Corn Gluten Meal: Composition, Protein Fractions, and Nutritional Value

Corn gluten meal (wet milling co-product) composition:

• Protein: 60-70% (zein, glutelin, minor proteins)
• Carbohydrates: 20-25% (starch, sugars, fiber)
• Fiber: 5-10% (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin)

Key Protein Fractions

• Zein: Prolamin (alcohol/alkali soluble); ~50% glutamine, 20% proline; provides yellow color
• Glutelin: Glutelin (acid/alkali soluble); ~40% glutamic acid, 20% proline; provides glutenous texture

Carbohydrate Components

• Starch: glucose polysaccharide (primary carb)
• Sugars: glucose, fructose, sucrose
• Fiber: cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin (indigestible)

Valuable protein/carb/fiber source for animal feed, human food, industrial uses.