Caimeng Zhang

Enzymatic preparation of immunomodulating hydrolysates from soy proteins.

Soy protein hydrolysates with lower molecular weight were enzymatically prepared by several commercially available proteases (Alcalase 2.4L, Flavourzyme, Trypsin, Papain, Protease A and Peptidase R) with protein recovery varied from 42.59% to 79.87%. Relative content of positively charged peptides was determined on SP Sephadex C-25 using gradient sodium chloride solution as eluents. Immunomodulating properties were evaluated by measuring their effect on in vitro proliferation of murine spleen lymphocytes and phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages. The results showed that soy protein hydrolysates (SPHs) prepared with Alcalase and insoluble soy protein (InSP), preferable to other enzymes and soy proteins, have the highest immunomodulating activity and the optimum conditions were determined as follows: E/S=2% (Alcalase), 60 degrees C, pH 8.0, InSP concentration 6% and 225min. Positive correlations were obtained between the immunomodulating activity and content of positively charged peptides. The results suggested that lower molecular weight and positively charged peptides released from soy protein were effective in stimulating immunomodulating activity, thus provided insights into the preparation of potent immunomodulating products.

Heat-induced inactivation mechanisms of Kunitz trypsin inhibitor and Bowman-Birk inhibitor in soymilk processing

Trypsin inhibitor activity (TIA) is an important antinutritional factor in soymilk. In this study, the effects of NaCl preaddition on TIA and the heat-induced TIA inactivation mechanisms were examined. The results showed that Kunitz trypsin inhibitor (KTI) and Bowman-Birk inhibitor (BBI) contributed 74% and 26% to raw soymilk TIA, respectively. The heat-induced quick KTI incorporation into protein aggregates was the reason for its quick TIA inactivation. The heat-induced slow cleavage of one BBI peptide bond was the reason for its slow TIA inactivation. Heat-induced protein aggregate formation had little effect on BBI inactivation owing to the fact that BBI and its degradation product tended to remain in the supernatant (197,000g, 1h) in all conditions used in this study. NaCl could accelerate the KTI incorporation into protein aggregates and the cleavage of one BBI peptide bond, which supplied a simple and quick method for low TIA soymilk processing.

The heat-induced protein aggregate correlated with trypsin inhibitor inactivation in soymilk processing.

Kunitz trypsin inhibitor (KTI) and Bowman-Birk inhibitor (BBI) have trypsin inhibitor activities (TIA), which could cause pancreatic disease if at a high level. It is not clear why some KTI and BBI lose TIA and some does not in the soymilk processing. This would be examined in this study. TIA assay showed residual TIA was decreased with elevated temperature and TIA was decreased quickly in the beginning and then slowly in boiling water bath. Interestingly, ultracentrifugation showed low residual TIA soymilk had more precipitate than high residual TIA soymilk and soymilk TIA loss had a high correlation coefficient (R(2) > 0.9) with precipitate amount. In addition, the TIAs of floating, supernatant, and precipitate obtained by ultracentrifugation were assayed and >80% residual TIA was concentrated in the supernatant. Tricine-SDS-PAGE showed KTI in supernatant was mainly a noncovalent bound form which might exist as itself and/or incorporated into a small protein aggregate, while KTI in precipitate was incorporated into a protein aggregate by disulfide and/or noncovalent bonds. Chymotrypsin inhibitor activity (CIA) assay showed about 89% of the original CIA remained after 100 °C for 15 min. Ultracentrifugation showed that >90% residual CIA was concentrated in supernatant. Tricine-SDS-PAGE showed soymilk (100 °C, 15 min) BBI mainly existed in supernatant but not in precipitate. It was considered that BBI tended to exist as itself with its natural conformation. Thus, it was suggested residual TIA was mainly from the free BBI and TIA inactivation was mainly from KTI incorporation into protein aggregate. This study is meaningful for a new strategy for low TIA soymilk manufacture based on the consideration of promoting protein aggregate formation.

Soybean whey protein/chitosan complex behavior and selective recovery of kunitz trypsin inhibitor.

