Vanilla bahiana, a contribution from the Atlantic Forest biodiversity for the production of vanilla: A proteomic approach through high-definition nanoLC/MS

• Published in: Food research international 2019-06, Vol.120, p.148-156
• Main Authors: Lopes, Ellen Moura, Linhares, Roberta Gomes, de Oliveira Pires, Lucas, Castro, Rosane Nora, Souza, Gustavo Henrique Martins Ferreira, Koblitz, Maria Gabriela Bello, Cameron, Luiz Claudio, Macedo, Andrea Furtado
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bottom up; Ion mobility; nanoUPLC/HDMSE; Sodium dodecyl sulfate; Vanillin; Vanillin synthase; β-Mercaptoethanol
• ISSN: 0963-9969; 1873-7145
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2019.02.038

Only a few cultivated species of Vanilla are used to produce vanilla, despite the high demand, predatory exploitation, and low genetic variability that threaten the production of natural vanilla. Vanilla bahiana pods from the Atlantic Forest may be an alternative source of natural vanilla. This study applied bottom-up and shotgun proteomics analysis to identify proteins related to flowering, fruiting, and vanilla-flavor production. Extraction solutions, including Tris-HCl buffer, β-mercaptoethanol and SDS, were assayed. SDS proved to be feasible for extraction of Vanilla fruit proteins and could be an alternative to the phenol method of protein extraction. Progenesis QI for Proteomics (QIP) software loaded with an Orchidaceae database identified 2326 proteins in our samples. Among these, 75 were highlighted as useful for the synthesis of compounds related to vanilla flavor, such as vanillin synthase, which was successfully extracted with 1% SDS, which also improved the variety of the extracted proteins. The proteins identified in V. bahiana pods indicate the enzymatic potential of this species, as further validated by quantifying the vanilla in the samples. [Display omitted] •Vanilla bahiana is able to synthetize vanillin (1.55 mg.g−1).•The vanillin synthase enzyme was identified.•The protein extraction methodology using SDS was more efficient.•Proteins related to flowering, fruitening and ripening of fruits were identified.•LFY-like protein OrcLFY was identified in the Vanilla genus for the first time.