Properties of MTGase treated gluten film

Water barrier and mechanical properties of gluten film affected by the treatment of microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) were evaluated with the water vapor permeability (WVP), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T₂ map and mechanical properties of gluten films. The water barrier ability of gluten films was superior to the no film but inferior to the Parafilm^® investigated by MRI T₂ maps in a two-gelatin-gel system. The WVP of gluten film increased, while the tensile force decreased, with increasing in the dosage of MTGase treated. The gluten films were also dyed with Acid Fuchsin and observed by a confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) to localize the proteins in the film. The micrographs showed many pores and inhomogenous gluten network in MTGase treated gluten films. High WVP and weak mechanical properties of MTGase treated gluten films were attributed to the cross-link bonds formation, which created pores and inhomogenous gluten matrix as evidenced by CLSM.