# US 11,297,861 B2 · Sweet protein from truffle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,297,861 B2 - Document ID: US11297861B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/359,048 - Filed: 2021-06-25 - Published: 2021-12-30 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2020-06-25 - Assignees: MycoTechnology, Inc. - Applicants: MycoTechnology, Inc. - Inventors: Marina Nadal; Anthony J. Clark; Zheyuan Guo; Stephen A. Gravina; Anthony Westgate; Bassam Alkotaini; Ashley Han; Brendan Sharkey; Evan Strassburger; Joseph Meilen; Hyung Chang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11297861B2 ## CPC - A23L 2/62: Clouding agents; Agents to improve the cloud-stability - A23L 27/31: {containing amino acids, nucleotides, peptides or derivatives} - A23L 2/60: Sweeteners - C07K 1/20: Partition-, reverse-phase or hydrophobic interaction chromatography - C07K 14/37: from fungi - C07K 14/43: {Sweetening agents, e.g.} thaumatin, {monellin} - A23L: FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PREPARATION OR TREATMENT THEREOF (preservation thereof A23B) - C07K: PEPTIDES (peptides in foodstuffs A23; obtaining protein compositions for foodstuffs, working-up proteins for foodstuffs A23J; preparations for medicinal purposes A61K; peptides containing beta-lactam rings C07D; cyclic dipeptides not having in their molecule any other peptide link than those which form their ring, e.g. piperazine-2,5-diones, C07D; ergot alkaloids of the cyclic peptide type C07D519/02; macromolecular compounds having statistically distributed amino acid units in their molecules, i.e. when the preparation does not provide for a specific; but for a random sequence of the amino acid units, homopolyamides and block copolyamides derived from amino acids C08G69/00; macromolecular products derived from proteins C08H1/00; preparation of glue or gelatine C09H; single cell proteins, enzymes C12N; genetic engineering processes for obtaining peptides C12N15/00; compositions for measuring or testing processes involving enzymes C12Q; investigation or analysis of biological material G01N33/00) ## Abstract Newly identified fungal sweet-taste modifying proteins, and the cDNA encoding said proteins are described. Specifically, Myd proteins active in sweet taste activation, and the cDNA encoding the same, are described, along with methods for isolating such cDNA and for isolating and expressing such proteins. Also disclosed is use of a sweetening composition which includes the proteins of the invention, and methods to provide improved flavor to a product for oral administration. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An isolated polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: (a) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3; and (b) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3; wherein the polypeptide has sweet-taste modulation activity, and wherein the isolated polynucleotide is operably linked to a heterologous regulatory element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The isolated polynucleotide of claim 1, wherein the polynucleotide sequence further encodes a protein tag or label. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The isolated polynucleotide of claim 2, wherein the protein tag is a histidine tag. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An expression cassette comprising the isolated polynucleotide of claim 1. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A vector comprising the isolated polynucleotide of claim 1. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A host cell transformed with the vector of claim 5. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A method of producing a protein having sweet-taste modulation activity, comprising culturing the host cell of claim 6 in a medium under conditions that result in producing the protein having sweet-taste modulation activity. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A composition, comprising a combination of: (a) a product for oral administration, wherein the product is not Mattirolomyces terfezioides truffle, and (b) a sweetening composition comprising an isolated protein produced by the method of claim 7, wherein the combination has enhanced sweet taste compared to the product for oral administration. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) A method for modulating the taste of a product for oral administration, comprising: combining a product for oral administration with an effective amount of a sweetening composition comprising an isolated protein produced by the method of claim 7, wherein the product for oral administration is not Mattirolomyces terfezioides truffle, and wherein the combination has enhanced sweet taste compared to the product for oral administration. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The composition of claim 8, wherein the product for oral administration is a food, a beverage, a dietary supplement composition, or a pharmaceutical composition. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The composition of claim 8, wherein the product for oral administration is a food product selected from the group consisting of baked goods; sweet bakery products, pre-made sweet bakery mixes for preparing sweet bakery products; pie fillings and other sweet fillings, gelatins and puddings; frozen desserts; yogurts; snack bars; bread products; pre-made bread mixes for preparing bread products; sauces, syrups and dressings; sweet spreads; confectionary products; and sweetened breakfast cereals. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The composition of claim 8, wherein the product for oral administration is a beverage product selected from the group consisting of carbonated beverages; non-carbonated beverages; and beverage concentrates. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the product for oral administration is a food, a beverage, a dietary supplement composition, or a pharmaceutical composition. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the product for oral administration is a food product selected from the group consisting of baked goods; sweet bakery products, pre-made sweet bakery mixes for preparing sweet bakery products; pie fillings and other sweet fillings, gelatins and puddings; frozen desserts; yogurts; snack bars; bread products; pre-made bread mixes for preparing bread products; sauces, syrups and dressings; sweet spreads; confectionary products; and sweetened breakfast cereals. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the product for oral administration is a beverage product selected from the group consisting of carbonated beverages; non-carbonated beverages; and beverage concentrates. ### Claim 16 (depends on 7) A method for purifying a protein having sweet-taste modulation activity comprising: (a) producing the protein by the method of claim 7, (b) purifying the protein via hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) followed by size exclusion chromatography (SEC). ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The isolated polynucleotide of claim 1 comprising the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2. ### Claim 18 (depends on 3) The isolated polynucleotide of claim 3, wherein the polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 21 or SEQ ID NO: 24. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The isolated polynucleotide of claim 18 comprising the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 20 or SEQ ID NO: 23.