Study on the rheological properties of heat-induced whey protein isolate–dextran conjugate gel

Effect of glycosylation on the rheological properties of whey protein isolate (WPI) during the heat-induced gelation process was evaluated. Significant changes in browning intensity, free amino groups content and SDS-PAGE profile showed that the conjugate of WPI and dextran (150 kDa) was successfully prepared using the traditional dry-heating treatment. For the conjugate, during the heating and cooling cycle, the curves of G′ and G″ were considerably shifted to lower values and their shapes varied comparing to the corresponding spectra of initial WPI and WPI + dextran mixture. After holding at 25 °C, G' reached a value of about 2200 Pa, only a tenth of the value that obtained in the initial WPI gel. Moreover, frequency sweep measurements revealed that the stiffness of gel was greatly reduced in the conjugate, although a typical elastic gel was still formed. All data showed that the rheological properties of thermal gelation could be modified upon the covalent attachment of dextran.

► There is little research on the rheological properties of glycated WPI gel.
► Glycosylation could modify the rheological properties of WPI during gelation.
► Glycated WPI gave rise to a decrease in the gel stiffness.