Production of edible protein containing substances

• US 3,937,693 A
• Filed: 02/08/1974
• Issued: 02/10/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ranks Hovis Mcdougall Limited
• Original Assignee: Ranks Hovis Mcdougall Limited
• Inventors: Longton, John, Towersey, Peter John, Cockram, Geoffrey Norman
• Primary Examiner(s): Monacell, A. Louis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yoncoskie, R. A.
• Application Number:
  US05/440,775
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 426/62, 426/148, 426/204, 426/364, 426/369, 426/428, 426/656, 426/655, 195/1, 195/2, 195/28 R, 195/104, 195/28 N, 260/112 R
• US Class Current: 530/371
• CPC Class Codes: A23J 3/20 Proteins from microorganisms or unicellular algae
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/08 Reducing the nucleic acid content
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/917 Aspergillus niger
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/929 Fusarium
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/935 Penicillium chrysogenum
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/936 Penicillium notatium
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 530/821 Separation of nucleic acid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 530/823 Lower fungi, e.g. mold

Abstract

Process for reducing the nucleic acid content in the production of an edible protein-containing substance comprising contacting a grown non-toxic microfungus of the class Fungi Imperfecti with a solvent comprising between 40% and 100% (by volume) of a lower alkanol containing up to three carbon atoms and thereafter incubating at a pH between 5 and 9.5 and at a temperature between 30°C. and 80°C. for a time of at least 90 seconds.

Claims

1. A process for reducing the nucleic acid content in the production of an edible protein-containing substance comprising contacting a grown non-toxic microfungus of the class Fungi Imperfecti with a solvent comprising between 40% and 100% by volume of a lower alkanol containing up to three carbon atoms and the remainder being water, substantially separating said solvent from said microfungus, incubating said microfungus at a pH between 5 and 9.5 in an aqueous suspension and at a temperature between 30°

C and 80°

C for a time of at least 90 seconds and thereafter separating said microfungus from the aqueous suspension.

2. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the grown non-toxic microfungus of the class Fungi Imperfecti is a grown non-toxic strain of Fusarium, Penicillium notatum, Penicillium chrysogenum Penicillium tuniculosum or Aspergillus niger.

3. A process as claimed in claim 2 wherein the strain of Fusarium is a strain of Fusarium graminearum Schwabe, Fusarium oxysporum or Fusarium solani.

4. A process as claimed in claim 3 wherein the strain of Fusarium graminearum Schwabe is our strain of Fusarium graminearum Schwabe deposited with the Commonwealth Mycological Institute and assigned the number IMI 145425.

5. A process as claimed in claim 2 wherein the strain of Penicillium notatum or Penicillium chrysogenum is our strain of Penicillium notatum-chrysogenum deposited with the Commonwealth Mycological Institute and assigned the number IMI 138291.

6. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lower alkanol containing up to three carbon atoms is methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol or propyl alcohol.

7. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lower alkanol containing up to three carbon atoms is isopropyl alcohol.

8. A process as claimed in claim 7 wherein an aqueous solution containing between 50% and 100% isopropyl alcohol is employed.

9. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the incubation is carried out at a temperature between 45°

and 60°

C.

10. A process as claimed in claim 9 wherein the incubation is carried out for a time of between 1.5 minutes and 40 minutes.

11. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the incubation step is carried out in the presence of a buffer solution.

12. A process as claimed in claim 11 wherein the buffer solution is NH₄ Cl/NH₄ OH or NH₄ Cl/HCl.