METHODS OF PRODUCING ANIMAL-FREE CASEIN COMPOSITIONS, CASEIN COMPOSITIONS AND USE OF SAME

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a method of artificially-producing casein micelles under non-natural conditions. Also provided by the present disclosure are casein micelles and casein compositions comprising the casein micelles. Uses of the casein micelles and/or compositions are also disclosed.

Description

Claims

1-34. (canceled)

35. A method for producing a casein micelle, the method comprising: contacting at least one casein protein with a liquid medium comprising calcium and phosphate;wherein said liquid medium has a pH of between about 5.0 and 6.5;wherein said phosphate is present at a molar concentration that is equal to or below about 20 mM; andwherein a molar ratio between said calcium and said phosphate is greater than 1.1.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said at least one casein protein is selected from the group consisting of αs1 casein, αs2 casein, β casein, and κ casein.

37. The method of claim 36, provided that κ casein is not the sole casein protein.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein the method is characterized by at least one of the following: (i) said pH is between 5.5 and 6.5;(ii) said phosphate concentration is between about 0.5 mM and about 20 mM or between about 5 mM and about 20 mM;(iii) a calcium concentration is between about 1 mM and about 100 mM or between about 10 mM and about 45 mM; or(iv) the molar ratio between said calcium and said phosphate is between about 1.1 and about 4, between about 1.1 and about 3.0, or between about 2 and about 2.5.

39. The method of claim 35, wherein said at least one casein protein comprises: (I) (i) αs1 casein and/or αs2 casein, (ii) β casein, and (iii) κ casein as the casein proteins;(II) β casein and κ casein as a sole casein proteins;(III) (i) αs1 casein and/or αs2 casein and (ii) κ casein as a sole casein protein(s);(IV) αs1 casein and/or αs2 casein, and β casein as a sole casein proteins; or(V) β casein as a sole casein protein.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said at least one casein protein comprises (i) αs1 casein and/or αs2 casein, (ii) β casein, and (iii) κ casein as the casein proteins, wherein the liquid medium comprises: (i) between about 10 and about 20 mM phosphate; and(ii) between about 20 and about 45 mM calcium.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein said at least one casein protein comprises β casein and κ casein as sole casein proteins, and wherein the liquid medium comprises: (i) between about 5 and about 15 mM phosphate; and(ii) between about 15 and about 35 mM calcium.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein said at least one casein protein comprises (i) αs1 casein and/or αs2 casein and (ii) κ casein as a sole casein protein(s), and wherein the liquid medium comprises: (i) between about 10 and about 20 mM phosphate; and(ii) between about 30 and about 45 mM calcium.

43. The method of claim 39, wherein said at least one casein protein comprises αs1 casein and/or αs2 casein, and β casein as a sole casein protein(s) and wherein the liquid medium comprises: (i) between about 10 and about 20 mM phosphate; and(ii) between about 30 and about 40 mM calcium.

44. The method of claim 39, wherein said at least one casein protein comprises β casein as a sole casein protein, and wherein the liquid medium comprises: (i) between about 5 and about 15 mM phosphate; and(ii) between about 10 and about 30 mM calcium.

45. The method of claim 35, wherein said at least one casein protein comprises: (i) αs1 casein and/or the αs2 casein in a concentration of between about 12.6 mg/ml and about 25 mg/ml;(ii) β casein at a concentration of between about 9.3 mg/ml and about 25 mg/ml;(iii) κ casein at a concentration of between about 3.3 mg/ml and about 25 mg/ml; or(iv) any combination of (i), (ii), and (iii).

46. The method of claim 35, wherein the method is characterized by at least one of : (i) the liquid medium comprises citrate;(ii) the liquid medium comprises magnesium; or(iii) the at least one of the casein proteins is a recombinant casein protein.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the method is characterized by at least one of: (i) said citrate is at a concentration of between about 1 mM and about 10 mM;(ii) said magnesium is at a concentration of between about 1 mM and about 10 mM; or(iii) said recombinant one casein protein comprises αs1 casein, αs2 casein, β casein and/or κ casein.

48. A casein micelle obtainable or obtained by the method of claim 35.

49. The casein micelle of claim 48, being free of animal-derived proteins.

50. A casein micelle, comprising: at least one casein protein, the at least one casein protein consisting of: (i) β casein and κ casein;(ii) αs1 casein, αs2 casein and κ casein;(iii) αs1 casein, αs2 casein, and β casein;(iv) β casein; or(v) κ casein.

51. The casein micelle of claim 50, being free of animal-derived proteins.

52. A composition comprising casein micelles according to claim 48.

53. The composition according to claim 52, wherein the composition is an edible product.