Search

Lipid oxidation limits the shelf-life of dried microencapsulated oils (DMOs), such as infant formula. However, it is poorly understood how lipid oxidation is affected by different types of emulsifiers. To improve our understanding, we prepared DMOs with different emulsifiers (whey protein isolate (WPI), pea protein isolate (PPI), and non-proteinaceous CITREM) and studied lipid oxidation in both the free and encapsulated fat. Only a small difference in oxidation rate was observed between these fat fractions for all formulations. We ascribed this to a non-discrete distribution of the fractions and the subsequent low fractionation selectivity as shown by Raman microscopy. The DMO with PPI showed hardly any oxidation during a 7-week incubation at 40 °C, whereas the DMOs with WPI and CITREM both reached significantly higher contents of oxidation products (lipid hydroperoxides, aldehydes, and epoxides). The enhanced stability of DMO-PPI could not be ascribed to the presence of phytic acid. In conclusion, we demonstrate the potential of using PPI to produce oxidatively stable DMOs.

Sourdough fermentation is a traditional bread leavening method based on the synergistic, metabolic activity of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeast in the dough. This complex process is highly dependent on various extrinsic factors such as fermentation duration and intrinsic factors such as endogenous enzyme activities. The aims of this literature review are to deepen the knowledge on the effect of sourdough fermentation on nutrient accessibility, with particular focus on the antinutrient quantities of phytic acid and tannin, as well as protein and fibre digestibility within the bread. To conduct the literature research keywords like wholegrain, antinutrients, digestibility and sourdough fermentation were used when searching for relevant scientific articles using databases such as Google Scholar, Web of Science and SLU library Primo. Key findings suggest that sourdough fermentation provides significant biochemical transformation of the dough through microbial enzymes and acidification by LAB, which activates grain endogenous enzymes. These changes result in reduction of phytic acid and tannin, which improves the bioavailability of minerals and protein. Protein digestibility increase due to reduction of antinutrients and because of solubilisation and depolymerisation of gluten. Additionally, the amount of fibre increases because of exopolysaccharide production by LAB and resistant starch formation. Conversion of insoluble to soluble fibre occurs, thereby fibre functionality is increased. Sourdough fermentation can improve the nutritional quality of bread. However, producing sourdough bread with a specific nutritional profile requires more research. It is necessary to understand how individual and combined fermentation factors influence nutrient quality and bioavailability within the bread.

Pomelo fruit is naturally rich in health-promoting components. However, few studies have quantified phytic acid (PA), which is both an antioxidant compound and an antinutrient that limits mineral bioavailability. In this study, we analyzed the temporospatial changes in fruit PA, total phenolic, total flavonoid, estimated mineral bioavailabilities, and their response to fertilization strategies. Compared to pulp, pomelo peel contained higher PA, total phenolic, total flavonoid and most minerals concentrations (except for P) but lower estimated mineral bioavailabilities (Mg, Zn and Fe). The concentrations of PA, total flavonoid, and minerals (P, Ca, Mg, Zn) and Fe estimated bioavailability in pulp gradually decreased with ripening. Total phenolic concentrations and the estimated bioavailabilities of Ca, Mg and Zn in pulp decreased in the early fruit expansion stage but subsequently increased markedly until maturity. Reduced chemical fertilization while supplementing Mg simultaneously increased estimated mineral bioavailabilities in pulp through reduced PA as an antinutrient, and increased bioactives concentrations in peel through increased PA as an antioxidant together with total phenolic and total flavonoid. Overall, our results indicate that reducing NPK while supplementing Mg fertilization in pomelo orchards with acidic and Mg-deficient soil is the most beneficial approach for achieving biofortification of the edible pulp parts and integrated fruit quality enhancement.

Zinc is an essential micronutrient, and its deficiency is perhaps the most prevalent and least understood worldwide. Recent advances have expanded the understanding of zinc's unique chemistry and molecular roles in a vast array of critical functions. However, beyond the concept of zinc absorption, few studies have explored the molecular basis of zinc bioavailability that determines the proportion of dietary zinc utilized in zinc-dependent processes in the body. The purpose of this review is to merge the concepts of zinc molecular biology and bioavailability with a focus on the molecular determinants of zinc luminal availability, absorption, transport, and utilization.

Flame-retardant coatings have been serving their purpose since the romans ruled Europe. These products have been developed through the years, by mixing and synthetizing solutions, which have resulted in effective, although questionable, products due to their impact on the environment and our health. This matter has been addressed earlier, predominantly regarding fabrics. Now is the time to approach this issue by finding an environmentally and health friendly flame-retardant, that can be applied on wood. Phytic acid is a phosphorus based organic compound which is found abundant in nature and could potentially act as a non-toxic flame-retardant. The acid can form other complexes which could add additional flame-retardant mechanisms and desired characteristics of a flame-retardant. This potential flame-retardant was investigated using two different methods. The first method includes two test series which sought to explain how properties as concentration of phytic acid, pH and different additives affected flame-retardant behaviour. The first method was later changed and refined into the second method, to add higher reliability and validity to the conducted tests. The new method implemented additional analytical methods such as differential scanning calorimetry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to investigate particular compounds. The results from the thermogravimetric analysis show that wood samples which were coated with the flame-retardant, had twice the mass percentage remaining compared to the untreated wood samples.

The presence of antinutritional substances, such as phytate, in fish feed affects the digestibility and absorption of minerals and nutrients by fish, while reduced availability of phosphorus (P) in wheat-based feeds used in fish farming can increase pollution in the aquatic environment. Phosphorus digestibility can be effectively increased in aquaculture through the addition of both phytase and citric acid. The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of phytase enzyme and citric acid addition on P digestibility, production parameters and blood parameters in farmed common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.). Two trials were undertaken using the following experimental diets: control with no additives (C), low enzyme content (500 FTU/kg; L), high enzyme content (1,000 FTU/kg; H), low enzyme contents with 3% citric acid (LA), high enzyme contents with 3% citric acid (HA). Initial results showed that LA increased P digestibility by 27% and HA by 26%, with no increase detected using L and H. In the second trial, in which production and blood parameters were examined, use of LA and HA resulted in a 20% decreased feed conversion ratio and 11% higher specific growth rate. Furthermore, acidified diets resulted in an increased blood plasma calcium and inorganic P, without negative effects on any parameter. Addition of phytase and citric acid to C. carpio granulated feeds also has a positive influence on the environment by reducing excreted P., info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Rice is a popular grain and forms part of the daily diet of people throughout the world. However, the consumption of rice and its products is sometimes limited by its high glycemic index due to its high starch content, low protein content and quality, and low bioavailability of minerals due to the presence of anti-nutritional factors. This has partly stimulated research interest in recent times toward the use of bioprocessing techniques such as germination as cheap and natural means to improve the nutritional quality, digestibility, and health properties of cereals, including rice, to partially achieve nutrition and food security in the developing regions of the world. This review highlights the impact of germination on the nutritional quality, health-promoting properties, and techno-functional characteristics of germinated brown rice grains and their products. The review demonstrated that germinated rice grains and their products have improved nutritional quality and digestibility, modified functional properties, and showed antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, anti-cancer, and anti-cardiovascular activities. Germination appears to be a suitable bioprocessing method to improve the nutritional quality and bioactive constituents and modify the techno-functional properties of rice grains for diverse food applications and improved global nutrition and food safety.

