Flavor active modified thaumatin and monellin and methods for their production and use

Abstract

A modified thaumatin protein, a modified monellin protein and antibodies thereto are provided. Further, nucleic acid sequences and vectors capable of expressing thaumatin or monellin are provided.

1 . An antibody to a modified thaumatin protein of SEQ ID NO:  2 , wherein amino acid residues 19 through 26 of the thaumatin protein of SEQ ID NO: 2 are replaced by an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of an amino acid sequence of a beefy meaty peptide of SEQ ID NO:  6  or an amino acid sequence of amino acid residues 4 through 11 of a monellin protein of SEQ ID NO: 4.  
     
     
         2 . The antibody of  claim 1  wherein the antibody is monoclonal.  
     
     
         3 . An antibody to a modified monellin protein wherein amino acid residues 4 through 11 of the monellin protein of SEQ ID NO: 4 are replaced by an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of an amino acid sequence that differs from the amino acid sequence of the monellin protein of SEQ ID NO: 4 by at least four amino acid residues, an amino acid sequence of a beefy meaty peptide of SEQ ID NO: 6, or an amino acid sequence of amino acids 19 through 26 of a thaumatin protein of SEQ ID NO: 2.  
     
     
         4 . The antibody of  claim 3  wherein the antibody is monoclonal.