HRGP Extraction from Plant Cell Walls Using Salt and Ultrafiltration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for extracting monomeric hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins (HRGP), particularly extensins, from plant cell walls face low yields and contamination issues, limiting their industrial and commercial applications due to crosslinking and impurities.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the breakdown of dedifferentiated and meristematic plant cells to create a cell homogenate, followed by washing to remove intracellular molecules and subsequent salt extraction to obtain a highly enriched HRGP extract, which can be further purified using ultrafiltration, enhancing yield and purity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional extraction methods are used to obtain HRGP from plant cell walls, then the extraction process is simple, but the yield is low and the extract is contaminated with intracellular and extracellular proteins

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveHRGP yieldVSAvoidextraction process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The extraction process is divided into distinct sequential steps: cell homogenization to break cell walls, washing to remove intracellular proteins, salt extraction to isolate HRGP from cell walls, and ultrafiltration for final purification. This segmentation allows each step to target specific contaminants while preserving HRGP, achieving high yield (up to 73.3% recovery) and purity without requiring overly complex equipment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Cell homogenization is performed as a preliminary step before extraction to break open plant cells and release intracellular contents. This preliminary action allows subsequent washing steps to efficiently remove cytoplasmic proteins that would otherwise contaminate the HRGP extract, addressing the contamination problem before the main extraction occurs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If extensive purification steps are added to remove contaminants, then the purity of HRGP extract improves, but the process complexity and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveHRGP purityVSAvoidpurification process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The method selectively extracts HRGP from plant cell walls using salt solutions, taking out the desired glycoproteins while leaving behind most intracellular and extracellular protein contaminants. This selective extraction, followed by ultrafiltration to remove remaining impurities, achieves high purity without requiring multiple complex chromatography steps

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The extraction process utilizes changes in ionic strength through salt addition to selectively solubilize HRGP from cell wall matrices while maintaining other proteins in insoluble forms. This parameter change (adding salt) creates conditions where HRGP can be separated from contaminants, and ultrafiltration further purifies based on molecular size differences

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If salt extraction is performed on whole plant cells, then the process is straightforward, but the yield is limited by cell wall crosslinking and HRGP accessibility

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveHRGP recovery yieldVSAvoidextraction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Cell homogenization is performed as a preliminary step to mechanically break open plant cells and disrupt cell wall structures. This preliminary action makes HRGP more accessible to salt extraction by breaking crosslinks and releasing bound glycoproteins, significantly increasing recovery yield compared to extraction from intact cells

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The method segments the plant cell structure through homogenization, separating intracellular contents from cell wall materials. This segmentation allows subsequent steps to specifically target HRGP in the cell wall fraction while removing intracellular protein contaminants, achieving both high yield and purity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method significantly increases HRGP yields, achieving up to 73.3% recovery and improving the purity of the extract, making it suitable for industrial applications in cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and dietary uses, while minimizing contamination from intracellular and extracellular proteins.

Implementation Method 1

Other proteins might be weakly bound to the matrix by Van der Waals interactions, hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic or ionic interactions. Such proteins may be extracted by salt solutions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIonic interaction: Ion Repulsion/Attraction

Implementation Method 2

A) Breaking the whole cells to produce a cell homogenate in which the intracellular molecules are solubilized

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSolubilization: Solvation

Implementation Method 3

which can be further purified using ultrafiltration

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltrafiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS12076434B2Method of production of a plant cell extract of hydroxyproline rich glycoproteins including extensins
Publication Date: 2024.09.03 CRODA ITAL SPA

AI summary

The method for producing a plant cell extract of hydroxyl rich glycoproteins (HRGP), including extensins, by extraction from plant cell walls (PCW), comprises subjecting a biomass of whole dedifferentiated plant cells to the following treatment: —Breaking the cells for producing a cell homogenate in which the intracellular molecules are solubilized; —Eliminating the solubilized intracellular molecules by washing the cell homogenate with water and diafiltering on a 0.2 μm filter; —Extracting the HRGP from the PCW by adding a salt thereby forming an HRGP enriched salted extract suspension; —Filtering the HRGP enriched salted extract suspension to discard the PCW debris and recover the desired enriched HRGP salted extract. Results on beautifying and on the general state of the skin and of its annexes can be observed with the use of the HRGP extracts according to the invention, in particular: on the texture moisturising capacity is improved; skin is better protected against external aggressions); on the mechanical properties (skin is denser, replumped, firmer, more toned and more elastic); and on the complexion (skin is brighter).