Investigation of mechanisms in the formation of structures and of processing.structure-relationships in multiphase, highly concentrated protein systems

在多相复杂的生物系统中，观察到各种不同结构的蛋白质之间的聚集现象。许多富含蛋白质的食物系统都会受到这些现象的影响。这些观察结果取决于处理诱导和环境因素。此外，还可以使用处理和合成变量来控制聚合。然而，到目前为止，这些反应背后的基本原理还没有得到科学的理解。关于导致蛋白质自组装和加工-结构-关系的反应的分子机制理解方面的知识不足。本提案计划发展对这些关系所需的理解。假设聚集反应先于种子结构诱导的一次聚集反应，类似于自催化过程。可以使用某些结构模板和工艺条件来引导反应。应研究不同分子结构的蛋白质如何作为模板或单体对所产生的结构产生影响，从而导致不同的反应路径和聚集形式。深入了解这些反应将有助于设计更有效和更有针对性的基于蛋白质的食品系统。通过这一建议获得的知识也有助于更好地理解其他领域的蛋白质聚集现象，如生物技术甚至生理环境中的不希望看到的聚集现象。在这里，蛋白质和抗体等生物活性成分的聚集可能会导致生物功能的丧失。

In multiphase, complex biogenic systems aggregation phenomena were observed between various differently structured proteins. Many food systems rich in protein are affected by these phenomena. Thes observations made depended on processing induction and on milieu factors. Also, processing and composition variables can be used to steer the aggregation. The fundamentals behind these reactions, however, are not scientifically understood so far. Insufficient knowledge is available regarding a molecular mechanistic understanding of the reactions leading to protein self-assemblies and processing-structure-relationships. The required understanding of these relation-ships is planned to be developed in this proposal. The hypothesis is that the aggregation reactions precede once induced by seeding structures, similar to autocatalytic processes. Certain structural templates and processing conditions can be used to steer the reaction. It shall be investigated how various proteins different in molecular architecture take influence on the resulting structures, either as template or as monomers resulting in different reaction pathways and aggregate forms. Indepths knowledge of the reactions shall contribute to be able to design more effective and more targeted protein based food systems. The knowledge obtained through this proposal can also contribute to understand protein aggregation phenomena in other fields better, such as undesired aggregation in biotechnological or even physiological environments. Here, aggregation of proteins and bio-active components such as antibodies can lead to the loss of biological functionality.