Abstract: The present application provides a method of reducing and/or removing diglyceride from an edible oil, comprising admixing an edible oil with an acyl acceptor substrate and a diglyceride:glycerol acyltransferase, wherein the diglyceride:glycerol acyltransferase is characterized as an enzyme which in an edible oil is capable of transferring an acyl group from a diglyceride to glycerol. The diglyceride:glycerol acyltransferase can comprise the amino acid sequence motif GDSX. The present invention also relates to the use of a diglyceride:glycerol acyltransferase in the manufacture of an edible oil, for reducing and/or removing diglyceride from said edible oil and to the use of said enzyme in the manufacture of a foodstuff comprising an edible oil for improving the crystallization properties of said foodstuff.

Abstract: In one aspect the present invention provides a process for treating oil-containing seeds, comprising a step of contacting the seeds with an enzyme which is capable of hydrolysing chlorophyll or a chlorophyll derivative. Also provided are a method for obtaining oil from plant seeds and a process for producing a refined plant oil comprising such a treatment. Further provided are crude and refined plant oils obtainable from the processes and methods.

Abstract: In one aspect, provided herein is a process for refining a plant oil, comprising a step of contacting the oil with an enzyme which is capable of hydrolysing chlorophyll or a chlorophyll derivative, wherein the enzyme is contacted with the oil in the presence of at least 0.1% by weight phospholipid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for reducing cholesterol absorption in an animal comprising administering to the animal a composition comprising an effective amount of at least one cholesterol ester.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for detecting a phytol-free chlorophyll derivative in a sample, comprising a step of detecting a fluorescent signal associated with the phytol-free chlorophyll derivative, wherein a fluorescent signal associated with chlorophyll or a phytol-containing chlorophyll derivative in the sample is quenched. The method may be used for quantifying activity of chlorophyllases and related enzymes in a sample without solvent fractionation of substrate and product.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preparing a variant lipid acyltransferase enzyme by expressing a nucleotide sequence encoding a lipid acyltransferase which may comprise at least one modification at a position(s) which corresponds in the encoded amino acid sequence to an amino acid(s) located in a) the canyon region of the enzyme (i.e. preferably amino acid residues 31, 27, 85, 86, 119, and 120); and/or b) insertion site 1 (i.e. amino acid residues 22-36) and/or c) insertion site 2 (i.e. amino acid residues 74-88), wherein the canyon region, insertion site 1 and/or insertion site 2 are defined as that region which when aligned based on primary or tertiary structure corresponds to the canyon region, insertion site 1 or insertion site 2 (or the corresponding amino acid residues taught above) of the enzyme shown herein as SEQ ID No. 16 or 6 in a host organism.

Abstract: A method of producing one or more of a carbohydrate ester, a protein ester, a protein subunit ester or a hydroxyl acid ester, which method comprises admixing an acyl donor, an acyl acceptor and water to produce a high water environment comprising 5-98% water, wherein said acyl donor is a lipid substrate selected from one or more of the group consisting of a phospholipid, a lysophospholipid, a triacylglyceride, a diglyceride, a glycolipid or a lysoglycolipid and said acyl acceptor is selected from one ore more of the group consisting of a carbohydrate, a protein, a protein subunit, or a hydroxyl acid; and contacting the admixture with a lipid acyltransferase, such that said lipid acyl transferase catalyses one or both of the following reactions: alcoholysis or transesterification.

Abstract: There is provided a process for the prevention and/or reduction of acrylamide formation and/or acrylamide precursor formation in a foodstuff containing (i) a protein, a peptide or an amino acid and (ii) a reducing sugar, the process comprising contacting the foodstuff with an enzyme capable of oxidising a reducing group of the sugar.

