Meat analogs: Protein restructuring during thermomechanical processing

Self Cite

Both Hayward (green) and SunGold (gold) kiwifruit varieties contain a proteolytic enzyme, actinidin, that has been reported to enhance the upper tract digestion of animal proteins. Unlike the other gold varieties, which do not contain any actinidin, the SunGold variety contains significantly higher actinidin activity, but its activity is still much lower than that present in the green (Hayward) fruit. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of actinidin in Hayward and SunGold kiwifruit in digesting alternative proteins, including pea protein, almonds, tofu, and quinoa. The protein sources were digested using a three-stage in vitro oral-gastro-small intestinal digestion model. The findings showed that both kiwifruit extracts enhanced the breakdown (observed through SDS-PAGE) for all the studied protein sources, particularly during gastric digestion, possibly due to higher actinidin activity at gastric pH. The increase in the rate of protein breakdown was probably due to the broader specificity of actinidin compared to pepsin. For many protein sources, most of the intact proteins disappeared within the first few minutes of gastric digestion with added kiwifruit extract. Green kiwifruit extract, due to its higher actinidin activity, had a higher effect on protein breakdown than the SunGold extract. However, for some proteins and under certain digestion conditions, SunGold extract resulted in higher protein breakdown. The latter, in the absence of any digestive enzymes, also led to some protein breakdown during the small intestinal digestion phase, which was not the case for the green kiwifruit extract. The green kiwifruit extract led to the greater breakdown of polypeptide chains of Pru-du 6, a major allergen in almonds. The results, for the first time, suggest that both Hayward and SunGold kiwifruit can lead to improved breakdown and digestion of alternative proteins when consumed as part of a meal; and therefore, have the potential to be used as a digestive aid in population groups looking to achieve faster and greater protein digestion such as athletes, elderly and people with the impaired digestive system.

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Actinidin in Green and SunGold Kiwifruit Improves Digestion of Alternative Proteins—An In Vitro Investigation

Kaur

Mao

Bailly

et al. 2022

Self Cite

“…The fibrous structuring of plant proteins using thermomechanical processing can be classified under two main principles. The first principle is based on phase separation within a multi-phase protein mixture [218,219]. The dispersed phase acquires a spherical droplet morphology under interfacial tension and undergoes deformation-elongationsolidification to form anisotropic structures in the direction of the applied shear [220,221].…”

Section: Formation Of Fibrous Structuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Meanwhile, the hydrophobic and free SH groups that were initially buried inside the native protein are exposed. The shearing from the extrusion aligns the uncoiled protein molecules in the direction of flow, resulting in a three-dimensional network structure [218]. The texturization phase inside the cooling die initiates the solidification and formation of fibrous structure through the inter-and intra-molecular aggregation of the proteins.…”

Section: Formation Of Fibrous Structuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant Proteins for Future Foods: A Roadmap

Sim

Srv

Chiang

et al. 2021

149

Protein calories consumed by people all over the world approximate 15–20% of their energy intake. This makes protein a major nutritional imperative. Today, we are facing an unprecedented challenge to produce and distribute adequate protein to feed over nine billion people by 2050, in an environmentally sustainable and affordable way. Plant-based proteins present a promising solution to our nutritional needs due to their long history of crop use and cultivation, lower cost of production, and easy access in many parts of the world. However, plant proteins have comparatively poor functionality, defined as poor solubility, foaming, emulsifying, and gelling properties, limiting their use in food products. Relative to animal proteins, including dairy products, plant protein technology is still in its infancy. To bridge this gap, advances in plant protein ingredient development and the knowledge to construct plant-based foods are sorely needed. This review focuses on some salient features in the science and technology of plant proteins, providing the current state of the art and highlighting new research directions. It focuses on how manipulating plant protein structures during protein extraction, fractionation, and modification can considerably enhance protein functionality. To create novel plant-based foods, important considerations such as protein–polysaccharide interactions, the inclusion of plant protein-generated flavors, and some novel techniques to structure plant proteins are discussed. Finally, the attention to nutrition as a compass to navigate the plant protein roadmap is also considered.

“…The right proportion of lipids can effectively increase moisture retention in simulated fat, thereby improving the tenderness, texture and juiciness of recombinant plant-based meat alternatives [ 85 ]. In one recent study, 3.5% sunflower oil and konjac glucomannan were used as raw materials to develop a plant-based fishball analogue, the results of which showed that the addition of sunflower oil is beneficial to the texture and water retention of plant-based fishballs [ 86 ].…”

Section: Factors Affecting the Structural Quality Of Simulated Fatmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ingredients and Process Affect the Structural Quality of Recombinant Plant-Based Meat Alternatives and Their Components

Zhao

Huang

et al. 2022

Recombinant plant-based meat alternatives are a kind of product that simulates animal meat with complete structure by assembling plant-tissue protein and other plant-based ingredients. The market is growing rapidly and appears to have a promising future due to the broad culinary applicability of such products. Based on the analysis and summary of the relevant literature in the recent five years, this review summarizes the effects of raw materials and production methods on the structure and quality of specific components (tissue protein and simulated fat) in plant-based meat alternatives. Furthermore, the important roles of tissue and simulated fat as the main components of recombinant plant-based meat alternatives are further elucidated herein. In this paper, the factors affecting the structure and quality of plant-based meat alternatives are analyzed from part to whole, with the aim of contributing to the structural optimization and providing reference for the future development of the plant meat industry.