Electrophoretic patterns and thin-layer chromatography of common cheeses in Egypt: Comparison and quantification

The extent of cheese ripening and the type of proteolysis and lipolysis of common cheeses in Egypt were measured by concentration of each of soluble tyrosine; soluble trypophan; amino N; soluble N/total N; total volatile fatty acids and free fatty acids, and by quantitative gel electrophoresis and thin-layer chromatography. The effects of concentration-related factors (e.g. moisture, salt and pH) on cheese protein and fat hydrolysis were also studied.

The results showed that, as a heterogeneous group of cheese, differences were marked in gross chemical composition and both the extent of cheese ripening and the relative proportions of protein, fat and their degradation products. Among the selected cheeses, ras cheese has higher values of ripening indices, while kariesh cheese has lower values. Increasing the salt content of mish cheese caused an inhibition in degradation of its protein and fat.

The principal protein regions in electrophoretic patterns and fractions of fat in TLC patterns were similar in number and relative mobility. In most of the cheeses, _s-casein was degraded more extensively than β-casein, while the whole of the γ-caseins were resistant to further hydrolysis. Also, there was close correlation between _s-casein and its degradation products. In spite of the absence of significant relationships between the soluble nitrogen and the relative amounts of unattached _s-, β-, and γ-caseins, the amino nitrogen and soluble tyrosine and tryptophan were in close correlation with _s- and β-caseins and their degradation products.

A positive relationship was noted between pH (from 4·40 to 5·85) and both protein and fat hydrolysis. The fat of roquefort cheese was more hydrolysed than other cheeses; however, the fat of the soft cheeses was less hydrolysed. Moreover, negative and highly significant correlations between triglycerides and their degradation by both TLC and chemical analysis were obtained.