Edible Protein Research Articles

Investigating the environmental sustainability of a seabass and seabream aquaculture system in Portugal based on life cycle and nexus approaches

Aquaculture plays an essential role in supplying animal-source food and protein worldwide, in this way contributing to several sustainable development goals. Notwithstanding this, the aquaculture sector's long-term environmental sustainability is a major concern due to overall environmental impacts. To date, and to the best of the authors' knowledge, assessments of aquaculture systems in Portugal from an environmental perspective, and the nexus between resource consumption and nutrition issues, are still lacking. This study bridges this gap by analysing an aquaculture system in Portugal in a comprehensive manner by applying and combining life cycle assessment and resources–protein nexus approaches. The overall results highlight feed as the main factor responsible for the total impact in all impact categories selected, ranging from 74 % to 98 %. Climate change impact results in 2.88 kg CO2-eq per kg of medium-size fish (functional unit). The resources–protein nexus shows that 504.1 MJex is needed to obtain 1 kg of edible protein, with a high dependency on non-renewable resources (59 %), mainly oil by-product fuels used in feed production. After identifying environmental hotspots, potential strategies to be adopted such as resource consumption reduction, eco-certification and ecosystem-based management are suggested, in this way ensuring long-term aquaculture production and environmental sustainability.

Food for the future: sustainability assessment of cricket products for policy decisions to move toward sustainable agriculture in Thailand

Insects will be an important alternative food for protein in the future. Crickets, with a high protein level (54-70%) and all the essential amino acids, have emerged as a high potential protein source. Thailand is taking a leading position in Southeast Asia when it comes to producing alternative proteins based on crickets, with an annual production capacity of 3,700 tonnes/year with 1,200 registered farmers. To provide supporting information for sustainable agriculture policy decisions toward food security, carbon footprinting was applied as the analytical tool to assess the environmental performance of house cricket farming and processing into frozen fresh crickets and cricket powder. The inventory data associated with the life cycle of cricket products were collected from 20 farms in the north and 16 farms in the northeast covering small-, medium-, and large-sized farms. In the processing stage, the inventory data were gathered from the internal recording systems of the production processing activities from a local cricket manufacturer. Based on the edible protein content as the functional unit, the carbon footprint values of frozen crickets and cricket powder were 4.6 and 11.3 kgCO2e/kg of edible protein, respectively. By calculating the revenue of cricket-based products per carbon footprint, we showed that the cricket powder had higher eco-efficiency values (almost 4 times) than fresh crickets. Furthermore, the net income from cricket farming and processing was 567-69,670 USD/year and the labour productivity was 16-223 USD/worker-day. This information should be very useful for government to support national policy decision-making on promoting and increasing the number of cricket farms, with the aim of enhancing market opportunities, especially in international markets. Cricket farming is expected to offer a livelihood strategy based of sustainable agriculture in Thailand, while making a strong potential contribution toward food security.

Feed‐food competition in global aquaculture: Current trends and prospects

AbstractFeed‐food competition is the allocation of resources that can be used to feed humans to animal feed instead, a current but unsustainable practise not well documented for aquaculture. Here, we analysed feed‐food competition in aquaculture using two measures; natural trophic levels (TLs) and species‐specific human‐edible protein conversion ratios (HePCRs). The HePCR equals the ratio of human edible protein in feed (input) to the human edible protein in animal produce (output). To provide prospects on aquaculture's potential to convert human inedible by‐products into edible biomass, data on aquaculture production were collected and categorized based on natural TLs. HePCRs were computed for four aquaculture species produced in intensive aquaculture systems: Atlantic salmon, common carp, Nile tilapia and whiteleg shrimp. Under current feed use, we estimated that the carp, tilapia and shrimp considered were net contributors of protein by requiring ~0.6 kg of human edible protein to produce 1 kg of protein in the fillet/meat. Considering soya bean meal and fishmeal as food‐competing ingredients increased the HePCR to ~2 and turned all of the case‐study species into net consumers of protein. To prevent this increase, the use of high‐quality food‐competing ingredients such as fishmeal, or soya bean products should be minimized in aquaculture feed. In the future, the role of aquaculture in circular food systems will most likely consist of a balanced mix of species at different TLs and from different aquaculture systems, depending on the by‐products available.

