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Updated: Aug 2, 2025

Author Spotlight: Integrating Biochemical Functions of β-Glucanases and Peroxidase Enzymes in Wheat-RWA Interaction
Published on: July 26, 2024
Mechanism underlying the weakening effect of β-glucan on the gluten system
Zhen Li1, Wenqian Gao2, Jingjing Liang2
1College of Food Science and Technology, Henan Agriculture University, Zhengzhou 450002, Henan, PR China; Key Laboratory of Staple Grain Processing, Ministry of Agriculture, Zhengzhou 450002, Henan, PR China.
Abstract:
The high β-glucan content in barley disrupts the gluten network in dough. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques were used to clarify how β-glucan affected the quality of the gluten network structure with β-glucan contents of 0-2%. The results suggest that the physical hindrance of the β-glucan gel destroyed the formation of the gluten network structure. When 1.0-2.0% β-glucan was added, the percentage of α-helical structures increased significantly. When the added amount of β-glucan reached 2.0%, the sulfhydryl group (SH) content increased from 8.06 to 10.27 µmol/g, and the disulfide bond (SS) content decreased from 240.09 to 217.38 µmol/g. The interaction between β-glucan and gluten mainly resulted from the interaction of electron-withdrawing groups, such as carbonyl groups (CO) and double bond carbons (CC), and carbon atoms on the side chains of β-glucan, which play an important role in the central structure of glutenin.
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