Effect of UHT Thermal Treatment on the Secondary Structures of Milk Proteins: Insights From FTIR Analysis and Potential Allergenic Activity.

Although thermal treatments are beneficial for the preservation and safety of milk, they can also alter its immunogenic activity by affecting its protein components. To achieve precise results, it is essential to identify the specific proteins that cause food allergies. Therefore, investigating the possible alterations of cow's milk proteins (CMPs) resulting from thermal treatments is necessary. In this study, the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) technique was used to analyze the effect of UHT thermal treatment on the secondary structures of milk casein. Using the second derivative, six characteristic peaks were identified in the Amide I region, ranging from 1700 to 1600 cm-1. It was found that thermal treatments produce shifts in absorption peaks, indicating changes in protein conformation and possibly in allergenic activity. These shifts were clearly identified in the first characteristic peak of samples M8 and M9, from 1621 to 1600 cm-1. The results suggest that thermal treatments may promote protein aggregation by increasing ß turns and reducing ß sheets and α helices, which could enhance the allergenic potential of the proteins and facilitate the formation of complexes between different milk proteins, such as ß-lactoglobulin and κ-casein. Further studies are needed to experimentally validate the allergenic activity of proteins modified by thermal treatments, as only an analytical method (FTIR) was used to evaluate the secondary structures of the proteins.

An A2 ß-casein infant formula with high sn-2 palmitate and casein phosphopeptides supports adequate growth, improved stool consistency, and bone strength in healthy, term Chinese infants: a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial.

The aim of this randomized, double-blind, controlled trial was to examine the effects of infant formula on the growth, stool consistency, and bone strength of infants (n = 120) over a period of 4 months. The investigational group was fed an A2 ß-casein cow's milk infant formula containing casein phosphopeptides (CPP) and high sn-2 palmitate (54% of total palmitate at sn-2). The control group was fed a standard cow's milk formula without CPP and with low sn-2 palmitate (29% of total palmitate at sn-2). The third group was fed human milk (HM) (n = 60). All three groups had similar baseline characteristics, and maintained similar BMI, sleep habits, and growth rates in body weight and length throughout the study. However, compared to the control group, infants in the investigational and human milk groups had significantly: (i) greater body length at 90, 120, and 150 days of age; (ii) greater growth rate in head circumference from 30 to 60 days of age, with larger head circumference at 60 days of age; (iii) larger daily stool frequency at 60, 90, and 120 days of age; (iv) softer stool at 60, 90, and 120 days of age; (v) higher bone quality index and bone speed of sound at 150 days of age; (vi) fewer hours of crying at 60 and 90 days of age; (vii) less abdominal distention, burp, and flatus at 60, 90, and 120 days of age; and (viii) less constipation at 90 days of age. At other time points, no significant differences were observed between the three groups. No serious adverse events (AEs) related to the study products were reported, and significantly fewer infants in the investigational and HM groups experienced at least one AE compared to the control group. The study suggests that the A2 ß-casein formula with high sn-2 palmitate and CPP supports adequate growth, is well tolerated, and may have beneficial effects on stool consistency, gastrointestinal comfort, crying duration, and bone density, comparable to HM. Clinical trial registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/, NCT04749290.

Functional Peptides from Yak Milk Casein: Biological Activities and Structural Characteristics.

The average content of casein in yak milk is 40.2 g/L. Casein can be degraded by enzymatic digestion or food processing to produce abundant degradation peptides. International researchers have studied the degradation peptides of yak milk casein by using multiple techniques and methods, such as in vitro activity tests, cellular experiments, proteomics, bioinformatics, etc., and found that the degradation peptides have a wide range of functional activities that are beneficial to the human body, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anticancer, and immunomodulatory activities, etc., and it has been proved that the types and strengths of functional activities are closely related to the structural characteristics of the peptides. This paper describes the characteristics of yak milk proteins, the functional activities, and mechanism of action of degraded peptides. Based on the types of functional activities of yak milk casein degradation peptides, we classified and elucidated the effects of structural factors, such as peptide molecular weight, peptide length, amino acid sequence, physicochemical properties, electrical charge, hydrophobicity, spatial conformation, chain length, and the type of enzyme on these activities. It reveals the great potential of yak milk casein degradation peptides as functional active peptide resources and as auxiliary treatments for diseases. It also provides important insights for analyzing yak casein degradation peptide activity and exploring high-value utilization.

