February 2015

Glycated proteins: Clinical utility and analytical approaches

The binding of glucose to serum proteins in a non-enzymatic reaction occurs proportionately to the prevailing serum glucose concentration during the lifespan of each protein. The non-enzymatic reaction of proteins with reducing sugars results in the formation of glycated proteins that are indicative of the relative amount of reducing sugars present. Hemoglobin, albumin, lipoproteins and other tissue proteins can be...

Author(s): Yoseph Cherinet Megerssa and Demo Yemane Tesfaye

February 2015

Characterization of partially purified cysteine protease inhibitor from Tetracarpidium conophorum (African walnut)

Cysteine protease inhibitors (CPIs) have been known to be present in a variety of seeds of plants, and have been intensively studied as useful tools for potential utilization in pharmacology. This study reports the isolation of CPI from Tetracarpidium conophorum by 65% ammonium sulphate saturation, followed by ion exchange chromatography; further purification was by gel filtration chromatography. The molecular weight of...

Author(s): Obayomi, A., Adeola, S. A., Bankole, H. A. and Raimi, O. G.,

February 2015

Effects of sound waves on the enzyme activity of rice-koji

Rice-koji is an important agent for the saccharification of fermented food production in Japan. In koji-making, temperature, humidity, light and oxygen are important environmental factors. However, there is no report of koji-making controlled by sound wave. In this study, focusing on the enzyme activity of rice-koji, we confirmed the relationship between enzyme activity and frequency of sound waves. Here, the enzyme...

Author(s): Noriaki Saigusa, Seika Imayama and Yuji Teramoto