Proteins in soybean whey were separated by Tricine-SDS-PAGE and identified by MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS. In addition to β-amylase, soybean agglutinin (SBA), and Kunitz trypsin inhibitor (KTI), a 12 kDa band was found to have an amino acid sequence similar to that of Bowman-Birk protease inhibitor (BBI) and showed both trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitor activities. The complex behavior of soybean whey proteins (SWP) with chitosan (Ch) as a function of pH and protein to polysaccharide ratio (RSWP/Ch) was studied by turbidimetric titration and SDS-PAGE. During pH titration, the ratio of zeta potentials (absolute values) for proteins to chitosan (|ZSWP|/ZCh) at the initial point of phase separation (pHφ1) was equal to the reciprocal of their mass ratio (SWP/Ch), revealing that the electric neutrality conditions were fulfilled. The maximum protein recovery (32%) was obtained at RSWP/Ch = 4:1 and pH 6.3, whereas at RSWP/Ch = 20:1 and pH 5.5, chitosan consumption was the lowest (0.196 g Ch/g recovered proteins). In the protein-chitosan complex, KTI and the 12 kDa protein were higher in content than SBA and β-amylase. However, if soybean whey was precentrifuged to remove aggregated proteins and interacted with chitosan at the conditions of SWP/Ch = 100:1, pH 4.8, and low ionic strength, KTI was found to be selectively complexed. After removal of chitosan at pH 10, a high-purity KTI (90% by SEC-HPLC) could be obtained.

Release behavior of non-network proteins and its relationship to the structure of heat-induced soy protein gels.

Heat-induced soy protein gels were prepared by heating protein solutions at 12%, 15% ,or 18% for 0.5, 1.0, or 2.0 h. The release of non-network proteins from gel slices was conducted in 10 mM pH 7.0 sodium phosphate buffer. SDS-PAGE and diagonal electrophoresis demonstrated that the released proteins consisted of undenatured AB subunits and denatured proteins including monomers of A polypeptides, disulfide bond linked dimers, trimers, and polymers of A polypeptides, and an unidentified 15 kDa protein. SEC-HPLC analysis of non-network proteins revealed three major protein peaks, with molecular weights of approximately 253.9, 44.8, and 9.7 kDa. The experimental data showed that the time-dependent release of the three fractions from soy protein gels fit Ficks second law. An increasing protein concentration or heating time resulted in a decrease in diffusion coefficients of non-network proteins. A power law expression was used to describe the relationship between non-network protein diffusion coefficient and molecular weight, for which the exponent (α) shifted to higher value with an increase in protein concentration or heating time, indicating that a more compact gel structure was formed.

Heavy Metal Complexation of Thiol-Containing Peptides from Soy Glycinin Hydrolysates

Many thiol-containing molecules show heavy metal complexation ability and are used as antidotes. In this study, the potential function associated with thiol-containing peptides (TCPs) from soy protein hydrolysates as natural detoxicants for heavy metals is reported. TCPs enriched by Thiopropyl-Sepharose 6B covalent chromatography had different molecular weight distributions as well as different numbers of proton dissociable groups, depending on the proteases and degree of hydrolysis. The major contribution of sulfhydryl groups was confirmed by the largest pH decrease between 8.0 and 8.5 of the pH titration curves. The complexation of TCPs with heavy metalswas evaluated by stability constants (βn) of TCP-metal complexes whose stoichiometry was found to be 1:1 (ML) and 1:2 (ML2). TCPs from degree of hydrolysis of 25% hydrolysates gave high affinities towards Hg2+, Cd2+, and Pb2+ (giving similar or even bigger lgβ values than that of glutathione). A significantly positive correlation was found between the logarithm of stability constants for ML2 (lgβ2) and the sulfhydryl group content. Molecular weight distribution of TCPs affected the complexation with Pb2+ notably more than Hg2+ and Cd2+. These results suggest that soy TCPs have the potential to be used in the formulation of functional foods to counteract heavy metal accumulation in humans.

Immobilisation of a hydroperoxide lyase and comparative enzymological studies of the immobilised enzyme with membrane‐bound enzyme

BACKGROUND Hydroperoxide lyase is the key enzyme in lipoxygenase pathway producing green-note flavours and has potential value for the flavour additive industry. So far, only a low yield of green-note flavours produced by hydroperoxide lyase has been achieved, primarily because of its instability. The aim of this study was to stabilise hydroperoxide lyase from Amaranthus tricolor leaves by immobilisation and investigate the characteristics of immobilised enzyme in comparison with free and native membrane-bound enzyme. RESULTS A maximum activity of 2.85±0.1 U g(-1) (wet) ceramic hydroxyapatite and a yield of 80% were obtained under optimised coupling conditions. The optimal reaction pH was 6.0, 6.0 and 7.5 for free, membrane-bound and immobilised enzyme respectively, while the optimal reaction temperature was 30, 35 and 35 °C respectively. Thermal and operational stability of immobilised enzyme were substantially enhanced. However, a higher substrate diffusion resistance was imposed after immobilisation, as evidenced by the Km value of immobilised enzyme being higher than that of free and membrane-bound enzyme. CONCLUSION Ceramic hydroxyapatite was a candidate for the immobilisation of hydroperoxide lyase from A. tricolor leaves. The stability of hydroperoxide lyase was substantially improved after immobilisation on this substrate.

