91A-6

Application of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry to screen primary and adjunct cultures used in cheese manufacture

E. SOERYAPRANATA1, J. R. POWERS1, K. M. Weller1, W. F. Siems, III2, and H. H. Hill, Jr.2. (1) Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Washington State University, PO Box 646376, Pullman, WA 99164-6376, (2) Department of Chemistry, Washington State University, PO Box 644630, Pullman, WA 99164-4630

Selection of lactic cultures is crucial to prevent bitterness of cheese. A previous study using aged Cheddar cheese demonstrated the ability of matrix-assisted laser desorption / ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry to differentiate primary cultures and adjunct cultures, based on the concentration of bitter peptide, b-casein f193-209. The speed and sensitivity of MALDI-TOF may be useful for rapid screening of lactic cultures for propensity to produce bitter cheese.

The objective of our study was to demonstrate the application of MALDI-TOF to in vitro assay to screen primary and adjunct lactic cultures.

b-casein was incubated with chymosin in citrate buffer (pH 5.4, 4% NaCl) followed by incubation with cell free extract (CFE) from primary or adjunct culture, previously used in the aged cheese study. Lactococcus lactis #56 and #105 were primaries representing bitter and non-bitter cultures, respectively. Lactobacillus helveticus WSU19 and W900R represent adjunct cultures having high and low debittering activities, respectively. Proteolysis pattern and concentration of b-casein f193-209 after incubation with CFE were determined using MALDI-TOF at 0, 4, 8, 16, and 24 hours.

Degradation of b-casein by chymosin produced b-casein f193-209 as a major product. Proteolysis by CFE from WSU19 produced b-casein f194-209 with and without cyclization of Gln-194, f193-207, f195-209, and f195-206. This pattern is characteristic of aminopeptidase N, endopeptidase, aminopeptidase A, and/or pyrollidone carboxylyl peptidase activities. Proteolysis by CFE from W900R produced b-casein f194-209, f194-206, and f193-206, indicating aminopeptidase N and endopeptidase activities. Proteolysis patterns of CFEs from #56 and #105 were similar to W900R. The rates of b-casein f193-209 hydrolysis by CFEs from WSU19, W900R, #56, and #105 were 3.67, 0.20, 0.21, and 0.12 µM/h, respectively.

MALDI-TOF is a rapid in vitro qualitative and quantitative tool complementing chromatographic techniques for screening of lactic cultures used in cheese manufacture.

Session 91A, Food Chemistry: Enzymes, vitamins and plant pigments
2:00 PM - 5:30 PM, 2002-06-18

2002 Annual Meeting and Food Expo - Anaheim, California