Saltiness Enhancement Modulated by Hydrophobic Mucoadhesion of Soy Hull Pectic-Like Polysaccharides within a Salivary
Xinyu Zhang1, Weixiang Sun2, Peiyao Zhao1
1Laboratory of Food Proteins and Colloids, School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, P. R. China.
Abstract:
Na+ saltiness perception strongly depends on its diffusion and retention within the salivary layer, processes modulated by mucoadhesive polysaccharides. However, the underlying saltiness-enhancing mechanism of soy hull polysaccharide (SHP) remains unclear due to its compositional and structural heterogeneity. SHP was separated into neutral (SHP-N, hemicellulose) and acidic (SHP-A, RG-I-enriched pectin) fractions. Salivary mucoadhesion of Na+ and SHP were investigated. Compared to SHP-N, negatively charged SHP-A exhibited a stronger saltiness-enhanced effect by accelerating Na+ diffusion and prolonging retention, which is not mainly attributed to viscosity changes. The electrostatic screening effect of Na+ promoted stable mucoadhesion of SHP-A on the mucin layer. Strong hydrophobic interaction as the dominant force is primarily mediated by protein domains within the rhamnogalacturonan I (RG-I) region of SHP-A. Strong SHP-mucin affinity may influence Na+ adsorption-desorption dynamics and accelerate its penetration. This work reveals key structural domains of polysaccharides responsible for saltiness enhancement and their mucoadhesive driving forces in salivary layer.
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