Action of proteolytic enzymes on wheat gluten

Abstract

Papain and trypsin partially hydrolyzed wheat gluten dispersed in 10% sodium salicylate, and pepsin partially hydrolyzed gluten dispersed in aluminium lactate. Trypsin was considerably less effective than either papain or pepsin. Papain produced non-protein nitrogen most rapidly during early stages of hydrolysis but pepsin produced the largest total after 48 h. The rate of release of terminal amino nitrogen was similar for papain and pepsin, and release was not complete after 48 h. The mean size of polypeptides was larger in papain than in pepsin hydrolysates during early stages of hydrolysis but definitely smaller after 48 h. Only pepsin released appreciable amounts of free amino acid nitrogen. Leucine and phenylalanine made up over 50% of the free amino acids after 48 h but several other amino acids were found in significant quantities.