Abstract: A method of producing powder milk, said method comprising: (a) contacting milk or a fraction thereof with a lipid acyltransferase enzyme; and (b) drying the enzyme treated milk to produce powder milk; is disclosed. Powder milk products produced by the method and use of a lipid acyltransferase in the manufacture of powder milk for improving the rehydration properties, the perceptible sensory difference (smell and/or taste) and the flowability of the powder milk, and for reducing the cholesterol content and/or the free fatty acid content of the powder milk, and for reducing fouling of the equipment used in the manufacture of the powder milk, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of improving the rheological properties of a flour dough and the quality of the finished product made from such a dough, comprising adding an effective amount of an oxido-reductase capable of oxidizing maltose, in particular a hexose oxidase, e.g. isolated from an algal species such as Iridophycus flaccidum, Chondrus crispus or Euthora cristata and a dough improving composition comprising the oxidoreductase.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and uses for treating pyropheophytin-containing compositions, particularly in order to remove pyropheophytin therefrom. The compositions are typically plant, algal, or bacterial derived products such as vegetable oils. The method comprises a step of contacting the compositions with an enzyme having pyropheophytinase activity. Also provided are related apparatus and products for performing such methods and uses.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a phytosterol ester and/or a phytostanol ester comprising: a) admixing a phospholipid composition comprising at least between about 10% to about 70% plant phospholipid and at least about 5% water; a lipid acyltransferase; and a phytosterol and/or a phytostanol; and b) separating or isolating or purifying at least one phytosterol ester and/or phytostanol ester from said admixture. The present invention also relates to compositions comprising the phytosterol ester and/or phytostanol ester produced by this method, including foodstuffs and personal care product (cosmetic) compositions.

Abstract: A process of enzymatic degumming edible oils, comprising treating edible oil with a lipid acyltransferase so as to transfer an acyl group from a major part of the phospholipid to one or more acyl acceptors, wherein the acyl acceptor may be any compound comprising a hydroxyl group. In one embodiment preferably the acyl acceptor is water and in another embodiment preferably the acyl acceptor is one or more sterols and/or stanols. When the acyl acceptor is a stanol and/or sterol, one or more sterol esters and/or stanol esters are produced.

Abstract: There is provided use of a conversion agent to prepare from a food material a foodstuff comprising at least one functional ingredient, wherein the at least one functional ingredient has been generated from at least one constituent of the food material by the conversion agent.

Abstract: There is provided a process for the prevention and/or reduction of Maillard reaction in a foodstuff containing (i) a protein, a peptide or an amino acid and (ii) a reducing sugar, the process comprising contacting the foodstuff with an enzyme capable of oxidising a reducing group of the sugar.

Abstract: A process of enzymatic degumming edible oils, comprising treating edible oil with a lipid acyltransferase so as to transfer an acyl group from a major part of the phospholipid to one or more acyl acceptors, wherein the acyl acceptor may be any compound comprising a hydroxyl group. In one embodiment preferably the acyl acceptor is water and in another embodiment preferably the acyl acceptor is one or more sterols and/or stanols. When the acyl acceptor is a stanol and/or sterol, one or more sterol esters and/or stanol esters are produced.

Abstract: There is provided use of a conversion agent to prepare from a food material a foodstuff comprising at least one functional ingredient, wherein the at least one functional ingredient has been generated from at least one constituent of the food material by the conversion agent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a variant lipid acyltransferase enzyme by selecting a parent enzyme which is a lipid acyltransferase enzyme having the amino acid sequence motif GDSX, modifying one or more amino acids to produce a variant lipid acyltransferase, testing the variant lipid acyltransferase for activity on a galactolipid substrate, a phospholipid substrate and/or a triglyceride substrate, selecting a variant enzyme with an enhanced activity towards galactolipids compared with the parent enzyme, and/or preparing a quantity of the variant enzyme. In some embodiments, the variant lipid acyltransferase enzyme may include the amino acid sequence motif GDSX, wherein X is one or more of the following amino acid residues L, A, V, I, F, Y, X, Q, T N, M or S, and wherein the variant enzyme has one or more amino acid modifications compared with a parent sequence.

Abstract: A method of preparing a flour dough, said method comprising adding to the dough components an enzyme that under dough conditions is capable of hydrolysing a glycolipid and a phospholipid, wherein said enzyme is incapable, or substantially incapable, of hydrolysing a triglyceride and/or a 1-monoglyceride, or a composition comprising said enzyme, and mixing the dough components to obtain the dough.

Abstract: A method of improving the rheological and/or machineability properties of a flour dough and/or the quality of the product made from the dough, comprising adding to the dough a combination comprising a Hox and an emulsifying agent.