gluten

A mixture of two seed storage protein classes, gliadin and glutenin, found in the endosperm of cereal (particularly wheat) grain. High levels of gluten impart elasticity to dough, and thus the composition of wheat glutens largely determines whether a specific flour is suitable for biscuit or bread making. Sensitivity of the lining of the intestine to gluten in some humans results in coeliac disease, a condition that requires a gluten-free diet.