Debittering effect of partially purified proteases from soybean seedlings on soybean protein isolate hydrolysate...

To explore the potential application of proteases from soybean seedlings in the debittering of soybean protein hydrolysates, soybean seeds were germinated from 1 to 10 days. It was found that the sixth day seedlings exhibited highest proteases activity (130 U/g). After partial purification, the activity of proteases (PSP) from the sixth day seedlings further increased to 2675 U/g. In addition, PSP exhibited maximum activity at 50 ℃ and pH 5.5, and mainly comprised of two proteins with the molecular weight of 64.57 and 25.12 kDa respectively. PSP could decrease the bitterness score of the soybean protein isolate hydrolysate (SPIH) produced by Alcalase 2.4L from 3.45 to 0 in 3 h. Meanwhile, the degree of hydrolysis of SPIH slightly increased from 11.87% to 15.61% without reducing the antioxidant activity. This study may provide a solution to the contradiction between removing the bitterness of soybean protein hydrolysates and maintaining the bioactivity.