Perfusion reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis of intact soybean proteins for the characterization of soybean cultivars

Perfusion reversed-phase HPLC (RP-HPLC)-electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) was employed for the characterization of soybean cultivars through the analysis of intact soybean proteins. The similarities and differences between yellow soybeans (the most usual soybeans) and other beans with different pigmentation (green, red, and black) commercialized as soybean were investigated. Red beans commercialized as azuki that are frequently sold as red soybean were also analyzed. Separation was carried out using a perfusion column at a flow-rate of 0.5 mL/min and a gradient elution. A step-by-step procedure was used for the optimization of the mass spectrometry parameters enabling the most sensitive detection. The method was applied to the analysis of the above-mentioned beans and the main soybean proteins (11S and 7S globulins) obtained by a fractionation procedure. MS spectra obtained from every peak in the beans and in their fractions were compared observing clear differences between yellow soybeans and the other beans with different pigmentation. The identification of some soybean proteins in yellow soybeans was also possible.