The effect of ultra high-pressure homogenisation (UHPH) of goat milk (200 MPa, 30 C) on the proteolytic
profiles of cheese was studied and compared to cheeses made with homogenised-pasteurised
(18 þ 2 MPa, 72 C for 15 s) and pasteurised (72 C, 15 s) milk. Cheeses produced by UHPH-treated
milk presented higher hydrolysis of as2-, b- and para-k-casein than those made with pasteurised milk;
however, cheeses made by homogenised-pasteurised milk exhibited the highest hydrolysis of as1-and
para-k-caseins. The increase in proteolysis by the homogenisation process could be attributed to the
increase in the exposure of substrates to proteolytic enzymes. The UHPH-treatment of milk significantly
increased the levels of whey soluble nitrogen and hydrophobic and hydrophilic peptides, however, levels
of free amino acids were reduced during the first days of ripening as a consequence of the decrease in the
aminopeptidase activity. No significant differences were detected in free amino acid profiles of the
different cheeses by the principal component analysis.