Use of glutaminase for soy sauce made by Koji or a preparation of proteases from Aspergillus oryzae

Abstract

Although a small amount of glutamic acid was released in the hydrolysis of protein or soy sauce made by a preparation of proteases containing little glutaminase, a large amount of glutamic acid was formed in such hydrolyzate or soy sauce made by the addition of mycelia of black Aspergilli or glutaminase from Cryptococcus albidus. The former effect was caused mainly by glutaminase produced by black Aspergilli. The former crude enzyme showed an optimum pH of 5.0, broad pH stability and salt tolerance. The addition of glutaminase from C. albidus ATCC 20293 in soy sauce manufacture using a preparation of proteases resulted in a 42% increase in glutamic acid per total nitrogen content.