The growing number of older adults necessitates tailored food options that accommodate the specific diseases and nutritional deficiencies linked with ageing. This study aims to investigate the influence of age-related digestive conditions in vitro on the phenolic profile, antioxidant activity, and bioaccessibility of minerals (Ca, Fe, and Mg) in two types of unfermented, fermented, and fermented dried quinoa and lentils. Solid-state fermentation, combined with drying at 70 °C, significantly boosted the total phenolic content in Castellana and Pardina lentils from 5.05 and 6.6 to 10.5 and 7.5 mg gallic acid/g dry weight, respectively, in the bioaccessible fraction following the standard digestion model, compared to the unfermented samples. The phenolic profile post-digestion revealed elevated levels of vanillic and caffeic acids in Castellana lentils, and vanillic acid in Pardina lentils, while caffeic acids in Castellana lentils were not detected in the bioaccessible fraction. The highest antioxidant potency composite index was observed in digested fermented dried Castellana lentils, with white quinoa samples exhibiting potency above 80%. Mineral bioaccessibility was greater in fermented and fermented dried samples compared to unfermented ones. Finally, the digestive changes that occur with ageing did not significantly affect mineral bioaccessibility, but compromised the phenolic profile and antioxidant activity.

Phytates present in plant-derived feed can chelate nutrients and reduce their bioavailability for monogastric animals such as poultry and swine. The addition of hydrolase, phytase can alleviate this problem but is hindered by its cost. The goal of the current study is to clone, express and purify the phytase gene from Bacillus sp. (DS11) into Schizochytrium sp. ATCC 20888 is also a good producer of Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). This is expected to enhance animal nutrition and reduce phosphate pollution. The DNA sequence analysis using multiple sequence alignments showed significant similarity to the phytase gene from Bacillus sp. (DS11). Subsequently, specific primers were designed based on the consensus sequence of the Bacillus phytase gene obtained from sequencing. The coding DNA sequence was determined to have a length of 1152 base pairs. Phytase gene was successfully cloned into the pRI201-AN DNA vector and transformed into Schyzochytrium sp. Screening on G418 plates showed 53 resistant colonies and from this 11 prominent colonies were chosen for further testing. Out of this, 8 colonies tested positive, with colony PCR having 1.5 kb with a phytase activity of 1.77 U/ml of crude lysate. Further purification with Ni-NTA affinity chromatography provided a specific activity of 15.59 U/mg. This appears to be the first ever reported recombinant phytase produced in Schizochytrium sp. The phytase recommendations are 250U/Kg of feed preparation for broiler & swine diets . It was also determined that 72.64 U/5.2 gm of wet biomass and 1.80% of w/w microalgae would fulfil these requirements per kg of feed preparation.

Biopolymeric films were prepared with gelatin, plasticizer, and three different types of antioxidants (ascorbic acid, phytic acid, and BHA) corresponding to different mechanisms in activity. The antioxidant activity of films was monitored for 14 storage days upon color changes using a pH indicator (resazurin). The instant antioxidant activity of films was measured by a DPPH free radical test. The system using resazurin was composed of an agar, an emulsifier, and soybean oil to simulate a highly oxidative oil-based food system (AES-R). Gelatin-based films (GBF) containing phytic acid showed higher tensile strength and energy to break than all other samples due to the increased intermolecular interactions between phytic acid and gelatin molecules. The oxygen barrier properties of GBF films containing ascorbic acid and phytic acid increased due to the increased polarity, while GBF films containing BHA showed increased oxygen permeability compared to the control. According to “a-value” (redness) of the AES-R system tested with films, films incorporating BHA showed the most retardation of lipid oxidation in the system. This retardation corresponds to 59.8% antioxidation activity at 14 days, compared with the control. Phytic acid-based films did not show antioxidant activity, whereas ascorbic acid-based GBFs accelerated the oxidation process due to its prooxidant activity. The comparison between the DPPH free radical test and the control showed that the ascorbic acid and BHA-based GBFs showed highly effective free radical scavenging behavior (71.7% and 41.7%, respectively). This novel method using a pH indicator system can potentially determine the antioxidation activity of biopolymer films and film-based samples in a food system.

Sr/Zn phytate compounds have been shown interest in biomaterial science, specifically in dental implantology, due to their antimicrobial effects against Streptococcus mutans and their capacity to form bioactive coatings. Phytic acid is a natural chelating compound that shows antioxidant and osteogenic properties that can play an important role in bone remodelling processes affected by oxidative stress environments, such as those produced during infections. The application of non-protein cell-signalling molecules that regulate both bone and ROS homeostasis is a promising strategy for the regeneration of bone tissues affected by oxidative stress processes. In this context, phytic acid (PA) emerged as an excellent option since its antioxidant and osteogenic properties can play an important role in bone remodelling processes. In this study, we explored the antioxidant and osteogenic properties of two metallic PA complexes bearing bioactive cations, i.e., Sr2+ (SrPhy) and Zn2+ (ZnPhy), highlighting the effect of the divalent cations anchored to phytate moieties and their capability to modulate the PA properties. The in vitro features of the complexes were analyzed and compared with those of their precursor PA. The ferrozine/FeCl2 method indicated that SrPhy exhibited a more remarkable ferrous ion affinity than ZnPhy, while the antioxidant activity demonstrated by a DPPH assay showed that only ZnPhy reduced the content of free radicals. Likewise, the antioxidant potential was assessed with RAW264.7 cell cultures. An ROS assay indicated again that ZnPhy was the only one to reduce the ROS content (20%), whereas all phytate compounds inhibited lipid peroxidation following the decreasing order of PA > SrPhy > ZnPhy. The in vitro evaluation of the phytate’s osteogenic ability was performed using hMSC cells. The results showed tailored properties related to the cation bound in each complex. ZnPhy overexpressed ALP activity at 3 and 14 days, and SrPhy significantly increased cal

Soil salinization and its associated problems are becoming a potential threat to the sustainability of agriculture. Deficiency of micronutrients like zinc (Zn) is a common growth limiting factor in salt-affected soils. The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of Zn enriched amino acids (ZnAAC) on the growth, nutrient uptake, and Zn fortification in rice plants under salt stress. Different ZnAAC including Zn glycine (ZnGly), Zn methionine (ZnMet), Zn tryptophan (ZnTrp) and conventional ZnSO4 were applied at the rates of 8, 10, and 12 mg/kg with three replicates. The results of the current experiment revealed that ZnTrp applied at 12 mg/kg showed the maximum increase in root, shoot, and paddy weight (g/pot), which remained 12.9, 49.0, and 33.9, respectively. Maximum chlorophyll contents, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and sub-stomatal carbon dioxide were with the application of ZnTrp to rice grown on salt affected soil. Maximum increase in Zn concentration in soil (391.3 %), roots (251.8 %), shoots (232.9 %), and paddy (287.8 %) were increased with the application of ZnTrp at 12 mg/kg compared to that with control. Maximum decrease in phytic acid in rice paddy was observed with the application of ZnTrp at higher application rate. It is concluded that the application of ZnTrp is an effective remedy to enhance the growth response and Zn fortification in rice grown on salt affected soil.

