Effect of high-pressure treatment and a bacteriocin-producing lactic culture on the proteolysis, texture, and taste of Hispánico cheese

The effects of high-pressure treatment, by itself or in combination with a bacteriocin-producing culture added to milk, on the proteolysis, texture, and taste of Hispánico cheese were investigated. Two vats of cheese were manufactured from a mixture of cow and ewe milk. Milk in one vat was inoculated with 0.5% Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis INIA 415, a nisin Z and lacticin 481 producer; 0.5% L. lactis ssp. lactis INIA 415-2, a bacteriocin-nonproducing mutant; and 2% of a commercial Streptococcus thermophilus culture. Milk in the other vat was inoculated with 1% L. lactis ssp. lactis INIA 415-2 and 2% S. thermophilus culture. After ripening for 15 d at 12°C, half of the cheeses from each vat were treated at 400 MPa for 5 min at 10°C. Ripening of high-pressure-treated and untreated cheeses continued at 12°C until d 50. High-pressure treatment of cheese made from milk without the bacteriocin producer accelerated casein degradation and increased the free AA content, but it did not significantly influence the taste quality or taste intensity of the cheese. Addition of the bacteriocin producer to milk lowered the ratio of hydrophobic peptides to hydrophilic peptides, increased the free AA content, and enhanced the taste intensity. The combination of milk inoculation with the bacteriocin producer and high-pressure treatment of the cheese resulted in higher levels of both hydrophobic and hydrophilic peptides but had no significant effect on the free AA content, taste quality, or taste intensity.     

Preliminary observations on proteolysis in Manchego cheese made with a defined-strain starter culture and adjunct starter (Lactobacillus plantarum) or a commercial starter

Different authors have demonstrated the potential of adding lactobacilli as adjunct cultures to pasteurized milk used in cheese manufacture. The aim of this work was to observe the effect of the use of a defined-strain starter culture and the addition of an adjunct culture (Lactobacillus plantarum) to cheesemilk in order to determine their effect on the ripening of Manchego cheese. Manchego cheeses were manufactured using one of the following starter culture systems: a defined starter consisting of Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis and Leuconostoc mesenteroides ssp. dextranicum; a defined starter, as described above, and Lb. plantarum, which were isolated from a good quality Manchego cheese made from raw milk, or a commercial starter comprised of two strains of Lc. lactis. The cheeses were sampled at 15, 45, 90 and 150 d of ripening. Principal component analysis of peak heights of reversed-phase HPLC chromatograms of 70% (v/v) ethanol-insoluble and -soluble fractions distributed the samples according to the starter used in their manufacture. Quantitative differences in several peptides were evident between the three cheeses. Cheeses made with the defined-strain starters received higher scores for the flavour quality and intensity and for overall impression than the cheeses made with the commercial starter.     

Antibacterial activities of peptides from the water-soluble extracts of Italian cheese varieties

Water-soluble extracts of 9 Italian cheese varieties that differed mainly for type of cheese milk, starter, technology, and time of ripening were fractionated by reversed-phase fast protein liquid chromatography, and the antimicrobial activity of each fraction was first assayed toward Lactobacillus sakei A15 by well-diffusion assay. Active fractions were further analyzed by HPLC coupled to electrospray ionization-ion trap mass spectrometry, and peptide sequences were identified by comparison with a proteomic database. Parmigiano Reggiano, Fossa, and Gorgonzola water-soluble extracts did not show antibacterial peptides. Fractions of Pecorino Romano, Canestrato Pugliese, Crescenza, and Caprino del Piemonte contained a mixture of peptides with a high degree of homology. Pasta filata cheeses (Caciocavallo and Mozzarella) also had antibacterial peptides. Peptides showed high levels of homology with N-terminal, C-terminal, or whole fragments of well known antimicrobial or multifunctional peptides reported in the literature: α_S1-casokinin (e.g., sheep α_S1-casein (CN) f22-30 of Pecorino Romano and cow α_S1-CN f24-33 of Canestrato Pugliese); isracidin (e.g., sheep α_S1-CN f10-21 of Pecorino Romano); kappacin and casoplatelin (e.g., cow κ-CN f106-115 of Canestrato Pugliese and Crescenza); and β-casomorphin-11 (e.g., goat β-CN f60-68 of Caprino del Piemonte). As shown by the broth microdilution technique, most of the water-soluble fractions had a large spectrum of inhibition (minimal inhibitory concentration of 20 to 200 μg/mL) toward gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial species, including potentially pathogenic bacteria of clinical interest. Cheeses manufactured from different types of cheese milk (cow, sheep, and goat) have the potential to generate similar peptides with antimicrobial activity.     

