Abstract: In this study, xylose and arabinose were subjected separately to Maillard reaction with a crude extract of Mactra veneriformis under dry-heating conditions. The immunoreactivity and digestion properties of the Maillard reaction products (MRPs) were analyzed, finding that the Maillard reaction could reduce the immunoreactivity of allergens derived from Mactra veneriformis, increase the continuous digestion rate of the crude extract in simulated gastrointestinal fluid, and reduce the particle diameter of the digestion products. After that, TM in the MRPs was separated and purified, and its structural characteristics and immunoreactivity were analyzed. The results showed that the α-helix content of TM decreased and the β-sheet, β-turn, and random coil contents increased after the Maillard reaction, the surface hydrophobicity increased, and the spatial structure changed, which eventually led to a reduction in the immunoreactivity of TM. This study provides a theoretical basis for the development of hypoallergenic clam products.

Key words: Mactra veneriformis; tropomyosin; dry-heating Maillard reaction; immunoreactivity; digestive properties; structural properties