Micronutrient malnutrition affects more than half of the world population. Reduced bioavailability of microelements in the raw materials is considered one of the main causes of mineral deficiency in populations whose diet is largely based on the consumption of staple crops. In this context, the production of low phytic acid (lpa) cereals is a main goal of the breeding programs, as phytic acid (PA) binds essential mineral cations such as iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) precipitating in the form of phytate salts poorly digested by monogastric animals, including humans, due to the lack of phytases in the digestive tract. Since PA limits the bioavailability of microelements, it is widely recognized as an anti-nutritional compound. A Targeting Induced Local Lesions IN Genomes (TILLING) approach has been undertaken to silence the genes encoding the TdABCC13 proteins, known as Multidrug-Resistance associated Proteins 3 (TdMRP3), transporters involved in the accumulation of PA inside the vacuole in durum wheat. The TdMRP3 complete null genotypes showed a significant reduction in the content of PA and were able to accumulate a higher amount of essential micronutrients (Fe, Zn, Mn) compared to the control. The number of spikelets and seeds per spike, traits associated with the agronomic performances, were reduced compared to the control, but the negative effect was in part balanced by the increased grain weight. The TdMRP3 mutant lines showed morphological differences in the root apparatus such as a significant decrease in the number of root tips, root length, volume and surface area and an increase in root average diameter compared to the control plants. These materials represent a promising basis for obtaining new commercial durum wheats with higher nutritional value.

In the last few decades, chia (Salvia hispanica L.) cultivation has expanded around the world, and the seeds have become well known due to their rich composition of nutrients and bioactive compounds. The aim of this work was to evaluate the physical, chemical, and nutritional profile of eight types of chia seeds grown in different Latin-American countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, and Peru). The results showed that several nutritional parameters of the seeds, such as the protein content and amino acid profile, dietary fiber content, lipid content, mineral composition, and presence of phytate, depend on the location in which they were grown. Other parameters, such as ash content, fatty acid profile, or various physical parameters, were uniform across locations (except for color parameters). The results support the notion that the nutritional characteristics of seeds are determined by the seeds’ origin, and further analysis is needed to determine the exact mechanisms that control the changes in the seed nutritional properties of chia seeds.

Excessive application of fertilizers has caused a high load of phosphorus (P) in the North China Plain. The fate of P and its effects on aquatic ecosystems depend on its chemical speciation in soils. However, few studies systematically investigated the transport and retardation of different P species in the fluvo-aquic soil. In this study, the transport of inorganic P (orthophosphate, PO4), organic P (phytic acid, PA) and particulate P (hydroxyapatite nanoparticles, nHAP) in the fluvo-aquic soil were investigated by column experiments, and their retardation from major soil components such as kaolin, CaCO3, Al2O3, and goethite (GT) was also investigated by monitoring breakthrough curves and fitting transport models. The transport of P species in fluvo-aquic soil followed the order of PO4 > PA > nHAP. A high fraction of increased clay and mineral particle-associated P (P-E) was observed for PO4 and PA; while significant Ca-associated P (P-Ca) for nHAP. Under the experimental conditions, both CaCO3 and GT were the most influential factors for PO4, PA, and nHAP retention. Goethite strongly inhibited PO4 transport due to its high PO4 adsorption capacity, while CaCO3 strongly inhibited PA transport due to its strong association with PA under alkaline conditions. Both CaCO3 and GT can severely inhibit nHAP transport due to the favorable electrostatic conditions as well as the Ca2+ bridging effect. These results indicated that CaCO3 played a key role in regulating the retention of organic P and particulate P in the calcareous soil, and also suggested the important role of Fe (hydr)oxides in controlling the transport of inorganic P, which could out-compete that of CaCO3.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of desaponification, soaking, germination, and refrigerated storage on the phytase activity, phytic acid content, and nutritional properties of three varieties of quinoa: white, red, and black. Desaponification and soaking reduced the number of minerals and the nutritional content. Germination of the seeds was carried out in the desaponified samples. The nutritional values, phytase activity, and phytic acid content of quinoa were measured after 6 h of soaking and then at 4 and 7 days during germination plus 7 days of refrigerated storage (4 °C). Germination increased the fibre and protein content as well as the iron, zinc, and calcium content. Germination significantly increased the phytase activity in all varieties and decreased the phytic acid content. The phytic acid content decreased during germination from 32 to 74%. Refrigerated storage had no significant effect on most of the factors studied. Germination boosts nutritional content and phytase activity while decreasing phytic acid content. Germination can be a simple method to reduce phytic acid in quinoa and may also improve the nutritional quality of this pseudocereal with the potential for use in functional foods and vegetarian diets.

The food industry must prevent food contamination caused by pathogenic Escherichia coli strains as they pose a severe public health threat worldwide and lead to unimaginable economic losses. In this study, the synergistic antibacterial activity in vitro of nisin and phytic acid (PA), a natural metal chelate, against 5 foodborne isolates of E. coli were evaluated by a checkerboard assay. Checkerboard assay showed that nisin and PA showed a synergistic effect (FICI <0.375) on three O157 serogroup strains and an addictive effect (0.5

Figure S1: Pore size distributions of all PDC-T samples. Table S1: Atomic percentages (at.%) of carbon (C), oxygen (O) and phosphorus (P), obtained by XPS, and ratios of P-C bonds to total P (PT) content for all PDC-T materials. Figure S2: XPS spectra of (a) C 1s and (b) O 1s of the PDC-T series. Table S2: Literature comparison of the performance of materials similar to PDC-900 for the ORR shown in Fig. 4f.

The sluggish kinetics and high overpotential of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in fuel cells and metal–air batteries are currently resolved through the use of expensive and scarce platinum-based electrocatalysts. Here, a green and straightforward synthesis method for preparing metal-free phosphorus-doped carbon (PDC) materials via carbonization of phytic acid at temperatures ranging from 700 to 1000 °C is reported. This study provides valuable insights into the effect of carbonization temperature on the surface chemistry and catalytic performance of PDCs. The PDC electrocatalysts exhibit ORR electrocatalytic activity equivalent to that of the state-of-the-art P-doped carbons and show a correlation between the content of C–P species and the electrocatalytic activity for the ORR. The study suggests that C–P-type species are responsible for the improved ORR. These findings not only demonstrate a practical and low-cost approach for preparing highly efficient metal-free electrocatalysts for the ORR, but also highlight their potential for the development of sustainable energy technologies.

CRUE-CSIC (Acuerdos Transformativos 2022), Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) seeds have been traditionally used as food and their consumption is increasing nowadays. They have a remarkable nutritional value, but scarce information is available about mineral elements and their bioavailability. The objectives of this study were to determine the mineral element and phytate contents of eight different varieties of whole hemp seeds and commercial hulled hemp seeds. Phosphorus was the most abundant mineral element with higher content in hulled seeds (1.1 g/100 g) than whole seeds, as well as potassium, magnesium, and zinc. Calcium, manganese, and copper contents were higher in whole seeds. Iron content (8 mg/100 g) was similar in whole and hulled seeds; while sodium was below 5 mg/100 g. Phytate was abundant in hemp (especially hulled) seeds (4 g/100 g), and could compromise iron and zinc absorption (phytates/Fe and phytates/Zn molar ratios above 20 and 15, respectively), as well as involve poor phosphorous absorption. These seeds represent a valuable contribution to manganese (>5 mg/100 g) and copper (>1.4 mg/ 100 g) intake, approaching 100% and 50%, respectively, of daily NRVs, with a serving size of 30 g. Hemp seeds are an apparently excellent source of minerals, although phytates content should be taken into account to properly interpret nutritional claims., Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Rafael Folch Foundation (Spain): J. I. Alonso-Esteban grant (2016/01M), Depto. de Nutrición y Ciencia de los Alimentos, Fac. de Farmacia, TRUE, pub

Zinc, through its structural and cofactor roles, affects a broad range of critical physiological functions, including growth, metabolism, immune and neurological functions. Zinc deficiency is widespread among populations around the world, and it may, therefore, underlie much of the global burden of malnutrition. Current zinc fortification strategies include biofortification and fortification with zinc salts with a primary focus on staple foods, such as wheat or rice and their products. However, zinc fortification presents unique challenges. Due to the influences of phytate and protein on zinc absorption, successful zinc fortification strategies should consider the impact on zinc bioavailability in the whole diet. When zinc is absorbed with food, shifts in plasma zinc concentrations are minor. However, co-absorbing zinc with food may preferentially direct zinc to cellular compartments where zinc-dependent metabolic processes primarily occur. Although the current lack of sensitive biomarkers of zinc nutritional status reduces the capacity to assess the impact of fortifying foods with zinc, new approaches for assessing zinc utilization are increasing. In this article, we review the tools available for assessing bioavailable zinc, approaches for evaluating the zinc nutritional status of populations consuming zinc fortified foods, and recent trends in fortification strategies to increase zinc absorption.

