A Case Study of the Response of Immunogenic Gluten Peptides to Sourdough Proteolysis

Celiac disease is activated by digestion-resistant gluten peptides that contain immunogenic epitopes. Sourdough fermentation is a potential strategy to reduce the concentration of these peptides within food. However, we currently know little about the effect of partial sourdough fermentation on immunogenic gluten. This study examined the effect of a single sourdough culture (representative of those that the public may consume) on the digestion of immunogenic gluten peptides. Sourdough bread was digested via the INFOGEST protocol. Throughout digestion, quantitative and discovery mass spectrometry were used to model the kinetic release profile of key immunogenic peptides and profile novel peptides, while ELISA probed the gluten’s allergenicity. Macrostructural studies were also undertaken. Sourdough fermentation altered the protein structure, in vitro digestibility, and immunogenic peptide release profile. Interestingly, sourdough fermentation did not decrease the total immunogenic peptide concentration but altered the in vitro digestion profile of select immunogenic peptides. This work demonstrates that partial sourdough fermentation can alter immunogenic gluten digestion, and is the first study to examine the in vitro kinetic profile of immunogenic gluten peptides from sourdough bread.