Impaired rennetability of heated milk; study of enzymatic hydrolysis and gelation kinetics

Casein micelles in milk are stable colloidal particles with a stabilizing hairy brush of kappa-casein. During cheese production rennet cleaves kappa-casein into casein macropeptide and para-kappa-casein, thereby destabilizing the casein micelle and resulting in aggregation and gel formation of the micelles. Heat treatment of milk causes impaired clotting properties, which makes heated milk unsuitable for cheese production. In this paper we compared five different techniques, often described in the literature, for their suitability to quantify the enzymatic hydrolysis of kappa-casein. It was found that the technique is crucial for the yield of casein macropeptide and this yield then affects the calculated enzymatic inhibition caused by heat treatment, ranging from 5 to 30%. The technique, which we found to be the most reliable, demonstrates that heat-induced calcium phosphate precipitation does not affect the enzymatic cleavage, while whey protein denaturation causes a very slight reduction of enzyme activity. By using diffusing wave spectroscopy, a very sensitive technique to monitor gelation processes, we demonstrated that heat-induced calcium phosphate precipitation does not affect the clotting. Whey protein denaturation does not affect the start of flocculation but has a clear effect on the clotting process. This work adds to a better understanding of the processes causing the impaired clotting properties of heated milk.     

The dual effects of Maillard reaction and enzymatic hydrolysis on the antioxidant activity of milk proteins

The objective of this study was to determine the enhanced effects on the biological characteristics and antioxidant activity of milk proteins by the combination of the Maillard reaction and enzymatic hydrolysis. Maillard reaction products were obtained from milk protein preparations, such as whey protein concentrates and sodium caseinate with lactose, by heating at 55°C for 7 d in sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.4). The Maillard reaction products, along with untreated milk proteins as controls, were hydrolyzed for 0 to 3 h with commercial proteases Alcalase, Neutrase, Protamex, and Flavorzyme (Novozymes, Bagsværd, Denmark). The antioxidant activity of hydrolyzed Maillard reaction products was determined by reaction with 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt, their 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity, and the ability to reduce ferric ions. Further characteristics were evaluated by the o-phthaldialdehyde method and sodium dodecyl sulfate-PAGE. The degree of hydrolysis gradually increased in a time-dependent manner, with the Alcalase-treated Maillard reaction products being the most highly hydrolyzed. Radical scavenging activities and reducing ability of hydrolyzed Maillard reaction products increased with increasing hydrolysis time. The combined products of enzymatic hydrolysis and Maillard reaction showed significantly greater antioxidant activity than did hydrolysates or Maillard reaction products alone. The hydrolyzed Maillard reaction products generated by Alcalase showed significantly higher antioxidant activity when compared with the other protease products and the antioxidant activity was higher for the whey protein concentrate groups than for the sodium caseinate groups. These findings indicate that Maillard reaction products, coupled with enzymatic hydrolysis, could act as potential antioxidants in the pharmaceutical, food, and dairy industries.     

Effect of high hydrostatic pressure processing on the rennet coagulation kinetics and physicochemical properties of sheep milk rennet-induced gels

The effects of high hydrostatic pressure on the constituents and coagulation ability and their effect on cheese production of sheep milk have not been studied in detail. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of high hydrostatic pressure processing on the coagulation kinetics and physicochemical properties of sheep milk and to explore how such treatment could improve the cheesemaking process. Five batches of milk were tested: 1 untreated control batch and 4 batches each subjected to a different pressure (150, 300, 450, or 600 MPa) for 5 min at 10°C. As treatment pressure increased, values of electrical conductivity and oxidation-reduction potential were found to decrease. However, no significant reduction in pH was recorded. Treatment pressures >300 MPa produced milk with lower lightness (luminosity) and a more yellow and green hue. Pressures >150 MPa resulted in micellar fragmentation, as well as significant increases in particle size, viscosity, and water-holding capacity as a consequence of the denaturing of soluble proteins. High-pressure treatments increased the solubility of colloidal calcium phosphate, leading to a considerable increase in the concentration of minerals in the serum phase. The highest concentrations of calcium and phosphorus in the rennet whey of milk were reached at 300 MPa. Curd coagulation time was reduced by 28% at pressures >300 MPa, and an increase in the curd firming rate was observed. As treatment pressure increased to 450 MPa, the firmness, elasticity, and the percentage creep recovery of gels increased, whereas values of compliance and fracture strain were reduced. Thus, we can conclude that 300 MPa is the optimum treatment pressure for milk intended for cheesemaking by enzymatic coagulation. This pressure produced milk with optimal coagulation kinetics and water-holding properties with the least loss of fat and protein to the whey.     

