Mechanisms of gelation of sardine proteins: influence of thermal processing and of various additives on the texture and protein solubility of kamaboko gels

Surimi prepared from freshly caught sardines was mixed with NaCl and other additives and used to prepare kamaboko gels. Protein-protein interactions involved in the setting (at 4 or 37°C) and/or the cooking (at 90°C) gelation steps were investigated (i) by assessment of kamaboko texture as a result of the type and concentration of additive added; (ii) by partial solubilization of kamaboko gels in buffers containing mercaptoethanol, sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and/or urea, followed by determination of the soluble protein constituents by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Cooked gels of high elasticity and of varying rigidity and gel strength were obtained in the 73–80% water range. Adequate gel texture required a NaCl content of 1.7–3.5% and a pH range of 6.4–8.4. Low concentrations of reducing agents (mercaptoethanol, dithiothreitol, cysteine) or of divalent cations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺) improved the texture of gels obtained by setting at 37°C with and without subsequent cooking at 90°C. On the other hand, the addition of N -ethyl maleimide or of ethylene diamine tetra-acetate led to texture deterioration after cooking. These data demonstrate the involvement of disulphide bonds and of electrostatic interactions in surimi gelation. Gel solubilization experiments indicate that the aggregation of myosin heavy chains through various types of protein-protein interactions may be responsible for the elastic gel network formed during setting at 37°C (30 min) or 4°C (24h). Strengthening of the gel network after cooking appears to be due to additional disulphide and hydrophobic interactions.     

Combined microscopic and dynamic rheological methods for studying the structural breakdown properties of whey protein gels and emulsion filled gels

The microstructural and large deformation rheological properties of model food gels were studied by performing notch propagation tensile testing on the gels using a tensile stage and observing changes in the microstructure of the gels during tensile testing using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Heat-set whey protein (WP) gels containing either added sodium caseinate (NaCN) or sunflower oil droplets emulsified with WP or NaCN as the emulsifier protein were prepared in 0 or 50 mM NaCl. The WP gel structure strengthened in the presence of added NaCl and NaCN. The rheological properties of WP gels containing sunflower oil droplets emulsified with WP or NaCN were influenced by the NaCl concentration, oil concentration and extent of oil droplet aggregation in the gel or by the type of emulsifier protein used. During tensile testing, the notch length in all gels increased above a certain critical stress, leading to fracture of the gels through the notch. Also, the microstructural changes in the oil phase of emulsion filled gels subjected to tensile testing were influenced by the structural properties of the WP gel matrix and the proximity of the oil droplet to the fracture path.     

Heat Induced Gelation of Pea (Pisum sativum) Mixed Globulins, Vicilin and Legumin

Mixed globulins (MG) were extracted from ground dry peas (Pisum sativum, B-160) with 0.5M NaCl, 50 mM potassium phosphate, pH 7.2, and isolated by precipitation at pH 4.5. Crude vicilin and legumin were fractionated from the MG by dialysis against 0.2M NaCl, pH 4.8, and centrifugation, then further purified using DEAE-cellulose chromatography. Conditions for maximum gel hardness of heat induced MG gel, as determined with an Instron Universal Testing Machine, were heating for 20 min at pH 7.1 at 87°C. Purified vicilin, but not legumin, formed heat induced gels. The relationship was linear between protein (globulin) concentration and log gel hardness. At all protein concentrations studied, as proportion of legumin decreased, gel hardness increased.     

RHEOLOGY OF ACID-INDUCED SODIUM CASEINATE STABILIZED EMULSION GELS

The storage modulus G', loss modulus G", and phase angle δ of acidinduced sodium caseinate emulsion gels were measured at 25C for a certain period of time after the addition of glucono-δ-lactone (GDL). Comparison between pure protein gels and emulsion gels revealed that the presence of emulsion droplets greatly enhanced the gel strength. Acidification by mixing an emulsion with a GDL solution caused immediate gelation but the emulsion gel had similar mechanical properties to the gel formed by direct addition of GDL granules. The viscoelasticity of the gel was strongly related to the pH value of the system. There was no evidence for a three-dimensional network when the pH value was higher than 5.8 or lower than 3.2. The largest storage and loss moduli were observed for gels formed at pH values near the isoelectric point of sodium caseinate (pH 4.6). Rheological differences for gels made at different pH values became distinguishable at low frequencies, where a much smaller phase angle was determined for a gel made at a pH value below the isoelectric point. Partial recovery of the three-dimensional gel network was observed for disrupted gels formed at a pH near the isoelectric point.     

