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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Plant Polymer Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #371666
Research Project: Improved Utilization of Proteinaceous Crop Co-Products

Location: Plant Polymer Research

Title: Production of protein isolate and mucilage from camelina engineered to produce acetyl-triacylglycerols (Camelina Ac-TAG)

Author
item Hojilla-Evangelista, Milagros - Mila
item Evangelista, Roque

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/28/2020
Publication Date: 6/29/2020
Citation: Hojillaevangelist, M.P., Evangelista, R.L. 2020. Production of protein isolate and mucilage from camelina engineered to produce acetyl-triacylglycerols (Camelina Ac-TAG). Meeting Abstract. [abstract].

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Camelina (Camelina sativa, Brassicaceae), an emerging alternative feedstock for biofuels and protein production, was successfully engineered by researchers at Michigan State University to produce seeds with oil containing high levels of 3-acetyl-1,2-diacyl-sn-glycerol (acetyl-TAG). Acetyl-TAG was reported to be beneficial in emulsifiers, plasticizers, fuels, biolubricants and hydraulic fluids. Previous work by our group demonstrated that the genetic modification had non-detrimental effects on camelina protein composition, extractability and solubility. In the current research, camelina mucilage removal (degumming) prior to protein extraction was evaluated for its effects on yield and properties. Mucilage was extracted using a technique adapted from NCAUR-developed aqueous method. Camelina ac-TAG had greater mucilage yield than wild camelina (42 versus 35%), but mucilage from both samples had co-extracted protein (20-24%). Degumming resulted in increased purity of protein extract from both camelina samples (from 80-85% to 83-90 % crude protein), but increased protein yield (by 31 %) was observed only in degummed camelina ac-TAG. Protein extracts from the degummed samples also showed markedly higher solubility from pH 7 to pH 10 than those from undegummed camelina (at least 60% greater amounts of soluble protein). Degumming had no effect on thermal stability of the camelina proteins. This work successfully produced two major co-products from camelina, mucilage and protein, that would expand markets and boost the value of the oilseed crop.