final concentration of 108 cfu/g in Cheddar cheese. The strains significantly increased the level of pH 4.6-soluble nitrogen, total free amino acids after 60 and 180 d of ripening and some individual free amino acids after 180 d. Yarrowia lipolytica DPC 6266, Yarrowia lipolytica DPC 6268 and Candida intermedia DPC 6271 were used to accelerate the ripening of Cheddar cheese. Strains were grown in YG broth to a final concentration of 107 cfu/ml, microfluidized, freeze-dried and added to the curd during salting at level of 2% w/w. The yeasts positively affected the primary, secondary proteolysis and lipolysis of cheeses and had aminopeptidase, dipeptidase, esterase and 5’ phosphodiestere activities that contributed to accelerate the ripening and improve the flavor of cheese. Hafia alvei was added to Cheddar cheesemilk at levels of 107 cfu/ml and 108 cfu/ml and its contribution during ripening was evaluated. The strain significantly increased the level of pH 4.6-soluble nitrogen, total free amino-acids, and some individual free amino-acids of Cheddar cheese, whereas no differences in the urea-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (urea-PAGE) electrophoretograms of the cheeses were detected. Hafia alvei also significantly increased the level of some biogenic amines. A low-fat Cheddar cheese was made with Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis, strain BB-12® at level of 108 cfu/ml, as a probiotic adjunct culture and Hi-Maize® 260 (resistant high amylose maize starch) at level of 2% and 4% w/v, as a prebiotic fiber which also played the role of fat replacer. Bifidobacterium BB-12 decreased by 1 log cycle after 60 d of ripening and remained steady at level of ~107 cfu/g during ripening. The Young’s modulus also increased proportionally with increasing levels of Hi-maize. Hencky strain at fracture decreased over ripening and increased with increasing in fat replacer. A cheese based medium (CBM) was developed with the purpose of mimicking the cheese environment at an early ripening stage. The strains grown in CBM showed aminopeptidase activity against Gly-, Arg-, Pro- and Phe-p-nitroanalide, whereas, when grown in MRS they were active against all the substrates tested. Both Lb. danicus strains grown in MRS and in CBM had aminotransferase activity towards aromatic amino acids (Phe and Trp) and also branched-chain amino acids (Leu and Val). Esterase activity was expressed against p-nitrophenyl-acetate (C2), pnitrophenyl- butyrate (C4) and p-nitrophenyl-palmitate (C16) and was significantly higher in CBM than in MRS.

Osmolyte-induced folding of an intrinsically disordered protein: folding mechanism in the absence of ligand.

Understanding the interconversion between thermodynamically distinguishable states present in a protein folding pathway provides not only the kinetics and energetics of protein folding but also insights into the functional roles of these states in biological systems. The protein component of the bacterial RNase P holoenzyme from Bacillus subtilis (P protein) was previously shown to be unfolded in the absence of its cognate RNA or other anionic ligands. P protein was used in this study as a model system to explore general features of intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) folding mechanisms. The use of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), an osmolyte that stabilizes the unliganded folded form of the protein, enabled us to study the folding process of P protein in the absence of ligand. Transient stopped-flow kinetic traces at various final TMAO concentrations exhibited multiphasic kinetics. Equilibrium "cotitration" experiments were performed using both TMAO and urea during the titration to produce a urea-TMAO titration surface of P protein. Both kinetic and equilibrium studies show evidence of a previously undetected intermediate state in the P protein folding process. The intermediate state is significantly populated, and the folding rate constants are relatively slow compared to those of intrinsically folded proteins similar in size and topology. The experiments and analysis described serve as a useful example for mechanistic folding studies of other IDPs.