
2 Factors That Determine the Quality of a Protein
- Complete versus Incomplete Proteins. In terms of amino acid composition, the highest quality sources of protein are those that contain all of the essential amino acids.
- Digestibility and Absorption. The second factor that influences protein quality is how digestible a protein is. ...
- The Bottom Line. ...
- The amino acid profile of the protein.
- The structure of the protein.
- The digestibility of the protein.
- The amount of protein consumed in one meal.
- Other nutrients and food constituents present in the meal, e.g. fiber, carbohydrate.
What determines the quality of protein in food?
You can argue that meat and dairy foods are a higher quality source of protein, in terms of amino acid composition than most plant foods, with the exception of soy, since you get all the essential amino acids in one place. The second factor that influences protein quality is how digestible a protein is.
How does dietary protein quality affect plasma amino acid availability?
Dietary protein quality is not only a function of amino acid score and protein digestibility but should also consider its impact on plasma amino acid availability as it is a key stimulatory factor triggering muscle protein synthesis.
What are the important issues in quality evaluation of proteins?
A second important issue in quality evaluation relates to the bioavailability or digestibility of a protein or the capacity to provide metabolically available nitrogen and amino acid to tissues and organs. The food matrix in which a protein is consumed can have significant impact on the bioavailability of amino acid for metabolic needs.
How does food storage affect protein quality?
Food storage and processing in adverse circumstances can reduce protein quality by making some amino acids unavailable. Adding specific amino acids, or combining foods in proportions that result in a better amino acid pattern, can improve the protein quality of a food.

What are factors affecting protein quality?
Factors Affecting Protein Quality Thus the quality of feed protein depends on the amino acid profile of the diet, the content of essential amino acids as well the content of limiting amino acids, and the digestibility and physiological utilization of amino acids after digestion.
What are 3 factors that affect all proteins?
The main forces that affect structure are electrostatic forces, hydrogen bonding forces, hydrophobic forces, and disulfide bonds. Each of these affect protein structure in different ways.
What determines the quality of a protein source?
The quality of a protein is determined by its essential amino acid composition and the digestibility and bioavailability of its amino acids, according to the Food and Agriculture Association and the World Health Organization (FAO/WHO).
What influences protein function?
The unique amino acid sequence of a protein is reflected in its unique folded structure. This structure, in turn, determines the protein's function. This is why mutations that alter amino acid sequence can affect the function of a protein.
What are the factors that affect protein stability?
Many factors affect the process of protein folding, including conformational and compositional stability, cellular environment including temperature and pH, primary and secondary structure, solvation, hydrogen bonding, salt bridges, hydrophobic effects, van der Waals (vdW) forces, ligand binding, cofactor binding, ion ...
What factors determine protein quality quizlet?
The two main factors that influence protein quality are digestibility and amino acid composition.
How can we improve protein quality?
Three methods for improving cereal protein quality are discussed. Two older methods are supplementation with limiting essential amino acids and with protein concentrates high in those amino acids. The most recent method (since 1964) is the replacement of the normal cereal grain with its high lysine mutant counterpart.
How do you determine the quality of protein in food?
The most frequently used methods for measuring protein content in foods include the Kjeldahl method, Dumas method, direct measurement methods using UV-spectroscopy and refractive index measurement. Each method has advantages and disadvantages.
How do you tell if a protein source is of low or high quality?
Complete protein sources contain all EAAs and are therefore considered 'high quality', whereas 'low quality' protein sources are incomplete proteins as they do not contain all EAAs.
How do I know if my protein powder is good quality?
The barcode/QR code test is a safe way to determine its authenticity,” says fitness expert Amaresh Ojha. 6)The MRP sticker test: Lastly, do remember that even fake products have a fake sticker for the MRP on the container. If you notice anything off about the sticker, you can assume it's fake.
Which is used to measure protein quality?
The current official scale, used notably by the FDA, is the Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score (PDCAAS), which takes into account not just the bioavailability of a protein but also its amino acid profile.
What is protein quality?
