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Protein Thermal Stability Essay

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Proteins are amazing chemical polymers. They serve a myriad of functions such as providing nutrition in the form of their constitutive amino acids as well as energy. They serve as reactants and enzymes in chemical reactions. Proteins contribute to the texture, viscosity and water holding capacity of foods that contain them. Proteins can be toxins or allergens or hormones, and they serve as transporters for vital molecules such as oxygen in the blood stream (Coultate 1984). These polymers have evolved to play a role in very specific physiological functions and this chemical reactivity can be used for very unique applications beyond a proteins evolutionary scope. A protein’s chemical and physical nature such as the isoelectric …show more content…

They are used in infant formulas, flour, protein isolates, cheeses, drinks, tofu and salami. Infant formulas made from soy proteins serve as an excellent alternative in cases where milk allergies prevent the use of other types of formula. These proteins are deficient in methionine, one of the essential amino acids required by man, and the content of lysine is lower than that of casein, a protein found in milk. In addition to nutritional value, studies have shown that soy protein may play a positive role in several human health concerns such as lowering cholesterol, they have anticarcinogenic effects, and they may help control conditions such as diabetes, digestive tract irritation, and bone and kidney disease (Mendel and Brandon 2001). Soy proteins in addition to beneficial properties also contain inhibitors for digestive enzymes that prevent the complete utilization of the protein after consumption. The nutritional quality of any substance is gauged not only by its content of amino acids but also by its digestibility, absorption and utilization of those amino acids. The enzymes inhibited include trypsin, chymotrypsin and -amylase. These inhibitors can be inactivated by heating, but even that process leaves 5-10% of the enzymes active (Friedman and Brandon 2001).
Solubility is the most important property that soy proteins need to be

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