Toxicity of Alkali-treated Soyprotein in Rats

Abstract

The feeding of Alpha Protein, an industrial soyprotein, resulted in cytomegalic alterations of renal tubular cells. The nephrotoxic factor was found to be heat stable and could not be extracted with polar or nonpolar solvents. The toxin was not indigenous to soybeans but resulted when soyprotein was modified by alkaline treatment. Toxicity of edible soyprotein was induced by alkali treatment with 0.1 N sodium hydroxide, and such treatment also induced the formation of an unusual amino acid. The unusual amino acid isolated from alkali-treated soyprotein was found to have chromatographic properties similar to organically synthesized Nε-(DL-2-amino-2-carboxy-ethyl)-L-lysine, lysinoalanine.