Protein quality focuses on the relative composition of AAs present in a protein source compared to a protein pattern than is considered to represent the highest quality protein. Methods used in some countries for labeling protein content of a food item, or methods proposed for use for labeling, include the protein efficiency ratio (PER), required in Canada; the protein digestibility corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS), originally recommended by FAO/WHO in 1993 and in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration; and the digestible essential amino acid score (DIAAS), most recently recommended by FAO/WHO,107 which includes measurement of ileal digestibility. 107 While PER requires an animal growth study comparing utilization of a test protein with casein protein, other methods evaluate a food's protein quality by comparing its essential AA composition to the ratio of AAs estimated to be needed by humans. The practice has been to compare the amount of each essential AA in a food to a reference (scoring) pattern based on the estimated essential AA requirements of a 2- to 5-year-old child 106,108 (see Table 2.5 ).
How to measure protein quality?
Protein quality is measured as a combination of the protein content and digestibility to satisfy the daily protein requirement. Protein digestibility is significant for realizing the physiological benefits of the proteins. Interestingly, peptides may be generated from the parent proteins during food processing or intact proteins are acted upon by gastrointestinal fluids during the digestion process. In a series of metabolic studies with young rats, it was found that dry roasting or toasting of cut maize grains at 176.7°C–204.4°C for 3–4 minutes increased the digestibility of the proteins by about 8% and caused no change in their biological value ( Mitchell et al., 1949 ). However, applying a flaking process (steamed and toasted for 20–45 seconds) reduced the digestibility of the protein by about 15% and the biological value by about 6%. Grain milling leads to the reduction of phytate, tannin, and phenolic elements, which improves the availability of minerals and the digestibility of protein and carbohydrates ( Oghbaei and Prakash, 2016 ). Germination and malting of whole grains decreases the antinutrients and increases the digestibility and availability of nutrients. Soaking is a common preprocessing technique for whole legumes to facilitate decortication or cooking. Soaking and fermentation are known to increase in vitro protein digestibility of some common legumes ( Oghbaei and Prakash, 2016 ).
How does protein quality control affect cell function?
Protein quality control and preservation of protein homeostasis is an integral part of cellular metabolism, ensuring cell functionality and viability. The proteasome and the huge family of chaperones are two essential systems that help cope with this challenge. In general, these two systems decide whether it is reasonable to degrade an unfolded/unfunctional protein or to stabilize it by trying to refold the protein. Criteria for this decision are largely unknown and have to be a part of further investigations, but they are likely related to the kind and intensity of the stress stimuli. Thus, heat shock, for example, evokes a response of chaperones other than oxidative stress or proteasomal inhibition. However, it is evident that the ubiquitin–proteasomal system is closely connected with many chaperones. Molecular chaperones can promote the ubiquitination process and transfer the substrates to the proteasome or they divest the proteasome of proteins by repairing them. In fact, Hsp27 is able to prevent ubiquitination of substrates by preceding sumoylation. Because of this close connection, it is not surprising that failure of one system affects the other. This is expressed in the upregulation of chaperones after proteasomal inhibition and the partly enhanced proteolytic capacity after chaperone inhibition or dysfunction. Knowledge of these compensating mechanisms explains the limited effects of Hsp or proteasome inhibitors in cancer therapy and promotes the combined application of Hsp90 and Hsp70 and proteasome inhibitors. Further understanding of the fate of cellular proteins will improve not only cancer therapy, but also the treatment of age-related diseases such as neurodegeneration, diabetes, cataract formation, and myopathies.
How does MAS help in genetics?
MAS has the potential to increase genetic gain by permitting selection at an earlier stage of development and/or by reducing the generation interval or the number of generations needed prior to releasing a new variety. It is especially advantageous when phenotypic recording is destructive or pyramiding of genes is desired. It is particularly useful for horticultural crops, since most of them are highly heterozygous which makes phenotypic selection difficult ( Ibitoye and Akin-Idowu, 2010 ).
Why are neurons important to quality control?
