Modulation of soymilk immunoglobulin E-binding through germination: Emphasis on the specific degradation of major...

This study explores the influence of seed germination on the immunoreactivity of soymilk produced from three soybean cultivars. The degradation patterns of allergens and their epitopes were investigated. Antigenicity and IgE-binding capacity assays indicated that soymilk derived from the NN cultivar on the third day of germination (NN-SSM-3) demonstrated the greatest reduction in immunoreactivity (9.2 %-12.6 %) compared with regular soymilk (ungerminated seeds-derived soymilk). Protein profile analysis further revealed that NN-SSM-3 showed a significant degradation (42.1 %-61.7 %) in the α/α' subunits of Gly m 5 and the acidic subunit of Gly m 6. These findings were supported by peptidomics analyses, which showed that NN-SSM-3 particularly promoted the extensive disruption of epitopes buried in the interior β-sheet structures of Gly m 5.01, Gly m 6.05, Gly m Bd 30 K, and Gly m TI. Therefore, controlled germination represents a promising approach for managing the degradation of allergens and their epitopes.