The Modification of Dietary Protein with Ammonium Hydroxide Enhancement Improves Longevity and Metabolic Outcomes in a Sex-Dependent Manner.

(1) Background: Dietary protein is a key component of all dietary patterns. It has been demonstrated that there are subtle differences in health implications associated with the source of dietary protein consumed. This study examined dietary protein sources (DPSs) in a long-term study of diet-induced obesity ± ammonium hydroxide enhancement (AHE) and its role in improving long-term health outcomes. (2) Methods: Over 18 months, 272 C3H/HeJ mice (136 male and 136 female) were monitored on high-fat diets with varying DPSs ± AHE. Mice were monitored for weekly change in total mass, as well as 6-month assessments of lean and fat mass. At each assessment, a cohort (~8 mice per diet per sex) was censored for a cross-sectional examination of organ function. (3) Results: Longevity was improved in females fed AHE diets, regardless of DPSs. Females' measures of fat and lean mass were markedly elevated with casein protein diets compared to beef protein diets regardless of AHE. Females fed a beef protein diet + AHE demonstrated reduced fat mass and increased lean mass with aging. In males, AHE beef protein diet-fed mice showed marked improvement to longevity and increased lean mass at 6 months. (4) Conclusions: This study demonstrates that dietary protein modification by AHE attenuates the negative impacts of HF diets in both males and females in a sex-dependent manner. Furthermore, the results from this study emphasize the importance of identifying the differences in the utilization of dietary proteins in both a sex- and age-related manner and demonstrate the potential of DPS modification by AHE as a dietary intervention.

Evaluating intestinal absorption of peptide Met-Lys-Pro in casein hydrolysate using Caco-2 and human iPS cell-derived small intestinal epithelial cells.

High blood pressure is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Our previous study confirmed that daily intake of casein hydrolysate that contained Met-Lys-Pro (MKP) can safely lower mildly elevated blood pressure. The present study aimed to evaluate the intestinal absorption differences between peptide MKP as a casein hydrolysate and synthetic MKP alone using Caco-2 cells and human iPS cell-derived small intestinal epithelial cells (hiSIECs). MKP was transported intact through Caco-2 cells and hiSIECs with permeability coefficient (Papp) values of 0.57 ± 0.14 × 10-7 and 1.03 ± 0.44 × 10-7 cm/s, respectively. This difference in Papp suggests differences in the tight junction strength and peptidase activity of each cell. Moreover, the transepithelial transport and residual ratio of intact MKP after adding casein hydrolysate containing MKP was significantly higher than that after adding synthetic MKP alone, suggesting that other peptides in casein hydrolysate suppressed MKP degradation and increased its　transport. These findings suggest that hiSIECs could be useful for predicting the human intestinal absorption of bioactive peptides; ingesting MKP as a casein hydrolysate may also improve MKP bioavailability.

Clinical and Radiographic Progression of Proximal Enamel Caries of Primary Molars Following the Application of Resin Infiltrant vs Tooth Mousse.

