Award details

The mucosal biophysics of macronutrient transport

Reference	BBS/E/F/00042278
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Alan Mackie
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Dr Ian Johnson, Dr Claudio Nicoletti
Institution	Quadram Institute Bioscience
Department	Quadram Institute Bioscience Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	661,032
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/2005
End date	31/03/2010
Duration	60 months

Abstract

To understand at a molecular level how colloidal food structures affect the uptake of biologically active macromolecules (particularly food allergens) across the different layers that make up the gut mucosal barrier, particularly the small intestine. The complex dynamic process of food digestion in the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract leads to the self-assembly of complex structures, which disassemble with changes in their environment. What is exposed to the absorptive surface and the Peyer's Patches, range from food particles and bacterial cells through large colloidal structures to simple ions. Of particular interest are the interactions between proteins and the food matrix, particularly lipids. Lipid emulsions stabilised by phospholipids and protein are subjected to bile salts, pancreatic lipase and protease. The pattern and extent of hydrolysis of protein and lipid and subsequent absorption of the nutrients is very much dependent on the interactions of all these elements. An understanding of the biophysics by which proteins or protein fragments are presented to the brush border, and how they are transferred to the serosal side, is fundamental to maximising the benefits of bioactive peptides while minimising exposure to potential allergenic protein structures. Using a biophysical approach, we will obtain information to model the pathways and kinetics of transport and disassembly of colloidal structure across the mucin-layer, and uptake by the epithelial cells, and study the ways in which food components and structures formed in the gut lumen during digestion affect uptake. In parallel with the in vitro studies, we will use an animal model to determine how the mode and route of transmucosal movement of macromolecules influences the ensuing immune responses. Initially we will compare the effects of orally delivered soluble proteins and protein bodies from peanuts, a major allergenic food, on the magnitude and quality of antigen-specific immune response in mice.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Agri-food (AF)
Research Topics	Diet and Health, Immunology
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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