Effects of Reducing Agents on Textural Changes and Protein Modification in Extruded Wheat Gluten

압출성형시 환원제 첨가에 의한 밀가루 글루텐의 조직 변화와 단백질의 변성

Addition of reducing agents during extrusion markedly affected physical and chemical properties of wheat flour and gluten extrudates. Expansion at the die was increased for wheat flour and gluten extrudates. Organic materials containing sulfur were evaporated as a flavor from gluten at the die and total sulfur contents were decreased. Physical shape was different for gluten extrudates without reducing agents. It was difficult to form the long strand of gluten extrudate without cooling die. Hydroquinone accelerated cell breakdown and produced more irregular shape of extrudate. However, addition of cysteine decreased the cell breakdown and produced the long strand of gluten extrudates. Chemical reactions of reducing agents such as cysteine and hydroquinone were different for high content (＜80%) of wheat gluten. It was assumed that reducing agents donated hydrogen to inhibit the formation of disulfide crosslinking, decreased the dough strength and produced the broken cell and irregular shape of extrudates. Whereas, cysteine reacted as a binder as well as reducing agent and formed long strands. The evidence of reaction of reducing agents was shown from the fact that non-protein disulfide was increased and protein disulfide was slightly decreased from cysteine added gluten extrudate.