Thousands of proteins are required to maintain neuronal shape and size. Synaptic proteins are encoded in the nucleus (in the soma) and require an extensive transport network of motor proteins and microtubules for their proper localization. Neurons also have high metabolic rates to support the energy requirements of action potential and neurotransmission. Neurons rely heavily on mitochondria to generate large amounts of ATP; tight regulation of mitochondrial distribution and turnover are crucial for proper neuronal activity. Unlike other cells, neurons don’t divide and need to last through a lifetime. This requires a tight equilibrium between the maintain of neuron integrity and the high plasticity of their synapses that constantly remodel their synaptic connection network with surrounding neurons. Therefore, strict quality-control mechanisms are required to clear any accumulating debris, like damaged proteins or organelles, that can interfere with the transmission of an electrical signal along the axon. Thus, deficiencies in the UPS or AL sensitize neurons and promote the development of neurodegenerative disease (Misgeld and Schwarz, 2017) Table 1.
Which enzyme is involved in the ubiquitination pathway?
The first of the three primary enzymes to act in the ubiquitination pathway is the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (E1). With an input of ATP, the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme forms a high-energy thioester bond with one ubiquitin protein.
Does heat affect egg white protein?
According to Neucere and Cherry (1982), excessive heat treatment causes proteins to undergo many complex reactions which decrease their digestibility. The beneficial effects of heating, high pressure, and high intensity ultrasound on the egg white proteins (EWP) digestibility have been reported ( Van der Plancken et al., 2005; Nyemb et al., 2014; Stefanović et al., 2014a,b; Van der Plancken et al., 2003 ). According to Van der Plancken et al. (2003), the extent of egg white protein digestion depends on the degree of protein unfolding. When compared with unheated ovalbumin, all types of ovalbumin aggregates (linear, linear-branched, spherical, and spherical-agglomerated) are more susceptible to digestion. The degree of ovalbumin unfolding before aggregation is a major factor in its digestibility, which is highest in the linear aggregate and lowest in the spherical-agglomerated aggregate ( Nyemb et al., 2014 ).
Why is protein above the RDA?
Further to this, protein requirements above the RDA have been suggested for several reasons including healthy ageing and weight management [23].
What is digestibility of protein?
The digestibility of the protein. The amount of protein consumed in one meal. Other nutrients and food constituents present in the meal, e.g. fiber, carbohydrate. How the food has been prepared. Recent intake of protein. The metabolic state of the individual, e.g. illness, exercise, sleep.
How are proteins digested?
Before we look at protein quality, let’s first look at the way proteins are digested and absorbed. Digestion of food begins in the mouth and continues until all nutrients have been absorbed in the intestines. Several digestive enzymes are involved in the digestion process which break down – or hydrolyze – protein into short-chain oligopeptides or amino acids. The simplest units of proteins are amino acids of which there are 20-odd different types. Two amino acids linked together are called dipeptides, a few amino acids in a peptide chain are called oligopeptides and long chains of them are called polypeptides.
How are amino acids absorbed?
Amino acids are absorbed in their basic form by an active transport process, where they are pumped across the cell membranes and then into the blood. However, there is a second process which happens simultaneously to the active transport mechanism where oligopeptides can be taken up in their current form and when inside the cells of the intestine, are then further broken down to free amino acids. The process of this is a cell enzyme-related system that relies on a chemical ion gradient.
What enzyme breaks down proteins?
Several digestive enzymes are involved in the digestion process which break down – or hydrolyze – protein into short-chain oligopeptides or amino acids. The simplest units of proteins are amino acids of which there are 20-odd different types.
Is cysteine a conditionally essential amino acid?
PDCAAS is also limited by the fact that it doesn’t account for conditionally essential amino acids, and these contribute to the nutritional value of a protein [9]. For example, a good intake of non-essential cysteine – a sulfur-containing amino acid – reduces the requirement for the essential sulfur-containing methionine, and tyrosine reduces the need for the EAA phenylalanine. Arginine is also considered conditionally essential as in certain population sub-groups and at times of high demand, an insufficient amount may be synthesized within the body [11].
Can proteins with one EAA have BV?
Another limitation is that proteins which are missing one EAA can still have a BV of up to 40. This is because of our ability to conserve and recycle EAAs as an adaptation of inadequate intake of the amino acid in malnutrition [3].