Stability of hydroperoxide lyase activity from Amaranthus tricolor (Amaranthus mangostanus L.) leaves: influence of selected additives

BACKGROUND Hydroperoxide lyase (HPL) has potential value for the flavour additive industry. Currently, the production and application of HPL suffer from stability problems. The objective of this study was to investigate the stabilisation of HPL preparation from Amaranthus tricolor leaves by the addition of selected chemical additives. RESULTS Amaranthus tricolor leaves were identified as a particularly rich source of 13-HPL activity. The addition of 100 g L(-1) sucrose and trehalose to microsomal HPL prior to lyophilisation could retain nearly 100% enzymatic activity, compared to only 20% for the lyophilised control. The lyophilised microsomal HPL containing sucrose maintained full activity for even 40 days storage at -20 degrees C. For HPL solution, glycerol was effective for long-term stability at -20 degrees C. Moreover, poyols (sucrose and trehalose) and amino acid (glycine) enhanced the thermostability of HPL, while KCl and polyol mannitol decreased the thermostability of HPL. CONCLUSION The flavour-producing enzyme HPL, found in the leaves of Amaranthus tricolor, was stabilised by the addition of chemical additives.

Comparative Effects of Ohmic, Induction Cooker, and Electric Stove Heating on Soymilk Trypsin Inhibitor Inactivation

During thermal treatment of soymilk, a rapid incorporation of Kunitz trypsin inhibitor (KTI) into protein aggregates by covalent (disulfide bond, SS) and/or noncovalent interactions with other proteins is responsible for its fast inactivation of trypsin inhibitor activity (TIA). In contrast, the slow cleavage of a single Bowman-Birk inhibitor (BBI) peptide bond is responsible for its slow inactivation of TIA and chymotrypsin inhibitor activity (CIA). In this study, the effects of Ohmic heating (220 V, 50 Hz) on soymilk TIA and CIA inactivation were examined and compared to induction cooker and electric stove heating with similar thermal histories. It was found that: (1) TIA and CIA inactivation was slower from 0 to 3 min, and faster after 3 min as compared to induction cooker and electric stove. (2) The thiol (SH) loss rate was slower from 0 to 3 min, and similar to induction cooker and electric stove after 3 min. (3) Ohmic heating slightly increased protein aggregate formation. (4) In addition to the cleavage of one BBI peptide bond, an additional reaction might occur to enhance BBI inactivation. (5) Ohmic heating was more energy-efficient for TIA and CIA inactivation. (6) TIA and CIA inactivation was accelerated with increasing electric voltage (110, 165, and 220 V) of Ohmic heating. It is likely that the enhanced inactivation of TIA by Ohmic heating is due to its combined electrochemical and thermal effects.

Effects of Disulfide Bond Reduction on the Conformation and Trypsin/Chymotrypsin Inhibitor Activity of Soybean Bowman-Birk Inhibitor

Soybean seeds contain three groups (A, C, and D) of Bowman-Birk inhibitors (BBIs). In this study, highly purified BBI-A (approximately 96%) was obtained from soybean whey at the 0.1 g level by the complex coacervation method. BBI-A has seven disulfide bonds (SS) and no sulfhydryl group and exhibits trypsin inhibitor activity (TIA) and chymotrypsin inhibitor activity (CIA). The X-ray structure has shown that BBI-A has five exposed SS and two buried SS. Because of steric hindrance, it was reasonable to consider that dithiothreitol first attacks the five exposed SS and then the two buried SS, which was supported by the results that SS reduction with dithiothreitol could be divided into quick and slow stages, and the critical point was close to 5/7. The effects of SS reduction on TIA and CIA could be divided into three stages: when one exposed SS was reduced, both TIA and CIA decreased to approximately 60%; with further reduction of exposed SS, CIA gradually decreased to 8% and TIA gradually decreased to 26%; with further reduction of buried SS, CIA gradually decreased to 2% and TIA slightly decreased to 24%. Far-ultraviolet (far-UV) circular dichroism (CD) spectra showed that the secondary structure of BBI-A was slightly changed, whereas near-ultraviolet (near-UV) CD spectra showed that the conformation of BBI-A was substantially changed after the five exposed SS were reduced; further reduction of buried SS affected the conformation to some extent. The results of Tricine-sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and from a C8 column showed the same trend as near-UV CD spectra. BBI-A has a structural peculiarity in that two hydrophobic patches are exposed to the exterior (in contrast to typical soluble proteins), which was attributed to the seven SS by some researchers. These results support the hypothesis that hydrophobic collapse of the exposed hydrophobic patches into a regular hydrophobic core occurred after the reduction of SS in BBI-A.