Phytochemical Protein Modification – Friend or Foe?

Grasses are very promising sources of sustainable proteins for animal and human
consumption, recognized broadly in both Denmark and the EU. In addition to a good
nutritional profile, cultivation of grass has many positive effects on the environment.
Grasses are also rich in bioactive molecules, phytochemicals, which readily interact
with the grass protein rapidly following harvest and pressing. These interactions are
poorly understood and may additionally be highly undesired, potentially diminishing
protein quality and functionality and thus, applicability and value. In PhyPro, we
propose to obtain a fundamental understanding of the interactions by applying state-of-
the-art molecular characterization and using this knowledge to design simple
model systems from the bottom-up. By increasing complexity of the models, PhyPro
will investigate how interactions compete and more importantly, develop a strategy
to selectively inhibit interaction of a deleterious nature in a sustainable manner.