Protein is the second most important macronutrient required for human survival, other than first meeting our calorie needs. Adequate protein is essential for maintaining normal immune function and strengthening resistance. Regarding sources, proteins can be categorized into two main groups: plant proteins and animal proteins. Traditional sources of animal proteins require large amounts of land and resources. Plant proteins represent a promising solution because they have a long history of crop use and cultivation, are less expensive to produce, and are readily available in many parts of the world. Plant proteins are also currently gaining popularity among consumers. However, the relatively poor functionality of plant proteins, i.e., poor solubility, foaming, emulsification, and gelling properties, limits their use in food products. Compared to animal proteins, including dairy products, plant protein technology is still in its infancy.
Fig. 1. A roadmap to accelerate plant protein science and technology, focusing on plant protein ingredient development and future food creation. (Sim et al., 2021)
Plant proteins are attracting much attention as concerns about the sustainability of animal-derived proteins and interest in environmentally friendly alternatives grows. With decades of plant research expertise, Lifeasible has been at the forefront of plant protein analysis, driving innovation and excellence.
Lifeasible is committed to providing comprehensive plant proteins analysis services to our global clientele, offering the best solutions for safely and effectively incorporating plant proteins into the diet.
Plant-Derived Proteins Preparation and Purification
The extraction of proteins from plant cells is more complex than that of animal cell proteins due to the presence of cell wall structures. The most important stage in the utilization of plant proteins is the use of appropriate extraction techniques based on plant matrices. Lifeasible offers advanced technologies for the extraction and purification of proteins from a variety of plant sources. Our well-established methods ensure that proteins retain their natural properties, allowing for accurate subsequent analysis.
Plant Proteins Structural Analysis
The study of the amino acid sequence and three-dimensional structure of plant proteins has lagged far behind studying proteins from other sources. This may be due to their inherently low yields and specific difficulties in their preparation. Lifeasible provides state-of-the-art tools, such as X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy, to analyze the primary and secondary structures of plant proteins. Our goal is to harness the power of plant proteins to guide innovation in agriculture, food, pharmaceuticals, and other fields.
Plant-Made Therapeutic Proteins Immunogenicity Analysis
Edible plants such as cereal crops, tomatoes, corn, and rice are being developed for oral delivery of plant-based therapeutic proteins. Plants express different lectins, glycans, saponins, and heat shock proteins, which make plant-derived proteins more immunogenic than mammalian-derived proteins. Lifeasible draws on its many years of expertise in plant biotechnology to delve into the immunogenicity of plant-made therapeutic proteins and provide comprehensive analytical solutions.
Plant Proteins Functional Activity Analysis
While plant proteins are highly regarded for their nutritional value, their functional properties greatly interest the food processing industry. Lifeasible offers a variety of techniques to characterize the functional activity of plant proteins, including thermal stability, solubility, emulsification, foaming, water/oil uptake, and hydrophobicity. Our extensive experience allows us to gain insight into these functional properties and ensure their optimal use in food and nutritionally superior processed products.
We can analyze proteins from a variety of plant sources, including but not limited to:
Plant proteins promise to redefine the boundaries of nutrition and sustainable production. With its expert-driven, technologically advanced services, Lifeasible is propelling the industry into a future where plant proteins are not only an alternative but a mainstream, optimized choice. Trust in our expertise ensures that industry, researchers, and consumers receive the most accurate, actionable insights into the plant protein space. Please contact us for more information.
Reference
Lifeasible has established a one-stop service platform for plants. In addition to obtaining customized solutions for plant genetic engineering, customers can also conduct follow-up analysis and research on plants through our analysis platform. The analytical services we provide include but are not limited to the following:
