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A low carbohydrate bread formula was prepared using hard red spring wheat flour, soy protein and vital gluten. Soy protein was treated with ethanol and jet-cooked to remove the beany taste. Vital gluten and soy protein blends were prepared and added to the control flour in order to reduce the final starch content by 52%. The ratio of soy protein:vital gluten was adjusted, based on the Farinograph profile of the blend relative to the control flour. AACC Method 10-09, Straight dough, was used for the baking. The amounts of shortening and yeast were increased, to improve the dough consistency and to reduce beany taste, respectively. A blend of 70% gluten and 30% soy protein was added to replace 50% of the control flour. This blend gave a loaf value similar to the control. Overall, the loaf was softer, darker in colour and the grain was more open than the control. Another blend, with 50% soy nuggets and 50% vital gluten, was added to replace 50% of the control flour. This produced a loaf with 35% less volume, darker colour, and a grain similar to the control. The protein content of the final product was 56%, which is much higher than that reported in the literature. Bread with high protein content is more suitable for use in low carbohydrate diets than bread formulations currently used.

The role of non-covalent interactions in the formation of visco-elastic material from zein was investigated. Hydrophobic interactions were evaluated through the addition of various salts from the Hofmeister series. Urea, ethanol, and beta mercaptoethanol (β-ME) were used to evaluate the effects of protein denaturation and disulfide bonds on zein’s ability to form a visco-elastic material. The addition of NaI and NaSCN altered the properties of visco-elastic materials made from zein, making them softer and more extensible, as did urea and ethanol. The addition of NaCl and Na2SO4 negatively impacted the ability of zein to from a visco-elastic material and at higher concentrations completely disrupted the formation of visco-elastic material. These results indicate that manipulating non-covalent interactions in zein can alter and in some cases, completely disrupt the formation of a visco-elastic material. Specifically this may be due to disruption of hydrophobic interactions within individual zein proteins or interactions between proteins. The reducing agent β-ME had little effect on zein’s ability to form a visco-elastic material. Therefore, the visco-elastic properties of zein arise as a result of non-covalent interactions.