Background: Resin infiltration is a technique in which a low-viscosity resin penetrates the proximal carious lesions and stops caries progression. Aim: This study aimed to compare the progression of proximal enamel caries of primary molars following the application of resin infiltrant clinically and radiographically vs Tooth Mousse. Materials and methods: This case-control split-mouth study evaluated 64 proximal surfaces of primary molars in 32 patients. Each patient had one pair of noncavitated proximal caries in two primary molars from different quadrants with radiographic evidence of enamel involvement. The carious lesions in each patient were randomly treated with resin infiltrant and Tooth Mousse. Progression of carious lesions was evaluated clinically and radiographically after 12 months. The two groups were compared by Fisher's exact test. Results: No caries progression was noted in the resin infiltrant group at 12 months, and all 32 surfaces (100%) showed cessation of caries. Four surfaces (12.5%) in the Tooth Mousse group showed caries progression. The two groups were not significantly different in this regard (p = 0.242). Conclusion: Resin infiltrant and Tooth Mousse were both effective in stopping the progression of proximal enamel caries of primary molars. How to cite this article: Baniebrahim G, Seraj B, Ghonche Z, et al. Clinical and Radiographic Progression of Proximal Enamel Caries of Primary Molars Following the Application of Resin Infiltrant vs Tooth Mousse. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(4):385-389.

High-pressure homogenization to improve the stability of liquid diabetes formula food for special medical purposes: Structural characteristics of casein-polysaccharide complexes.

The stability of diabetes formula food for special medical purposes (D-FSMP) was improved by high-pressure homogenization (HPH) at different homogenization pressures (up to 70 MPa) and number of passes (up to 6 times). The process at 60 MPa/4 times was the best. Casein had the highest surface hydrophobicity in this condition. The casein-polysaccharide complexes were endowed with the smallest size (transmission electron microscopy images). The complex particles exhibited nearly neutral wettability (the three-phase contact angle was 90.89°), lower interfacial tension, and the highest emulsifying activity index (EAI) and emulsifying stability index (ESI). The prepared D-FSMP system exhibited the narrowest particle size distribution range, the strongest interfacial deformation resistance and the best storage stability. Therefore, an appropriate intensity of HPH could enhance the stability of D-FSMP by improving the interfacial and emulsifying properties of casein-polysaccharide complexes. This study provides practical guidance on the productions of stable D-FSMP.

Comparative Evaluation of Mechanical Properties of Conventional Glass Ionomer Cement Incorporated with Nonfluoridated Remineralizing Agents.

Background and objectives: The researchers have been searching for ideal restorative material for many decades. The incorporation of a remineralizing agent into a restorative material to improve its property of preventing dental caries and the occurrence of secondary caries has been investigated by various researchers.Hence, in the present study, we have incorporated two nonfluoridated remineralizing agents [theobromine and casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP-CPP)] into the conventional glass ionomer cement (GIC) and evaluated their mechanical properties. Results: The flexural strength, compressive strength, and microhardness values of the two test groups were more significant than the control group type IX GIC. Conclusion: With this study, we could conclude that the incorporation of theobromine and ACP-CPP into GIC increases the mechanical properties of conventional GIC. How to cite this article: Mahalakshmi S, Chowdhary N, Shivanna V, et al. Comparative Evaluation of Mechanical Properties of Conventional Glass Ionomer Cement Incorporated with Nonfluoridated Remineralizing Agents. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(2):125-129.

Comparative Evaluation of Zwitterionic Material, Self-assembling Peptide, and Bioactive Glass Incorporated with MI Varnish for Fluoride, Calcium, and Phosphorus Ion Release, Enamel Remineralization, and Microhardness.