Volatile composition and improvement of the aroma of industrial Manchego cheese by using Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei as adjunct and other autochthonous strains as starters

The use of several autochthonous strains of lactic acid bacteria, including Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei as adjunct of the starter in the manufacture of Manchego cheese, was evaluated in an attempt to improve the aroma of the industrial Manchego cheese. Volatile composition and odour characteristics were evaluated and compared to those in Manchego cheese manufactured with a commercial starter (CS) culture and with raw milk cheese manufactured without starter. Manchego cheeses manufactured with two autochthonous strains of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis displayed a similar volatile profile and odour characteristics to the cheese made with the CS. The use of the strain Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei CECT 7882 as adjunct of the Lactococcus strains produced cheeses with higher amounts of some free fatty acids and alcohols, acetoin, lactones, phenylacetaldehyde, 2-phenylethanol and linalool, and higher scores of the odour intensity, odour quality, and ewe’s milk odour than the CS cheeses. It resulted in an intensification and improvement of industrial Manchego cheese aroma.     

Biogenic amine content and proteolysis in Manchego cheese manufactured with Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei as adjunct and other autochthonous strains as starters

Two different autochthonous strain starter cultures, in which the acidifying starter was composed of strains of Lactococcus lactis, were used for the manufacture of pasteurised milk Manchego cheese. Proteolysis parameters, biogenic amines and sensory characteristics were evaluated and compared with those of commercial starter Manchego cheese and raw milk Manchego cheese manufactured without starter. Autochthonous starter cheeses, and especially those including Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei as adjunct, presented higher levels of proteolysis than in commercial starter cheese. The concentrations of total biogenic amines in autochthonous starter cheeses were much lower than in raw milk cheese and even lower than in commercial starter cheese. Cheese manufactured with the adjunct strain gave the best results for both flavour intensity and flavour quality, and was the most preferred by panellists. The results suggest that the culture containing Lb. paracasei subsp. paracasei as adjunct could be used for the manufacture of industrial Manchego cheese.     

酱油中鲜味二肽的分离鉴定及其呈味特性研究

为了明确酱油中鲜味肽的结构序列,本文对酱油中鲜味肽进行分离鉴定,并系统地研究了其呈味特性。酱油经超滤膜(膜通量:5 ku、3 ku和1 ku)分离获得4个组分(F1,F2,F3和F4),通过感官评定筛选出鲜味最强的组分F4(1 ku)。该组分通过Sephadex G-15凝胶层析色谱继续分离得到8个组分(P1、P2、P3、P4、P5、P6、P7和P8),经感官评定筛选出鲜味最强的组分P2。采用超高压液相色谱串联质谱技术对P2组分进行多肽结构鉴定,通过手动De novo测序得到4条新的鲜味肽,其序列分别是Asn-Pro(230.1135 u)、Ala-His(227.1026 u)、Gly-Pro(173.0929 u)和Gly-Leu(189.1230 u)。然后采用固相合成技术合成四条肽并通过感官评定和电子舌分析,结果表明四条肽均具有明显的鲜味或鲜味增强作用。进一步研究发现,酱油的鲜味不仅来自于谷氨酸和天冬氨酸等鲜味氨基酸,小分子肽类也是构成酱油鲜味的重要成分之一。     

