Cottonseed Protein as an Alternative Feed Ingredient for Fish: Nutritional Metabolism and Physiological Implications

Cottonseed protein has the potential to increase the world's food supply while decreasing the incidence of malnutrition among the world's hungry. Nutritionally, cottonseed flour compares favorably to other animal and vegetable protein sources, as it is low in fat and contains a substantial amount of high biological value protein. Animal studies, as well as human research, using gossypol-free glandless cottonseed flour have shown that cottonseed protein promotes growth, increased weight gain, and a positive nitrogen balance. Cottonseed protein food products have been shown to be a healthy addition to the diets of children, college-age women, and the elderly. With its light color and bland flavor, cottonseed has many uses in the food processing arena. Baked goods, snack foods and candy, as well as pet and livestock feed are just a few successful products developed utilizing cottonseed protein.

Cottonseed: A sustainable contributor to global protein requirements

The conversion of lysine residues to homoarginine was determined for 11 feed protein sources by incubating the proteins in 0.4 M O-methylisourea (OMIU) solution at pH 10.5 and at room temperature. The conversion efficiency in these protein sources was found to vary from 36.1 to 74.5%. Proteins from soybean meal, lupin, and fish meal had moderately high conversions (69.0−74.5%), while the conversion of lysine in cottonseed protein was very low (36.1%). For this reason, studies were undertaken to determine the optimum conditions for the maximum guanidination of cottonseed protein. Effects of different incubation times (24 to 144 h), lysine:OMIU ratios (1:8 to 1:32), and pH (9.5 to 13.0) on the guanidination of lysine in cottonseed protein were studied in separate experiments. On the basis of this monofactorial approach, optimum conditions for the maximum guanidination of cottonseed protein were determined to be as follows: lysine:OMIU ratio, 1:12; pH, 12.5; and incubation time, 72 h. Potential protein racemization during guanidination under strong alkaline conditions can be avoided by incubating at 4 °C, but this will be associated with significant losses in conversion efficiency. Keywords: Cottonseed protein; guanidination; optimum conditions; homoarginine

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of yeast culture on the growth, hepatic antioxidant capacity, intestinal barrier and microflora of fish fed a high-cottonseed protein diet. The largemouth bass (initial body weight: 12.17 ± 0.02 g) were randomly allotted into three treatments, fish meal-based diet (FM), cottonseed protein concentrate-based diet (CPC, 36% of the fish meal replaced by cottonseed protein concentrate) and CPC diet with yeast culture (CPCY, CPC+3% yeast culture) for 8 weeks, respectively. The results indicated fish fed 3% yeast culture diet could enhance specific growth rate (SGR), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and feeding rate (FR), while the hepatosomatic index (HSI) and liver glycogen content were significantly decreased compared with the CPC group (p < .05). Compared with the FM group, the CPC diet resulted in liver tissue damage accompanied by upregulation of pro-inflammatory factor (IL-1β and TNFα) expression, while adding yeast culture significantly increased the relative expression of liver anti-inflammatory factor (IL-10) and antioxidant enzyme (SOD, CAT and GSH-Px) (p < .05). Meanwhile, yeast culture can reduce the accumulation of liver glycogen and improve the disorder of liver glucose metabolism caused by CPC. Furthermore, compared with CPC group, CPCY group significantly up-regulated the expression of ZO-1, Claudin and Occludin and the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT) in intestine (p < .05) as well as down-regulated diamine oxidase (DAO) activity, D-lactate (D-lac) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) contents in serum (p < .05). In addition, the abundance of probiotics (Lactobacillus) increased significantly, and the abundance of intestinal potential pathogenic bacteria (Vibrio, Brevundimonas) decreased in CPCY group (p < .05). In conclusion, yeast culture can alleviate the adverse effects of concentrated cottonseed protein on the growth of largemouth bass and might be used as an effective probiotic for farmed fish.