Background: White spot lesions occur when the pathogenic bacteria have broken through the enamel layer. White spot lesions (WSLs) can be treated using a complex approach. The most crucial step is to stop demineralization and biofilm formation and use assorted strategies for remineralization of lesions, thinning, microabrasion, erosion infiltration, adhesive composite resin restorations, and the bonded facets. Aim: To evaluate and compare the fluoride, calcium, and phosphorus ion release, remineralizing efficacy, and microhardness of zwitterionic material, self-assembling peptide, and bioactive glass (BGA) incorporated with MI Varnish. Materials and methods: The original study was conducted on 60 extracted premolars; the sample size calculated was 10 per group. All samples were divided into four groups-group A, MI Varnish (control), group B, MI Varnish + zwitterionic material, group C, MI Varnish + self-assembling peptide, and group D, MI Varnish + BGA. All these groups were further evaluated and compared for fluoride, calcium, and phorphorus ion release, remineralizing efficacy, and surface microhardness (SMH). Results: Zwitterionic material, when incorporated with MI Varnish showed high fluoride and calcium ion release and high remineralizing efficacy under polarized light microscopy (PLM). BGA, when incorporated with MI Varnish showed high phosphorus ion release and higher values in the evaluation of SMH, followed by zwitterionic material and self-assembling peptide. Conclusion: MI varnish alone had remineralizing properties of WSLs, but when novel materials like zwitterionic ion, self-assembling peptide, and BGA are incorporated, its efficacy increases. Among all zwitterionic ions showed superior results for fluoride and calcium ion release and remineralization and BGA for phosphorus ion release and SMH. How to cite this article: Patil SV, Gugwad SC, Devendrappa SN, et al. Comparative Evaluation of Zwitterionic Material, Self-assembling Peptide, and Bioactive Glass Incorporated with MI Varnish for Fluoride, Calcium, and Phosphorus Ion Release, Enamel Remineralization, and Microhardness. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(S-1):S37-S42.

The chloroplast-localized casein kinase II α subunit, CPCK2, negatively regulates plant innate immunity through promoting S-nitrosylation of SABP3.

The casein kinase II (CK2) complex consists of catalytic (α) and regulatory (ß) subunits and is highly conserved throughout eukaryotes. Plant CK2 plays critical roles in multiple physiological processes; however, its function in plant immunity remains obscure. In this study, we demonstrated that the unique chloroplast-localized CK2 α subunit (CPCK2) is a negative regulator of Arabidopsis thaliana innate immunity. cpck2 mutants displayed enhanced resistance against the fungal pathogen powdery mildew, Golovinomyces cichoracearum and the virulent bacterial pathogen, Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pto) DC3000. Moreover, the cpck2-1 mutant accumulated higher salicylic acid (SA) levels and mutations that disabled SA biosynthesis or signaling inhibited cpck2-1-mediated disease resistance. CPCK2 interacted with the chloroplast-localized carbonic anhydrase (CA), SA-binding protein 3 (SABP3), which was required for cpck2-mediated immunity. Significantly, CPCK2 phosphorylated SABP3, which promoted S-nitrosylation of this enzyme. It has previously been established that S-nitrosylation of SABP3 reduces both its SA binding function and its CA activity, which compromises the immune-related function of SABP3. Taken together, our results establish CPCK2 as a negative regulator of SA accumulation and associated immunity. Importantly, our findings unveil a mechanism by which CPCK2 negatively regulates plant immunity by promoting S-nitrosylation of SABP3 through phosphorylation, which provides the first example in plants of S-nitrosylation being promoted by cognate phosphorylation.

Casein kinase 1α mediates estradiol secretion via CYP19A1 expression in mouse ovarian granulosa cells.

BACKGROUND: Casein kinase 1α (CK1α), expressed in both ovarian germ and somatic cells, is involved in the initial meiosis and primordial follicle formation of mouse oocytes. Using in vitro and in vivo experiments in this study, we explored the function and mechanism of CK1α in estrogen synthesis in mice ovarian granulosa cells. METHODS: A CK1α knockout (cKO) mouse model, targeted specifically to ovarian granulosa cells (GCs), was employed to establish the influence of CK1α on in vivo estrogen synthesis. The influence of CK1α deficiency on GCs was determined in vivo and in vitro by immunofluorescence analysis and Western blot assay. Transcriptome profiling, differentially expressed genes and gene functional enrichment analyses, and computation protein-protein docking, were further employed to assess the CK1α pathway. Furthermore, wild-type female mice were treated with the CK1α antagonist D4476 to elucidate the CK1α's role in estrogen regulation. RESULTS: Ovarian GCs CK1α deficiency impaired fertility and superovulation of female mice; also, the average litter size and the estradiol (E2) level in the serum of cKO female mice were decreased by 57.3% and 87.4% vs. control mice, respectively. This deficiency disrupted the estrous cycle and enhanced the apoptosis in the GCs. We observed that CK1α mediated the secretion of estradiol in mouse ovarian GCs via the cytochrome P450 subfamily 19 member 1 (CYP19A1). CONCLUSIONS: These findings improve the existing understanding of the regulation mechanism of female reproduction and estrogen synthesis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not applicable.

