Speaker
Dr
Andrew Jackson
(European Spallation Source ERIC)
Description
Although oleosomes, the lipid storage organelles of plants, have attracted growing interest during recent years, not all of their structural features are known yet in detail. This is especially true for their stabilizing outer protein layer, mainly composed of oleosins. These are challenging to study in extracted form due to their long hydrophobic domains, which in turn are crucial for the stabilization of the oil droplets. Small angle neutron scattering (SANS) offers the possibility to investigate those structures non-destructively in their native state. Using the contrast variation method in order to enhance the scattering signal from the protein layer, the thickness of this layer has been estimated to be 6-8 nm. In order to study the oleosins temperature stability, SANS maesurements were also performed at elevated temperatures. Up to 80 °C, no significant change in the thickness of the protein layer was observed, indicating the high temperature stability of the oleosomes. Oleosomes encapsulated by pectin via electrostatic deposition have also been studied. An increase in shell thickness of 10 nm due to the depostition of pectin has been found.
| Topic Area / Session | Fats and Emulsions |
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Primary author
Dr
Andrew Jackson
(European Spallation Source ERIC)
