Patent Application
20240074457
The present invention relates to a method of generating a cysteine from a protein, an enzyme agent for production of a cysteine-containing proteolytic product, and intended use thereof.
Proteins contained in food products are important as nutrients, and because of palatability, animal proteins that are mainly contained in meats, seafoods, etc. have been preferred. In recent years, from the viewpoint of environmental protection and increasing health consciousness, a demand for plant proteins has been increasing as a substitute for animal proteins. However, in terms of palatability, plant proteins have had many problems, and thus, various studies have been conducted for the purpose of improving the physical properties and tastes of plant proteins. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that, in a method for producing a soybean protein using transglutaminase and protease, the protease is used for the purpose of reducing a viscosity increased due to the transglutaminase. On the other hand, amino acids and peptides are important elements, not only as nutrients, but also as elements for the tastes and flavors of food products. For example, glutamic acid and aspartic acid give an umami taste and an acid taste; glycine, alanine, and threonine give sweetness; and tryptophan, isoleucine, and valine give bitterness. Therefore, studies regarding generation of amino acids or peptides from proteins have been conducted. Patent Document 2 discloses a method of generating low-molecular-weight peptides by allowing two or more types of enzymes having only endoprotease activity on soybean proteins. In addition, in order to impart a taste, a method of generating amino acids used as seasonings has also been studied. For example, Patent Document 3 discloses a method of obtaining an amino acid seasoning with a high glutamic acid content by hydrolyzing a protein raw material using a heat-resistant proteolytic enzyme and a heat-resistant glutaminase.
By the way, it has been known that a cysteine forms a Maillard reaction product and thereby imparts the flavor of a meat. Cysteine is mainly extracted from animal-derived raw materials (hairs and feathers), and addition of a cysteine to foods is not desirable. Patent Document 4 discloses a method of generating a cysteine by allowing acid protease and glutaminase to act on glutathione. However, the content of glutathione is different depending on the types of food products, and thus, situations in which glutathione can be utilized are limited.
Moreover, Patent Document 5 discloses that free aspartic acid and free glutamic acid are increased by treating soybean proteins with glutamic acid-specific endoprotease. Furthermore, Patent Document 6 discloses that, when soybean proteins are treated with subtilisin protease derived from Bacillus licheniformis (ALCALASE) or serine protease derived from Nocardiopsis prasina (SP1), an SP1 hydrolysate is less bitter than an ALCALASE hydrolysate.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a practical means for improving the rich taste or umami taste of a food product or the like.
In order to achieve the aforementioned object, the present inventors have conducted intensive studies directed towards improving the rich taste or umami taste of a food product. As a result, the present inventors have found that a food product with an improved rich taste or umami taste can be produced by the combined use of a glutaminase that is one of γ-glutamyl peptide hydrolases, a filamentous fungi-derived protease, and a bacterial protease. The present invention has been completed by conducting further studies based on these findings. Specifically, the present invention provides the following aspects.
According to the present invention, a rich taste or an umami taste can be imparted to a food product and the like, or the rich taste or umami taste of a food product can be reinforced.
According to the present invention, there is provided a method for producing a proteolytic product, comprising a step of allowing a γ-glutamyl peptide hydrolase, a filamentous fungi-derived protease, and a bacterial protease to act on a protein material.
According to the present invention, there is further provided an enzyme agent for production of a proteolytic product, the enzyme agent comprising a γ-glutamyl peptide hydrolase, a filamentous fungi-derived protease, and a bacterial protease.
The step of allowing a γ-glutamyl peptide hydrolase, a filamentous fungi-derived protease, and a bacterial protease to act on a protein material may be carried out in one step (i.e., a step of allowing the above three types of enzymes to simultaneously act on the protein material) or may also be carried out in two or three steps (i.e., a step of allowing one or two of the above three types of enzymes to act on the protein material, and a step(s) of allowing another/other enzyme(s) of the above three types of enzymes to act on the protein material).
Examples of the γ-glutamyl peptide hydrolase may include a glutaminase, a γ-glutartransferase, and a γ-glutamylcyclotransferase. As such γ-glutamyl peptide hydrolase, a γ-glutamyl peptidase derived from, microorganism can be used, and examples thereof may include a glutaminase, a γ-glutamyltransferase, and a γ-glutamylcyclotransferase, which are derived from Bacillus microorganisms.
