Cereal Storage Proteins: unique, intriguing and highly functional building blocks in cereal processing and beyond

尽管谷物贮藏蛋白的独特性质强烈影响谷物食品的质量，但在谷物加工过程中这些蛋白质的特殊功能的基础上的分子决定因素仍然知之甚少。此外，这些蛋白质中的一些已被证明对于生产可用作生物活性载体系统的纳米和微粒是有价值的。然而，这里再次缺乏对分子构象和相互作用的洞察，这阻碍了具有特定性质和封装潜力的颗粒的目标设计。* 从长远来看，Joye博士提出的研究计划旨在确定负责谷物蛋白质功能的分子因素以及外场对蛋白质结构和功能的影响。短期科学目标将回答的问题是 *（i）哪些分子结构和相互作用决定了小麦贮藏蛋白（面筋）在谷物加工中的独特功能，以及这些功能如何受到配料选择和加工参数的影响，* （ii）哪些分子结构和相互作用负责将谷物蛋白组装成纳米颗粒。以及生产参数如何影响这些，以及 *（iii）哪些分子相互作用涉及疏水和亲水分子在上述纳米和微米级结构的谷物蛋白质基质中的包封和保留。为了解决这些问题，设想了一种跨学科的方法，其中将使用FTIR、拉曼和荧光光谱等强大的非侵入性技术。学生将接受不同补充技术的培训，这些技术需要在建立预测模型之前对数据进行系统比较（面筋功能与谷物产品质量，颗粒生产参数与最终颗粒特性和性能）。* 这项工作的最终技术目标是有针对性地设计（i）高质量、清洁标签的谷物产品（例如，无麸质和全麦产品）和（ii）基于谷物蛋白质的输送系统，用于各种食品的强化和质量改进。

Despite the unique properties of cereal storage proteins which strongly influence the quality of cereal food products, the molecular determinants at the basis of the exceptional functionality of these proteins during cereal processing are still poorly understood. In addition, some of these proteins have proven valuable for producing nano- and microparticles that can be used as bioactive carrier systems. However, here again, insight into the molecular conformations and interactions is lacking, which hampers the targeted design of particles with specific properties and encapsulation potential. ***In the long-term, the research program proposed by Dr. Joye aims at determining the molecular factors responsible for cereal protein functionality and the effect of external fields on protein structure and function. The questions that will be answered by the short-term scientific objectives are***(i) Which molecular structures and interactions determine the unique functionality of wheat storage proteins (gluten) in cereal processing and how are these affected by ingredient choice and processing parameters, ***(ii) Which molecular structures and interactions are responsible for the assembly of cereal proteins into nano- and microscale structures through liquid antisolvent precipitation and how do production parameters affect these, and***(iii) Which molecular interactions are involved in the encapsulation and retention of hydrophobic and hydrophilic molecules in the cereal protein matrix of the above nano- and microscale structures.***To tackle these questions, an interdisciplinary approach is envisaged in which powerful, non-invasive techniques such as FTIR, Raman and fluorescence spectroscopy will be used. Students will be trained in different complementary techniques which will require a systematic comparison of data prior to building predictive models (both on gluten functionality vs. cereal product quality, and particle production parameters vs. final particle properties and performance). ***The ultimate technological aim of this work is the targeted design of (i) high quality, clean label cereal products (e.g., gluten-free and wholemeal products) and (ii) cereal protein-based delivery systems for fortification and quality improvement of a diverse range of food products.