Enzymatically modified soy protein - Part 1. Thermal behaviour

Optimum temperature and pH for the isolation of soy protein isolate (SPI) from soy protein concentrate (SPC) were established. Enzymatic hydrolysis of SPI with enzymes of different specificities such as trypsin, chymotrypsin, papain and urease was carried out and the products of hydrolysis were characterized by molecular mass determination [sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE)] and thermal techniques [differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TG)]. Enzymatic hydrolysis resulted in a significant reduction in molecular masses. However the thermal stability of hydrolysed SPI was similar to native SPI indicating that it is independent of molecular mass. DSC studies indicated an increase in temperatures of endothermic transition associated with SPI denaturation and loss of absorbed moisture in samples of lower molecular masses.