What are the factors that determine protein intake?
I’ve outlined six things you need to consider when deciding upon your protein intake. 1. CARBOHYDRATE INTAKE. One of the most influential factors in deciding your protein requirements is carbohydrat es and the amount you’re consuming. In short, you could say that carbohydrates are “anabolic” since they are “protein sparing.”.
Why do we need more protein?
In short, you could say that carbohydrates are “anabolic” since they are “protein sparing.” In theory, if your diet is high in carbs , it should mean that you require slightly less protein, and if you are on a low-carb diet then you will need more protein to help retain a positive nitrogen balance. This occurs as your body will naturally look to stored glycogen as its primary fuel source, which spares your amino acids for key roles in recovery and growth. Without enough glycogen from carbohydrates, your body is more likely to then start converting protein into glycogen via gluconeogenesis, which will influence the amount of protein you require to recover properly and build muscle.
Why is it important to have a high protein diet?
When you consume protein, which is high in the amino acid leucine, you will stimulate muscle protein synthesis, the driver behind muscle recovery and growth . The more “free testosterone” you have within your system (in theory), the more you’re able to utilize protein. This is why those with naturally high levels of testosterone grow easier on a high-protein diet.
How does testosterone affect protein synthesis?
In relation to muscle protein synthesis, testosterone has a direct impact on the way this process works by binding to cells on the surface of the muscle cell and driving muscle protein synthesis further.
Why do you need more protein on a low carb diet?
In theory, if your diet is high in carbs, it should mean that you require slightly less protein, and if you are on a low-carb diet then you will need more protein to help retain a positive nitrogen balance. This occurs as your body will naturally look to stored glycogen as its primary fuel source, which spares your amino acids for key roles in ...
How much protein should I eat to build muscle?
It will depend on genetics, nitrogen balance, hormone levels, and training volume. However, for a lot of people, sticking between 1 to 1.5g of protein per pound of lean body weight is usually about right. Sometimes the requirements are even higher; however, this is less common. I’ve outlined six things you need to consider when deciding upon your protein intake.
Why is gut health important?
I’ve written thousands of articles and published multiple books throughout my career, and I’ve always maintained that gut health is absolutely imperative to your success in relation to your diet. If your gut is not working properly, then this will influence your ability to process and assimilate nutrients, including protein.
What is protein quality?
Protein quality (PQ) is the capacity of a protein to meet the amino acid (AA) requirements of an individual. There are several methodologies for determining the PQ of foods. The protein efficiency ratio is an animal growth bioassay. The protein-digestibility-corrected AA score considers the AA requirements of a reference population, and the true nitrogen digestibility coefficient for each ingredient. The digestible indispensable AA score is based on true ileal AA digestibility and better represents bioavailability of AAs. In vitro techniques for assessment of PQ are available but require validation against a greater range of protein sources. Isotopic methods, such as the indicator AA oxidation and dual tracer techniques measure AA relative bioavailability and digestibility, respectively, but require sophisticated equipment, and may not be cost nor time effective for the industry to adopt. The present review discusses advantages and disadvantages of methodologies for determining PQ of food for humans focused on methods that are or could be adopted by regulatory agencies. Understanding the framework and resources available for PQ determination will help in the selection of appropriate methods depending on the application. Novelty Understanding the framework and resources available for PQ determination will help in the selection of appropriate methods depending on the application.
What are the sources of protein in Indian diet?
... 19 Pulses and legumes are an important source of protein in the Indian diet, and when they are combined with cereals, the essential amino acid profiles of pulses and cereals are complementary. As indicated by corresponding protein efficiency ratios 61 and protein digestibility corrected amino scores (PDCAASs), 61, 62 pulses and cereals are lower-quality sources of protein. Where cereal grains typically have lower levels of lysine and higher levels of sulfur-containing amino acids (methionine and cysteine), the reverse is true for pulses. ...
What is the definition of protein quality?
Dietary protein quality is commonly defined by the bioavailability of essential amino acids, a function of amino acid composition and protein digestibility. This review assesses the potential for manipulation of amino acid composition in organisms, for improving protein quality in nutrition. Animal protein is generally regarded as higher quality ...
