59D-21

Characteristics of protein-based wall materials cross-linked with microbial transglutaminase

H. K. SHIM, E. Y. Lee, and J. Park. Dept. of Biotechnology, Yonsei University, 134, shinchon-dong, seodaemoon-gu, Seoul, 120-749, South Korea

As an important nutrient in food, proteins possess many excellent functional properties. These properties allow them to be a good wall material for the encapsulation of food ingredients. However, protein-based wall materials have a limitation for the nutrient delivery system (NDS) due to fast degradation in the stomach. Microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) is applicable to various protein-based wall materials to enhance physicochemical properties suitable for the sustained release through the intestine.

Effects of MTGase treatment on physical properties and pepsin digestibility of protein-based wall materials were investigated.

Isolated soy protein (ISP), Na-caseinate, whey protein, egg yolk, and soluble wheat protein were selected as protein-based wall materials. MTGase was dissolved in tris-acetic acid buffer. The viscosity and the elasticity of the protein solutions were measured using the Rheometer®. O/W emulsion (corn salad oil:protein solution=1:5) was prepared by homogenization with the Ultra TurraxTM at 13,500 rpm and emulsion stability was measured. MTGase induced cross-linking of proteins was observed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The digestibility of cross-linked proteins was assayed by addition of pepsin (975 U/mg protein) to ISP and Na-caseinate solution.

When ISP and Na-caseinate were treated with MTGase for 30 min, the viscosity was increased more than 200%, whereas viscosity of whey protein, egg yolk, and soluble wheat protein was increased only 10-40%. ISP and Na-caseinate solution began to show elasticity after 50 min and turned into elastic gel after 8 h. MTGase modification resulted in significant increase in the stability of O/W emulsion prepared with Na-caseinate. MTGase-treated ISP and Na-caseinate showed much higher resistance to pepsin compared to unmodified ISP and Na-caseinate.

MTGase-treated proteins had improved physical properties and pepsin resistance. These results suggested that MTGase-treated proteins can be used as wall materials for the NDS.

Session 59D, Food Chemistry: Proteins and Physicochemical Properties
1:00 PM - 4:30 PM, 2001-06-25 Room Hall D

2001 IFT Annual Meeting - New Orleans, Louisiana