Physicochemical properties and susceptibility to proteolytic digestion of myoglobin-phenol derivatives

This paper deals with the interactions of chlorogenic, caffeic, and quinic acids and p-quinone with myoglobin. The myoglobin derivatives formed have been characterized in terms of physicochemical properties and susceptibility to proteolysis. The results show that the free amino group and tryptophan contents of the myoglobin-phenol derivatives decrease with the increasing extent to which the protein becomes derivatized. Furthermore, the solubility of myoglobin-phenol derivatives decreases in the pH range 3.5-6.5 as compared to solubility of the native protein. The reaction also influences the hydrophilic-hydrophobic character of the protein. The isoelectric point of the derivatized myoglobin is shifted to a lower pH value, and formation of high molecular fractions is also documented. This paper also demonstrates the influence of the protein derivatization with plant phenols on susceptibility to digestion by trypsin, alpha-chymotrypsin, and pepsin, determined in vitro. The enzymatic digestion of the derivatized proteins is adversely affected.