Enzymatic degradation of oligosaccharides in peas and pea flours
Date
1992-11
Authors
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Type
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
A high resolution gas chromatographic (HRGC) method was developed for the
analysis of oligosaccharides in pea flours which circumvented some of the shortcomings
of existing packed-column GC and HPLC methods. Aqueous methanol (80%) extracts of
pea flour were dried and derivatized with either trimethylsilylimidazole (TMSI) or N-methyl-bis (trifluoroacetamide) (MBTFA). Separation of the oligosaccharide derivatives
was achieved on a 10-metre DB5-60W capillary column. The effects of carrier gas (He)
flow rate and split ratio on analysis time, resolution and reproducibility were studied.
TMS derivatives of sucrose, raffinose, stachyose, and verbascose gave satisfactory results
over a wide range of carrier flow rates, with the fastest analysis and the least peak
broadening at 6.7 ml/min. Reproducibility was best at a flow rate of 3.7 ml/min and a
split ratio of 1:50. Even shorter analysis times were achieved with the more volatile
MBTFA derivatives, but discrimination in the split injector of the gas chromatograph
caused serious reproducibility problems. HRGC analysis proved to be a rapid, sensitive
method for quantitation of oligosaccharides in pea flours.
In the course of establishing conditions for the assay of α-galactosidase activity in
pea flours, it was determined that the use of extraction temperatures in the range of 0-5°C
yielded extracts substantially higher in α-galactosidase activity than those obtained at
ambient temperature. Enzyme activity remained stable for 10 minutes in cold-extracted
preparations held on ice prior to assay. A 20 minute incubation of crude α-galactosidase
extracts with p-nitrophenyl α-D-galactopyranoside as substrate was shown to be
satisfactory for determination of a-galactosidase activity in pea flour, air-classified pea
protein and flour from germinated peas.
Steeping of peas in deionized water for 12 hours at 25°C, with the intent of
increasing the rate and uniformity of germination, resulted in the disappearance of a
portion of their sucrose and oligosaccharide content, only part of which was recovered in the steepwater. Raffinose showed the largest percentage decrease (29.4%) whereas, in
absolute terms, stachyose showed the largest decline (from 1.73% of seed dry weight to
1.35%).
Following steeping (12 hr, 25°C), a substantial reduction in the oligosaccharide
concentrations of peas occurred during germination for 96 hours, which was accompanied
by a large increase in the sucrose concentration. Alpha-galactosidase activity showed
two activity maxima (at 12 and 48 hours, respectively) during the 96 hour germination
period. This was attributed to the formation/activation of two enzyme types. Osmotic
priming (restricted hydration) of peas in either polyethylene glycol (PEG 8000) or
potassium nitrate (KNO3) solutions was less effective than germination in inducing
α-galactosidase activity and in reducing oligosaccharide concentrations.
Autolysis of whole peas (5:1 water to seed ratio) for 12 hours at 45 or 65°C, and
of 10 and 20% (w/v) air-classified pea protein slurries for 6 and 12 hours, respectively, at
25, 45 or 65°C, resulted in substantial reductions in oligosaccharide concentrations.
Microbial loads in the autolysed samples were monitored since the extent of microbial
growth, if significant, would influence the practicality of a particular treatment. Standard
plate counts increased exponentially in samples autolyzed at 25 or 45°C, whereas at 65°C
microbial loads decreased for the first 6 hours of autolysis followed by slow increases
between 6 and 24 hours.
Addition of a microbial α-galactosidase preparation to 10 and 20% (w/v) airclassified
pea protein slurries resulted in essentially complete hydrolysis of
oligosaccharides after 60 and 90 minutes, respectively, at 25, 45 or 65°C. Little effect of
enzyme concentration on the rate or degree of hydrolysis was seen at the levels of α-galactosidase added (3.3-13.9 units/g of slurry).
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Degree
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Department
Food Science
Program
Food Science