The effect of the addition of selected phenolic acids on the rheological properties of heated solutions of whey proteins

This study measured the flow behaviour of whey protein isolate mixtures with cinnamic or ferulic acids. Samples were heated in a vacuum (80 °C, –0.9 atm, 280 r.p.m., 0.5 h). The flow curves of all samples showed a non- Newtonian shear thinning flow and the viscoelastic properties were typical for weak gel systems. At pH 6.0, 6.7, and 8.0, the highest shear stress values were obtained with 20, 40, and 40 mg of cinnamic acid g–1 protein, respectively. At pH 6.0, the use of ferulic acid (20 mg g–1 protein) resulted in the elevation of shear stress values, but at pH 8.0, ferulic acid caused a decrease in shear stress values in comparison to cinnamic acid. The thixotropic area (AT) was increased in mixtures containing 20–40 mg cinnamic acid g–1 protein (at pH 6.7) and 20 mg of cinnamic acid g–1 protein (at pH 6.0). Similarly, the addition of ferulic acid (40 and 20 mg g–1 protein at pH 6.7 and 6.0, respectively) caused a significant increase in AT. At pH 8.0, no significant differences in AT values were observed between samples. Such systems can be applied with reference to health promoting foods such as WPI-based desserts

Whey protein aerated gels as a new product obtained using ambient temperature magnesium and iron(II) induced gelation

The objective of the research was to obtain aerated gels by magnesium and iron(II) ion induced gelation of preheated whey protein isolate dispersions. Preliminary research allowed finding conditions of the pH, protein, and ion concentrations to produce aerated gels capable of holding air bubbles. A novel method applying gelation and aeration process simultaneously was used. Aeration using a laboratory mixer at 2000 r.p.m. produced stronger aerated gels than using a homogenizer at 8000 r.p.m. The gelation process was monitored using an ultrasound viscometer and a constant increase of dynamic viscosity was noted. A different aerated gel microstructure was observed for magnesium and iron(II) induced gels, which probably resulted in differences in the texture and viscosity, as well. The aeration process decreased hardness. In some cases texture parameters correlated with the viscosity measured using an ultrasound viscometer. Aerated whey protein gels could be applied as matrices for food applications or to controlled release of active ingredients

Distribution of Cell Envelope Proteinases Genes among Polish Strains of Lactobacillus helveticus

Most of the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are able to grow in milk mainly due to the activity of a complex and well-developed proteolytic system. Cell envelope-associated proteinases (CEPs) begin casein hydrolysis and allow for releasing the peptides, enclosed in the structure of native milk proteins that are essential for growth of Lactobacillus helveticus. The biodiversity of genes encoding CEPs among L. helveticus strains can have an effect on some technological parameters such as acid production, bacterial growth rate in milk as well as liberation of biologically active peptides. The study reveals significant differences in the presence of various variants of CEPs encoding genes among ten novel Polish strains and indicates the intraspecific diversity exhibited by L. helveticus. In terms of distribution of CEPs genes, four different genetic profiles were found among the microorganisms analyzed. Furthermore, the strains exhibited also various levels of proteolytic activity. Molecular analysis revealed that prtH3 is the most abundant CEPs-encoding gene among the strains investigated. The results indicate also that ecological niche and environmental conditions might affect proteolytic properties of L. helveticus strains. The greatest variety in terms of quantity of the detected CEP encoding genes was noticed in L. helveticus 141, T105 and T104 strains. In these strains, the combination of three nucleotide gene sequences (prtH/prtH2/prtH3) was identified. Interestingly, T104 and T105 exhibited the highest proteolytic activity and also the fastest dynamic of milk acidification among the tested strains of L. helveticus

S100A7, a Novel Alzheimer's Disease Biomarker with Non-Amyloidogenic α-Secretase Activity Acts via Selective Promotion of ADAM-10