Effect of protein concentration, pH, lactose content and pasteurization on thermal gelation of acid caprine whey protein concentrates

The influence of pH (4.5-6.5), sodium chloride content (125-375 mM), calcium chloride content (10-30 mM), protein concentration (70-90 g/l) and lactose content on the gel hardness of goat whey protein concentrate (GWPC) in relation to the origin of the acid whey (raw or pasteurized milk) was studied using a factorial design. Gels were obtained after heat treatment (90 degrees C, 30 min). Gel hardness was measured using texture analyser. Only protein concentration and pH were found to have a statistically significant effect on the gel hardness. An increase in the protein concentration resulted in an increase in the gel hardness. GWPC containing 800g/kg protein formed gels with a hardness maximum at the pHi, whereas GWPC containing 300 g/kg protein did not form true gels. Whey from pasteurized milk formed softer gels than whey from raw milk. A high lactose content (approximately 360 g/kg) also reduced the gelation performance of GWPC.     

Influence of sodium chloride and glucose on acid-induced gelation of heat-denatured ovalbumin

ABSTRACT:  We examined the effects of NaCl and glucose on cold-set ovalbumin gelation. Cold-set gels were prepared by adding glucono-δ-lactone (GDL) to a 2% heated ovalbumin solution. For the gel prepared from ovalbumin heat-denatured with NaCl and glucose, the gel with 10 mM NaCl was most transparent and had high gel strength. Its maximum complex shear modulus ( G *) and turbidity were 2.5 times greater and 3 times lower, respectively, than those of the gel without NaCl. The turbidity of the gel with the higher NaCl content increased steeply after the addition of GDL and did not change during the experimental period. The maximum G * of the gel exhibited positive correlations with the molar mass, radius, and surface hydrophobicity of soluble aggregates and the NaCl content, but the turbidity exhibited negative correlations with these factors. The presence of glucose did not significantly affect the turbidity or rheological properties of the gel. For the gel prepared by adding NaCl and glucose with GDL, the presence of glucose did not affect the turbidity, but the maximum G * decreased in inverse proportion to the glucose content. The turbidity of the gel with higher NaCl content (≥ 50 mM) was the greatest among all samples, and the increased turbidity was maintained throughout the measurements. The gels with 50 and 100 mM NaCl exhibited thixotropy during shearing at a constant shear rate. Therefore, the presence of NaCl and glucose during cold gelation could facilitate the preparation of cold-set gels having various properties for food applications.     

REVERSIBLE GELATION OF WHEY PROTEINS: MELTING, THERMODYNAMICS AND VISCOELASTIC BEHAVIOR

Whey protein isolates formed reversible gels following heating at 90°C for 15 min under certain conditions i.e., pH 6.5 to 8.5 with protein concentration of 9.0–10.5%. The melting temperatures of the gels formed at pH 8.0 ranged from 24.5°C to 57.8°C. The maximum enthalpy of formation (ΔH_f) was –858 call mole of crosslinks. A maximum storage modulus (G') of 240 dynes/cm² was obtained following holding for 7 h at 8°C.     

Mixtures of whey protein microgels and soluble aggregates as building blocks to control rheology and structure of acid induced cold-set gels

Whey proteins (WP) today offer an extremely high potential for innovative development of functional and nutritious food products. Acid cold-set gels present an interesting approach of gelation at low temperature upon acidification of preformed whey protein (WP) aggregates. In the present work, we aimed to demonstrate how structure and rheological properties of acid gels can be controlled by combining two types of WP aggregates with different structural and chemical properties. Whey protein microgels (WPM) and soluble aggregates (WPSA) were generated upon heating WP isolate in specific pH conditions and temperature, leading to Z-average hydrodynamic diameters close to 270 nm for WPM and 100 nm for WPSA. Mixtures of WPM and WPSA were prepared at different weight ratios ranging from 100% WPM to 100% WPSA. The total protein concentration was set to 4 or 8%wt. Acidification was performed at 40 °C by addition of 1%wt glucono-δ-lactone (GDL). Gelation was followed using turbidimetry and small deformation rheology as function of pH. Microstructures of the gel were investigated at different length scales using various microscopy techniques (CLSM, SEM, AFM). When the WPM/WPSA ratio decreased, the pH of gelation and the gel strength increased because of the different structure and chemical reactivity of the two types of WP aggregates. The final pH had a strong impact on the structure of the gels. When final pH decreased below pH 4.3, a structure change was suggested by turbidimetry measurements. This resulted in a non self-supporting gel or in a decrease of gel strength. For pH above 4.3, self supporting gel were obtained. The rheological properties of the gel could therefore be modulated depending on the properties of the building blocks used (WPM versus WPSA). Interestingly, the gel microstructures observed for WPM/WPSA mixtures or WPM were comparable to those of acidified skimmed milk gels ranging from coarse structures with clumps of aggregates or to homogeneous fine networks (WPSA only) that have been described for WP gels obtained upon direct heating at various pH.     