Effect of microparticulated whey proteins on milk coagulation properties

The enhancement of milk coagulation properties (MCP) and the reuse of whey produced by the dairy industry are of great interest to improve the efficiency of the cheese-making process. Native whey proteins (WP) can be aggregated and denatured to obtain colloidal microparticulated WP (MWP). The objective of this study was to assess the effect of MWP on MCP; namely, rennet coagulation time (RCT), curd-firming time, and curd firmness 30 min after rennet addition. Six concentrations of MWP (vol/vol; 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, 6.0, 7.5, and 9.0%) were added to 3 bulk milk samples (collected and analyzed during 3 d), and a sample without MWP was used as control. Within each day of analysis, 6 replicates of MCP for each treatment were obtained, changing the position of the treatment in the rack. For control samples, 2 replicates per day were performed. In addition to MCP, WP fractions were measured on each treatment during the 3 d of analysis. Milk coagulation properties were measured on 144 samples by using a Formagraph (Foss Electric, Hillerød, Denmark). Increasing the amount of MWP added to milk led to a longer RCT. In particular, significant differences were found between RCT of the control samples (13.5 min) and RCT of samples with 3.0% (14.6 min) or more MWP. A similar trend was observed for curd-firming time, which was shortest in the control samples and longest in samples with 9.0% MWP (21.4 min). No significant differences were detected for curd firmness at 30 min across concentrations of MWP. Adjustments in cheese processing should be made when recycling MWP, in particular during the coagulation process, by prolonging the time of rennet activity before cutting the curd.     

超声联合酶解法提高豆乳粉溶解性的工艺研究

在湿法制备豆乳粉工艺的基础上,采用超声联合酶解法提高豆乳粉溶解性。在单因素实验基础上,采用响应面分析法对超声联合酶解制备高溶解性豆乳粉工艺进行优化,确定最优超声联合酶解工艺参数为:超声功率350 W,超声时间23 min,酶解温度57℃,酶解时间1.7 h,酶解p H8.6。在最优工艺条件下,蛋白质分散指数为88.79%,比未经超声及酶解处理的豆乳粉提高了近10%,显著提高了豆乳粉的溶解性。      

Effects of enzymatic hydrolysis on the allergenicity of natural cow milk based on a BALB/c mouse model

Cow milk allergy is one of the most prevalent food allergies worldwide, particularly in infants and children. To the best of our knowledge, minimal research exists concerning the antigenicity of cow milk (CM). This study was performed to evaluate the allergenicity of enzymatically hydrolyzed cow milk (HM) in a BALB/c mouse model. The mice were randomly divided into 5 groups (n = 12/group), which were sensitized with phosphate-buffered saline, CM, and HM (Alcalase-, or Protamex-, or Flavorzyme-treated cow milk; Novo Nordisk; AT, PT, FT, respectively), respectively, using cholera toxin as adjuvant on d 0, 7, 14, 21. On d 28, the test mice were orally challenged with phosphate-buffered saline, CM, and HM (AT, PT, or FT) alone. Anaphylactic symptoms were monitored in the mice. Antibody, cytokine, histamine, and mouse mast cell protease-1 (mMCP-1) levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. In addition, the numbers of T helper (Th)1 and Th2 cells, as well as the proportions of CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ Treg cells, in mouse spleens were detected using flow cytometry. Statistical significance was determined by one-way ANOVA. The results revealed significant differences between CM- and HM-challenged mice. Among these, the clinical scores of HM-challenged mice (AT, 1.50; PT, 2.00; FT, 1.92) were lower than those of CM-challenged mice (positive control, 2.83), but body weight and temperature of HM-challenged mice were higher than those of CM-challenged mice. In addition, significant reductions of allergen-specific IgE, IgG, histamine, and mMCP-1 were showed in HM-challenged mice, especially for histamine, ranging from 171.42 ng/mL to 214.94 ng/mL. Remarkable reductions of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 levels, as well as elevations of interferon-γ and IL-10 levels in the spleens of HM-challenged mice were also detected. Moreover, the number of Th2 cells decreased in the HM-challenged mice, to 2.36% (AT), 1.79% (PT), and 4.03% (FT), respectively, whereas the numbers of Th1 cells (AT, 6.30%; PT, 6.70%; FT, 6.56%) and the proportions of CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺Tregs (AT, 8.86%; PT, 9.21%; FT, 9.16%) increased significantly. Our findings indicate that exposure to HM was sufficient to induce a shift toward a Th1 response, thereby reducing potential allergenicity. Importantly, these results will lay a theoretical foundation for the development of hypoallergenic CM products.     

