Speciation of Phosphorus in Pet Foods by Solid-State 31P-MAS-NMR Spectroscopy.

Solid-state magic angle spinning 31P NMR spectroscopy is used to identify and quantify phosphorus-containing species in pet foods. The measurement is challenging due to the long spin-lattice relaxation times (T1s). Data acquisition times are shortened by acquiring data with a tip angle smaller than 90° and shortening the repetition time. However, the spin-lattice relaxation times (T1s) of the different 31P compounds are quite different, necessitating a separate measurement for each compound in the pet food. Knowledge of T1 is used to calculate the relative amount of 31P in the samples. Samples of known concentration are also measured, enabling the quantitative measurement of total phosphorus content.

Open Search of Peptide Glycation Products from Tandem Mass Spectra.

Identification of chemically modified peptides in mass spectrometry (MS)-based glycation studies is a crucial yet challenging task. There is a need to establish a mode for matching tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) data, allowing for both known and unknown peptide glycation modifications. We present an open search approach that uses classic and modified peptide fragment ions. The latter are shifted by the mass delta of the modification. Both provide key structural information that can be used to assess the peptide core structure of the glycation product. We also leverage redundant neutral losses from the modification side chain, introducing a third ion class for matching referred to as characteristic fragment ions. We demonstrate that peptide glycation product MS/MS spectra contain multidimensional information and that most often, more than half of the spectral information is ignored if no attempt is made to use a multi-step matching algorithm. Compared to regular and/or modified peptide ion matching, our triple-ion strategy significantly increased the median interpretable fraction of the glycation product MS/MS spectra. For reference, we apply our approach for Amadori product characterization and identify all established diagnostic ions automatically. We further show how this method effectively applies the open search concept and allows for optimized elucidation of unknown structures by presenting two hitherto undescribed peptide glycation modifications with a delta mass of 102.0311 and 268.1768 Da. We characterize their fragmentation signature by integration with isotopically labeled glycation products, which provides high validity for non-targeted structure identification.

Comparisons of In Vitro and In Vivo Digestibility Assays for Phosphorus in Feline Diets and Associations with Dietary Nutrient Content.

Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient; however, potential health impacts of high dietary levels of added soluble, highly bioavailable P salts especially are a concern. P sources with lower bioavailability are considered safer. Yet, speciation of different P sources to assess diets' risk to health is challenging. This investigation tested the value of in vitro water extraction and digestion assays to predict in vivo P apparent bioavailability/digestibility in feline diets. Thirty wet (n = 18) and dry (n = 12) format experimental and commercial cat foods were analyzed for nutrient content. Triplicate samples were subjected to in vitro water extraction, single-phase acidic (gastric; G) digestion, and dual-phase gastric and small intestinal (G-SI) digestion assays. Soluble and insoluble P were determined in the supernatant and pellet, respectively. A subset of the diets (seven wet, nine dry diets) was fed to healthy, adult cats (n = 7-24) to determine in vivo apparent P digestibility. Information on the soluble P salt sources and their contribution to total dietary P was available for some diets. Associations between data from the different in vitro assays and in vivo digestibility trials and the influence of different diet parameters were obtained using Pearson correlation and linear regression modeling. The % soluble P obtained from G-SI digestion assay correlated well with in vivo apparent P digestibility for wet (Pearson coefficient 0.926, p = 0.003), but not for dry diets (Pearson coefficient -0.074, p = 0.849). In contrast, the % soluble P determined by water extraction correlated well with the % soluble P salt contribution to total P for dry (Pearson coefficient 0.901, p < 0.001), but not for wet diets (Pearson coefficient -0.407, p = 0.365). Thus, 20 min water extraction can be used to predict soluble P salt content in dry diets; however, differing Ca:P ratios and water solubility of the P sources may affect the outcome and false-positive results can occur. The G-SI digestion assay employed can also be used to predict in vivo P digestibility. However, again, diet format, Ca:P ratios in diets, and possibly other factors can impact the results. Thus, data from in vitro assays to assess P sources and bioavailability need to be interpreted with care.

Molecular characterization of sequence-driven peptide glycation.

