Effect of Fractionation and Processing Conditions on the Digestibility of Plant Proteins as Food Ingredients

Plant protein concentrates and isolates are used to produce alternatives to meat, dairy and eggs. Fractionation of ingredients and subsequent processing into food products modify the techno-functional and nutritional properties of proteins. The differences in composition and structure of plant proteins, in addition to the wide range of processing steps and conditions, can have ambivalent effects on protein digestibility. The objective of this review is to assess the current knowledge on the effect of processing of plant protein-rich ingredients on their digestibility. We obtained data on various fractionation conditions and processing after fractionation, including enzymatic hydrolysis, alkaline treatment, heating, high pressure, fermentation, complexation, extrusion, gelation, as well as oxidation and interactions with starch or fibre. We provide an overview of the effect of some processing steps for protein-rich ingredients from different crops, such as soybean, yellow pea, and lentil, among others. Some studies explored the effect of processing on the presence of antinutritional factors. A certain degree, and type, of processing can improve protein digestibility, while more extensive processing can be detrimental. We argue that processing, protein bioavailability and the digestibility of plant-based foods must be addressed in combination to truly improve the sustainability of the current food system.

In vitro trypsin digestion and identification of possible cross-linking sites induced by transglutaminase (TGase) of silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) surimi gels with different degrees of cross-linking

Surimi gels with different cross-linking degrees (18.52%, 34.67%, 62.87% and 79.11%) were prepared to identify the numbers and locations of lysine residues involved in TGase-induced cross-linking, and to reveal the quantity and location relationships among cross-linking degrees, cross-linking sites and digestion sites by using trypsin digestion, SDS-PAGE and LC-MS/MS methods. The results showed that with the increase in cross-linking degree from 18.52% to 79.11%, 1) the quantity of cross-linking sites gradually increased from 25 sites to 47 sites, 2) the main possible cross-linking domain moved from myosin head to rod, 3) the numbers of digestion sites first decreased from 1262 sites to 1194 sites, and then increased to 1302 sites, 4) the changes in the values of digestion sites were mainly concentrated in myosin rod and it was also the main region of digestion. This study can help exploring the relationship between enzymatic cross-linking and nutritional properties of food.

Effects of soy protein isolate hydrolysates on cholecystokinin released by rat intestinal mucosal cells and food intake in rats

Soy protein isolate hydrolysates (SPIH) were prepared from soy protein isolate (SPI). Effects of SPIH on a satiety signal cholecystokinin (CCK) and feeding behavior in rats were investigated. SPIH induced more CCK release (164.66 ± 2.40 pg/mL) by rat intestinal mucosal cells than SPI (143.33 ± 3.71 pg/mL). Meal size (MS), intermeal interval (IMI), and satiety ratio (SR = MS/IMI) of rats received different daily doses of SPIH or dietary fiber were detected for 40 days. A 100 mg/kg dose of SPIH resulted in a greater SR than an identical dose of dietary fiber, while a 300 mg/kg dose resulted in a less MS and IMI. A 500 mg/kg dose of SPIH had similar effects to the same dose of dietary fiber on reducing MS, extending IMI, and increasing SR, but resulted in a significantly less body weight at the end of the experiment (318.15 ± 17.83 g) than the dietary fiber group (340.28 ± 6.15 g).

Pre-deamidation of soy protein isolate exerts impacts on transglutaminase-induced glucosamine glycation and cross-linking as well as properties of the products

BACKGROUND

Transglutaminase (TGase) induces protein glycation and cross-linking, but results in lower solubility and digestibility due to excessive cross-linking. Deamidation of soy protein isolate (SPI) by HCl converts glutamine residues, and provides less opportunity for the two reactions. Two deamidated SPI products (DSPI1 and DSPI2) were thus glucosamine-glycated and cross-linked, to clarify the effects of pre-deamidation on the two reactions and properties of the products.

RESULTS

DSPI1 and DSPI2 had respective degrees of deamidation of 12.2% and 27.4%. They and SPI were used to generate three glycated and cross-linked products (GC-DSPI1, GC-DSPI2 and GC-SPI) containing glucosamine of 12.0, 4.4 and 19.7 g kg(-1) protein, respectively, which were reflected in their infrared spectra at two regions. These three (especially GC-SPI) had higher water-binding than SPI (8.2-12.6 versus 6.2 g g(-1) protein). GC-DSPI1 and GC-DSPI2 showed better enzymatic digestion than GC-SPI. Thermogravimetric and circular dichroism analyses verified that GC-DSPI1 and GC-DSPI2 had maximum degradation rates at temperatures 12-14 °C lower than GC-SPI, and possessed a more open secondary structure.

