Identification of bitter peptides in whey protein hydrolysate

J Agric Food Chem. 2014 Jun 25;62(25):5719-25. doi: 10.1021/jf4019728. Epub 2013 Sep 25.

Abstract

Bitterness of whey protein hydrolysates (WPH) can negatively affect product quality and limit utilization in food and pharmaceutical applications. Four main bitter peptides were identified in a commercial WPH by means of sensory-guided fractionation techniques that included ultrafiltration and offline two-dimensional reverse phase chromatography. LC-TOF-MS/MS analysis revealed the amino acid sequences of the bitter peptides were YGLF, IPAVF, LLF, and YPFPGPIPN that originated from α-lactalbumin, β-lactoglobulin, serum albumin, and β-casein, respectively. Quantitative LC-MS/MS analysis reported the concentrations of YGLF, IPAVF, LLF, and YPFPGPIPN to be 0.66, 0.58, 1.33, and 2.64 g/kg powder, respectively. Taste recombination analysis of an aqueous model consisting of all four peptides was reported to explain 88% of the bitterness intensity of the 10% WPH solution.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Female
  • Flavoring Agents / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Middle Aged
  • Milk Proteins / chemistry*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Peptide Mapping
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Protein Hydrolysates / chemistry*
  • Taste*
  • Whey Proteins
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Flavoring Agents
  • Milk Proteins
  • Peptides
  • Protein Hydrolysates
  • Whey Proteins