Structural characteristics of purified beta-conglycinin from soybeans stored under four conditions.

Four storage conditions including adverse conditions [84% relative humidity (RH), 30 degrees C], mild conditions (57% RH, 20 degrees C), cold conditions (4 degrees C), and uncontrolled ambient conditions were used for storing soybeans. The storage time was 9 months for the adverse conditions and 18 months for the other three conditions. Beta-conglycinin was purified and characterized with respect to its molecular properties. After storage under the adverse conditions, beta-conglycinin showed no significant changes in total sugar content, surface hydrophobicity, free SH and SS bonds, and amino acid composition within 6 months; however, it showed a significant decrease in surface hydrophobicity and a significant increase in total free SH and total SH including SS content after 6 months. Analysis of the secondary structure showed a significant increase in alpha-helix content, but a significant decrease in beta-sheet content after 3 months. For the other three conditions, no significant changes occurred to the structures of beta-conglycinin when compared to the control. The molecular mass of beta-conglycinin remained in the range of 199-212 kDa for all conditions during the entire storage periods.