Association between the bovine milk metabolome and rennet-induced coagulation properties of milk

The milk metabolomes of 407 individual Swedish Red dairy cows were analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy as part of the Danish-Swedish Milk Genomics Initiative. By relating these metabolite profiles to total milk protein concentration and rheological measurements of rennet-induced milk coagulation together using multivariate data analysis techniques, we were able to identify several different associations of the milk metabolome to technological properties of milk. Several novel correlations of milk metabolites to protein content and rennet-induced coagulation properties were demonstrated. Metabolites associated with the prediction of total protein content included choline, N-acetyl hexosamines, creatinine, glycerophosphocholine, glutamate, glucose 1-phosphate, galactose 1-phosphate, and orotate. In addition, levels of lactate, acetate, glutamate, creatinine, choline, carnitine, galactose 1-phosphate, and glycerophosphocholine were significantly different when comparing noncoagulating and well-coagulating milks. These findings suggest that the mentioned metabolites are associated with milk protein content and rennet-induced coagulation properties and may act as quality markers for cheese milk.     

Proteolysis of milk fat globule membrane proteins during in vitro gastric digestion of milk

The influence of gastric proteolysis on the physicochemical characteristics of milk fat globules and the proteins of the milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) in raw milk and cream was examined in vitro in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) containing various pepsin concentrations at pH 1.6 for up to 2 h. Apparent flocculation of the milk fat globules occurred in raw milk samples incubated in SGF containing pepsin, but no coalescence was observed in either raw milk samples or cream samples. The changes in the particle size of the fat globules as a result of the flocculation were dependent on the pepsin concentration. Correspondingly, the physical characteristics of the fat globules and the composition of the MFGM proteins in raw milk changed during incubation in SGF containing pepsin. The major MFGM proteins were hydrolyzed at different rates by the pepsin in the SGF; butyrophilin was more resistant than xanthine oxidase, PAS 6, or PAS 7. Peptides with various molecular weights, which altered with the time of incubation and the pepsin concentration, were present at the surfaces of the fat globules.     

饲养大鲵蛋白水解工艺研究

采用酶法水解大鲵蛋白制备蛋白粉,以水解度为指标,通过单因素试验和正交设计试验,研究了饲养大鲵蛋白的水解条件。结果表明:采用碱性蛋白酶:木瓜蛋白酶=1:3(g/g)为试验用酶,水解的最佳条件为料液比1:7、酶浓度2400 U/g、pH7.5、水解时间5 h、水解温度55℃,该条件下水解度可达36.18%。     

Effect of enzymatic hydrolysis of proteins on growth of Bifidobacterium bifidus in milk

The effect of enzymatic hydrolysis of proteins in milk using neutrase on the growth of the probiotic strain Bifidobacterium bifidus was evaluated by estimation of microbial growth, acidity, viscosity and flavour production. A significant increase in the growth of B bifidus was observed in neutrase‐hydrolysed milk. The setting time of bifidus‐cultured milk was advanced by about 12 h at 5% degree of hydrolysis. Enzymatic hydrolysis of proteins prior to cultivation also significantly increased the viscosity of the product. An approximately 60% increase in viscosity of the product was observed in neutrase‐hydrolysed milk. Production of steam‐volatile monocarbonyls as an indication of development of flavour was also higher in neutrase‐hydrolysed milk. The concentration of steam‐volatile monocarbonyls was 2.47 µmol per 100 ml in neutrase‐hydrolysed milk but only 1.84 µmol per 100 ml in control milk at the setting point of the curd. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Transformation of antimicrobial into bradykinin‐potentiating peptides during peptic hydrolysis of bovine haemoglobin: identification,release kinetics and reaction network of peptides

The precursor cleavage of the antimicrobial peptide α107–136 into the bradykinin‐potentiating peptide α110–125 during peptic hydrolysis of bovine haemoglobin was investigated by reverse phase high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The optimal conditions for the preparation of α107–136 and α110–125 were found to be low and high degrees of hydrolysis respectively. A total of six peptides were identified as being involved in the cleavage process. Moreover, the reaction network of these peptides was developed according to the sequence alignment and their release kinetics. The affinity of pepsin towards different peptide bonds of bovine haemoglobin was also compared based on data from the release kinetics of peptides. In addition, some potentially bioactive peptides were predicted by means of sequence analysis and secondary structure calculations. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Immunoreactive properties of peptide fractions of cow whey milk proteins after enzymatic hydrolysis

Commercial whey protein concentrate (WPC) was hydrolysed with either Alcalase 2.4 FG (Novo Nordisk), or papain (Sigma) (in one‐step process) or with two enzymes (in two‐step process) to determine the changes in the immunoreactivity of α‐lactalbumin and β‐lactoglobulin. Enzymatic hydrolysis of WPC was performed by pH‐stat method. Hydrolysates were analysed using sodium dodecyl sulphate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, immunoblotting and size‐exclusion chromatography (SE‐HPLC). Immunoreactive properties of peptide fractions separated from the hydrolysates by fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) were determined using dot‐immunobinding and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods. Finally the sensory analysis was used to confirm organoleptic changes resulting from the application of different enzymes. The ‘two‐step’ process was observed to be the most effective however allergenic epitopes were still present, as it was found by ELISA with anti‐α‐la and anti‐β‐lg antibodies. The addition of papain as the second enzyme in the hydrolysis process contributed to the improvement of the sensory properties of WPC hydrolysate as compared with the Alcalase hydrolysate. Alcalase‐papain partially hydrolysated WPC can be found a promising base for production of the tolerogenic formula.     