A COMPARISON OF THE VISCOELASTIC PROPERTIES OF CONVENTIONAL AND MAILLARD PROTEIN GELS

The properties of gels prepared by heating solutions of bovine serum albumin (BSA) for 30 min at 121C in the presence and absence of glucono-delta-lactone (GDL gels) and xylose (Maillard gels) were compared. During formation the pH of the Maillard and GDL gels decreased to 4.9 whereas the pH of the gels formed in the absence of GDL or xylose remained near neutral. Maillard gels show much less syneresis compared with the GDL gels and contained nondisulphide covalent crosslinks as evidenced by very low protein solubilities in mixtures of sodium dodecyl sulphate and β-mercaptoethanol. Both the GDL and Maillard gels could be formed at much lower protein concentrations than the neutral conventional gels. The stress relaxation of the gels in compression was measured and the response analyzed using Peleg's equation. The parameters in this equation were not strongly dependent on protein concentration or degree of deformation. The neutral pH gels were far more elastic than the low pH gels, but despite the difference in crosslinking mechanisms the viscoelastic behaviour of the Maillard and GDL gels was similar. However, the break strength and asymptotic residual modulus of the Maillard gels were higher. It is suggested that the stress relaxation occurs in weaker, noncovalently linked regions of the gel, whereas the nondisulphide covalent crosslinks in the Maillard gels reinforce strong regions already containing disulphide linkages.     

ELECTROSTATIC EFFECTS ON PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF PARTICULATE WHEY PROTEIN ISOLATE GELS

Physical properties of particulate whey protein isolate gels formed under varying electrostatic conditions were investigated using large strain rheological and microstructural techniques. The two treatment ranges evaluated were adjusting pH (5.2‐5.8) with no added NaCl and adjusting the NaCl (0.2‐0.6 M) at pH 7. Gels (10% protein w/v) were formed by heating at 80C for 30 min. The large strain properties of fracture strain (γ_f), fracture stress (σ_f), and a measure of strain hardening (R_0.3) were determined using a torsion method. Gel microstructure was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and gel permeability (B_gel). Overlaying σ_f and γ_f curves for pH and NaCl treatments demonstrated an overlap where gels of equal σ_f and γ_f could be formed by adjusting pH or NaCl concentration. The high fracture stress (σ_f～ 23 kPa and γ_f～ 1.86) pair conditions were pH 5.47 and 0.25 M NaCl, pH 7.0. The low fracture stress (σ_f～ 13 kPa and γ_f～ 1.90) pair conditions were pH 5.68 and 0.6 M NaCl, pH 7.0. The 0.25 M NaCl, pH 7 treatment demonstrated higher R_0.3 values than the pH 5.47 treatment. When the sulfhydryl blocker n‐ethylmaleimide was added at 2 mM to the 0.25 M NaCl, pH 7 gel treatment, its rheological behavior was NSD (p>0.05) to the pH 5.47 gel treatment, indicating disulfide bond formation regulated strain hardening. Altering surface charge or counterions, and disulfide bonding, was required to produce gels with similar large strain rheological properties. An increase in gel permeability coincided with an increase in pore size as observed by SEM, independent of rheological properties. This demonstrated that at the length scales investigated, microstructure was not linked to changes in large strain rheological properties.     

pH Induced Aggregation and Weak Gel Formation of Whey Protein Polymers

Whey protein polymers were formed by heating (80 °C) a 4% (w/v) whey protein (WP) isolate dispersion at pH 8.0 for 15, 25, 35, 45, or 53 min. Dispersions were adjusted to pH 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, or 8.0 after heating and the rheological properties were determined. Viscosity increased with increased heating time and decreased pH. At pH 7.0 and 7.5, high-viscosity dispersions with pseudoplastic and thixotropic flow behavior were formed, while weak gels were formed at pH 6.0 and 6.5. The storage (elastic) and loss (viscous) moduli of pH-induced gels increased when temperature was increased from 7 °C to 25 °C, suggesting that hydrophobic forces are responsible for gelation. Key Words: weak-gels, whey proteins, polymers, gelation, functionality     

