Tyrosine fluorescence in native proteins is known to be effectively quenched, whereas its emission increases upon proteins' unfolding. This suggests that tyrosine fluorescence could be exploited for probing structural rearrangements of proteins in addition to the extensively used tryptophan emission. We studied the possibility of using tyrosine fluorescence as an indicator of surfactant-induced...

Although details of the molecular mechanisms for the uptake of the essential nutrient zinc into the bloodstream and its subsequent delivery to zinc-requiring organs and cells are poorly understood, it is clear that in vertebrates the majority of plasma zinc (9-14 microM; approx. 75-85%) is bound to serum albumin, constituting part of the so-called exchangeable pool. The binding of metal ions to...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Allergen extracts are still widely used in allergy diagnosis as they are regarded as sensitive screening tools despite the fact that they may lack some minor allergens. Another drawback of extracts is their low specificity, which is due to the presence of cross-reactive allergens. Progress in allergen identification has disclosed a number of allergenic molecules of homologous ...

2 residues of trytophan per molecule of the protein, whereas all albumins in the poisoned monkeys, whether of normal size or low-molecular weight, contained less tryptophan, this amino acid being absent entirely in the minialbumins of both serum and urine. Serum albumin of the usual molecular weight (66,ooo) in the cadmium-poisoned monkeys contained approximately 30% less tryptophan than its no...

Iron (Fe) is an essential element for human nutrition, and its deficiency or low hemoglobin levels are a global health issue. Strategies aimed at increasing the amounts of essential elementals in agricultural products, as sprouts of adzuki bean (Vigna angularis), can be a way to minimize deficiencies, mainly in the populations of developing countries. Therefore, in this work was evaluated: prod...

That a central immunological unresponsive state exists to our own body constituents is widely accepted. The precise role played by the various cell types of the lymphoid system in the maintenance or abrogation of this unresponsiveness to self remains unclear. A large number of nonself-antigens require the collaboration of thymus-derived (T) and bone marrow-derived (B) lymphocytes (1, 2). Althou...

BACKGROUND Controversy exists regarding occurrence and measurement of structural variants of albumin in urine. In this study, we examined cross-reactivity of in vitro modified albumins in assays for urine albumin (microalbumin). METHODS We analyzed albumin modified by reagents, trypsin, or physical treatments or differing in primary sequence (animal albumins) with an immunoturbidimetric assay...

Thioredoxin, a ubiquitous 12-kDa regulatory disulfide protein, was found to reduce disulfide bonds of allergens (convert S-S to 2 SH) and thereby mitigate the allergenicity of commercial wheat preparations. Allergenic strength was determined by skin tests with a canine model for food allergy. Statistically significant mitigation was observed with 15 of 16 wheat-sensitive animals. The allergenic...

Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are among the main sources of protein and minerals. The cooking of the grains is imperative, due to reduction of the effect of some toxic and antinutritional substances, as well as increase of protein digestibility. In this study, the effects of cooking on albumins, globulins, prolamins, and glutelins concentration and determination of Fe associated with proteins f...