Casein phosphopeptide/antimicrobial peptide co-modified SrTiO3 nanotubes for prevention of bacterial infections and repair of bone defects.

Endowing titanium surfaces with multifunctional properties can reduce implant-related infections and enhance osseointegration. In this study, titanium dioxide nanotubes with strontium doping (STN) were first created on the titanium surface using anodic oxidation and hydrothermal synthesis techniques. Next, casein phosphopeptide (CCP) and an antimicrobial peptide (HHC36) were loaded into the STN with the aid of vacuum physical adsorption (STN-CP-H), giving the titanium surface a dual function of "antimicrobial-osteogenic". The surface of STN-CP-H has a suitable roughness and good hydrophilicity, which is conducive to osteoblasts. STN-CP-H had a 99 % antibacterial rate against S. aureus and E. coli and effectively prevented the growth of bacterial biofilm. Meanwhile, the antibacterial mechanism of STN-CP-H was initially explored with the help of transcriptome sequencing technology. STN-CP-H could greatly increase osteoblast adhesion, proliferation, and expression of osteogenic markers (alkaline phosphatase, runt-related transcription) when CCP and Sr worked together synergistically. In vivo, the STN-CP-H coating could effectively promote new osteogenesis around titanium implant bone and had no toxic effects on heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney tissues. A potential anti-infection bone healing material, STN-CP-H bifunctional coating developed in this work efficiently inhibited bacterial infection of titanium implants and encouraged early osseointegration.

Exploration of dynamic interaction between ß-lactoglobulin and casein micelles during UHT milk process.

The protein aggregation induced by UHT treatment shortens the shelf life of UHT milk. However, the mechanism of ß-Lg induced casein micelle aggregation remains unclear. Herein, the dynamic interaction between ß-Lg and casein micelles during UHT processing was investigated by experimental techniques and molecular dynamics simulations. Results showed that ß-Lg decreased the stability of casein micelles, increased their size and zeta potential. Raman and FTIR spectra analysis suggested that hydrogen and disulfide bonds facilitated their interaction. Cryo-TEM showed that the formation of the casein micelle/ß-Lg complex involved rigid binding, flexible linking, and severe cross-linking aggregation during UHT processing. SAXS and MST demonstrated ß-Lg bound to κ-casein on micelle surfaces with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 3.84 ± 1.14 µm. Molecular docking and dynamic simulations identified the interacting amino acid residues and clarified that electrostatic and van der Waals forces drove the interaction. UHT treatment increased hydrogen bonds and decreased total binding energy. The non-covalent binding promoted the formation of disulfide bonds between ß-Lg and casein micelles under heat treatment. Ultimately, it was concluded that non-covalent interaction and disulfide bonding resulted in casein micelle/ß-Lg aggregates. These findings provided scientific insights into protein aggregation in UHT milk.

Adding calcium phosphate agents alongside fluorides may enhance caries prevention and remineralization, although evidence is limited.

ARTICLE TITLE AND BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION: Effectiveness of Calcium Phosphate derivative agents on the prevention and remineralization of caries among children- A systematic review & meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Singal K, Sharda S, Gupta A, Malik VS, Singh M, Chauhan A, Agarwal A, Pradhan P, Singh M. J Evid Based Dent Pract. 2022; 22(3):101746. SOURCE OF FUNDING: Indian Council of Medical Research. TYPE OF STUDY/DESIGN: Systematic review with meta-analysis.