Peptide glycation is an important, yet poorly understood reaction not only found in food but also in biological systems. The enormous heterogeneity of peptides and the complexity of glycation reactions impeded large-scale analysis of peptide derived glycation products and to understand both the contributing factors and how this affects the biological activity of peptides. Analyzing time-resolved Amadori product formation, we here explored site-specific glycation for 264 peptides. Intensity profiling together with in-depth computational sequence deconvolution resolved differences in peptide glycation based on microheterogeneity and revealed particularly reactive peptide collectives. These peptides feature potentially important sequence patterns that appear in several established bio- and sensory-active peptides from independent sources, which suggests that our approach serves system-wide applicability. We generated a pattern peptide map and propose that in peptide glycation the herein identified molecular checkpoints can be used as indication of sequence reactivity.

Fusarochromene, a novel tryptophan-derived metabolite from Fusarium sacchari.

Fusarochromene isolated from the plant pathogenic fungus, Fusarium sacchari is closely related to a group of mycotoxins including fusarochromanone previously isolated from various Fusaria spp. Despite their assumed polyketide biogenesis, incorporation studies with 13C-labelled acetate, glycerol and tryptophans show that fusarochromene is unexpectedly derived via oxidative cleavage of the aromatic amino acid tryptophan. A putative biosynthetic gene cluster has been identified.

Simulated Sunlight Selectively Modifies Maillard Reaction Products in a Wide Array of Chemical Reactions.

The photochemical transformation of Maillard reaction products (MRPs) under simulated sunlight into mostly unexplored photoproducts is reported herein. Non-enzymatic glycation of amino acids leads to a heterogeneous class of intermediates with extreme chemical diversity, which is of particular relevance in processed and stored food products as well as in diabetic and age-related protein damage. Here, three amino acids (lysine, arginine, and histidine) were reacted with ribose at 100 °C in water for ten hours. Exposing these model systems to simulated sunlight led to a fast decay of MRPs. The photodegradation of MRPs and the formation of new compounds have been studied by fluorescence spectroscopy and nontargeted (ultra)high-resolution mass spectrometry. Photoreactions showed strong selectivity towards the degradation of electron-rich aromatic heterocycles, such as pyrroles and pyrimidines. The data show that oxidative cleavage mechanisms dominate the formation of photoproducts. The photochemical transformations differed fundamentally from "traditional" thermal Maillard reactions and indicated a high amino acid specificity.

Insights into the Chemistry of Non-Enzymatic Browning Reactions in Different Ribose-Amino Acid Model Systems.

Reactions between sugars and amino acids in the Maillard reaction produce a multitude of compounds through interconnected chemical pathways. The course of the pathways changes depending on the nature of the amino acids and sugars as well as the processing conditions (e.g. temperature, water activity). Some partial pathways have been elucidated using labelled precursors but the process is very time intensive. Here, we use rapid, non-targeted analysis with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) to deliver the molecular formulae and ion intensities of the compounds generated from reaction of four amino acids with ribose (10 h at 100 °C) to study the effect of amino acid side chains on the reaction pathways. Using van Krevelen diagrams, known chemical changes during the reaction (e.g. dehydration or decarboxylation) can be studied. Comparison of the data from the four amino acids studied, showed a common pathway, which involved 73 Maillard reaction products (MRPs) where the differences were due only to the nature of the amino acid side chain. From the more than 1400 different molecular formulae found, pathways unique to the amino acids were also identified and the order of reactivity was lysine >cysteine >isoleucine ≈ glycine. While unequivocal identification of the compounds cannot be achieved with FT-ICR-MS, applying known chemical transformations found in the Maillard reaction, not only identifies new and known pathways, but also integrates the MRPs into a general Maillard reaction scheme that better represents the totality of the Maillard reaction.

Monitoring chemical changes during food sterilisation using ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry.

