Dough properties and crumb strength of white pan bread as affected by microbial transglutaminase

Microbial transglutaminase forms nondisulfide covalent crosslinks in proteins and is being used in foods. This enzyme may produce beneficial effects during breadmaking that are comparable to traditional oxidizing improvers, hypothesized to act via formation of disulfide crosslinks. Transglutaminase greatly improved the crumb strength of baked leaves and provides a potential solution to a common consumer complaint. Transglutaminase also reduced the required work input and substantially improved the water absorption of the dough. Each of these effects would lower processing costs for commercial baking.