Structural analogs of 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-6-methyl-3-(pyridin-4-yl)pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine for targeting Candida albicans non-essential stress kinase Yck2 through protein-ligand binding and dynamics analysis.

The rise in drug-resistant fungal infections poses a significant public health concern, necessitating the development of new antifungal therapies. We aimed to address this challenge by targeting a yeast casein kinase of Candida albicans for antifungal drug development. The compound library contained 589 chemical structures similar to the previously identified kinase inhibitor GW461484A. Through virtual screening, four compounds with the PubChem IDs 102583821, 12982634, 102487860, and 86260205 were selected based on their binding energies. Hydrophobic bonds and van der Waals interactions stabilised the docked complexes. Comprehensive interaction studies and a 200-nanosecond molecular dynamics simulation suggested that these molecules can maintain stable interactions with the target, as evidenced by satisfactory RMSD and RMSF values. The Rg-RMSD-based Free Energy Landscape of these complexes indicated thermodynamic stability due to the presence of conformers with global minima. These promising findings highlight the potential for developing novel antifungal therapies targeting Yck2 in C. albicans. Further experimental validation is required to assess the efficacy of these compounds as antifungal agents. This research provides a significant step towards combating antifungal resistance and opens up a new avenue for drug discovery.

Effect of cheese and casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate on erosive lesions of primary teeth enamel following exposure to amoxicillin and ibuprofen syrups: An in vitro study.

Background: The acidic component of liquid medicinal syrups used by pediatric patients may cause erosion and partial demineralization. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of cheese and casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) on erosive lesions of primary teeth enamel following exposure to amoxicillin and ibuprofen syrups. Materials and Methods: In this in vitro study, 60 noncarious deciduous molars were used. After measuring the surface microhardness of the samples, they were randomly separated into two groups and immersed in either amoxicillin or ibuprofen for 1 min three times per day. CPP-ACP, cheese, and artificial saliva were then applied to each of the three subgroups (n = 10). After each immersion time, 10 min of therapy was given. Between treatment intervals, the samples were kept in artificial saliva. The microhardness was remeasured after 1 week. Data were analyzed using SPSS software through repeated-measures ANOVA (α = 0.05). Results: All samples' microhardness reduced considerably after immersion in liquid pharmaceuticals (amoxicillin [84.9 kgf/mm2] and ibuprofen [75.1 kgf/mm2]), but increased significantly following exposure to therapeutic solutions. There was no difference between the amoxicillin-cheese and amoxicillin-CPP-ACP subgroups (P = 0.975). A statistically insignificant difference was found between the ibuprofen group and the ibuprofen-CPP-ACP subgroup (P = 0.499). Conclusion: As a result, cheese and CPP-ACP can be utilized to remineralize erosive lesions caused by amoxicillin or ibuprofen exposure.

Design of a liposome casein hydrogel as an efficient front-end homeostatic anthocyanin loading system.

Proteins have been studied and applied to improve the stability of anthocyanins (ACNs), but the changes in the pH microenvironment during the preparation of steady-state systems are often ignored, and more attention is given to the stability of the system after preparation. In this study, we propose the "anthocyanin front-end homeostasis strategy", which involves designing a system can protect anthocyanins under acidic conditions so that more anthocyanin prototypes can be loaded inside the protein. Anthocyanins are encapsulated in liposomes (Lip) at pH 3.0 and combined with casein methacrylate (CSMA) to form Anthocyanin-loaded liposomes/CSMA hydrogel (Lip@ACNs/CSMA), with good physical properties and good blood compatibility. The system increased the hydrogen peroxide scavenging capacity by 1.16 mg Vc equiv./mg ACNs and the cellular antioxidant activity by 17.55 µM quercetin/100 mg ACNs, the photo and thermal storage stability increased by 36.50 % and 30.71 %, the digestive rate increased by 17.50 %, and the biological availability increased by 0.0049 mg/mL. This study designed a liposome casein hydrogel as an efficient front-end homeostatic anthocyanin loading system and provided a new approach for improving the stability of anthocyanins.