A new journal dedicated to the science of sustainable food proteins

Harjinder Singh, Editor-in-Chief In the next decade, we will see a dramatic dietary shift toward more plant-based and alternative proteins. Global population growth and the dietary changes associated with rising standards of living are placing tremendous pressure on the systems that provide our proteins. How will we reconcile the creation of new protein foods that are not only sustainable but also affordable and highly nutritious? Sustainable Food Proteins (SFP) is a new international, open access, peer-reviewed journal focused on the research attempting to answer this question. The journal publishes high-quality original research articles, reviews, and opinion pieces on all aspects of the science dedicated to the advancement of sustainably derived protein foods. It covers the entire spectrum from protein sourcing to food formulations, to analytical characterization, to digestion and nutrition, and the nuanced research in between. The food industry is clamoring for knowledge on novel protein sources, structures, and functionality to inform formulations, as well as sensory information that may drive consumer perceptions. We are interested in manuscripts on these topics, as well as on novel techniques used to characterize and enhance these functionalities. For example, we are accepting papers on processing and extraction technologies, especially for edible proteins that are not sourced from traditionally farmed livestock. We welcome submissions on recombinant technologies for protein production (in bacteria, yeast, or plants) and cell culture-based production of animal protein. We also seek papers on addressing scientific challenges in food product formulations and product development using alternative protein ingredients. We welcome research on the digestibility, nutritional quality, and health impacts of alternative proteins and protein-based foods. There is currently a significant focus on protein science and innovation to transform our food system to become more environmentally sustainable. The academic community and scientists in the food industry now have a dedicated forum to showcase their important work. The editorial board of SFP is eager to share those findings in our journal and our goal is for SFP to be the leading journal where anyone interested in this burgeoning field can find cutting-edge protein research.

The carbon footprint of young-beef cattle finishing systems in the Eastern Plains of the Orinoco River Basin of Colombia

IntroductionPrevious research has shown increased productivity amongst sown grass pastures compared to native savanna pastures by year-round grazing for fattening of adult and young Brahman (Bos indicus)-bred cattle in the well-drained native savanna ecosystem of the Colombian Orinoquía. But there is limited information on the carbon footprint (CF) of commercial young-Brahman heifers and steers reared throughout life on well-managed Brachiaria decumbens Stapf pastures.MethodsThe present study characterized growth, lifetime enteric methane (CH4) emissions, carcass carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-eq) CH4 efficiency intensities (i.e., emissions per kg of product), and estimated the overall CF of young cattle grazing B. decumbens pastures subject to a range of daily liveweight gains (DLWGs; 0.428 – 0.516 kg) and fattening framework (405 – 574 kg). Weaning data from seven consecutive calving seasons in a commercial Brahman breeding herd continuously grazed on B. decumbens were integrated with a Microsoft Excel® dynamic greenhouse gas emission (GHGE) simulation of stockers-yearlings, and seven fattening, and processing scenarios.ResultsThe model predicted that heifers subject to low and high DLWGs (0.428 vs 0.516 kg) and steers (0.516 kg) may be successfully fattened without supplementation assuming that animals had access to a well-managed grass pasture. Depending on the fattening strategy, kg CO2-eq CH4/kg edible protein values ranged from 66.843 to 87.488 ± 0.497 for heifers and from 69.689 to 91.291 ± 0.446 for steers.DiscussionAssuming that forage on offer is at least 1,500-2,000 kg of dry matter/ha during the rainy season, all the simulated systems showed potential for C neutrality and net-zero C emission when considering GHGEs from the soil, pasture, and animal components vs the estimated soil C capture over seven seasons. However, under a more optimistic scenario, these beef systems could accomplish substantial net gains of soil C, over the period for which field data are available. Overall, this study projects the positive impact of the design of plausible fattening strategies on grasslands for improving cattle productivity and reducing emission intensities with concomitant increases in technical efficiency.

Fungi as a Source of Edible Proteins and Animal Feed.

It is expected that the world population will reach 9 billion by 2050. Thus, meat, dairy or plant-based protein sources will fail to meet global demand. New solutions must be offered to find innovative and alternative protein sources. As a natural gift, edible wild mushrooms growing in the wet and shadow places and can be picked by hand have been used as a food. From searching mushrooms in the forests and producing single cell proteins (SCP) in small scales to mega production, academia, United Nations Organizations, industries, political makers and others, play significant roles. Fermented traditional foods have also been reinvestigated. For example, kefir, miso, and tempeh, are an excellent source for fungal isolates for protein production. Fungi have unique criteria of consuming various inexpensive wastes as sources of carbon and energy for producing biomass, protein concentrate or amino acids with a minimal requirement of other environmental resources (e.g., light and water). Fungal fermented foods and SCP are consumed either intentionally or unintentionally in our daily meals and have many applications in food and feed industries. This review addresses fungi as an alternative source of edible proteins and animal feed, focusing mainly on SCP, edible mushrooms, fungal fermented foods, and the safety of their consumption.

