A simple procedure using trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid for monitoring proteolysis in cheese

Summary A simple, rapid and sensitive spectrophotometric assay was developed and evaluated for monitoring proteolysis during cheese ripening, based on the fact that α-amino groups released by hydrolysis of cheese proteins react with trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid to form products that absorb strongly at 420 nm. A linear relationship was shown to exist between A420 and concentration of free α amino groups up to 0·5 HIM (r = 0·999, 38 df, P < 0·001). Repeatability of the method was satisfactory. The coefficient of variance was 0·53% for amino acid solutions and 1·19% for cheese extracts. Average recovery of glycine added to the cheese was 104 ± 2·9%. A comparison of the above method with that of determination of water-soluble N to total N ratio showed that there was good agreement between these two methods of assessment of proteolysis in cheese (r = 0·857, 32 df, P < 0·001). Mainly Feta and Teleme cheese were examined, but a similar correlation was obtained with hard Greek cheeses. Analytical conditions of the procedure are discussed.