The γ-glutamyl peptide hydrolase is preferably a glutaminase derived from Bacillus microorganisms, and is more preferably a glutaminase derived from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (for example, Glutaminase SD-C100S provided by Amano Enzyme Inc.).
The γ-glutamyl peptide hydrolase derived from microorganism may not be a purified product. For example, a culture solution, or a disrupted solution/an extract of microorganisms that generate the γ-glutamyl peptide hydrolase, or a partially purified product thereof, or the like, may be used. Also, γ-glutamyl peptide hydrolases derived from two or more types of microorganisms may be used in combination. Besides, γ-glutamyl peptide hydrolases derived from several types of microorganisms are commercially available (for example, the above-described Glutaminase SD-C100S), and these commercially available γ-glutamyl peptide hydrolases can be easily obtained and utilized.
Preferred examples of the filamentous fungi-derived protease may include an acid protease derived from Aspergillus microorganisms and a neutral protease derived from Aspergillus microorganisms.
Examples of the acid protease derived from Aspergillus microorganisms may include an acid protease derived from Aspergillus oryzae (for example, Protease M “Amano” SD and Protease HF “Amano” 150SD, which are provided by Amano Enzyme Inc.).
Examples of the neutral protease derived from Aspergillus microorganisms may include a neutral protease derived from Aspergillus oryzae and a neutral protease derived from Aspergillus melleus. Specific examples thereof may include a neutral protease derived from Aspergillus oryzae (PR-AX; product name: Proteax), a neutral protease derived from Aspergillus oryzae (PR-ASD; product name: Protease A “Amano” SD), a neutral protease derived from Aspergillus melleus (PR-P6SD; product name: Protease P “Amano” 6SD), and a neutral protease derived from Aspergillus oryzae (PR-AN100SD), which are provided by Amano Enzyme Inc.
The filamentous fungi-derived protease may not be a purified product. For example, a culture solution, or a disrupted solution/an extract of microorganisms that generate the filamentous fungi-derived protease, or a partially purified product thereof, or the like, may be used. Also, two or more types of filamentous fungi-derived proteases may be used in combination. Besides, several types of filamentous fungi-derived proteases are commercially available (for example, the above-described Protease M “Amano” SD and Protease HF “Amano” 150S, and also, Proteax, protease A “Amano” SD, protease P “Amano” 6SD, and PR-AN100SD), and these commercially available filamentous fungi-derived proteases can be easily obtained and utilized.
The bacterial protease is preferably a metalloprotease. With regard to the origin of the bacterial protease, the bacterial protease is preferably a protease derived from Bacillus or Geobacillus microorganisms, and is more preferably a Geobacillus stearothermophilus-derived protease. One example of the bacterial protease may be Thermoase PC10F provided by Amano Enzyme Inc.
The bacterial protease may not be a purified product. For example, a culture solution, or a disrupted solution/an extract of microorganisms that generate the bacterial protease, or a partially purified product thereof, or the like, may be used. Also, two or more types of bacterial proteases may be used in combination. Besides, several types of bacterial proteases are commercially available (for example, the above-described Thermoase PC10F), and these commercially available bacterial proteases can be easily obtained and utilized.
The enzyme agent of the present invention comprising a γ-glutamyl peptide hydrolase, a filamentous fungi-derived protease, and a bacterial protease may also comprise an excipient, a buffer agent, a suspending agent, a stabilizer, a preservative, an antiseptic, a normal saline and the like, as well as the active ingredients (i.e. the above-described 3 types of enzymes). Examples of the excipient that can be used herein may include lactose, sorbitol, D-mannitol, maltodextrin, and white sugar. Examples of the buffer agent that can be used herein may include phosphate, citrate, and acetate. Examples of the stabilizer that can be used herein may include propylene glycol and ascorbic acid. Examples of the preservative that can be used herein may include phenol, benzalkonium chloride, benzyl alcohol, chlorobutanol, and methylparaben. Examples of the antiseptic that can be used herein may include benzalkonium chloride, paraoxybenzoic acid, and chlorobutanol.
