An investigation of the plasmin–plasminogen system in caprine milk and cheese

The variability in activities of plasmin (PL) and plasminogen (PG) in bulk milk samples from different breeds of goats was investigated. The mean PL activity was higher (19.56±4.72 U g−1) than in milk from other ruminant species, while PG-derived activity was, surprisingly, lower (12.84±5.31 U g−1). No significant differences in PL and PG levels were observed among goat breeds, but PL activity and PL/PG ratio increased in late lactation compared with early lactation. PL activities in pilot-scale curds (acid or rennet) and in some Italian cheeses made from caprine milk were also measured. Generally, acid curds and cheeses had lower residual PL and PG-derived activities than rennet curds and semi-hard cheeses. In addition, the PL/PG ratio was greatly reduced in rennet curds, due to a higher extent of PG-derived activity. Measurement of proteolysis of β-casein in curds confirmed that more extensive proteolysis occurred in rennet curds, which had higher residual PL activities.