Pennycress Seed Meal Composition With Reduced Sinigrin Toxicity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pennycress meal contains high levels of sinigrin, an anti-nutrient compound that can be toxic to animals, limiting its use as a high-value feed ingredient due to potential negative effects on thyroid function and overall animal health.
Innovation Solution
Genetic modification of pennycress seeds to suppress the expression of genes involved in sinigrin biosynthesis, transport, and hydrolysis, resulting in reduced sinigrin content in the seed meal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If pennycress seeds are used as a feed ingredient, then protein content and nutritional value are improved, but sinigrin toxicity and harmful effects on animal health worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies extraction by removing sinigrin from pennycress meal through aqueous extraction processes. The meal is contacted with aqueous solutions that selectively extract sinigrin while leaving the beneficial protein and other nutritional components intact, thereby separating the harmful substance from the useful material.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by modifying the chemical environment through pH adjustment and solvent composition changes to control sinigrin extraction efficiency. By changing the aqueous solution parameters (pH, ionic strength, composition), the process optimizes sinigrin removal while preserving protein quality and solubility.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If genetic modification is used to reduce sinigrin, then animal safety is improved, but manufacturing complexity and regulatory hurdles worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the naturally high sinigrin content, which is harmful to animals, into a target for selective extraction. The inherent presence of sinigrin in pennycress meal provides a clear marker for the extraction process, allowing developers to design targeted removal systems that convert this harmful characteristic into a defined processing parameter.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional extraction methods are used, then sinigrin removal is achieved, but protein degradation and loss of nutritional quality worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully controls extraction parameters including pH, temperature, extraction time, and solvent composition to create optimal conditions for sinigrin removal that do not denature or degrade proteins. These parameter optimizations ensure selective action against sinigrin while preserving protein structure and nutritional value.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses aqueous solutions as intermediary mediators that selectively interact with sinigrin through specific chemical mechanisms (such as ionization and solubility differences) without directly interacting with or damaging protein structures. This intermediary approach allows harmful substance removal while protecting beneficial components.
Data Source
AI summary
Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense) seed, seed lots, seed meal, and compositions with reduced glucosinolate content as well as plants that yield such seed, seed lots, seed meal, and compositions are provided. Methods of making and using the pennycress plants and/or seed that provide such seed, seed lots, seed meal, and compositions are also provided.