Comprehensive analysis of proteolysis during 8 months of ripening of high-cooked Old Saare cheese

We applied capillary electrophoresis, liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass-spectrometry (MS/MS), and ultra-performance liquid chromatography to determine the composition of water-insoluble and water-soluble proteinaceous fractions of the cheese and to study in detail the degradation of caseins during 8 mo of ripening of Estonian high-temperature cooked hard cheese Old Saare. The application of high-resolution and high-accuracy MS/MS enabled identification of more than 3,000 small peptides, representing a fairly full casein peptidome containing peptides of 4 to 25 AA in length: 1,049 from β-casein (CN), 944 from α_S1-CN, 813 from α_S2-CN, and 234 from κ-CN. The majority of β-CN- and α_S1-CN-derived peptides originated from the N-terminal parts of the molecule, f6-93 and f1-124, respectively; peptides from α_S2-CN arose predominantly from the C-terminal end f100-162. At the beginning of ripening, we found a relatively high amount of peptides originating from the glycomacropeptide part of κ-CN, whereas peptides from para-κ-CN prevailed during the later stages of ripening of the cheese. The cleavage patterns of β-CN, α_S2-CN, as well as α_S1-CN, showed that primary proteolysis was started mainly by plasmin, although a low proteolytic activity of chymosin was also evident. Based on the analysis of cleavage sites, we observed a significant participation of proteolytic enzymes, including amino- and carboxypeptidases, of both mesophilic and thermophilic starter bacteria in further hydrolysis of oligopeptides during the ripening. Several new phosphopeptides were detected in the result of MS/MS data analysis. The profiles of the estimated concentrations of phosphopeptides revealed that those originating from β-CN and α_S1-CN accumulated during cheese maturation. In contrast, we did not notice any generation of phosphopeptides from the highly phosphorylated part of α_S2-CN, f25-80, presumably due to the inaccessibility of this region to the action of plasmin and chymosin. The analysis of cleavage sites and the combination of principal component and clustering analyses provided a characterization of the complex dynamics of formation and degradation of peptides during cheese maturation. We made an attempt to obtain a comprehensive picture of proteolysis during Old Saare cheese ripening on the basis of the detailed peptidomic data, including also the less abundant peptides determined by MS/MS, and complemented by the data on intact caseins and free AA and reported the results in the paper.     

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory activity in Mexican Fresco cheese

The objective of this study was to evaluate if Mexican Fresco cheese manufactured with specific lactic acid bacteria (LAB) presented angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory (ACEI) activity. Water-soluble extracts (3 kDa) obtained from Mexican Fresco cheese prepared with specific LAB (Lactococcus, Lactobacillus, Enterococcus, and mixtures: Lactococcus-Lactobacillus and Lactococcus-Enterococcus) were evaluated for ACEI activity. Specific peptide fractions with high ACEI were analyzed using reverse phase-HPLC coupled to mass spectrometry for determination of amino acid sequence. Cheese containing Enterococcus faecium or a Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis-Enterococcus faecium mixture showed the largest number of fractions with ACEI activity and the lowest half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀; <10 μg/mL). Various ACEI peptides derived from β-casein [(f(193-205), f(193-207), and f(193-209)] and α_S1-casein [f(1-15), f(1-22), f(14-23), and f(24-34)] were found. The Mexican Fresco cheese manufactured with specific LAB strains produced peptides with potential antihypertensive activity.     

