ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the proteolytic resistance of certain plant proteins in relation to their nutritional digestibility. It also discusses the indirect effects of some plant proteins on nutrient utilization, gut metabolism, and immune response which may further exacerbate the problems of poor digestibility of dietary seed proteins. The bulk of the seed protein functions as a nitrogen reserve to be mobilized on germination and may be accommodated within the globulin and albumin classes with the former group in predominance. The 11s and 7s proteins, termed legumins and vicilins are present in different proportions among a number of the more economically important legumes. Although the chemical nature and composition of these factors is diverse, the effects on protein digestibility of antinutritive substances of protein nature are particularly striking. Trypsin inhibitors, or more generally protease inhibitors, have long been recognized as potentially one of the most important dietary factors which may interfere with the proper digestion of proteins in the small intestine.
