Naturally occurring decarboxylase proteins with superior gelation properties for preparing foods and cosmetics

The method of claim 33, which is a method of causing gelation or thickening of a food product during manufacture or upon heating, the method comprising including in the food product said purified or recombinant GPDH at a concentration of 1 to 20% by weight of dry ingredients in the food product.

The method of claim 33, which is a method of texturizing, thickening, or emulsifying a cosmetic product or personal care ingredient during manufacture, the method comprising including in the product or ingredient said purified or recombinant GPDH at a concentration of 1 to 10% by weight of the product or ingredient.

The method of claim 33, wherein the GPDH contains Motif A1 (SEQ ID NO:

• 15), Motif B1 (SEQ. ID NO:
• 18), and Motif C1 (SEQ. ID NO:21),

The method of claim 33, wherein the GPDH further contains any one or more of Motif D (SEQ ID NO:24), Motif E2 (SEQ. ID NO:26), Motif F (SEQ. ID NO:27), and Motif G (SEQ. ID NO:29).

The method of claim 33, wherein the GPDH contains Motif A3 (SEQ ID NO:

• 17), Motif C3 (SEQ. ID NO:20), Motif E (SEQ. ID NO:26), and Motif G2 (SEQ. ID NO:29).

The method of claim 33, wherein the GPDH is at least 80% identical to SGP2A (SEQ. ID NO:1)

The method of claim 33, wherein the GPDH is at least 80% identical to SGP2B (SEQ. ID NO:30).

The method of claim 33, wherein the naturally occurring form of the GPDH has diphosphomevalonate decarboxylase enzyme activity.

The method of claim 33, wherein the amino acid sequence of the GPDH has been adapted from its naturally occurring sequence with one to ten amino acid substitutions, additions and/or deletions.

The method of claim 33, wherein said GPDH has one or more of the following properties:

• a critical gelation concentration of no more than 6%.
• a Tonset of 40 to 70° C., and/or
• an ultimate gel strength of at least 2,000 Pa.

The method of claim 33, wherein said GPDH is produced by recombinant expression.

A food product, food additive, cosmetic, or an ingredient of a personal care product that contains a gelation promoting decarboxylase homolog (GPDH) at a concentration of 1 to 10% by weight of dry ingredients,

• wherein the GPDH is a protein or protein fragment that is naturally expressed by a non-animal organism and has an amino acid sequence that is at least 80% identical to SGP2A (SEQ. ID NO:1),
• wherein said food product, additive, cosmetic, or ingredient contains less than 2% by weight of other proteins naturally expressed by said organism.