Food protein functionality: A comprehensive approach

Food protein amyloid fibrils: Origin, structure, formation, characterization, applications and health implications

Amyloid fibrils have traditionally been considered only as pathological aggregates in human neurodegenerative diseases, but it is increasingly becoming clear that the propensity to form amyloid fibrils is a generic property for all proteins, including food proteins. Differently from the pathological amyloid fibrils, those derived from food proteins can be used as advanced materials in biomedicine, tissue engineering, environmental science, nanotechnology, material science as well as in food science, owing to a combination of highly desirable feature such as extreme aspect ratios, outstanding stiffness and a broad availability of functional groups on their surfaces. In food science, protein fibrillization is progressively recognized as an appealing strategy to broaden and improve food protein functionality. This review article discusses the various classes of reported food protein amyloid fibrils and their formation conditions. It furthermore considers amyloid fibrils in a broad context, from their structural characterization to their forming mechanisms and ensued physical properties, emphasizing their applications in food-related fields. Finally, the biological fate and the potential toxicity mechanisms of food amyloid fibrils are discussed, and an experimental protocol for their health safety validation is proposed in the concluding part of the review.

Enzymatic production of emulsifying whey protein hydrolysates without the need of heat inactivation

BACKGROUND

One possible way to modify the emulsifying properties of whey proteins is by enzymatic hydrolysis. However, most studies covering the influence of the hydrolysis on whey proteins used a heating step (>65 °C) to inactivate the enzyme. This leads to irreversible product changes, like protein denaturation and increased viscosity. Here, the objective was to investigate the single effect of hydrolysis on the emulsifying properties of whey proteins under conditions without a temperature step for enzyme inactivation. Therefore, two acidic peptidase preparations (Maxipro AFP, Protease AP-30L) differing in their peptidase composition were investigated and applied at 45 °C and pH 2.75. The enzyme inactivation was realized by a simple shift to pH 7.0.

RESULTS

After the pH shift, no activity or further hydrolysis was measurable. For the products, no differences (assuming P > 0.05) regarding the emulsifying properties were detected between the two peptidase preparations used. The emulsifying properties of the whey protein isolate hydrolysates produced increased (i.e. half-life >71%) until a degree of hydrolysis of 1.1%. This indicated that the endopeptidase (aspergillopepsin I) present in both preparations was determining the emulsifying properties. As a plus, the presence of exopeptidases in Protease AP-30L compared with Maxipro AFP reduced the bitterness of the hydrolysate (-50%).

CONCLUSION

The application of acidic endo- and exopeptidases enables the production of emulsifying whey protein isolate hydrolysates at high protein concentrations (≥10%) without a commonly used heat inactivation step. The presence of exopeptidases in acidic peptidase preparations is favorable, due to the improved taste. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Chemical Lipophilization of Bovine α-Lactalbumin with Saturated Fatty Acyl Residues: Effect on Structure and Functional Properties

Bovine α-lactalbumin (α-LA) was chemically modified by the covalent attachment of fatty acid residues of different length (lauroyl, palmitoyl, and stearoyl) to modify its functional and antioxidant properties. Structural changes, functional properties, and antioxidant capacity in the pH interval between 3 and 10 were analyzed. Surface properties were improved. The esterification increased the hydrophobic interactions leading to a reduction in the solubility dependent on the incorporation ratio of the fatty acid residues. Improvement in emulsifying, foaming, and antioxidant properties were observed when the length of the fatty acid chains was short and mostly at a basic pH. With these results in mind, experiments could be conducted for the technological applications of these derivatives in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries.

