Biopolymer thickener
AssigneesThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture, State of Oregon, by and through the Oregon State Board of Higher Education on behalf of Oregon State University
InventorsJanine E. Trempy, Eric P. Knoshaug, William E. Sandine, Jeff A. Ahlgren, Karen P. Dierksen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A novel strain of Lactococcus lactis subspecies cremori (“Ropy 352”) has been identified and isolated. Ropy 352 produces a previously unknown exopolysaccharide (EPS 352) that when expressed or added to milk, imparts highly desirable sensory characteristics to the milk, including making the milk very thick, with a very smooth mouth-feel, and slightly sweet with an obvious “chewable-bite”.
Claims15
An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising at least 95% sequence identity to nucleotides 1336-2322 of SEQ ID NO:
- 12, wherein the nucleic acid molecule encodes a protein having galactosyltransferase activity.
An isolated plasmid of approximately 20 kb wherein the plasmid comprises a nucleic acid molecule comprising at least 95% sequence identity to nucleotides 1336-2322 of SEQ ID NO:
- 12 isolated from Lactococcus lactis subspecies cremoris Ropy 352, wherein transformation of Lactococcus MG1363 with the plasmid results in production of a ropy polysaccharide, wherein the polysaccharide characteristics comprise:
- Composition:
- Glucose:
- range of 54% to 58%
- Galactose:
- range of 42% to 46%
- Charged:
- Yes
- Molecular weight:
- range of 800,000 to 8,000,000
- Phosphorous:
- Present in backbone or sidechain
- Structure:
- endpoints:
- galactose;
- branchpoints:
- glucose.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.