牛乳的凝固特性及其影响因素研究进展

本文综述了近年来有关牛乳凝固特性的研究进展,重点针对影响牛乳凝固能力的遗传和非遗传因素的研究进展进行了分析论述,包括不同来源牛乳的凝固特性、乳蛋白组分和工艺条件等对牛乳凝固能力的影响。旨在厘清影响牛乳凝固能力的主要因素。     

Enzymatic hydrolysis of soy proteins and the hydrolysates utilisation

Soy proteins are very important protein source for human being and livestock. Enzymatic hydrolysis of soy protein can enhance or reduce its functional properties and improve its nutritious value. Soy protein hydrolysates were primarily used as functional food ingredients, flavour and nutritious enhancers, protein substitute, and clinical products. Conditions for hydrolysis were usually mild, whereas recently high pressure treatment attracted more interest. Degree of hydrolysis (DH) was usually between 1% and 39.5%. The main problem associated with proteolytic hydrolysis of soy protein was production of bitter taste, hydrolysates coagulation and high cost of enzymes. Bitterness reduction can be achieved by control of DH, selective separation of bitter peptides from hydrolysates, treatment of hydrolysates with exo‐peptidases, addition of various components [adenosine monophosphate (AMP), some amino acids, monosodium glutamate (MSG), etc.] to block or mask the bitter taste, and modification of taste signalling. Hydrolysates coagulation can be resolved by selecting appropriate enzymes and by applying immobilisation technology the production cost can be reduced. Enzymatic hydrolysis also enhances bioactivity of soy proteins through conversion of glycosides to aglycones, increasing antioxidant and immunoregulatory properties. Finally, future works have been discussed.     

木质纤维素酶水解分形动力学的研究进展

木质纤维素作为地球上储量最丰富的可再生资源之一,可用于生产燃料乙醇,以减少人类对石化资源的依赖。酶水解作为重要步骤之一,自然引起了国内外的广泛关注。但由于酶水解是一个复杂的异质多相反应过程,很难用一个简单的模型对其进行表征。分形理论作为一种研究方法,直接从非线性复杂系统入手去认识其内在规律,更为客观、真实地反映了事物的内在本质。本文阐述了木质纤维素酶水解分形动力学的研究现状,并在此基础上对其应用前景进行展望。     

Alterations in milk metabolome and coagulation ability during the lactation of dairy cows

Milk composition has been known to change during lactation. To help understand the changes in metabolic profile throughout the whole lactation, liquid chromatography mass-spectrometry was used to analyze 306 milk samples from 82 primi- and multiparous dairy cows. Changes in metabolic profile common to all cows throughout lactation were ascertained based on principal component and general linear model analysis. Sets of specific markers; for instance, 225, 397, and 641–642 m/z (positive mode), and 186, 241, and 601–604 (negative mode), with at least a 1.5-fold higher intensity during the first 60 d compared with the last 60 d of lactation were observed. The metabolome was affected by parity and milking time. Markers, identified as peptides differentiating parity, were observed. A significant increase for citrate was observed in evening milk. Milk coagulation traits were strongly animal specific. The curd firmness values were influenced by milking time. Sets of markers were associated with curd firmness in positive (197 m/z) and negative (612, 737, 835, 836, 902, 1000, 1038, and 1079 m/z) ion mode.     

木瓜蛋白酶水解对豆乳中抗原蛋白含量和亚基构成的影响

采用木瓜蛋白酶水解传统生浆工艺制备的豆乳,用双抗体夹心酶联免疫吸附法（ELISA）测定酶解残余物中抗原蛋白含量,用SDS-PAGE分析其蛋白分子亚基组成,并通过正交实验优化了木瓜蛋白酶的水解条件。结果表明,当保持豆乳自然p H（6.5⁶.8）、酶浓度3500 U/m L、水解温度53℃、水解时间15 min时,β-伴球蛋白的α’、α亚基被完全水解,大豆球蛋白的酸性多肽链基本消失,碱性多肽链含量明显减少,同时产生了大量14 k Da以下组分,此时β-伴球蛋白残留率为56.6%。