Wool keratin as a novel alternative protein: A comprehensive review of extraction, purification, nutrition, safety, and food applications.

The growing global population and lifestyle changes have increased the demand for specialized diets that require protein and other essential nutrients for humans. Recent technological advances have enabled the use of food bioresources treated as waste as additional sources of alternative proteins. Sheep wool is an inexpensive and readily available bioresource containing 95%-98% protein, making it an outstanding potential source of protein for food and biotechnological applications. The strong structure of wool and its indigestibility are the main hurdles to achieving its potential as an edible protein. Although various methods have been investigated for the hydrolysis of wool into keratin, only a few of these, such as sulfitolysis, oxidation, and enzymatic processes, have the potential to generate edible keratin. In vitro and in vivo cytotoxicity studies reported no cytotoxicity effects of extracted keratin, suggesting its potential for use as a high-value protein ingredient that supports normal body functions. Keratin has a high cysteine content that can support healthy epithelia, glutathione synthesis, antioxidant functions, and skeletal muscle functions. With the recent spike in new keratin extraction methods, extensive long-term investigations that examine prolonged exposure of keratin generated from these techniques in animal and human subjects are required to ascertain its safety. Food applications of wool could improve the ecological footprint of sheep farming and unlock the potential of a sustainable protein source that meets demands for ethical production of animal protein.

Multifunctionality and diversity of livestock grazing systems for sustainable food systems throughout the world: Are there learning opportunities for Europe?

AbstractThroughout the world, livestock grazing systems (LGS) include, and provide livelihoods for, many rural populations. These LGS are represented in a wide variety of agroecological contexts and offer a huge variety of system organization. They contribute to sustainable food systems by providing multiple products including low‐cost edible proteins and energy, draft power, outputs (carbon and soil nutrient regulation, landscape and biodiversity maintenance), roles (local development support in harsh environments, contribution to the circular economy) and benefits to populations (revenue, employment, and cultural assets). These multiple functions can be described through a multifunctional conceptual model specified for LGS. Applied to cases in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe, the framework enables the assessment of these systems in a holistic manner that includes four dimensions: production, social, environmental and local development. These dimensions and associated local indicators demonstrate the potential important contribution that LGS may deliver to sustainable food systems. Management of interactions and trade‐offs between these functions may be improved using such a model in a multi‐stakeholder approach. Some of the functions and balance between them might have been overlooked in the consideration of European food systems.

Physical and textural properties of functional edible protein films from soybean using an innovative 3D printing technology.

Increasing market demand for sustainable, environmentally friendly edible film materials has called for the development of new customizable production methods utilizing emerging technologies such as 3D printing. We hereby report a new method to generate functional edible soy protein isolate films prepared from three types of soybeans (AR-R11-7999, MO-S17-17168, and MO-S17-19874R) using an innovative 3D printing technology. The protein contents in AR-R11-7999, MO-S17-17168, and MO-S17-19874R soybean meals and their corresponding protein isolates were 40.0, 39.1, and 39.9; and 84.5, 84.7, and 87.3 % (w/w, dry basis), respectively. Response surface methodology was used to maximize the tensile and puncture strength and minimize the thickness of the 3D-printed edible films using protein concentration, plasticizer concentration (glycerol), and drying time as the independent variables. The optimized film production conditions were determined as soy protein concentration: 8.91%, plasticizer concentration: 3.00%, and drying time: 3.98h with a desirability value of 0.7428. The optimized conditions were then successfully verified with the original soybean lot with a nonsignificant difference in physical properties. At the optimized conditions, the 3D-printed edible films using three soybean lots revealed: 0.108-0.114mm thickness; 14.79-16.07MPa tensile strength; 6.97-8.20 N puncture strength; 90.81-91.53, -1.89 to -1.31, and 14.85-17.25 were color parameters L*, a*, and b*, respectively; 1.22-1.36g/cm3 density; and 104.4-105.7% elongation at break ratio (%). PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Edible soy protein films produced by an extrusion-based 3D printing approach are highly customizable and precise, and could be produced at an industrial scale. This newly produced environment-friendly soy protein-based edible film can serve as an alternate packaging to synthetic plastics and reduce the environmental landfill problem while adding value to soybean produced in the mid-south United States.