The Discovery of a Specific CKIP-1 Ligand for the Potential Treatment of Disuse Osteoporosis.

Bone homeostasis relies on the delicate balance between osteoblast-mediated bone formation and osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. The casein kinase 2 interacting protein-1 (CKIP-1), a specific CK2α subunit-interacting protein, has been documented as one of the crucial negative regulators of bone formation. CKIP-1 siRNA therapy has constraints that limit its use in clinical applications. Therefore, it is necessary to explore effective targeting strategies for CKIP-1. In this study, we observed an upregulation of CKIP-1 protein expression in the microgravity environment, while its ubiquitination levels decreased. We further investigated the interaction between CKIP-1 and VHL and found that VHL enhanced CKIP-1 degradation through the ubiquitylation-proteasome system (UPS). Additionally, we discovered a small molecule ligand, named C77, through DNA-encoded library (DEL) screening, which binds to CKIP-1 both in vivo and in vitro, as confirmed by Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) and the Cellular Thermal shift assay (CETSA), respectively. Our findings demonstrated the potential of VHL and C77 as guiding factors in the development of CKIP-1-based Proteolysis-Targeting Chimeras (PROTACs), which could be future therapeutic interventions in disuse osteoporosis.

Health and functional advantages of cheese containing soy protein and soybean-derived casein.

The global food system faces a challenge of sustainably producing enough food, and especially protein, to meet the needs of a growing global population. In developed countries, approximately 2/3 of protein comes from animal sources and 1/3 from plants. For an assortment of reasons, dietary recommendations call for populations in these countries to replace some of their animal protein with plant protein. Because it is difficult to substantially change dietary habits, increasing plant protein may require the creation of novel foods that meet the nutritional, orosensory, and functional attributes consumers desire. In contrast to plant-based milks, plant-based cheeses have not been widely embraced by consumers. The existing plant-based cheeses do not satisfactorily mimic dairy cheese as plant proteins are unable to replicate the functional properties of casein, which plays such a key role in cheese. One possible solution to overcome current constraints that is currently being explored, is to produce hybrid products containing soy protein and soybean-derived casein. Producing soybean-derived casein is possible by utilizing traditional genetic engineering tools, like Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation, to express genes in soybeans that produce casein. If a cheese containing soy protein and soybean-derived casein satisfactorily mimics dairy, it presents an opportunity for increasing plant protein intake since US dairy cheese consumption has been steadily increasing. Soybeans are an excellent choice of crop for producing casein because soybeans are widely available and play a large role in the US and world food supply. Additionally, because a casein-producing soybean offers soybean farmers the opportunity to grow a value-added crop, expectations are that it will be welcomed by the agricultural community. Thus, there are benefits to both the consumer and farmer.

Identification of technological/metabolic/environmental profiles associated with cheeses accumulating the neuroactive compound tryptamine.

Tryptamine is a neuromodulator of the central nervous system. It is also a biogenic amine, formed by the microbial decarboxylation of L-tryptophan. Tryptamine accumulation in cheese has been scarcely examined. No studies are available regarding the factors that could influence its accumulation. Determining the tryptamine content and identifying the factors that influence its accumulation could help in the design of functional tryptamine-enriched cheeses without potentially toxic concentrations being reached. We report the tryptamine concentration of 300 cheese samples representing 201 varieties. 16% of the samples accumulated tryptamine, at between 3.20 mg kg-1 and 3012.14 mg kg-1 (mean of 29.21 mg kg-1). 4.7% of cheeses accumulated tryptamine at higher levels than those described as potentially toxic. Moreover, three technological/metabolic/environmental profiles associated with tryptamine-containing cheese were identified, as well as the hallmark varieties reflecting each. Such knowledge could be useful for the dairy industry to control the tryptamine content of their products.