Novel Umami Ingredients: Umami Peptides and Their Taste

Umami substances are very important for food seasoning and healthy eating. In addition to monosodium glutamate and some nucleotides, recent investigations have revealed that several peptides also exhibit umami taste. In recent years, 52 peptides have been reported to show umami taste, including 24 dipeptides, 16 tripeptides, 5 octapeptides, 2 pentapeptides, 2 hexapeptides, 1 tetrapeptide, 1 heptapeptide, and 1 undecapeptide. Twenty of these peptides have been examined for the present of umami taste. In this review, we have listed these umami peptides based on their category, source, taste, and threshold concentration. The evidence for peptides showing umami taste, the umami taste receptors on the human tongue, and the peptides whose umami taste is controversial are also discussed.     

食品鲜味研究热点：争议与功能

鲜味作为5 种基本滋味之一，是蛋白质或/和L-氨基酸等含氮营养素摄入的信号，具有调味和生理功能调控双重角色，带给人愉悦的味觉体验和心理享受。鲜味科学的发展已逾百年，民众对鲜味的科学认知如鲜味（肽）味感以及鲜味成分的安全性等方面仍存争议。本文归纳了鲜味与鲜味肽的味感描述、鲜味代表物质谷氨酸钠（味精）的安全性以及鲜味的功能等研究热点，概述了鲜味的广义和狭义定义、鲜味肽的呈味多元性及其影响因素，梳理了鲜味安全性评价与调节食欲等方面的作用，为食品鲜味科学研究提供参考。     

食品中鲜味物质及鲜味肽的研究进展

鲜味是食品五大基本味觉之一,也是深受人们喜爱的美味之一。"天然、营养、安全"的鲜味物质(包括氨基酸类、核苷酸类、有机酸类、鲜味肽等)的开发是近年来食品鲜味科学的研究热点和鲜味调味品研发的重点方向。本文概述了食品中鲜味及鲜味物质的研究现状,并重点介绍了鲜味肽的来源(水产品等)、特点、构效关系、呈鲜机制以及制备和鉴定方法等方面的研究新进展,以期为鲜味调味品的开发,鲜味肽的研究利用及呈鲜机制的研究等提供依据和参考。     

Umami Taste Enhancement of MSG/NaCl Mixtures by Subthreshold L-α-Aromatic Amino Acids

l ‐Phenylalanine (l ‐Phe) and l ‐tyrosine (l ‐Tyr) are L‐α‐aromatic amino acids that have recently been discovered to be important components of the savory fractions of soy sauce in addition to l ‐glutamate. Their effects are evaluated on the umami or savory taste of monosodium L‐glutamate (MSG), with or without sodium chloride (NaCl). Because l ‐Phe at subthreshold concentration (1.0 mM) significantly enhances an umami taste of a MSG/NaCl mixture (P= 0.000), combinations of 4 subthreshold concentrations (0, 0.5, 1.5, and 5.0 mM) of l ‐Phe with a weakly suprathreshold MSG (4.0 mM) and NaCl (80 mM) mixture were then rated for salty and umami intensities relative to those of standard solutions. L‐Phe was found to significantly enhance the umami tastes of the MSG/NaCl mixtures when it was added in a concentration range of 0.5 to 5.0 mM (P= 0.000). However, neither the umami taste of MSG alone nor the salty taste of NaCl alone was intensified. In a further experiment, l ‐Tyr at the 3 subthreshold concentrations (0, 0.5, and 1.5 mM) studied was shown to have the same activity as L‐Phe. The phenomenon of umami or savory enhancement by subthreshold aromatic amino acids in the soy sauce system has been established.     

养殖暗纹东方纯肌肉中呈味肽的分离鉴定

本文旨在从生鲜暗纹东方纯肌肉中提取呈味肽从而对暗纹东方纯肌肉中的呈味肽的结构特性进行相应研究。将生鲜养殖暗纹东方鱼屯肌肉水提物经Sephadex G15凝胶柱分离,得到3个多肽组分（分别为0-F1、0-F2和0-F3）,感官评价结合电子舌选择出具有最强烈的鲜味和kokumi感的组分0-F1。采用反相高效液相色谱（RP-HPLC）对其进行进一步分离得到2个组分0．F1．1和0．F1．2,电子舌鉴定显示O．F1．1组分有较强的鲜味。最后利用基质辅助激光解析电离飞行时间质谱（MALDI-TOF-MS）对RP-HPLC分离得到组分0-F1-1中呈味肽氨基酸序列进行测定,鉴定得到一种新的呈味七肽结构：Pro-A-A1a-B-Met＊-Cys-Arg（810．9046 Da,A和B均为氨基酸代码,Met＊表示氧化型甲硫氨酸）虽然肽段中含有大量的疏水性氨基酸,但该肽不具有苦味,而且有显著的浓厚感,其中含有的Cys残基可能是其具有kokumi感的关键。     

