Isolado proteico de Amburana cearensis (Allemao) A. C. Smith como nova fonte de proteínas alimentares: caracterização funcional e análise toxicogenômica comparativa com outras proteínas vegetais

Abstract

Amburana cearensis (cumaru) is an underutilized legume from Caatinga. Because of their high protein content its seeds are a possible novel source of food protein. Were determined the best conditions for protein extraction and preparation of protein isolate (IPAc).Analysis were carried out also with the defatted flour (FDAc) and with a marketed soybean protein isolate (IPS). IPAc showed protein content of 90% and amino acid composition compatible with the IPS’s composition, with remarkable low methionine content. Some functional properties were measured in order to predict the adequacy of the isolates as an ingredient for food industry. The results for FDAc, IPAc and IPS were, respectively: solubility 20-79; 9-99 e 3-76%; water holding capacity 1.7; 3.9 e 7.5 g/g; oil holding capacity 1.5; 6.3 e 1.6 g/g; emulsion formation / stability 52 / 46%; 55 / 51% e 53 / 21%; foamability / stability 47 / 32%; 65 / 53% e 33 / 8; least gelling concentration (LGC) 18, 16 and 12%. In order to investigate whether IPAc e IPS exhibit signs of toxicity, two cell lines of human adenocarcinoma (MCF-7 e Caco-2) were exposed to these isolates as well as to others prepared from soyabean (IPGm), white bean (IPPv), Jack bean (IPCe) and castor bean (IPRc), to the protein fraction from castor bean (FPRc), to the lectins PHA-E and ConA (50 µg/mL) and to the chemical control (Crtl_Quim). Subcitotoxic doses were determined by viability test to later exposure assay for 24 h. The MCF-7 cell’s RNA were extracted and hybridized to a microarray containing the complete human genome. The expression profiles after the exposition to the proteins were compared to that ones generated after PBS and Crtl_Quim and hierarchicaly clustered. Crtl_Quim, IPAc and IPGm were unsuitable for further analysis by their overestimated effect. Analysis of biological pathways and process showed that genes involved with the cholesterol biosynthesis, ER stress and immune response were upregulated and genes involved with cell cycle and DNA replication were downregulated after exposure of cells to IPPv, IPCe, PHA-E and ConA. The samples IPRc and FPRc upregulated genes involved with apoptosis and immune response and downregulated genes involved with cell cycle and cAMP signaling. Connectivity Map analysis showed high correlation of ConA, PHA-E and IPCe with drugs that are Ca2+ and K+ channel blockers, while IPRc and FPRc showed biological function similar to at least six drugs inhibitors of protein synthesis. It’s possible to conclude that the IPAc has a high potentiality as a novel protein food with wide applicability in the food industry and should, however, be modified in the method of obtaining aiming the improvement in its solubility and eliminating the residual salt.