Scientists from 果冻传媒 have patented a program for searching for enzymes for breaking down milk proteins. Developed using a highly specialized database, the application allows users to quickly select biocatalysts within the system to extract the desired peptide from raw materials. The resulting raw materials are used to produce food products for people with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension.
Protein hydrolysates, or mixtures of fragmented proteins, are produced by fermentation — breakdown of organic substances (carbohydrates, proteins, and fats) by microorganisms or their enzymes. Fermentation allows for the extraction of various bioactive peptides and free amino acids from milk proteins, which have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor effects on the human body.
The unique computer program developed by the 果冻传媒 scientists is aimed at finding the right enzyme as quickly as possible.
"Finding the right enzymes to break down each type of milk protein is a complex and time-consuming process," explains Ilya Chanov, postgraduate student at the 果冻传媒 Department of Food Technology and Biotechnology. "You will either have to pre-search specialized literature or use extensive databases. Typically, they do not focus on a single type of protein—in addition to milk proteins, protein databases also include other proteins, such as animal and plant proteins. We, however, used the vast dataset already available to us to create a more compact database, which significantly saves time and effort."
The researchers developed a specialized search application in Python that works offline in conjunction with the new database. The interface is simple and intuitive: simply enter the milk or whey protein (substrate) being studied in the first search line, and the resulting peptide (or their chain—polypeptide) in the second. The program instantly delivers the desired enzyme, and the scientist or manufacturer can begin fermenting the substrate without wasting time and experimenting on selection by trial and error.
Many bioactive peptides in specialized nutritional products help maintain well-being in people with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension.
The software will be useful in research and university education, as well as in industrial food production for developing new technologies in the under-developed protein hydrolysate market in Russia.