Identification of allergen encoding sequences in a novel food ingredient from Moringa oleifera leaves

Alternative sources of edible proteins are required to feed the world’s growing population, such as Moringa oleifera leaves, a protein source with a balanced amino acid composition. Since Moringa leaf proteins is a novel food in the EU and UK, an assessment of their potential allergenicity of is required.Proteins from Moringa leaf powder were characterised using traditional proteomic approaches. The proteins identified were evaluated for their allergenic potential using in-silico tools.The main proteins identified belonged to photosynthetic and metabolic pathways. In-silico analysis of the leaf proteome identified moritides as potential allergens by homology with a latex allergen implicated in fruit-latex syndrome. This analysis also identified a nsLTP, a major panallergen in food. The presence of these putative allergens was confirmed by de-novo sequencing. Our study allowed identification of putative allergens, Morintides and nsLTP. Further in-vitro and in-vivo investigations are required to confirm their allergenic potential.

Enhancing emulsion stability and performance using dual-fibrous complexes: Whey protein fibrils and cellulose nanocrystals

Edible proteins can self-assemble into fibrils, which can improve their performance as emulsifiers. However, they are limited in some food applications. We prepared whey protein isolate fibril-cellulose nanocrystal complexes (WPIF-CNC) by electrostatic complexation. The stabilities of emulsions prepared using either WPIF or WPIF-CNC were compared to evaluate the effect of complexation on emulsion formation and properties. Moreover, the potential of the emulsions to act as delivery systems for curcumin was investigated. WPIF and CNC were found to complex by hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic, and electrostatic interactions. The complexes formed were good Pickering stabilizers in oil-in-water emulsions. Emulsions formulated using the complexes were more resistant to creaming than those stabilized by WPIF. The complexes were able to form self-supporting gelled emulsions at 70 % oil concentration, which protected curcumin from photo- and thermal-degradation. Consequently, dual-fibrous complexes may have application in the food industry as novel emulsifiers for the creation of nutraceutical delivery systems.

The use of Microvit A in the Form of a Synthetic supplement for Metabolic Processes and Localization of Protein Substances

The purpose of this research is to study the present data on the effect of different dosages of vitamin A (retinol acetate) on the metabolism and localization of protein substances (protein) in the body of experimental animals (fattening bull calves). The authors use the concept of conversion of protein substances (protein) from the diet feed into the main nutrients of the edible part of the carcass (cuts) of bull calves fed on diets with pulp granules. The authors evaluate the morphological parameters of the animal after slaughter. For the experiment, 45 heads of black-and-white bull calves at the age of 12-13 months with a live weight of 270-290kg were selected. They were distributed according to the principle of similarity into three experimental groups of 15 heads each. The groups differed in diet, namely, an increase in the dosage of vitamin A in the second and third groups by 25 and 30% relative to the first group. According to the slaughter data and the study of the morphological composition of carcasses, the authors found that it was necessary to introduce vitamin A preparation into such diets. In this experiment, the authors used retinol acetate with the biological activity of 1 mln international units in 1 g, so that their content in the diets was 23-24 thousand international units per 100kg of live weight (optimally derived dose, depending on the live weight of the animal during the experiment). This contributed to an increase in the average daily weight gain of bull calves by 11.7% and an increase in carcass weight by 9.2%, including flesh weight by 11.1%. In the carcass flesh, the protein content increased by 15.4%, fat by 15.2%, and energy by 8.2%. The conversion rate of protein substances (protein) of the feed into the edible protein of the flesh of the carcass increased by 1.33% and the energy of the feed by 1.2%.

Decay of Trichomes of Arthrospira platensis After Permeabilization Through Pulsed Electric Fields (PEFs) Causes the Release of Phycocyanin

The cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis is a promising source of edible proteins and other highly valuable substances such as the blue pigment-protein complex phycocyanin. Pulsed electric field (PEF) technology has recently been studied as a way of permeabilizing the cell membrane, thereby enhancing the mass transfer of water-soluble cell metabolites. Unfortunately, the question of the release mechanism is not sufficiently clarified in published literature. In this study, the degree of cell permeabilization (cell disintegration index) was directly measured by means of a new method using fluorescent dye propidium iodide (PI). The method allows for conclusions to be drawn about the effects of treatment time, electric field strength, and treatment temperature. Using a self-developed algorithm for image segmentation, disintegration of trichomes was observed over a period of 3 h. This revealed a direct correlation between cell disintegration index and decay of trichomes. This decay, in turn, could be brought into a direct temporal relationship with the release of phycocyanin. For the first time, this study reveals the relationship between permeabilization and the kinetics of particle decay and phycocyanin extraction, thus contributing to a deeper understanding of the release of cell metabolites in response to PEF. The results will facilitate the design of downstream processes to produce sustainable products from Arthrospira platensis.