Umami peptides: assessment of their alleged taste properties

 In the literature there are reports that 31 di-and tripeptides elicit umami (i.e. monosodium L-glutamate-like or MSG-like) or savoury tastes. However, the occurrence of “umami peptides” is questioned with regard to the high specificity of those that give an umami taste. A total of 12 dipeptides and 4 tripeptides were selected for a re-examination of their taste properties. Criteria were that: (1) their taste has been described as umami, savoury or brothy; (2) they have a threshold value; and (3) they should fit into the theoretical framework of L-glutamyl peptides discussed. The peptides – in aqueous solutions, at room temperature, at pH 6.0 and 4.0, and at concentrations well above the reported threshold values – were tasted. Panel members were selected on the basis of their ability to perceive the umami taste of 2.67 mM MSG at pH 6.0. None of the peptides tested was found to elicit an umami taste. The taste of L-glutamic acid in the peptides was lost and furthermore the taste of bitter amino acids in the peptides was no longer perceivable. Within the range of Glu-X peptides, even Glu-Glu and Glu-Asp, which have previously been reported to elicit umami tastes, did not taste MSG-like either in pure solution or in the presence of sodium chloride. The tripeptide Ala-Glu-Ala, reported to have an “umami threshold” value as low as 0.8 mM, was found not to have an umami taste or any other specific taste up to 10 mM. The general occurrence of umami peptides appears to be highly unlikely. Received: 6 December 1996     

Umami taste characteristics of water extract of Doenjang, a Korean soybean paste: Low-molecular acidic peptides may be a possible clue to the taste

We investigated the taste characteristics of doenjang water extract (DWE) for component compounds that contribute to its taste. A 1% DWE solution elicited the highest umami taste ratings in a taste profile test. A 3% solution of DWE was used as substitute for 9.4% of monosodium glutamate in a taste soup base, and it masked the bitter taste of hydrolysed animal protein when mixed in solution. DWE was fractionated, based on molecular weights, and fraction IV (F-IV; 1000 > MW ? 500) had the highest peptide contents and elicited the strongest umami taste. The acidic peptide fraction of F-IV elicited the strongest umami taste. The major bound-type amino acids in DWE, F-IV and the acidic peptide fraction were Glu and Asp. These data show that the umami taste characteristics were a result of the low molecular weight acidic peptides naturally produced during the fermentation of soybeans.     

Aroma–taste interactions between a model cheese aroma and five basic tastes in solution

The flavour perception of cheese results from complex sensory interactions between tastes and aromas. Using a model cheese solution, this study investigated perceived interactions between each of five basic tastes and a cheese aroma mixture containing ten volatile compounds commonly found in cheese. The five tastes – sucrose (sweetness), sodium chloride (NaCl) (saltiness), monosodium glutamate (MSG) (umami), lactic acid (sourness), and caffeine (bitterness) – were individually mixed with cheese aroma in water using a 5 taste level (0.2 log series) by 3 aroma level (0.5 log series) design. Aroma controls with no added taste were also included. This resulted in 18 samples for each single taste–aroma combination. An additional 18 samples were produced using a mixture of all 5 tastes with the 3 aroma levels. A panel of trained assessors (n = 10) evaluated cheese flavour intensity and taste intensity using 100 point line scales. Evaluation was carried out in duplicate, with samples grouped by taste type; 1 evaluation session per taste per replicate. Within type, order of presentation was balanced, and taste type order was randomised between replicates. Cheese flavour intensity was enhanced by sucrose and NaCl, while being suppressed by lactic acid. NaCl enhanced cheese flavour intensity the most at high aroma level, while lactic acid suppressed the most at low aroma level. When MSG level was increased, cheese flavour intensity was enhanced at both low and medium aroma levels, but was suppressed at the high aroma level. The greatest enhancement of cheese flavour intensity was found with the mixture of 5 tastes. Aroma significantly enhanced umami and bitterness, but did not enhance sweetness, saltiness, or sourness. This study showed that the perceived interaction between taste and cheese aroma depended on taste type and on the concentration levels of both taste type and aroma. The mixture of tastes was more effective at enhancing cheese flavour intensity than single tastes. This study provides knowledge that will underpin further study of taste–aroma interactions in a model cheese that aims to optimise cheese flavour intensity and character.     

