O Cremades | PubMed Health

PubMed2001

Processing of crawfish (Procambarus clarkii) for the preparation of carotenoproteins and chitin.

Crawfish carotenoproteins and chitin are obtained by a combined process based on flotation-sedimentation and in situ lactic acid production. The carotenoprotein PF(1) obtained has a high content in essential amino acids, w-3-fatty acids, and carotene (mainly astaxanthin) and constitutes an excellent nutritional source for patients with malnutrition. The carotenoprotein PF(2) has a lower nutritional quality but with a substantial carotene content can be used as a feed for animals where coloration is required, such as salmon and trout bred under aquaculture. Chemical and spectrometric (FTIR and (13)C NMR) characterization shows the obtained chitin to be of high quality, similar to that available commercially, for medical and nutritional uses.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Brain mitochondrial complex I inactivation by oxidative modification.

In vitro oxidation of the brain mitochondrial complex I by the hydroxyl radical generating system ascorbate/Fe(III)/O(2) has been carried out. Complex I inactivation, by oxidation, has been studied using a method based on the resolution of proteins by blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (BN-PAGE), followed by total protein quantification by staining with Coomassie brilliant blue, in-gel activity quantification, and quantification of oxidized proteins by labelling with DIG-hydrazide and immunodetection with an anti-DIG-AP. Quantification was carried out by densitometry procedure. Our results show that oxidation is a continuous process, increasing rapidly at the beginning, reaching a plateau after 8 h of incubation. There is practically no inactivation until a threshold value of damage is reached. Below this, the complex activity is resistant to the aggression of oxygen-reactive substances and free radicals, but once the threshold value is passed, activity is lost rapidly.

Animals↗