BackgroundRice biofortification with Zinc (Zn) can improve the Zn status of rice-consuming populations. However, the metabolic impact in humans consuming Zn-biofortified rice is unknown.ObjectivesTo determine the effects of Zn-biofortified rice on lipid metabolism in normolipidemic men.MethodsThe men consumed a rice-based diet containing 6 mg Zn/d and 1.5 g phytate (phytate/Zn ratio = 44) for 2 wk followed by a 10-mg Zn/d diet without phytate for 4 wk. An ad libitum diet supplemented with 25 mg Zn/d was then fed for 3 wk. Fasting blood samples were taken at baseline and at the end of each metabolic period for measuring plasma zinc, glucose, insulin, triglyceride (TG), LDL and HDL cholesterol, fatty acids, oxylipins, and fatty acid desaturase activities. Statistical differences were assessed by linear mixed model.ResultsFatty acid desaturase (FADS) 1 activity decreased by 29.1% (P = 0.007) when the 6-mg Zn/d diet was consumed for 2 wk. This change was associated with significant decreases in HDL and LDL cholesterol. The alterations in FADS1, HDL cholesterol, and TG remained unchanged when Zn intakes were increased to 10 mg/d for 4 wk. Supplementation with 25 mg Zn/d for 3 wk normalized these metabolic changes and significantly increased LDL cholesterol at the end of this metabolic period compared with baseline. FADS1 activity was inversely correlated with FADS2 (rmcorr = -0.52; P = 0.001) and TG (rmcorr = -0.55; P = 0.001) at all time points.ConclusionsA low-zinc, high-phytate rice-based diet reduced plasma HDL cholesterol concentrations and altered fatty acid profiles in healthy men within 2 wk. Consuming 10 mg Zn/d without phytate for 4 wk did not improve the lipid profiles, but a 25-mg Zn/d supplement corrects these alterations in lipid metabolism within 3 wk.

Materials science in the field of oral implantology is focused on the development of bioactive surfaces able to promote both osteogenic and antibacterial mechanisms. In this work, we propose an affordable and reproducible methodology for the fabrication of bioactive SAMs containing Sr/Zn phytate complexes. Phytate SAMs were fabricated by condensation reaction (pH 4) promoted by casting evaporation, and physicochemical features were studied by XPS, SEM, AFM and profilometry. In vitro biological studies performed with hObs cultures demonstrated the ability of modified surfaces for sustaining the cellular colonization and stimulating the ALP activity and the mineralization degree. Moreover, antibacterial assays performed with S. mutans cultures seeded over modified substrates corroborated the potential application of phytate-SAMs as bioactive coatings for titanium dental implants.

The food industry must prevent food contamination caused by pathogenic Escherichia coli strains as they pose a severe public health threat worldwide and lead to unimaginable economic losses. In this study, the synergistic antibacterial activity in vitro of nisin and phytic acid (PA), a natural metal chelate, against 5 foodborne isolates of E. coli were evaluated by a checkerboard assay. Checkerboard assay showed that nisin and PA showed a synergistic effect (FICI <0.375) on three O157 serogroup strains and an addictive effect (0.5

To feed a globally growing population, a challenging shift in the usage of today’s food system is required. This includes a shift towards more sustainable human diets, with increased levels of protein from plant-based sources. Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is a potentially attractive candidate to fulfil this purpose, not the least because of its qualitative nutrient content, but also for its cultivation potential in Sweden. However, faba beans have varying levels of antinutrients, including phytic acid. Phytic acid has metal chelating abilities with the potential to cause mineral deficiencies in humans. The compound can be reduced by different pre-treatments and processing techniques, such as soaking for various times in altered pH conditions and temperatures. This master thesis had three aims. The first was to develop and optimise a method to evaluate the concentration of phytic acid in faba bean, variety Tiffany. The second was to identify and evaluate the effect of soaking treatment conditions, i.e., pH, soaking time and heat-treatment, with the purpose to minimize the concentration of phytic acid in the legume. Finally, the third aim was to establish the optimum treatment based on the conditions of the soaking treatments. The faba bean proteins were extracted with alkaline extraction followed by isoelectric precipitation and differential NaCl solubility. The phytic acid was extracted and analysed using anion-exchange chromatography and a colorimetric method with Wade reagent. The optimised method successfully evaluated the concentration of phytic acid throughout the protein extraction of faba bean, resulting in a 28 % reduction. All soaking treatments reduced the concentration of phytic acid. These results provide important indications of processing information on phytic acid in faba bean for the industry of plant-based foods. The optimum soaking treatment was treatment E, with a pH value of 6 at a temperature of 20 °C for 2 h. Treatment E reduced the concentration, För att mätta en globalt växande befolkning krävs ett skifte i hur man använder dagens livsmedelssystem. Skiftet skulle behöva innefatta en mer hållbar kosthållning, där en större andel av det protein som konsumeras kommer från växtbaserade alternativ. Åkerböna (Vicia faba L.) är ett potentiellt bra alternativ eftersom den har en god näringskvalitet och kan odlas i Sverige. Däremot innehåller åkerbönan olika nivåer av flertalet antinutrienter, varav en är fytinsyra. Fytinsyra har kelerande egenskaper som kan leda till mineralbrist hos människor. Mängden fytinsyra i åkerböna kan minskas genom olika förbehandlingsmetoder. Till exempel kan åkerbönan blötläggas i olika pH-värden, temperaturer och tidsperioder. Det här projektet hade tre syften. Det första var att utveckla och optimera en metod för att undersöka fytinsyrainnehållet i åkerböna, av sorten Tiffany. Det andra var att identifiera och undersöka olika blötläggningsbehandlingar som skulle kunna minska koncentrationen av fytinsyra i åkerböna. Slutligen var det tredje syftet att fastslå vilken blötläggningsbehandling som var den optimala för att minska fytinsyrainnehållet i åkerböna. Proteinerna från åkerbönan extraherades genom alkalisk extraktion, följt av isoelektrisk utfällning och tillsats av NaCl. Extraktionen och analysen av fytinsyra genomfördes med anjonbyteskromatografi och en kolorimetrisk metod som använde Wade reagens. Den optimerade metoden minskade fytinsyrakoncentrationen i åkerböna med 28 % under proteinextraktionen. Samtliga blötläggningsbehandlingar hade en reducerande effekt på åkerbönans fytinsyrainnehåll. Resultaten kan anses ge viktiga indikationer till industrin av växtbaserade köttsubstitut. Den optimala blötläggningsbehandlingen var behandling E. Behandling E bestod av pH 6 i 20 °C under 2 h och minskade koncentrationen av fytinsyra med 87 %.

