Process for isolation of proteins from plant leaves
AssigneeLeaf Proteins, Inc.
InventorsSamuel G. Wildman, Prachuab Kwanyuen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Described herein is a process for isolating the enzymatic protein ribulose 1,5-diphosphate carboxylase from the green leaves of plants. In the process, which is particularly suited to obtaining the protein from tobacco, the leaves are ground or otherwise pulverized in the presence of a reducing agent. A liquid portion containing the desired protein is separated from the pulp and its pH adjusted to within the range of from about pH 6.0 to 5.3 and then cooled to cause the crystallization of the ribulose 1,5-diphosphate carboxylase. After separation of the crystalline material, the supernatant is acidified to yield lower molecular weight proteins.
Claims24
A process for obtaining ribulose 1,5-diphosphate carboxylase from plant material comprising the leaves of green plants which process comprises the steps:
- (a) converting the leaves to a pulp comprising a mixture of a solid portion and a liquid portion, said liquid portion containing dissolved ribulose 1,5-diphosphate carboxylase;
- (b) adjusting, if necessary, the pH of the liquid portion to within the range of pH 6.0 to a pH sufficiently above the isoelectric point of the proteins in the liquid portion that said proteins do not precipitate;
- (c) separating the liquid portion from the solid portion;
- and
- (d) storing said liquid portion at a temperature at which said ribulose 1,5-diphosphate carboxylase crystallizes.
A process for obtaining ribulose 1,5-diphosphate carboxylase from tobacco plants comprising:
- (a) converting the leaf portion of the plant to a pulp comprising a solid portion and a liquid portion, wherein said solid portion is comprised of coarse particulate material and finely particulate material and wherein said liquid portion contains dissolved ribulose 1,5-diphosphate carboxylase;
- (b) adjusting, if necessary, the pH of the liquid portion to within the range of pH 6.0 to a pH sufficiently above the isoelectric point of the proteins in said liquid portion that the proteins do not precipitate;
- (c) separating the liquid portion from the solid portion;
- (d) storing the liquid portion at a temperature at which ribulose 1,5-diphosphate carboxylase crystallizes;
- and
- (e) separating the ribulose 1,5-diphosphate carboxylase from the liquid portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.