Isolation and characterization of protein fractions from deoiled rice bran

Rice bran contains underutilised protein materials. Sequential extraction of rice bran protein (RBP) from defatted rice bran was conducted based on the differences in their solubility. Three extraction methods were investigated. Method 1 involved the isoelectric and acetone precipitation using water, 50 g kg(-1) NaCl, 0.02 mol L-1 NaOH and 70% ethanol as extracting solvents for albumin (pH 4.1), globulin (pH 4.3), glutelin (pH 4.8) and prolamin, respectively. Method 2 adopted dialysis and sequential extraction was carried out with 20 g kg(-1) NaCl, 70% ethanol, 0.1 mol L-1 acetic acid and 0.1 mol L-1 NaOH solution as extracting solvents. Method 3 combined dialysis, isoelectric and acetone precipitation for the extraction. Based on the yields and data obtained from sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, size-exclusion chromatography and differential scanning calorimetry, method 3 was chosen for the isolation and characterization of RBPs. Rice bran protein fraction (RBPF)-albumin, globulin, glutelin and prolamin were obtained in good yields. Denaturation temperature and enthalpy values of denaturation of RBPF vary. Highest phytate content was found in albumin and lowest in prolamin. The highest anti-oxidative and hemagglutinating activities were observed in albumin.