The content of the active ingredients (i.e. the above-described 3 types of enzymes) in the present enzyme agent is not particularly limited, and can be determined, as appropriate.
The enzyme agent of the present invention is generally provided in a solid state (for example, in the state of an immobilized enzyme formed by immobilizing an enzyme on a material capable of immobilizing the enzyme on the surface or inside thereof, such as granules, powders, silica or a porous polymer), or in a liquid state.
Conditions for allowing the γ-glutamyl peptide hydrolase, the filamentous fungi-derived protease, and the bacterial protease to act on the protein material include, for example, a reaction temperature of 15° C. to 70° C., preferably 30° C. to 65° C., and more preferably 40° C. to 60° C.
The reaction time and the enzyme amount are not particularly limited, as long as the expected action can be exhibited. For example, the reaction time may be 5 minutes to 48 hours, preferably 10 minutes to 12 hours, and more preferably 15 minutes to 6 hours. The enzyme amount may be set to be such an amount that the concentration of each enzyme of the 3 types of enzymes contained in the reaction solution can be, for example, 0.001% (W/W) to 10% (W/W), and preferably 0.01% (W/W) to 2% (W/W).
The protein material is preferably an animal protein material, a plant protein material or a microbial protein material, and is more preferably a plant protein material. Specific examples of the protein material may include protein materials derived from peas, soybeans, fava beans, chickpeas, barley, wheat, oats, rice, buckwheat, chives, millet, hemp, algae, almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, pecan nuts, macadamia nuts, pistachios, walnuts, brazilnuts, peanuts, and coconuts.
According to the present invention, a proteolytic product containing a large amount of cysteine capable of forming a Maillard reaction (i.e. a cysteine-containing proteolytic product) can be produced. The cysteine capable of forming a Maillard reaction does not only include a cysteine that is in the state of a free amino acid, but also includes a peptide having a cysteine residue enabling a Maillard reaction. Among others, the cysteine that is in the state of a free amino acid is preferable.
According to the present invention, there is further provided a food product comprising a cysteine-containing proteolytic product that is produced by the method for producing a cysteine-containing proteolytic product according to the present invention.
The present invention will be specifically described in the following examples. However, these examples are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
The following experiment was carried out directed towards establishing a method of efficiently generating a cysteine from a protein.
Each type of protein material (12 g) was suspended in water to prepare a protein solution (15% (W/W), pH 5). Thereafter, 1.4 g of filamentous fungi-derived protease (Protease HF “Amano” 150SD, Amano Enzyme Inc.), 0.7 g of glutaminase (Glutaminase SD-C100S, Amano Enzyme Inc.), and 0.7 g of bacterial protease (Thermoase PC10F, Amano Enzyme Inc.) were dissolved in 20 mL of water to prepare an enzyme solution. After that, 1 mL of the enzyme solution was added to 30 mL of the protein solution at 50° C., followed by blending them, and the mixed solution was then treated at 50° C. for 2 hours. Thereafter, the treated solution was centrifuged, and a supernatant was then recovered. Thiol groups of cysteine contained in the supernatant were quantified using a DTNB reagent. To 2.6 mL of a 0.1 M Tris buffer (1 mM EDTA, pH 7.05), 0.2 mL of a 25 mM DTNB solution (50 mM ammonium acetate, 1 mM EDTA, pH 5.0) and 0.2 mL of the supernatant diluted to an appropriate concentration were added, and they were then mixed with one another. Thereafter, the routine was left for 10 to 15 minutes, until the reaction has been completed. After completion of the reaction, the absorbance at 412 nm was immediately measured. The amount of cysteine residues in the supernatant was calculated from a calibration curve produced using a 10 μM to 50 μM cysteine solution (1 mM EDTA) instead of the supernatant. In addition, in order to confirm a change in the taste, 2 mL of the supernatant that had been neutralized with hydrochloric acid to pH 7 was prepared, and 1 mL of 20% glucose was then added to the prepared supernatant. The mixture was boiled for 30 minutes for a Maillard reaction, and the rich taste of the thus obtained reaction mixture was then examined. Specifically a change in the taste was examined by sensory evaluation with panelists.