Taste and flavor of artisan and industrial Manchego cheese as influenced by the water-soluble extract compounds

The correlation between chemical and sensory analysis of the water-soluble extract compounds with molecular weight less than 1,000 Da (WSE < 1,000 Da) from Manchego cheese at different stages of ripening, as well as the influence of the pasteurization processes, has been studied. Free amino acids, peptides and volatile compounds were more abundant in raw milk cheeses WSE < 1,000 Da. Further fractionation of the WSE < 1,000 Da was carried on by gel permeation chromatography and amino acids, peptides, ions and volatiles were determined in the fractions. The same fractions were also subjected to organoleptic evaluation. Volatile compounds were related to the aroma and small peptides and amino acids to the taste. Volatile compounds were mainly alcohols and ketones. Fresh and floral notes were detected in the 4-month-old cheeses, which evolved into more intense and complex flavors in the 8-month-old cheeses. Peptides detected in the fractions were mainly hydrophilic. Umami taste was predominant in most of the fractions and it could be related to the presence of glutamic and aspartic acids in these fractions. Salty taste was perceived with high intensity in the fractions with a high content of salts. Bitter taste was mainly detected in the last eluting fractions and it was attributed to the Tyr, Phe and Trp residues found in these fractions. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Determination of taste-active compounds of a bitter Camembert cheese by omission tests

The taste-active compounds of a Camembert cheese selected for its intense bitterness defect were investigated. The water-soluble fraction (WSE) was extracted with pure water and fractionated by successive tangential ultrafiltrations and nanofiltration. The physicochemical assessment of these fractions led to the construction of a model WSE which was compared by sensory evaluation to the crude water-soluble extract, using a panel of 16 trained tasters. As no significant difference was perceived, this model WSE was then used directly or mixed with other cheese components for omission tests. Among the main taste characteristics of the WSE (salty, sour, umami and bitter), bitterness was found to be due to small peptides whose mass distribution was obtained by RPHPLC-MS (400-3000 Da) and whose taste properties are discussed.     

热加工暗纹东方鲀肌肉中呈味肽分离鉴定及呈味特性研究

为明确养殖暗纹东方鲀煮制时关键呈味肽的结构序列,本文对热加工暗纹东方鲀肌肉中呈味肽进行分离鉴定并对其呈味特性进行研究。热加工暗纹东方鲀肌肉水提物经超滤(3 ku)、纳滤(200 u)及Sephadex G-15凝胶过滤色谱分离得到4个多肽组分(F1、F2、F3和F4),感官评价结合电子舌分析筛选出滋味特性最强组分F2。利用半制备RP-HPLC对F2组分进一步分离得到3个组分(F2-1、F2-2和F2-3),电子舌评价F2-1组分鲜味较强。对组分F2-1中呈味肽的氨基酸序列采用基质辅助激光解析电离飞行时间质谱(MALDI-TOF/TOF MS/MS)进行测定,得到了两种新的呈味五肽和六肽结构:Cys-Ala-Leu-Thr-Pro(CA,503.9253 u)及Arg-Pro-Leu-Gly-Asn-Cys(RP,659.7747 u),2条肽链中均含有的亲水性Cys残基,可能是造成肽具有浓厚感和鲜味的关键。两个肽段经固相合成后测定其呈味特性,肽段RP具有较强鲜味,且肽段RP还与氯化钠和谷氨酸钠具有滋味协同作用,可增强鲜味强度。     

Identification of ACE-inhibitory peptides in different Spanish cheeses by tandem mass spectrometry

Different Spanish cheeses (Cabrales, Idiazábal, Roncal, Manchego, Mahón and a goat's milk cheese), made with diverse technologies and milk from different species, were studied for their angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory activity. Among the water-soluble extract WSE<1000-Da of the different samples, Cabrales cheese was the most active with an inhibitory activity of 76.1%. On the contrary, Mahón cheese showed the lowest ACE-inhibitory index (56.6%). In order to identify the peptides involved in this activity, the WSE<1000-Da were analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS and off-line MS/MS. A total of 41 major peptides were identified in the different cheeses. Most of them derived from β-and α_s1-casein. Several of these peptides were selected on the basis of the presence of proline as the C-terminal amino acid, and they were chemically synthesized. All peptides showed moderate or low ACE-inhibitory activity. Peptide DKIHP [β-CN f(47–51)], a sequence detected in all samples except Mahón cheese, showed the highest inhibitory activity with an IC₅₀ value of 113.1 μM.     

