Gilles Feron

French National Institute for Agricultural Research, Paris, Ile-de-France, France

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Publications (14)22.59 Total impact

  • Article: Variability of human saliva composition: possible relationships with fat perception and liking.
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    ABSTRACT: Saliva is the medium that bathes the taste receptors in the oral cavity and in which aroma and taste compounds are released when food is eaten. Moreover saliva contains enzymes and molecules that can interact with food. To date, little research has been devoted to the intra- and inter-individual variabilities of these components and their inter-relationships. The first aim of this work was to study intra- and inter-individual variabilities over time in the composition of molecules likely to interact with food in the mouth, with particular focus on molecules that might interact with fat. The second aim was to try to relate this composition to a liking for fat and its perception. Stimulated and unstimulated saliva from 13 subjects was collected in the morning and afternoon on three occasions at 4-month intervals. Saliva characteristics such as flow, protein concentration, lipolysis, proteolysis, amylolysis, lipocalin concentration, lysozyme activity, total antioxidant status and uric acid concentrations were measured, as well as the liking for and perceived fattiness of a fat solution. The results showed that for most of the measured characteristics, intra-subject variability in saliva composition was smaller than inter-subject variability, with remarkable stability over time (8 months) in terms of flow, lypolysis, proteolysis and total antioxidant status. Relationships were found between some of these characteristics (lipolysis, lipocalin and flow) and fat-liking or perception, showing that the composition of saliva may play an important role in fat perception and liking.
    Archives of oral biology 10/2011; 57(5):556-66. · 1.65 Impact Factor
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    Article: In-mouth mechanisms leading to flavor release and perception.
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    ABSTRACT: During eating, foods are submitted to two main oral processes-chewing, including biting and crushing with teeth, and progressive impregnation by saliva resulting in the formation of a cohesive bolus and swallowing of the bolus. Texture influences the chewing behavior, including mastication and salivation, and in turn, these parameters influence texture perception and bolus formation. During this complex mouth process, flavor compounds are progressively released from the food matrix. This phenomenon is mainly dependent on the food texture, the composition and in-mouth breakdown, and on saliva impregnation and activity, but an individual's anatomical and physiological aspects characteristics should also be taken into account. This article reviews the knowledge and progresses on in-mouth processes leading to food breakdown and flavor release and affecting perception. Relationships between food texture and composition, food breakdown, oral physiology, and flavor release are developed and discussed. This review includes not only the mechanical aspects of oral physiology but also the biological aspects such as the influence of saliva composition, activity, and regulation on flavor perception. In vitro and in silico approaches are also described.
    Critical reviews in food science and nutrition 01/2011; 51(1):67-90. · 3.73 Impact Factor
  • Article: Influence of composition (CO2 and sugar) on aroma release and perception of mint-flavored carbonated beverages.
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    ABSTRACT: The aim of the present work was to identify and quantify physical mechanisms responsible for in-nose aroma release during the consumption of mint-flavored carbonated beverages in order to better understand how they are perceived. The effect of two composition factors (sugar and CO(2)) was investigated on both the sensory and physicochemical properties of drinks by studying in vitro and in vivo aroma release. Sensory results revealed that the presence of CO(2) increased aroma perception regardless of the sugar content. In agreement with volatility parameters, in vivo measurements showed that carbonated drinks released a greater quantity of aroma compounds in the nose space than non-carbonated ones. CO(2) seemed thus to induce large modifications of the physicochemical mechanisms responsible for the aroma release and flavor perception of soft drinks. Moreover, sugar content seemed to have an impact (increase) on aroma perception only in the case of non-carbonated beverages. Sensory interactions were thus observed, in particular, between sweet and aroma perceptions. For carbonated beverages, sugar content had an impact only on aroma release, but not on their perception.
    Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 07/2009; 57(13):5891-8. · 2.82 Impact Factor
  • Article: Gaseous environments modify reserve carbohydrate contents and cell survival in the brewing yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
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    ABSTRACT: The use of H(2), He and O(2) during batch fermentation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae BRAS291 increased the final intracellular glycogen contents of the cells from 2-fold to 10-fold compared with a gas-free condition, and this depended on the gas applied. Differently, the intracellular trehalose contents increased from 2-fold to 10-fold in reducing conditions compared with more oxidizing conditions. During storage at 4 degrees C, the viability of cells cultivated with gas was twice that of cells cultivated without gas. These results could be explained by the intracellular carbohydrate contents as well as yeast ultrastructural modifications observed previously.
    Biotechnology Letters 03/2008; 30(2):287-94. · 1.68 Impact Factor
  • Article: Metabolism of fatty acid in yeast: addition of reducing agents to the reaction medium influences beta-oxidation activities, gamma-decalactone production, and cell ultrastructure in Sporidiobolus ruinenii cultivated on ricinoleic acid methyl ester.