Elevated CO2 concentration has been reported to decrease grain nutrient concentrations and thus worsen nutritional deficiency and hidden hunger. One nutritional aspect is mineral content, yet mineral bioavailability can be limited by the presence of phytic acid. Given that future climate scenarios predict elevated global temperature driven by elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations, we used Temperature by Free-Air CO2 Enrichment (T-FACE) field experiments to investigate whether elevated temperature alters the effects of elevated CO2 on grain mineral concentrations, grain mineral yields, and their bioavailability in a range of wheat and rice genotypes. We found that the negative effects of elevated CO2 were compensated for by positive effects of elevated temperature. As a result, the combined elevated CO2 and elevated temperature increased concentrations of some minerals by up to ~15% in both rice and wheat relative to control conditions. Moreover, the combined elevated CO2 and elevated temperature did not significantly change total yields of some minerals despite lower grain yields. The combined CO2 and temperature elevation increased phytic acid concentration in rice by 18.1% but decreased it in wheat by 3.5%. The mineral bioavailability, estimated as the mole ratio of phytic acid to minerals in rice and wheat grains, was limited by the combined CO2 and temperature elevation in only a few cases. Our results indicate that under future climate conditions of elevated temperature and CO2, the nutritional quality of rice and wheat with respect to minerals may remain unchanged.

Cover crops (CC) are an important low-input strategy in sustainable agricultural sys-tems. The impact of different CC (common vetch, field pea, winter oats, fodder kale, common vetch + winter oats and field pea + winter oats), organic mulch, control treatment-fallow, and bio-fertilizer (BF) application, on yield and quality of sweet maize kernel was evaluated. CC biomass was higher in mixtures: field pea + winter oats, and common vetch + winter oats, as well as in fodder kale. Kernel yield and its chemical composition varied significantly by CC, BF, year, and their interaction. Organic mulch enhanced the concentration of sugars and glutathione in maize kernel. BF increased kernel yield, the concentration of sugars, vitamin C, Mg, Fe, Zn, and reduced phytate concentration. The highest Mg and Mn concentration in maize kernel was achieved with fodder kale, Zn concentration with common vetch + winter oats + BF, and Fe concentration with winter oats. The same treatments expressed the highest impact on variability in concentration of the phytate, phenolics, and yellow pigment, thus affecting further bio-availability of essential elements. Results indicate that in a semi-arid climate, under rain-fed conditions, CC such as fodder kale and winter oats + common vetch could enhance sweet maize productivity and kernel quality, serving as an important part of a sustainable cropping system, to facilitate food security.

In zinc hydrometallurgy, hot-acidic leaching of calcines leads to Fe/Zn solutions in sulphuric acid medium. Three distinct processes have been previously developed to remove iron: jarosite, goethite and haematite. Each process displays their own drawbacks: important loss of zinc (jarosite, goethite), significant environmental impact of residue (jarosite) or economic cost (haematite). The work reported herein investigated the possibility of using phytic acid, a compound extractable from cereals, to remove iron. Precipitation was studied first at the laboratory-scale using DOE methodology and then with a laboratory pilot. At pH = 2.1, it is shown that it is possible to remove up to 99.5% of iron with a loss of zinc equal to 0.6% and a residual concentration of Fe(III) of 130 mg/l. Even if the amount of residue is more important than in the jarosite process, leaching tests showed that iron phytate could be stored in less drastic conditions than jarosite., In zinc hydrometallurgy, hot-acidic leaching of calcines leads to Fe/Zn solutions in sulphuric acid medium. Three distinct processes have been previously developed to remove iron: jarosite, goethite and haematite. Each process displays their own drawbacks: important loss of zinc (jarosite, goethite), significant environmental impact of residue (jarosite) or economic cost (haematite). The work reported herein investigated the possibility of using phytic acid, a compound extractable from cereals, to remove iron. Precipitation was studied first at the laboratory-scale using DOE methodology and then with a laboratory pilot. At pH = 2.1, it is shown that it is possible to remove up to 99.5% of iron with a loss of zinc equal to 0.6% and a residual concentration of Fe(III) of 130 mg/l. Even if the amount of residue is more important than in the jarosite process, leaching tests showed that iron phytate could be stored in less drastic conditions than jarosite.

The low phytic acid (lpa) trait in soybeans can be conferred by loss-of-function mutations in genes encoding myo-inositol phosphate synthase and two epistatically interacting genes encoding multidrug-resistance protein ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters. However, perturbations in phytic acid biosynthesis are associated with poor seed vigor. Since the benefits of the lpa trait, in terms of end-use quality and sustainability, far outweigh the negatives associated with poor seed performance, a fuller understanding of the molecular basis behind the negatives will assist crop breeders and engineers in producing variates with lpa and better germination rate. The gene regulatory network (GRN) for developing low and normal phytic acid soybean seeds was previously constructed, with genes modulating a variety of processes pertinent to phytic acid metabolism and seed viability being identified. In this study, a comparative time series analysis of low and normal phytic acid soybeans was carried out to investigate the transcriptional regulatory elements governing the transitional dynamics from dry seed to germinated seed. GRNs were reverse engineered from time series transcriptomic data of three distinct genotypic subsets composed of lpa soybean lines and their normal phytic acid sibling lines. Using a robust unsupervised network inference scheme, putative regulatory interactions were inferred for each subset of genotypes. These interactions were further validated by published regulatory interactions found in Arabidopsis thaliana and motif sequence analysis. Results indicate that lpa seeds have increased sensitivity to stress, which could be due to changes in phytic acid levels, disrupted inositol phosphate signaling, disrupted phosphate ion (Pi) homeostasis, and altered myo-inositol metabolism. Putative regulatory interactions were identified for the latter two processes. Changes in abscisic acid (ABA) signaling candidate transcription factors (TFs) putatively regulating g

Wheat bran is a by-product of wheat flour production used as a nutritious and economic feed ingredient, but since it possesses several anti-nutritional factors that entrap nutrients and interfere with digestion and absorption, its application is limited. The utilization of organic-rich wastes for the production of value-added products and nutritional improvement of food is a means to an end - sustainability. Here we propose addressing these challenges via fermentation by Bacillus sp. TMF-2, a strain that produces several enzymes and simultaneously, wheat bran of higher nutritional quality. Following solid-state fermentation, the soluble phenolic content of wheat bran nearly triplicated compared to the raw bran. The total proportion of polyphenols along with the antioxidant capacity and free radical scavenging rate were significantly improved, particularly the ability to reduce Fe3+ increased by 10-fold. Additionally, the activity of hydrolytic enzymes: amylase, cellulase, pectinase, mannanase, protease, and phytase increased during fermentation, whereas the level of anti-nutrient, phytic acid decreased. Among all produced enzymes, there is a special emphasis on the protease prone to degrade gluten thus resulting in gluten-free wheat bran. The results of this research could contribute to a beneficial procedure for the natural modification of wheat bran, which further augments the health benefits and utilization of wheat bran.

Phytic acid is an anti-nutritional compound able to chelate proteins and ions. For this reason, the food industry is looking for a convenient method which allows its degradation. Phytases are a class of enzymes that catalyze the degradation of phytic acid and are used as additives in feed-related industrial processes. Due to their industrial importance, our goal was to identify new activities that exhibit best performances in terms of tolerance to high temperature and acidic pH. As a result of an initial screening on 21 yeast species, we focused our attention on phytases found in Cyberlindnera jadinii, Kluyveromyces marxianus, and Torulaspora delbrueckeii. In particular, C. jadinii showed the highest secreted and cell-bound activity, with optimum of temperature and pH at 50°C and 4.5, respectively. These characteristics suggest that this enzyme could be successfully used for feed as well as for food-related industrial applications.

