Indigenous proteases in the skin of unicorn leatherjacket (Alutherus monoceros) and their influence on characteristic and functional properties of gelatin

Indigenous proteases in the skin of unicorn leatherjacket (Alutherus monoceros) were characterised using autolytic study. Maximised autolysis was found at pH 7 and 50 °C. Autolysis was markedly inhibited by 0.04 mM soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI), suggesting that heat activated serine protease was predominant in the skin. The impact of indigenous proteases on the properties of gelatin extracted from unicorn leatherjacket skin was investigated. Gelatin was extracted from unicorn leatherjacket skin using distilled water at 50 °C for 12 h in the presence and absence of 0.04 mM SBTI. In the presence of SBTI, the degradation was markedly inhibited, but a lower gelatin extraction yield was obtained (P < 0.05). Extracted gelatins contained α₁ and α₂ chains as the predominant components with some degradation peptides. FTIR spectra indicated a greater loss of molecular order of the triple helix and a higher degradation was found in gelatin extracted in the absence of 0.04 mM SBTI. The net charge of gelatin samples extracted with and without 0.04 mM SBTI became zero at pHs of 8.45 and 7.31, respectively, as determined by ζ-potential titration. Higher gel strength (320.68 ± 3.02 g) was obtained in gelatin extracted with SBTI, compared with that of gelatin extracted without SBTI (288.63 ± 1.44 g). High emulsifying activity index but lower emulsifying stability index was observed in the former. Therefore, heat-activated serine protease was involved in the degradation of gelatin molecules, thereby affecting the yield, proteinaceous components and properties of gelatin from unicorn leatherjacket skin.