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia among older people. At present, there is no cure for the disease and as of now there are no early diagnostic tests for AD. There is an urgency to develop a novel promising biomarker for early diagnosis of AD. Using surface-enhanced laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry SELDI-(MS) proteomic technology, we identified and purified a novel 11.7-kDa metal- binding protein biomarker whose content is increased in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and in the brain of AD dementia subjects as a function of clinical dementia. Following purification and protein-sequence analysis, we identified and classified this biomarker as S100A7, a protein known to be involved in immune responses. Using an adenoviral-S100A7 expression system, we continued to examine the potential role of S100A7 in AD amyloid neuropathology in in vitro model of AD. We found that the expression of exogenous S100A7 in primary cortico-hippocampal neuron cultures derived from Tg2576 transgenic embryos inhibits the generation of β-amyloid (Aβ)1–42 and Aβ1–40 peptides, coincidental with a selective promotion of “non- amyloidogenic” α-secretase activity via promotion of ADAM (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase)-10. Finally, a selective expression of human S100A7 in the brain of transgenic mice results in significant promotion of α-secretase activity. Our study for the first time suggests that S100A7 may be a novel biomarker of AD dementia and supports the hypothesis that promotion of S100A7 expression in the brain may selectively promote α-secretase activity in the brain of AD precluding the generation of amyloidogenic peptides. If in the future we find that S1000A7 protein content in CSF is sensitive to drug intervention experimentally and eventually in the clinical setting, S100A7 might be developed as novel surrogate index (biomarker) of therapeutic efficacy in the characterization of novel drug agents for the treatment of AD

Production and rheological properties of whey protein — Polysaccharide mixed (composites) gels

Formation and rheological properties of mixed protein-polysaccharide gels (composites) was studied. The composites consisted of whey proteins gelling separately, which were surrounded by polysaccharide gel. The polysaccharide gels were obtained from κ-carrageenan and κ-carrageenan-galactomannan (guar gum and locust bean gum) mixtures. The texture of gels obtained was examined by their compression and bending test. The composite gels obtained from 14% WPI solution and the 1.5% mixture of κ-carrageenan with locust bean gum in a 1:1 ratio exhibited a higher shear stress value at fracture in comparison to WPI gels, but they were less resistant to fracture in the bending test. The texture of gels was highly influenced by pH

Effect of some selected prebiotics on rheological properties of set yoghurt

Celem pracy było określenie wpływu dodatku oligofruktozy P95 oraz inuliny GR i HPX na właściwości reologiczne oraz wielkość synerezy jogurtu otrzymanego metodą termostatową. Oznaczano twardość, lepkość pozorną i wielkość synerezy jogurtów stałych. W celu określenia wpływu fruktooligosacharydów na przebieg fermentacji monitorowano ten proces przy użyciu reometru oscylacyjnego. W przypadku jogurtu kontrolnego tworzenie skrzepu rozpoczęło się po ok. 90 min, natomiast tworzenie się skrzepu w przypadku pozostałych jogurtów zaczęło się po ok. 105 min. Najmniejszą twardość miał jogurt kontrolny – 0,23 N. Natomiast największą uzyskał jogurt z dodatkiem inuliny HPX w ilości 3 % – 0,28 N. W przypadku jogurtów z dodatkiem P95 zaobserwowano nieco wyższą twardość w porównaniu z próbą kontrolną. Najmniejszą ilością wydzielanej serwatki charakteryzował się jogurt z dodatkiem 3 % P95. Generalnie wraz ze wzrostem dodatku fruktooligosacharydów malała wielkość synerezy w badanych jogurtach. Zastosowanie fruktooligosacharydów pozwala na otrzymania jogurtów o odpowiednich właściwościach reologicznych i prozdrowotnych.The objective of this paper was to determine the effect of the additions of P95 fructooligosaccharide and GR and HPX inulins on the rheological properties and the syneresis extent of yoghurt produced using a thermostat method. The hardness, apparent viscosity, and syneresis extent of set yoghurts were determined. In order to determine the effect of fructooligosaccharides on the course of fermentation process, this process was monitored using an oscillatory rheometer. In the case of control sample of yoghurt, the curd began to form ca. 90 minutes after the process started whereas, in the case of all other yoghurts, the curd started to form after about 105 min. The control sample of yoghurt had the lowest hardness value of 0.23 N. The yoghurt with the HPX inulin added in the amount of 3 % had the highest hardness: 0.28 N. As for the yoghurts with P95 inulin added, a slightly higher value of hardness was reported compared to the control sample. The lowest amount of whey excreted was found in the case of yoghurt with the added 3 % amount of P95. Generally, for all of the yoghurts examined, the syneresis extent decreased with the increasing amounts of fructooligosaccharides added. The application of fructooligosaccharides allows for manufacturing yoghurts characterized by proper rheological and pro-health properties