Development of a method for searching novel reactive sulfur species in foods

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K19159
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 38:Agricultural chemistry and related fields
• Research Institution: Osaka Metropolitan University
• Principal Investigator: Ihara Hideshi 大阪公立大学, 大学院理学研究科, 教授 (60254447)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-06-30 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 活性硫黄分子 / アルキル化剤補足法 / TME-IAM / HPLC-MSMS

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In recent years, the biological significance of reactive sulfur species (RSS) in higher animals has become apparent. Since food is the source of sulfur and RSS, it is important to scientifically evaluate the pattern of distribution of RSS in food. However, the detection methods for RSS in food have not been established, and are largely unidentified. The aim of this study was to establish a method to comprehensively search for unidentified RSS in foods by improving the alkylating agent capture method using TME-IAM, a novel labeling reagent developed by the applicant specifically for RSS analysis. As a result, several novel molecules other than known RSS were identified in broccoli sprouts. Their distribution patterns differed from foods, and from growth stages.

Free Research Field

レドックスバイオロジー

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

これまでに食品中に含まれるRSSに関する知見はほとんどなかった。本申請研究では、応募者が開発した技術を駆使し、新規RSSを網羅的に解析する方法を確立した。本申請研究で得られる知見は、RSSを基軸としたレドックスバイオロジー分野の発展に貢献し、さらに従来の食品科学分野にRSSという新たな概念を導入するブレークスルーとなり、学術体系を変換・転換させ、食品科学を飛躍的に発展させる潜在性を有すると考えられる。
本申請研究で確立した食品中RSSの網羅的同定法は、今後新たな食品評価、機能性評価を可能にすることで将来の食品業界の発展に貢献することが期待される。