Ultrasonic-boosted succinylation of walnut protein isolate: Unlocking enhanced functionalities and structural insights

This study aims to improve the functional properties of walnut protein isolate (WPI), particularly its solubility and interfacial activity, through ultrasound-assisted succinylation. WPI was treated with succinic anhydride at concentrations of 5 %, 10 %, and 15 % (w/w), with or without ultrasound as...

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Main Authors: Weizhuo Zhu, Liping Sun, Ying Gu, Yongliang Zhuang, Gaopeng Zhang, Xuejing Fan, Yangyue Ding
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:Food Chemistry: X
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590157525007503
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author Weizhuo Zhu
Liping Sun
Ying Gu
Yongliang Zhuang
Gaopeng Zhang
Xuejing Fan
Yangyue Ding
author_facet Weizhuo Zhu
Liping Sun
Ying Gu
Yongliang Zhuang
Gaopeng Zhang
Xuejing Fan
Yangyue Ding
author_sort Weizhuo Zhu
collection DOAJ
description This study aims to improve the functional properties of walnut protein isolate (WPI), particularly its solubility and interfacial activity, through ultrasound-assisted succinylation. WPI was treated with succinic anhydride at concentrations of 5 %, 10 %, and 15 % (w/w), with or without ultrasound assistance (300 W, 20 min). The effects on WPI's structure and functionality were systematically evaluated. Succinylation improved protein functionality, and ultrasound further enhanced this by promoting unfolding and increasing modification efficiency. FTIR, fluorescence spectroscopy, and SDS-PAGE analyses revealed notable changes in secondary and tertiary structures. Microscopic observations showed that succinylation transformed WPI into a more dispersed flake-like structure. These structural changes contributed to a 2.85-fold improvement in solubility. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed the mechanism by which ultrasound promotes the succinylation reaction. Pearson correlation confirmed strong links between succinylation degree, solubility, and functional performance. This study provides an effective way to improve plant protein function.
format Article
id doaj-art-9384b5ddd9324fc78c932c58853eacda
institution Kabale University
issn 2590-1575
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Food Chemistry: X
spelling doaj-art-9384b5ddd9324fc78c932c58853eacda2025-08-20T03:41:17ZengElsevierFood Chemistry: X2590-15752025-08-013010290310.1016/j.fochx.2025.102903Ultrasonic-boosted succinylation of walnut protein isolate: Unlocking enhanced functionalities and structural insightsWeizhuo Zhu0Liping Sun1Ying Gu2Yongliang Zhuang3Gaopeng Zhang4Xuejing Fan5Yangyue Ding6Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, ChinaFaculty of Food Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, ChinaFaculty of Food Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, ChinaFaculty of Food Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, ChinaCollege of Food Science and Technology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, ChinaFaculty of Food Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China; Corresponding authors.Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China; Corresponding authors.This study aims to improve the functional properties of walnut protein isolate (WPI), particularly its solubility and interfacial activity, through ultrasound-assisted succinylation. WPI was treated with succinic anhydride at concentrations of 5 %, 10 %, and 15 % (w/w), with or without ultrasound assistance (300 W, 20 min). The effects on WPI's structure and functionality were systematically evaluated. Succinylation improved protein functionality, and ultrasound further enhanced this by promoting unfolding and increasing modification efficiency. FTIR, fluorescence spectroscopy, and SDS-PAGE analyses revealed notable changes in secondary and tertiary structures. Microscopic observations showed that succinylation transformed WPI into a more dispersed flake-like structure. These structural changes contributed to a 2.85-fold improvement in solubility. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed the mechanism by which ultrasound promotes the succinylation reaction. Pearson correlation confirmed strong links between succinylation degree, solubility, and functional performance. This study provides an effective way to improve plant protein function.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590157525007503Walnut protein isolateSuccinylationUltrasonicationFunctional properties
spellingShingle Weizhuo Zhu
Liping Sun
Ying Gu
Yongliang Zhuang
Gaopeng Zhang
Xuejing Fan
Yangyue Ding
Ultrasonic-boosted succinylation of walnut protein isolate: Unlocking enhanced functionalities and structural insights
Food Chemistry: X
Walnut protein isolate
Succinylation
Ultrasonication
Functional properties
title Ultrasonic-boosted succinylation of walnut protein isolate: Unlocking enhanced functionalities and structural insights
title_full Ultrasonic-boosted succinylation of walnut protein isolate: Unlocking enhanced functionalities and structural insights
title_fullStr Ultrasonic-boosted succinylation of walnut protein isolate: Unlocking enhanced functionalities and structural insights
title_full_unstemmed Ultrasonic-boosted succinylation of walnut protein isolate: Unlocking enhanced functionalities and structural insights
title_short Ultrasonic-boosted succinylation of walnut protein isolate: Unlocking enhanced functionalities and structural insights
title_sort ultrasonic boosted succinylation of walnut protein isolate unlocking enhanced functionalities and structural insights
topic Walnut protein isolate
Succinylation
Ultrasonication
Functional properties
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590157525007503
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AT lipingsun ultrasonicboostedsuccinylationofwalnutproteinisolateunlockingenhancedfunctionalitiesandstructuralinsights
AT yinggu ultrasonicboostedsuccinylationofwalnutproteinisolateunlockingenhancedfunctionalitiesandstructuralinsights
AT yongliangzhuang ultrasonicboostedsuccinylationofwalnutproteinisolateunlockingenhancedfunctionalitiesandstructuralinsights
AT gaopengzhang ultrasonicboostedsuccinylationofwalnutproteinisolateunlockingenhancedfunctionalitiesandstructuralinsights
AT xuejingfan ultrasonicboostedsuccinylationofwalnutproteinisolateunlockingenhancedfunctionalitiesandstructuralinsights
AT yangyueding ultrasonicboostedsuccinylationofwalnutproteinisolateunlockingenhancedfunctionalitiesandstructuralinsights