Rheological properties of soy protein hydrolysates obtained from limited enzymatic hydrolysis

Soy protein products hexane-defatted soy flour, extruded-expelled soy flour, soy protein concentrate and soy protein isolate, were modified by using the enzyme bromelain to 2% and 4% degrees of hydrolysis (DH). Peptide profiles, water solubility, and rheological properties including dynamic shear, large deformation, and apparent viscosities of resulting hydrolysates were determined. Protein subunits profiles for the hydrolysed isolates and concentrates were extensively altered by the treatment while only minor changes were observed for the hydrolysed flours. Water solubility profiles of all hydrolysates in the pH range of 3.0–7.0 were enhanced by hydrolysis. For the unhydrolysed controls, the isolate had the highest storage modulus (G′), followed by the concentrate, the extruded-expelled flour and the hexane-defatted flour. The hydrolysates retained some of their gelling ability even though the losses in storage modulus (G′) were substantial. After heating step to 95 °C, the G′ values of all substrates at 25 °C decreased with increase in DH. Texture profile analyses of the soy protein gels were also lower in hardness after hydrolysis. The Power Law model provided excellent fit to hydrolysate dispersions flow (R2>0.99)(R2>0.99). Hydrolysis decreased the consistency coefficients of dispersion and increased flow behavior index resulting in thinner dispersions. These results suggest that limited protease hydrolysis of various soy protein meals with bromelain produce soy protein ingredients with modified rheological properties.