Recovery of high value-added protein from enzyme-assisted aqueous extraction (EAE) of soybeans by dead-end ultrafiltration

The skim fraction (SF) obtained from enzyme-assisted aqueous extraction (EAE) of soybeans is a by-product with high protein content of up to 60.67%. As such, it is of great interest to develop an efficient method to recover protein from this fraction. In this study, the potential of dead-end ultrafiltration (UF) in recovering skim protein extracted with different proteases was evaluated. Two polyethersulfone (PES) membranes with molecular weight cutoffs (MWCO) of 3 kDa and 5 kDa were utilized. Results revealed that the membrane with the MWCO of 5 kDa exhibited better filtration efficiency, since higher permeate flux values and lower impurity rejections were observed. Compared with Flavourzyme and Protex 7L, Alcalase 2.4L and Protex 6L exhibited stronger hydrolyzing ability, resulting in higher filtration fluxes but lower protein rejection coefficients. The recovered protein showed comparable amino acid profile to SPC, while with significantly reduced levels of trypsin inhibitors and phytate (p < 0.05), indicating high quality of the recovered protein. Overall, UF can be applicable to recover high value-added protein from EAE of soybeans and remove undesired components from the resulting protein products.

Stabilization of Vitamin D in Pea Protein Isolate Nanoemulsions Increases Its Bioefficacy in Rats

Micronutrient delivery formulations based on nanoemulsions can enhance the absorption of nutrients and bioactives, and thus, are of great potential for food fortification and supplementation strategies. The aim was to evaluate the bioefficacy of vitamin D (VitD) encapsulated in nanoemulsions developed by sonication and pH-shifting of pea protein isolate (PPI) in restoring VitD status in VitD-deficient rats. Weaned male albino rats (n = 35) were fed either normal diet AIN-93G (VitD 1000 IU/kg) (control group; n = 7) or a VitD-deficient diet (<50 IU/kg) for six weeks (VitD-deficient group; n = 28). VitD-deficient rats were divided into four subgroups (n = 7/group). Nano-VitD and Oil-VitD groups received a dose of VitD (81 µg) dispersed in either PPI-nanoemulsions or in canola oil, respectively, every other day for one week. Their control groups, Nano-control and Oil-control, received the respective delivery vehicles without VitD. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)VitD], parathyroid hormone (PTH), Ca, P, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity were measured. After one week of treatment, the VitD-deficient rats consuming Nano-VitD recovered from Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) as compared against baseline and had serum 25(OH)VitD higher than the Nano-control. Enhancement in VitD status was followed with expected changes in serum PTH, Ca, P, and ALP levels, as compared against the controls. Stabilization of VitD within PPI-based nanoemulsions enhances its absorption and restores its status and biomarkers of bone resorption in VitD-deficient rats.

Comparative study on foaming and emulsifying properties of different beta-lactoglobulin aggregates

Different beta-lactoglobulin aggregates have different foaming and emulsifying properties.

The aggregation, structures and emulsifying properties of soybean protein isolate induced by ultrasound and acid

The effects of ultrasound and acid on the aggregation, structures and emulsifying properties of soybean protein isolate (SPI) were investigated. Results of solubility showed that ultrasonic treatments at 0.001 M HCl increased the content of soluble SPI. The particle size of soluble aggregates subjected to ultrasonication and acid was initially decreased and then increased with increasing ultrasonic time. Secondary structure analysis, by circular dichroism, indicated lower a-helix and higher random coil amounts in SPI treated with short ultrasonic time, in contrast to the higher a-helix and lower random coil in SPI treated with longer time (more than 20 min). Emulsions prepared with SPI by 10 min of ultrasonication demonstrated significantly (P < 0.05) small droplet sizes and long term stability in comparison with their untreated counterparts. These results highlight that the emulsifying properties of SPI can be significantly improved by the synergistic effect of ultrasound and acid.

