Stability and emulsion-forming ability of water-soluble fish myofibrillar protein prepared by conjugation with alginate oligosaccharide.

Carp myofibrillar protein (Mf) was conjugated with alginate oligosaccharide (AO) through the Maillard reaction under low relative humidity, and the functional properties of the Mf-AO conjugate were investigated under different NaCl concentrations and pH levels. Mf became highly solubilized at lower NaCl concentrations by conjugation with AO, with a slight loss of available lysine. The thermal stability of Mf was effectively improved by conjugation with AO. Heat treatment at 80 degrees C for 2 h had no effect on the solubility of the Mf-AO conjugate attached to 227 microg/mg of AO regardless of the NaCl concentration and pH. Furthermore, the Mf-AO conjugate showed excellent emulsion-forming ability regardless of NaCl concentration. The improved functionalities of Mf by conjugation with AO remained even at a nearly isoelectric point. These results indicate that conjugation with AO through the Maillard reaction is an effective way to prepare high-functional food material from fish muscle protein.