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Advances in processing technologies and the accumulation of scientific data on the functional and biological properties of whey components have contributed to the growing commercial valuation of cheese whey over the last decade. New membrane separation and chromatographic techniques have made it possible to fractionate and enrich various components of whey more efficiently than before. The specific properties of these components can now be examined in greater detail and new applications developed accordingly. The utilisation of cheese whey is evolving into a new industry producing a multitude of purified ingredients for numerous purposes. The most significant areas of R&D related to whey proteins include functional foods, the rheological properties of foodstuffs, and biopharmaceuticals.

The aim of this study was to examine the enzymatic hydrolysis of κ-casein by isolating and identifying the released peptides. The enzymes employed in the study were chymosin, plasmin and trypsin, as well as a cell-free extract from three Lactobacillus helveticus and nine Lactobacillus casei strains. The findings showed that the bond most sensitive to the proteolytic activity of chymosin was the Phe 105-Met 106. After 24 hours of hydrolysis a few other bonds in the casein macropeptide were also cleaved. Plasmin was found to have weak proteolytic activity under the conditions of this study. When the enzyme-substrate ratio was raised from 1:200 to 1:50, a few peptides were released from the N-terminal region. Trypsin was found to hydrolyze several κ-casein bonds, and peptides were released from almost all regions of the protein. The proteases of Lactobacillus had less effect than chymosin, plasmin or trypsin. The strains could be divided into three categories. L. helveticus strains had activity on bonds in the mid-section and C-terminal region, L. casei strains EB, P3, P8 and A 1 had activity on bonds in the N- and C-terminal regions, while L. casei A5 and M9 had activity only on bonds in the C-terminal region.

This study was conducted to investigate the rate of proteolysis and peptide profiles of different Finnish fermented milk products. The highest rate of proteolysis was observed in Biokefir, while the greatest change in the rate of proteolysis was observed in Gefilus®. Differences in starters and manufacturing processes reflected on the peptide profiles of the products. Most of the identified peptides originated from either the N- or C-terminal region of β-casein or from the N-terminal region of αs1-casein.

The aim of this study was to examine the enzymic hydrolysis of αs2-casein by isolating and identifying the released peptides. The enzymes applied in the study were chymosin, plasmin and trypsin as well as cell free extracts from three strains of Lactobacillus helveticus and nine strains of L. casei. The findings showed that chymosin had weak proteolytic activity on αs2-casein. Plasmin, on the other hand, released numerous peptides under the used conditions. The majority of the identified fragments were released from the C terminal end of the substrate. Plasmin hydrolysed mainly Lys-X bonds. The third enzyme, trypsin, hydrolysed several bonds of αs2-casein. Peptides were released from almost all regions of the protein. Trypsin acted on the carboxyl sides of arginyl and lysyl residues. Cell free extract of lactobacilli had little activity on αs2-casein.