Current Status of Immune Deficiency Pathway in Tenebrio molitor Innate Immunity.

Yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) is a highly beneficial beetle that serves as an excellent source of edible protein as well as a practical study model. Therefore, studying its immune system is important. Like in other insects, the innate immune response effected through antimicrobial peptides production provides the most critical defense armory in T. molitor. Immune deficiency (Imd) signaling is one of the major pathways involved in the humoral innate immune response in this beetle. However, the nature of the molecules involved in the signaling cascade of the Imd pathway, from recognition to the production of final effectors, and their mechanism of action are yet to be elucidated in T. molitor model. In this review, we present a general overview of the current literature available on the Imd signaling pathway and its identified interaction partners in T. molitor.

Milk, meat, and human edible protein from dual-purpose cattle in Costa Rica: Impact of functional unit and co-product handling methods on predicted enteric methane allocation

In many developing countries, milk and meat produced from dual-purpose cattle systems contribute substantially to the national supply of animal-derived human-edible protein (HEP). Defining a main product and a co-product may be difficult in these diversified systems because of the large spatial variation and possibly rapid temporal variation in the contribution of each product within a farm and among farms. Few studies have investigated the impact of the milk-to-meat ratio output of cattle systems of developing countries on allocation of greenhouse gases when using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). In this study, we analysed data collected from 677 Costa Rican farms with the objectives of 1) developing a field-based methodological framework to quantify the contribution of milk, meat, and HEP from milk and meat in dual-purpose systems relevant to developing countries, and 2) evaluating the effect of the functional unit (FU), co-products handling methods, and milk-to-meat ratio on how predicted enteric methane (CH4) would be allocated in an LCA of dual-purpose systems of contrasting orientation (towards beef vs. towards dairy). Farms were categorized based on farmer-reported farm income from milk sales relative to income from both milk and animal sales: Beef (BS; <1%), Dual-purpose towards beef (DP-B; 1–39%), Dual-purpose with dairy and beef in similar proportion (DP-DB; 40–59%), Dual-purpose towards dairy (DP-D; 60–89%), and Dairy (DS; 90–100%). Enteric CH4 emission was predicted from reported herd structure and emission factors per animal category (adult female, adult male, heifer and steer), and allocated to milk as the main product (FU = 1 kg of milk) with meat as a co-product or reported per kg of HEP. To allocate emissions to milk and meat, we used the following methods: (a) All-to-milk, (b) mass-based, (c) biological-based, and (d) system expansion. Milk and HEP production were significantly greater in DS compared to other systems. Emission attributed to milk varied from 66% to 100% when using all-to-milk, mass-based, and biological allocation methods but from −1% to 44% when using system expansion. Low productivity and high emission intensity of meat for the alternative system, leading to unrealistically high meat emission deduction, explained the substantially lower percentage of emission attributed to milk for system expansion compared to the other methods. All-to-milk and mass-based allocation methods were insensitive to change in milk-to-meat ratio of the system but increasing ratio altered substantially the partitioning of emission between milk and meat when using biological allocation and system expansion. Depending on the allocation method used, the imputed emission intensity of meat varied from zero (all-to-milk) to 13.4 kg carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-eq) as CH4/ kg of meat (system expansion). Using HEP does not capture the importance of other nutrients in animal source foods but helped resolve LCA methodological issues of concern for dual-purpose cattle systems of developing countries.

Enhanced Delivery of Sesame Oil through Nanoformulation: Edible Protein Excipients and Nanotechnology as Protagonists

For decades, researchers have gained a lot of interest for lignans-rich sesame oil due to its potent antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. But its potential could not be fully achieved through traditional means of delivery due to the poor aqueous solubility of lipophilic bioactives. To eliminate the unsatisfactory outcome of conventional delivery strategies and to corroborate the perception of manufacturing the bio-compatible vehicle for therapeutic delivery, present-day researches are vigorously attempting to develop nanocarrier systems with food-grade excipients.