食品中鲜味物质研究进展

鲜味作为五大基本味觉之一,对食品滋味具有重要贡献。食品中的鲜味物质(包括鲜味肽、有机酸、氨基酸、核苷酸以及复合鲜味剂等)以其营养、安全等特点,近年来逐渐成为食品鲜味科学领域以及鲜味调味品方面的研究热点,为相关食品风味的改善提供了理论参考及研究方向。本研究介绍了鲜味物质的发展过程,并对鲜味及鲜味物质的研究现状进行了综述。同时对鲜味物质的种类进行概述,并对食品中主要的鲜味物质检测方法研究进展进行总结,最后对食品中鲜味物质的发展进行展望,以便于为食品中仪器检测鲜味物质相关研究提供参考和依据。     

pH值对酱油中呈味肽种类和呈味特性的影响

利用固相萃取技术结合超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法对不同pH值发酵酱油的酸性组分进行分离、鉴定和呈味特性分析.结果表明,从调控pH值发酵的酱油中鉴定出14 种呈味肽,从自然pH值发酵的酱油中鉴定出12 种呈味肽,其中8 种呈味肽在两种酱油中均鉴定出来.调控pH值发酵的酱油中含有较多良好呈味效果的小分子肽,其中ED、EE、E...     

养殖暗纹东方鲀肌肉中呈味肽的分离鉴定

本文旨在从生鲜暗纹东方鲀肌肉中提取呈味肽从而对暗纹东方鲀肌肉中的呈味肽的结构特性进行相应研究。将生鲜养殖暗纹东方鲀肌肉水提物经Sephadex G15凝胶柱分离,得到3个多肽组分(分别为0-F1、0-F2和0-F3),感官评价结合电子舌选择出具有最强烈的鲜味和kokumi感的组分0-F1。采用反相高效液相色谱(RP-HPLC)对其进行进一步分离得到2个组分0-F1-1和0-F1-2,电子舌鉴定显示0-F1-1组分有较强的鲜味。最后利用基质辅助激光解析电离飞行时间质谱(MALDI-TOF-MS)对RP-HPLC分离得到组分0-F1-1中呈味肽氨基酸序列进行测定,鉴定得到一种新的呈味七肽结构:Pro-A-Ala-B-Met*-Cys-Arg(810.9046 Da,A和B均为氨基酸代码,Met*表示氧化型甲硫氨酸)虽然肽段中含有大量的疏水性氨基酸,但该肽不具有苦味,而且有显著的浓厚感,其中含有的Cys残基可能是其具有kokumi感的关键。     

食品中鲜味的来源及其评价方法

鲜味作为5 种基本滋味之一,对食品滋味和品质有着重要的贡献,近年来被人们广泛关注。本文以鲜味为中心展开,介绍了食品中的鲜味物质,包括呈味游离氨基酸、核苷酸以及鲜味寡肽;归纳了几种鲜味评价方法,包括化学分析、人工感官分析以及智能感官分析;阐述了物理和生物方面的鲜味获取方法,并从对鲜味影响较大的食材和加工方式两个方面进行综述,还对未来鲜味的研究方向进行了展望,以期为食品中鲜味的相关研究提供参考。     

Evaluation of Peptide Contribution to the Intense Umami Taste of Japanese Soy Sauces

ABSTRACT: Koikuchi and tamari shoyu are 2 types of traditional Japanese soy sauce whose low-molecular-weight fractions (less than 500 Da) are known to have the most intense umami taste. Given that peptides were also abundant in some umami fractions of both shoyu, further investigation was conducted to evaluate the precise contribution of peptides to the soy sauce tastes. To locate and isolate peptide fractions, separation procedures using Sephadex G-25 SF, Sephadex G-10, and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) linked to sensory evaluation (by taste dilution analysis), as well as amino acid analysis were performed. Peptides having glutamyl residue were present in most peptide fractions. However, they all revealed negligible contributions to the intense umami taste of the soy sauces. On the other hand, free Glu, in the presence of sodium salt, as well as free Asp and several sweet-taste eliciting free amino acids were considered to be the main contributors to the umami taste of the soy sauces. This study of Japanese soy sauces gives a clear explanation of the frequently questioned peptide contribution to the taste of savory food product.     

