多过敏原检测:测定独特的坚果及树生坚果多肽标记物
The presence of hidden nut and tree nut allergens in foods can result in serioushealth issues, necessitating a method capable of detecting and quantifying them attrace levels using a single robust assay. To find specific peptide markers that can beused to determine the presence or absence of specific nuts in food, proteins uniqueto11 tree nuts (almond, pecan, cashew, walnut, hazelnut, pine nut, brazil nut,macadamia nut, pine nut, chestnut, and coconut) and peanut were enzymaticallydigested and analyzed using accurate-mass Q-TOF LC/MS. Each marker peptide wasselected by establishing its presence in raw and roasted nuts, processed andunprocessed food, abundance (sensitivity), sequence size, and uniqueness to a specific nut. The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) nr databasesearches were performed to confirm peptide identities, and to ensure that themarker peptides chosen were not present in other nuts or common food ingredientssuch as barley, corn, rice, soy, and wheat. Two marker peptides were selected foreach tree nut, and four were selected for peanuts. Analysis of peptide digests fromgrains such as barley, corn, rice, quinoa, soy, and wheat did not present interfer-ences. The peptide markers were tested to determine if they could be used toscreen common foods for the presence of the 11 tree nuts and peanut at sub-ppmlevels. Foods containing nuts as listed on the label showed a response for the cor-rect nut. Foods processed using equipment also used to process other tree nuts orpeanuts were in certain cases found to contain these other nuts.