Insight into protein cross-linking and casein polymerization in pre- and post-hydrolyzed lactose-free UHT milk during long-term storage.

During processing and storage of both conventional and lactose-hydrolyzed UHT milk (LHM), aggregation of milk proteins occurs. Protein aggregation can inter alia occur via non-reducible covalent cross-links derived from either Maillard or dehydroalanine (DHA) pathways. To study this further in relation to processing method and lactase enzyme purity, LHM was produced using 3 different lactase preparations, with lactase enzymes added in a dairy setting either before (pre-hydrolysis) or after (post-hydrolysis) UHT treatment. The prepared LHM types were subsequently stored at either 25°C or 35°C for up to one year. Mass spectrometry was used to absolutely quantify the level of furosine, N-ɛ-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML) and N-ɛ-(carboxyethyl)lysine (CEL), lanthionine (LAN) and lysinoalanine (LAL) in these products using a newly developed method on Triple Q for these processing-induced markers. The results showed higher levels of Maillard related processing markers in pre-hydrolyzed LHM compared with post-hydrolyzed LHM and conventional UHT milk which, on the other hand, contained higher concentrations of DHA-derived cross-links. Proteomics of collected particles from asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AsFlFFF) in combination with gel electrophoresis indicated presence of intra-micellar cross-links during storage, for especially larger particles involving αS1- and αS2-caseins.