Determination of proteolytic enzyme activity during malting

Abstract

Proteolytic enzymes (proteases) are widely represented in living organisms where they catalyze the hydrolysis of peptide bonds in proteins and peptides. In malting barley, they are found in small quantities, and their activation takes place only in the process of controlled germination – malt production. In germinating barley, proteases hydrolyze storage proteins to high molecular and low molecular weight degradation products while simultaneously synthesizing other proteins. The final grain modification affects significantly quality of the produced malts and subsequently also technology and characters of the produced beer.