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Effects of irradiation treatment on protein structure and digestion characteristics of seed-watermelon (Citrullus lanatus var.) kernel protein

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Abstract

This study examined the effects of different doses of irradiation treatments on protein structure and digestion characteristic of seed-watermelon seed kernel protein. The results showed that, the molecular structure of seed-watermelon kernel protein was unfolded after the irradiation treatment, the content of β-sheet structure in the secondary structure was decreased, while the content of random coil structure increased. The average particle size of the protein increased, and the hydrophobic group buried in the β-sheet structure was exposed hence the surface hydrophobicity increased. Besides, the surface morphology of seed-watermelon protein changed from smooth and flat to coarse and concave, the specific surface area in contact with the aqueous medium increased and its solubility increased, the distribution of peptides in the digesta became wider, and the small molecular weight peptides gradually increased.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the following foundations: Comprehensive utilization of horticultural crop product processing by-products (No. 20150314208). Construction project of Youth Science and technology innovation leader in Corps (No. 2016BC001). Key technologies for quality control of seed snack foods and pilot demonstrations (No. 2019420113000018).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering, Ministry of Education; Glyn O. Phillips Hydrophilic Colloid Research Center, Faculty of Light Industry; School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, Hubei Province, People’s Republic of China

    Zhihao Li, Shang Chu & Shugang Li

  2. Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, People’s Republic of China

    Sihai Gao

  3. College of Life Sciences, Tarim University, Tarim, 843300, Xinjiang, People’s Republic of China

    Ping Wang

  4. Wuhan Xudong Food Co., Ltd., Wuhan, 430000, Hubei Province, People’s Republic of China

    Xiongwei Yu

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  1. Zhihao Li
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  2. Shang Chu
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  3. Ping Wang
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  4. Sihai Gao
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  5. Shugang Li
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Correspondence to Shugang Li.

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Li, Z., Chu, S., Wang, P. et al. Effects of irradiation treatment on protein structure and digestion characteristics of seed-watermelon (Citrullus lanatus var.) kernel protein. Food Sci Biotechnol 29, 1201–1211 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10068-020-00777-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10068-020-00777-9

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