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乙醇浓度对海参胶原蛋白结构及理化特性的影响

Effects of ethanol on the structure and physicochemical properties of sea cucumber collagen

  • 摘要: 为研究不同浓度乙醇(0~60%)处理对海参胶原蛋白结构及理化特性的影响,该研究通过测定溶解度、粒径、总巯基及二聚酪氨酸含量,结合多维荧光光谱联用和拉曼光谱分析了胶原蛋白构象变化。结果表明:1)随着乙醇浓度的增加,胶原蛋白溶解度下降(60%乙醇时降低了39.9%),粒径显著增大(60%乙醇时增加了150.4%);总巯基及二聚酪氨酸含量呈先升后降趋势,于40%乙醇时达到峰值;2)内源荧光强度在40%乙醇处理时最大,且发生蓝移现象,乙醇主要影响色氨酸残基的微环境;3)α-螺旋含量减少(60%乙醇时下降70.99%),β-转角及无规则卷曲含量增加。激光共聚焦显微镜(laser scanning confocal microscopy, LSCM)和原子力显微镜(atomic force microscope, AFM)结果证实,高浓度乙醇诱导胶原蛋白聚集,形成不规则大颗粒。同时,差示扫描量热仪(differential scanning calorimeter, DSC)结果显示,乙醇可使胶原蛋白的热稳定性随浓度梯度先增强后减弱,最大变性温度(Tmax)在40%乙醇时最高。综上,乙醇可通过破坏氢键、改变疏水相互作用及诱导二级结构转变等方式显著影响海参胶原蛋白的结构稳定性,低浓度乙醇(≤40%)使蛋白适度展开,而高浓度乙醇(>40%)则加剧蛋白变性聚集。该研究可为含乙醇食品体系中蛋白质行为的调控提供理论依据。

     

    Abstract: This study investigated the effects of different ethanol concentrations (ranging from 0% to 60%) on the structural and physicochemical properties of sea cucumber collagen, aiming to elucidate the ethanol–collagen interaction mechanism and provide a theoretical basis for quality control in ethanol-containing food systems. To achieve a comprehensive understanding of these effects, we systematically measured the solubility, particle size, total sulfhydryl content, and dityrosine content of the collagen samples treated with different ethanol concentrations. Furthermore, the conformational changes of the collagen were analyzed by combining multidimensional fluorescence spectroscopy (intrinsic, synchronous, and three-dimensional fluorescence) with Raman spectroscopy. The obtained fluorescence spectra results demonstrated that as the ethanol concentration increased, the collagen solubility exhibited a significant downward trend, decreasing by 39.9% when treated with 60% ethanol compared to the control group. Conversely, the particle size increased significantly, showing a 150.4% increase at 60% ethanol, indicating progressive aggregation. The contents of total sulfhydryl and dityrosine exhibited a biphasic trend, initially increasing and then decreasing, both reaching their peak values when treated with 40% ethanol. The intrinsic fluorescence intensity reached its maximum at 40% ethanol treatment and exhibited a blue shift phenomenon at higher concentrations. Synchronous fluorescence analysis indicated that ethanol primarily affected the microenvironment of tryptophan residues. This change was consistent with conformational rearrangement and further confirmed the specific interaction site of ethanol on collagen. Additionally, secondary structure analysis showed that α-helix content decreased. At 60% ethanol, α-helix content declined by 70.99%. Meanwhile, β-turn content and random coil content increased. These changes demonstrated a loss of ordered helical structure and a gain in less ordered or differently ordered structural elements. The secondary structure transition provided molecular evidence that ethanol altered the folding state of collagen. The results from laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) confirmed that high concentrations of ethanol induced collagen aggregation, leading to the formation of irregular large particles. Meanwhile, the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results showed that ethanol affected the thermal stability of collagen in a concentration-dependent manner, first enhancing and then weakening it, with the maximum denaturation temperature (Tmax) being highest at 40% ethanol. This trend was consistent with the changes in secondary structure and microstructure. This indicated that low to moderate ethanol treatment strengthened thermal stability, whereas higher ethanol treatment weakened it. In summary, ethanol significantly affects the structural stability of sea cucumber collagen by destroying hydrogen bonds, altering hydrophobic interactions, and inducing secondary structure transitions. Low ethanol concentrations (≤40%) moderately unfold the protein, exposing buried hydrophobic and sulfhydryl groups, which enhanced intermolecular interactions and thermal stability. High concentrations (>40%) exacerbated denaturation and aggregation, causing irreversible structural damage, reduced solubility, and decreased thermal stability. This study provides a theoretical basis for controlling protein behavior in ethanol-containing food systems and practical guidance for optimizing ethanol concentration in products such as wine-flavored sea cucumber, with 40% ethanol identified as a critical threshold for maintaining quality and stability.

     

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