Postharvest performance of fresh‐cut ‘Big Top’ nectarine as affected by dipping in chemical preservatives and packaging in modified atmosphere

Fresh‐cut ‘Big Top’ nectarines were dipped in 2% (w/v) ascorbic acid–1% (w/v) calcium lactate and stored at 4 °C for up to 12 days in 10 kPa O₂‐ and 10 kPa CO₂‐modified atmosphere packaging (MAP). The used microperforated plastic film allowed O₂ and CO₂ concentrations to reach steady values from the fifth day in storage onwards. Samples stored in MAP after chemical dipping showed the highest visual quality score, slight browning symptoms, increment in firmness and very low ethanol and acetaldehyde content. The chemical dipping also increased antioxidant capacity, probably due to the effect of ascorbic acid. The results suggested that the control of yeasts was mainly exerted by MAP, whereas only a slight effect was achieved by the chemical dipping. Therefore, MAP plus ascorbic acid/calcium lactate dipping was the best combination to preserve phytochemical content, antioxidant capacity and microbiological safety of fresh‐cut nectarines during storage.     

Technological Implications of Modifying the Extent of Cell Wall-Proanthocyanidin Interactions Using Enzymes

The transference and reactivity of proanthocyanidins is an important issue that affects the technological processing of some fruits, such as grapes and apples. These processes are affected by proanthocyanidins bound to cell wall polysaccharides, which are present in high concentrations during the processing of the fruits. Therefore, the effective extraction of proanthocyanidins from fruits to their juices or derived products will depend on the ability to manage these associations, and, in this respect, enzymes that degrade these polysaccharides could play an important role. The main objective of this work was to test the role of pure hydrolytic enzymes (polygalacturonase and cellulose) and a commercial enzyme containing these two activities on the extent of proanthocyanidin-cell wall interactions. The results showed that the modification promoted by enzymes reduced the amount of proanthocyanidins adsorbed to cell walls since they contributed to the degradation and release of the cell wall polysaccharides, which diffused into the model solution. Some of these released polysaccharides also presented some reactivity towards the proanthocyanidins present in a model solution.     

Pectolytic Enzyme Activity During Intermittent Warming Storage of Peaches

Pectin enzyme evolution in peaches intermittently warmed at 15°C (15°C-IW) and at 20°C (20°C-IW) for 24 hr every 8 days of storage at 0°C, was followed. Cold storage increased PME activity until a constant level was reached, whereas PG decreased after 2 wk. 15°C-IW had a similar effect to conventional cold storage. 20°C-IW induced a different behavior, PG activity increasing and PME activity decreasing after 2 wk of storage. This different behavior seemed to be related to the development of chilling injury, since 15°C-IW did not alleviate chilling injury but 20°C-IW did. Chilling injury development during storage was associated with continuous PME activity and inhibition of endo-PG activity after the second week of storage, regardless of exo-PG activity.     

Isolation and Heterologous Expression of a Polygalacturonase Produced by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Race 1 and 4

Fusarium wilt (Panama disease) caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (FOC) represents a significant threat to banana (Musa spp.) production. Musa AAB is susceptible to Race 1 (FOC1) and Race 4 (FOC4), while Cavendish Musa AAA is found to be resistant to FOC1 but still susceptible to Race 4. A polygalacturonase (PGC3) was purified from the supernatant of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense race 4 (FOC4), which is the pathogen of Fusarium wilt. PGC3 had an apparent molecular weight of 45 kDa according to SDS-PAGE. The enzyme hydrolyzed polygalacturonic acid in an exo-manner, as demonstrated by analysis of degradation products. The K_m and V_max values of PGC3 from FOC4 were determined to be 0.70 mg·mL⁻¹ and 101.01 Units·mg·protein⁻¹·min⁻¹, respectively. Two pgc3 genes encoding PGC3 from FOC4 and FOC1, both genes of 1368 bp in length encode 456 amino-acid residues with a predicted signal peptide sequence of 21 amino acids. There are 16 nucleotide sites difference between FOC4-pgc3 and FOC1-pgc3, only leading to four amino acid residues difference. In order to obtain adequate amounts of protein required for functional studies, two genes were cloned into the expression vector pPICZaA and then expressed in Pichia pastoris strains of SMD1168. The recombinant PGC3, r-FOC1-PGC3 and r-FOC4-PGC3, were expressed and purified as active proteins. The optimal PGC3 activity was observed at 50 °C and pH 4.5. Both recombinant PGC3 retained >40% activity at pH 3–7 and >50% activity in 10–50 °C. Both recombinant PGC3 proteins could induce a response but with different levels of tissue maceration and necrosis in banana plants. In sum, our results indicate that PGC3 is an exo-PG and can be produced with full function in P. pastoris.     