The development of temporary protective coatings on magnesium implants is a priority in the biomedical field. In the present study, corrosion rates were determined by various techniques for powder metallurgy Mg and AZ31 magnesium alloy uncoated and coated with phytic acid (PA). Weight loss measurements, potentiodynamic polarisation, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were performed to monitor the corrosion evolution in a phosphate-buffered saline solution at 37°C. The corrosion rates of all samples determined from weight losses were higher than those obtained by electrochemical techniques. According to electrochemical data, the initial corrosion current density of the coated samples decreased by three orders of magnitude as compared with that of the bare substrates. However, the protective effect weakened with the testing time due to the presence of microcracks in the PA conversion coating, which indicated the potential applicability of the coated AZ31 alloy as a biodegradable and resorbable temporary implant material for bone repair.

Efficiency of aqueous extracts of seed from five cultivars of faba bean in the removal of water turbidity was perceived through content of components known for the ability to clarify water as well as through their interactions. Concentrations of protein, phenolics (tannins) and phytic acid differed significantly between aqueous extracts of cultivars' seed. At applied dosages of aqueous extracts concentrations of protein, phenolics and phytic acid in coagulation tests varied within the ranges 0.11-0.77 mg/L, 0.8-6.2 mu g/L and 0.2-0.7 mu g/L, respectively. Experiments carried out in model water with initial 45 nephelometric turbidity units and at pH 7 resulted in turbidity removal from 28 to 65%. Data analysis revealed that under applied conditions the major determinant of coagulation activity was concentration of phenolics (very significant) followed by that of protein (significant). The removal of water turbidity was also significantly affected by the interaction between concentrations of phenolics and phytic acid as well as that between concentrations of protein and phytic acid. In addition, increase in the content of organic matter in treated water was below the value recommended by council drinking water directive.

[EN] The use of phosphoric acid doped polybenzimidazole (PBI) membranes for fuel cell applications has been extensively studied in the past decades. In this article, we present a systematic study of the physicochemical properties and proton conductivity of PBI membranes doped with the commonly used phosphoric acid at different concentrations (0.1, 1, and 14 M), and with other alternative acids such as phytic acid (0.075 M) and phosphotungstic acid (HPW, 0.1 M). The use of these three acids was reflected in the formation of channels in the polymeric network as observed by cross-section SEM images. The acid doping enhanced proton conductivity of PBI membranes and, after doping, these conducting materials maintained their mechanical properties and thermal stability for their application as proton exchange membrane fuel cells, capable of operating at intermediate or high temperatures. Under doping with similar acidic concentrations, membranes with phytic acid displayed a superior conducting behavior when compared to doping with phosphoric acid or phosphotungstic acid.

[ES] Las pilas de combustible poliméricas de alta temperatura (PEMFC-HT del inglés Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell-High Temperature) tienen varias ventajas respecto de las pilas de baja temperatura. La combustión electroquímica del hidrógeno a temperaturas entre 140 y 200°C permite reducir la cantidad de catalizador en la pila y/o abaratar el coste del mismo, al utilizar catalizadores diferentes del platino (Pt) o catalizadores bi o tri-metálicos de base platino, siendo un punto clave en la configuración de la pila por ser el Pt un metal precioso. El uso de temperatura alta en el funcionamiento de la pila de combustible hace necesario cambiar de membrana de intercambio protónico, ya que sus propiedades de transporte, térmicas y mecánicas deben ser electroquímicamente estables y perdurables con los ciclos a los que la pila tiene que estar sometida. El Polibencimidazol dopado con ácido fosfórico (PBI-PA) ha sido postulado como membrana de intercambio protónico en las pilas de combustible de membrana polimérica de alta temperatura. Estas membranas tienen una alta conductividad protónica a 140-200°C y una buena estabilidad térmica y electroquímica, haciendo que el PBI-PA sea un polímero prometedor para ser usado como membranas en PEMFC-HT. Otra característica de las membranas de PBI-PA es la no dependencia de la humedad relativa (HR) en el transporte protónico (cosa que sí ocurre en el caso de las membranas convencionales utilizadas a temperaturas bajas); esta característica es uno de los factores dominantes para obtener un perfecto desempeño en los ensayos en monocelda. El ácido fosfórico se coordina con los anillos imidazoles de la cadena polimérica por puentes de hidrógeno. Esta unión entre la cadena polimérica y el ácido fosfórico permite que la membrana polimérica actué con el intercambio protónico adecuado para facultar a la membrana de una buena conductividad. Por efecto de lixiviación o por las altas temperaturas, el ácido fosfórico puede desprenderse de la m, [EN] Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell-High Temperature (PEMFC-HT) has several advantages over low-temperature fuel cells. The electrochemical combustion of hydrogen at temperatures between 140 and 200°C allows despite of reducing the amount of catalyst in the cell, a but also lowering the cost of the cell by using other catalysts instead of platinum (Pt) or two or tri-metallic catalysts based on platinum, being a key point in the configuration of the cell because Pt a precious metal. The use of high temperature in the operation of the fuel cell makes it necessary to change the proton exchange membrane, since its transport, thermal and mechanical properties must be electrochemically stable and lasting with the cycles to which the battery has to be subjected. Polybenzimidazol doped with phosphoric acid (PBI-PA) has been postulated as a proton exchange membrane fuel cells at high temperature. These membranes have a high proton conductivity at 140-200°C and good thermal and electrochemical stability. PBI-PA is a promising polymer to be used as membranes in PEMFC-HT. Another characteristic of PBI-PA membranes is the non-dependence of relative humidity (HR) in proton transport (a factor which influence conventional membranes, used at low temperatures); this characteristic is a dominant factor to the perfect performance of single cell testing. Phosphoric acid is coordinated with the imidazole rings of the polymer chain by hydrogen bridges. This bond between the polymer chain and phosphoric acid allows the polymeric membrane to act with the appropriate proton exchange to empower the membrane with good conductivity. By leaching effect or by high temperatures, the phosphoric acid can be detached from the membrane, decreasing the proton conductivity and reducing the half-life of the fuel cell. An alternative to solving this problem is the replacement of phosphoric acid with another acid containing phosphoric groups, such as phytic acid. This acid is an organic acid with biol

The field of functional genomics aims to understand the complex relationship between genotype and phenotype by integrating genome-wide approaches, such as transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. Large-scale "-omics" research has been made widely possible by the advent of high-throughput techniques, such as next-generation sequencing and mass-spectrometry. The vast data generated from such studies provide a wealth of information on the biological dynamics underlying phenotypes. Though functional genomics approaches are used extensively in human disease research, their use also spans organisms as miniscule as mycoplasmas to as great as sperm whales. In particular, functional genomics is instrumental in agricultural advancements for the improvement of productivity and sustainability in crop and livestock production. Improvement in soybean production is especially imperative, as soybeans are a primary source of oil and protein for human and livestock consumption, respectively. The research presented here employs functional genomics approaches – transcriptomics and metabolomics – to discern the transcriptional regulation and metabolic events underlying two economically important agronomic traits in soybean: seed phytic acid content and Soybean mosaic virus resistance. At normal levels, seed phytic acid content inhibits mineral absorption in humans and livestock, acting as an antinutrient and contributing to phosphorus pollution; however, the development of low phytic acid soybeans has helped mitigate these issues, as their seeds increase nutrient bioavailability and reduce environmental impact. Despite these desirable qualities, low phytic acid soybeans exhibit poor seed performance, which negatively affects germination rates and yield and has prevented their large-scale commercial production. Thus, part of the focus of this research was investigating the effects of mutations conferring the low phytic acid phenotype on seed germination. Comparative studies between

