Czech Journal of Food Sciences, 2006 (vol. 24), issue 2
Biosynthesis of food constituents: Amino acids: 2. The alanine-valine-leucine, serine-cysteine-glycine, and aromatic and heterocyclic amino acids groups - a review
Jan Velíšek, Karel Cejpek
Czech J. Food Sci., 2006, 24(2):45-58 | DOI: 10.17221/3299-CJFS 
This review article gives a survey of principal pathways that lead to the biosynthesis of the proteinogenic amino acids of the alanine-valine-leucine group starting with pyruvic acid from the glycolytic pathway and serine-cysteine-glycine group starting with 3-phospho-d-glyceric acid from the glycolytic pathway. A survey is further given to the aromatic and heterocyclic amino acids (phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, histidine) starting with 3-phosphoenolpyruvic acid from the glycolytic pathway and d-erythrose 4-phosphate, an intermediate in the pentose phosphate cycle and Calvin cycle.
Biosynthesis of food constituents: Amino acids. 3. Modified proteinogenic amino acids - a review
Jan Velíšek, Karel Cejpek
Czech J. Food Sci., 2006, 24(2):59-61 | DOI: 10.17221/3300-CJFS
This review article gives a survey of principal pathways that lead to the biosynthesis of the modified principal proteinogenic amino acids, i.e. cystine, 4-hydroxyproline, 5-hydroxylysine, 3-methylhistidine, and O-phosphoserine. Except the proteinogenic amino acids, peptides and proteins often contain several unusual amino acids arising by specific modifications (e.g. oxidation or esterification) of amino acid residues present in the already synthesised polypeptide chain. The post-translational products include, e.g., the oxidation of the thiol groups of two cysteine residues to form a disulfide bridge (cystine), thus allowing cross-linking...
The status of micronutrients (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn) in tea and tea infusions in selected samples imported to the Czech Republic
Renée Street, Jiřina Száková, Ondřej Drábek, Lenka Mládková
Czech J. Food Sci., 2006, 24(2):62-71 | DOI: 10.17221/3301-CJFS
A total of 30 tea samples of different origins, thirteen green tea samples, thirteen black tea samples, two semi-fermented tea samples and one white tea, imported to the Czech Republic, were collected and analysed for the total content of copper, iron, manganese, and zinc in tea leaves and tea infusions. The total contents of metals in tea leaves differ according to the type of tea (green or black) and are probably influenced by many other factors, e.g. soil properties. The total contents of Mn were much higher compared to the total contents of Cu, Fe, and Zn, and varied between 511-2220 mg/kg. To compare easily hot water soluble concentrations of...
Antimutagenic effect of curcumin and its effect on the immune response in mice
Petr Šmerák, Zdeňka Polívková, Helena Šestáková, Rudolf Štětina, Ivo Bárta, Martina Langová, Bohumil Turek, Jiřina Bártová
Czech J. Food Sci., 2006, 24(2):72-83 | DOI: 10.17221/3302-CJFS
A wide array of antioxidative and anti-inflammatory substances derived from edible plants have been reported to possess chemopreventive and chemoprotective activities. Among the most extensively investigated and well-defined dietary chemopreventives is curcumin. Using the Ames test and in vivo micronucleus test, chemiluminescence test, blastic transformation test, and comet assay, we examined the antimutagenic effects of the chemically identified chemoprotective substance curcumin (diferuloylmethane) in the pure form on mutagenicity induced by three reference mutagens: aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), 2-amino-3-metylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline...
Monitoring of pesticide residues in apples from Slovakia for baby food production
Milena Dömötörová, Andrea Hercegová, Eva Matisová
Czech J. Food Sci., 2006, 24(2):84-92 | DOI: 10.17221/3303-CJFS
There is a basic lack of information about the presence of pesticide residues in apples obtained from farms in Slovakia collaborating with baby food producer. Residues of several pesticides (widely used for the protection on apple trees) have been determined in apples (a common raw material for the baby food production and baby food) from Slovakia (agricultural area in the South of Slovakia). The analysis of the pesticides was performed by gas chromatography on CP-Sil 5 CB (15 m long, 0.15 mm I.D., film thickness 0.15 μm) with normal bore retention gap (1 m long, 0.32 mm I.D.) using the subsequent determination with MS detector in SIM mode, after...