Effect of extraction pH on the emulsion stability and surface protein structure of soybean oil body.

In this study, the pH was varied (6.0-11.0) during the extraction of soybean oil body (SOB), and the stabilities of the corresponding emulsions as well as the structural properties of SOB surface proteins were investigated. The extraction pH was found to affect both the SOB emulsion stability and surface protein structure. Micromorphological analysis showed that the degree of SOB dispersion was higher under alkaline conditions compared to other treatment conditions (acidic or neutral). Structural changes in the SOB surface proteins, as evaluated using changes in the α-helix and β-sheet contents and fluorescence intensity, were more pronounced when extraction was performed at pH 11.0. Structural changes in SOB surface proteins also affected the amino acid fractions, surface hydrophobicity, and free sulfhydryl content. Overall, an extraction pH of 11.0 resulted in optimal SOB emulsion stability and had the greatest effect on the structural properties of the SOB surface proteins.