EPSILON-(GAMMA-GLUTAMYL)LYSINE CROSS-LINK DISTRIBUTION IN FOODS AS DETERMINED BY IMPROVED METHOD

Quantitative analysis of epsilon-(gamma-glutamyl)lysine crosslink in 1 27 foods was achieved with a preliminary separation by reverse phase-H PLC before o-phthalaldehyde derivatization to remove interfering peaks . epsilon-(gamma-Glutamyl)lysine was detected in 96 foods and its cont ents ranged from 0.2 to 135 gamma mol/100g protein. High levels were f ound in fish paste products, processed fish, shellfish, meats and soyb eans, and raw poultry organs. For fish and meats, the level of epsilon -(gamma-glutamyl)lysine in processed foods and fish paste was relative ly higher than that in raw materials. The improved procedure could be applied for screening materials with transglutaminase activities.