MALDI based identification of soybean protein markers – Possible analytical targets for allergen detection in processed foods

Soybean (Glycine max) is extensively used all over the world due to its nutritional qualities. However, soybean is included in the “big eight” list of food allergens. According to the EU directive 2007/68/EC, food products containing soybeans have to be labeled in order to protect the allergic consumers. Nevertheless, soybeans can still inadvertently be present in food products. The development of analytical methods for the detection of traces of allergens is important for the protection of allergic consumers. Mass spectrometry of marker proteolytical fragments of protein allergens is growingly recognized as a detection method in food control. However, quantification of soybean at the peptide level is hindered due to limited information regarding specific stable markers derived after proteolytic digestion. The aim of this study was to use MALDI-TOF/MS and MS/MS as a fast screening tool for the identification of stable soybean derived tryptic markers which were still identifiable even if the proteins were subjected to various changes at the molecular level through a number of reactions typically occurring during food processing (denaturation, the Maillard reaction and oxidation). The peptides 401Val-Arg410 from the G1 glycinin (Gly m 6) and the 518Gln-Arg528 from the α′ chain of the β-conglycinin (Gly m 5) proved to be the most stable. These peptides hold potential to be used as targets for the development of new analytical methods for the detection of soybean protein traces in processed foods.

► Soybeans are major food allergens.
► Soybeans can inadvertently be present in food products due to cross contamination.
► Mass spectrometry of marker proteolytical fragments of protein allergens is recognized as a new detection method in food control.
► Quantification of soybean at the peptide level is hindered due to limited information regarding specific stable markers derived after proteolytic digestion.
► The peptides 401Val-Arg410 from the G1 glycinin and the 518Gln-Arg528 from the α′ chain of the β-conglycinin proved to be the most stable peptides as identified by MALDI-TOF MS and MS/MS.