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    ABSTRACT: The sensitivity of Sporidiobolus ruinenii yeast to the use of reducing agents, reflected in changes in the oxidoreduction potential at pH 7 (Eh7) environment, ricinoleic acid methyl ester catabolism, gamma-decalactone synthesis, cofactor level, beta-oxidation activity, and ultrastructure of the cell, was studied. Three environmental conditions (corresponding to oxidative, neutral, and reducing conditions) were fixed with the use of air or air and reducing agents (hydrogen and dithiothreitol). Lowering Eh7 to neutral conditions (Eh7 = +30 mV and +2.5 mV) favoured the production of lactone more than the more oxidative condition (Eh7 = +350 mV). In contrast, when a reducing condition was used (Eh7 = -130 mV), the production of gamma-decalactone was very low. These results were linked to changes in the cofactor ratio during lactone production, to the beta-oxidation activity involved in decanolide synthesis, and to ultrastructural modification of the cell.
    Canadian Journal of Microbiology 07/2007; 53(6):738-49. · 1.36 Impact Factor
  • Article: Metabolism of ricinoleic acid into γ‐decalactone: β‐oxidation and long chain acyl intermediates of ricinoleic acid in the genus Sporidiobolus sp.
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    ABSTRACT: In order to study differences in -decalactone production in yeast, four species of Sporidiobolus were cultivated with 5% of methyl ricinoleate as the lactone substrate. In vivo studies showed different time courses of intermediates of ricinoleic acid breakdown between the four species. In vitro studies of the β-oxidation system were conducted with crude cell extracts of Sporidiobolus spp. and with ricinoleyl-CoA (RCoA) as substrate. The β-oxidation was detected by measuring acyl-CoA oxidase, 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase activities, and acetyl-CoA production. The time courses of the CoA esters resulting from RCoA breakdown by crude extract of Sporidiobolus spp. permit the proposal of different metabolic models in the yeast. These models explained the differences observed during in vivo studies.
    FEMS Microbiology Letters 01/2006; 188(1):69 - 74. · 2.04 Impact Factor
  • Article: Metabolism of fatty acid in yeast: characterisation of beta-oxidation and ultrastructural changes in the genus Sporidiobolus sp. cultivated on ricinoleic acid methyl ester.
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    ABSTRACT: Cell structure modifications and beta-oxidation induction were monitored in two strains of Sporidiobolus, Sp. Ruinenii and Sp. pararoseus after cultivation on ricinoleic acid methyl ester. Ultrastructural observations of the yeast before and after cultivation on fatty acid esters did not reveal major modifications in Sp. ruinenii. Unexpectedly, in Sp. pararoseus a proliferation of the mitochondrion was observed. After induction, Sp. ruinenii principally exhibited an increase in the activities of acyl-CoA oxidase (ACO), hydroxyacyl-CoA deshydrogenase (HAD), thiolase and catalase. In contrast, Sp. pararoseus lacked ACO and catalase activities, but an increase in acyl-CoA deshydrogenase (ACDH) and enoyl-CoA hydratase (ECH) activity was observed. These data suggest that in Sp. ruinenii, beta-oxidation is preferentially localized in the microbody, whereas in Sp. pararoseus it might be localized in the mitochondria.
    FEMS Microbiology Letters 10/2005; 250(1):63-9. · 2.04 Impact Factor
  • Article: Addition of reducing agent dithiothreitol improves 4-decanolide synthesis by the genus Sporidiobolus
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    ABSTRACT: Two species of the genus Sporidiobolus, S. johnsonii and S. ruinenii, were used to study the effect of the reducing agent, dithiothreitol (DTT), on 4-decanolide production using ricinoleic acid as the substrate. The results indicate that the addition of DTT into the cultures significantly enhanced 4-decanolide biosynthesis by the two species.
    Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering 02/2000; · 1.79 Impact Factor
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    Article: Influence of cell immobilization on the production of benzaldehyde and benzyl alcohol by the white-rot fungi Bjerkandera adusta , Ischnoderma benzoinum and Dichomitus squalens
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    ABSTRACT: Three white-rot basidiomycetes, Bjerkandera adusta, Ischnoderma benzoinum and Dichomitus squalens, were cultivated on a liquid medium supplemented with l-phenylalanine, a precursor for benzaldehyde (bitter almond aroma) and benzyl alcohol. Remarkable amounts of benzaldehyde (587 mg l−1) were found in cultures of B. adusta. Immobilization of this fungus on polyurethane foam cubes allowed an 8.3-fold increase of the production of benzaldehyde and a 15-fold increase of the productivity as compared with non-immobilized cells. Aryl-alcohol oxidase activity was only detected in B. adusta. This activity was also significantly enhanced in immobilized cells, suggesting that it plays an important role in benzaldehyde biosynthesis. Conversely, consistent amounts of benzyl alcohol (340 mg l−1 for B. adusta and I. benzoinum and 100 mg l−1 for D. squalens) were produced by the three fungi when immobilized. Laccase activity was found only in the strains I. benzoinum and D. squalens. This activity was markedly enhanced in free cells cultures. Immobilization of the fungi did not promote benzyl alcohol production by comparison with free cell cultures (500 mg l−1).
    Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 05/1997; 47(6):708-714. · 3.42 Impact Factor
  • Article: Fatty acid accumulation in the yeast Sporidiobolus salmonicolor during batch production of γ‐decalactone
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    ABSTRACT: This paper provides new information about the metabolism of various fatty acids and -decalactone production by yeast. An analysis of the fatty acid composition of the yeast Sporidiobolus salmonicolor during batch production of lactone with ricinoleic acid methyl ester as a precursor showed an accumulation of the -decalactone precursor inside the cells. Electron microscopy of the yeasts showed the presence of large internal inclusions leading to membrane and organelle lysis and, consequently, death of the yeast. S. salmonicolor cultivated with methyl oleate did not produce -decalactone and is viable during the whole culture. Analysis of the long chain fatty acid fraction showed incorporation of methyl oleate.
    FEMS Microbiology Letters 03/1997; 149(1):17 - 24. · 2.04 Impact Factor
  • Article: Impact of solid medium composition on the conidiation in Penicillium camemberti
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    ABSTRACT: Conidiation of an industrial strain of Penicillium (P.) camemberti, a ripening fungus, was examined on solid media. In order to evaluate the influence of nutritional factors on conidiation, we developed an inoculation and transfer procedure that allowed to obtain an homogenous mycelial biomass. Absence of conidiation was observed when ammonium sulphate and sodium nitrate were used as nitrogen sources. In contrast, conidiation increased significantly in the presence of ammonium phosphate or potassium nitrate with 4.8 × 106 and 12 × 106 spores ml−1, respectively. By using those optimal conditions, the influence of nutrient starvation or calcium supply on conidiation was studied. Under the conditions tested, nitrogen starvation and calcium supply were better inducers than carbon starvation. A high carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio provided the highest level of with 4.2 × 107 spores ml−1 and a sporulation index of 8.2 after 16 days of cultivation.
    Process Biochemistry.
  • Article: Production of γ-decalactone and 4-hydroxy-decanoic acid in the genus Sporidiobolus
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    ABSTRACT: Within the genus Sporidiobolus, S. odorus has been widely reported as having the ability to convert castor oil or its derivatives to γ-decalactone, but other species have also shown potential for lactone production. In this work, the bioconversion of ricinoleic acid methyl ester to γ-decalactone was studied with four species of Sporidiobolus: S. salmonicolor, S. ruinenii, S. johnsonii, and S. pararoseus. With 4.1 g/l of ricinoleic acid methyl ester, only S. salmonicolor and S. ruinenii were able to produce γ-decalactone (12 and 40 mg/l respectively). S. johnsonii and S. pararoseus did not produce any lactone in spite of consuming the precursor. The four strains showed different sensitivities to lactone. Between S. salmonicolor and S. ruinenii, the latter was the best biocatalyst. During four successive batch cultivations in a 7-l bioreactor, 5.5 g/l of γ-decalactone was produced with S. ruinenii in each 10-d run. This was essentially due to its ability to produce the open form of γ-decalactone (i.e., 4-hydroxy-decanoic acid), which is far less toxic than the lactone.
    Journal of Fermentation and Bioengineering.
  • Article: Binding of benzaldehyde by β-lactoglobulin, by static headspace and high performance liquid chromatography in different physico-chemical conditions
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    ABSTRACT: The study of binding between β-lactoglobulin and benzaldehyde was realized using two complementary techniques: static headspace and HPLC techniques. Static headspace analysis shows global retention of benzaldehyde whereas HPLC shows the presence of strong interactions. The interactions were studied in different media (water, NaCl (50 mmol-L-1), NaCl (50 mmol-L-1) + ethanol 13 v %), with or without heat treatment. © Inra / Elsevier, Paris. L'étude des interactions entre la β-lactoglobuline et le benzaldehyde est réalisée à l'aide de deux techniques complémentaires : la technique de headspace statique et la technique de CLHP. La première met en évidence une rétention globale de l'arôme tandis que la seconde montre la présence d'interactions fortes. Les interactions sont étudiées dans des milieux différents (eau, NaCl (50 mmol.L-1), NaCl (50 mmol.L-1) + ethanol 13 v %), avec ou sans traitement thermique. © Inra / Elsevier, Paris.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/lait:1999647.
  • Article: Eh and pH gradients in Camembert cheese during ripening: Measurements using microelectrodes and correlations with texture
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    ABSTRACT: This study investigated the use of microelectrodes to continuously and simultaneously monitor pH and redox potential (Eh) gradients in Camembert cheeses from the rind to the core, as a function of ripening time (15 and 35 days). Cheeses were shown to be heterogeneous throughout their mass. An Eh gradient existed from the rind to the core. The surface was oxidizing (+330 to +360 mV) and the core was reducing and became more so in the course of ripening (−300 to −360 mV). A relationship between firmness and Eh was shown. pH gradients were in line with those previously described in the literature and related to ammonium and lactate gradients. Gradients evolved from the rind to the core (pH 7.7 to 5.2 at 15 d and 7.5 to 6.8 at 35 d). These findings showed that both the Eh and pH constituted control parameters for cheese ripening.
    International Dairy Journal.