RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Artisanal 'Coalho' cheese is a product typically popular in the Brazilian north-eastern region. Production of this cheese represents about 9.2% of the internal crude product of Pernambuco State. Several peptides are generated from hydrolysis of αS1 -, αS2 -, ß-, and κ-caseins during manufacture of this cheese. The commercial importance of Brazilian artisanal 'Coalho' cheese justifies the examination of both the protein and peptide profiles of cheeses from six cities of the semi-arid region of Pernambuco State, Brazil. RESULTS: SDS-PAGE of the aqueous extracts of 'Coalho' cheeses (WSP) showed bands of lactoferrin, ß-lactoglobulin, ß-lactoglobulin (dimer), α-lactoalbumin, bovine serum albumin, α-casein, ß-casein, κ-casein and para-κ-casein. A total of 57 to 72 peptides were confirmed by mass spectra in the different samples of 'Coalho' cheese which 32 known peptides (11 from αS1 -casein, three from αS2 -casein, 15 from ß-casein and three from κ-casein), comprising seven caseinphosphopeptides. Among the unidentified peptides, three showed high intensity peaks in all 'Coalho' cheeses studied (with molecular weights of 1597, 1725/1726, 2778/2779 Da). CONCLUSION: The proteomic studies revealed peptides that may represent molecular markers or fingerprints for investigating the quality control and regional characterisation of these 'Coalho' cheeses. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
Assuntos
Queijo/análise , Dieta , Qualidade dos Alimentos , Proteínas do Leite/análise , Fragmentos de Peptídeos/análise , Animais , Biomarcadores/análise , Brasil , Bovinos , Clima Desértico , Dieta/etnologia , Inspeção de Alimentos/métodos , Humanos , Proteínas do Leite/química , Proteínas do Leite/metabolismo , Peso Molecular , Oligopeptídeos/análise , Oligopeptídeos/química , Oligopeptídeos/metabolismo , Fragmentos de Peptídeos/química , Fragmentos de Peptídeos/metabolismo , Mapeamento de Peptídeos , Fosfoproteínas/análise , Fosfoproteínas/química , Fosfoproteínas/metabolismo , Proteólise , Proteômica/métodos , Solubilidade , Espectrometria de Massas por Ionização e Dessorção a Laser Assistida por MatrizRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Portal hypertension in the mucosa of the intestine and the presence of granulomas in the wall of this organ can alter digestive function in patients with schistosomiasis. Citrulline is a potential marker of intestinal function in some diseases that affect the morphometry of the mucosa because of its close association with enterocytes. The aims of the present study were to determine serum citrulline concentrations in mice with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis, analyze the morphologic repercussions for the mucosa of the small intestine, correlate citrulline concentrations with morphometric changes in the intestinal mucosa, and evaluate the effect of splenectomy on citrulline concentration. METHODS: After approval from the local ethics committee, 46 adult female albino Swiss mice were divided into two groups: Control (23 healthy mice) and experimental (23 mice with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis). Blood samples were collected for the analysis of plasma citrulline before and after splenectomy. A segment of the jejunum was resected for morphometric analysis. RESULTS: The average body mass in the control group was greater than that in the experimental group (p = 0.00062). The average citrulline concentration in the control group was greater than that in the experimental group both before and after splenectomy (p < 0.001). In the experimental group, the villi had less height and area, and there was a smaller perimeter of the mucosal surface (p = 0.003, <0.001, and p = 0.001, respectively). There was a direct correlation between citrulline concentration and the height and area of the villi (p = 0.003 and 0.04, respectively). There was no correlation between citrulline concentration and the perimeter of the surface of the jejunal mucosa. After splenectomy, there was a reduction in the mean citrulline concentration in the experimental group (p = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Serum citrulline concentrations were reduced in mice with schistosomiasis, and a direct correlation was found between the citrulline concentration and the morphometry of the jejunal villi. Moreover, there was a reduction in the plasma concentration of citrulline after splenectomy.