Reaction of bovine
serum albumin (BSA) protein in high-temperature
(200−260 °C) water (HTW) with fast heating rates (ca.
135−180 K·s–1) without acid or base
additives gives high-molecular-weight (1500–8300 Da) peptides
with minimal formation of amino acids and ammonia. The decrease in
the number-average molecular weight of peptides after HTW treatment
of BSA could be described by a kinetic model based on random scission
mechanism of the polymer chain. Reaction of BSA in HTW under identical
conditions with slow heating rates (ca. 0.25 K·s–1) gives peptides of low molecular weight with formation of amino
acids and ammonia for which the kinetics could not be described by
a random scission mechanism. The activation energy determined for
the conversion of BSA into high-molecular-weight peptides with fast
heating rates in high-temperature water was 16.4 kJ·mol–1. Reaction of proteins in high-temperature water with fast heating
rates inhibits initial aggregation that occurs during slow heating
rates and allows controlled conversion of the denatured polymer chain
into high-molecular-weight peptides.
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