Zein structure and its hidden zearalenone: Effect of zein extraction methods

Hongxia Tan; Hongyuan Zhou; Ting Guo; Jiaxin Li; Chi Zhang; Shuo Wang; Yuhao Zhang; Liang Ma

doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.131563

Zein structure and its hidden zearalenone: Effect of zein extraction methods

Food Chem. 2022 Apr 16:374:131563. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.131563. Epub 2021 Nov 9.

Authors

Hongxia Tan¹, Hongyuan Zhou², Ting Guo², Jiaxin Li¹, Chi Zhang¹, Shuo Wang³, Yuhao Zhang⁴, Liang Ma⁵

Affiliations

¹ College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, P.R. China.
² College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, P.R. China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Speciality Food Co-Built by Sichuan and Chongqing, Chongqing 400715, P.R. China.
³ College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, P.R. China; School of Medicine, Tianjin Key Lab Food Science and Health, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, P.R. China.
⁴ College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, P.R. China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Speciality Food Co-Built by Sichuan and Chongqing, Chongqing 400715, P.R. China; Key Laboratory of Luminescence Analysis and Molecular Sensing (Southwest University), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, P.R. China.
⁵ College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, P.R. China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Speciality Food Co-Built by Sichuan and Chongqing, Chongqing 400715, P.R. China. Electronic address: zhyhml@swu.edu.cn.

PMID: 34823935
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.131563

Abstract

Zein, the plant protein, has received great attention in the last years. However, hidden zearalenone (ZEN), the zein-bound ZEN present in zein would have a great hazard to humans and animals. To date, the fates of hidden ZEN under different extraction methods of zein have not been clarified. In this study, the effect of zein extraction methods on conversion of free ZEN with hidden ZEN and its corresponding mechanism were studied. Results showed that the acid extraction condition promoted the formation of hidden ZEN (up to 92.03%), which was closely related to increased hydrophobic cavity of zein. However, alkaline extraction condition caused the conversion of hidden ZEN (from 58.82% to 13.33%) into free ZEN (from 41.18% to 86.67%), which was attributed to the great denaturation of zein. This study is of great significance for controlling hidden ZEN during zein extraction and maize processing.

Keywords: Conversion; Extraction methods; Free zearalenone; Hidden zearalenone; Zein.

MeSH terms

Acids
Animals
Humans
Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
Zea mays
Zearalenone*
Zein*

Substances

Acids
Zearalenone
Zein