Optimizing protein yield from growing deer antlers

Growing antlers in deer contain bioactive compounds, most of which are proteins and peptides with effects on health, such as anticancer and regenerative properties. However, efficient extraction of these biomolecules while preserving their integrity remains a challenge. This study aimed to optimize...

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Main Authors: Nicolás Alegría-Aravena, María-Pilar López-Garrido, Josefa Quiroz-Troncoso, Raquel González-Martos, Marta Sánchez-Díez, Clara Gavira-O’Neill, Andrés J. García-Díaz, Tomás Landete-Castillejos, Carmen Ramírez-Castillejo, Louis Chonco, Francisco Sánchez-Sánchez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2025.1612239/full
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author Nicolás Alegría-Aravena
Nicolás Alegría-Aravena
María-Pilar López-Garrido
Josefa Quiroz-Troncoso
Raquel González-Martos
Marta Sánchez-Díez
Clara Gavira-O’Neill
Clara Gavira-O’Neill
Andrés J. García-Díaz
Tomás Landete-Castillejos
Carmen Ramírez-Castillejo
Carmen Ramírez-Castillejo
Louis Chonco
Francisco Sánchez-Sánchez
author_facet Nicolás Alegría-Aravena
Nicolás Alegría-Aravena
María-Pilar López-Garrido
Josefa Quiroz-Troncoso
Raquel González-Martos
Marta Sánchez-Díez
Clara Gavira-O’Neill
Clara Gavira-O’Neill
Andrés J. García-Díaz
Tomás Landete-Castillejos
Carmen Ramírez-Castillejo
Carmen Ramírez-Castillejo
Louis Chonco
Francisco Sánchez-Sánchez
author_sort Nicolás Alegría-Aravena
collection DOAJ
description Growing antlers in deer contain bioactive compounds, most of which are proteins and peptides with effects on health, such as anticancer and regenerative properties. However, efficient extraction of these biomolecules while preserving their integrity remains a challenge. This study aimed to optimize the extraction of proteins from growing antlers through liquid removal methods, solvent selection, ratios, temperature, and extraction time. Lyophilization was identified as the optimal method for preserving protein integrity, particularly in biologically active regions. Among the tested solvents, water emerged as the most effective for protein extraction, achieving optimal results at a 1:10 w/v ratio with 1 hour of magnetic stirring at room temperature, although remains to be tested the anticancer effect of solvents different to water. Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) was quantified as a key indicator of extraction efficiency, demonstrating that the optimized protocol effectively preserves this kind of bioactive protein. This methodology provides a robust framework for the extraction of proteins from growing antlers, paving the way for future applications in biomedical research.
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publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
spelling doaj-art-2dc13322d1964de2a39d7a6e4263d81c2025-08-20T03:24:47ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology2296-41852025-06-011310.3389/fbioe.2025.16122391612239Optimizing protein yield from growing deer antlersNicolás Alegría-Aravena0Nicolás Alegría-Aravena1María-Pilar López-Garrido2Josefa Quiroz-Troncoso3Raquel González-Martos4Marta Sánchez-Díez5Clara Gavira-O’Neill6Clara Gavira-O’Neill7Andrés J. García-Díaz8Tomás Landete-Castillejos9Carmen Ramírez-Castillejo10Carmen Ramírez-Castillejo11Louis Chonco12Francisco Sánchez-Sánchez13Instituto de Desarrollo Regional (IDR), Instituto de Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC) and Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniéros Agrónomos y Montes y Biotecnología (ETSIAMB), University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM), Albacete, SpainAsociación Española Contra el Cáncer (AECC)-Fundación Científica AECC, Albacete, SpainLaboratorio de Genética Médica, Instituto de Biomedicina (IB), Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM), Albacete, SpainCentro de Tecnología Biomédica (CTB), Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica, Alimentaria y de Biosistemas (ETSIAAB), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, SpainCentro de Tecnología Biomédica (CTB), Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica, Alimentaria y de Biosistemas (ETSIAAB), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, SpainLaboratorio de Genética Médica, Instituto de Biomedicina (IB), Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM), Albacete, SpainCentro de Tecnología Biomédica (CTB), Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica, Alimentaria y de Biosistemas (ETSIAAB), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, SpainDepartment of Oncology, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, SpainInstituto de Desarrollo Regional (IDR), Instituto de Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC) and Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniéros Agrónomos y Montes y Biotecnología (ETSIAMB), University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM), Albacete, SpainInstituto de Desarrollo Regional (IDR), Instituto de Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC) and Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniéros Agrónomos y Montes y Biotecnología (ETSIAMB), University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM), Albacete, SpainCentro de Tecnología Biomédica (CTB), Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica, Alimentaria y de Biosistemas (ETSIAAB), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, SpainDepartment of Oncology, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, SpainInstituto de Desarrollo Regional (IDR), Instituto de Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC) and Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniéros Agrónomos y Montes y Biotecnología (ETSIAMB), University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM), Albacete, SpainLaboratorio de Genética Médica, Instituto de Biomedicina (IB), Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM), Albacete, SpainGrowing antlers in deer contain bioactive compounds, most of which are proteins and peptides with effects on health, such as anticancer and regenerative properties. However, efficient extraction of these biomolecules while preserving their integrity remains a challenge. This study aimed to optimize the extraction of proteins from growing antlers through liquid removal methods, solvent selection, ratios, temperature, and extraction time. Lyophilization was identified as the optimal method for preserving protein integrity, particularly in biologically active regions. Among the tested solvents, water emerged as the most effective for protein extraction, achieving optimal results at a 1:10 w/v ratio with 1 hour of magnetic stirring at room temperature, although remains to be tested the anticancer effect of solvents different to water. Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) was quantified as a key indicator of extraction efficiency, demonstrating that the optimized protocol effectively preserves this kind of bioactive protein. This methodology provides a robust framework for the extraction of proteins from growing antlers, paving the way for future applications in biomedical research.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2025.1612239/fullbiomedical applicationsdeer velvet antlerIGF-1optimization methodprotein extraction
spellingShingle Nicolás Alegría-Aravena
Nicolás Alegría-Aravena
María-Pilar López-Garrido
Josefa Quiroz-Troncoso
Raquel González-Martos
Marta Sánchez-Díez
Clara Gavira-O’Neill
Clara Gavira-O’Neill
Andrés J. García-Díaz
Tomás Landete-Castillejos
Carmen Ramírez-Castillejo
Carmen Ramírez-Castillejo
Louis Chonco
Francisco Sánchez-Sánchez
Optimizing protein yield from growing deer antlers
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
biomedical applications
deer velvet antler
IGF-1
optimization method
protein extraction
title Optimizing protein yield from growing deer antlers
title_full Optimizing protein yield from growing deer antlers
title_fullStr Optimizing protein yield from growing deer antlers
title_full_unstemmed Optimizing protein yield from growing deer antlers
title_short Optimizing protein yield from growing deer antlers
title_sort optimizing protein yield from growing deer antlers
topic biomedical applications
deer velvet antler
IGF-1
optimization method
protein extraction
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2025.1612239/full
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