Rational Design of Amyloid-Like Fibrillary Structures for Tailoring Food Protein Techno-Functionality and Their Potential Health Implications

To control and enhance protein functionality is a major challenge for food scientists. In this context, research on food protein fibril formation, especially amyloid fibril formation, holds much promise. We here first provide a concise overview of conditions, which affect amyloid formation in food proteins. Particular attention is directed towards amyloid core regions because these sequences promote ordered aggregation. Better understanding of this process will be key to tailor the fibril formation process. Especially seeding, that is, adding preformed protein fibrils to protein solutions to accelerate fibril formation holds promise to tailor aggregation and fibril techno-functionality. Some studies have already indicated that food protein fibrillation indeed improves their techno-functionality. However, much more research is necessary to establish whether protein fibrils are useful in complex food systems and whether and to what extent they resist food processing unit operations. In this review the effect of amyloid formation on gelation, interfacial properties, foaming, and emulsification is discussed. Despite their prevalent role as functional structures, amyloids also receive a lot of attention due to their association with protein deposition diseases, prompting us to thoroughly investigate the potential health impact of amyloid-like aggregates in food. A literature review on the effect of the different stages of the human digestive process on amyloid toxicity leads us to conclude that food-derived amyloid fibrils (even those with potential pathogenic properties) very likely have minimal impact on human health. Nevertheless, prior to wide-spread application of the technology, it is highly advisable to further verify the lack of toxicity of food-derived amyloid fibrils.

Dry heating of whey proteins leads to formation of microspheres with useful functional properties

Modification of whey protein isolate (WPI) powders is used in the food industry to enhance the functional properties of WPI. We investigated the impact of severe dry heating (DH) at 100 °C for up to 36 h on an alkaline-treated (pH 9.5), spray dried (water activity of ~0.24) WPI powder. Dry heated powders and their reconstituted suspensions were analysed. DH for 0-6 h led to 47% loss of native proteins, increases in the levels of soluble aggregates (×2.2) and of advanced glycation end-products of the Maillard reaction (at least ×2.7) and to powder browning (at least ×3) with a 95% decrease in free lactose content. DH for at least 12 h led to a decrease in soluble aggregates with concomitant formation of large, stable and insoluble microparticles. These microparticles had a microsphere structure, contained 98% of water phase and were made of insoluble powder particles resulting from protein cross-links during DH. Microparticle size could be altered by varying the pH of the suspension: at pH 6.5, microsphere size was 3-5 times larger than powder particle size, but decreased as the suspension pH neared the isoelectric point. DH could be a useful method for producing functional protein ingredients as these microparticles had very high water retention properties and high viscosity values.

Encapsulation, protection, and delivery of bioactive proteins and peptides using nanoparticle and microparticle systems: A review

There are many examples of bioactive proteins and peptides that would benefit from oral delivery through functional foods, supplements, or medical foods, including hormones, enzymes, antimicrobials, vaccines, and ACE inhibitors. However, many of these bioactive proteins are highly susceptible to denaturation, aggregation or hydrolysis within commercial products or inside the human gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Moreover, many bioactive proteins have poor absorption characteristics within the GIT. Colloidal systems, which contain nanoparticles or microparticles, can be designed to encapsulate, retain, protect, and deliver bioactive proteins. For instance, a bioactive protein may have to remain encapsulated and stable during storage and passage through the mouth and stomach, but then be released within the small intestine where it can be absorbed. This article reviews the application of food-grade colloidal systems for oral delivery of bioactive proteins, including microemulsions, emulsions, nanoemulsions, solid lipid nanoparticles, multiple emulsions, liposomes, and microgels. It also provides a critical assessment of the characteristics of colloidal particles that impact the effectiveness of protein delivery systems, such as particle composition, size, permeability, interfacial properties, and stability. This information should be useful for the rational design of medical foods, functional foods, and supplements for effective oral delivery of bioactive proteins.

