Studies on the Impact of Selected Pretreatments on Protein Solubility of <i>Arthrospira platensis</i> Microalga
<i>Arthrospira platensis</i> has emerged as a novel protein feed source since it contains high protein level and quality. However, this microalga presents a recalcitrant cell wall and its main proteins form protein-pigment complexes attached to the thylakoid membrane. The objective of th...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Agriculture |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/13/1/221 |
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| author | Maria P. Spínola Mónica M. Costa José A. M. Prates |
| author_facet | Maria P. Spínola Mónica M. Costa José A. M. Prates |
| author_sort | Maria P. Spínola |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Arthrospira platensis</i> has emerged as a novel protein feed source since it contains high protein level and quality. However, this microalga presents a recalcitrant cell wall and its main proteins form protein-pigment complexes attached to the thylakoid membrane. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of mechanical/physical pretreatments (bead milling, extrusion, freeze-drying, heating, microwave and sonication) on <i>A. platensis</i> protein solubility. Total protein content and solubility were assessed by Bradford method and SDS-PAGE quantification. Protein degradation was assessed through quantification of protein fractions (18–26 kDa, 40–48 kDa and others) in SDS-PAGE gels. Peptide formation was evaluated using the <i>o</i>-phthaldialdehyde assay. The results showed a decrease in total protein content in the supernatant with extrusion (0.07 to 1.42 mg/mL) and microwave pretreatments, and in the pellet with extrusion. Therefore, extrusion, followed by microwave, was the most effective pretreatment for <i>A. platensis</i> proteins denaturation and solubility. It is suggested that the extrusion process cause an irreversible denaturation and aggregation of the major microalga proteins (<i>c</i>-phycocyanin and allophycocyanin), with a strong decrease in their solubility. Therefore, extrusion could increase the bioaccessibility of <i>A. platensis</i> proteins and enable the incorporation of this microalga at higher levels in monogastric diets. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:53:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-67e02cbca645449489b0667dbf51d03f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0472 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:53:02Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj.art-67e02cbca645449489b0667dbf51d03f2023-11-30T20:47:29ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722023-01-0113122110.3390/agriculture13010221Studies on the Impact of Selected Pretreatments on Protein Solubility of <i>Arthrospira platensis</i> MicroalgaMaria P. Spínola0Mónica M. Costa1José A. M. Prates2CIISA-Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, PortugalCIISA-Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, PortugalCIISA-Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal<i>Arthrospira platensis</i> has emerged as a novel protein feed source since it contains high protein level and quality. However, this microalga presents a recalcitrant cell wall and its main proteins form protein-pigment complexes attached to the thylakoid membrane. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of mechanical/physical pretreatments (bead milling, extrusion, freeze-drying, heating, microwave and sonication) on <i>A. platensis</i> protein solubility. Total protein content and solubility were assessed by Bradford method and SDS-PAGE quantification. Protein degradation was assessed through quantification of protein fractions (18–26 kDa, 40–48 kDa and others) in SDS-PAGE gels. Peptide formation was evaluated using the <i>o</i>-phthaldialdehyde assay. The results showed a decrease in total protein content in the supernatant with extrusion (0.07 to 1.42 mg/mL) and microwave pretreatments, and in the pellet with extrusion. Therefore, extrusion, followed by microwave, was the most effective pretreatment for <i>A. platensis</i> proteins denaturation and solubility. It is suggested that the extrusion process cause an irreversible denaturation and aggregation of the major microalga proteins (<i>c</i>-phycocyanin and allophycocyanin), with a strong decrease in their solubility. Therefore, extrusion could increase the bioaccessibility of <i>A. platensis</i> proteins and enable the incorporation of this microalga at higher levels in monogastric diets.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/13/1/221<i>Arthrospira</i> sp.microalgaemechanical pretreatmentsproteins solubility |
| spellingShingle | Maria P. Spínola Mónica M. Costa José A. M. Prates Studies on the Impact of Selected Pretreatments on Protein Solubility of <i>Arthrospira platensis</i> Microalga Agriculture <i>Arthrospira</i> sp. microalgae mechanical pretreatments proteins solubility |
| title | Studies on the Impact of Selected Pretreatments on Protein Solubility of <i>Arthrospira platensis</i> Microalga |
| title_full | Studies on the Impact of Selected Pretreatments on Protein Solubility of <i>Arthrospira platensis</i> Microalga |
| title_fullStr | Studies on the Impact of Selected Pretreatments on Protein Solubility of <i>Arthrospira platensis</i> Microalga |
| title_full_unstemmed | Studies on the Impact of Selected Pretreatments on Protein Solubility of <i>Arthrospira platensis</i> Microalga |
| title_short | Studies on the Impact of Selected Pretreatments on Protein Solubility of <i>Arthrospira platensis</i> Microalga |
| title_sort | studies on the impact of selected pretreatments on protein solubility of i arthrospira platensis i microalga |
| topic | <i>Arthrospira</i> sp. microalgae mechanical pretreatments proteins solubility |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/13/1/221 |
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