The release of a cysteine from all of the protein materials as a result of the enzyme treatment could be confirmed. Moreover, other than the use of a hemp protein, the improvement of a rich taste that is an important factor of a meat flavor could also be confirmed in the Maillard reaction products. Regarding the hemp protein, since the hemp-specific flavor was too strong, a change in the rich taste could not be confirmed.
Water (105 g (1.5-times amount)) was added to 70 g of a soybean meat (soybean TVP (Textured Vegetable Protein) (Daizu Labo, soybean meat, minced type, Marukome Co., Ltd.), and the obtained mixture was then left for 10 minutes. Into the thus obtained mixture, 8.7 g of Metolose, 48.5 g of sunflower oil, and 26.7 g of Sun Rubber 10 (soy protein powders) were mixed, so that they became homogeneous. To 25 g of the above-obtained mixture, the enzyme solution shown in the following Table 2 was added in an amount of 1% (with respect to the soybean TVP), and they were then reacted at 50° C. for 1 hour. After completion of the reaction, 6 mL of water was added to the reaction mixture to mold it, and the obtained mixture was then burned (in an oven at 110° C. for 10 minutes). The obtained burned products were subjected to sensory evaluation (5-level evaluation of an umami taste and a flavor). The results of the sensory evaluation are shown in Table 3. “No enzyme” is used as a reference, and the greater the number, the more the improvement that could be shown. Thus, 1 indicates no changes, and 4 indicates a large improvement.
A. oryzae-derived acid protease (PR-HF150SD)
A. oryzae-derived neutral protease (PR-AX)
A. oryzae-derived neutral protease (PR-ASD)
A. melleus-derived neutral protease (PR-P6SD)
A. oryzae-derived neutral protease (PR-AN100SD)
A. oryzae-derived acid protease (PR-MSD)
The solidity of the obtained burned product was evaluated under the following conditions.
The results of the evaluation of the solidity are shown in
Free amino acid in the obtained burned product was analyzed as follows.
Distilled water (1 mL) was added to 1 g of a sample of the burned product, followed by blending them, and the obtained mixture was then centrifuged. The supernatant was mixed with ethanol at a ratio of supernatant:ethanol=1:1 (the removal of the protein). The mixture was centrifuged, and a supernatant was then recovered. The recovered supernatant was 12.5-fold diluted with water, and thereafter, the diluted solution was filtered through a microfiltration membrane (MF), and was then analyzed by HPLC. The conditions for the HPLC analysis were as follows. The results of the free amino acid analysis are shown in
Enzymes were added to a 10% (w/v) plant protein solution (peas: Pea Protein (Usuki Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.); soybeans: Sun Rubber 10 (FUJI OIL CO., LTD.)) in an amount of 4%, with respect to the weight of the plant proteins (2% filamentous fungi-derived protease+1% bacterial protease+1% glutaminase). The obtained mixture was treated at 50° C. for 2 hours at 400 rpm for reaction. The reaction product was boiled for 10 minutes, and was then centrifuged to recover a supernatant. The obtained sample supernatant was subjected to sensory evaluation and free amino acid analysis.
The sample supernatant (4 mL) was collected, and 2 mL of 20% glucose was added to the sample supernatant. The obtained mixture was added into boiled water, and was treated for 30 minutes, and thereafter, sensory evaluation was carried out. The results are shown in Table 4. “No enzyme” is used as a reference, and the greater the number, the more the improvement that could be shown. Thus, 1 indicates no changes, and 5 indicates a large improvement.
The sample supernatant was mixed with ethanol at a ratio of sample supernatant:ethanol=1:1 (the removal of the protein). The mixture was centrifuged, and a supernatant was then recovered. The recovered supernatant was 12.5-fold diluted with water, and thereafter, the diluted solution was filtered through a microfiltration membrane (MF), and was then subjected to HPLC analysis (amino acid analysis) under the same conditions as those applied in Example 2. The results of the free amino acid analysis are shown in
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-038847 | Mar 2021 | JP | national |
| 2021-130736 | Aug 2021 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2022/010765 | 3/11/2022 | WO |
