Modification of the solubility of sunflower protein isolates by superlimited proteolysis

The modification of slightly soluble sunflower protein isolates by superlimited proteolysis (∼0.1 % splitting of the peptide bonds) raises 1.5—2-fold their solubility in neutral medium. The modified preparations may be isolated by isoelectric precipitation with a yield of 95—98% and became capable to form thermotropic gels. The yields of the isolates obtained from industrial solvent cake are lower (80—82%). The expenditure of proteinase is one order lower than in the usually employed methods of limited proteolysis and the duration of the process is several times lower.