Irradiation of procine plasma protein powder, 2

The qualies of plasma proteins irradiated with gamma rays or electorons beam were compared with those of heated and fumigated samples. The qualities of plasma proteins were evaluated in two aspects ; 1) structural changes of proteins, such as hydrophobicity, amount of SH groups and electrophoresis or gel filtration pattern, and 2) functional properties such as solubility, emulisifying activity, and fat adsorbability. Heat treatment reduced both the amount of SH groups and emulusifying activity of proteins. The HPLC gel filtration pattern of heated samples showed the high molecular peak as a results of coagulation of proteins. Fumigation caused accentuated reduction of protein of solibility, there by severly damaging their functional properties as food ingradients. Irradiation using gamma rays and electorons beam showed the same effect on the properties of proteins. Though some differences were observed with increased dose, there was no significant change in functional properties of irradiated samples. From these results, irradiation was the efficient procedure from the view points of protein quality as well as microbial decontamination. (author)