Salts of trivalent cerium (Ce(III)) are known to successfully hinder localised corrosion phenomena typical of aerospace aluminium alloys by forming a thin passivation layer on top of the corrosion-active intermetallic phases. This is generally observed to happen when the alloy is under immersion conditions in a solution containing Ce3+ ions. However, some very preliminary works suggest that protection provided by this layer is lost once the passivated metal is re-exposed to a corrosive solution in absence of inhibitor (for example, aqueous solution of sodium chloride). This (in)stability process has not been directly addressed in literature and is, therefore, not well understood. A deeper understanding of such process and the strategies that could lead to a higher passive layer stability are needed to bring Ce-based inhibitor technologies closer to application and replacement of the harmful Cr(VI)-based primers. In this work we studied the inhibition mechanism and stability of cerium inhibiting layers created on AA 2024-T3 upon exposure to electrolytic solutions containing Ce(NO3)3 and NaCl. The stability of Ce(III) layers after re-exposure to corrosive electrolytes (i.e. without inhibitors) is investigated. Furthermore, the interaction between Ce(III) layers and different organic compounds, namely 2,5-Dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole (DMTD), phytic acid and sodium alginate, was also explored as a potential strategy for stabilisation of Ce-based inhibitive layers. Due to the complex interpretation of electrochemical signals typically used in corrosion studies (e.g. electrochemical noise and impedance spectroscopy), it was decided to combine such electrochemical methods with highly spatio-temporally resolved in-situ microscopy in order to assess both corrosion of AA 2024-T3 and its inhibition. For this purpose, a home made optical-electrochemical experimental setup was used, together with a protocol for optical data analysis. This hyphenated in-situ protocol is furth, Materials Science and Engineering

"This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, copyright © American Chemical Society after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.8b04462", [EN] P-doped graphene (Phy-G) prepared by pyrolysis of phytic acid at 900 degrees C under inert atmosphere has been evaluated as a metal-free catalyst for the thermochemical water splitting. XPS, solid-state P-31 NMR, and Raman spectroscopy confirm the presence of P atoms bonded to C atoms in the graphene lattice as well as some oxygenated P groups, such as phosphates or phosphonates. HRTEM and AFM images show the characteristic sheet morphology of 2D graphene materials of several micrometers lateral size and exhibiting a high crystallinity with the characteristic hexagonal arrangement of graphenic materials. Phy-G has been submitted to consecutive oxidation/activation thermochemical cycles at 650 and 800 degrees C under H2O-saturated Ar and dry Ar atmospheres, respectively. During the oxidation periods, H-2 evolution up to 21.6 mu mol/min.g was measured. However, no O-2 evolves in the activation steps. Experimental evidence and computational calculations support the formation of P=O bonds during the oxidation steps. The computational calculations suggest that the thermocatalytic H2O splitting occurs on the P atoms of doped graphene through a stepwise process involving an intermediate with a P-OH group and a H attached to a neighboring C atom and subsequent H-2 evolution, leading to the formation of P-O bonds.

[ES] Análisis de diferentes materias primas que se utilizan para hacer pasta. Cada pasta contiene un porcentaje distinto de cada materia prima. Una vez analizados los ejemplos, se cuece la pasta para ver cuál es el su contenido de materia prima. Por último, un análisis también de la pasta digerida. Para ello he utilizando un kit de ácido fítico (fósforo total y fósforo libre) siguiendo el método estándar que propone la empresa fabricante del kit. Metas de aprendizaje: Familiarización con el método analítico de anti- nutrientes seleccionados; ácido fítico Los resultados del aprendizaje: Capaz de planificar y realizar análisis de ácido fítico; conocimiento del contenido de ácido fítico en una fracción seleccionada de plantas leguminosas y productos fabricados de los mismos., [EN] Analysis of different raw materials that are used to make pasta. Each paste contains a different percentage of each raw material. Once the examples are analyzed, the pasta is cooked to see what the raw material content is. Finally, an analysis also of the digested pasta. For this I have used a kit of phytic acid (total phosphorus and free phosphorus) following the standard method proposed by the manufacturer of the kit. Learning goals: Familiarization with analytical method for selected anti- nutrients; phytic acid Learning outcomes: Able to plan and perform analysis of phytic acid; knowledgde of content of phytic acid in selected fraction of pulses and products made thereof.

Microorganisms that release plant-available phosphate from natural soil phosphate stores may serve as biological alternatives to costly and environmentally damaging phosphate fertilizers. To explore this possibility, we engineered a collection of root bacteria to release plant-available orthophosphate from phytate, an abundant phosphate source in many soils. We identified 82 phylogenetically diverse phytase genes, refactored their sequences for optimal expression in Proteobacteria, and then synthesized and engineered them into the genomes of three root-colonizing bacteria. Liquid culture assays revealed 41 engineered strains with high levels of phytate hydrolysis. Among these, we identified 12 strains across three bacterial hosts that confer a growth advantage on the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana when phytate is the sole phosphate source. These data demonstrate that DNA synthesis approaches can be used to generate plant-associated strains with novel phosphate-solubilizing capabilities.IMPORTANCE Phosphate fertilizers are essential for high-yield agriculture yet are costly and environmentally damaging. Microbes that release soluble phosphate from naturally occurring sources in the soil are appealing, as they may reduce the need for such fertilizers. In this study, we used synthetic biology approaches to create a collection of engineered root-associated microbes with the ability to release phosphate from phytate. We demonstrate that these strains improve plant growth under phosphorus-limited conditions. This represents a first step in the development of phosphate-mining bacteria for future use in crop systems.

BACKGROUND:Activated almonds are raw almonds that have been soaked in water for 12-24 h at room temperature, sometimes followed by a 24 h drying period at low temperature (50 ± 5 °C). This treatment is thought to enhance the nutrient bioavailability of almonds by degrading nutrient inhibitors, such as phytic acid or d-myo-inositol hexaphosphate (InsP6 ), through the release of phytase or passive diffusion of InsP6 into the soaking water. Over a wide pH range, InsP6 is a negatively charged compound that limits the absorption of essential nutrients by forming insoluble complexes with minerals such as iron and zinc. It is hypothesized that hydrating the seed during soaking triggers InsP6 degradation into lower myo-inositol phosphates with less binding capacity. RESULTS:Anion-exchange chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry was used to quantify myo-inositol mono-, di-, tris-, tetra-, penta-, and hexaphosphates (InsP1-6 ) in raw pasteurized activated almonds. At least 24 h of soaking at ambient temperature was required to reduce InsP6 content from 14.71 to 14.01 µmol g-1 . CONCLUSIONS:The reduction in InsP6 is statistically significant (P < 0.05) after 24 h of activation, but only represents a 4.75% decrease from the unsoaked almonds. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Phytate is widely distributed in the plant kingdom, and its significance for human nutrition has been often described. Data on phytate is available in very few composition tables, for a limited number of foods and mainly for raw products. With the aim of publishing the first global repository of analytical data on phytate, data on moisture, phytate, zinc, iron and calcium were compiled. Other aspects, such as the analytical method used, biodiversity and processing, were considered, and phytate: mineral ratios were calculated when possible. From a comprehensive literature search, over 250 references were compiled, generating 3377 entries: 39% for raw and 61% for processed foods. Most of the entries were for cereals (35%), followed by legumes (27%) and vegetables (11%). The most common analytical methods used were indirect precipitation (26%) and anion exchange (25%), while separate determination of IPs is the most recommended. The database can be used as a tool for nutrition workers to include into food composition tables and to develop programmes related to mineral deficiencies. These data will be useful for designing diets with enhanced mineral bioavailability and for improving the estimates for nutrient requirements. The database is available at the INFOODS (www.fao.org/infoods/infoods/tables-and-databases/en) and IZiNCG webpages (www.izincg.org).

