Bran-induced changes in water structure and gluten conformation in model gluten dough studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

The impact of bran addition on the state of water and gluten secondary structure in gluten dough was studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to understand the underlying physical mechanism by which bran impacts dough properties. Comparison of the OH stretch band of water in gluten dough with that of H₂O–D₂O mixture having the same water content revealed formation of two distinct water populations in gluten dough corresponding to IR absorption frequencies at 3580 cm⁻¹ and 3180 cm⁻¹. The band intensity at 3180 cm⁻¹, which is related to water bound to gluten matrix, decreased with increase of moisture content of the dough. Addition of bran to gluten dough caused redistribution of the bound water in the gluten-bran dough system. This water redistribution affected the secondary structure of gluten in the dough as evidenced from changes in the second-derivative spectrum in the amide I region. In the hydrated state, β-turn (in the form of β-spiral) was the major secondary structure (∼60%) in gluten. Addition of bran to gluten dough caused conversion of β-spirals into β-sheet and random structures. However, the extent of this conversion in the presence of bran was inversely related to the moisture content of the dough. This study revealed that when bran is added to gluten dough, water redistribution promotes partial dehydration of gluten and collapse of β-spirals into intermolecular β-sheet structures; this trans-conformation might be physical reasons for the poor quality of bread containing added bran.