Unveiling the reinforcement effects in cottonseed protein/polycaprolactone blend biocomposites

Effect of microwave pre-treatment on protein extraction from de-oiled cottonseed meal and its functional and antioxidant properties

Single cell protein from methanotrophic bacteria as an alternative healthy and functional protein source in aquafeeds, a holistic approach in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) juveniles

Introduction. The problem of genetic increase in the protein content is the most important scientific and practical objective in plant breeding. Interspecies hybridization is a tools to expand the genetic diversity of wheat, in particular with respect to the protein content. Several breeding lines with alien polygenic complexes for disease resistance, high 1000-grain weight, protein content and morphological characters were obtained using crosses of original introgressive lines, collection accessions, amphiploids and elite synthetics derived from Ae. tauschii with modern wheat varieties.Aim and objectives of research. To perform comparative breeding evaluation of newly developed introgressive lines; to determine correlations between some agronomic characters and economic features; to select large-seeded, high-protein donor lines with high performance and a set of valuable characters of alien origin.Material and methods. 736 introgressive lines of bread wheat of different generations, saturation degrees and origin were studied. Generally, they were derivatives with different alien characters from distant hybridization and properties from several winter bread wheat varieties (Odesskaya 267, Albatros, Nikoniya, Selianka, Kuyalnik, Panna, Gurt), which were crossed with two original recombinant introgressive lines, one collection accession, two original amphiploids derived from Elymus sibiricus L., and six amphiploids derived from Ae. tauschii. The field experiments were laid out in compliance with the conventional design of the breeding of self-pollinating crops. The endosperm consistency and SDS30 sedimentation index were measured by the methods developed in the Department of Genetic Basics of Breeding of PBGI– NCSCI; the protein content - by the Kjeldahl digestion on a Kjeltec-Auto 1030 analyzer; 1000-grain weight – by the conventional technique; the data were statistically processed by standard methods.Results and discussion. The results of the 2015/16-2017/18 trials distinguished several lines (IL910/16, IL911/16, IL914/16, IL940/16, and IL953/16) with a high relative protein content. They are of interest for transgressive breeding for large grain and increased protein content. In addition, promising breeding lines (E196/09, E2792/14, IL299/16, IL997/16, IL1073/16, IL1100/16, IL1161/16, IL334/17, and IL480/17) combining performance equal to or higher than that of the standard, with alien complexes of disease resistance, high protein content and xeromorphic morphological characters but without negative features of wild species, were singled out.Conclusions. The studied lines may be of interest for further breeding in the South of Ukraine, provided preservation of the alien gene complexes.

Annual wild soybean is characterized by a high protein content. To elucidate the genetic basis, this study utilized a chromosome segment substitution line population (177 lines) constructed with cultivated soybean NN1138-2 as the recipient and wild soybean N24852 as the donor. Phenotypic analyses across three environments revealed significant variation in protein content ranging from 42.86% to 49.08%, with a high heritability of 0.70, indicating strong genetic control. Through high-throughput sequencing, six wild segments associated with high protein content were detected on chromosomes 3, 6, 9, 15, and 20, with phenotypic variation explained (PVE) by individual segments ranged from 3.58% to 22.46%, with segments on chromosomes 9, 15, and 20 as large-effect segments with PVE &gt; 10%. All wild segments exhibited positive additive effects (0.42–1.09%), consistent with the characteristic of a high protein content in wild soybean. Compared with previous studies, five segments overlapped with reported loci, while qPro6.1 on chromosome 6 was a novel discovery. Integration of genomic and transcriptomic data identified 10 genes involved in nucleic acid binding, transmembrane protein transport, and amino acid synthesis pathway, with homologs validated in soybean, rice, and rapeseed. This research deepens the understanding of wild soybean’s high protein and offers new gene resources for breeding high-protein cultivated soybean.

Determine whether prolonged consumption of high- or low-protein diets modifies the thermogenic response to a standard meal. Twenty-four healthy individuals were randomized to overfeeding diets containing low (5%, n = 8), normal (15%, n = 9), or high (25%, n = 7) protein for 56 days while inpatients. The thermic effect of food (TEF) was measured over 4 h by indirect calorimetry following a standard meal (20% of energy, 20% protein) or a meal that matched the study diet ("study meal"). As expected, the TEF following the study meal (i.e., either low, normal, or high protein content) was significantly associated with dietary protein (P = 0.007), and the TEF was significantly increased in the high-protein diet (15.4%) versus the normal-protein (5.6%) and low-protein diets (6.4%) (P = 0.05 and P = 0.03, respectively). However, returning to a standard meal (20% protein) after 42 days of overfeeding the study diets, the TEF response did not differ from baseline between groups or within subjects regardless of the prolonged intake of the habitual study diet (high protein: P = 0.32, low protein: P = 0.11, normal protein: P = 0.79). TEF is related to acute dietary protein intake but not altered by prolonged intake of high-energy diets with high or low protein content.