What are the factors that affect insect protein?
Besides species–species differences, insect protein quantity and quality is subject to factors such as gender, temperature, daylight duration and feed type [ 25, 26 ]. It is noted that most insects are analysed whole and, as such, the gut contents may make a significant contribution to protein content.
What is single cell protein?
Single cell protein (SCP) describes protein originating from microorganisms, both unicellular (e.g. yeast, bacteria) or multicellular (e.g. filamentous fungi, algae) [ 46 ]. These could potentially be principal protein sources in everyday diets that integrate different protein components, including plant-based. Despite the idea being decades-old, SCP has historically been used as a supplement or animal feed; for example, Marmite™ and Pruteen™. Mycoprotein from the filamentous fungus Fusarium venenatum and marketed as Quorn™ was first sold as a meat-substitute in the UK in 1985, and has been the only SCP sold for human consumption [ 47 ]. Recently other companies have also started to launch SCP products for this market. Bacterial and fungal SCP contains between 80–90% and 50–60% protein by dry mass, respectively, with EAA profiles comparable to those of animal protein. The methionine content in fungi tends to be lower but is within dietary guidelines [ 46 ]. SCP production has some unique challenges, as fungi and bacteria contain high levels of nucleic acids (7–12%) that need to be lowered by additional steps in production [ 48 ]. There is also the risk of toxin production by the organism, absence of which needs to be routinely tested [ 47 ]. This could also bring challenges for modifying the SCP production process, as changing the growth substrate or other condition might activate toxin production [ 49 ]. Benefits of SCP over traditional animal protein include lower carbon footprint, land use and water consumption, and the potential to use industrial food by-products as growth substrate [ 48, 49 ]. However, to date SCPs for human consumption are grown using food grade substrates, with associated costs [ 47 ]. Wider adoption of SCP for human consumption not only promises potentially cheaper, sustainable protein production but also scope to modify the protein composition of target organisms, which in plants and animals could be too time consuming, expensive or in some cases unethical.
What is the amino acid sequence of a protein?
The amino acid (AA) composition of a specific protein is governed by the nucleic acid sequence of the gene which codes for it. In animals, all proteins have specific physiological/metabolic functions. In plants, additional proteins may be produced for storage within seeds [ 8 ].
What is considered high quality protein?
High quality protein is characterised by an appropriate balance of essential amino acids (EAAs), good digestibility and absence of anti-nutritional factors (e.g. trypsin inhibitors in unprocessed legumes or uricogenic nucleobases in certain microorganisms) [ 4, 5 ].
What are some alternative sources of protein?
There is increasing interest in alternative dietary-protein sources including insects and fungi or other microorganisms. Each may be manipulated through environment or diet. Microorganisms also enable assessment of impacts on protein quality of biochemical-pathway manipulation or tailored growth regimes.
Is animal protein better than plant protein?
Animal protein is generally regarded as higher quality than plant protein, but it is also relatively resistant to change. Plant protein quality appears more susceptible to genetic and environmental influence with seed storage protein a potentially promising target, subject to GMO regulatory limitations.
What are the two aspects of protein quality?
There are 2 important aspects of protein quality: 1) the characteristics of the protein and the food matrix in which it is consumed, and 2) the demands of the individual consuming the food, as influenced by age, health status, physiologic status , and energy balance.
What is protein quality?
Protein quality describes characteristics of a protein in relation to its ability to achieve defined metabolic actions. Traditionally, this has been discussed solely in the context of a food protein's ability to provide specific patterns of amino acids to satisfy the demands for synthesis of protein and other specific metabolites.
How does protein affect glycemic control?
