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Asparagine in plums detected by CEST-MRI
Rachele Podda1, Daniela Delli Castelli2, Giuseppe Digilio3
1Center of Competence for the Innovation in the Agro-Environmental Sector (AGROINNOVA), University of Torino, Via Leonardo da Vinci, 44, 10095 Grugliasco, Torino, Italy.
Food Chemistry
|September 20, 2014
Summary
Chemical exchange saturation transfer MRI (CEST-MRI) reveals chemical composition in plums, not just structure. This technique detects asparagine and pH changes, offering new insights into fruit quality.
Area of Science:
- Biophysical Chemistry
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Food Science
Background:
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) traditionally analyzes water signal distribution for fruit structural changes (ripening, storage, infection).
- Limitations exist in MRI's ability to provide detailed chemical information about fruit internal composition.
Purpose of the Study:
- Introduce Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer MRI (CEST-MRI) for enhanced chemical analysis in fruits.
- Investigate the potential of CEST-MRI to detect specific chemical compounds and their concentrations in plums.
Main Methods:
- Utilized CEST-MRI to target amide proton resonances of asparagine in plums.
- Applied radiofrequency (rf) fields to transfer saturated magnetization from asparagine to bulk water.
- Measured signal intensity changes to quantify proton exchange and infer local pH.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated CEST-MRI's capability to detect asparagine (10-20mM) in plums via its amide protons.
- Showed that signal intensity changes correlate with the extent of proton exchange between asparagine and water.
- Confirmed that local pH modulates the observed proton exchange rate.
Conclusions:
- CEST-MRI provides valuable chemical information beyond structural insights in fruit analysis.
- This technique can non-invasively detect and quantify specific metabolites like asparagine in plums.
- CEST-MRI offers a promising tool for assessing fruit quality and physiological status through chemical profiling.
