The present invention concerns a process wherein native and functional protein isolates can be successfully obtained from plant material such as oilseeds, legumes and lentils. This can be achieved by a proper pre-treatment of the plant material, followed by a method of extracting proteins under mild and non-destructive conditions using an aqueous solvent, followed by fractionation, concentration and further purification using a novel combination of GRAS organic solvents.

The disclosure describes methods for the purification of protein-enriched extracts to provide concentrates and isolates and methods for incorporation of such materials into products. The purification methods are adapted for removal of, e.g., chlorophyll and may thus provide lightening the color of the protein-enriched extracts. The methods generally include treatment with peracetic acid or hydrogen peroxide and filtrations. A protein composition in the form of a concentrate or isolate is provided, the protein composition including RuBisCO, F2 fraction proteins, or combination thereof extracted from a plant material.

The disclosure describes methods for the purification of protein-enriched extracts to provide concentrates and isolates and methods for incorporation of such materials into products. The purification methods are adapted for removal of, e.g., chlorophyll and may thus provide lightening the color of the protein-enriched extracts. The methods generally include treatment with peracetic acid or hydrogen peroxide and filtrations. A protein composition in the form of a concentrate or isolate is provided, the protein composition including RuBisCO, F2 fraction proteins, or combination thereof extracted from a plant material.

A method for separating protein from plant or algae material is disclosed. The method comprises mixing the protein-containing material with a solvent, preferably water; extracting the protein-containing material at pH>7; and acidifying the mixture, thereby precipitating protein and fiber together. In some embodiments of the invention, the separation additionally comprises decanting the mixture to recover a protein/fiber solid; adding water to the protein/fiber solid; adding a predetermined quantity of base to the protein/fiber/water system, thereby precipitating fiber; separating the fiber from the protein in a decanter; and drying the protein solution. In other embodiments, the protein/fiber solid is processed directly, e.g. by being passed to an extruder. The use of the fiber as a carrier for the protein makes the inventive method more efficient than methods known in the art; in particular, the inventive method does not require the use of a high-g clarifier centrifuge.

The present disclosure relates, according to some embodiments, to methods and systems for processing a high-concentration protein product from a microcrop (e.g., aquatic species, Lemna) and compositions thereof. According to some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a method of processing a biomass comprising a microcrop (e.g., Lemna), where the method may include: blanching a first portion of the biomass in a blanching solution to form a wet protein concentrate; separating the first wet protein concentrate from a separated solution (e.g., using a screw press, using a vibratory screen); and drying the first wet protein concentrate to form at least one of a first protein concentrate flake and a first protein concentrate granule. In some embodiments at least one of the first protein concentrate flake and the first protein concentrate granule may comprise at least 45% protein and a Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score (PDCASS) value of at least 0.88. In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to protein products and compositions derived from a microcrop (e.g., derived from Lemna).

This disclosure provides a technology for developing alternative protein sources for use in industrial food production. The technology mines sequence data by a process that is done partly in silico. Instead of sampling and testing a vast library of compounds, machine learning and implementation narrows the field of functional candidates by predictive modeling based on known protein structure. Candidate proteins that are selected by this analysis are then produced and screened in a high-throughput manner by recombinant expression and testing to determine whether they have a target function. Multiple cycles of the machine learning, database mining, expression, and testing are done to yield potential ingredients suitable for assessment as part of a commercial food product.

An artificial fiber meat includes a plurality of fibers, and each of the fibers includes 45 to 95 parts by weight of a vegetable protein and 15 to 35 parts by weight of an alginate, in which a molecular weight distribution range of the vegetable protein is between 15 kDa and 165 kDa.

The present invention in its broadest aspect relates to a method for reducing glycoalkaloid content and turbidity of an aqueous phase comprising compounds selected from two or more of PA, PI, PPO, LipO, pectin, lipid, glycoalkaloid and phenolic compounds of which at least one compound is selected from PA, PT, LipO and PPO; a) providing an aqueous phase comprising compounds selected from two or more of PA, PI, PPO, LipO, pectin, lipid, glycoalkaloid and phenolic compounds of which at least one compound is selected from PA, PT, LipO and PPO; and b) performing one or more steps to reduce the concentration of solanine in the dry matter of the aqueous phase with at least 15 percent, such as at least 20%, such as at least 25% and to achieve an optical density at 620 nm of the remaining aqueous phase of less than 0.7; such as less than 0.5; such as less than 0.3; such as less than 0.2; such as less than 0.1; and thereby obtaining an aqueous phase having reduced glycoalkaloid content and turbidity compared to an untreated aqueous phase.

The present invention relates to method for purifying proteins using silicates.

A method for preparing a soy leghemoglobin includes: constructing a first plasmid containing genes for heme biosynthesis pathway enzymes; constructing a second plasmid containing gene for Glycine max leghemoglobin LGB2; constructing a first Escherichia coli production host containing the first plasmid and the second plasmid; and producing the soy leghemoglobin by culturing the first Escherichia coli production host. A composition useful as a meat flavor and/or an iron supplement includes the soy leghemoglobin prepared in accordance with the method.