Studies that have increased protein intakes at the expense of carbohydrates have shown that a diet with 30% of energy derived from protein, 20% from carbohydrate (with low biologically available glucose), and 50% from fat is effective in improving glycemic control in people with type 2 diabetes without an adverse effect on serum lipids or renal function ( 49, 50 ). There are several potential mechanisms of these influences of protein which might be responsive to the protein structure or amino acid profile. One is the influence of variation in amino acid composition on the magnitude and duration of postprandial insulin secretion, an important but relatively unexplored question in this context. Another is gluconeogenesis rates in relation to both the pattern of amino acids as substrates as well as their influence as regulators of the metabolic pathway. Individual amino acids differ as substrates for gluconeogenesis, and the branched-chain amino acids have a unique role in providing amino groups for production of alanine (from pyruvate) and recycling of glucose carbon from skeletal muscle to liver for gluconeogenesis ( 12 ). The overall significance of protein or the amino acid pattern on glucose homeostasis through insulin secretion, de novo glucose production, or alanine recycling has not been investigated.
How does leucine affect protein synthesis?
Although human evidence is beginning to emerge, there is abundant evidence from animal studies that sufficiently high doses of leucine may be particularly important in muscle protein synthesis through synergistic effects with insulin in signal transduction pathways and in the presence of adequate dietary energy. As proposed by Garlick ( 7 ), there are worthwhile research opportunities regarding the promising potential role for leucine in protein metabolism as well as the possibility of an intake threshold at which overstimulation by leucine could negatively impact glucose metabolism. A review of the leucine literature by Layman ( 25) estimated that stimulation of muscle protein synthesis would be optimized with 18 g IAA, including 2.5 g leucine, at each of 3 meals per day.
Why is the truncation procedure and the restriction to only the first limiting amino acid subject to criticism?
Also, as stated above, the truncation procedure and the restriction to only the first limiting amino acid are subject to criticism because these latter issues do not allow expression of the power of a high-quality protein to balance the IAA composition of inferior proteins ( 6 ).
What is the purpose of protein quality evaluation?
The current aim of protein quality evaluation is to determine the ability of a protein to meet maintenance needs plus special needs for growth, pregnancy, or lactation: “The lowest level of dietary protein intake that will balance the losses of nitrogen from the body, and thus maintain the body protein mass, in persons at energy balance with modest levels of physical activity, plus, in children or pregnant/lactating women, the needs associated with the deposition of tissues or the secretion of milk at rates consistent with good health.” ( 4)
Why is protein important in diet?
In the context of the obesity epidemic, there is an important potential role for protein as a part of diets aiming to limit weight gain or help with weight loss. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the well-documented influence of dietary protein's role in body weight regulation, such as thermogenesis ( 38 ), improved body composition ( 39, 40 ), improved glycemic control ( 41 ), and, as discussed below, appetite regulation ( 42 – 44 ). These effects have been assumed to relate to the quantity of dietary protein and its relative proportion compared with the other macronutrients. However, there is evidence to suggest mechanisms that would have implications for protein quality assessment ( 12, 25, 45 – 48 ).
Highlights
Fed-batch culture is widely used for commercial production of therapeutic proteins.
Abstract
Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells are the most widely used mammalian host cells for the commercial production of therapeutic proteins. Fed-batch culture is widely used to produce therapeutic proteins, including monoclonal antibodies, because of its operational simplicity and high product titer.
1. Introduction
The US Food and Drug Administration approved the production of human tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells in 1987.
2. Quality attributes of recombinant therapeutic proteins
Product quality refers to the suitability of either a drug substance or a drug product for its intended use ( U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2009 ). To evaluate the quality of desired product, it is essential to identify the quality attributes that affect drug safety and efficacy during the development of therapeutic proteins.
3. Factors affecting quality attributes of recombinant therapeutic proteins during cell culture
Product quality can be affected by a number of factors in the manufacturing process, such as those formed during cell line generation, cell culture, and downstream purification processes. Product quality changes during culture owing to a number of factors.
4. Conclusion and future perspective
Recombinant therapeutic proteins that are complex in nature are very sensitive to changes in the manufacturing processes and exhibit a certain degree of variability, even between different batches in the manufacturing processes ( Weise et al., 2014 ).
Acknowledgement
This work was supported in part by the Samsung Research Funding Center of Samsung Electronics ( SRFC-MA1901-09) and the Novo Nordisk Foundation ( NNF10CC1016517 ).
