Comparisons of Protein Composition of Grains at Different Positions in Panicles between Erect and Curved Panicle Type Japonica Rice

Under field conditions, three erect panicle type japonica dee cultivars and three curved panicle type japonica rice cultivars were applied as experimental materials to investigate the differences of protein composition of grains at different positions in panicles between two different panicle types of japonica rice. Accord- ing to the results, the panicle type of japonica rice had no direct correlation with albumin content, globulin content, prolamin content and glutelin content in rice, variations of protein composition of grains at different positions in panicles. There were certain correlations between soluble protein contents at different grain posi- tions in the same panicle and the flowering order of glumous flowers in the panicle. Albumin content, prolamin content and glutelin content in grains on secondary rachis branches of two panicle types （erect and curved） of japonica rice cuhivars were higher than that on primary rachis branches, while globulin content exhibited an opposite trend. Globulin content, prolamin content and glutelin content in grains at different positions demonstrated a descending order of bottom 〉 middle 〉 top, while albumin content exhibited an opposite trend. The interactions between primary and secondary rachis branches and among top, middle and bottom rachis branches significantly affected soluble protein contents.

The potential of legume-derived proteins in the food industry

Legume-derived proteins present an opportunity to replace existing animal-source protein in various applications. Those proteins are abundant, relatively lowcost, sustainable, not highly allergenic, and widely acceptable by consumers. In this paper, it was found that legume-derived protein’s technofunctional properties(e.g. gelation, emulsification and foaming) are being investigated, in order to assess their ability to substitute for animal-derived proteins in food systems and applications. This paper reviewed the functional attributes of legume-derived proteins, their possible applications in food systems, and their potential in the food industry. The techno-functional properties of the proteins vary among different legumes, and while some proteins properties are sufficient for industrial uses, the other may need to be modified. It was concluded that legume-derived proteins could replace some existing animal-derived protein based food systems.

Degradation of Cry1Ab Protein Within Transgenic Bt Maize Tissue by Composite Microbial System of MC1

Environmental safety issues involved in transgenic plants have become the concern of researchers, practitioners and policy makers in recent years. Potential differences between Bt maize（ND1324 and ND2353 expressing the insecticidal Cry1Ab protein） and near-isogenic non-Bt varieties（ND1392 and ND223） in their influence on the composite microbial system of MC1 during the fermentation process were studied during 2011-2012. Cry1Ab protein in Bt maize residues didn＇t affect characteristics of lignocellulose degradation by MC1, pH of fermentation broth decreasing at initial stage and increasing at later stage of degradation. The quality of various volatile products in fermentation broth showed that no signifi cant difference of residues fermentation existed between Bt maize and non-Bt maize. During the fermentation MC1 efficiently degraded maize residues by 83%-88%, and cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin content decreased by 70%-72%, 72%-75% and 30%-37%, respectively. Besides that, no consistent difference was found between Bt and non-Bt maize residues lignocellulose degradation by MC1 during the fermentation process. MC1 degraded 88%-89% Cry1Ab protein in Bt maize residues, and in the fermentation broth of MC1 and bacteria of MC1 Cry1Ab protein was not detected. DGGE profi le analyses revealed that the microbial community drastically changed during 1-3 days and became stable until the 9th day. Though the dominant strains at different fermentation stages had signifi cantly changed, no difference on the dominant strains was observed between Bt and non-Bt maize at different stages. Our study indicated that Cry1Ab protein did not infl uence the growth characteristic of MC1.