Nutritive Proteins and Methods

Abstract

Nutritive proteins are provided. In some embodiments the nutritive proteins comprise at least one of a level of a) a ratio of branch chain amino acid residues to total amino acid residues present in the nutritive protein equal to or greater than the ratio of branch chain amino acid residues to total amino acid residues present in whey protein; b) a ratio of leucine residues to total amino acid residues present in the nutritive protein equal to or greater than the ratio of leucine residues to total amino acid residues present in whey protein; and c) a ratio of essential amino acid residues to total amino acid residues present in the nutritive protein equal to or greater than the ratio of essential amino acid residues to total amino acid residues present in whey protein. Also provided are nucleic acids encoding the proteins, recombinant microorganisms that make the proteins, methods of making the proteins using recombinant microorganisms, compositions that comprise the proteins, and methods of using the proteins, among other things.

1 . An isolated nutritive protein comprising a first polypeptide sequence, wherein the first polypeptide sequence comprises at least one of:
 a. a ratio of branch chain amino acid residues to total amino acid residues of at least 24%;   b. a ratio of Leu residues to total amino acid residues of at least 11%; and   c. a ratio of essential amino acid residues to total amino acid residues of at least 49%.   
     
     
         2 . The isolated nutritive protein of  claim 1 , wherein the first polypeptide sequence further comprises at least one of each essential amino acid. 
     
     
         3 . The isolated nutritive protein of  claim 1 , wherein the first polypeptide sequence comprises at least 70% homology to at least 50 amino acids of a naturally occurring nutritive protein. 
     
     
         4 . The isolated nutritive protein of  claim 1 , wherein the first polypeptide sequence comprises at least 95% homology to at least 50 amino acids of a naturally occurring nutritive protein. 
     
     
         5 . The isolated nutritive protein of  claim 1 , wherein the first polypeptide sequence comprises at least 70% homology to a naturally occurring nutritive protein. 
     
     
         6 . The isolated nutritive protein of  claim 1 , wherein the first polypeptide sequence comprises at least 95% homology to a naturally occurring nutritive protein. 
     
     
         7 . The isolated nutritive protein of  claim 1 , wherein the first polypeptide sequence comprises:
 a. a ratio of branch chain amino acid residues to total amino acid residues of at least 24%;   b. a ratio of Leu residues to total amino acid residues of at least 11%; and   c. a ratio of essential amino acid residues to total amino acid residues of at least 49%.   
     
     
         8 .- 69 . (canceled) 
     
     
         70 . An isolated nucleic acid comprising a nucleic acid sequence that encodes a nutritive protein according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         71 .- 74 . (canceled) 
     
     
         75 . A vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence that encodes a nutritive protein according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         76 . (canceled) 
     
     
         77 . A recombinant microorganism comprising the isolated nucleic acid of  claim 70 . 
     
     
         78 .- 81 . (canceled) 
     
     
         82 . A method of making a nutritive protein, the method comprising culturing a recombinant microorganism of  claim 77  under conditions sufficient for production of the nutritive protein by the recombinant microorganism. 
     
     
         83 . (canceled) 
     
     
         84 . A nutritive composition comprising a nutritive protein of  claim 1  and at least one second component. 
     
     
         85 . The nutritive composition according  claim 84 , wherein the at least one second component is selected from a protein, a polypeptide, a peptide, a free amino acid, a carbohydrate, a lipid, a mineral or mineral source, a vitamin, a supplement, an organism, a pharmaceutical, and an excipient. 
     
     
         86 .- 100 . (canceled) 
     
     
         101 . A method of making a nutritive composition, comprising providing the nutritive protein of  claim 1  and combining the nutritive protein with the at least one second component. 
     
     
         102 . A method of maintaining or increasing at least one of muscle mass, muscle strength, and functional performance in a subject, the method comprising providing to the subject a sufficient amount of a nutritive protein of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         103 . A method of maintaining or achieving a desirable body mass index in a subject, the method comprising providing to the subject a sufficient amount of a nutritive protein of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         104 . (canceled) 
     
     
         105 . A method of providing protein to a subject with protein-energy malnutrition, the method comprising providing to the subject a sufficient amount of a nutritive protein of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         106 . A method of increasing thermogenesis in a subject, the method comprising providing to the subject a sufficient amount of a nutritive protein of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         107 . A method of inducing at least one of a satiation response and a satiety response in a subject, the method comprising providing to the subject a sufficient amount of a nutritive protein of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         108 .- 109 . (canceled) 
     
     
         110 . A method of treating at least one of cachexia, sarcopenia and frailty in a subject, the method comprising providing to the subject a sufficient amount of a nutritive protein of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         111 . (canceled)