Sterilised food products undergo chemical changes during processing that ultimately determine the product quality. To provide detailed information on the chemistry of each stage of a pet-food sterilisation process, a laboratory-scale system was developed, which allowed sampling under the high temperatures and pressures associated with sterilisation. Products from the laboratory-scale system were representative of the factory process. Sample extracts were analysed by Fourier Transform-Ion Cyclotron Resonance-Mass Spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS), which delivered the molecular formulae and ion intensities of the compounds present. Data were examined to determine the coverage of this method, the degree of chemical change occurring during pet food thermal processing, and the level of identification possible with FT-ICR-MS. Data visualisation and statistical analysis identified significant chemical changes in pet food as a result of processing, and allowed tentative identification of the compounds involved. Insights generated using FT-ICR-MS analysis can be confirmed and further explored using conventional, targeted analyses.

Evolution of Complex Maillard Chemical Reactions, Resolved in Time.

In this study, we monitored the thermal formation of early ribose-glycine Maillard reaction products over time by ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. Here, we considered sugar decomposition (caramelization) apart from compounds that could only be produced in the presence of the amino acid. More than 300 intermediates as a result of the two initial reactants were found after ten hours (100 °C) to participate in the interplay of the Maillard reaction cascade. Despite the large numerical variety the majority of intermediates follow simple and repetitive reaction patterns. Dehydration, carbonyl cleavage, and redox reactions turned out to have a large impact on the diversity the Maillard reaction causes. Although the Amadori breakdown is considered as the main Maillard reaction pathway, other reactive intermediates, often of higher molecular weight than the Amadori rearrangement product, contribute to a large extent to the multitude of intermediates we observed.

The role of peroxiredoxin 1 in redox sensing and transducing.

Peroxiredoxin 1 is a member of the ubiquitous peroxiredoxin family of thiol peroxidases that catalyse the reduction of peroxides. In recent years eukaryotic peroxiredoxins have emerged as a critical component of cellular redox signalling, particularly in response to alterations in production of hydrogen peroxide. Peroxiredoxins are exquisitely sensitive to oxidation by hydrogen peroxide making them key peroxide sensing enzymes within cells. Evidence gathered over the last decade suggests that in addition to sensing the redox signal, peroxiredoxins have a major role in transducing this signal to downstream signalling proteins, ultimately contributing to regulation of diverse cellular processes including proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. In this review we present the three current models for the sensing and signal transducing roles of peroxiredoxins, with a specific focus on mammalian peroxiredoxin 1. The evidence for each mechanism is discussed and areas for future work are identified.

Heterologous expression of the avirulence gene ACE1 from the fungal rice pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae.

The ACE1 and RAP1 genes from the avirulence signalling gene cluster of the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae were expressed in Aspergillus oryzae and M. oryzae itself. Expression of ACE1 alone produced a polyenyl pyrone (magnaporthepyrone), which is regioselectively epoxidised and hydrolysed to give different diols, 6 and 7, in the two host organisms. Analysis of the three introns present in ACE1 determined that A. oryzae does not process intron 2 correctly, while M. oryzae processes all introns correctly in both appressoria and mycelia. Co-expression of ACE1 and RAP1 in A. oryzae produced an amide 8 which is similar to the PKS-NRPS derived backbone of the cytochalasans. Biological testing on rice leaves showed that neither the diols 6 and 7, nor amide 8 was responsible for the observed ACE1 mediated avirulence, however, gene cluster analysis suggests that the true avirulence signalling compound may be a tyrosine-derived cytochalasan compound.

Heartworm 'lack of effectiveness' claims in the Mississippi delta: computerized analysis of owner compliance--2004-2011.

A retrospective medical record review was conducted to identify factors from veterinary clinic medical records that may have contributed to suspected ineffectiveness of a heartworm preventive product. Patient records of 271 dogs, comprising 301 instances of positive heartworm antigen test results while the dogs were receiving heartworm preventive were evaluated. Nineteen veterinary practices in 17 counties and parishes in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee participated in the study. Records were selected by the veterinary clinics as representative of cases of suspected lack of effectiveness for a heartworm preventive, and for which an owner satisfaction claim had been filed with the manufacturer. Medical record data were entered into a software program, and a graphic representation was created to facilitate analysis of whether pet owners had purchased sufficient heartworm preventive for the dog to be compliant during the period when infection with Dirofilaria immitis could have led to the positive heartworm antigen test result for that patient ("window of infection"). In 243 (80.7%) cases, there was insufficient heartworm preventive purchased, leading to a gap in protection during the "window of infection". In only five cases (1.7%) there were no purchase lapses or extenuating circumstances (underdosing of medication, multiple purchase gaps outside the established window of infection, or dogs have been diagnosed with heartworm infection more than once during the period studied). Half the cases were from multiple-dog households, and in many of these households, sharing of product between pets was acknowledged. In another 28% of the cases from multiple-dog households, more product was purchased than was needed for one dog, suggesting that the product was being shared between more than one pet. In most cases, there was at least one reason that a dog did not receive sufficient heartworm preventive product, placing the dog at risk of developing an infection with mature heartworms. Several actions were identified that veterinary clinics can take to improve heartworm disease prevention in their patients.