Camel milk protein hydrolysates with improved technofunctional properties and enhanced antioxidant potential in in vitro and in food model systems

Camel milk protein hydrolysates (CMPH) were generated using proteolytic enzymes, such as alcalase, bromelain, and papain, to explore the effect on the technofunctional properties and antioxidant potential under in vitro and in real food model systems. Characterization of the CMPH via degree of hydrolysis, sodium dodecyl sulfate-PAGE, and HPLC revealed that different proteins in camel milk underwent degradation at different degrees after enzymatic hydrolysis using 3 different enzymes for 2, 4, and 6 h, with papain displaying the highest degradation. Technofunctional properties, such as emulsifying activity index, surface hydrophobicity, and protein solubility, were higher in CMPH than unhydrolyzed camel milk proteins. However, the water and fat absorption capacity were lower in CMPH compared with unhydrolyzed camel milk proteins. Antioxidant properties as assessed by 2,2-azinobis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activities and metal-chelating activity were enhanced after hydrolysis, in contrast to ferric-reducing antioxidant power which showed a decrease after hydrolysis. The CMPH were also tested in real food model systems for their potential to inhibit lipid peroxidation in fish mince and grape seed oil-in-water emulsion, and we found that papain-produced hydrolysate displayed higher inhibition than alcalase- and bromelain-produced hydrolysates. Therefore, the CMPH demonstrated effective antioxidant potential in vitro as well as in real food systems and showed enhanced functional properties, which guarantees their potential applications in functional foods. The present study is one of few reports available on CMPH being explored in vitro as well as in real food model systems.

Cold atmospheric plasma manipulation of proteins in food systems

Plasma processing has been getting a lot of attention in recent applications as a novel, eco-friendly, and highly efficient approach. Cold plasma has mostly been used to reduce microbial counts in foodstuff and biological materials, as well as in different levels of packaging, particularly in cases where there is thermal sensitivity. As it is a very recent application, the impact of cold plasma treatment has been studied on the protein structures of food and pharmaceutical systems, as well as in the packaging industry. Proteins, as a food constituent, play a remarkable role in the techno-functional characteristics of processed foods and/or the physico-chemical properties of protein-based films. At the same time, some proteins are responsible for reduction in quality and nutritional value, and/or causing allergic reactions in the human body. This study is a review of the influences of different types of plasma on the conformation and function of proteins with food origin, especially enzymes and allergens, as well as protein-made packaging films. In enzyme manipulation with plasma, deactivation has been reported to be either partial or complete. In addition, an activity increase has been observed in some cases. These variations are caused by the effect of different active species of plasma on the enzyme structure and its function. The level and type of variations in the functional properties of food proteins, purified proteins in food, and plasma-treated protein films are affected by a number of control factors, including treatment power, time, and gas type, as well as the nature of the substance and the treatment environment.

Physicochemical and colloidal aspects of food matrix effects on gastrointestinal fate of ingested inorganic nanoparticles

Inorganic nanoparticles, such as titanium dioxide, silicon dioxide, iron oxide, zinc oxide, or silver nanoparticles, are added to some food products and food packaging materials to obtain specific functional attributes, such as lightening, powder flow, nutrition, or antimicrobial properties. These engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) all have dimensions below 100nm, but may still vary considerably in composition, morphology, charge, surface properties and aggregation state, which effects their gastrointestinal fate and potential toxicity. In addition to their intrinsic physicochemical and morphological properties, the extrinsic properties of the media they are suspended in also affects their biotransformation, gastrointestinal fate and bioactivity. For instance, inorganic nanoparticles are usually consumed as part of a food or meal that contains numerous other components, such as lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, surfactants, minerals, and water, which may alter their gastrointestinal fate. This review article provides an overview of the potential effects of food components on the behavior of ENMs in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), and highlights some important physicochemical and colloidal mechanisms by which the food matrix may alter the properties of inorganic nanoparticles. This information is essential for developing appropriate test methods to establish the potential toxicity and biokinetics of inorganic nanoparticles in foods.