CONCLUSION

SPI deamidation decreases forthcoming glycation and cross-linking, and gives the products higher digestibility, less increased hydration, lower thermal stability, and a more open secondary structure. Pre-deamidation is applicable to control the properties of GC-proteins. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.

Nanocomplexation between curcumin and soy protein isolate: influence on curcumin stability/bioaccessibility and in vitro protein digestibility

The complexation of nanoparticles in unheated and heated (at 75-95°) soy protein isolate (SPI) with curcumin and the effects on curcumin stability/bioaccessibility and in vitro protein digestibility were investigated. The nanoparticles did not display noticeable changes in size and morphology upon nanocomplexation with curcumin, except their surface hydrophobicity. The encapsulation efficiency of curcumin progressively decreased with increasing initial curcumin concentration in the dispersion, while the load amount linearly increased. The solubility of curcumin in water was enhanced by the complexation above 98000-fold (vs free curcumin in water). The formation of the nanocomplexes considerably improved the storage stability of curcumin. In vitro simulated digestion experiments indicated that the complexation also improved the bioaccessibility of curcumin; the bioaccessibility was greatly impaired by hydrolysis-induced protein aggregation. Addtionally, the nanocomplexation significantly improved the in vitro protein digestibility of both unheated and heated SPI.

Preparation of novel cross-linked and octylated caseinates using a biphasic enzymatic procedure and their functional properties

A novel microbial transglutaminase-catalyzed aqueous-organic biphasic reaction system was successfully developed to prepare caseinate derivatives by cross-linking and incorporating nonpolar octyl tails for the first time. SDS-PAGE and (1)H NMR analysis confirmed that cross-linking and octyl conjugation occurred simultaneously. The octyl substitution degree (SD) was measured by (1)H NMR and used as an index to determine a suitable reaction condition. It was found that at the condition of 0.125% (w/v) protein concentration and 6 h of reaction time, the modified caseinate had the highest SD of 28.96%. The modified caseinate also had an increased surface hydrophobicity, better emulsifying activity, and improved thermal and salt stabilities. However, its emulsion stability or in vitro enzymatic digestibility was slightly lower than that of the native caseinate.

Functional properties of a cross-linked soy protein-gelatin composite towards limited tryptic digestion of two extents

BACKGROUND

Both enzymatic cross-linking and hydrolysis are used to treat food proteins for functionality modification. The present study aimed to reveal the impact of limited tryptic digestion on some functional properties of a cross-linked composite generated from soy protein isolate and gelatin by transglutaminase.

RESULTS

The composite was digested by trypsin for 1.5 and 4 h to produce two hydrolyzed composites with degrees of hydrolysis of 1% and 2%, respectively. Electrophoretic and chemical analysis showed that only part of the composite was degraded, and the gelatin fraction in the composite was more sensitive to tryptic digestion than the soy protein fraction. The hydrolyzed composites exhibited higher protein dispersion index at pH 4.5 or 7.0 and surface hydrophobicity, better digestibility in vitro, emulsifying property and oil absorption capacity, but lower water holding capacity and rheological properties (apparent viscosity, storage and loss modulus) than the composite. Compared to soy protein isolate, the hydrolyzed composites had better rheological properties, and higher water-holding capacity and emulsion stability index.

CONCLUSION

The applied tryptic digestion conferred some improved properties on the hydrolyzed composites compared with the composite or soy protein isolate, and has potential for obtaining a new functional ingredient for processed foods.

Improvement in water stability and other related functional properties of thin cast kafirin protein films

Improvement in the water stability and other related functional properties of thin (<50 μm) kafirin protein films was investigated. Thin conventional kafirin films and kafirin microparticle films were prepared by casting in acetic acid solution. Thin kafirin films cast from microparticles were more stable in water than conventional cast kafirin films. Treatment of kafirin microparticles with heat and transglutaminase resulted in slightly thicker films with reduced tensile strength. In contrast, glutaraldehyde treatment resulted in up to a 43% increase in film tensile strength. The films prepared from microparticles treated with glutaraldehyde were quite stable in ambient temperature water, despite the loss of plasticizer. This was probably due to the formation of covalent cross-linking between free amino groups of the kafirin polypeptides and carbonyl groups of the aldehyde. Thus, such thin glutaraldehyde-treated kafirin microparticle films appear to have good potential for use as biomaterials in aqueous applications.