Functional Properties of Improved Glycinin and β-nglycinin Fractions

ABSTRACT: Glycinin and β-conglycinin have unique functionality characteristics that contribute important properties in soy foods and soy ingredients. Limited functionality data have been published for glycinin and β-conglycinin fractions produced in pilot-scale quantities. Protein extraction conditions were previously optimized for our pilotscale fractionation process to maximize protein solubilization and subsequent product recovery. Glycinin, β-conglycinin, and intermediate (mixture of glycinin and β-conglycinin) fractions were prepared using optimized-process (OP) extraction conditions (10:1 water-to-flake ratio, 45°C) and previous conditions termed Wu process (WP) (15:1, 20°C). Viscosity, solubility, gelling, foaming, emulsification capacity, and emulsification activity and stability of the fractionated proteins, and soy protein isolate (SPI) produced from the same defatted soy white flakes were compared to evaluate functional properties of these different protein fractions. Differential scanning calorimetry, sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and surface hydrophobicity data were used to interpret functionality differences. OP β-conglycinin had more glycinin contamination than did the WP β-conglycinin. OP and WP solubility profiles were each similar for respective glycinin and β-conglycinin fractions. Emulsification activities and stabilities were higher for OP β-conglycinin and OP intermediate fractions compared with respective WP fractions. β-Conglycinin and SPI emulsification capacities (ECs) mirrored solubility profile, whereas glycinin ECs did not. OP glycinin had a higher foaming capacity than WP glycinin. OP and WP intermediate fraction apparent viscosities trended higher than those of other protein fractions. β-Conglycinin dispersions at pH 3 and 7 produced firm gels at 80°C, whereas glycinin dispersions formed weaker gels at 99°C and did not gel at 80°C.     

魔芋粉对鲤鱼肌原纤维蛋白凝胶特性的影响

从鲤鱼背部肌肉中提取肌原纤维蛋白,分别添加0.05、0.10、0.15、0.20g/100mL的魔芋粉,研究其在不同加热温度(70、80、90℃)和不同NaCl浓度(0.05、0.10、0.15、0.20mol/L)条件下对肌原纤维蛋白凝胶的硬度、弹性、白度和保水性的影响。结果表明：相同魔芋粉添加量条件下,加热温度80℃时形成的肌原纤维蛋白凝胶的硬度和弹性显著高于70℃和90℃(P＜0.05);90℃时凝胶白度高于70℃和80℃;90℃时保水性显著高于70℃时的保水性(P＜0.05),与80℃的凝胶保水性差异不显著(P＞0.05)。在此条件下,随着NaCl浓度增加,凝胶的硬度和弹性增大;肌原纤维蛋白凝胶的保水性显著提高。同一温度条件下,添加0.10g/100mL魔芋粉的蛋白凝胶硬度达到最大值,且80℃时硬度最大为129g,凝胶的白度随着魔芋粉质量浓度增加呈现下降趋势,保水性随着魔芋粉质量浓度的增加而增大;添加NaCl可以显著提高凝胶的白度。     

GEL CHARACTERISTICS OF β-LACTOGLOBULIN, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE AND WHEY PROTEIN ISOLATE

The gelation characteristics of β-lactoglobulin, whey protein isolate and whey protein concentrate at varying levels of protein (6–11%), sodium chloride (25–400 mM), calcium chloride (10–40 mM) and pH (4.0–8.0) were studied in a multifactorial design. Small scale deformation of the gels was measured by dynamic rheology to give the gel point (°C), complex consistency index (k*), complex power law factor (n*) and critical strain (γ_c). The gel point decreased and turbidity increased with increasing calcium level. The denaturation temperature measured by differential scanning calorimetry was measured at higher pH values. Large scale deformation at 20% and 70% compression was measured using an Instron Universal Testing machine. The true protein level had the largest effect on the stress required to produce 20% and 70% compression and on the consistency (k*) of the gels.     

离子强度和温度对乳清蛋白凝胶的影响

本实验主要研究凝胶温度和CaCl2 浓度对乳清蛋白冷凝胶的影响。结果表明：较低的凝胶温度和增加CaCl2浓度能够致使乳清蛋白形成清亮的凝胶;在0、10、20℃凝胶温度条件下,增加CaCl2 浓度使得凝胶硬度有所增加;乳清蛋白凝胶的持水性在凝胶温度为0、10℃,CaCl2 浓度为20、40mmol/L 时受到影响;除了0℃ 和20mmol/LCaCl2 条件下,低温能够使乳清蛋白形成较高的凝胶硬度和持水性。凝胶温度和CaCl2 浓度是影响乳清蛋白冷凝胶的关键因素。     