Microstructural and physicochemical changes of coated and frozen fried chicken

The objective of this study was to understand the microstructural and physicochemical changes of deep-fried chickens due to the application of a chicken protein-based edible coating, two types of oils (canola vs. corn oil), and frozen temperature (−18°C) over 60 days. The application of the edible coating was able to reduce the fat content and fat uptake significantly (p < .05). However, the fat content of corn oil deep-fried samples increased over storage time. The use of corn oil for frying resulted in higher puncture force and lower TBARS values (p < .05). Scanning electron microscopy showed that the application of the edible protein coating presented a smooth and intact surface morphology, especially for canola oil deep-fried samples. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results indicated that functional compounds in the oils were not affected by the edible coating. However, high heat during frying induced the formation of polar compounds and lipid oxidation. Novelty impact statement The results of this study demonstrated that the application of a protein-based edible coating prepared from the chicken could be used as a product-friendly coating to reduce the fat uptake in canola oil-fried chicken over frozen storage. Also, the type of oil that is used for frying influences many characteristics of deep-fried chicken including the oil content, lipid oxidation, and textural properties, particularly during frozen storage. Due to the high consumption of deep fat-fried foods and the importance of consumer health, it is crucial to select the frying medium wisely. In addition, this study may provide a viable solution for fat uptake reduction in the food industry.

Valorization of green biomass Azolla pinnata fern: multi-parameter evaluation of processing conditions on protein extractability and their influence on the physicochemical, structural, techno-functional properties and protein quality.

This study determined the effect of processing conditions on protein extractability from Azolla pinnata fern, and their influence on the physicochemical, structural, techno-functional properties and protein quality. The protein extraction from A. pinnata fern was optimized through response surface methodology obtaining a maximum yield of 18.93% with a recovery rate of 73.66%. The A. pinnata fern protein concentrate (AFPC) had five protein bands with a molecular weight ranging from 17 to 56kDa. AFPC contained high β-sheet structure (36.61%), favouring its good thermal properties with three endothermic peaks at 54.28, 86.52 and 166.25 °C. The AFPC scored ≥ 1 for all essential amino acids, except for lysine and histidine. The AFPC exhibited exceptionally high techno-functional properties, particularly for water holding (5.46 g g-1 ) and fat absorption capacity (10.08 g g-1 ), and gelling properties (5% gelation concentration). The AFPC had high in vitro digestibility of 73%, signifying its high availability for human consumption. The underexploited A. pinnata fern is a potential source of edible protein, thus a promising nutraceutical or ingredient of functional and health-promoting foods. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Co‐folding scallop muscle proteins with soy β‐conglycinin or glycinin towards composites with tunable solubility and digestibility

SummaryEdible proteins with high solubility, designable nutritional properties and tunable digestibility are attractive. Scallop muscle proteins (SMPs) are representative marine proteins, which have a poor water‐solubility and thus inferior solubility‐related physicochemical properties. Here, by unfolding SMPs and soy proteins at pH 12.0 followed by shifting to pH 7.0 to refold them together, soluble composite structures were formed, characteristic of uniform nanospheres with a diameter of ~100 nm. Owing to embedment of hydrophobic pockets whereas exposure of hydrophilic moieties, the solubility of SMPs was enhanced from 26% to 91%, depending on the mass ratio of β‐conglycinin/glycinin (7S/11S). Furthermore, the digestibility of the composites can be delicately modulated by harnessing the same stimulus, which highlighted future design of edible proteins with controllable digestion. This study provides a robust and facile strategy for developing edible proteins with tailorable structures and structure‐related functional and nutritional characteristics.

Amino acids imprinted ZIF-8s for the highly efficient and selective adsorption of antioxidant peptides from silkworm pupa protein

Antioxidant peptides from edible protein sources have attracted great attention due to their high activity, easy adsorption and low toxicity. The purpose of this study was to develop a new MOF material with specific recognition and capture ability to achieve the aim of highly efficient and selective antioxidant peptides from silkworm pupa protein hydrolysate-N (SPPH-N). Firstly, Histidine (His) widely presented in antioxidant peptides was used to in-suit construct the modified ZIF-8 material (ZIF-His) with imprinted defective mesopores, based on “molecular imprinting strategy”. Then, it was applied to extract antioxidant peptides from SPPH-N. ZIF-His exhibited high adsorption uptake for antioxidant peptides and especially presented specific adsorption property for peptides contained His, tryptophan, phenylalanine and tyrosine. Three peptides with the highest antioxidant activity (FKVPNMY, AVNMVPFPR and VNMVPFPR) from ZIF-His eluent were identified by Nano-LC-MS/MS. These peptides were synthesized and presented the excellent free radicals scavenging activity and the Ferric reducing power.