Preparation of Phytate-Removed Deamidated Soybean Globulins by Ion Exchangers and Characterization of Their Calcium-Binding Ability

Phytate-removed deamidated soybean globulins were prepared using ion-exchange resins to provide them with a functional property to enhance calcium absorption in the body. The phosphorus level was reduced from 45 to 20 micromol/g using 0.05 g/mL of AE-4, an anion-exchange resin with a (2-hydroxyethyl)dimethylammonium group, in 0.2% soybean globulin solution for 1 h at 4 degrees C, and 90-92% of the phosphorus in defatted soybeans could be removed. As for deamidation, CE-4, a cation-exchange resin of the carboxylate type, showed a much higher deamidation activity than CE-1 and CE-2, cation-exchange resins of the sulfonate type. No peptide bond hydrolysis was observed for any cation-exchange resin treated at 4 degrees C. There was no significant difference in the amount of acid amide deamidated at temperatures between 4 and 50 degrees C. The deamidation level was able to increase to 73% using 0.10 g/mL of CE-4 in a 0.2% soybean globulin solution for 6 h at 4 degrees C. The amount of calcium bound to the soybean globulins decreased with removal of the phytate but increased with deamidation.