Idag finns det flera hundra flamskyddsmedel på marknaden där en del är hälso- och miljöfarliga. Fytinsyra är en naturlig produkt från växtriket som är miljövänlig och icke-toxisk. Fytinsyra består till stor del av fosfor vilket gör att potential finns för ett grönt flamskyddsmedel vilket ska undersökas. Lösningar på 3 och 10 mass% fytinsyra har gjorts där sedan kalciumkloridhexahydrat, natriumhydroxid eller ammoniak med ett molförhållandet på 5 eller 12 har tillsatts. Tygbitarna, av bomull och polyester, doppades i lösningarna och torkades i 6 dagar för att sedan analyseras med ett ugnstest, förbränningstest, TGA och DSC. Bästa kombinationen för bomull blev när natrium tillsattes med ett molförhållande på 12 till 1. Denna lösning gav bäst resultat i förbränningstesten samt ger mest massa kvar enligt TGA analysen. Lösningen är även basisk vilket är bra då sura lösningar bryter ner bomullstyget. För bedömning av bästa kombinationen för polyester ligger DSC och TGA analyserna till grund. I DSC är det svårt att avgöra vilken lösning som är optimalast då natriumlösningarna höjer temperaturen för smältpunkten mycket medan effekten minskar som behövs för att smältningen ska äga rum har halverats i förhållande till obehandlad polyester. Däremot har effektförbrukningen för smältningen ökat för kalciumlösningarna medan temperaturen endast höjts någon grad. Därmed är det svårt att säga den optimala lösningen för polyester., Today there are several hundred flame retardants on the market where some are hazardous for the health and environment. Phytic acid is a natural product from the plant kingdom, which is environmentally friendly and non-toxic. Phytic acid consists largely of phosphorus, which means that there is potential for a green flame retardant which will be investigated in this report. Solutions of 3 and 10% by weight of phytic acid were made where calcium chloride hexahydrate, sodium hydroxide or ammonia having a molar ratio of 5 or 12 were added. The cotton and polyester fabric pieces were dipped in the solutions and dried for 6 days, then analyzed by use of an oven test, a combustion test, TGA and DSC tests. The best combination for cotton was when sodium was added at a molar ratio of 12 to 1. This solution yielded the best results in the combustion test, and left the most bulk in accordance with the TGA analysis. The solution is also basic, which is good as acidic solutions break down the cotton fabric. To assess the best combination for polyester, the DSC and TGA analyzes were used. In DSC it is difficult to determine which solution is optimal as the sodium solutions raises the temperature where melting occurs by a lot, but the power needed for melting is halved relative to untreated polyester. On the other hand, the calcium solutions have increased the power needed for melting, but the melting point was raised by only some degree. Thus it is difficult to say which the optimal solution for polyester is.

The objective of experiment was to determine the influence of different fertilizaers: mineral, organic and biofertilizer to phytic acid, Fe, Zn and Mn accumulation in maize with different grain color. Fe, Zn and Mn concentrations in grain depend on year, while Pphy has low variability. Red maize was characterised with the highest Fe and Zn values, while yellow had the highest Mn value. Fertilization could improve Fe, Zn and Mn accumulation in maize grain, mainly application of biofertilizer or cropping without fertilization, thus underlining importance of low-input technologies.

The use of graphene and conductive polyaniline nanomaterials in the field of electrochemistry is increasing due to their excellent conductivity, rapid electron transfer and high specific surface area. However, these properties are strongly dependent on the preparation processes. To accelerate the development of advanced electrochemical sensors for the simultaneous detection of trace amounts of heavy metal ions, two facile and green methods are proposed to improve their performance in this thesis. The first one was dedicated to make graphene-carbon nanotube hybrid nanocomposites. The introduction of carbon nanotubes not only greatly enhances the conductivity of graphene but also suppresses, to some degree, the aggregation between graphene nanosheets. Another method proposed in this thesis work was to synthesize a phytic acid doped polyaniline nanofiber based nanocomposite. The synergistic contribution from polyaniline nanofibers and phytic acid enhances the accumulation efficiency and the charge transfer rate of metal ions during the differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry analysis. The above-mentioned nanocomposite modified electrodes were all successfully applied to real samples for the simultaneous detection of Cd2+ and Pb2+ with good recovery rates. Meanwhile, corrosion protection is another important branch in the field of electrochemistry. In this direction, an active alkyd-polyaniline composite coating with self-healing functionality was prepared. The polyaniline used in this thesis was doped with p-toluene sulfonic acid, which was employed to increase the conductivity of polyaniline, and 1 wt.% of as-prepared polyaniline nanoparticles were found to offer an effective conductive network for anticorrosion. Finally, the reasons that such low loading levels of nanomaterials can result in significantly reinforced properties in nanocomposites were studied with combined atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques. The results demonstrated that the interphase fo, QC 20170315

BackgroundFood fortification has been recommended to improve a population's micronutrient status. Biofortification techniques modestly elevate the zinc content of cereals, but few studies have reported a positive impact on functional indicators of zinc status.ObjectiveWe determined the impact of a modest increase in dietary zinc that was similar to that provided by biofortification programs on whole-body and cellular indicators of zinc status.DesignEighteen men participated in a 6-wk controlled consumption study of a low-zinc, rice-based diet. The diet contained 6 mg Zn/d for 2 wk and was followed by 10 mg Zn/d for 4 wk. To reduce zinc absorption, phytate was added to the diet during the initial period. Indicators of zinc homeostasis, including total absorbed zinc (TAZ), the exchangeable zinc pool (EZP), plasma and cellular zinc concentrations, zinc transporter gene expression, and other metabolic indicators (i.e., DNA damage, inflammation, and oxidative stress), were measured before and after each dietary-zinc period.ResultsTAZ increased with increased dietary zinc, but plasma zinc concentrations and EZP size were unchanged. Erythrocyte and leukocyte zinc concentrations and zinc transporter expressions were not altered. However, leukocyte DNA strand breaks decreased with increased dietary zinc, and the level of proteins involved in DNA repair and antioxidant and immune functions were restored after the dietary-zinc increase.ConclusionsA moderate 4-mg/d increase in dietary zinc, similar to that which would be expected from zinc-biofortified crops, improves zinc absorption but does not alter plasma zinc. The repair of DNA strand breaks improves, as do serum protein concentrations that are associated with the DNA repair process. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02861352.

The Yersinia outer protein J (YopJ) family of bacterial effectors depends on a novel acetyltransferase domain to acetylate signalling proteins from plant and animal hosts. However, the underlying mechanism is unclear. Here, we report the crystal structures of PopP2, a YopJ effector produced by the plant pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum, in complex with inositol hexaphosphate (InsP6), acetyl-coenzyme A (AcCoA) and/or substrate Resistance to Ralstonia solanacearum 1 (RRS1-R)WRKY. PopP2 recognizes the WRKYGQK motif of RRS1-RWRKY to position a targeted lysine in the active site for acetylation. Importantly, the PopP2-RRS1-RWRKY association is allosterically regulated by InsP6 binding, suggesting a previously unidentified role of the eukaryote-specific cofactor in substrate interaction. Furthermore, we provide evidence for the reaction intermediate of PopP2-mediated acetylation, an acetyl-cysteine covalent adduct, lending direct support to the 'ping-pong'-like catalytic mechanism proposed for YopJ effectors. Our study provides critical mechanistic insights into the virulence activity of YopJ class of acetyltransferases.