Domain organization and phylogenetic analysis of proteins from the chitin deacetylase gene family of Tribolium castaneum and three other species of insects

Adaptation of polyphenol oxidase measuring methods (AACCI Method 22-85) for wheat meal and flour and their relationship to alkaline noodle color Noodle color is a critical sensory attribute in raw noodles. Darkening of noodles is due to the polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, which is a concern for the noodle industry and breeders. A method for measuring PPO activity of wheat kernels has been approved by the AACCI, but no detailed procedures were elucidated for measuring PPO activity of wheat meal and flour. Here we modified that PPO method (AACCI Method 22-85) for whole wheat meal and refined flour, and measured PPO on 76 samples of wheat kernels, meals, and flours. The modified method was less time consuming (10 min vs. 60 min for reaction time) and less laborious. The modified PPO test for wheat meal provided the most reliable data, followed by flour, and kernel. The values of wheat meal PPO obtained from the modified method showed the similar trend to the ones from the wheat kernel method. The wheat meal PPO was the best indicator of discoloration of alkaline noodle. Contact: Bradford Seabourn, Telephone 785-776-2751, [email protected] Domain organization and phylogenetic analysis of proteins from the chitin deacetylase gene family of Tribolium castaneum and three other species of insects Chitin is the main component of insect exoskeleton, conferring both rigidity and flexibility, and protecting the insect from injury, predation, infection, and desiccation. Chitin is also the major component of a membrane that coats the lining of the midgut, protecting it from abrasion and self-digestion. Until recently, very little has been known about the enzymes that are needed for modifying the the properties of the freshly-synthesized, raw chitin to form the finished product with all its variations according to the requirements in the various body regions for cuticle that is either hard or soft, stiff or flexible, thick or thin. We used bioinformatics to identify nine different chitin deacetylase genes in the red flour beetle. Each of these enzymes appears to have a different function, and to modify the properties of cuticle in different regions of the insect exoskeleton. Each of these newly-discovered genes can become a target in screening assays for new biopesticides that disrupt molting and related physiological processes. Contact: Richard Beeman, Telephone 785-776-2710, [email protected] Sign up for our e-mail distribution at [email protected].