Structural characterization and physicochemical properties of protein extracted from soybean meal assisted by steam flash-explosion with dilute acid soaking

The aim of this work was to analyze the influence of steam flash-explosion (SFE) with dilute acid soaking pretreatment on the structural characteristics and physiochemical properties of protein from soybean meal (SBM). The pretreatment led to depolymerisation of soy protein isolate (SPI) and formation of new protein aggregation through non-disulfide covalent bonds, which resulted in broader MW distribution of SPI. The analysis of CD spectroscopy showed that the SFE treatment induced minor changes in secondary structure, however, the intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence revealed that acid soaking and SFE treatment pronouncedly altered the tertiary structure of SPI. The protein zeta potential was shown to be increased after SFE treatment attributed to the changes in protein structure and the covalent coupling between carbohydrate and protein. These results contribute to clarifying the mechanisms of the effect of pretreatment on SPI structure, thus moving further toward implementing SFE in the processing chain of SPI.

Design of whey protein nanostructures for incorporation and release of nutraceutical compounds in food

Whey proteins are widely used as nutritional and functional ingredients in formulated foods because they are relatively inexpensive, generally recognized as safe (GRAS) ingredient, and possess important biological, physical, and chemical functionalities. Denaturation and aggregation behavior of these proteins is of particular relevance toward manufacture of novel nanostructures with a number of potential uses. When these processes are properly engineered and controlled, whey proteins may be formed into nanohydrogels, nanofibrils, or nanotubes and be used as carrier of bioactive compounds. This review intends to discuss the latest understandings of nanoscale phenomena of whey protein denaturation and aggregation that may contribute for the design of protein nanostructures. Whey protein aggregation and gelation pathways under different processing and environmental conditions such as microwave heating, high voltage, and moderate electrical fields, high pressure, temperature, pH, and ionic strength were critically assessed. Moreover, several potential applications of nanohydrogels, nanofibrils, and nanotubes for controlled release of nutraceutical compounds (e.g. probiotics, vitamins, antioxidants, and peptides) were also included. Controlling the size of protein networks at nanoscale through application of different processing and environmental conditions can open perspectives for development of nanostructures with new or improved functionalities for incorporation and release of nutraceuticals in food matrices.

Protection of β-carotene from chemical degradation in emulsion-based delivery systems using antioxidant interfacial complexes: Catechin-egg white protein conjugates

The aim of the present study was to fabricate catechin-egg white protein (CT-EWP) conjugates as novel food-grade antioxidant emulsifiers designed to improve the physicochemical stability of β-carotene (BC) emulsions. CT-EWP conjugates were synthesized using free radical grafting, and the formation of conjugates was confirmed by electrophoresis and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The physicochemical stability of BC emulsions was characterized by measuring alterations in particle size, ζ-potential and BC retention. The particle size and ζ-potential changed more rapidly at 37°C than at 4 or 25°C, however no creaming or oiling-off were observed at any of the storage temperatures, suggesting all emulsions were physically stable throughout the 30-day storage period. Compared to emulsions stabilized by EWP or CT+EWP physical mixtures (no conjugation), CT-EWP conjugate-stabilized emulsions had better resistance to environmental stresses, such as thermal processing and high ionic strengths, which was attributed to a stronger steric repulsion between the oil droplets. CT-EWP conjugates also significantly reduced the degradation rate of BC in emulsions during storage (p<0.05), which was attributed to their strong antioxidant and interfacial activities. These results indicate that CT-EWP conjugates can be utilized to develop food-grade delivery systems to protect chemically labile lipophilic bioactive compounds.

Harnessing the Potential of Blood Proteins as Functional Ingredients: A Review of the State of the Art in Blood Processing

Blood is generated in very large volumes as a by-product in slaughterhouses all around the world. On the one hand, blood generation presents a serious environmental issue because of its high pollutant capacity; however, on the other hand, blood has the potential to be collected and processed to generate high-added-value food ingredients based on its exceptional nutritive value and its excellent functional properties. In this paper, we review the current state of the art for blood processing, from collection to final recovery of protein isolates, the functional properties of blood, impact of processing on functional properties, and potential applications as food ingredients. Furthermore, future challenges are outlined for this underutilized and abundant product from the meat industry.