武定鸡肉中鲜味肽分离鉴定及呈味特性

利用超滤分级、凝胶过滤色谱法和反相-高效液相色谱法对武定鸡肉中鲜味肽进行分离纯化,结合感官评价追踪鲜味最强烈的组分,以纳升高效液相色谱-串联质谱联用技术与固相合成法对鲜味肽进行鉴定和合成,进一步分析鲜味肽的序列来源及其呈味特征。结果表明：从武定鸡肉中分离鉴定出8 条多肽,分子质量范围为365.20～1 735.92 Da,其中LDF、FVT和DLAGRDLTDYLMKIL这3 条肽段具有明显的鲜味活性,阈值在0.062～0.250 mg/mL之间,是武定鸡肉鲜味的关键组分。     

Investigation of the ability of a purified protease from Pseudomonas fluorescens RO98 to hydrolyze bitter peptides from cheese

The ability of a purified protease from Pseudomonas fluorescens RO98 to hydrolyze bitter peptides found in Cheddar cheese was investigated. The purified protease was incubated with α_s1-casein f1–9 and β-casein f193–209 in a model system (pH 6.8, 30°C) to determine hydrolysis. Residual substrate and hydrolysis products were determined by capillary electrophoresis. Both peptides were hydrolyzed by the protease during the 90-min assay. α_s1-Casein f1–9 was hydrolyzed into two products and β-casein f193–209 was degraded completely in 90 min to three hydrolytic products. This protease hydrolyzed bitter peptides that are known to accumulate in Cheddar and Gouda cheese during aging, suggesting a possibility to debitter Cheddar cheese.     

Study of taste-active compounds in the water-soluble extract of mature Cheddar cheese

The chemical composition of the water-soluble extracts of mature Cheddar cheese were identified, with the emphasis on understanding the interplay of compounds contributing to the savoury taste in Cheddar. The ultra-filtered water-soluble extracts of two mature Cheddar cheeses were fractionated by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). By sensory evaluation, two taste-active GPC fractions were identified from each cheese. On the basis of chemical profiling of these fractions, aqueous model tastant mixtures were prepared and sensory omission tests carried out. Glutamic acid, organic acids and mineral salts were the main tastants, whereas the other amino acids had a limited impact on taste. The characteristic umami taste was explained by a synergistic effect of glutamic acid and salts. Matching umami taste intensities were obtained from different concentrations of glutamic acid and salts. Unmasking of a bitter or sweet taste from mixtures of sub-threshold concentrations of amino acids without glutamic acids was also observed.     

Cheddar cheese taste can be reconstructed in solution using basic tastes

The taste of cheese contributes to flavour character directly and by cross-modal interactions with aroma. However, the relative contribution of specific tastes, i.e., sweet, salt, umami, sour, and bitter, is not well understood. Twelve cheeses were profiled by a trained sensory panel and the five tastes shown to significantly differ in intensity. Sucrose, NaCl, monosodium glutamate, lactic acid, and caffeine were mixed in water and adjusted using a 2^5-1 fractional factorial design (FFD) to reconstruct cheese taste; the optimised construct was compared with a Cheddar cheese to measure similarity for each taste type. The FFD provided knowledge of taste–taste interactions and aided the reconstruction of the taste profile of Cheddar cheese in solution. The reconstructed cheese solution did not significantly differ in overall intensity, saltiness, sourness, umami, and bitterness from the Cheddar cheese based on chi-squared tests. Sweetness was a difficult attribute to adjust due to its relatively low intensity.