Grain protein content of wheat is important for bread making and pasta quality. Wild tetraploid wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. dicoccoides) has some genes for high protein content as a promising source. Three winter wheat cultivars of Colorado (Halt, Yuma, Akron) and one experimental line (CO99508) and one accession of T. dicoccoides were crossed to obtain backcrosses. The objective of this study was to determine higher protein content, SDSsedimentation and hardiness values in backcrosses T. aestivum x T. dicoccoides. Analysis of variance showed that highly significant differences were found among parents and backcrosses. The minimum and maximum values of grain protein content of all backcross populations changed from low protein parents (bread wheat cultivars) to high protein parent (T. dicoccoides). This increase in grain protein content of backcrosses is most likely due to the transferring of the high protein genes from the T. dicoccoides to the hexaploid cultivars. Although T. dicoccoides has high grain protein content, bread making quality of T. dicoccoides has lower than bread wheat cultivars. This situation has also been observed in all backcross populations. However, based on the results of this study, it could be concluded that high protein genes in the wild tetraploid wheat (T. dicoccoides) could possibly be transferred to the bread wheat cultivars.

Reactions of proteins with gossypol

Cottonseeds contain protein with desirable food functional and nutritional properties. Storage globulins make up most of the protein stored in cottonseed and can be separated into five fractions by gel filtration chromatography. Each fraction is distinguishable from the other by its amino acid and polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic properties. Proteins of cottonseed contribute greatly to the functional properties of emulsions, co-isolates, and texturized derivatives. For example, increasing the amount of high protein cottonseed flour in wheat suspensions from 2% to 10% improved the capacity (54-97 ml of oil) and viscosity (5,000-100,000+ cps) of emulsions. The 10% suspension formed emulsions with increasing oil capacity (84-100 ml) and viscosity (28,000-100,000+ cps) as the pH was adjusted from 4.5 to 9.5. Consistencies of the products ranged from that of salad dressing (low percent suspensions, or acid pH) to that of mayonnaise (high percent, or basic pH). These data were utilized to derive a multiple regression model to predict optimum use of cottonseed proteins in emulsions of varying consistencies. A coprecipitated isolate containing greater than 94% protein was prepared from a blend of cottonseed and peanut flours. Amino acid content of the co-isolate reflected that of the protein in the two flours of the composite. The co-isolate has lower gossypol level and improved color and functional properties than a cottonseed protein isolate. Storage protein isolate of cottonseed suspended in aqueous solution and heated with constant stirring forms a texturized product; the quality of the product depends on heat, pH, salt, and the quantity of nonstorage proteins. Protein and amino acid content of meat products were improved by the addition of the texturized protein of cottonseed.

Imbalanced feeding of protein and energy in ruminants coupled with increasing concerns over low production efficiencies and high livestock emissions intensifies the feeding challenges, especially in buffaloes. This study was planned to evaluate the independent or interactive effects of dietary starch and crude protein (CP) on lactation performance, blood metabolites, and methane production of dairy buffaloes. Sixteen lactating multiparous Nili Ravi buffaloes received the following dietary treatments of low (LS) or high starch (HS) content combined with low (LP) or high protein (HP) content in a 4×4 Latin square design: 1) LSLP, 2) LSHP, 3) HSLP, and 4) HSHP. Dietary starch contents were 19.5% and 28.7% in LS and HS diets, whereas CP contents were 8.8% and 10.6% in the LP and the HP diets, respectively. Although milk yield was not affected by dietary treatments, the HP diet increased milk protein and lactose contents compared with the LP diet in the HS group; however, no such increase was observed in LS group, resulting in a starch×CP interaction. Efficiencies of metabolizable protein and milk nitrogen decreased with the HP diet compared with the LP diet. Metabolic efficiency of metabolizable protein was higher in buffaloes fed the LS diet compared with HS diet. Rumen pH decreased with the HS diet compared with the LS diet in the HP group; however no such change was observed in the LP group. Methane production was increased with the LS diet compared with the HS diet. Contrarily, methane production was decreased in buffaloes fed HP diet compared with those fed the LP diet. These findings indicated that dietary starch interacted with CP level for milk protein, milk lactose, rumen pH, and methane production of lactating buffaloes. Overall, HS combined with HP content can effectively improve milk protein and lactose contents while reducing the methane emission of lactating buffaloes.

SCOPUS: ar.j