Interactions in bovine serum albumin–calcium alginate gel systems

Young's modulus of heat-denatured gels of calcium alginate and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was determined and compared to the modulus of BSA gels containing sodium alginate and to pure BSA gels. Ionic strength, pH, and calcium concentration were varied. The BSA/Ca-alginate gels were either prepared with -glucono-δ-lactone (GDL) and CaCO₃ to induce alginate gelation before the gelation of BSA, or by soaking heat-denatured BSA/Na-alginate gels in a CaCl₂ solution. BSA/Ca-alginate gels were stronger than BSA/Na-alginate gels at all conditions, and stronger than pure BSA gels up to higher pH values and up to somewhat higher ionic strengths than BSA/Na-alginate gels. The strength of BSA/Ca-alginate gels was highly dependent on the strength of the alginate gel. This was shown by variation of the calcium concentration and by soaking the gels in EDTA, NaCl, and CaCl₂ solutions. When BSA/Na-alginate or BSA/Ca-alginate gels prepared at optimum conditions were soaked in solutions of higher ionic strength or pH, no reduction in gel strength was observed. Consequently, they were much stronger than gels that were prepared directly at high pH or ionic strength. The results may suggest that the alginate network in a BSA/Ca-alginate gel increases the effectiveness of electrostatic BSA-alginate cross-links or entanglements. However, other explanations are also possible.     

The breakdown properties of heat-set whey protein emulsion gels in the human mouth

Differently structured whey protein emulsion gels were formed by heating at different concentrations of NaCl. The formation of gels was monitored by oscillatory rheometry. The large deformation properties relevant to breakdown properties in the human mouth were measured by a uniaxial compression test and fracture wedge set test using a texture analyzer. A panel of 8 subjects was used to examine the in-mouth behaviours of gels including mastication parameters, degree of fragmentation and oil droplet release. The results showed that in general the gel hardness increased with increasing NaCl concentration. The gels containing 10/25 and 100/200 mM NaCl were characterized as being soft and hard, respectively. These soft and hard gels had different breakdown patterns in the mouth. On the other hand, sensory experiments showed the gel with 10 mM NaCl needed a significantly lower number of chewing cycles (19.4 ± 2.1) compared with gels with higher NaCl. The values of median size of particles in masticated gels containing 10, 25, 100 and 200 mM NaCl were about 4.00, 2.85, 1.05 and 0.95 mm, respectively, which suggested that higher hardness led to greater fragmentation in the human mouth. The fragmentation of the gel was highly correlated with functions of the mechanical properties. There was no obvious coalescence of the oil droplets during oral processing and only very few oil droplets were released from protein matrix during mastication.     

Role of pH and Ionic Strength on Water Relationships in Washed Minced Chicken-breast Muscle Gels

ABSTRACT The relationship between pH, ionic strength, and water balance of chicken-breast muscle gels was investigated. An increase in gel pH (pH 6.4 to 7.4) without added NaCl led to dramatic increases in water-holding capacity and water uptake (P < 0.05). Gels at 150 mM NaCl exhibited less ability to adsorb water than salt-free gels (P < 0.05 at pH 6.8 to 7.4) and had lower water-holding capacities (P < 0.05) and fold scores at and below pH 7. Varying salt concentration of the gel-bathing solutions had dramatic effect on the water uptake of the gels. The results show that strong water-absorbing gels can be produced at low ionic strengths and suggest that the negative charge of the muscle proteins is the driving force for water uptake and retention.     

Insolubilized Whey Protein Concentrate and/or Chicken Salt-Soluble Protein Gel Properties

Properties of gels prepared from five whey protein concentrates (WPC) with protein solubilities ranging from 27.5% to 98.1% in 0.1M NaCl, pH 7.0, chicken breast salt-soluble protein (SSP), or a combination of SSP and WPC at pH 6.0, 7.0 or 8.0 were compared. WPC did not form gels when heated to 65°C. SSP gels heated to 65°C were harder than those heated to 90°C at all pHs and hardness decreased as pH was increased. Hardness of combination gels heated to 65°C increased as WPC solubility decreased at all pHs; however, the opposite trend was observed at 90°C. Combination gels of the same WPC solubility at 65°C were more deformable than those heated to 90°C.     

Penetration Studies of Blood Globin Gels

Studies were made on the effect of temperature, pH and protein and salt concentration on the penetration force withstood by globin gels. The registered force increased with heating temperature (60 - 95°C) and protein concentration (1.4 - 5.0%). The gelation pH was dependent on both protein and salt concentration; the higher the protein or salt concentration the lower the gelation pH. At 3% protein concentration globin formed a gel around pH 5 - 6. At 0.7% concentration and higher, the presence of salt weakened the gel strength, while the addition of plasma increased the gelation pH of salt-containing globin gels. A substantially higher penetration force was measured for bovine globin gels than porcine globin gels. Further concentration and spray-drying decreased the gel strength of globin gels.