食品中呈鲜味物质研究进展

鲜味作为五大基本味之一,对于食品整体味道及人们对食品的评价至关重要。本文以鲜味为中心,从宏观角度介绍了富含鲜味的几种食物及影响其鲜味呈现的因素,总结了较新的几种鲜味提取方法,从微观角度综述了富含鲜味的几种氨基酸、核苷酸、肽、有机酸以及有机碱。简述了两种基本的鲜味受体蛋白——味型代谢性谷氨酸受体和味觉受体异源二聚体,并从鲜味感知和鲜味的协同增效作用两方面重点分析了鲜味的呈味机理。总结了当前常用的鲜味测定分析方法:感官评价法、高效液相色谱法、毛细管电泳法,以及比较新颖的生物和化学传感器法,为今后食品中鲜味物质的挖掘、感知、检测等研究提供参考。     

白腐乳中呈味肽的分离与鉴定

目的:从白腐乳中寻找呈味肽,分析其氨基酸序列,人工合成肽样品,研究其滋味特性。方法:白腐乳提取液经过超滤、Sephedex G-15葡萄糖凝胶过滤层析,分离出3个呈味组分,通过感官评价筛选出呈鲜效果最优的组分,采用反相高效液相色谱对其进一步分离纯化,选择峰面积最大的组分,使用基质辅助激光解析电离-飞行时间质谱结合De Novo软件分析呈味肽的氨基酸序列,人工合成肽样品,对合成肽样品的呈味特性进行分析。结果:在白腐乳中发现并确定序列的肽链3条,其氨基酸序列分别为:Asp-Phe-Lys-Arg-Glu-Pro、Asp-Arg-Glu-Lys-Phe-AspGlu、Asp-Glu-Asp-Phe-Lys-Arg-Glu-Pro。其中肽Asp-Phe-Lys-Arg-Glu-Pro具有鲜味,肽Asp-Glu-Asp-Phe-Lys-ArgGlu-Pro兼具鲜味与酸味,肽Asp-Arg-Glu-Lys-Phe-Asp-Glu虽无明显特征滋味,但在味精溶液中则体现出较强的增鲜效果。结论:腐乳的鲜味不仅仅来自于谷氨酸等氨基酸成分,还与小分子肽类的呈鲜作用有关。     

Formation of thiazolines within the peptide chain during heating of proteins

  L-2-Methyl-4-carboxy-thiazoline was isolated by ion-exchange chromatography and RP-HPLC from heated solutions of N-acetyl-L-cysteine. The structure was established by NMR-spectroscopy. The formation of thiazolines during the heating of cysteine-containing peptides (glycyl-glycyl-cysteine, glycyl-cysteinyl-glycine, glutathione) was observed by UV and NMR-spectroscopy and measured by cation-exchange chromatography. The rate of formation was dependent on the pH, the water activity and the temperature. In comparison with untreated samples, a characteristic increase of absorption at 260 nm in heated proteins (β-lactoglobulin, ovalbumin) was noticed. Using NMR-spectroscopy [two-dimensional: hetero nuclear multiple quantum coherence (HMQC) and total correlated spectroscopy (TOCSY)] the formation of thiazolines within heated proteins (β-lactoglobulin, egg white albumin and bovine serum albumin) could be demonstrated unequivocally. The signals of the methine-proton of thiazolines as well as the coupling constants of the thiazoline protons are very characteristic and not overlaid by signals of protein-bound amino acids. Received: 26 April 1996 / Revised version: 30 July 1996     

Changes in cell-wall-degrading enzyme activities in stored olives in relation to respiration and ethylene production Influence of exogenous ethylene