Isolation and characterisation of a ferrirhodin synthetase gene from the sugarcane pathogen Fusarium sacchari.

FSN1, a gene isolated from the sugar-cane pathogen Fusarium sacchari, encodes a 4707-residue nonribosomal peptide synthetase consisting of three complete adenylation, thiolation and condensation modules followed by two additional thiolation and condensation domain repeats. This structure is similar to that of ferricrocin synthetase, which makes a siderophore that is involved in intracellular iron storage in other filamentous fungi. Heterologous expression of FSN1 in Aspergillus oryzae resulted in the accumulation of a secreted metabolite that was identified as ferrirhodin. This siderophore was found to be present in both mycelium and culture filtrates of F. sacchari, whereas ferricrocin is found only in the mycelium, thus suggesting that ferricrocin is an intracellular storage siderophore in F. sacchari, whereas ferrirhodin is used for iron acquisition. To our knowledge, this is the first report to characterise a ferrirhodin synthetase gene functionally.

Authentic heterologous expression of the tenellin iterative polyketide synthase nonribosomal peptide synthetase requires coexpression with an enoyl reductase.

The tenS gene encoding tenellin synthetase (TENS), a 4239-residue polyketide synthase nonribosomal-peptide synthetase (PKS-NRPS) from Beauveria bassiana, was expressed in Aspergillus oryzae M-2-3. This led to the production of three new compounds, identified as acyl tetramic acids, and numerous minor metabolites. Consideration of the structures of these compounds indicates that the putative C-terminal thiolester reductase (R) domain does not act as a reductase, but appears to act as a Dieckmann cyclase (DKC). Expression of tenS in the absence of a trans-acting ER component encoded by orf3 led to errors in assembly of the polyketide component, giving clues to the mode of programming of highly reducing fungal PKS. Coexpression of tenS with orf3 from the linked gene cluster led to the production of a correctly elaborated polyketide. The NRPS adenylation domain possibly shows the first identified fungal signature sequences for tyrosine selectivity.

An antibiotic produced by an insect-pathogenic bacterium suppresses host defenses through phenoloxidase inhibition.

Photorhabdus is a virulent pathogen that kills its insect host by overcoming immune responses. The bacterium also secretes a range of antibiotics to suppress the growth of other invading microorganisms. Here we show that Photorhabdus produces a small-molecule antibiotic (E)-1,3-dihydroxy-2-(isopropyl)-5-(2-phenylethenyl)benzene (ST) that also acts as an inhibitor of phenoloxidase (PO) in the insect host Manduca sexta. The Photorhabdus gene stlA encodes an enzyme that produces cinnamic acid, a key precursor for production of ST, and a mutation in stlA results in loss of ST production and PO inhibitory activity, which are both restored by genetic complementation of the mutant and also by supplying cinnamic acid. ST is produced both in vitro and in vivo in sufficient quantities to account for PO inhibition and is the only detectable solvent-extractable inhibitor. A Photorhabdus stlA- mutant is significantly less virulent, proliferates slower within the host, and provokes the formation of significantly more melanotic nodules than wild-type bacteria. Virulence of the stlA- mutant is also rescued by supplying cinnamic acid. The proximate cause of the virulence effect, however, is the inhibition of PO, because the effect of the stlA- mutation on virulence is abolished in insects in which PO has been knocked down by RNA interference (RNAi). Thus, ST has a dual function both as a PO inhibitor to counter host immune reactions and also as an antibiotic to exclude microbial competitors from the insect cadaver.