Glutamic acid can prevent the browning of fresh-cut potatoes by inhibiting PPO activity and regulating amino acid metabolism.

Enzymatic browning during fresh cutting and storage affects the quality and commodity value of fresh-cut potatoes. The study investigated the effects of glutamic acid (Glu) on browning of fresh-cut potatoes. The results showed that Glu treatments significantly reduced the browning of potato pulp and shreds. Treated with the optimum concentration of 15 g/L Glu for 4 min prolonged the shelf-life of fresh-cut shredded potatoes to 5 d at 2–4 °C. Further research revealed that Glu treatment could inhibit the content of the total phenols, regulate the content of 16 free amino acids and repress the activity of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) via lowering pH value and chelating Cu2+. Molecular docking indicates that Glu stable bound to the active site of PPO. These results indicates that Glu treatment can inhibit the browning of fresh-cut potatoes by inhibiting PPO activity and the total phenolic content and regulating amino acid metabolism. • Glu treatment inhibits the browning of fresh-cut potatoes. • Glu treatment inhibits the total phenols and regulates the content of 16 free amino acids. • Glu treatment represses the activity of PPO via lowering pH value and chelating Cu2+. • Glu could stable bind to the active site of PPO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]