 The activity of various enzymes (α-D-galactosidase; β-D-galactosidase; α-L-arabinofuranosidase; α-D-mannosidase, β-D-N-acetylglucosaminidase, cellulase and polygalacturonase) associated with the cell wall during olive storage was assayed in order to establish the behaviour of the enzymes as a function of the ripening stage and in relation to the production of ethylene. The effect of exogenous ethylene (100 mg/l for 24 h) was also evaluated. In addition, gaseous emissions of CO₂ and ethylene during olive storage were monitored. The results obtained indicate that the high initial CO₂ level in the green olive coincides almost exactly in time with the climacteric maxima when the fruit is on the tree. After the rapid decrease in the respiration rate of green olives during storage, the CO₂ production rate increases as the stage of maturity advances. The results also indicate that ethylene is not capable of stimulating the activity or synthesis of enzymes in green olives, but can produce such a stimulation in black olives. Furthermore, during the first day of storage there were very marked decreases in enzyme activities. Small variations in the conditions of aerobiosis in post-harvest ripening were shown to have notable effects on the normal metabolism of the fruits. Received: 29 January 1996 / Revised version: 1 July 1996     

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。     

鲜味肽与增鲜肽及其加工特性研究进展

鲜味肽与增鲜肽是食品中的关键滋味成分,具有风味突出等优势。同时,鲜味肽与增鲜肽种类复杂且常作为反应前体物影响食品的风味特性,对食品风味有重要影响。据统计分析,目前已报道鲜味肽与增鲜肽数量分别为208条和60条,鲜味肽氨基酸组成和空间结构是决定鲜味肽鲜味特性的重要因素,而增鲜肽具有更复杂的增鲜模式和构效关系。在食品加工过程中,鲜味肽与增鲜肽会作为活泼反应底物参与酶促与非酶促反应,并在一定条件下转变为鲜味更强或增鲜特性更优的反应产物,有利于食品风味品质的提升。作者系统分析了鲜味肽与增鲜肽的结构特性,探讨了基于不同加工方式其在食品加工过程中的变化及其对食品呈味特性的有益影响,并阐述了在研究过程中存在的问题和解决方案,旨在对鲜味科学研究及调味品行业的技术发展提供理论指导。     

Drying of Exotic Tropical Fruits: A Comprehensive Review

This paper provides a capsule overview of recent experimental studies dealing with the drying of a large assortment of tropical and subtropical fruits, also called “exotic” fruits. The term exotic includes a number of tropical fruits that are not yet commonly found in global markets but do have the potential to do so in view of their appearance, taste, and textural and nutritional quality parameters. As the consumer is seeking diverse tastes and flavors without compromising on quality, it is logical to expect the market for dried exotic fruits to increase over the next decade. This review covers diverse drying techniques, drying kinetics, and key quality parameters of dried fruits.     

厚味肽增味机制和部分厚味肽潜在生理功能的研究进展

食物的味觉在食物选择中起着重要的作用.厚味区别于传统五大基本味觉(即甜味、咸味、酸味、苦味和鲜味),但并非指独立的口味,而是一种增味增稠的特性,以及连续的、满口性的饱满口感.厚味物质能赋予食品浓厚味感,使摄食更愉悦,因而备受食品行业的青睐.厚味肽作为呈现厚味的一大类物质,近年来成为食品科学领域的一大研究热点.文章将从厚...     

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.     

Factors affecting detection of a bimodal sour-savory mixture and inter-individual umami taste perception

While basic taste interactions have been the subject of many research studies, there is one combination where data is limited in the literature: sour and umami. This combination is universal in culinary preparations and of key interest to the food industry. Therefore, the primary goal of the present study is to assess how increasing concentrations of acidity (citric acid) affect, if at all, the intensity of a constant concentration of umami (monosodium glutamate, MSG). The secondary goal is to investigate other possible factors in umami taste perception. Here, a crowdsourced cohort of 734 individuals (age range 8–81) tasted and rated the intensity of 50 mM MSG alone, and in combination with citric acid at varying concentrations (1.25 mM, 6.25 mM, 31.25 mM). Participants were also genotyped for the single nucleotide polymorphism rs34160967 in the TAS1R1 gene. The results show a significant decrease in the intensity perception of umami as sour concentration increases (low: p = 0.005, medium: p < 0.001, high: p < 0.001). Situational factors such as participant hunger level and time since last eating also have a significant effect on umami intensity perception. Neither the biological factors of sex, age, and ancestry appear to play a role in umami perception, nor does variation in gene TAS1R1 at rs34160967. These new data contribute to the growing field of taste and sensory interaction by giving evidence that sour suppresses umami taste perception in bi-model samples.