Pectinesterase and Polygalacturonase Activities and Textural Properties of Rubbery Papaya (Carica papaya Linn.)

: Comparisons in color of flesh, pectin composition, pectinesterase (PE), polygalacturonase, cellulase activities, and textural properties of normal green papaya (NGP), rubbery papaya (RP), and normal yellow and ripe papaya (NYRP) were conducted. RP contained about 9.7% pectin with a degree of esterification of 53.1%, while NYRP contained about only 1.2% pectin with a degree of esterification of about 23.4%. PE activity (13.6 unit/g fresh weight) than in RP was significantly lower (18.0 unit/g fresh weight) in NYRP (P < 0.05), whereas polygalacturonase activity (46.9 unit/g fresh weight) in RP was higher (27.0 unit/g FW) than in NYRP. Therefore, in combination with the fact that water extract from RP displayed an inhibitory ratio of 36.0% on papaya PE activity, we suggest the presence of certain substances with strong PE inhibitory activity in RP.     

Tomato purèe quality from transgenic processing tomatoes

Summary  The quality of tomato purèe prepared from transgenic fruits ( Lycopersicon esculentum ) which had reduced amounts of polygalacturonase (PG) activity, were evaluated. The application of genetic modification yields products which have lower Bostwick consistency values (from 35 to 55%), reduced serum separation ( c . 40%) and better sensory appearance and acceptability in comparison with their conventional counterparts. A new way of producing high quality tomato products using genetically modified fruits together with mild heat treatments is described.     

Enzymes as Potential Markers of Wine Aging

There is no analytical method currently available in Spain to determine elapsed time in wine aging. The only control used is based on the levels of esters and other secondary metabolites as important indicators related to wine quality. The main goal of this work was to establish a useful method to differentiate among young, “crianza”, “reserva” and “gran reserva” wines based on the study of the enzymatic decay of different hydrolases present in the wines and also to determine which enzyme(s) may be applicable in fraud detection as regards time and storage conditions of the wine. We elaborated red wine based on “Tempranillo” grapes from the Rioja Alta Alavesa and fermented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae USC 013, followed by malolactic fermentation by Oenococcus oeni CECT 630 in order to evaluate the different enzymes. One of the enzymes present, i.e., invertase, which is resistant to inactivation, could be a useful marker of wine aging.     

动态高压微射流对聚半乳糖醛酸酶的影响

利用动态高压微射流(DHPM)处理聚半乳糖醛酸酶(PG),通过对酶活、圆二色谱、紫外光谱和巯基含量的测定,研究DHPM对PG酶活性和构象的影响.结果显示,经75,125,175 MPa的动态高压微射流处理后,PG酶的相对活性分别为93.2%、95.3%和91.2%;125 MPa分别处理2、3次后,PG酶的相对活性分别为97.4%、88.2%.分子构象分析表明,经不同压力DHPM处理后,PG酶的β-折叠含量有不同程度降低,PG 酶分子结构更为"松散",原来包埋在分子内部的TrP和Tyr残基部分暴露出来,分子表面的二硫键被打断形成巯基,但从分子整体来看,新的二硫键形成的量要多于被打断的量.