Effect of bound gossypol in cottonseed meal on enzymic degradation

The nutritive value of cottonseed protein is lowered by the presence of bound gossypol. Samples of cottonseed protein containing from 0.003% to 1.03% bound gossypol were hydrolyzed enzymically and the amounts of free amino acids released were determined. The amounts of amino acids contained in peptides not precipitated by 1% picric acid were also determined. The proportionate reduction in the release of free and peptide amino acids in the presence of bound gossypol was noted. Although the amount of lysine released is reduced in the presence of bound gossypol as expected, there is a markedly larger reduction in the release of a number of other amino acids.