Disulfide-bonded thiols in malt and
hops were first identified
as possible precursors of thiols in beer. The presence of disulfide-bonded
3-mercaptohexan-1-ol (3MH) was confirmed in malt and hops by observing
an 8.9–9.9 times increase in the 3MH concentration in hopped
water and unhopped wort after the reduction using tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine
(TCEP), a reducing agent specific for disulfide bonds. The presence
of disulfide-bonded 4-mercapto-4-methylpentan-2-one (4MMP) was confirmed
in hops by observing 2.1 and 5.1 times increase in the 4MMP concentration
after reduction in hopped water. Proteins, peptides, and amino acids
having sulfhydryl groups or other thiol substances were assumed to
form disulfide bonds with polyfunctional thiols in malt and hops.
The release of thiols by the reduction of disulfide-bonded thiols
during fermentation was first identified. A 65–82% of disulfide-bonded
3MH were reduced during fermentation, and as a result, concentrations
of 3MH in hopped water and unhopped wort increased by 9.5–14.2
times during fermentation.
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